November

Ten of us in J&S's on a sunny cold morning. All good stories and it was hard choosing the best one. Ann got the most votes.
Next month Sues's

More important.

Brought Him

As Paul sat in the car, he wondered what had brought him to this place. He was in one of forest car parks, a place he loved, but he had no recollection of the journey here and assumed he must have been on autopilot. He pondered on the last few months and the events that had brought this feeling about. Being made redundant from his job at the factory had been a blow, as now he and Lisa had Danny they needed every penny they could get. If the truth be known though, he had been quite relieved when it had happened. He was a country boy at heart and had never been comfortable working in the factory environment. He had tried getting another job in the weeks since but had more often than not never had a reply to his application. The tension had increased between him and Lisa and they seemed to spend more time arguing and disagreeing each day. This morning Lisa had informed him that she was taking Danny and going to spend some time with her parents in the next town and after another unsuccessful attempt at getting a job, he had got in the car and just driven. He wondered what was the use of trying to keep on, as things seemed to just go from bad to worse and found himself wondering if everyone would be better off without him. He wondered what would be the best way to end it all. He could take an overdose, but there was no guarantee it would succeed and he could end up a vegetable which would make things even worse. He certainly didn’t feel he had the courage to hang himself, desperate though he was. The only other option he could think of was to gas himself. He could come to one of the isolated car parks and do it, but it would have to be planned as he had no hose in the car today. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became it was the answer.

Suddenly the knocking on the window brought him out of his reverie and he saw an elderly lady standing beside the car. He wound the window down and asked if there was something wrong. She was in quite a distressed state and explained that she had been walking her dog, when it had chased off after a squirrel. It must have jumped to try and catch it and fallen awkwardly and was now unable to get up and was crying out in pain. He quickly got out of the car and rushed with her, following the anguished cries of the distressed animal. He found this “Heinz” collie type dog struggling to get up to greet its mistress. Kneeling down he gently spoke and smoothed it and with the help of the lady picked it up and then carried it back to the car. Insisting on taking them to the vet, he settled them in the car and followed her instructions for the journey. Once there he waited while they attended to the animal and as they decided to keep it in overnight, he offered to take her home. On the way she was very quiet, but on arriving home, she asked if he would come in for a cup of tea. It seemed churlish to refuse, so he agreed. When they had settled down with a drink and homemade fruitcake, she said she hoped she had not interrupted him, as he had seemed deep in thought when she had knocked on the window. He replied that having recently lost his job and been unable to find another, he was trying to resolve the problem and was thinking over the options. She asked what he had done and on hearing that he had never really liked factory work, suggested he could now try for something he felt comfortable with. She told him he was obviously a caring person from the way he had dealt with the situation he had been put in today.

On returning to an empty house later, he thought long and hard about what she had said and the next day made enquiries about jobs at the local wildlife centre. He knew he would never make a fortune, but it would be something he would enjoy and maybe he could eventually go to agricultural college and get some qualifications. He called Lisa and said he was coming to bring her and Danny home, but on the way called in to find out how the dog was and thank his Good Samaritan for her wise words and tell her what he had done.

October

Limited participants today. My own story was lost when the file corrupted still first time I missed. Joan Read won scoring three votes.

Just discovered my file so have printed after Joan's masterpiece. Well it would be a shame if nobody read it.

Next "brought him"

Stood Close

Dan McGuire stood close to the fence keeping in the shadow of the hedge that grew the length of it. He was waiting for the occupier of the house who's garden he was in to go to bed. He stood very still hardly breathing then at just after eleven o'clock the lights went out. He waited for about a half hour and then crept round to the back of the house to the door he knew led into the kitchen he also knew there was a dog flap but no dog. He was quite small and could usually wriggle his way in through the flap. But this was no ordinary burglary he was being paid a fair amount of money to enter and retrieve from a desk that was situated in the lounge a CD marked Honey. 

