Monthly Archives: June 2018

Exotic policemen

Posted on 19th June 2018 by Ian

The waiting room at the clinic was filled with people. A nurse appeared from a doorway and called, “Barry Foster.” Lines from the song were immediately remembered, And you smiled, and you smiled, with laughter in your eyes and the … Continue reading →

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The Passenger

Posted on 18th June 2018 by Ian

This story was entered for the Frome Festival Short Story Competition but failed to make the long list: Reaching for his phone, he switched off the alarm. It surely could not be seven already. A friend’s birthday the previous day … Continue reading →

Posted in Attempts at writing | 1 Comment

The tyranny of nostalgia

Posted on 17th June 2018 by Ian

Two lorries passed along the country road, one a greengrocer’s van and one from an oil merchant. The first was pale green with lettering in yellow, the second a deep red with blue and white detail, both probably dated from … Continue reading →

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It has been a good week for Theresa May

Posted on 16th June 2018 by Ian

The Guardian newspaper described it as “a bruising week in a difficult year” for Prime Minister Theresa May. Were I the prime minister sitting down to Sunday lunch in Downing Street or Chequers, I think I would feel rather contented at … Continue reading →

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Political pride

Posted on 15th June 2018 by Ian

A neighbour who lived across the fields in rural Co Down used to tell of going to a horse race meeting at Downpatrick with a group of friends from work. Lurking around the entrance was a man offering brown envelopes … Continue reading →

Posted in This sceptred isle | 2 Comments