You guys are so generous. I love the way we set one another writing challenges. I came home today looking forward to writing a story for Diana. And, to be honest, to getting your lovely feedback.

 

Isn't it a win-win?

 

And if the whole world could behave as we do (by and large!) wouldn't it be great?

I had travelled further than you'll ever know and taken many wrong turnings on the way, but when I saw the clues - the Y shapes of the twigs in the wood and the hands on the church clock - I knew I had come to the right place. The Master had told me that this was where I would reach understanding, but I knew not how, for all I could see were carpets of white and yellow flowers beneath the trees, a green sward stretching to the horizon beyond an encircling wall, and faint imprinted memories…

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Last night I dreamt that I was looking at my back in the mirror. It was a ghastly sight, as if I'd been painted by Francis Bacon (20th century English/Irish painter).   Two good things came from this. One, morning revealed that I did not look like this. Two, I looked at some of Francis Bacon's portraits… Continue

 I have written of Venice, psychoanalysis and a man who is more than he seems. Lately I have been across the Atlantic. My first short story was called "The Dragon's Bones". My first name is not spelled in the usual way. 

 

Who am I?

 

And would other authors like to introduce themselves? 

Please indulge me in a piece of whimsy.  My cat Eggy (whose picture I use) is 12 years old today. A little wheezy now but a happy beast, who spends much of his time sleeping on a cushion. That is, when he's not killing a pen. Wish him many happy returns with me. And here's a picture of what he looks like in his own mind, young and preparing for the chase of life.… Continue

Tell me which of these is not true:

 

I hate cleaning and only do it in extremis

 

I am prone to bad temper

 

I fritter away time instead of getting on with a task

 

If there are two portions I will take the bigger one

 

I am untidy

 

I can be offhand with people if I don't like them

 

 

 

February, in terms of days the shortest month, can feel like the longest where I live. Especially as this winter started so early. But last Friday, walking on our lovely local hills, the sun projected spring warmth onto our backs, the air smelled new and the bees were out gathering pollen from the… Continue

I don't want to be here. My teacher smells and he shouts and it gives me earache and I keep telling Mum but she just clips me round the ear which only makes it worse, so I go to my room, put my head under the blankets and talk to Edward, who isn't a teddy-bear, he's a dolly and I want to be like him. He wears red tartan trousers or a kilt, I've got both and I can change them over whenever I want and there's a little sporran too, so he can be a proper Scottish person, like I wish I…

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This is one I just have to brag about. I got my story selected for the anthology "100 Stories for Queensland", due to be published on 8th March. All profits go to help flood victims in Queensland. My oldest friend (known since school) lives half her life in Queensland, and has most of her family there, so that's my personal connection. But I thought that there would be zillions of entries and really didn't expect to get picked. But hey, I did!