He had no idea what was on it and he didn't care he just wanted the money. He set about greasing his clothes with Vaseline this helped him through the flap and also messed with any prints left although he was always careful to wear gloves and a skull cap so no loose hairs could fall out. He gained entry and silently made for the desk he just hoped that it was not locked it would take valuable time for him to unlock it not that it would be a problem fortunately it was open he searched and found the CD he put it in his pocket and started to leave when he heard a noise. He quickly hid behind the thick curtains and peeked through an opening. He could not believe his eyes another burglar had come to search the desk of course he left with nothing. 

After a short while Dan left as he was making his way home he thought to himself that there must be something of value on the CD he had in his possession if someone else also wanted it he decided that when he got home he would play it. He placed the disc into the machine and hit play he watched as several short clips came up of a girl with various men it was then he realised that this was being used for blackmail as he knew one of the men was a very senior partner in a law firm and it looked as if the girl was very young. He took two copies of the CD for insurance and then made the phone call to his contact to say the work was done. 

A meeting was arranged for the next day and at exactly 1.30pm Dan was sat in a coffee shop waiting. Through the door came two men they sat down opposite him one put an envelope on the table and waited Dan looked inside and had a shock instead of money there was a note telling him that a gun was pointed at him under the table and if he knew what was good for him he would hand over the goods. He passed over the CD and sat perfectly still until they left breathing a sigh of relief he finished his coffee to stop himself shaking then paid and left. The more he thought about how he had been screwed out of his money and threatened he decided he would take the CD to the police and report the whole thing and take his chances. He went straight there and spoke to a detective he told him about his part in the burglary and how he had copied the CD. He was escorted home and he passed over the two copies. Over the next two months arrests were made against many men for statutory rate of an under aged girl. When Dan was sentenced the judge asked him why did he turn himself in Dan replied "Well your honour I came to the conclusion that I would rather be tried by 12 men than carried to my grave by six".

The End

Stood close

Did you get the impression on hearing the word STOOD that it seemed odd and on thinking about it I believe it might be because it is an irregular verb. Why don't we say he standed up instead of he stood up. Perhaps saying it brings the answer, it does sound odd to the ear.

Right now we have dealt with that what else can I write about. The first person I can remember who had a different body spatial norm was from Poland. He came over during the war and was working in the docks as a crane engineer. He was quite a likeable chap but he would stand too close and if you backed away he followed until you were no longer able to retreat as your back was pressed against the wall. Just remembered another one years later while crossing railway tracks again in the docks I was button holed by a Frenchman who was lost and wanted direction. He too gave me the close body engagement. Do all the French get close I wonder.

One more comes to mind he was a short chap no more than five foot a keen gardener and often exhibited his prize fuchsias on the common when the Southampton show took place. He too was a nice chap if you forgave him from getting in close and staring up your nostrils, not a pretty sight. Thinking about the past I can recall the smell of the hot tent and the grass crushed by the many feet with the wooden display tables covered in green velvet cloth displaying all the wonderful colourful varieties of flowers.

The only one other person I can think of was a chap I believe to be a lorry driver as his face was familiar. He only had a string vest on - apart from his trousers and shoes of course. We met in Smith's where all the journals were stacked on the shelves. He was perusing the Chuck and Driver magazine while I was getting the motorcycle weekly. It was very hot that day and as I scanned the the first few pages the truck driver reached up for his magazine showing his hairy armpit releasing a pungent smell that was hard to ignore he didn't have to stand too close to drive away the fellow customers as he effectively cleared the decks.

I never stay too long standing by the shelves looking at the journals since the time I was standing by an old lady who was avidly reading a popular newspaper when she was approached by I assumed to be a young manager and he said the papers were for purchasing if she wished to read it. I've just been reminded of another chap who stood close when talking to anyone. He also had anther anti-social habit of spitting when gobbling his food. Being hyper-active bits of food and spit flew all directions.

Just had a thought why is it I've never came across any woman who wanted to take my space up by getting close - except Joan of course?

September Story

Just eight of us one with a cold, one on holiday and one suffering from lack of sleep.

Rosemary got most votes. 

