Stories without Borders
I admit that with the current Covid-19 situation, I've digressed a bit from the normal remit of my website with some 'factual' pieces (in as much as anyone's personal diary can be considered 'factual.') It's high time, then, that I returned to some experimental fiction, and as such I'm posting the opening section of my... Continue Reading →
Though I've already written about finding balance in earlier entries, in today's post I'd like to dig a little deeper by exploring the concept of balance in nature, and in life. I will then look at how we can apply this concept to help us deal with the unique challenges posed by lockdown during the... Continue Reading →
After so long waiting, I had finally arrived. I had coveted the dustbin for years: stainless steel; easy-clean; antibacterial. Best of all was the footpedal which meant you would never have to touch it, except to take the bag out. This would be contained within an odour-eliminating, sleekly streamlined plastic capsule. The insanitary sanitised once... Continue Reading →
In the second post in my 'Back to the Fiction' series, I bring you the next excerpt from my first novel The Folks Across the River, which is a continuation of Chapter 1. As always, I welcome your criticism, comments and suggestions. In particular, I would appreciate some help with the Romanian language translations. But... Continue Reading →
I was doing pretty well in quarantine. You might have seen my earlier entries: they were all about 'finding balance', staying calm and facing our fears. Then my body threw me a curve ball. It's the same curve ball it throws me every month, but right now I'm finding it particularly difficult to deal with.... Continue Reading →
I'm re-reading John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River at the moment. I love the way he uses the do-si-do as an extended metaphor to describe the courtship dance between key characters. It made me think about the bees courtship dance, or 'waggle dance' which inspired the following poem. As ever, your comments, queries and... Continue Reading →
This poem is dedicated to my mother, Elizabeth, who died aged 32. Today would have been her 62nd birthday. It's also dedicated to all those who knew and loved her, and to my children who she never got the chance to meet. The loss of my mother also inspired The Tide which could be read... Continue Reading →
In the last few entries, I've been focusing on meditation and mindfulness as a means of staying sane during the current crisis. That does not mean, however, that we should never admit that we are scared. An important part of any recovery or self-discovery process is to bring our fears into the open. In examining... Continue Reading →
6 days in, I realise I'm a quarantine rookie. From the moment I wake up, everything is getting on my nerves. Try as I might, I can't seem to get a moment's peace, I can't get on with my work, I don't get my son through all his schoolwork, and I end up being mean... Continue Reading →