Seascape

April 10, 2026 Chris Hall63 Comments

Photo Prompt © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Another small boat around here? I keep seeing them.
It’s rather grey today, although that’s pretty normal.
Not hot, not too chilly.
It’s called ‘in the middle’.

I have been trying to get the right light, since it is important to me.
That little boat seems to be tacking back and forward. That’s clever.

It’s a granite grey sea, and a slate grey sky, plus a charcoal grey on the beach.
But just a pop of colour from that sailing boat would be good.
Ah, some ultramarine blue, a little crimson red, and a tiny bit of cadmium yellow.
Perfect!

~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

10 April 2026

Love letter

April 6, 2026 Chris Hall43 Comments

I jumped up quickly,
this is what I ought to write;
not a ‘Dear John,’ no!
Oh, this must be eloquent,
but will he think about me?

He’s such a nice guy,
always helpful and useful.
We are both good friends,
but could we be more than pals?
He’ll begin… ‘We’re soul mates.’

~~~~

Somonka – write this Japanese form consisting of 2 Tanka (syllable count of 5/7/5/7/7 without rhyme) written as love letters. Although traditionally a collaborative form, one author can write both. Make this love letters to yourself taking two different points of view.
Thanks, Val

~~~

Image credit: Alexander Mass @Unsplash

This image shows a woman in a night gown, sitting in front of a writing table and writing something on a sheet of paper. There is a window behind her showing that it’s day time and the bed is unmade.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #335 photo prompt.

What do you see # 335- 6 April, 2026

Looking to Scavenge the Month

Drum roll…

April 3, 2026 Chris Hall52 Comments

Photo Prompt © Roger Bultot

Can you reach up?
Ahh, not quite.

Don’t worry, I’ll get a chair.
Do you want to pass that down?

Got it?
Yep.

Good. I’m down.
Let’s look at what’s in it.

It’s such a pretty patina.
Pretty old too.

Let’s lift the lid between us.
It’s tight, isn’t it?

Do you think it’s a big drum?
Seems so.

Here it is.
Oh!

Not a drum.
What unearth is it?

Let’s take it out.
Ooh, carefully.

Here, on the table.
That’s it.

It’s a musical box, with a winder.
I’ll do it.

What? Trump????
No. Don’t be silly. It’s Trumpton!

~~~

P.S. – Trumpton is a British stop-motion children’s television series from the producers of Camberwick Green.

~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Fiction
Word Count: 100

3 April 2026

Calm sailing

March 30, 2026 Chris Hall55 Comments

She was calm,
and in the distance,
all seemed fine.

Evening tide
was quite beautiful,
just mellow.

But not true,
there was no-one there,
all had died.

She sailed on,
like Mary Celeste
and others.

And soon she
disappeared again,
and that was it.

~~~~~

Image credit: Rafael Garcin @Unsplash

This image shows a sail ship on the sea. In the background we see that the sky is yellow and orange, indicating that the sun is setting.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #334 photo prompt.

What do you see # 334- 30 March, 2026

The Old Rectory

March 29, 2026March 29, 2026 Chris Hall26 Comments

The two boys braked, then wheeled around and stopped.
They peered at the sign.
‘This looks interesting.’
‘Do you think there is a castle down there?’ as he read what it said.
‘Could be.’
‘Well, it doesn’t say that we are not allowed to go along that drive, does it?’

So they started to bike while looking around the long winding road. It was pretty overgrown, and there seemed no-one around.
But then, what a vista!
The two of them stopped… dead.

‘What is it?’
‘Certainly not an old castle.’

They dropped their bikes, then walked around the imposing round building.
Just then, a large door opened from the inside, and a man appeared, and smiled. ‘Do come in, you’ll like this, I’m sure.’ He pointed up.
The two of them looked up. For a moment they said nothing, but then they both said: ‘Wow, a wonderful observatory – how cool!’

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #079

Lace but tatty, sadly

March 27, 2026 Chris Hall73 Comments

Photo Prompt © Sandra Crook

That tatty lace was once so pretty. It covered those tall windows, and the light would shine brightly in the early evening.
The sun still smiles, but there’s no-one to see it here in this house.

Then the house was a home.

The walls and the doors were painted in rich and bold colours.
The garden was glorious with many exotic flowers, bushes and vegetables. And beyond, those magnificent trees would often seem to sing.

But that was a long time ago.

Would you see a ghost sometimes?
Would you hear a strange knock in the night?
Maybe? Maybe not.

~~~~~

Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100

27 March 2026

Just another year…

March 23, 2026 Chris Hall48 Comments

What’s a year anyway?
It flies… doesn’t it?
Yep, indeed.

What month is it now?
It’s March already
and of course,
a March, would march,
wouldn’t it?

Hither and thither,
I’m thinking…
What?
Well, March is a month
which has a crossroads in a way.

Oh yes, the equinox!
It could be spring or autumn.
Interesting isn’t it.

But either way,
summer or winter will fly;
and then it will be…
yep… another year!

~~~

Image credit: Leo_Visions @Unsplash

This image shows a whitish piece of paper and on it, there are stamped 4 words in red ink- “Next year was better”

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #333 photo prompt.

What do you see # 333

Dear Mother Nature

March 21, 2026 Chris Hall45 Comments

Honeysuckle leaves – Crispina Kemp

~~~~~

dear mother nature, enjoy this place
see this lovely honeysuckle
it is a wildlife hotel
there’s bees and ladybirds
the scent is gorgeous
it’s nectar-rich
how happy
it is
ahh

she
smiles
with little
animals like
dormice and squirrels
it’s a wonderful world
and now a celebration
sun is above the equator
since twice a year it’s the equinox

~~~~~

spring and autumn equinox and thank you Willow for Mother’s Day.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #078

#TankaTuesday Challenge No 56, A Mother’s Nonet, 3/17/26

But where am I?

March 16, 2026 Chris Hall48 Comments

But where am I?
And how did I get here?

I looked around a bit, then stared at that sign.
It said in capital letters, from top to bottom.
So it seems to be in the right place.
And meaning me?

But where is this place?
It’s dry.
It’s warm.
Yes, there’s some bushes.
Yes, there’s a mountain quite close.
But?
BUT?

Just whoa down.
And sit down.
At least it’s a handy sign to relax there.
Just closing my eyes.
Ah…
Bliss.

~~~

Image credit: NIR HIMI @Unsplash

This image shows a sign with arrows pointing in different directions. The message on the arrows say:- “You are exactly where you need to be.” In the background, one can see mountains and a few bushes.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #332 photo prompt.