Next month STOOD CLOSE

August

A full house apart from one with four winners with two votes so just one was selected by John which happened to be mine. So here it is.

Back over

If you could live your life back over would you want to? If on dying you were given the opportunity to relive your life as it was or accept the unknowing nothingness of complete oblivion what would you choose. I would take the oblivion. My decision might be different if I had control to change things by using the wisdom that does come with age. We older people are not torn by jealousy or desires We know that whatever we lust after loses it lustre after attaining it.

If it was possible to dip in and out of our life stream to bring peace to an event where there was anger or fear that perhaps might change my mind.

Even then would that be enough to make you want to live it again I doubt as it would be like seeing Shawshank Redemption over and over again. It is the unrolling unknown that brings the life into our existence. And the magical moments that live in our memory.

I mentioned to my neighbour Ted who was a member of the U3A the subject I would be writing about in this month's creative writing. I asked him what would he do to change his life and after reflecting for a moment he said he would change things so that he would be living in Scotland where he was born.

I asked why were the people better or was Edinburgh so nice a city to be attractive enough to want to go back? I told him I would not be offended if he said it was the people.

He said he had a lot of friends there but I pointed out not too unkindly I hope, that they were all dead. He said it is such a beautiful city. He recalled a time during the war in which he was involved, manning a Landing craft support ship. It was just after D Day he returned to Scotland and getting out of the train he walked up the main road from the station with all the historic buildings bathed in sunlight with few people about and the feeling he had was that the whole scene was bathed in a ethereal light it transformed his features at the remembrance.

I did wonder if it was the sunlight being such a rare sight in Scotland. But I didn't say that to him either.

There is a philosophy that suggests we ought to accept what is happening including our thoughts each moment. If adopted it will mean life is no longer a struggle to fight to change what is.

In today's paper the young woman dancer who lost her leg in the roller coaster accident says she would not change what happened to her as it made her a better person.

In my case if I was able to go back in time to reassure my parents when the bombs landed all around us in Gosport that we would all survive the war and there was no need to evacuate to the Isle of Wight it would have changed everything for the better. The IOW experience was good but coming back to the mainland was too much of a sacrifice.

But I know if my mother had the same question put to her when she passed through the gate and had a chat with Gabriel I would not have come into the world in the first place.

Next month    "Be Naughty" 

Meeting at Sue's, Pat declared the winner 
Just Loosen

I'm not sure about you, but I wish this digital age had passed me by. Its difficult to ignore as its integrated into our everyday life.

The young ones have no fear, and therein lies the difference. We ARE afraid we might break something or be unable to return to our starting point.

One evening, watching an interesting programme on the T.V. A button on the remote was pressed in error. Result, black screen. My husband had dropped off clutching the hand control and I woke him up trying to loosen his grip. We tried everything to no avail so took a look in the booklet, which might as well have been written in Klingon. The decision was made to press every button starting at the top. Fortunately the 2^nd and 3^rd buttons restored the picture and sound. Hooray. By then, of course, we had missed all the interesting parts of the story. Now the remote is in a remote place, just in case.

The battery had worn out on my mobile and as it was less expensive to purchase a new phone than a new battery , went ahead. The helpful young sales lady transferred all my contacts onto the new one, or so I thought. However only half of them were there...how annoying was that.

Now, I am not against new technology, just think of the Space Station. Then there’s PokeMon. It apparently means Pocket Monkey. I don't understand how people can spend so much time searching for things that aren’t there! Life is too short for this, and I do wonder if the next generation will be able to tell the difference between the real and the unreal world.

Next month cheznous Back over

June Meeting at John's

Lots of excuses today only seven of us. Joan won with five votes and Jenny had two.


