Wednesday 13 January, 2021
This tale arose from an Writers’ Circus challenge to write about “her heart leapt into her throat/mouth”.
A work of fiction, the main character is loosely based on our local lollipop lady, a true stalwart in our community.
Those of you who live near me will quickly identify characteristics of the main FICTIONAL character and
FICTIONAL location of the main action.
I particularly wanted to be sure this wonderful lady got her place in my archive as she is one of my most
loyal readers.
Wednesday 13 January, 2021
This little confection is based on a series of events which happened to friends shortly after they
moved to live in a luxury flat.
Yes, I confess: as written it is an exaggeration of the original but I hope it might make you smile
over morning coffee.
Wednesday 13 January, 2021
This is a Christmas story of a kind, an off-beat take on the Twelve Days of Christmas, the challenge
set for our December meeting of Writers’ Circus.
It recounts the lives of two odd, lonely people.
For Glasgow readers, there are many familiar references.
Give it a go, you never know, you might get into it!
Wednesday 18 November, 2020
Our grandson Ethan is in primary 3 and was asked to write a story about a spy, as an exercise in
creative writing.
Here is his story, complete with his own illustrations.
About a year ago, Ethan got the reading bug and has become a voracious reader.
At school a few weeks before this story, he began a project about The Vikings.
When the topic was first introduced, Ethan was already well informed. Invited to tell the class what he knew about The Vikings, he launched into a ‘lecture’ which prompted his teacher to say,
“Well, if anyone needs to know anything about The Vikings, just ask Ethan”.
Thank you Ethan for giving me permission to publish your story on my website.
Wednesday 18 November, 2020
I have fond memories of living in Pollokshaws, in our single-end.
Here is a tale which conflates a few different memories all true.
Wednesday 18 November, 2020
Our newset grandson, Isaac Rory Bonthron, is to be known to be know as Zac.
In October we visited Abingdon (near Oxford) to enjoy his company.
Here is an account, and a first glimpse at Zac’s personality.
Wednesday 10 June, 2020
During twelve weeks to early June 2020, I penned this story, tapping away about four hours per session, most days, a lockdown hobby, if you like.
It starts in May 2021 and follows a particular day in the life of Malcolm Fraser-Scott.
The story then carries forward to reveal the consequences of his life and those around him as lockdown continues.
I have experimented with a first person style of writing and ask you to persist until it becomes familiar.
The story is offered UNEDITED and thus the errors of grammar, spelling and logic leaps are entirely down to me. I have left line numbers visible, should you wish to offer corrections or comments.
This decision to publish unedited was taken for two reasons.
Firstly, this particular lockdown story with it forward looking time frames will have a limited shelf life, I hope!
Secondly, I am certain sure my Editor, my dear friend Kareth, would reject outright some of the darker sexual encounters described. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Skip past them if they offend.
So, with these caveats, I offer you this novella. At around 44,000 words, it is a longer read.
Tuesday 9 June, 2020
This little tale arose from a Writers’ Circus challenge.
The opening section is from newspaper cutting and sets sets the scene.
The story is off-beat but it is mercifully short!
Suitable for all ages.
Saturday 11 April, 2020
Below is the introduction for the English version of this story which I hope will explain the background to this story.
The German text has been provided by Google Translate. My apologies for any errors.
0000000
“Eli Celli and Mario” wurde vor einigen Jahren zum ersten Mal geschrieben, als Eli Celli ungefähr 4 Jahre alt war. Eli Celli ist jetzt 7 Jahre alt und die Geschichte wurde entsprechend aktualisiert.
Es spielt in der Schweiz, wo er mit seinen Eltern Fiona und Haki und seiner kleinen Schwester Nuria Melek, die 4 Jahre alt ist, lebt. Sie wohnen in der Nähe ihrer Großeltern Stef und Pia, deren Heimat das nächste Dorf ist (Meierskappel im Kanton Luzern). Fionas Bruder ist Onkel Simon und er hat einen Hund namens Gwin.
Fiona lieferte die Illustrationen in Umrissen und Stef fügte Farbe hinzu. Ich hoffe, Sie werden mir zustimmen, dass sie wunderbar schrullig und “Swiss Perfect” sind!
Es gibt auch eine deutsche Version dieser Geschichte auf dieser Website. Die Übersetzung und Adaption dieser Version wurde von Renanta Bachmann geleitet, unterstützt von Stef und Pia.
Als Nuria die Geschichte von „Eli Celli und Mario” hörte, wollte sie eine eigene Geschichte.
Diese Geschichte heißt “Nuria Melek und Mario”. Es gibt es auch in Englisch und Deutsch auf dieser Website. Ich sollte hinzufügen, dass die englischen und deutschen Geschichten nicht identisch sind.
Die Familien Hagmann und Bonthron sind seit 1978 enge Freunde, als Stef und Pia einige Jahre in Glasgow lebten.
Saturday 11 April, 2020
This is a parallel story to “Eli Celli and Mario” which also exists on this website.
Both stories are available in English and Germnan.
Below is a copy of the introduction for “Eli Celli and Mario” which I hope will explain the background.
000000
“Eli Celli and Mario” was first written a few years ago when Eli Celli was about 4 years old. Eli Celli is now 7 years old and the story has been updated accordingly.
It is set in Switzerland where he lives with his parents Fiona and Haki and his little sister Nuria Melek who is 4 years old. They live near their grandparents Stef and Pia whose home is in the next village (Meierskappel in Canton Luzern). Fiona’s brother is Uncle Simon and he has a dog called Gwin.
Fiona provided the illustrations in outline and Stef added colour. I hope you will agree they are wonderfully quirky and ‘Swiss Perfect’!
There is also a German version of this story on this website. The translation and adaptation of this version was led by Renanta Bachmann, assisted by Stef and Pia.
When Nuria heard the story of “Eli Celli and Mario”, she wanted a story of her own.
This story is called “Nuria Melek and Mario”. It also exists in English and German on this website. I should add that the English and German tales are not identical.
The Hagmann and Bonthron families have been close friends since 1978 when Stef and Pia lived in Glasgow for a few years.