Category: writing prompts

Ooh, sheds…

Chris Hall32 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘Those aren’t sheds, they’re garages, wouldn’t you say?’
‘Well, I guess so… does it matter?’
‘Probably not.’
The two boys grinned at each other, as they stopped on their mountain bikes.

‘Interesting place.’
‘Certainly is… not been there before, have we?’
‘Nope, never seen this.’
‘I suppose it’s a bit further in the other direction than we usually go.’
‘Still, let’s have a little poke around, since I’m sure no one will bother about us.’
The two boys got off their bikes and wheeled them. They looked around by the little line of garages.

‘Not many people here, are there?’
‘Just a couple of builders…’
‘You mean, roofers, I think?’
‘Well, whatever… they are just up there.’
They craned their heads up.

‘Do you need any help?’ shouted one of the boys.
But there was no response.

‘Oh well, we can see what they are doing, can’t we?’
‘It looks like some of those roofs need new ones.’
‘In fact, most of them have been done.’
‘Well spotted,’ grinned both of them.

‘Maybe we can see if anyone else is around.’
‘All look closed, and they must be dark inside, I suppose.’
‘But there are quite a lot of nice cars on the other side. I wonder where they have gone?’
The two boys had a little look at some of the cars, but nothing obvious, apart from some books inside… the same books.

‘I know what’s going on – they are all twitchers!’
‘What?’
‘Birdwatchers – and look, they’re coming back.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Another Artist?

Chris Hall62 Comments


he’s an artist
he strides across the fields
he has his easel and all the other things he needs

he stops
he looks around
it’s the perfect place

he sets everything out
and then he paints
broad strokes
colours vivid

is it a masterpiece?

~~~

Image credit: Fuu J @Unsplash

This image shows a windmill standing in a field of tulips. In the background, you see there is a yellow fog and it seems like there is dust in the air.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #294 photo prompt.

What do you see # 294- 23 June, 2025

A little slice of life

Chris Hall39 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

It was more than thirty years back then, when we had a two week holiday in the south-west of France, where my cousin had a second home in a tiny hamlet. She had said we could do anything we wanted, since she was busy working in London, and she wasn’t able to get away at that time.

We had a little rented car, and it was just as well, since the roads were very tiny in that hamlet. We’d stocked up with lots of goodies, mostly in the huge Carrefour (always loved that place, by the way).

So we pottered around the garden, even though it was steep and narrow, but we were able to do a bit of weeding and a little planting. We would stare over the next field, where there was a pretty black bull, although we thought it would be a bad idea to get too close to him.

In the evening, we didn’t bother to watch the television, since our French was pretty ropey. Instead we played cards – Rummy and Cribbage, and also there was a large jigsaw, and yes, we did finish it.

We could get lovely French sticks and cheeses, but after a few days, we decided to drive to a rather larger town. We’d left the car a few streets before, since it seemed rather busy in the centre.

And, lo and behold, what did we see? Yes, that’s right, the Tour de France was just passing the main group… so fast!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

Just boasting

Chris Hall37 Comments

a failure?
not for me
I’m far too clever
to not to do anything like that
I might be boasting more than a bit
but what’s wrong with that?
I’ve got my great camera
I can whiz it out
how fun it is
hurrah!

~~~

Image credit: Aaron Burden @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a camera and a leather-bound book sitting on a wooden surface. The name on the cover of the book is in faded letters, the legible one reading: “I am not afraid of failure…..

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #293 photo prompt.

What do you see # 293- 16 June, 2025

The Seagull

Chris Hall45 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Looking out to sea and see the sea
what a complicated thing it is…
but he doesn’t think too much
in fact, he’s rather thick
but he’s only doing his job.

He’s pretty handy
he’s slow at somethings
but in other ways he’s quick!

(44 word)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

have you guessed it?

a traffic warden
or maybe he’s a footballer
any other ideas?

So many books!

Chris Hall53 Comments

books, so many books
how many have I read
I wonder
just say, lots

long ones, short ones
mostly fiction
but many different genres
and also lovely poetry

I look on my shelves
I look in my kindle
so many unread books

there is no way
I will read all of them
before I am gone

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a stack of books the spine and title of the books are hidden from view. The books are arranged in order of size. The smallest is at the top.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #292 photo prompt.

What do you see # 292

He has tall tales

Chris Hall48 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

He smiles and jokes and explains tall tales. He’s in his element.
From morning to evening, and even later, he’s busy.

Many people look up, staring and taking photos.

He’s a real live wire.
Sometimes there will be a pigeon on his head, but he doesn’t mind.

But we can’t hear him.
Not a word.

But he continues and he seems to be happy.

And if it’s really dark, and no one’s around, he’ll drop down.
There’s a park bench and it’s a great place to sleep.
But he’s back in his usual place before anyone else is around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

(99 words)

Sea Turtle

Chris Hall51 Comments

she just arrived
on this beautiful bay
azure on the water
creamy white sands
and up in the sky
little billowing clouds

she began to walk
slowly but surely
it will take all day

and then the sun will go down
she’ll lay her eggs
then later she’ll return
back into the ocean
and looking up to the moon

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Adam Azim @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a sea turtle emerging from the sea and traveling on the sand. Behind it, you can blue sea and a sky dotted with small white clouds.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #291 photo prompt.

What do you see # 291- 2June, 2025

A bus?

Chris Hall26 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

‘A bendy bus?’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Look, here’s a picture on that magazine.’
‘What do you think about that?’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those.’
‘What does it say?’
They both peer at it.

‘Oh, it says it’s an electric bus.’
‘An electric bus?’
They looked to each other.
‘My word!’
They continued to look at it.

‘It says that the bendy buses are very clean and quiet.’
‘Hmm, how nice.’
‘It says they almost purr.’ ‘Ha, like a cat, perhaps?’
‘Maybe so.’
They both grinned.

‘I’m pretty sure we will never see one of those here.’
‘Indeed not.’
‘Well, not to worry, we don’t really like buses, do we?’
‘No, certainly not.’
‘We like our cars much better.’
‘You have your posh lorry, and I’ve my big bakkie.’
‘And look, both of them are ready – and both of them have all new tyres now.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.

(150 words)

Time to climb

Chris Hall41 Comments

I haven’t climbed this one
it looks doable
shall I try it?

easy to start with
going well
but now it’s getting harder
but that’s the point

slowly does it
and cling on
whoa, that was scary

I’m almost there
and yes… that vista!

~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Dennis Yu @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this is a photo-shopped image (time-lapse image) of a man climbing a rock. The photographer has captured different stages of his climb and it looks like many people are climbing the rock. The last stage of his climb is when he is triumphantly sitting on the top of the rock.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #290 photo prompt.

What do you see # 290- 26 May, 2025