Tuesday 7 April, 2015
Today, after a break for holidays, I add a wee ode written to mark the arrival of Matthew, our first grandson.
It is called “The Stork Came Today!”
I also found an old tale, written ages ago, which I have re-vamped under the pen of Bettina Tazzina, because this is the sort of soppy tale my Mum would have liked.
I have re-named it “Icon”.
Tuesday 31 March, 2015
Today the ghost of “William Topaz McGonagall” haunts the land!
Here are four Odes which I hope will not annoy him too much.
“The Fabulous Ruby Murdoch” tells of an encounter with an unforgettable three year old.
“Thanks and Farewell to Edward Casswell” is an ode of thanks to the man who (re)introduced me to singing.
“Alan T, our man of Song” is an Ode of thanks to Alan Tavener of the “Morning Choir”
“Dreich Mondays No More” was written to celebrate Alan Tavener being elected as an Honorary Associate of the Royal School of Church Music.
Monday 30 March, 2015
Today I have added:
and
These would all make suitable titles for short stories but they are recipes!
Buon Appitito!
Sunday 29 March, 2015
Today in Bearsden it is wet, wet, wet...
What better to do on a wet day but read? And write?
The first two stories are linked.
“An Ordinary Submariner” chronicles what we understand to be ‘the facts’ of my Dad’s long 5-year war as a Submariner.
“Sybil’s War” is a fictional tale based on a particular mission carried out by HMS Sybil.
“A Trammatic Experience” tells the tale of Margaret and me in Milan. It is 100% true.
“Monika” is an Ode about a thirsty mosquito who took a great liking to Scottish blood.
“Timbuctoo” combines two stories, the second a sequel to the first.
Saturday 28 March, 2015
Our grandson Matthew is now four and a bit (March 2015), and lives in England.
“Whistler the Orsinaurus” is a story about the teddy bear we bought for him when was born.
“Teo the Hare” is a story about an Hare we bought Matthew on our way to visit him.
Friday 27 March, 2015
Today I have added two stories which I hope might amuse.
Both are suitable for older children from 8 to 80.
“Murphy’s Midnight Manuevers” is about a Labrador who is led astray....
“Three Men and a Minnow” is about elderly men who go trout fishing...
Both tales are set on the Island of North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides.
If you find yourself lucky enough travel to this paradise, try “Langass Lodge” for excellent food and comfortable accommodation.
Thursday 26 March, 2015
Today I have spent several hours editing “Travels of a Donkey”. It is overlong, self-indulgent and idiosyncratic twaddle! Don’t bother to attempt it without the help of strong drugs!
However, there is also “Wichita Lineman” which I do recommend to anyone who has been infected by the People’s Friend bug, as I was as a child.
Wednesday 25 March, 2015
“Truth to Tell” was written to mark 100 years since the start of WW1.
“A Welcome to Gethin” and “Fanfare to Harry James” were both written to welcome new babies.
Tuesday 24 March, 2015
This is a further revised version of the original Trumped story.
The original was crafted long before we have been plagued by the man who has dominated the headlines over the last decade.
It is a romance, set in Glasgow of the late 1950s.
Louisa at our Writers’ Circus set us the challenge of “Betrayal”.
The idea of setting this story against a background of Greyhound Racing came at once. My Dad was a weekend gambler, not addicted, but he did enjoy Friday nights at Shawfield Stadium, which still exists as a Greyhound Racing venue.
The ambiance I am trying for is post-war Glasgow, seeking to contrast the gulf between the lives of rich (living in the grand mansions of Pollokshields) and poor (living in the Oatlands district, where my Dad was born).
I have re-formatted it and re-edited the original using Read Aloud in Word. If you a typo or logic error, please forgive, make your best judgement and read on.
Thank you Kareth for editing the original version all those years ago.
Tuesday 24 March, 2015
Two linked tales today.
“Frederica the Frog” is a children’s story written for a girl who wanted a story about a ‘real’ Frog.
“Bumble the Storyman“ is an adult story about a simple man surrounded by Superheroes!