What Pegman Saw – Cats

August 10, 2017 35 comments

I thought I’d try the What Pegman Saw 150 word fiction challenge this week. We’re at Petra in Jordan. I had a stroll around Google Maps and grabbed a picture for my story.

Copyright Google

 

“Here we are at last! Petra.”

“So we are. And don’t call me ‘Petra’ hahaha!”

“I swear to god, if you say that one more time…”

“Okay, okay, no need to get stroppy. So, where’s this ‘theatre’, then?”

“Just over there. But look at this magnificent view…”

“Yeah, magnificent. Rocks and sand. Does the term ‘badlands’ mean anything to you?”

“Ugh. We’ve come all this way. Try to enjoy yourself, will you?”

“Fine. I’m hoping they’re showing ‘Cats’.”

“Huh?”

“’Cats.’ At the theatre. I’ve always wanted to see it.”

“What…? Oh. It’s not that type of theatre. It’s more an amphitheatre. You can look down over the tombs.”

“What? What? Tombs? What? I wanna see ‘Cats’!”

“Okay, fine. Follow me. Come on. Into this alley. Through the gate.”

Clang!

“Hey! Why’ve you shut me in? With those…”

“… Arabian leopards, if I’m not mistaken. They have your scent! You wanted ‘Cats’…”

 

FF – Mistaken Identity

August 9, 2017 77 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo comes from CE Ayr.

To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright CE Ayr

 

Makre’dev, his antennae twitching in anticipation, removed the activation keys from his pouch. Decades marooned on this miserable Earth planet; at last salvation was at hand.

He carefully eased the first key into the bottom receptacle. Glancing at his co-pilot, Colp’ee, he placed the second key into the receptacle above before placing his head in the largest hole for retinal scan. He awaited activation.

Nothing happened. He waited some more.

“This isn’t it, is it?”

“Why the Grock did you think it was a good idea to disguise our space-pod as a rock?”

“Well, you’re the one who forgot where we parked!”

 

Sharing My World Week 32

August 6, 2017 27 comments

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

share-your-world2

If you had to have your vision corrected would you rather: glasses or contacts? Or what do you use if you need to have your vision corrected?
I’ve worn glasses since I was in primary school. I had a brief flirtation with contact lenses in my mid-twenties. Due to my astigmatism I had to have the hard ones (the soft ones couldn’t handle it back in those days). They were all very well but a lot of hassle to clean, a bit uncomfortable and if I looked the wrong way and blinked they’d fly out 😦

I also had a habit of falling asleep in lectures. And trust me, you do not want to fall asleep with contacts in.

Are you more of a dog person or a cat person?
A cat person. As far as dogs go, they’d have to be stuffed ones.

Stuffed cuddly toys, I mean. I don’t go out and kill dogs and stuff them. That would be gross and wrong.

Andrex Puppies

The Lads.

If you were to buy a new house/apartment what are the top three items on your wish list?
A decent-sized enclosed back garden, maybe with a little stream gurgling through it. A couple of extra rooms. And a lovely view – a lake and some forest with a mountain here and there in the distance would be ideal 🙂

What inspired you this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.
Nuffin 😦 I just ground my way through the week. But if you want something inspirational, here are Grumpy Cat’s words of wisdom for this month. Words to live by.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Man Flu

August 2, 2017 78 comments

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

Can anyone tell which dialogue belongs to the man in this tale? 🙂

To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright Dale Rogerson

 

“All these damn boxes and a plant as well. I can hardly see the telly!”

“Well, dear, you could always get up off your backside and help me unpack.”

“Go straight for the nuclear option, why don’t you. ‘Get up, shift stuff’. I’m not well and I’ve already had a hard day at work.”

“Well so have I! And I’m not complaining.”

“You’re not ill. I’m ill. I’m probably dying.”

Oh please, God, let it be true…

“What? What was that?”

“Nothing, dear. Now, if you want to watch the telly, move the boxes.”

“Stuff this. I’m going down the pub.”

Men!”

 

Sharing My World 2017 Week 31

July 30, 2017 12 comments

Here is my post for Cee’s Share Your World series.

share-your-world2

List some of your favourite types of teas.
I only really drink fruity tea. And that’s really a “fruit infusion” rather than actual tea. I would drink tea on occasion but I don’t drink milk so it would be with lots of lemon juice, in the continental style.

If you had to describe your day as a traffic sign, what would it be?
No honking, please, I have one of my heads.

What are a couple of things people could do for you on a really bad day that would really help you?
Leave me alone, please.

