…Les, Phil and Chris, sat on a kitchen shelf at the Golden Dragon takeaway. In wandered a young man wearing a smart leather jacket and his high-heeled girlfriend, bedecked with bangles and a pretty necklace. He fancied Chow Mein, she a Chicken Curry. The chef went to work, eventually grabbing Les, filling him with rice,Continue reading “Three Plastic Cartons…”
Category Archives: Stories
Inspiration from Italy
I guess you’re familiar with the rosy glow that means you know you’ve done a good job. Three perfectly poached eggs on toast ready to serve, not a single broken yoke. A beautiful flower bed that we planted last year, bursting into bloom. That broken-down wall, now neatly reconstructed, stones in apple-pie order. But whatContinue reading “Inspiration from Italy”
City of Gold
He painted Salford’s smokey topsOn cardboard boxes from the shopsAnd parts of Ancoats where I used to play In 1978, Brian and Michael released ‘The Matchstalk Men’, a song about the remarkable artist L.S.Lowry. Lowry was, as the lyrics put it, ‘an ordinary chap’ who was eventually discovered by the Royal Academy. He achieved aContinue reading “City of Gold”
As Many as the Stars
The story of a rather special ‘Tree Planted by the Waterside’ (referring to my last post, ‘The Tree of Life’). -o-O-o- Guernsey, 1995. “If I sit quietly, surely he won’t notice me”, thought Robert. “Shame I’m 6 ft 6, but I’m sitting at the back, and there are lots of folk in front of me.”Continue reading “As Many as the Stars”
A Bloody Nose Story
[The Cover Picture is AI-generated, not our actual orchestra] July 2009 Sod’s law. Trust our church leaders to arrange the training for ‘Healing on the Streets’ on that particular Saturday. The day our symphony orchestra was playing a concert in the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. Healing on the Streets sounded exciting, and I was itchingContinue reading “A Bloody Nose Story”
How to fail gloriously
Cover photograph from Wikipedia “I’m sorry, Mum and Dad, we can’t go any further. The path peters out with a sheer drop below it. Sam? Sam? Are you alright?” “Yes, Daddy,” replied our 7-year-old grandson, unaware of the perils below, from his perch about 15 feet up on the wooded cliff ahead. “You need toContinue reading “How to fail gloriously”
The Memory Tree
1975 A.D “Chrrup..Chrrup…” “Yes, of course, I’d be delighted. You’re the very first bird ever to settle on my branches! Make yourself at home, feed on the insects in my bark…” I beam with pride as the dappled light shines through the canopy way above my head. Now I’m growing up, I’m aware of myContinue reading “The Memory Tree”
A Wet(tish) Weekend in London
“Can I have some water please?” And then it struck me. My nearly 3-year-old granddaughter Grace whose buggy I was pushing, is no longer a baby. She’s become a little girl, able to articulate her wishes and needs. Steering between shoppers on the High Street, I fished her cup out of a bag so sheContinue reading “A Wet(tish) Weekend in London”
A Tearful Weekend
Cover picture from Dreamstime The voice was unmistakeable. I tried to focus through my tears, but my vision was blurred. Surely this must be one of those strange delusions, the sort I used to have? Only, those were filled with grotesque, bear-like creatures who demanded my body, causing me to emit blood-curdling shrieks with wild,Continue reading “A Tearful Weekend”
A Moving Day Tale
“Ann? Oh, I’m glad I caught you. It’s a while since we’ve spoken. I just thought I should call you and ask how you are.” “Well, yes Jane, I’m glad you’ve rung. I’m moving house today. The removal van’s been round, but I’ve still got lots of stuff in my garage and, to be honest,Continue reading “A Moving Day Tale”
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