While waiting to move in to our new home in Slovenia, we have been staying in the village of Zgornje Gorje just above Lake Bled. Outside the window of the Studio Špica tourist apartment, we have a wonderful view of the Gorje Parish Church. It is typical of churches in the North of Slovenia, having... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Part 3: Nice-Slovenia
This was definitely the hardest part of the journey for me; we set off from Nice at 4am so the kids would be able to sleep for the first few hours. Exhaustion was already beginning to set in for me by then and I didn't do much driving because I just didn't feel safe. Although... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Road Trip Part 2: Tortosa-Nice
So much has changed since I wrote the last entry, I'm feeling a bit numb as I write this one. If I think back to this time last week, and the distance travelled both physically and emotionally since then, it's mind-blowing. It puts me in mind of the Ancient Mariner's homecoming journey when the spirit... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Road Trip Day 1: Malaga-Tortosa
3 days. 4 countries. 2,500km. Of all the road trips I have taken with my family, this was the craziest yet. It was also the most unusual, given that we were crossing a Europe emerging from an unprecedented lockdown brought about by the Covid-19 crisis. It was by turns exhilarating, exhausting and fascinating. Today I... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 29: Moving On
Like a long lonely streamI keep runnin' towards a dreamMovin' on, movin' onLike a branch on a treeI keep reachin' to be freeMovin' on, movin' on Not a poem of the day today, then, but a song. This was always a favourite of mine and my husband's, especially when we lived in the U.K., where... Continue Reading →
Guest Post: Adrian the Unloved by Valdis Stakle
Today's guest post comes from the unique mind of Valdis Stakle, who does not have his own blog, but perhaps he should? In addition to writing flash fiction, he paints impressionistic portraits of the characters in his head. For more details you can contact him at valdiss@hotmail.co.uk. Adrian the Unloved Adrian, by Valdis All his... Continue Reading →
Guest Post: Ants & Uncles by Kayen Rice
Today's post was first published by Ken 'Kayen' Rice on his website, but he's kindly offered it up for me to share here at Experiments in Fiction. Ken has had many jobs, of which he's 'quit more than most people have read adds for.' He's been divorced twice, engaged three times and arrested once, and... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 28: The Road Not Taken
One of the few failings of my undergraduate English Literature Course was that the creators of the syllabus interpreted English Literature not as Literature written in English, but as Literature written in England (or Ireland, Scotland and Wales.) To study American Literature written in English, you had to take a separate course in 'American Studies,'... Continue Reading →
Locked down on La Costa with the Covid Blues Again
I thought I’d have a bit of fun today. Apologies to Bob Dylan for this one… El Gobierno draw circlesOn a map and call them plansI would ask them what they’re thinkingBut they wouldn’t understandAnd Los Civiles treat me kindlyThey didn’t yet give me a fineBut deep inside my heartI know they will in time…. Continue Reading →
Guest Post: Blow-ins by Nick Reeves
Today, I am very proud to be hosting my first guest post: a short story by Nick Reeves. Nick lives on the North East coast of England and many of his stories are set in the fictional town of Penn Beacon. He counts magpies (of which there were 8 at the last tally), and collects... Continue Reading →