She had Taken

Vera Bench was sat in her kitchen and thought how pleased she was that the days had gone by so quick. She still shuddered when she thought of the risk she had taken two weeks ago. The saga began when she and her best friend June met up with some old school chums they had not seen for ages. They were all sat enjoying their food and drink when Lucy one of the crowd and the youngest at 65  asked what everyone had been doing. Vera could not believe the things the others had done for different charities Jean sky diving Ruth scuba diving Lucy free fall Mary had even gone down in a cage to feed the Sharks. They made her and June feel very inadequate as they had only run the Race for Life. There was a moments silence and then June announced what I was going to do in a few weeks. I should have said then that she was kidding but I fell into her trap once again. I should have said straightaway  that she could risk her life if she wanted to but not me but of course the moment passed. I could not believe that I would actually do it I remembered that I checked my will and made arrangements with my daughter to take care of Masie my dog  if any thing happened of course she said "mother you are being stupid if you are that afraid cancel". I must admit I thought about it but then I saw all the sponsorship money people said they would give and I gave in. The day finally arrived and we made our way to the meeting place there were ten of us. As the instructor put on the straps and safety harness and told us all what to do It finally hit me what I was about to do. Yes,I was about to do a Bungie jump which meant hurling myself of this bridge, me who's afraid to climb a ladder. As I stood on the platform saying a last minute pray the instructor asked if I had removed everything out of my pockets as I had to dive of the stand not jump. My heart was beating so fast I felt as though I was going to pass out so very quickly I closed my eyes and dived into the abyss. As I let out one all mighty scream and opened my eyes I saw to my horror my false teeth falling to the canyon floor. Yes I had not removed them. That's why two weeks later I am still having soup and soft food waiting for my new dentures. Would I do it again yes I tell my friends when Nelson gets his other eye back.


"Just loosen" next month's words

June at Jack and Joan's

June meeting

Despite winning last time I again got most votes mainly because my story made them laugh.

Up to much

Reminds me of him and him Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker

I can picture the two of them leaning on a five bar gate overlooking a lush green field dotted with browsing cows. Ronnie Barker with a straw in his mouth both dressed in rustic clothing of a bygone era. They are talking about Rodney a friend of Ronnie Corbett nicknamed dribble. Dribble was campaigning the local community for support in his attempt to get elected as local parish councillor.

Barker was looking at a leaflet published by Dribble pinned to the gate.

He tapped the photo of dribble with the straw and asked Corbett.

Is he up to much?

What do you mean up to much.

Well you know up to much like he'll never be a school monitor if he isn't up to much.

School monitor you're going back a bit aren't you. You telling me you had school monitors in your school.

We had a milk monitor.

What did he do then.

He monitored the milk of course what do you think he did. No TV monitor them days. He came round with the milk and gave us a half a pint bottle each with a straw. Except Johnny Green cause he had a version.

Version what's that then

You know a version when you don't like something cause it doesn't like you.

Oh you mean aversion

It's the same thing.

No it ain't a version is when you give your version and somebody else gives there's.

Give there's what?

Their version God Blimey.

They both lapsed into silence looking at the bucolic scenery. Then Ronnie Barker broke the silence.

Is he up to much?

You mean is Dribble up to much?

Course I did, is he?

Yes he's up too much at least the missus thinks so.

Why's that then?

Last night when I said to the misses are you up to it she said no as Dribble had came round the night before when I was bringing the cows home.

When was that then.

Late,

How late?

Twelve, I had to rescue daisy bell from the ditch when she tried to get into the next field.

Why did Daisy Bell want to go into the next field then.

Because of Arthur.

Arthur?

Arthur the bull.

Why did your missus say dribble was up to much.

She didn't.

You said she did.

No I said she said he is up too much.

Does he still dribble?

Dunno I'll ask the Missus.

Next month  "She had taken"

April at Pat & Brian's

My story, all true, won this time. Four votes.

In this country

In this country? Which one though?  England perhaps as in my case it's the only one I know apart from my sally into Wales many years ago when I was about twelve. If it is Wales then in this country my first and second impression was not very good. The first visit in 1946 came about when a friend of our family lets call him Tom, took his family there by train to visit his wife’s relatives in Cardiff Don't know why but my parents agreed I could go with them although I don't remember wanting to go. Perhaps they wanted me to go and with luck not come back, who knows.

