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.’

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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.

What’s for lunch?

Chris Hall42 Comments

in my fruit basket
there’s plums, tangerines, avos
it maybe winter
but toms are still ripening
and sitting in the sun room

What to eat for lunch? Maybe use the avocado – definitely ready. Opening it up… mmm, perfect. A little mayonnaise with some tuna, or even better, make some guacamole. So mash the avocado mixed with tomato, a tiny bit of chopped onion and a little chilli pepper. Now we could go really mad. Let’s pile everything in to some tacos, and hey presto… it must be Taco Tuesday – just like Tanka Tuesday (well, it’s only a couple of days late).

~~~~~~

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. 
The challenge for this week is all about fruit!

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 18, Fruit, 6/24/25

Tell me more…

Chris Hall42 Comments

Paris Photographer – Louis Paulin

The red-headed woman (although still rather blonde) waved back to the lovely two gargoyles, but it seemed that the two of them were about to leave; ‘hey,’ she said, ‘just a minute, tell me what you both have been doing for all those weeks?’

‘Sorry,’ they both stopped and grinned, ‘we had been rather busy,’ – ‘you see, we had been watching the tennis at Roland Garros in Paris,’ – ‘yes, that’s right, we had to pay with plastic at the start, but we were able to get into one of the commentary boxes, and after that it was free, no charge, gratis, for us,’ – ‘what do you think about that,’ as they smiled happily.

Just then, Scatty appeared wearing big rubber boots, also known as wellingtons, – rather fetching, thought all of them.

The two gargoyles then decided to leave for the moment; the red-headed woman was about to say something, but Scatty managed to speak first: ‘ah ha, I have a little magic to use later, but just now I’m removing some plants, you can watch if you want, but I’m happy to do that on my own – in fact, it’s probably better to be just me.’

‘It’s much more important that you enjoy yourself later,’ said Scatty, ‘since it is the summer solstice tonight, and we will be having a gorgeous party.’

‘You should wear something fresh and light… maybe a cotton dress, something long and flowy – it’s going to be fun, and you will definitely like some margaritas later!’

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Di of Pensitivity 101 –Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: RUBBER, PLASTIC, COTTON

 

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: MINUTE

More #SixSentenceStories

 

 

 

 

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!

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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.

Two Doves

Chris Hall39 Comments


it’s early morning
sitting inside and staring out
drinking warm rooibos

looking up, who’s there?
they’re definitely married
these two darling doves

we’d thrown out some seeds
but meanwhile we have breakfast
and that’s lovely too

~~~

It’s a senryu series – delightful!

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Selma

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 17, June 17th: Rensaku

Where are they?

Chris Hall41 Comments

Paris Photographer – Louis Paulin

The red-headed woman, although rather blonde at the moment, was still wondering where the two gargoyles were; it had been several weeks since she had seen them, although she was convinced that they would pitch up at any moment.

She had been wandering around in that nice cemetery – the one called the Large Quarries, in Montmartre – she smiled to herself, after she saw Scatty a couple of days ago, where she had turned into a fantastic black panther in the night, because she was a shape-shifter, although it was the first time she’d seen that happen – and she almost pinched herself, since it was not the obvious thing to see.

Still smiling, the red-headed woman turned to walk in another direction, and a less used path; and then she saw them.

‘Come on, throw that properly, that’s right, now bowl a ball so that it bounces near to the batter, okay, better… and no, roll it back to me again, and don’t throw it underarm, a bowler will always throw it overarm.’

‘What are you both doing, for heaven’s sake,’ grinned the red-headed woman, ‘I’m so pleased to see you both, by the way,’- ‘likewise,’ said the two gargoyles, who also grinned happily, ‘but can’t you tell what we are doing?’

‘Well, I can see what you are both wearing, nice creamy-white jumpers and long trousers, and also you have those bats and shin-pads at the ready, and yes, it’s called cricket, but playing it in Paris? …are you mad?’

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Di of Pensitivity 101 –Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: PINCH, BOUNCE, ROLL

 

Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge
Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt: PITCH

More #SixSentenceStories

 

 

 

 

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)

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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.

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have you guessed it?

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

Moon Bathing

Chris Hall33 Comments

it’s warm and mellow
she prances and pirouettes
her name is Selene
she has a strawberry glow
and she is captivating

~The moon and I have a secret. She knows the reason why I’m smiling~
— Sanober Khan

she has two faces
and she goes further away
it’s frosty silver
and then she dances again
the next time she’s moon bathing

~~~

It’s a Tanka Puente – gorgeous!

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 16, Full Moon Magic, 6/10/25