Libre Paley's Blog: Libre Paley - Thoughts on Literary Erotica, page 10

All I want for Christmas is glue?

In the run-up to Christmas, if you live in a country where it’s a key celebration, every lifestyle magazine that comes with your weekend newspaper features page upon page of ‘gift ideas’. It’s been going on for a couple of weeks now. In the current climate—both economically and meteorologically—some of these are a bit revolting, … Continue reading All I want for Christmas is glue?

Pick out a Penguin

Some 150 plus of them line the shelves—the shelves, that is, of the glass-fronted wood ‘Minty of Oxford’ bookcase reserved specially for the purpose, now full, with a couple of volumes needing to be balanced horizontally atop their mates. Orange Penguins – orange spines, anyway. Most of them are not especially old, though many are … Continue reading Pick out a Penguin

Idiot plots and unlikely twists

“A plot which works because all the characters involved are idiots.” A definition of the so-called ‘idiot plot’, a term attributed to the science and fantasy fiction writer James Blish (May 1921 –1975). The main characters may not, in actual fact be idiots as such, but they do behave stupidly or irrationally, whether throughout the … Continue reading Idiot plots and unlikely twists

The foremost noble rank of women writers

I loved this article in the newspaper the other day, ‘Women’s writing began much earlier than supposed’, in which writing by a female authors in England was discovered to be dated back to the seventh century. Or at least, academic and author of Women, Writing and Religion in England and Beyond, 650–1100 Diane Watt has … Continue reading The foremost noble rank of women writers

Getting back on top

Argh, my lovely week off nearly gone. At least, it’s already Thursday, and all that Halloween stuff to sort out, costumes, the treats, somehow a big sleepover. And I am a massive list maker, and my list is not even half crossed off. Part of this is the trade of for spending several days away. … Continue reading Getting back on top

Self pep talk

Or Post subtitle: ‘things I know intellectually, but keep forgetting to remember and need to be better at applying in real life…’ Don’t keep giving way, especially on things that matter. Because it will weaken you, affecting your resilience. Instead, pick your battles, know where your red lines are, communicate them clearly, and stand up … Continue reading Self pep talk

Bookmarking our lives

To augment my collection of vintage cookery books, I am now the contented owner of The Apartment Vegetarian Cookbook (1978) by Lindsay Miller (Peace Press). Taking a coffee break, I sat to glance through it and out fell several fragments of paper. They were recipes, cut from a cardboard food packet and torn from tin … Continue reading Bookmarking our lives

You never can tell what’s magic

As the shadows gather outside, it’s the season in which we’re reminded of our own mortality, yet preserve and protect ourselves ready to see us through wintry days, the time for seeking comfort. Season of lists and mellow fruitfulness… With apologies to Keats, it’s time, here in the northern hemisphere, to line up some autumn … Continue reading You never can tell what’s magic

Brace yourself

‘Trying to learn new stuff every day and surprising yourself slows time down a bit,’ said Prof. Hugh Montgomery in a recent interview. Well he should know. As his interviewer noted, aside from the ‘day job’ as chair of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London and a practising clinician specialising in genetic research, Montgomery … Continue reading Brace yourself

The day the mermaid died

My daughter has—or had—a blanket that’s fashioned like a mermaid’s tail; you slide yourself inside it (if you are child-sized) and wear / are covered by it. It is brightly coloured and has a forked caudal fin at the end. But it is no longer wanted, has been put away with other ‘childish’ things. There … Continue reading The day the mermaid died