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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Thanks for the kind wishes, Jill. I know you’ve had your own burden lately, and I was so pleased to hear things were going well. At the moment, progress is good. I’m not using crutches or a frame now around the house and I can make it upstairs 2 or 3 times a week for a shower, all approved by the health visitors. I still have anaemia and run out…[Read more]
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Sandra posted an update 2 months ago
May’s monthly comp is up – something to inspire lots of you I hope!
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Sandra started the topic Monthly competition May 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months ago
What I’d like you do for May’s competition is
1) choose a significant anniversary in your life: e.g. birthday, wedding, first child: graduation – then,
2 ) Google the UK Top 10 singles chart for that week.
3) select two, three or four song titles from that list and,
4) use them (loosely if necessary!) as a basis for a short story, of…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition April 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months ago
Thank you , Terrie, both for the challenge and your comments on both my entry and Jill’s excellently crafted, sensitive story. I’ll aim to set something for June by the end of today.
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
Thanks for all the kind wishes. Please don’t think me rude that I haven’t responded individually. I still find messaging quite an effort. Your words are very much appreciated.
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Sandra replied to the topic A Step Into Indie Publishing in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
Thank you for this Janette; as a Blurb self-publisher , (but not seller), I much appreciate this breakdown of your experiences .
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Sandra replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
I’ve always found the same, right up to last week with the theatre nurse who held my hand while my eye was bring anatheasised for an op. bless him. (all well post op.)
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Athelstone replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
Honestly, nobody wants to get ill and go to hospital, but I don’t regret having met the staff. From the cleaner who I talked to a lot, to the nurses who tirelessly carried horrible pots away without a single complaint, to the consultant who (I now see) was joking/hinting about discharge when she said, ‘We must get this catheter out, unless you use…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
Crikey Moses, William, I’m heart-heartedly glad to hear you are home and hopefully on your way to some sort of recovery – what a torrid time you and your family must have gone through, and thank you for updating us so vividly.
Sendng love and the most healingest of good wishes
Sandra
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Athelstone started the topic A bit "poorly" in the forum Blogs 2 months, 1 week ago
So many people have asked, ‘What’s wrong with you’ and ‘Why are you still in hospital?’, (I’m out now) that I thought a small blog might help. Don’t get me wrong, there are many people, including on this site, who have had worse problems, often for longer. But I’ve never been this ill, so I’ll press on.
In the beginning, at the very tail end…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition April 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Untitled
‘Gobsmacked’ the inelegant word that came to mind when I read the letter. What else would you expect , being told your three year-old daughter’s poem had been awarded first prize ? A prize which earned her up to three sittings with well-renowned portrait artist Bernard Broom. Especially when I’d not an inkling she’d written any…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months ago
Thank you Janette – you did us proud with thoughtful comments, and well done for every other entry, all of which fitted the remit much more closely than my hastily-grabbed from a long-ago hidden in the drawer novel.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months ago
Janette has kindly volunteered !!
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months ago
Having heard Athelstone indisposed again, it’s unlikely he’ll be be judging this any time soon
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Not yet mad enough …
Wine-heavy eyes and naked, she was cleaning her teeth in front of the bathroom mirror when he came in through the door behind her. He stood behind her, serious-faced, saying nothing, but unignorably attentive. She finished brushing. Spat, rinsed and spat a couple more times then put the toothbrush back in the glass on…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly ompetition March 2026 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months ago
In March it seems that hares go mad. They chase each other, jump and frolic, even have boxing matches. For March, somebody has done/is doing/will do something mad. It might be you, or not – whatever you wish. 500 words maximum please before midnight on 31 March.
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Athelstone replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months ago
Thank you for such a satisfactory February topic, Libby, and for your generous appraisal! I loved the other two entries; they could easily have won.
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Sandra replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months ago
Congratulations, Ath – more Teabreak always welcome, and well done Jill for so richly regarding the rules. Thanks Libby for appreciating my desire to take part, but this extract the only one I could recall which specifically mentioned ‘loving’
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Athelstone replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months ago
Teabreak in love
Maureen Chapman. No, tell a lie, it was Chaplain, like a vicar. Her name, I mean—she wasn’t like a vicar. Anyway, Maureen Chaplain was perfect from my ten-year-old point of view. But I’m getting all jumbled up about how to start, so I’ll take a breath. See, it really began when the Brazells moved out from next door and the Cha…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic February 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 2 weeks ago
‘Snap’ snippet
From the steps of Leith’s registry Office, exceeding the word count and containing expletives, but the best I can do given other demands.
Then, hand in hand, another looking-to-be-wed couple arrived from the rear carpark. On foot and windblown, Well-matched in the scruffiness of their clothes. Even earlier for their ceremony th…[Read more]
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Good to hear there is progress, Ath, albeit on the slow side. I’ll be thinking of you on 11th May, sending positive vibes.