Sharing My World 06-12-2021

December 12, 2021 14 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What really turns your stomach? (politicians aside)
It takes a lot to turn my stomach. You’d be surprised at some of the gory stuff I happily watch while I’m munching away at my tea.

The behaviour and evil deeds of some people, that would do it.

What would YOU do with the immense amount of ‘garbage’ in the world, if there weren’t dumps or barges (Sorry New York/New Jersey) where it was taken to be processed?
Fire it into the sun. Nature’s incinerator!

What’s the oddest container you’ve ever gotten a gift in?
I can’t think of any odd containers used for gifts. I tend to get stuff in the original box wrapped in paper.

Do people behave differently during Christmas?
Everyone seems to be jollier. And less willing to do any actual real work. We used to get the afternoon of Christmas Eve off work. Now we get the whole day as the bosses realised no-one was actually doing anything in the morning.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Live by the Country

December 8, 2021 47 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Claire Fuller.

Copyright Claire Fuller

“I’m not sure I trust this place, darling.”

“Well, we need a new tyre… hello, sir!”

“Aye.”

“We need a new tyre, please.”

“Aye. ‘Ere.”

“We need one with tread on it!”

“Aaarrrrr, ye city folks, always want’n somethin’. ‘Ere.”

“Um…”

“What? You want me ‘t fit it fer yer too?”

“Yes, obviously!”

“Aaarrrrr, ye city folks…”

“How much?”

“Three cows an’ a bushel o’ corn.”

“What? What? I’ll show you… um…”

“Aaarrrrr, no, darn city folks, you hold a pitchfork like this, see?”

“Ah yes, thanks.”

stab stab stab

“Darling!”

“What? Live by the country, die by the country.”

vroooooom!

Sharing My World 29-11-2021

December 5, 2021 18 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World. This week is another squirrely one courtesy of the critters of the Shelf.

Mr Fox – If you had the power to strike one person in your life permanently speechless, who would it be?
I strike people speechless on a daily basis purely from the power of being me.

Tina – If you could relive your childhood over again, what’s one thing from this modern world today you’d want to take back with you?
Relive my childhood? Are you mad?

Rainbow Donkey – Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple are the standard colours of the rainbow. Name something you love (or greatly admire/appreciate) for all six major colours of the rainbow!
Purple? That’s history-changing. In this country we use the rhyme “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain” to remember the colours. He died in battle, you see. If we change Indigo/Violet to Purple we’ll have to change it to “Properly” and he wins! Oh no!

Red – spectacular sunset
Orange – normal sunset
Yellow – sun(set)
Green – sunset viewed through tall grass
Blue – sunset under water
Purple – sunset on Venus

Here’s sunset from my bedroom window a few days ago.

Hung-Lo – If you were to open the world’s most accurate fortune cookie, what would your fortune inside it read?
Hmm, let me see… how exciting! And… it’s blank! How can it be blank? What can this mean? What can this mean?

Shelf Santa – Santa’s tired of people leaving him out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve night! If you really wanted to get on Santa’s good side, what would you leave out for him to eat/drink instead?
Milk and cookies? What sort if treat is that for Santa? Over here it’s sherry and mince pies. I’ll add some Cornish clotted cream for him.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Newly Elected

December 2, 2021 45 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Lisa Fox.

There’s some allusion to recent “sleaze-related” issues in the UK government, but I’ve written “MP” and “PM” longhand to help my non-UK readers (thus going slightly over the word limit in the process).

Copyright Lisa Fox

“Mr Fortingham-Smythe, new Member of Parliament for Little Umptingham – what are your plans?”

“I’m going to shit all over the electorate.”

“What? Um, please, watch your language, sir. This is the BBC, after all!”

“Humph.”

“Not the answer I was expecting…?”

“Now that I’m safely elected, I’m planning on indolence, debauchery and a bit of general non-specific corruption. Fill my pockets, so to speak.”

“But… but…”

“And the best bit is, if I’m caught the Prime Minister will simply change the rules!”

“Um, yes, but…”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sit upstairs and wait for a scruffy voter to arrive.”

Sharing My World 22-11-2021

November 28, 2021 14 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What are some red flags to watch out for in daily life?
Clowns. If you see a clown, run away. Nothing good ever came from clowns. Creepy bastards.

