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228 entries in this archive

Thursday 12 December, 2024

Snatch! (a five minute read)

Apologies to the several people I told that this story was available to download.

I did circulate it to Writers’ Circus but forgot to follow up by posting it to the website.

It was written in Peurto Pollensa in November in response to a toipc entitled: “A stormy night”.

It’s one of my favorites.

Wednesday 11 December, 2024

Garden of Eden ( a seven minute read)

I should offer a warning.

This is about teenage sex in the modern era.

Rather graphic and totally immoral.

It was an ‘extra’ story for our Writers’ Circus group sparked by the topic “a bare tree”.

I had to work out where to get that reference into the story.

Self-edited using Read Aloud in Word.

Saturday 23 November, 2024

Trevvid and the Kembelatti ( a short novella, takes about an hour to read)

This is a ‘future fiction’ story which I started around four years ago when my eldest grandson was about eleven.

There was a stage when Matthew used to make excellent sketches of spaceships, rockets, robots and ailiens, all full of fine detail.

I had hoped we might develop Trevvid’s story together and in doing so Matthew might illustrate it.

Like his father, Matthew has a talent for artwork. Maybe one day he will?

This tale is about three young people who use their friendship and special powers to resist the evil forces of Juuster, the demonic leader of the Kembelatti.

You will encounter lots of strange words and odd spellings. To help, there is a Glossary but I think you will soon get the gist of what is meant by these words.

do give it a go, please.

There are lots of little twists and turns which I hope make this tale readable and enjoyable.

And yes, this one has a happy ending!


Note: I have addded a Contents list which allows readers to navigate to each chapter.

Monday 4 November, 2024

The Beast of Camusdarach ( a seven minute read)

This is another tale tapped on my iPad on the veranda in Mallorca last month.

It is a memory of my 14 year old self at a BB Camp in 1962, a mere 62 years ago.

Jump in your Tradis and join me.

Monday 4 November, 2024

Sniper (seven minute read )

This is the final tale tapped into my iPad during our October winter sun break in Mallorca.

Those familiar with my Masie Kaywood stories will recognise some of the characters in this tale.

It is set in the north west of Ireland during The Troubles and features David Abernety aka Biscuit in the role of a sniper armed with a telephoto camera tasked with watching the comings and goings at a remote farm.

Suspend your critical faculties and travel back to the 1980s, long before the advent of digital photography.

Saturday 2 November, 2024

Where or When

This is a story which came to me on the veranda during our recent winter sun break on Mallorca.

It is based on a recurring vibrant memory of Glasgow Fair Friday in July 1964.

Please do not take offence at the nickname assigned to Sidney Goldman. He accepted it, even welcomed it as it gave him a chance to add his Jewish comedy routines when performing to an audience. And Sid loved and audience - as did Willi.

Put on your time traveller’s bunnet and read on.

For ease of reference, here are the You Tube links which will take you quickly to the songs referred to in the text:

Song of the Clyde

https://youtu.be/iZX0h4X7s1c?si=Cju7wFMJ6vxsj3CP

My Way

https://youtu.be/qQzdAsjWGPg?si=bMJ1rUbRMESk2CP_

Fever

https://youtu.be/JBANWpzsHts

Nice work if you can get it

https://youtu.be/FB1MxIZrmCk?si=0-J9eZfgbeTjb64I

Begin the Beguin

https://youtu.be/sYHXTJxoZqo?si=tFrwnRLfd-uNNK1C

Fly me to the Moon

https://youtu.be/ZEcqHA7dbwM?si=_N4wEdZ5l4kZIiY-

I can’t tell a waltz

https://youtu.be/QI8z5gBNDWk?si=DXiP4S-LJrE2iR9A

Jimmy Shand medley

https://youtu.be/vhxtmqYyI_w?si=0tUl6Exs0Ee0FnxV

The Day we went to Rothesay-O

https://youtu.be/xvHgHxu4cbQ?si=9Zdwb4EQPuozGmhn

Where or When

https://youtu.be/tbnA78ravpY?si=JI2l1NgwHCKZc-ft

Will ye no’come back again

https://youtu.be/JyaCv41-VM8?si=8TzvKmObS66QMVwa

Auld Lang Syne

https://youtu.be/i4pN0zn16jk?si=8mbB5vF9BijRcttg

Monday 28 October, 2024

Paradise in the Sun ( twenty-minute read)

This is another tale concocted while tapping on my iPad on the veranda during our recent sun seeker holiday in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca.

In the past we have called this island Majorca but Mallorca seems to be preferred nowadays.

It is a tale which begins in Largo in the East Nuke of Fife, moves to Mallorca then to Tenerife and finally to Gran Canaria.

It is a mystery/thriller/romance.

You may at first think it ‘unlikely’ but perhaps it could be true.

Self-edited using Read Aloud in Word so please forgive typos and use you best judgement.

Saturday 26 October, 2024

Taken by Storm (a ten-minute read)

We have just returned from Mallorca after ten nights in Puerto Pollensa, an end of year Winter Sun break.

Sitting on our veranda early while my Princess slept on, I tapped this tale onto my iPad then cleaned it up back here at home.

I had been working on another story (Snatch!), not yet published here. The November Writers’ Circus theme for Snatch! was: ‘A Stormy Night.’

This entirely fictitious story follows the same theme.

It recounts a tale of misadventure by a group of young men, Venture Scouts, who attempt to climb Ben Lomond on a day when a storm if forecast.

Read on and discover what happens.

Spoiler alert: not all stories have happy endings.

Monday 7 October, 2024

Russian Dolls ( a novella, a longer read)

This is another Maisie Kaywood romp.

Maisie is a modern-day Robin Hood character, choosing for herself what wrongs she chooses to put right.

Yes, it is fantasy fiction but I hope it may entertain.

The first three chapters set the scene after which Maise and her XCD Team from Lab 5 at Global Bio-Genetics spring into action.

I suggest you give it a whirl. I hope it may grab you.

This complicated tale started writing itself a few years ago and go mislaid in the editing process. I found it again a few weeks ago and polished it using the “Read Aloud” tool in Microsoft Word. If you find errors, please use your best judgement as to spelling or meaning. Thanks.

(Please also check out the other Maisie Kaywood stories and “Living with Myra”, the story about Maisie’s mother.

Note:

I have added a Table of Contents which enables readers to navigate to each chapter.

Sunday 29 September, 2024

Last Chance Saloon

This story crept into my mind while I was thinking about two friends who have had recent spells in hospital.

Apart from a two day spell in the Victoria Infirmary as a three-year-old to have my tonsils removed, I have been fortunate never to need hospitalisation. Long may this situation continue!

This short piece is purely from imagination.

Make a coffee and have a delve.


(This was previously called Pastures New.)

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