Again I can't understand why no one knew what the sleeping arrangements would be. As there was no room in the proverbial Inn. I had to go into a neighbouring house and share a bed with a man I had never met. Could that happen 2016 without an uproar but the night passed without me being molested as far as I remember. On the second day I didn't feel that wonderful and when we went out together that is Tom, his wife and their two girls by bus, the conductor, they had them in those days, peered at me I think he said, You're covered in spots, as his accent was as clear as BT Indian help line. Indeed I was covered in spots, subsequently I was told it was the water. Not sure I believe it.

All in all it wasn't a very good holiday. It didn't end that well either A train journey back nobody had cars then and a walk home I found the house locked up. My brother was outside and seeing me he said Mum is next door with Mrs Turner I'll tell her. He left me standing outside with the suitcase while he climbed over the wall separating the two gardens and disappeared inside.

I waited and waited and waited thinking they don't care if I'm back or not and it seemed a very long time when from around the front of the house mum appeared having only just been told that I was home. My dear brother forgot to tell her.

The second bad time was when we took a short break to that bleak cottage with the axe in the outhouse that had rusty stains on the blade that and the constant rain we made the short break even shorter. I've just remembered it was three times not twice when I ventured into this rain swept country

The third time was much better it was when we took our son to St Donat's a medieval castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, overlooking the Bristol Channel. Now an international secondary school called Atlantic College. He wasn't going there to take a baccalaureate but to enjoy the experience for two weeks. The facilities available for those privileged to go there for their education in those glorious settings gave me an impression of something out of this world. It was actually bathed in sunshine too. Maybe Wales isn't so bad after all.

Next month "up to much"

Pat wrote the winning story

Have to be

We were on our way to the airport, and the traffic was stop-go especially on the M25. Where are they all going I wondered, we have to be there by 10 am. At last we arrived at Heathrow. KEEP LEFT for TERMINAL 4 the sign flashed at us. “get over” we chorused. “if you want to drive, take over” our father shouted back. There was silence until we found the correct long term parking. “Now let's all remember where we have parked the car”, he cautioned. We each took our luggage and went down in the crowded lift. What a to do. We all flopped into the only available seats as there was 30 minutes to wait till check in. It was rather exciting watching other travellers staring up at the signs bumping into each other.

The tannoy kept blaring incomprehensible information. What did it say? We were sipping our airport tea when a smartly dressed young man asked our father to watch his suitcase for a while. Of course we would, and off he went. Shortly after there was another announcement that we could actually hear “ DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGS UNATTENDED OR THEY MAY BE DESTROYED”. Now this was in the 80's when the Irish were intent on blowing things up. All eyes flew to the suitcase, then to our father. “is it ticking”? My brother asked. No one laughed.As time went on we became more paranoid. Then it was time for us to check in and as we began to gather our belongings the young man reappeared smiling and thanking us for being so kind. We all breathed a sigh of relief and joined the long queue, shuffling our bags along.

Then I spotted him. A gentleman wearing long robes ahead of us. “ he has no luggage” I whispered to my father in a nervous voice. We all watched him as he inched closer to the desk. He boldly walked up and chatted to the attendant, who then directed him to another check in. He had been in the wrong queue all along! Phew!

Finding our seats on the plane, I found myself in between my brother, who had the window seat and a young man. As we taxied out of the airport onto the runway, the engines began to race, I noticed the young man gripping the arms, and stealing a furtive look at his face, noticed beads of perspiration on his forehead. Panic and suspicion was setting in again and I was gripping the armrest too. We took off and he glanced at me “J sis defray” in French (pardon my spelling) then ,in English, “its my first flight” he said with a lovely smile. Mental not to self, stop being suspicious of strangers.

February's story at John's

Unusual, Rosemary got four votes but didn't win as I trumped that with seven.
Why did I think of Len Goodman then?
"Have to be" next month on the 4th April Chez nous.

