blabber

Very short story #77: When the last chance of escape has gone, there is only the wait for an inevitable end . . .
Very short story #76: Never turn down a business proposal before hearing someone out. For a vampire needs to make a living too . . .
Very short story #75: While a group of boys are messing about by the river, a huge moment in the history of humankind is about to reveal itself . . .
Very short story #74: When obsession becomes routine, it’s easy to forget that there might be other people who feel the same way . . .
Very short story #73: When dreams become a bore, it’s time to see if AI can help spice things up . . .
Very short story #72: Having a bowl stuck on your head might be undesirable, but it can have its uses . . .
Very short story #71: When the familiarity of a daily routine begins to promise something more, an unexpected turn doesn’t mean giving up on the idea. Not when so much preparation has gone into it . . .
Very short story #70: Before playing a game with a friend, it’s always best to first agree on the rules. Especially when there’s booze involved . . .
Very short story #69: On the face of it, joining an exclusive club sounds like an exciting opportunity. But without common interests, making new friends can be tricky . . .
Very short story #68: Finding a mobile phone left on a wall in the park begins the motions of an unexpected spiral . . .
Very short story #67: When an idea for a new TV show is unexpectedly accepted by a television company, familiar faces might soon find themselves under threat . . .
Very short story #66: A local garden centre should be a safe space, but there’s no telling who you might encounter . . .
Very short story #65: To cross the river, the ferryman must be signalled. But there will be a price to pay . . .
Very short story #64: Following a visit to the dentist, a spontaneous donation becomes an investment of a lifetime . . .
The admin after a house move can be a tricky business to navigate, especially when it becomes a bit too personal . . .
Very short story #62: When a life-changing accident disfigures a young farmer, a new career presents itself. But it comes at a horrific personal cost . . .
Very short story #61: If the willing is well, it’s never too late to fulfil a childhood ambition . . .
Very short story #60: A phobia needn’t be a barrier to having fun, but it requires a certain amount of trust . . .
Very short story #59: There can be few things more terrifying than coming face to face with a killer, especially when you already know all about them . . .
Very short story #58: Knowing that the end will one day come does not diminish the pain when it finally does . . .
Very short story #57: When a tree is fallen by the storm, a centuries-old secret is revealed . . .
Very short story #56: To close your eyes is to experience again what is no longer there . . .
Very short story #55: True love transcends all kinds of major or minor things, like distance, time . . . and putrid aromas
Very short story #54: Not every field with a sign that says there’s a bull in the field will have a bull in the field. But it’s best to be certain . . .
Very short story #53: The crowds are gathered; the eyes of the world are watching. For the illusionist is about to perform his greatest work . . .
Very short story #52: Sometimes a win can feel like a loss . . .
Very short story #51: Friendship can be a complicated business, especially when it comes to picking who is the best friend . . .
Very short story #50: The beginning is always the beginning, but an end is not always the end . . .
Very short story #49: A to-do list is all very well, but what is there to do when it comes to an end?
Very short story #48: Imagine accidentally stumbling upon the brighter side of the dark web . . .
If you think about it hard enough, if you wish for it with all your heart, maybe it will be true . . .
When the day has come to fulfil a dream, it’s sometimes worth making sure it hasn’t already been fulfilled for you . . .
To attain perfection, it is essential to understand what it is to be imperfect . . .
To be stuck, with a reminder of what happens when you might stop trying . . .
When a sickness bug drags on, there’s always the hope of feeling better again . . .
When attempting to illustrate a point, you might pin the target to yourself . . .
Sometimes it’s best not to fit in with a crowd, and better to blend with the background . . .
When a unique opportunity presents itself, should you follow the rules or stand up for what you believe?
For a job that might not give the rewards she seeks, Shelley certainly has the right spirit for the role . . .
In the world of business, advertising is king . . .
A chance encounter in the most unlikely of places, intervention might be divine . . .
Every day, in the same place, an ant. Inspired by its presence, a simple experiment leads to a startling discovery . . .
Imagine waiting a lifetime for an unlikely opportunity, while the world is watching . . .
A lifetime spent waiting for one man, all for this moment . . .
Where do the sounds carried by the wind really come from? And where do they go?
If you’re put in the Friend Zone, it is important to recognise the signs. Because one end is not the only end . . .
A wall is not usually a canvas to be shared among street artists. But exceptions might be made for the best . . .
It’s funny, the things you find in a cluttered shed. And there’s no point keeping anything unless it has a use . . .
A final line of defence. A last chance of escape. But something is not right . . .
Even if you’re exactly what the researchers are looking for, is it possible to be over-qualified for a medical trial?
Most warnings are little more than a polite suggestion. You can choose not to follow them if you want, but there might be consequences . . .
