Nov Short Story – the Mystery of the Unknown Soldier

If he could tell that the young girl with the fat baby in the blue snowsuit wasn’t interested, it didn’t matter. Not that day, not any day really.

Bert was an effusive sort of chap; never used three words where thirty would do. And they all came rushing out which tended to exhaust his listeners to the point where they would look at their watches and remember a pie overcooking in the oven or an appointment at the dentist.

Tracy was taking her children to her mums on the other side of town so she could go to a sunbed appointment and have a bit of peace. She deserved it, she thought – and so did her mum, knowing how hard life was as a single mum, especially since her Tracy was only 17. Continue reading “Nov Short Story – the Mystery of the Unknown Soldier”

The Hit Man (things are seldom what they seem)

Robert Hampton, a rather charmless man, of average height, medium build and with an instantly forgettable face, had carved himself a pleasant, if rather shallow niche in the village of Coltsfoot. He was beginning to feel quite safe in his rural idyll, although it would never do to become too complacent. He enjoyed the comfort of his Victorian cottage with the mundane name of ‘Meadow View’, but he would move on when the lease ran out; he always moved on. Continue reading “The Hit Man (things are seldom what they seem)”

Keep taking the pills: November Short Story

Things are seldom what they seem…..

How true in the case of the  Smith family Tragedy. Nice people by all accounts, and near neighbours, so it was with a frisson of shock that Jill read the article in the local paper. The whole family had been found dead; the police were not looking for anyone in connection with the incident and there was no information as to how the two adults, one seven year old and a young baby had met their fate.

Continue reading “Keep taking the pills: November Short Story”

Reality

Two issues of corruption being exposed, and the consequences of exposure, are presently exercising the British. One case is old, and one very much in the present. They coincide in today’s discussion because we have learned that Prince Andrew spoke scathingly of those investigating the Saudi case some years ago, while the BBC yesterday broadcast revelations about bribery in FIFA. In common with the target of the noble prince’s ire, the BBC team have been criticised for their exposure.

Any attempt to counter this criticism is met with the exhortation to ‘get real’, to come into the ‘real world’, and so on. Well, as someone with long and varied experience of the real world I understand such a response, but can we be clear on the nature of the reality to which we are urged to genuflect? It is a reality that proclaims it wrong to confront dishonesty, corruption and untrammelled greed because the cost of doing so is too high. In short, the adherence to a moral line has a price higher than we are prepared to pay.

As a realist, I understand that position. All I ask is that we hear no more of the superiority of ‘British values’. The reality is that the British are as ready as any other peoples to stick their snouts in the trough and to collaborate in corruption.

Eco-fascists reveal their true colours.

“Cancun climate change summit: scientists call for rationing in developed world”

In one paper Professor Kevin Anderson, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said the only way to reduce global emissions enough, while allowing the poor nations to continue to grow, is to halt economic growth in the rich world over the next twenty years.”

…

This could mean a limit on electricity so people are forced to turn the heating down, turn off the lights and replace old electrical goods like huge fridges with more efficient models. Food that has travelled from abroad may be limited and goods that require a lot of energy to manufacture.

So, now you know.