airyfairy's blog

My little Princess is planning her first Glasto. Not this year, next year. Last year, when the tickets came out for this year, she wasn’t poised over the computer with her fingers ready to ‘apply’ within ten seconds. This year, for next year, she and her friends will be hunched over the keyboard with the whole thing on a trip wire. However quick you are with your application, there’s still no guarantee you’ll get a ticket. Before long you will...

I must admit, I was sorely tempted to award Pepsoid everything for this: https://www.abctales.com/story/pepsoid/larry-and-mick-hope-cherry-abc-tales In the end though, Story of the Week goes to Ed Crane's sharp, satirical and frighteningly believable 'Wai Peipei Comes Of Age'. A cautionary tale for our times: https://www.abctales.com/story/ed-crane/wai-peipei-comes-age Poem of the Week is Alfie Shoyger's beautifully constructed 'My First Love,...

There has been some really thoughtful and moving poetry and prose on the site this week. Story of the Week goes to Richard Dobbs' 'Sunrise'. Immensely readable, its insight into one of the saddest wartime situations is deeply felt without being sentimental: https://www.abctales.com/story/richard-dobbs/sunrise Poem of the Week is elsie katz's 'Shifting Sands'. Funny and sharply observed, it asks questions about what 'home' is, and how we fit into...

Once a month, usually on the first or second Saturday, I depart the ancestral battlements and make the twenty-five minute train journey to Malton, perhaps the epitome of a North Yorkshire market town. From September to July it’s a quiet journey, with plenty of seats available. From July to September it’s the sardine express, because the eventual destination is Scarborough. There are still many people who choose not to drive to the seaside, and...

Another embarrassment of riches to choose from this week! Story of the Week is Noo's funny, observant and thought provoking 'Every Picture': https://www.abctales.com/story/noo/every-picture Poem of the Week is jackory's lyrical and moving 'Gently Into The Dream': https://www.abctales.com/story/jackory/gently-dream I fell in love with both of these pieces when I read them - hope you will too, if you haven't done so already. This week's...

It's been a very rewarding week on ABC Tales - we've had a real run of rich and interesting work. Story of the Week is Noo's 'Spell'. The magic within the story is echoed by the effortless weaving of words around this intimate and profound tale: https://www.abctales.com/story/noo/spell Poem of the Week goes to Philip Sidney's 'Blood and Other Substances'. Beautifully crafted, this draws you in and then delivers a haunting finish: https://www...