Author: John Mackie

I could be wrong, but I personally believe that we need to get the Boadicea’s Chariot Creative Writing Competition on to a more regular and balanced footing. To explain, I am a Libran and it’s what we do.

So, what about the last day of the next month for the next deadline?  Works for me and we will have absolutely none of this nonsense that some idiot on this site keeps dragging up  about BST v GMT.

Midnight in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Sunday 31st October 2010 for the deadline.

For the theme, the next day, November 1st  is,  reputedly,  the day on which one of  William Shakespeare’s last plays, ‘The Tempest’ was first performed in 1611.

So, less than 2,000 words, any format. No words to incorporate but your entry has to be inspired  by one of the more memorable quotes from said play:-

‘O brave new world! That has such people in it!’

Hi. Thanks for dropping in again. It really helps to pass the time when I have my chats with you.

It’s the time that’s the worst part of serving a prison sentence in Fairyland. I have this friend who’s been cooped up in a tiny lamp for hundreds of years. He only gets out when somebody rubs him up the right way and, even then, he has to obey every command that he’s given.

My mate Ariel got banged up in a tree for a few years by a witch. You may have heard about that. It caused a bit of a storm at the time and William Shakespeare wrote about it. Ariel eventually got let out by a magician called Prospero but, even then, he had to do community service for a while before he was completely free again. Fell on his feet, of course. After all that publicity, he got quite a few sponsorship deals,  including a major detergent company, and now he’s awash with money.

Continue reading “Corporate Crime and Punishment in Fantasy Land – CW entry”

Right then, by popular demand (Soutie, JW and me), these are the grids as presently constituted.

JM – Embra

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

1

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

1

2

X

B

A

C

H

X

X

T

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

2

3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

U

X

X

D

E

L

I

U

S

X

X

M

3

4

X

X

M

X

X

X

R

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

I

4

5

X

E

X

X

X

A

X

X

S

B

E

L

I

S

X

K

5

6

X

X

L

X

X

X

N

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

A

6

7

X

X

B

X

X

X

D

X

X

W

X

X

D

7

8

X

A

X

X

O

X

X

X

X

A

X

X

O

8

9

X

X

X

X

T

X

X

X

X

L

X

X

X

9

10

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

x

P

X

X

T

X

10

11

X

X

X

X

X

O

X

11

12

X

X

X

N

X

12

13

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

xX

X

13

14

X

M

A

H

L

E

R

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

14

15

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

V

E

D

15

16

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

16

17

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

17

18

X

X

R.

V’-

W

I

L

L

I

A

M

S

X

18

19

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

19

20

20

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

JW – Weegie

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

1

X

X

X

X

X

X

1

2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

M

U

S

E

X

X

2

3

X

O

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

3

4

C

X

X

X

X

H

E

R

X

X

X

X

R

X

4

5

I

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

E

X

5

6

L

X

X

X

X

X

G

X

6

7

O

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

L

X

X

E

X

7

8

X

D

A

V

I

D

B

Y

R

O

N

X

X

A

X

X

S/

X

8

9

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

/H

X

X

/B

X

9

10

C

X

X

X

X

N/

X

X

O

X

X

10

11

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

B

X

11

12

X

X

H

X

X

X

X

X

12

13

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

13

14

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

A

X

14

15

X

X

T

O

T

O

X

X

X

15

16

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

16

17

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

17

18

X

X

S

L

A

D

E

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

18

19

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

M

E

G

D

E

T

X

19

20

I

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

20

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

The Ship Spotters’  Roll of Honour

HMES Walton identified by Boa and Ferret

HMES Bach Boa

HMWS  David Byron Ferret

HMES Delius OZ

HMWS Bob Seger Soutie

HMES  Turandot OZ

HMES Melba Soutie

HMES Sibelius OZ

HMWS Muse Nobody (under appeal by OZ)

HMWS Slade  Ferret

HMES R.V’-Williams OZ

HMES Verdi OZ

HMWS Megadeth Soutie

HMES Mikado OZ

HMES Mahler OZ

HMWS Toto OZ

HMWS Police Soutie

HMWS Heart Soutie

4^th January 1982. Mrs M doing one of the many things which she does superbly. In this particular case, singing with her usual, thrilling and powerful alto voice. Me,  just happy to be there.

