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Sandra started the topic Monthly competition December 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 7 months ago
When Jack and Jill are found – Jack unconscious, Jill bruised, with a broken wrist, on the downward path from Old Well Hill, each are separately interviewed while in their hospital beds. Each gives an implausible and conflicting account of the events which led to their injuries.
As a local journalist you want a front page story but are mindful o…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 7 months ago
Thank you Ath, and thank you Knicks for a version I wish I’d thought of , so many excellent phrases. Now to try to craft an irresistible competition!!
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 7 months ago
Real rough, block-of-text, stream-of-consciousness business, because it’s the end of the month, and how did we get here?!, and I been stupid-busy so zero time for much fanciness, or many words 😅😅
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I Got Nothing
Understanding. To buttress. In-sight. The value in me seeking the value in you, and seeing it. Knowing it, like a true friend. What…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 7 months ago
Had a quick peek and it looks great!
I’ll investigate further when I have more time but wanted to say thank you, Ath, for all the effort you’ve put in. -
Raine replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 7 months ago
Hi @Athelstone, sorry – no I don’t think there is a delete option currently either, it was just that I could delete it off the main wall, but not in the forum which seemed like it might cause confusion. It would be good to be able to delete your own comments though, particularly for the monthly comps & publication rights issues, but it’s not critical.
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Raine replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 7 months ago
It does look much improved @athelstone. Thank you for all the hard work. I love that copy/pasting from word works better & that reply threads won’t vanish. Also love the chat – I commented in there that I almost didn’t spot it though – is there a way of making it more prominent? Or listed on the ‘Activity’ drop down menu at the top?
THe other…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 8 months ago
Failed on the basics.
I’d been riding pillion on a BSA since my teens. Clandestinely to start, because my parents forbade me, but by 2004 I was well past that, and three years past my first BSA rally, which had taken us to Australia. Being one of 200 bikes wending our way across rolling golden hills an unforgettable experience. Even so, that…[Read more] -
Janette posted an update 4 years, 8 months ago
Can anyone help me with my book research? I’ve come across a fatal flaw in my book and need to age up a character a little (otherwise it’s a full book rewrite, which I’m trying to avoid).
Did anyone (or anyone you know) leave school in Summer when you could have/were due to leave in the Easter break?
My MC leaves at Summer, but I need to add…[Read more]-
I can’t think leaving at Easter would’ve been that likely, because of ‘O’levels.
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Hi, Sandra,
I was one of the ones who had to stay on an extra year and leave aged 16 (in June 1974 – oops, showing my age!), which I was pleased about because I wanted to sit exams and my parents wanted me to leave to earn a wage. It was a common thing then, that some kids were expected to leave the earliest opportunity to ‘bring home a wage’, and…[Read more]-
I was 16 at Easter 1963, so can’t help you there, sorry.
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Steve says school leaving age was 15, but you could stay on. Also see wikipedia Raising_of_school_leaving_age_in_England_and_Wales
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Thanks, Sandra. I’m trying to find someone who could have or did leave at Easter. Better still, someone who remembers if it was mandatory or whether there were exceptions. My MC wants to stop on, but her parents are insistent she leaves asap. However, if something meant she couldn’t or shouldn’t leave at Easter …
It’s a long shot, and I’m fast…[Read more]
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I don’t think it’s ever been mandatory to leave at Easter – short of expulsion. You are required to choose your subjects for a full year well in advance of Easter, so that staying on is the default position, even if it’s obvious to all that a specific student is going to leave. In theory, I could have left school at Easter in 1972, but at that…[Read more]
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Thanks, Ath, that’s very helpful. My MC is being pressured by her parents to leave school and earn a wage, but the employer/employment route might be the way to go. Pity I didn’t think of this when I drafted the book.
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 8 months ago
I really enjoyed your story too, Newbie!
Thank you Raine, for being a wonderful comp host, it was funfunfun like I knew it would be 😃🦇🎃👻
Couldn’t agree with Ath more, we duh best 🥳✨
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 8 months ago
Hi all! Thank you so much for entering this month – sorry I’m not the actual winner of last month but I’ve had fun being undeserved organiser anyway!
@knickylaurelle, I loved the dark, shadowy atmosphere to this. Lost boys and forests and witches – *chefs kiss* Some utterly beautiful imagery in here, my favourite has got to be ‘a cackle can be…[Read more]
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Thank you Raine for so topically filling the breach, setting and judging (always the hardest part) the monthly comp. I am making good progress after stroke + surgery so hope to be back to full-strength participation soon
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*giant hugs*
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Oh my goodness, Sandra, I had no idea you were going through such a hard time. Pleased to hear you’re making good progress. Take it easy. Best wishes to you and yours. xxx
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Thanks, Newbie. I count myself lucky to have come through it with minimal side effects – and a huge warm glow from the quantity and breadth of caring messages which have come my way from friends and family.
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Seagreen replied to the topic The world, her dog, memories-dot, dot, dot. in the forum Blogs 4 years, 8 months ago
On the phone so I’ll keep this short…
I’m not the same person I was ten years ago (or even five years ago) and the things that impacted me then are not the things that impact me now.
I see it as growth ☺️ -
Raine posted an update 4 years, 8 months ago
One week left to get your spooky flashes in for the October comp. Come unnerve and delight me. 🙂
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 8 months ago
Ath that creepy as hell, man 😭😭
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
All done! Lost the ending I wanted to word count woes lols, but this was very fun none the less 👻🐱👤
Lost
Tall pines creak in the eeriness of night, blown by a sudden, fierce gale. It tears through the forest like a spectral fox hounded by wild and ghostly dogs, and the darkness feels alive with power and invocation. Two, small boys stop running…[Read more]
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
oooOoOoooooh!! I love it. This is going to be funfunfun 🎃👻🦇
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
Done! and lol! 😀
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Raine started the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
Okay, so as Sandra is offline, I’ve stepped in to set this month’s challenge. Keeping it simple, it’s Halloween month so I want <400 scary/eerie/weird words featuring one (or more) of the following:
A black cat
A skeleton (of any species)
A ghost
A small child out at night
A bag of sweetsHave at it. Entries close midnight on Halloween.…[Read more]
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Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
Go for it!! I don’t need to tell you whose piece tied with hers in muh heart 😍😍 haha #mybiasisshowing
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
@knickylaurelle just to let you know Sandra won’t be able to set a challenge as she’s offline for a wee while. Did you want to set another? Or I can invent something?
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 9 months ago
Woohoo, Sandra! Congratulations! ☺️
And well done, Knicky. Thanks for a challenging (for me, anyway) comp 👍
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