How else to celebrate the coming of spring than a Sunday skinny dip with the rest of the congregation . . .
When a stranger unexpectedly leaves you a message, an ordinary train journey might become something extraordinary . . .
If you can’t break the code, you’ll have to hit the road . . .
After a day out comes the winding down on the journey home . . . which really should be your own home.
Adages are made to be broken, and parables to be disproven . . .
If creativity isn’t rightly rewarded, there is always the chance that anarchy might ensue . . .
There are some plots in which a writer just doesn’t need to get involved, standing back to watch as the story writes itself . . .
Sometimes the path that you think you’re following isn’t quite as obvious as it seems, even when it’s right there in front of you . . .
When someone begins a great mission, it’s not always clear what they aim to accomplish. And sometimes it’s still not clear once they’ve completed their mission . . .
A hero can only be called a hero after the rescue. And only if it goes well . . .
There’s a time and a place for reading. But sometimes you simply can’t resist . . .
Anything can be taken at face value – a beach, a shell . . . – with no need to ever question their being. But what if there is something deeper to discover?
There are few things better than a massage, other than a massage with a happy ending . . .
Communicating through hangman. What letter next?
On a night of shooting stars, imagine every wish coming true. Or there’s also the alternative . . .
When a crowd is separated by a screen, their only obligation is to observe, to watch . . .
Errol’s job is more straightforward than most, but it isn’t all light and shade . . .
There’s a lot of pressure to make Valentine’s special. And there are always consequences if you get it wrong . . .
Very short story #9 Missing out on a potentially life changing moment doesn’t have to be defining. But it can be hard to let it go . . .
Very short story #8 Sometimes being the bravest isn’t the best thing. (Even though there are plenty of other times when being bravest is best. But not in this case)
Very short story #7
A very short story for Christmas Day.
A very short story for Christmas
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I never thought that I would fall in love with the baker. People said I was only with him for his bread. So I burned his shop down, knowing I would still love him, and that in doing so I could prove my love to the doubters. I stood there alongside him, watching his bakery burn; burning like my passion for him. I can’t say if the sweet baking smells were in my mind, or whether they were the goods on display in the window, baking for a second time. But I did it! I proved my true love.…
Following a recently published post in which I collaged some of the people and things that inspired my book The Reputation of Booya Carthy, I enjoyed it so much that I’ve done it again for my second book, The Shame of John Slade. In this image are some of the musicians, books, people, films and TV shows that helped in the creation of the book, to a greater or lesser degree. For example, John Slade’s daughter is named Ella after Ella Fitzgerald, after a cover song played by a support band on the night she was conceived. Here is…
A quick rebus puzzle for you to puzzle over, for no reason other than because I can. This is dedicated to anyone working in any of the customer service industries this Christmas. (Find the answer in the comments below) Sign up to receive all new posts straight to your inbox
Just days after watching Bullitt, blow me down, I was involved in a car chase of my own. Completely unsuspecting of what was to come, it began as soon as I backed out of my space in the big Sainsbury’s car park. The Micra was on me right away, clinging to my tail as we sliced through corners to the soundtrack of squealing tyres. I’ve never previously considered myself a racing driver, but it’s amazing what instincts kick in when your very survival is at stake. Even at the height of the tension, we had to stop the chase several…
Your beauty! To look into your eyes, like darkened glass. The fire inside, a warmth not dampened by the cold white light. My breath will not come as you lean over me. I cannot breathe, and find that I don’t need to. That it should end this way, I could not be happier. I always did want to meet a polar bear. vss #2 Sign up to receive all new posts straight to your inbox
If I was the last man on Earth and I was looking for you, would you want to be found if you knew I was looking for you? I would be wearing my t-shirt with LOVE’S HOPELESSNESS written on it. And I’ll have biscuits. vss #1 Sign up to receive all new posts straight to your inbox
In this image are some of the musicians, books, films and people that helped to inspire my book The Reputation of Booya Carthy to a greater or lesser degree. For example, Oliver Twist (the musical film) lent a visual image of a descriptive passing view of Honahee, the fictional town where the book is set. Whereas blues musician R.L. Burnside gave life to the original sparking flashes of a lingering idea – an international, acclaimed musician living in a trailer beside a road with three generations of his family. Some of the books featured here – none more than…
Dear friend, It’s been 1,488 days since my last post. Which is too long, really. In that time, I have published a new book and republished another one, but neglected to even talk about either event here – I’m not really sure how. (Time flies? Nah. It’s probably more likely to be distraction.) For a while I’ve been thinking about how to best use my website . . . and I’ve come up with a plan. First was to redesign the site – which is done! Please do have a look around if you have a moment. You can:…

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