Xander Michael

What is this? I turn my back for TWO days and I’m inundated!! ????

Please bear with me. Worked a fifteen hour shift today (with the same tomorrow). I promise to come back with a winner by Monday at the absolute latest x

Hand Signals

Molly matched the testy huff coming from the seat to her left, though neither were on account of the tailback as school runs jostled with motorway traffic on the approach to the roundabout. ‘For God’s sake, Jake. You’ll appreciate one day why I put school first, holidays with your father second.’

She ignored his mouthed words;…[Read more]

‘O dolce mano’ another opera

Coming out of the theatre, in the carpark, beeping the car unlocked, you say ‘If we’re dropping Judy off, she’d be best in the front –‘
Because it’s SO difficult to get out of the back seat? Nevertheless, I say nothing. It was Judy – a work colleague –that offered him the tickets. I bought the third on seeing the…[Read more]

Pleasantly surprised by this, especially given the company ☺️

Well done Sea, for an intriguing tale, and thank you Kate for a topic that had me seeking a tale I KNEW I’d written on this theme, then, not finding it, having to concoct something else. Thanks also for all the other entries; I still haven’t solved the anagram.

There’ll be kites [497 words]

It isn’t often that seeing an envelope on one’s doormat transports one back some forty years through time.
Took me long enough – the wrestling of the key in the lock ever more painful thanks to the curse of arthritis; the nudging open of the door with my shoulder just enough to know I’d be able to push it wide en…[Read more]

UNTITLED  (321 words)

On Thursday, I wrote a letter. Not to send, you understand, since it wasn’t really to someone, and not to keep either, because once I had written it, and re-read it in that way that people do when they are shocked by their candour, I felt embarrassed by it.  Embarrassed by the uncontrolled rage and disappointment that I had…[Read more]

Well deserved win Kate, not only for the entrancing fairy story but for the impetus reading it gave me. And thank you Alex for the competition theme – the sort of challenge which stretches and inspires.

@ Athelstone – would it be possible to put that red reminder banner up more regularly? I confess I’d forgotten about the monthly comp and was…[Read more]

Tickled pink

Let me say straight away, it wasn’t what you – or any of my workmates – would think. Soon as I got over my … anger, I suppose, and looked at her, saw her, I heard my wife say, clear as if she was beside me, and we’d passed her in the street, “Asking for it!” She didn’t always bother to lower her voice, and inevitably I’d look to see…[Read more]

Thank you both for entering and I’m so sorry to keep you hanging on like this. To be honest, I found it really difficult to choose; I liked both of them in different ways. On this occasion (and because if I don’t stop prevaricating we’ll still be here next week) I’m going with Alex.

You caught me on the hop ☺️
I’ll come back to these tomorrow.

Thanks, both 🙂

I’m afraid I’ve been listening to Carol Ann Duffy on BBC Maestro so you have her to thank (?) for my dipping of toes into the poetry waters. It was kind of  like painting a miniature with a 4″ brush.

ReSolutionary

Dreams and aspirations poise

Like Tom Daley

Arms outstretched and toes curled

Over a cliff edge promise of excitement and change

They dive

Into the New Year

Only to flounder in the shallows

Of dwindling discipline and morbid motivation

The old ways resurface

Smug-smiling

Safe for another year

I’m so sorry, Alex. I don’t know where November went 🤷‍♀️

UNTITLED 452 words

A leaf, the colour of burnt sugar, dried and curled into the shape of a piranha’s open maw, drifted across the path in front of her. Good. Enough of a breeze, then, to keep her cool. The last thing she wanted after her run was to turn up at Jake’s night out with a face the colour of a baboon’s bum. She checked her watch…[Read more]

Far TMI!! Our first autumn spider in the kitchen sink this morning (usually they wait until Steve’s away and I’m stark naked before ambushing).