We had enjoyed our time in Jerusalem where the ‘Scottish Chorus’ had performed ‘Belshazzer’s Feast’ twice and ‘Israel in Egypt’, once in concert and once in a recorded studio version.. I had had a major ‘Wheeeeee’  time and she had worked her socks off. Continue reading “How I Ended My Holiday at Christmas 1981”

So, there we were in Jerusalem at Christmas and what are you going to do?  Jocks and  keenly aware that we all had at least one relative who would never forgive us if we didn’t do Bethlehem. Mrs M. had her granny and I had three Highland maiden aunts.  Alexanderina (Ina), Christianina (Chrissie) and Hugh Ellen. (Huellen).

To explain, Grandad had promised all his brothers that he would name his children after them but Granny kept producing daughters apart from Uncle John and my Dad. Mary was the first-born and got away with it and also got married. My other paternal aunt, the memorable and oft-mentioned Auntie Dolly (Donaldina), was as far away from being a maiden as it was possible to get and seriously irreverent and irreligious with it. I knew that all I had to do was send her the usual filthy postcard to stay in her good books. I also knew that Ina, Chrissie and Huellen would be really hurt if I did not come through on the Bethlehem front. Continue reading “The Arab Bus to Bethlehem – Christmas 1981”

The first few nights were spent in that kibbutz, high in the hills north of Jerusalem. Had it been in modern-day Italy, it would have been described as agriturismo. Whatever, we woke each morning, strolled down to the communal dining hall and enjoyed a superb breakfast. We sat wherever we could, totally mixed in with the kibbutz workers who were all, without exception,  a joy to talk to. Mainly Sabras and possibly a wee bit full of  pride in their nation (familiar territory for Jocks) but keen to talk to us and to hear about our country.

Continue reading “What I did on my Holidays at Christmas 1981 -Part 3”

So, there we suddenly were in Israel. Mrs M. on a freebie but having to work. Me paying my way and free to wander, subject only to the mandatory attendance at the concerts ever ready to offer the usual ‘you were all wonderful and, don’t worry, I don’t think that the audience noticed a thing.’

The chorus had been invited by the Israel Broadcasting Authority for reasons which will, I hope, become clear at a later date. Two formal pieces, ‘Belshazzer’s Feast’ by Sir William Walton and ‘Israel in Egypt’ by George Frideric Handel. Three performances in conventional surroundings, as I recall, and one utterly memorable performance of which, again, more later. Continue reading “What I did on my Holidays at Christmas 1981 -Part 2”

It’s strange what can bring the memories rushing back. Finding a clip of Sir William Walton’s ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ for another purpose this morning did it for me.

In 1981, the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus were invited to tour Israel. The chorus needed augmenting and the call went out to the Embra Festival Chorus. Mrs M. signed up. More importantly, hangers-on were encouraged and I signed up too. Continue reading “What I did on my Holidays at Christmas 1981 -Part 1”

Good evening.

It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you that a state of war now exists between Embra and Glesca.  We have agreed the rules and have launched our fleets. Please feel to ignore this whole intra-Jock nonsense, but please feel equally free to join in and/or  heckle from the sidelines.

The aforementioned rules are absurdly simple. Basically, the  usual ‘Battleships’ game with which we are all so familiar. A grid of 20 x 20 = 400. Aircraft carriers 2 x10 =20, Battleships 3 x 8 = 24, Destroyers 4 x 6 = 24,  Frigates 5 x 5 = 25,  Submarines 5 x 4 = 20. No ships on the diagonal and of course, the standard  no contiguity rule. Slight variant in that the names of all my fleet relate to classical music pre 1960  – composers, performers or the names of entire works,  JW has rock post 1960 on the same terms.  Tracks definitely not allowed.  The rest will become clear as we play.

Please  shout out suggestions for the names of any of our vessels at any point. Won’t sink them and might not even be acknowledged by us but rest assured that we will both be touched by your participation.

So, without further ado, and in the immortal words of Rear Admiral  David Glasgow Faragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay, ‘Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!’

JW,  in honour of the fact that we have done this once already, B4?

Thanks to Boa for the grids.

