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FF – The Perfect Shot
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Fatima Fakier Deria.
Copyright Fatima Fakier Deria
Hidden in his perch, he looked across at the chairs. Empty now, he knew that soon each would be occupied. He settled down to wait.
Hours past until at last he spied his quarry entering the garden. A clandestine meeting; it had cost much to determine the location.
Sighting carefully, he targeted the lead participant. A perfect shot.
A meeting of two Great Families. He smiled grimly as a dozen Kardashians and as many Baldwins took their seats.
He took the shot; then again, again, again.
Heh, he thought. Da tabloids is gonna pay big bucks for dese pics.
Pegman – Hunter and Prey
Here is my story for What Pegman Saw which this week takes us to Yellowstone National Park in America.
Copyright Blake Everson for Google Maps
Samuel crept silently through the trees, rifle held loosely in his hands. He had eschewed the traditional brightly-coloured hunter’s jacket for camouflage, blending in perfectly with his surroundings.
Carefully avoiding tourists and park rangers he moved silently through the caldera, at last spying signs of his prey. Footprints, small yet distinct – fresh. He peered through a bush… there! His quarry, resting in a clearing.
Raising the rifle to his eye, he sighted and gently, ever so gently, applied pressure to the trigger. A twang and he suddenly shot off the ground, caught in a net, his shot going hopelessly wide! Another of his quarries ran past and the pair disappeared, laughing, into the trees.
Finally he arrived home, having spent hours sawing through the net.
“Any luck, dear?”
“Grr. No. It’s true what they say. He is smarter than the av-er-age bear.”
Sorry, did you say Yellowstone Park? Oops.
[Note: I was going to pop a picture at the end but didn’t want to spoil the punchline, so if there’s anyone who didn’t get the reference, you can click here 🙂 ]
Last Week’s Snow
Here are some pictures I took last Sunday. It is very rare here to get snowflakes large enough to show up on camera.
I messed about with the first one in Lightroom. I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s fun pushing the sliders around to see what will happen 🙂
I shrank them all a bit to make the file size smaller.
No processing
Lightroomed!
Sharing My World 2018 Week 12
Here is my post for Cee’s Share Your World.
What is your earliest memory?
I have a very vague memory of my brother’s birthday, which was announced on the TV on a little segment called Gus Honeybun’s Magic Birthdays. Gus, a puppet, would do a handstand or whatever was asked of him. I was about four or so at the time I guess.
Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under?
Over! Over, I say. Here, once again, is the original patent for the toilet roll holder. Note, “over”.
Picture via cnet.com, but since it’s a patent I’m assuming it’s public domain
What makes you feel grounded?
Being out for a walk in nature, I suppose. I spend most of my life either at work or lost in TV/vide game/book-induced fantasy. Reality is overrated, I find.
What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?
My friends’ oldest, who has a birthday next week, named me as being someone he wants at his birthday tea 🙂
FF – You Too Can Make a Difference
Here is my little story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Björn Rudberg.
Copyright Björn Rudberg
Nigel glares at the sign. He can’t understand. Others with disabilities pass with no problem. All races, creeds, colours and sexual orientation, all are welcomed with open arms.
Why is he any different? Why is he singled out?
The sign is clear. He turns and walks back the way he has come.
Have you been affected by Nigel’s story? Maybe, like Nigel, you were born with a single huge hand, or know someone who was. If so, please take to Twitter, using the hashtag “#iwasbornwithsinglehugehandsyndromeandfeelostracisedasaresult”. If you have any characters left, leave a message.
You too can make a difference.
Sharing My World 2018 Week 11
Here is my post for Cee’s Share Your World.
If a distant uncle dies and you were always his favourite and leaves you $50,000 (any currency) in his will, what would you do?
Wow, over the past couple of years I’ve lost an awful lot of distant relatives hereabouts, and they’re all leaving me money!
I’d start by paying off a chunk or my mortgage, I guess. Because 50 grand off a mortgage is a lot more than 50 grand once they recalculate the interest.
What sound or sounds do you love?
Trickling water in a bubbling brook. Also the swish of the waves on the sand. Water-related things.
St. Nectan’s Glen, Cornwall
What’s your middle name? Why?
Francis. Why? That’s the one my parents gave me 🙂
What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?
Nothing springs to mind 😦 Just very busy at work.
FF – The Watchers
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. The photo was contributed by Ted Strutz.
Copyright Ted Strutz
The camera sat forlornly on the hilltop, still pointed skywards. A small hamper and flask of hot soup sat nearby on a blanket, laid out in an attempt to afford the user some measure of protection against the damp grass. A book on astronomy lay open, pages fluttering in the breeze.
Molly trudged up the hill. “Harold? Harold? Where could he be, the old fool?”
Concentrating on the flask, the book, the camera, she didn’t notice the still-smoking pile of ash…
There are things. Up there. In the stars. And they don’t like being watched.
Pegman – The Future of Love
Here is my story for What Pegman Saw. This week we are visiting the Bahamas.
Copyright Slayde Kerner for Google Maps
“Oh, darling, it seems just yesterday that we walked hand in hand along the pristine beaches, so in love…”
“It was just yesterday.”
“… our hearts swelling swe..swe.. meep meep meep…”
“Oh, terrific.”
dial dial dial
“Hello. Is that Robo Inc? My wife’s broken down.”
“No problem, Sir!”
“But… I’m in the Bahamas. Miles from any engineer!”
… meep meep in love in love yesterday day day fzzzt…
“Don’t worry, Sir. With our new InstaBoot Remote™ service, we’ll have her up in a jiffy. Just 2000 dollareuropounds plus tax per month.”
“What amazing value! Sign me up!”
“Of course, Sir. One moment, please.”
… hand in hand meep BZZZZZZ…
“… BEEP! hello, my darling, why don’t we walk along the beach and make love in the waves?”
“Hooray! Thanks, Robo Inc!”
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Sharing My World 2018 Week 10
Here is my post for Cee’s Share Your World.
What did or did you not like about the first place you lived without your parents?
Well, it was a room in university halls. About half men, half women and half first years, half final years. Fourteen rooms on my floor, sharing a kitchen. So it was what it was. Noisy but not lonely. A nice sense of community.
What is your most favourite smell/scent?
Mmm, bacon. Nom nom nom.
Would you prefer snowy winters, or not, and why?
It’s a wonderful magical sight to look outside and see everything white and still and quiet. However, I have to drive to work and my whole area is very hilly. The other week I couldn’t get off my drive until I cleared it let alone up the hill. The gritted road was 100 metres away and I couldn’t reach it.
So while I have to drive to work then no, I would not prefer snowy winters.
What did you appreciate or what made you smile this past week?
We had a nice birthday tea for Mum on Friday out at a local pub. It was a good evening.
FF – Mission Failed
Here is my rather rushed story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Sandra Crook.
Copyright Sandra Crook
Barclay drew his boat up quietly to the bank near a lawn of sculptures which looked as though they’d been vomited randomly into place. High class venue. He saw cars near the mansion and smiled. No-one would expect him to sneak in by boat. He drew his gun.
Two at the door – blam! blam! Red sprayed. One more inside – blam! Right to the head. Too easy…
… until the hallway. Ten, all firing at once. Screaming, he fell in a pool of sticky red and groaned. He’d never get all this paint out. His mum was going to kill him.
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