Neil Evans

  • A Winter Dragon

    Snow in the north, south, east, and west, but none here. Fran had been promised snow by the television and the app on her phone, but here she sat, four days from Christmas, freezing cold, not a cloud in the sky, and the sun shining. She wiggled the feet of her onesie into Mum’s fleece boots and, as quietly as possible, slipped o…[Read more]

  • Anybody wishing to chance their pen with a piece of flash fiction this month, please note that the November competition has been extended. So head over to the November comp (Main Menu up there -> Den Forums -> Monthly Competition) and take a look at an excellent theme.

  • Ahhh! Hangs head in shame. I don’t know where November went either. Made a start but never finished. I vote that Alex keeps the competition and we all have another try for December.

  • I wouldn’t want to make this an Eric Clapton debate, but it seems to me that there’s a huge divide between acknowledging an error, and expressing remorse for it. Clapton clearly sees himself as having made mistakes, especially the outburst on stage in Birmingham in 1976, but although I’ve seen numerous purported apologies from him, they all amount…[Read more]

  • You do write these blogs so well, Richard. This one is the best written and most engrossing take on a musician that I’ve read in ages.

    I have the Complete Recordings. I bought them some years back, not because of my own journeying into blues, but because somebody who did more than my superficial browsing suggested I should. All I can say is that…[Read more]

  • Two super entries, both darkly entertaining. Perfect for a Halloween mood, maybe.

    Alex, love your dry style. I’ve been in that hotel and ironed that shirt for a meeting. Even drunk those beers. Never been in an earthquake though, unless you count the feeble growling that “hit” the south of England a few years back – much like a truck driving by.…[Read more]

  • Two cracking entries in the monthly comp. Still time to grab that kudos in the half day remaining!

  • October. In the UK and Western Europe, spiders are in evidence around our dwelling places at this time of year. Some believe that the cold weather brings them in, but it turns out they’re just looking for a bit of love and affection. They were always there. OK, I admit it, I don’t like them. Mainly they’re fine. I’ve held a tarantula, and most…[Read more]

  • Thanks for a wonderful prompt Clebs. I thoroughly enjoyed writing my piece and it feels as though it might develop a bit. Plus, you got a pretty wonderful bunch of other entries. Well done all.

  • Just 5 days left for Clebs’ excellent monthly comp. Thinking-caps and writing-hands!

  • After the Gathering

    I shan’t go next year.

    I mean, Tom wasn’t there. Jackie spent the whole evening talking to Spence and nobody can get a word in with those two. And Pete. That was a shock. Pete’s joined the choir eternal. Playing three-card brag with St Peter more like.

    ‘So you don’t have to.’ That was his thing. I remember when he broke hi…[Read more]

  • On my third attempt. The previous two kept wanting to turn into short stories!

  • Squidge posted an update 3 years, 10 months ago

    Dipping in to say hi… ridiculously busy at the mo with Life, so barely time to breathe, let alone write! How is everyone doing at the moment, following the Queen’s death? Whether you’re for the monarchy or not, it seems to have impacted nearly everyone I’ve spoken to in some way, shape, or form. Sending hugs if you need them x

    • Doing well (I think). Similarly busy, especially yesterday when I was included in a tale of lost keys which necessitated a drive from Worthing to London and back.

    • Even for a republican like me it does feel like the end of an era. Thinking about how as a Scout we had to make promises to do our duty to the Queen etc, and every time you see a post box or a coin, or hear The King, it feels strange. Very few people have known anything different – @athelstone that sounds like an incredibly trying day, was it all…[Read more]

      • Yes, no harm done, thanks.

        • Oh blimey, Ath…can imagine that being rather stressful.

          • Busy here too, but yes, life seems to feel ‘on hold’ as we witness the end of an era. While not being an ardent Royalist, I did have a lot of respect for a queen who was the unwavering anchor for her family, showing how publicity could be done properly without scandalous revelations. I think I shall miss her.

    • I had a very strong (and somewhat unexpected) emotional reaction to the death. She has always loomed large in my life as my father is an ardent royalist. I’d expected to feel a bit sad, as I did when Prince Philip died, but I burst into tears when I heard the news. We were in Scotland and very nearly passed the cortege from Balmoral to Edinburgh…[Read more]

  • Any more takers for the annual Short Story Challenge? There’s still time to join the “All You Need” group and make a couple of simple choices. The group closes and becomes private on Sunday evening, 22:00 UK time. It’s an easy way in for 6 months of fun and anticipation.

  • Well done @clebs. I said it’s excellent – and it is!

  • Another reminder to all Denizens. The annual short-story challenge is awake once more. If you haven’t joined already, you only have until 11 September to join the group ALL YOU NEED and make a couple of choices.
    And to those who HAVE joined, choices must be made by that same date in order to enter the challenge.

  • Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum Group logo of All You NeedAll You Need 3 years, 10 months ago

    Ah, I see.

    Cf. my choice

  • Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum Group logo of All You NeedAll You Need 3 years, 11 months ago

    I think the choices this year are kinder than they have ever been, really. In there impact on a possible story that is.

  • Still today and tomorrow left for a crack at the monthly comp. GO ON! You know you want to really. Give Alex some work to do with his judging.

  • An apology to some of the more active users of this site. The absolute last thing we need is your posts going astray, but that has happened. A while back we had some anti-spam software that blocked posts with internet links embedded, but this has been removed. Unfortunately, unknown to us, the same function is buried in the very plug-in that…[Read more]

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