What obstacles would you include in the ‘world’s most amazing obstacle course”?
I would include a “clown gauntlet”. Rope bridges, tyre runs, netting, even barbed wire crawling – all fine. But asked to run a gauntlet of clowns? 99.2% of all elite soldiers across the world* screamed like little babies and ran the other way.

(*) made up statistic

Who is the best most believable movie or book villain in your opinion? Or the one that stands out for you? (‘book’ is included because some folks don’t watch movies)
“Ming the Merciless” out of Flash Gordon. I see a lot of his type around the world.

What, in your opinion, is the most beautiful/handsome part of your face? (no dissing yourself please, we’re all beautiful/handsome!)
No dissing myself? Humph. My eyes, then. Awesome they are, and whatnot.

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FF – Not a Story

November 25, 2021 45 comments

Here is my (not a) story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Roger Bultot.

Inspiration did not strike this week 😦

Copyright Roger Bultot

A street. A perfectly ordinary street. Somewhere foreign – those numberplates are far too small to be UK.

Pretty much nothing is happening. A story about nothing happening? Tricky, that.

There’s an air con unit top left. Could be an alien spider robot. But to what end? Haven’t we done that before?

Maybe that skyscraper in the distance. Maybe it has a viewing platform. And every so often that big spike shoots up and impales a tourist. That could work.

“Hey Mike, take a selfie…”
WHOOMP! Aaaargh!
“Oh, hell. Mike.”

I don’t think it has legs.

I’ll try again next week.

Sharing My World 15-11-2021

November 21, 2021 16 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World. Some pretty serious questions this week…

In your opinion, what should be humanity’s goal?
Like a medical doctor, “do no harm”. But it’s a bit late for that. When the squirrels take over, things will be different.

Are you hesitant to speak your opinions?
I’d, um, prefer not to proffer my opinion on that questions. Um. Everyone will be forced to speak their opinions when the squirrels take over, of course.

In what ways has society changed during your lifetime? What do you think caused these changes?
The way we live has changed through technology and more progressive thinking but I don’t think underneath society has changed all that much. There’s more oversight on governments so they find ways to operate “under the radar”. The new squirrel government will be more accountable.

If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow this person to be your friend?
Half the time they’re bigging me up, the other half they’re dragging me down. Not a chance. Way too moody. Unless it was one of our new squirrel overlords, they can talk to me however they’d like.

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FF – Neat and Tidy

November 17, 2021 44 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Dale Rogerson.

“There we go. Ta-da!”

“Hmm, very neat and tidy. Not very safe-looking, though. Propped up like that.”

“Rubbish, it’s fine.”

“Look, your mum’s at the window.”

Creeeeak

“Boys, you’ve been working very hard! Do you fancy a snack? I can whip up…”

CRAAAAASH! Aaaargh!

“Oh, God, nooooooo! Why, God, whyyyyyy? Now we’re gonna have to make our own snacks.”

“Well, shit.”

“Bollocks to that. Pub?”

“Yep. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Grooooan…

Sharing My World 08-11-2021

November 14, 2021 11 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

How many pillows do you sleep with? If over one or two, is it because you sleep better ‘propped up’ a little?
Ha, I had to pop upstairs and check! One pillow. Quite a flat pillow at that. I’m of the opinion that sleeping with my head at a 45 degree angle to the body is probably not the best for your neck.

What would be the worst thing you could put in a piñata?
Poo 😮

Body parts 😮

Those chocolates with the nuts that are always left behind in the variety box at Christmas 😮

What noise annoys you the most?
I hate constantly-barking dogs. How do they find the energy to bark for hours on end? What’s wrong with them? Why don’t the owners get them to shut up? It’s 3 in the morning! These are just some of the barking-dog questions which will never be answered.

If cartoon physics suddenly replaced real physics, what are some things you would want to try?
I’d like to be able to go wherever I like simply by drawing a big hole.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – A Beautiful View

November 10, 2021 48 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Ted Strutz.

Copyright Ted Strutz

Dave and little Maggie walked up on deck and looked out over the impressive vista before them.

“Oh, Daddy, isn’t it beautiful?”

“It is, Maggie.”

“I wish Mummy was here to see it.”

“Me too.”

Mummy had been held up. She’d missed the boat. Dave and Maggie’s home, since the waters rose. Maggie had been only six months then.

“Those are trees, aren’t they, Daddy?”

“That’s right, Maggie.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, dear?”

“I heard some of the others talking. Why are they calling this place the ‘Sahara Desert’?”

“That’s a story for another time. Come on, let’s go back below.”