Category: Competition

Feet on the ground

The younger generation has always inspired disbelief and prophecies of doom among the oldies. It’s a Darwin thing, I suppose. So I anticipated some unpleasant surprises today when I saw a list of the ‘top ten degree courses’ in Olde Englande.

Of course I guessed that academic degrees in subjects which offer few career opportunities would not feature prominently in the list – the days of education for its own sake are long gone! But have a look at this list and maybe you’ll agree that the future seems to be in good hands. Some may pooh-pooh the value of social studies and sports science – but they are both very significant areas of employment and investment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8695883/The-top-10-most-popular-degree-courses.html?image=8

Passing the black hat

G8 leaders at Camp David (19 May)

The self-appointed global jury of seven just men (and Angela) is still out on the fate of the Hellenic nation. Which is a bit of a surprise, since it must be obvious that membership of the Eurozone is a price too high for their shallow pockets. But nobody among the eight wise persons wants to drive home the final nail – they are all content to remark that “we affirm our interest in Greece remaining in the eurozone while respecting its commitments”, or in other words, pay your bills or get out. Cold-bloodied, eh?

The odd-person-out at the get-together is of course Angela. She can’t encourage Greece to leave the Euroclub because her own economy stands to take the biggest hit and she can’t go for Eurogrowth because effective devaluation will hit her hardest. And she dislikes the fact that these seven global fellas have the affrontery to discuss ‘her’ Europroblems. Poor Ange, now bereft of a little French shoulder to cry on too.

April Short Story: Winner

Thank you very much, Nym, PapaG and LW, for your entries, which I enjoyed immensely.  Well done!

Nym: Magical thinking

An excellent take on the fairytale, Cinderella, which flows nicely and is an absorbing read (you are good at dialogue, Nym; tricky stuff, in my opinion). I expected a happy ending (almost obligatory in such a tale), but still found the final paragraph surprising and delightful.

PapaG: Worlds Apart

This is a difficult and painful subject, but a good choice for the theme.  It is usual to attempt to include the required words seamlessly, but I liked the way ‘orange peel’ is used as a conspicuous introduction to the story; very effective.  A poignant, affectionate and sensitive portrayal of Auntie, PapaG, with sprinkles of humour.

LW: A Very Short Story for Bilby

I had my doubts from the beginning about the wisdom of this inter-species union. It is an odd match, even bizarre, one may say, which makes for a wildly imaginative and entertaining piece, well suited to the theme. I think you could go for a trilogy, LW; this story has legs!

Continue reading “April Short Story: Winner”

A very short story for Bilby (May 9, short story comp)

Worlds Apart

 Zorb of Klig was late…..again.   Billa of Arachnia his wife of ten years on this day was losing what little of her patience that remained.  Zorb was a three-eared, odd-tentacled cephalopod and Billa was an even-footed arachnid as were all of her species but all of this we have heard before.
Continue reading “A very short story for Bilby (May 9, short story comp)”

Clouds and stuff

Share my delight, dear charioteers! The cumulo-nimbus græcus has a silver sterling lining, which some of us expats in countries which are euro-friendly will appreciate – in every sense of the word.

Since almost 3 years ago my poor little pound has bounced uncomfortably on the bottom, down as much as 15%, but now it has leapt up again, as financiers desert the two-tier euro.

Thanks are also due to M. Hollande – who plans to lash out on golden growth for the froggies – spending with gay abandon (no, I know he’s not) the euros he doesn’t have.

While our Ange is not for turning. Hold tight onto that handbag, Ms. Merkel!

Short Story – ‘Magical Thinking’ for Bilby

Magical thinking

I come downstairs just as the girls are ready to go out – they had spent so much time getting ready and now I can see the end result of their ‘finery’ – their hair, the fake tan, the spiders’ legs coatings of mascara. All that time and money does not disguise their thickened waists. Rowena at 5’11” is taller than me, just, but in her 4” stiletto heels she towers above me, and Angelica is wearing thigh-high black boots and a very short leather skirt, of the type I have heard described as a pussy pelmet. I didn’t understand how Melinda could let them go out like that. Since I only assumed the role of step-father just as they were going into their teens I have never felt I have any authority over these girls and they treat me with disdain.

Melinda arrives in a gush of exuberant compliments.  She can’t wait to see her darlings before they go out and I can so clearly see the similarity between her and her daughters: the coarseness and petulance if everything doesn’t go their way. Of course in the early days I couldn’t see that, smitten as I was, still grieving for my first wife.

The girls call me Albert.

“Hey, Albert,” said Rowena, “What d’ew think?” She strikes a pose.

“Will you be warm enough?” I ask her, “without a coat?”

Three pairs of eyes are raised to the ceiling and I shrug as I pick up my newspaper. Continue reading “Short Story – ‘Magical Thinking’ for Bilby”