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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Robo Inc – Supplying, upgrading and rebooting your significant others since 2078.
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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.
Pegman – A Busy Haunting
Here is my story for What Pegman Saw. I’ve missed a few weeks but I’m very busy at the moment. February/March is audits, budgets and all sorts!
This week we’re on the Clinton Road in New Jersey. This road is notorious for sightings of ghosts, Satanists, witches and even the Ku Klux Klan.
Of course, I bet they all like to come back after death and join the other ghosts… prepare to be terrified to your verrrry corrrre 🙂
Copyright Google Maps
Woo-woo!
“Oy! Who are you?”
“We are the ghosts of witches past!” said a witch.
“Well, we’re the ghosts of Satanists past and this is our week,” said a Satanist.
“Don’t think so,” replied a witch. “I’m pretty sure we’re up.”
Woo-woo!
“We are the ghosts of the Ku Klux Klan. Shudder in fear at… oh, it’s you.”
“Oh, great,” said a witch. “The bloody KKK.”
“It’s getting pretty crowded around here,” said a Satanist.
“There’s been a bit of a scheduling error,” said a witch, checking her diary. “We’re all booked in.”
“Well, we can work with the witches,” said a Satanist, “but everybody hates the KKK. Bugger off.”
“I’ve never been so insulted in my life!” said a Klanner.
“Pretty sure you have,” said a witch.
And so the KKK left in a huff, leaving the witches and Satanists, who had always been of the same mindset, to haunt the road in peace.
Sharing My World 2018 Week 9
Here is my regular post for Cee’s Share Your World.
What are you reading right now?
I’m reading two books, “Spy Glass” by Maria V Snyder and “The Vinyl Detective – Written in Dead Wax” by Andrew Cartmel.
What was your first adult job?
I worked a summer job in the local county council’s computer department, back in the “mainframe” days. All spinning tapes and whatnot, like you see in old films.
What’s your favourite breakfast cereal?
Breakfast cereal? I’m British so that means the “full English”. Eggs, sausage, bacon, black pudding, baked beans, mushrooms and toast. “Cereal”, indeed.
What inspired you or what did you appreciate this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.
I appreciated that the snow melted and that I could work from home when I couldn’t get my car up the hill.
I took some pictures out the window. I was quite impressed with my camera. I just pointed and clicked and it did quite a good job. The first two are unedited. For the last one I just pushed some buttons in Lightroom to see what would happen and managed to make it look a bit colder 🙂
FF – A Man Walks into a Gym
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by J Hardy Carroll.
Copyright J Hardy Carroll
Freddy stepped out of the taxi. This must be it, he thought. On the corner, lots of signs. Strange spelling, though. He entered the building and was invited onto a stage surrounded by ropes.
Strange, he thought. But… okay.
Then they hit him. Over and over. He dropped his parcel. Blood sprayed everywhere.
When he came round, he asked them why? Why did you hit me?
It’s a boxing gym, they replied. It’s what we do.
But I only wanted my parcel boxed up, he croaked.
Ah, they said. You want Boxing Jim. He’s next door. Here’s your teeth.
Tolerance Wood – a COW story
Another year, another February and it’s time for the Contest of Whatever hosted by Evil Squirrel over at the Nest.
Ah, February. Not the best month, with audits and long work days. Nevertheless, I have popped something together! It’s not the best but I’m sure you will applaud my mastery of Photoshop.
This year we had to incorporate elements from three different pictures chosen by ES. Here is my entry, “Tolerance Wood”. In the true spirit of the Nest, it’s not family friendly 🙂
It was a quiet and peaceful day in Tolerance Wood, when suddenly…
“Dada, Dada!”
“What is it, dog I found wandering lost I’ve asked not to call me ‘dad’ but won’t listen?”
“I saw the most awful thing in the woods. A man and a… a pig in a bath tub. Knowing each other. In a carnal fashion.”
“Are you sure, dog?”
“Yes, Dada, yes! Well, if the expression on the man’s face was any judge. It is etched into my memory.”
“Well, dog. We live lives of understanding and acceptance here in Tolerance Wood and I’m sure that all is well. Let’s go and see if the brothers Nintendo know what is happening.”
And so, teddy bear and dog went to visit the brothers Nintendo. They soon found them bouncing up and down on mushrooms catching coins and power-ups and whatever else they do. I’ve not played the game myself.
“Brothers Nintendo! Dog has seen a most wondrous thing in the woods! A liaison twixt man and beast, and our tolerance and acceptance demands that we greet those involved and welcome them to our forest.”
And so off they all went, and soon found the pair together in their little house.
“Hello and welcome to Tolerance Wood! I am Teddy, this is dog and these are the brothers Nintendo. And a strange green thing.”
“Thank you! We are new here, and much in love, but have been hounded from place to place on account of our unconventional love. We thought that a wood called ‘Tolerance’ would be just perfect.”
“Here in Tolerance Wood, all are welcome. We are accepting of all, and love between man and pig is no exception… wait, what am I saying? This is an affront to nature! String them up!”
“String them up! Lynch mob! Lynch mob!”
And so, with the bodies of man and beast swinging merrily in the trees, everyone went home and had a nice cup of tea. Because evidently ‘Tolerance’ will only go so far.
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Woohoo!
I totally didn't win!
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