Partnership (for Creative Writing competition November 2011)

“Embezzlement, Max?” I heard, and my interest, having wandered, was immediately refocused. “A financial fraud accusation is very serious,” said John, speaking in his measured way. By now I had all my attention on Max. What was all this about?

“I don’t use the term lightly,” I heard my husband say, “and it pains me as Andrew is my oldest friend.”  I glanced at Andrew, who looked so shocked and uncomfortable. “But the figures just don’t stand up,” said Max. “There is a very big anomaly. And I’m surprised,” he said turning to Jackson, the accountant, “that you hadn’t identified a problem yourself, Ian.”

“I’m sure it’s a mistake,” Andrew said, looking around the room. He wouldn’t look at me. He wouldn’t now,in public. Then turning to Max he said, “You know me, Max, I’d never put the partnership in danger. This can all be sorted out with another look at the figures, I’m sure.”

“Just what I arranged,” said Max, “I have hired an independent firm of auditors. In fact they are looking at the books as we speak.”  There was uproar at this. How could he go behind everyone’s back and arrange an independent enquiry? When I looked around the room Andrew and Ian were silent. Ian’s face was like a storm cloud. Continue reading “Partnership (for Creative Writing competition November 2011)”

Beware A Bear!

I think that we are having a somewhat unwelcome nocturnal visitor.  There are some large ‘poohs’ full of undigested maize kernels in the field and tonight the dogs went ‘ape shit’.

I let them out for their usual nocturnal constitutional and instead of beetling round the locality of the house as usual, they took off like the hounds of hell in full throat for the darkest gloom of the outfield. I shot back for the Mace spray, (it works on bears as well as burglars) and nearly got trampled to death by three dogs trying to get into the house simultaneously! Now, had it been deer they would have chased them for a way for the sheer fun of it but the fact that they abandoned their hunt with such despatch (note ‘e’ it feels better) and ran back to the house, whatever it was must have been SERIOUSLY frightening.  Hence my thoughts for bear, (please God, not sasquatch!)  All the other dogs of the neighbourhood were in full throat by this time, again unusual.

Now as it happens, there is an eyot (said iot) in the stream on which I had planted a viburnum edule which is in full fruiting of edible red berries.  The monster was probably having a late a supper when disturbed.  I do hope he soon decides to leave for a peaceful hibernation.  I shall check the tree tomorrow and see if it has been cropped. The last thing I was going to do was disturb it in the middle of the night and admonish it for eating my berries!

Spousal unit has picked the apples too thoroughly.  Three disconsolate deer were picking their way round the fruit trees looking for their breakfast this morning.  We have far too many collected in trays in the garage so I think I’ll sort them out and leave a few down there every day for them.  A propitiation to keep them off the new foliage of the strawberry plants.  You have to give some to keep something else round here.

I note that the coyotes have had all the neighbour’s chickens.  Silly bitch left them running around with no safe place for them at night, talk about easy meat! What do you expect from an exhippy Californian?  “Run free little chicken into the jaws of the waiting predator”

The snow is on our local mountain at 5000′ and Mt Baker positively glistens in the sun with a coating of 12″ of new white stuff.  Winter is drawing in.  We shall have a lot of wildlife this winter, everything is hungry, it was a crap late summer, plants did not fruit so the animals come down from their high spots until they find sufficient food.  I don’t have the heart to drive them off, better the bushes are eaten than die of the NE wind. (That’s Canadian!)

I assure you not a wild ‘onvelope’ in sight.

S.A v Aus, Newlands, Cape Town

Picturesque Newlands

Probably one of the prettiest cricket grounds in the world. Pictured above is where I often sat, round about square leg under the shade of the trees, with the Kelvin Grove end bar within easy walking distance. Continue reading “S.A v Aus, Newlands, Cape Town”

18th Photographic Competition

Good evening

I admit that I do not have a good track record at setting subjects for competitions. I still wake up sweating when I recall the nightmare that was the diptych disaster.

So this time, I consulted the cultural expert in the family, aka Mrs M.

My first suggestion was ‘Revolution’ or ‘Change’ in honour of the day that it is today. I still remember the excellent celebrations which the Russian Society held every year on the 7th November during my time at the Uni of Embra. This used to get played at the end of the night.

Continue reading “18th Photographic Competition”

Springbok 7s kit 2011/12

Unbelievable

My ghast was completely flabbered when I saw this over the weekend. (hat tip Furry)

On the left is the new Springbok 7s (nicknamed The Blitzbokke) training kit provided by the kit sponsors Canterbury and I assume approved by our lot in charge.

It looks like something one might find in the bdsm section of a sex shop, I’m assured that it’s no prank but the genuine kit our team will be wearing during the upcoming 7s series (and is set to debut at the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia at the end of the month.)

One news report (the reader’s comments are hilarious) has the following tweets –

“Are the @blitzbokke sponsored by a brand of adult nappies this season?”

and

“The Blitzbokke were accused of trying to give Superman a run for his money.”

My local daily has a poll on what we think of the kit . Continue reading “Springbok 7s kit 2011/12”

PT4

A teddy bear is working on a building site. He goes for a tea break and when he returns he notices his pick has been stolen. The bear is angry and reports the theft to the foreman. The foreman grins at the bear and says “Oh, I forgot to tell you, today’s the day the teddy bears have their pick nicked.”