Short story competition relaunch – October 2011

It is time to restart the short story  competition and as I raised the subject this time I have I stepped forward to set the ball rolling…

The short story should be posted as a separate blog and linked to this one.
It should be up to 2000 words long on the theme of ‘wedding.’
The first scene will start with two people in a room. There’s a key on the table. During the story you should include the words ‘football’ and ‘armchair’.

The closing date is October 31st at UK midnight. I will judge the entries and announce a winner. The winner will set the next competition.

Have I missed anything?

Drugs, by a Soldier.

I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to earn that pay , I train for war and eventually deploy. I am required to pass a random urine test… for drugs, with which I have no problem. … What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to p…eople who don’t have to pass a urine test. Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a benefits cheque because I have to pass one to EARN IT for them? Please understand that I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sit on their arse drinking beer and smoking dope. Could you imagine how much money the government would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a benefit cheque?

And then there’s politicians, the people who decide when and where I should fight…

A Tragedy for Dan Carter.

Perhaps tragedy is too strong a word – after all, it’s only a game. I do, however, feel a lot of sympathy for Dan Carter. He is, without doubt, the finest outside half currently playing the game and the World Cup Final would have been a crowning glory of his career. No schadenfreude here, btw. If New Zealand do not win this World Cup, Carter’s absence from the team will, no doubt, lead to a lot of, ‘ Ah, if Dan had been playing…’ and a feeling of some kind of devaluation of the, (imagined,) winners’ achievement. I still don’t expect New Zealand to lose – they are playing by far the best rugby of any of the sides in the tournament.

I predict an England – New Zealand final with the All blacks to win, though not by a cricket score.

I might even have a little punt on England to sneak it 🙂 (I did a double on Samoa to beat SA and Tonga to turn the French over – nearly £900 quid for a £10 stake – Samoa were so close…)