Hits on JM’s Fleet

C2     by   OZ                    Submarine                    4 letters           A

Q7           JW                    Destroyer                       6                         W

Q11         JW                    Destroyer                        6                         O

D5           JW                    Frigate                             5                         E

J18          JW                  Carrier                           10                        W

Q9           Ferret             Destroyer                     6                          L

D2           OZ & Boa       Submarine                    4                          C

Q10        JW                   Destroyer                      6                           O

E2           OZ                   Submarine                      4                          H

Q12        Ferret            Destroyer                       6                           N  (Ship sunk)

N18        Soutie            Carrier                            10                          I

J14         Jaime              Destroyer                      6                            L

B2           OZ                     Submarine                    4                             B (ship sunk)

N5          JW                     Battleship                     8                              E

N3          JW                     Destroyer                     6                              I

H7         Ferret               Battleship                     8                              D

S15         JW                     Frigate                           5                              D

L3           Soutie                Destroyer                    6                             E

M3         OZ                       Frigate                            5                            L

H8        Ferret                 Battleship                     8                             O

H9         Ferret                Battleship                      8                             T

K3          OZ                       Destroyer                      6                             D       (ship sunk)

O5          JW                      Battleship                      8                              L

Hits on JW’s Fleet

F8           JM                    Carrier                          10                         I

K 8          JM                    Carrier                          10                         O

I8          Ferret               Carrier                          10                          Y

R4         JM                      Battleship                      8                           R

H8        OZ                        Carrier                         10                           B

E8         Boa                      Carrier                         10                           V

G8         Ferret                Carrier                          10                           D

D8        Ferret                Carrier                          10                            D

R6       JM                        Battleship                      8                            G

K4      JM                         Frigate                            5                             R

K2       JM                         Submarine                   4                             M

R5      OZ                           Battleship                    8                             E

D8      Ferret                    Carrier                         10                           A

J8      Ferret                     Carrier                         10                            R

L8      Ferret                     Carrier                         10                           N  (Ship sunk)

I18     JM                           Frigate                           5                            E

R8      OZ                            Battleship                   8                              /S

R11    Soutie                    Battleship                     8                              B

I15      Soutie                  Submarine                    4                             O

R10     OZ                          Battleship                     8                             O  (Ship sunk)

L2       OZ                          Submarine                     4                            U

M14    JM                        Frigate                             5                            A

G18     Soutie                 Frigate                               5                             A

L2        OZ                        Submarine                       4                              U

The Ship Spotters Roll of Honour

HMS Walton                       Embran                                     identified by Boa and Ferret

HMS Bach                            Embran                                    Boa

HMS  David Byron           Weegie                                      Ferret

HMS Delius                          Embran                                    OZ

HMS Bob Seger                 Weegie                                      Soutie

HMS  Turandot                  Embran                                    OZ

JM – Embra

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

1

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

1

2

X

B

A

C

H

X

X

T

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

2

3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

U

X

X

D

E

L

I

U

S

X

3

4

X

X

M

X

X

R

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

4

5

X

E

X

X

X

S

E

L

I

5

6

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

6

7

X

B

X

X

D

X

X

W

X

X

7

8

X

X

X

O

X

X

A

X

8

9

X

X

X

X

T

X

X

L

X

9

10

X

X

X

X

X

X

T

X

10

11

X

X

O

X

11

12

X

N

X

12

13

X

X

X

X

X

13

14

L

14

15

X

E

D

15

16

X

16

17

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

17

18

X

W

I

I

18

19

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

19

20

20

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

JW – Weegie

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

1

X

X

X

X

X

1

2

X

X

M

U

S

X

2

3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

3

4

X

R

X

X

R

X

4

5

X

X

X

X

X

E

X

5

6

X

G

X

6

7

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

E

X

7

8

X

D

A

V

I

D

B

Y

R

O

N

X

X

S/

X

8

9

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

/B

X

9

10

X

X

X

X

X

O

X

10

11

X

X

B

X

11

12

X

X

X

X

12

13

X

X

X

X

13

14

A

X

14

15

O

X

X

15

16

X

16

17

X

X

17

18

A

E

X

X

X

18

19

19

20

X

20

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

You want to know something? It’s not until you win it and have to judge the next one that you realise what a complete joy and terror this whole CW thingie is. I am totally knocked-out by the effort that everybody put in to their entries. Thankfully, most of them happened to be in my comfort zone of knowledge so I was able to enjoy them from the start without having to google.

I found it interesting that many of you chose to draw on works that were allegedly written for children for your inspiration. Deep joy and happy memories.

Reminder of  the rules:

1,000 words or less on an interaction of any sort  between two or more well known fictional characters who were created by  different authors. Continue reading “July Creative Writing Result”