And so this is Christmas

May it be as Merry or as Peaceful as you wish it to be!

I have several stories and poems up this month and I will add all the links to date by the end of this week. But let me begin with what Nathan Rosen tells me is my 72nd microhorror and one of his favourites of mine.

If you ask me, Santa brought it on himself by embracing the commercial ethos of the late twentieth century and disregarding his 'elf ;) and you can read the outcome in ELF DAY live at Microhorror now.
Poems at Bewildering Stories

A Final Seal 
Department Store

If Ever - Pantoum for the Present - in Parallel Oonahverse


A little unexpectedly, this very short short in Postcardshorts Public Transport You know the scenario - it a familiar one. So glad to be in this little gem of a writing site for the first time. And Crumpled Note - a scenarion familiar I hope, to no one.

The Linnet's Wings has published a very short piece entitled I'd Love a ... and I'll bet anyone my age at least in the UK and Ireland will be able to fill in the blank :) It was the perfect solution to the the Christmas Eve problem of how to be Santa.

Look below and you'll find an intriguing clue to my BOXING DAY story at Every Day Fiction. My Measuring Stick

Apollo's Lyre has just published Nobody in the Room. and while you're there check out this story by my friend John Ritchie

I wrote a story for this photo and it is published Boxing Day 2011

My Measuring Stick -  BOXING DAY 2011 - Every Day Fiction

Three Years and A New Poem Every Day

I am so proud of what we have achieved at EDP

but

None of would be possible without our dedicated staff and entusiastic poets and readers.

Thank you all

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN

I have a story published at BwS this week (starting 31st)

and there are reading treats for you over at Parallel Oonahverse.

My decorations are up and my apple tart is baked.

Life is good

maybe it takes a Day of the Dead to remind us of that sometimes.

How does she do it?

LIVE at The Cumberland Arms

Ten minutes of my poetry, read by me at The Cumberland Arms, Byker, 22nd September 2011.

Thanks to everyone there for making it such a great evening.

TAKE TEN is a regular event on the last Thursday of every month presided over by the Poetry Jack and on this occasion I had the privilege of sharing the stage with:

so while you're at it look and see what they all did!

Final few days in Baltimore

I hate goodbye. I just cry - can't cope at all - so much so I make myself miserable before the event! I have this Grim Reaper mentality a kind of morbidity - ever since I was a child. This was Hamilton on Columbus Day 11th Oct 2010. We had Apple Pie which is very American but I have to confess I prefer Apple Tart which is very British and I will be making that for Hallow'en as I usually do. My mother used to put sixpence in the tart, in greaseproof paper. Whoever got it, kept it.

On the 12th Oct we went to the American Visual Arts Museum Follow the link. It's a fascinating place to visit. We had a crab soup in The Rusty Scupper and watched an incredible Mock Battle played out by wonderful ships in the Inner Harbour.
That night we went for our final meal with Nathan and Jenesta at TALARA.

Of course on the 13th we had until 6pm before we had to go to the airport - time to buy some Old Bay Spices and a few last minute presents take a stroll before that 8 hour flight - home.

Maryland Renaisance Festival 2010

10/10/10 He is the real Robin - I just know it! I would trust him with my life! Any man who looks that good in tights and invites you to Buy Your Passport to Merriement Here - must surely be worth better aquaintantance. Robin I forgot to give you my e-mail - "I grow weak in the presence of beauty" - contact Nathan.

And there was Snot and Puke and giant turkey legs and curly fries, Oktober ale and elephant rides and Drown a Duke and Wet a Wench and many other questionable sports and PIRATES - AH pirates that could wring your very bones with song -  and beers that would quench your tears.

If you have a chance to go to the Ren Fest - go! It's the most fun you can have with a toy moose down your boobs! - On me dit...

Nathan, Jenesta - Thank you. That was not the end of the day and thankfully not the last moot - but it was a hoot!