Flashback Friday 14 November 2025

From ten years ago, and inspired – for want of a better word – by a prompt included in WordPress’ Writing 101 course that invited us to ‘reinvent the letter format’. This is as close as it’s going to get. An Open Letter To My Passport Photo Dear self, Well, I wouldn’t go so far as…

Fandango’s Flashback Friday 24 October

From 2014, a hopefully humorous but ultimately futile attempt to attract a bit of interest. Buy This Blog Confidential: Draft script for infomercial. Do NOT show to client under any circumstances* Fade up studio lights to presenter seated in high-backed leather armchair. [I’m thinking I M Jolly here, people. No chance of getting James Earl Jones,…

Bloganuary: How far back in your family tree can you go?

Tracing one’s ancestry has become quite the thing in recent years. I first started looking into mine more than twenty years ago while I was, in acting terms, ‘resting’. Or, to put it another way, unemployed. Back then, genealogy was a labour-intensive process that involved ploughing through fat, leather-bound registers of births, marriages and deaths…

Up Against It

Day 3 of ‘Bloganuary’: still sticking to it. Write about the last time you left your comfort zone Believe me, I know exactly when I was last out of my comfort zone. I am pleased to report that I spend the vast majority of my life firmly entrenched inside my comfort zone, for three excellent…

False Pretences: The Way Forward

It’s one of those days today – a glorious morn when the designated theme from ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’ actually throws up something that stirs a response. “The Stat Connection. Go to your Stats page and check your top 3-5 posts. Why do you think they’ve been successful? Find the connection between them and…

One-Liner Wednesday: Multi-tasking

“I don’t suffer from stress…..but I am a carrier” My favourite joke, from one oif my favourite comedians, Steven Wright. And like all the best jokes, there’s probably a grain of truth in it.  – – – ooOoo – – – If you’re wondering what any of this has to do with multi-tasking, today’s instalmemt…

Sensory overload

Is it me* or is WordPress getting a bit personal, not to say voyeuristic, with this latest instalment of ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’: “Feed your senses. Write down the first sight, sound, smell and sensation you experienced on waking up today. Pick the one you’re most drawn to and write. (For a bigger challenge,…

An in convenience truth

As one possessed of what is disparagingly known as a ‘gill bladder’ – which is to say that my powers of retention are somewhat below average – I have extensive direct experience of public conveniences all over the world, and during my many passing (sic) visits I have come across encountered some well-known faces. I…