Stuart Aken's Blog, page 9
June 10, 2024
At Home, by Bill Bryson: #BookReview.
At a little over 600 pages of fascinating text, this book by Bill Bryson kept me turning those leaves. That there are, in addition, 32 pages of bibliography, suggests the author has done his research, and done it thoroughly. The Book is subtitled ‘A Short History of Private Life’ and takes the form of an …
June 8, 2024
#ScenicSaturday 8th June 2024:
This continuing series of posts depicts our beautiful world, encouraging viewers to share them and help save our unique home from human carelessness and indifference. Today’s photo shows how successful nature is at reclaiming land when given the opportunity. The trees here have grown since the forest area ceased to be mined for coal, quarried …
June 7, 2024
A Free Short Story: Bri.
This short story was published as a prize winner (placed 2nd) in a UK writing magazine, Writers Forum, that’s since ceased publication. It’s from October 2002. Some readers may find this story disturbing. I hope so, it was written to disturb. BRI Bri laughed as the cartoon mouse hacked the cat into a thousand bloody slices. …
June 3, 2024
Oddities Observed On Outings #13
In this continuing series I’m looking at things seen when out walking. Some of these objects will be familiar to certain readers, but many are likely to be unfamiliar to most. I’m presenting those that caught my attention perhaps by their unusual placing, incongruity, idiosyncrasy, or simply their oddness. This one shows… On this occasion, …
June 1, 2024
#ScenicSaturday 1st June 2024:
This continuing series of posts depicts our beautiful world, encouraging viewers to share them and help save our unique home from human carelessness and indifference. Today’s photo shows the full moon rising over the sea at Lyme Regis just after dusk. I loved the calm depth and deep blue of the quiet sea and the …
May 29, 2024
A Short Visit to Wiltshire: #6 (Final) Avebury
This is the last in the short series of posts, relating to places of interest in the English County of Wiltshire. I intended here to help visitors know what to expect. Not presenting details of history, etc., simply describing as well as I can, with the aid of photographs, how to get there and what …
Continue reading A Short Visit to Wiltshire: #6 (Final) Avebury
May 25, 2024
Oddities Observed On Outings #12
The Tree That’s a Plant Pot In this continuing series I’m looking at things seen when out walking. Some of these objects will be familiar to certain readers, but many are likely to be unfamiliar to most. I’m presenting those that caught my attention perhaps by their unusual placing, incongruity, idiosyncrasy, or simply their oddness. …
#ScenicSaturday 25th May 2024:
This continuing series of posts depicts our beautiful world, encouraging viewers to share them and help save our unique home from human carelessness and indifference. Today’s photo shows a narrow footpath snaking along the contour of a hillside in Dorset. The gorse is in full bloom, and prickly as ever! But the sky is blue, …
May 22, 2024
A Short Visit to Wiltshire: #5 Old Sarum
This short series of posts, relating to places of interest in the English County of Wiltshire, is intended to help visitors know what to expect. I’m not presenting details of history, etc., simply describing as well as I can, with the aid of photographs, how to get there and what to expect when you arrive. …
May 21, 2024
A Short Story For You.
The Gate A short story, first published as a prize-winner in Northern Short Stories Vol 5. in 1994. This was when I published under my given name, before I discovered, via Google, that there were umpteen writers using that name. I created my pen name a little later.But enough about that. Here’s the short story …