Regardless of your physical fitness, coordination or agility: if you could be an athlete what would you do?
I think I’d be a long distance runner. It would be cool to just run and run without a care in the world, getting away from it all and keeping fit at the same time 🙂

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Back in the Day

July 26, 2017 74 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by J Hardy Carroll.

To read the other stories, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright J Hardy Carroll

 

“What’s that, Dad?”

“A phone, Son.”

“Whaaaat? It’s huge!”

“It is, Son. Let me show you how it works. Smell that?”

“Urgh, yes.”

“That’s wee. And that stickiness under your shoe? Chewing gum. Now, grab the phone book.”

“There’s loads of pages missing!”

“Par for the course, Son. And ignore all the cards offering “a good time”. Now, lift the big black thing, take this coin and put it in the slot.

“It keeps falling through, Dad.”

“Common problem. But that doesn’t matter. See the end of the cord?”

“It’s been ripped off, Dad.”

“Yep! Ah, the good old days…”

 

 

Sharing My World 2017 Week 30

July 23, 2017 26 comments

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

share-your-world2

What is your favourite cheese?
Mmm, cheese. Hard cheese, soft cheese, white cheese, blue cheese, cheese with stuff in, cheese without stuff in, stuff with cheese in, stuff with cheese on, cheese with holes, cheese without holes, I Buy Any Cheese dot com.

I’m quite fond of cheese.

Are you left or right handed?
Right. My left hand often asks if it can do more, but to be honest it’s not really up to the job. Just concentrate on changing gears, leave the business of steering to the right hand, I say. Let’s not end up in a hedge.

Do you prefer exercising your mind or your body? How frequently do you do either?
Neither. I’m too lazy to exercise my body and I do complicated stuff all day at work. The last thing I want to do after a long day at work is brain-teasers and challenging books.

Complete this sentence: Hot days are…
Few and far between 😦

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – A Nice Big Car

July 19, 2017 72 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. The photo was contributed by Kent Bonham.

Click on the blue froggy for other stories this week.

Copyright Kent Bonham

 

“A nice big car, yes…”

“Indeed! So, interested?”

“Hmm, yes, good acceleration, a nice big boot, large enough for two of my enemies simultaneously…”

“For your whaaat…?”

“My shopping, yes, as I said, large enough for my shopping.”

“Um, and very economical to run…”

“Yes, economical, yes, who needs to have to keep stopping for petrol during the kidnappings?”

“The whaaaa…?”

“During the school run, as I said, the school run, yes? Let’s talk Shekels.”

“Listen, take it, just don’t hurt…”

“Nonsense! Here is a suitcase full of untraceable non-consecutive banknotes, yes? Goodbye!”

Vrooom.

“Man. I hate selling to politicians.”

 

Sharing My World 2017 Week 29

July 16, 2017 22 comments

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

share-your-world2

How do you like to spend a rainy day?
Well, we get plenty of those. It’s TV, reading and PS4! To be fair, that sounds like a non-rainy day too.

List at least five favourite treats. (They do not have to be sugary).
Chocolate bars. I get addicted so I hardly ever eat them. Black Forest Gateau. A new video game. Plus two other treats I can’t think of right now because it’s quite early still.

Where’s your favourite place to take out-of-town guests?
I don’t have out of town guests. Or any guests. But fortunately since this is Cornwall they can go anywhere and it’s all very nice. Godrevy, Tintagel and Trelissick would be good starts.

You are trapped in an elevator, who would you want to be trapped with?
Firstly it’s highly unlikely that I would be in a lift in the first place. If I were, I would want to be trapped with someone who doesn’t have any gung-ho ideas about fiddling with the controls or opening the escape hatch in the roof (which only exists in films anyway), as both of those actions would likely get me killed.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Fairy Revenge

July 12, 2017 58 comments

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

I have unashamedly combined violence, social commentary and fantasy to come up with something a bit surreal!

To read the other stories for this week, click on the blue froggy.

Copyright Janet Webb

 

Sorcerer Gordak regarded his receptacle of fairy dust with glee. Spotting movement from the corner of his eye he quickly grabbed the luckless sprite. As it screeched in agony he crushed it between fingertip and thumb, wringing its shattered body and allowing the fairy dust to fall into…

“Whoa, dude, how is this ‘an enjoyable fantasy romp suitable for all ages?’

“Kids are desensitised to violence these days. They’ve seen worse on YouTube.”

“Huh, true. Write in some more gore.”

Lurking in the corner, fairy scout Jinglebeenz read the words, mistook them for a battle plan, drew his sword and attacked.