Today’s the day…

...I had ear-marked as the beginning of a new era. Perhaps that makes it 'era-marked'. The house move is now half a month behind us and I suddenly find myself with the chance to look forward from a refreshed perspective. Where should I start? Perhaps with the house. I'm on the patio listening to the … Continue reading Today’s the day… →

“Isaac and the Egg”

There is nothing wrong with Bobby Palmer's "Isaac and the Egg". Indeed the central conceit as to whether the egg is real or simply a figment of Isaac's imagination - or some kind of metaphor for his mental and emotional state - is handled well and maintained throughout. Perhaps what's even more satisfying is that … Continue reading “Isaac and the Egg” →

When one door closes…

This was how my study looked yesterday. Today everything in the picture has gone and the room is bare. Tomorrow afternoon it will belong to someone else - and my new study will probably start out by looking much like this image... A strange continuum. Or the end/beginning of an era. At least that's how … Continue reading When one door closes… →

“The Stranger in the Boat”

Although I am not a religious person, the essentially Christian message behind Mitch Albom's "The Stranger in the Boat" didn't really bother me. I think you have to take it for what it is (a little bit like Young's "The Shack", which is a wonderful novel) and move on. If such a theme bothers you, … Continue reading “The Stranger in the Boat” →

“Antarctica”

Although Claire Keegan's collection of short stories, Antarctica, has won numerous plaudits, there was something about them which bothered me. It was as if there was something missing - or, more likely, something I hadn't spotted. Perhaps I was put off by the title story which I found unrealistic and a little clichéd. If the … Continue reading “Antarctica” →

Yesterday & Today: 30th July

After 211 consecutive daily posts I think current circumstances are conspiring to bring the curtain down on "Yesterday and Today". Not only is the house move beginning to be all-consuming, I have little to report in the way of projects and progress. Yes, I can pad posts out with thoughts on semi-related topics, but it … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 30th July →

Yesterday & Today: 29th July

I don't really know what to say. One meagre paragraph of 'Z' is hardly a stellar return, but that was all I managed yesterday. I do have the excuse that the day was astonishingly stressful as we tried to force through the exchange of contracts on the chain in which our house move sits. Some … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 29th July →

Yesterday & Today: 28th July

Yesterday was probably my most barren day of the entire year. Apart from plugging some author bio's into New Contexts: 5 and a little more navel-gazing about future projects, there was nothing of note. I'm sure this is in part down to the stress of wanting our house move finalised - which doesn't bode well … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 28th July →

Yesterday & Today: 27th July

Apart from a little New Contexts: 5 admin, yesterday was really all about navel-gazing i.e. me trying to decide what I should be working on next. Or working on when we've moved - hopefully -three weeks' time. I ended up finding myself wondering whether I was constantly thinking about writing long fiction because that's what … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 27th July →

Yesterday & Today: 26th July

It was a low-key day yesterday with my planned work being to continue the insertion of my authors' bios into the New Contexts: 5 draft. Still a few more to harvest. In amongst the wait and conversations about house contract exchange (still not resolved!) I did pick up and play with an old idea for … Continue reading Yesterday & Today: 26th July →