Her head

It's isn't just tables and chairs that have feelings and can talk. Sweets can as well – don't scoff - no pun intended. At least Cadbury's milk tray chocolates are able to as I've heard them. I admit it was Christmas and the wine was flowing but I'm sure I heard their whispered conversation. It was in the 50s while I was attending a family party and after a good feast I went into the front room to have a rest from the merriment. I had been sitting there for only ten minutes in a comfortable high back armchair when believe it or not I heard these tiny voices coming from a chocolate box with individual chocolates arguing amongst themselves and from the tone of the raised voices you could conjure up the different varieties that were talking. I gathered from their excited chatter that it was on how they were rated as chocolates an argument that started from the time they were made to share apartments. It was the chocolate Raspberry Heaven - A fruity burst of raspberry encased in delicious milk chocolate protesting that it was NOT the least liked of all of them. It argued that some times it was the first out of the box. The Hazelnut Swirl - A whole roasted hazelnut set in a heavenly praline tossed her head sending hazelnut fragments flying in all directions. What rubbish. Careful you know we might be eaten by someone with an allergy to nuts censored Dreamy Fudge - Soft, creamy fudge enveloped in a dark chocolate coating

Coffee Crescent - A sweet coffee centre wrapped in rich milk chocolate joined in by addressing Raspberry Heaven - A fruity burst of raspberry encased in delicious milk chocolate You know you only only get picked first when some little girl has the first choice they pick you because you are pink inside, girls love all things pink. Rasberry Heaven infuriated beyond belief rose indignantly almost jumping out of the box. What! You know it's nearly always your fate to be the last one out. You're only here because of political correctness.

Racist retorted Coffee Crescent.

Almond Crunch - Finely chopped almonds immersed in a truffle filling and wrapped in rich milk chocolate warned Quiet I'm sure some one is listening.

It was at that point I ceased looking at the box as I was beginning to think it might be the drink making me delirious. The sound of the party increased as the door opened and Pauline my niece came into the room and seeing the box on the table made a beeline for it. Tearing of the cellophane she plucked the chocolate Raspberry Heaven from the box. I heard the The Hazelnut Swirl - A whole roasted hazelnut set in a heavenly praline triumphantly call out I told you so. Pauline looked at me reluctantly offering the box but fearing for my sanity I muttered no thanks and hurriedly left the room to rejoin the party it was time to have another drink.

January's meeting at Sue's

Pat had won with 4 votes

PIECE

In the furniture charity shop stood a beautiful old sideboard, ignored by most shoppers as it was rather large for these modern houses. Then, one day the young strong volunteers began moving things around and in came a lovely shining table, "hello" the sideboard said, and where have you come from?" The table sniffed quietly and replied " I have been thrown out". No one wants me.

After a while the table told his story. Many years ago I was loved and polished, standing proudly, always with a vase of fresh flowers in the centre. My very favourite day was Christmas. Eleanor and her husband and two children sat down to a wonderful meal with all the trimmings. This went on for a few years until the children brought home partners...then the spare leaf was inserted so that they could all sit down together. Some time later, the two couples came with their offspring,look at the lights look at the fairy, so my 2^nd leaf was inserted. I was so excited, being the centre of attention. A few more children arrived during the following years until one day, Eleanor said that things had to change. No more leaves! Or chairs, or space! After that,the two young couples began their own traditions, texting each other " who is going to have them this Christmas?"The parents sitting at home waiting to be invited. One year there was just the two of them eating on their laps watching the TV. The table looked at them sorrowfully, not being needed any more. Sniff sniff.

Sadly, Grandad passed on and things became too much for Eleanor, so she sold up and moved into a smaller house." I was given one more polish before coming here. " One day a young couple wandered in the shop with a child in tow. Look, look she exclaimed to her husband, this is the piece of furniture I would like". We have enough room, and what with the twins on the way this will serve us forever. He ran his hand over the shiny surface, its been well cared for, he thought, and then he spotted the two spare leaves on runners under the table. Perfect for Christmas he thought. The table sighed happily and watched, as the husband examined the sideboard. Will both pieces fit? Out came the tape measure...Merry Christmas everyone. From the table.