Gizmo
He was given the name of Gizmo because of his fascination with remote controls: not that he wanted to use them in the way they were designed, rather he would take them apart and pocket only the minute items that…
Lilt of the Fairground
My shopping trolley is humming its merry tune as its wheels roll over the paving slabs. Wednesday is when I do my big shop, few cars hurtling goodness knows where, so crossing by the roundabout is made easy. The Forest…
The Publicity Stunt
It was a kind of experiment. A scheme set up by an advertising company to promote a new line of site-cabins for the building industry. The promotion was portrayed as a golden opportunity to turn your dreams into fortunes; instead…
Cornerstones
All that is left are the basic foundations – four gigantic slabs of stone embedded in the earth. They remain to testify that once, long ago a property of substance stood on this very plot of land. According to parish…
The Ballad of King Peredurus
By the banks of the Costa that rolls to the sea,Through Moorland that’s purpled with ling.The robes of a man lie on bedrocks of scree,A fool who was born to be King.His claim to the throne on his finger he…
The Fabled Origin of Pickering Town
(When the Folksinger David Swann asked us to write lyrics for a new song depicting the origins of Pickering’s name – the idea lingered. So later, when we began to dabble with writing Fairy Tales, this popped into my head.) …
Lupine
His ears prick up and rouse him from his sleep. She is singing. The last survivor of the clever ones surmises she is alone. The tip of his nose moves from side to side – sensing the air, collecting information as to how…
The Find
The oasis at the foot of the mountain was a welcome sight to the hundreds of people gathering there. The lush vegetation of the ferns and splendid palms gently swayed in the light breeze and the cool water was invitingly…
Fallen Angel
There – my work complete. I will be forgiven and the Master will take me back. See how the moon’s pale glow falls onto your wings? How wonderfully translucent is the indigo of the night sky, as it hangs between…
Names
We give names to almost everything we see, hear, touch and feel. We also change them into what we call Pet Names, why, I really don’t know. Perhaps it is our nature to label things. Maybe it gives colour to…