A word can change a mind. A sentence can change a life. A book can change the world.
I started writing because, well, that’s what I do, what I’m paid to do. Then I saw this guy, staring at me. I knew something was up. “What are you doing?” I looked up. “Writing a ticket, can’t park here.” “But I have to park here. There’s no area big enough, except here.” “This is…
“What’s in the box?” “Nothing much, I lied. It’s a present. For my wife,” I said, stammering with nerves, wanting him to shut up. “What is it? What have you bought her?” “What?” I said, my voice conveying my annoyance of my workmate as we rode the tram home. “The Gift. What is it?” “Just…
As a storyteller, there is one overriding thing I need to be able to convey my story to my readers. No, it’s not grammar or any technical issues of writing. It’s faith in my story. As a writer of novels, I need to believe in my story, otherwise I will never be able to create…
I wrote the following piece in 2014, nine long years ago. So much in the world has changed since then. We’ve had Covid-19, there’s a war between Ukraine and Russia where drones are being used for the first time in real combat missions. And of course, we have a lot of screaming and shouting about…
“But…” the man said, trying to get a word in edgeways. The phone call was turning into a joke, the helpline being anything but helpful. “I regret to inform you that we cannot repair it, nor can we replace it. Company policy for signed for goods.” “But it was broken when…” the man began to…
People like to laugh at certain things and I pretty much agree with most forms of humour. For writers, Bill Bryson has to be one of the funniest I have ever come across. His work literally makes me laugh out loud and brings tears to my eyes. For comedians I don’t think you can top…
When I die, I want to be hermetically sealed in a see-through coffin, loaded into a capsule, stuck on top of a rocket, and blasted into space. It doesn’t matter which way you point me; I know it will be a long journey. Besides, I’ll be dead, and it will not matter a hoot to…
Addendum: I wrote this piece a few years ago. Since that time, we have had the 2014 referendum, the 2014 Commonwealth games, Brexit, the Covid-19 Pandemic, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Oh, and there’s one other thing on the horizon, potentially yet another referendum in Scotland for…
A post on Twitter about not remembering a song/artist’s name has prompted me to remembering the times I’ve had music or songs I dislike going through my head, and not being able to get rid of them, sometimes for days. I’m usually pretty good at remembering songs/tunes/artists, I even get some right in quizzes, but…
Is marmalade made from fruit or flowers? With a name like Rose’s, this famous brand may be confusing its customers. But that’s what happens in the English-speaking world, confusion is sometimes the norm. I read an article a while back about an upcoming conflict between Japan in the Blue corner and China in the Red…
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