Jill

Friday 13th – not quite halfway through November, but a gentle nudge as no entries yet.

This month’s competition theme is

Remembering or Remembrance

400 words max.

Thank you, Libby.  A pleasant surprise in view of the excellent competiton.   Congratulations all!

Will put my thinking cap on now for November.

488 words excluding title

FICKLE HEART

The small fluffy Cumulus clouds at dawn had promised a fine day, but by eight o’clock they’d grown into dark, lowering beasts threatening a thunderstorm ahead.  I resigned myself to a day indoors and this did nothing to improve the already black mood that had descended the night before when I received th…[Read more]

No need for apologies, Seagreen – I’m sure we all understand the delay.  You set an intriguing challenge and have given a comprehensive and thoughtful judgment on each darkly intriguing entry.  I loved all the others and echo the reasons you have expressed.

Congratulations, Libby.  Well deserved.  As I read, I could almost feel myself in the cha…[Read more]

(Certainly stretched and apologies for one fleeting mention of blood!)

444 words excluding title

Behind Closed Doors

Neighbours stood around gawking.  I saw them from the window as I stood handcuffed to a policeman.

Our quiet cul de sac was a scene of mayhem with ambulance and police cars; blue lights flashing.

The paramedics stretchered him…[Read more]

Thank you, Athelstone.  It has come back to me now and I probably did enter the Word Cloud ones.  Wrathner was a lovely member, but it all seems so long ago…. Glad The Den took up the idea.

Yes!  I did mean to say the medals included Libby who prompted us so well in the heat of 2026 August!   Encouragement…
For me, these monthly competitions have been ensuring those writerly muscles are kept in peak condition and other writing has emerged too, so thank you to whoever dreamt up the idea!

Congratulations, Seagreen ~ as Libby says it is an intriguing story.  Wonder what intriguing challenge you will be setting us for September…

As usual, I loved all the very different and well written entries which embraced the theme so well.  So virtual medals to all!

Good morning – thank you for the explanation!  I was hot and tired when answering so probably brain was not 100% either and I made some sort of mistake, but hey ho!!!

You are right – I am old enough to have gone through quite a few similar challenges in my time, so do echo your thoughts.  A lengthy training and practice of counselling and the p…[Read more]

Not sure where our latest conversation has gone, but glad you are progressing slowly and coming to accept future limitations.  Good that you can walk by the coast.

I wrote quite a long reply, but cannot find it anywhere.  Blaming the heat or perhaps the computer thought my reply far too long!!!

Anyhow, thanks for asking.  We are coming th…[Read more]

Felt inspired and nostalgic by your prompt Libby!!  Happy carefree times …

Annual Holiday by the Sea

(Immediately inspired by July’s theme)

When I was a little girl the high point of the school Summer break was our family holiday by the sea.  It was only for a week and very often to Goodrington near Paignton in Devon.

Just writing that paragraph has immediately brought back so many memories of carefree, happy times…[Read more]

First, congratulations to Libby.  Look forward to reading what theme you are going to set us for August.

Secondly, I echo Sandra in the fact that childhoods now past have been vividly evoked here in rich words worthy of Denizens!  In addition, thank you Sandra for introducing me to a word I had never heard before and one which is impressive in i…[Read more]