@katemachon
Active 1 day, 10 hours ago-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Sorry Jill, Returned from ten days away to a refusing-to-charge laptop, and three days from going away for another week I’ll not be posting anything for this month’s comp’ Looks like you’ve got some good response so I’ll aim to read ASAP.
-
Libby started the topic Emma Darwin has started a youtube channel in the forum Coffee Shop 8 months, 2 weeks ago
At present it’s only advertising her new novel.
The ad is fabulous.
https://www.youtube.com/@emmadarwinwriter/videos
-
-
-
Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 8 months, 3 weeks ago
(Untitled, 394 words)
The book was finished, the story told. But more importantly, the truth laid bare. Every pocket dimension of past trauma exorcised. Every chapter of his life stamped adult, checked as complete. Every fragment of what it meant to be human sorted and struck through.
Now was a new time. A beginning time. Time to rejoin the…[Read more]
-
-
Libby replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 8 months, 3 weeks ago
This month I’ve gone for an essay, or at any rate not a story.
338 words
Outside my window there’s the small garden and then a field, where a tractor drags a harrow. The harrow’s arms are open and horizontal. Metal discs hang below them, making contact with the ground, and I hear the discs rattling along the soil and bouncing over flints. The…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 1 week ago
Only two entries, as Athelstone rightly points out, but both were a joy insofar as they echoed some of my experiences. Like Jill, Steve and I were but 16 and eighteen – me young enough to be banned from going on the back of his motorbike, but after four years of ‘going steady’, when Steve asked my Dad for, permission to marry me his response…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 1 week ago
Only two entries, as Athelstone rightly points out, but both were a joy insofar as they echoed some of my experiences. Like Jill, Steve and I were but sixteen and eighteen – me young enough to be banned from going on the back of his motorbike, but after four years of ‘going steady’, when Steve asked my Dad for, permission to marry me his respo…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 1 week ago
Aargh – busy weekend filled with grandchildren visits and attempts to add names to a 1905 photo of a Christmas celebration family history question. I’ll get to reading and deciding ASAP.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 1 week ago
Here I am, racked with guilt. I did sit down a couple of times to write an entry, but it just wouldn’t come. I had an idea yesterday that I liked, and it may end up as a scene in the WIP, but I had so much going on I couldn’t manage it. Apologies, it’s a fascinating idea and I should have done something. However, you have two very good entries to…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 2 weeks ago
@ Libby: Sorry not be reading an entry from you, but fully sympathise with lack of time.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Pretty much, these days.
Most of the pubs I’ve loved are long closed now. The Railway Hotel in Newbury where I first tasted Morland bitter at the grand old age of 15 (just). At 12p per pint even I could afford it. Then there was the Cambridge in Cambridge Circus. To be fair, the beer was dreadful – so bad that I drank bottled lager mainly – but…[Read more]
-
Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Apologies in advance, Sandra. I won’t be doing a story this month. I do enjoy these poetry prompts but a combination of holidays and life admin is swallowing the time.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Sounds glorious.
Just had a short break in France where nearly all the draft beer is lager style, with the exception of a few unpleasantly-sweet dark beers. To be fair, some of the lighter ones are drinkable, especially if it’s a hot day – which it usually is.
All this talk of real ale reminds me of that magical moment when you enter a…[Read more]
-
Sandra posted an update 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Ten days left to write 500 words about a first time meeting with in-laws (and follow a link to a brilliantly vivid account of Liz Lochead’s experience)
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Oh for a decent pub nearby. There used to be a decent pub only a few hundred yards away from me. It was always The George as it stood by a roundabout on Worthing’s George V Avenue. A couple of years ago it was acquired by the Toby Carvery group. I see that they claim to serve real ale now, but I did try to beers they offered a few times and I…[Read more]
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months, 1 week ago
Well done, Sandra! And thank you for the prompt, Seagreen. As ever, some fine entries.
-
Sandra started the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months, 1 week ago
As usual, I began my search for inspiration by looking through my collection of charity shop-acquired poetry books, although ‘Intimate expanses’, a collection of Scottish poems published 1978-2002, in which I found Liz Lockhead’s ‘My Rival’s house’ was a first purchase from Carcanet. It details a vivid account of a first meeting with a future…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months, 1 week ago
Have to say I am astonished to be chosen, Sea – and grateful, despite feeling that I fell far short of ‘enthralling’ in comparison to those far more apt which were posted, and made impressive reading. Also, following what has been something of a let-down day, this was a welcome cheering, so thank you for that. I’ll aim to post August’s…[Read more]
- Load More

No worries, Sandra. Enjoy your next time away. Yes, 2 excellent entries so far. Jill