Sorry to be a little late, but I was called away to lend a hand with a new baby and only returned, rather shattered yesterday : tired but happy.
There were very few entrants to both competitions: in fact only one in the short story section. But what a story, Mr Royal! I’ll never be able to see a giraffe again without thinking of you.
SO, although you had no competitors, you are the worthy winner of the short story competition, and I look forward to a theme set by you for the next round.
There were a few more entrants for the photography side of things – I had expected photographs of little hands clasping larger hands, hands undertaking tasks, such as cooking, knitting, painting…. but no, you had other ideas…
OZ had this contribution: viar amoozing take on the ‘hands’ theme, and viar topical on the equine theme!
Ara posted this a beautifully side lit picture of Alice, Duchess of Suffolk who resides in her resting state in the church where PapaG was Christened, no less!
Christopher posted this, though sadly the hands were not very clear in the size of image.
Last, but not least, JM posted here with a vair amoozing piece, full of puns and several pictures – (the bananas nearly won, hands down, but for the misplaced figure in the background which to my eye spoiled the composition)
But in the end the prize does go to JM for the most unusual take on the theme: the graffiti handwriting of Clarice Cliffe (nee Shorter).
So I hand the baton to you, John: your turn to set the next photography competition.
Oxfordshire sunset, tonight
Boadicea's Chariot 
Mr Royalist and John M, please step forward!
What a pleasant surprise. Hello there Pseu.
I would like to thank my agent, my publisher, the guy that sells the Evening Times outside the Ann Summers shop and, oh yeah, say HAHA to my estranged hamster. Hold on a minute. Hollow. This is a hollow victory. I’m tempted to do a George C Scott (1971) and Marlon Brando (1972) and not pick up the statuette -mind you, I will be shamelessly trumpeting my triumph on my own site. (Incidentally, a little known fact is that during the writers strike of 1935, screenwriter Dudley Nichols was the first man to refuse an Oscar. There you go, put that in your pipe.)
Fellow Charioteers have seemingly lost the writing bug and will need prompting and threats to enter the next creative writing competition before it becomes a relic. Careful with that axe, Eugene. I’ll try my best to come up with something interesting but don‘t count on it.
As for the secondary lesser competition, well done to Mr Mackie.
We’ll be with you in a minute, Pseu.
His people and my people have been deep in discussion as to whether or not we could agree a joint CW/photo competition on the theme of ‘Battleships’..
It looks, however, unlikely that we will be able to agree terms and we may have to sail our separate ways.
Talking of going separate ways, I have this feeling that we three should try to split the closing dates just a wee bit again. As you can see, JW and I gallantly agreed to let Ara go first and she has annexed 11 March. A strange date, in my opinion. Don’t bother telling me why, but I just don’t like Mondays.
Anyhoo, neither JW nor I are going to pick 17 March. In his case, that’ll be because it’s St Patrick’s Day. In mine, it’ll be because I’ll have spent the day watching Hearts lift the League Cup. And also, to be fair, because it’s St Patrick’s Day.
I’m thinking of a theme, and, just in case, JW is looking in, I’m also thinking of a swift dash to the line for the photo competition, leaving time for the creative juices to distil and then flow for both poetry and prose. I have 03 March in mind but would welcome comments from esteemed Charioteers as to whether it is a good idea to split them up again.
Ps, Pseu. Thanks for awarding me the palm of victory.
JM, you’re a bloody slower typer than me.
Phew!
3rd march would be good for the photo comp, JM, and yes a staggering of dates may be wise. Maybe a week later, though that would be one day before the poetry.
Just need a couple of topics or themes, now and I’ll get to the task….
Well done to RW and Mr Mackie, who doesn’t like Mondays. I share your pain. It was a bit of a random choice.
Glorious sunset, Nym, and we have had a few recently. Turning old and miserable for the weekend apparently. 😦
or should I say “cold” 😉
Yes, the forecast is pretty chilly. Down to -2 c tonight.
Aye weel, JW, Maybes aye and maybes no as that great Rangers supporter, Kenny Dalgleish often opines.
Talking of great Protestant players who sold their soul to the ‘C’ word, and knowing how much you revere the great game of golf, I was playing in a medal once at North Berwick when I carved my approach to the green at the 16th way out right to just in bounds in front of the hotel. I shambled shamefacedly across to attempt a saving pitch to the green, This guy and somebody, who was probably his wife, were sitting on a bench in front of the hotel enjoying their view of the Bass Rock and the plunging gannets.
As I moved to address the ball, he addressed me. I looked at him and it was Danny McGrain, To this day, I have absolutely no idea what he said but I stopped and took the time to make some sort of non committal and non specific reply which seemed to pass.
Story of my life, JW. I take the effort and time to respond appropriately (especially when replying to ladies such as Pseu) instead off firing off half-cocked as others may choose to do.
Either that, or I might be a slower typer than you. Smiley thing.
Moving on, can I have 03 March please? I’ve thunk of a theme.
JM 🙂