It’s the Ferry

Chris Hall45 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Great Aunt Margot was having a leisurely breakfast on the ferry. She continued to read as she sipped her fresh orange juice.

Meanwhile the two boys had been running all around the ferry. But they stopped for a bit, they were almost out of breath.
‘It’s so big, isn’t it.’
‘And several decks as well.’
‘It’s lovely day too.’
‘And calm, fortunately.’ ‘Come on, let’s run around again.’
So off they went, again.

Great Aunt Margot had finished her breakfast, but still she was reading her e-book. It was a detective novel, and it was pretty good, and she had no idea who had done the murder… yet.

A moment later, the two boys rushed past. Then they stopped and turned back.
‘Are we still okay to walk around,’ one of them said.

Great Aunt Margot looked up, holding her e-book carefully, ‘I thought your walking was rather more like running, hmm? But no problem, as long as you’re not in the way.’ She grinned now.

‘Actually, we have several things we have found around the decks. Look at these!’ The two boys smiled happily, as they removed their various pockets and put them on the table.

Great Aunt Margot looked at all of those things. ‘Quite a catch, you have,’ she remarked.
But then, several people appeared, and each of them said: ‘that’s mine’ and ‘that’s yours’ and ‘is it his?’… etc.

The two boys looked rather upset, although not for long. ‘Look, the ferry will be docking soon.’

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

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.

(250 words)

She’s Aquarius

Chris Hall30 Comments

she’s Aquarius
such a beautiful creature
she’s wheeling around
and wearing her magenta
though she often wears silver

she is a kelpie
she’ll dive down and up again
and she’ll breathe Air
she is an inspiration
and she’ll fly up to the moon

~~~~

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. The challenge this week is to play with colours and write a syllabic poem of your choice featuring your zodiac colour.
I’m Aquarius and my colour is Magenta, plus my element is Air.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 11, Zodiac Colors, 5/6/25

Some Bric-a-Brac Stuff (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall38 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

That was very, very odd, thought the red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse), she was sure that she had written a small piece about the Stream-of-Consciousness, but there’s nothing on her laptop – but how could it be? – more than odd, but she decided to do something different today, she would go to one of the markets not far from here.

But before anything else she would have to put her two bin bags out, as she mused as she lugged down those many stairs, maybe she could reform herself a little bit: for example, she could lay off some of that coffee and chocolate, and even that lovely wine, but not quite yet, as she grinned to herself.

All that finished, she strided off to decide where she was going, since she knew some of the best places to go now, as she looked around in that neighbourhood.

She passed the wedding shop – not for her she knew, as she crossed the street and then walked around the corner; where there seemed to be a celebration, and then she clicked, it was the Cinco de Mayo.

She continued over a couple of streets before finding herself in the particularly good market – with lots of art, crafts, vinyl, gorgeous vintage clothes, and all kinds of bric-a-brac stuff, but what to buy, she thought; but then she couldn’t decide.

There were several food emporiums around, and all looking very nice, but as usual she decided to go over to the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro for lunch.

—
p.s.
So that’s where it when! Who knew? That red-headed writer was very confused. But, at least she’d found it. So that’s alright. That Stream of Consciousness, hmm, it was very strange.

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

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: WEDDING, CELEBRATION, REFORM

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

More #SixSentenceStories

A bit of batting

Chris Hall35 Comments

You are kidding me?
Yup, that’s right,
But you’re dense!
Sorry, but you are!

I’m not very happy about that!

But, I was only saying,
I mean, I don’t want to be rude,
But, well, you’re thick,
Well at least a bit.

Still, I’m thin, not fat and wide like you.

Hmm, I’m thinking about that.
It’s all in our heads though isn’t it?
Well, I suppose so?
And we’re still friends aren’t we?

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

Image credit: Miguel Luis @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a neon sign in bright green lit letters, saying; “it’s all in your head”.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #287 photo prompt.

What do you see # 287- 5th May, 2025

Di of Pensitivity 101 – Monday’s Three Things Challenge: THICK, DENSE, WIDE

Three Things Challenge : MM50

Sewing Bee

Chris Hall52 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Sewing?
Not my forte,
definitely not.

I can’t darn
I can’t knit
I certainly can’t crochet.

What can I do?
Well, I can turn up my jeans
as I’m rather short.

You see, I’m a writer
…and so
it doesn’t matter what I wear!

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

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.

(44 words)

The Man and a Hat

Chris Hall50 Comments

This man… who is he?
I’ve never seen him before.
He’s wearing a trench coat
even though it’s very warm
is he a spy?

He’s wearing a hat
not a cap
not a bonnet
not a boater
It’s a trilby, and it’s pulled down
he is definitely a spy!

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

Image credit: Maksym Mazur @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a shadow of a person, wearing a hat. The shadow is cast on a bed of green grass and 2 dandelions are growing in the patch of grass where the eyes of that silhouette would be!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #286 photo prompt.

What do you see # 286- 28th April, 2025

Beach

Chris Hall35 Comments

© Ayr/Gray

Great Aunt Margot had her old car outside.
‘We know what this is,’ said the two boys in unison. ‘It’s a 2CV, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right, and you can hop in,’ she grinned. ‘We are going to the coast. It isn’t too far,
I’ve got a big basket here in the front, and you too can sit in the back.’

It was a beautiful day and quite soon they could see the sea.

Great Aunt Margot parked the car. She handed the big basket. ‘You can carry it between you.’ She strode ahead, with one hand holding a large parasol and the other with a big and pretty rug.
Soon much munching went on.
‘Now, off you go,’ said Great Aunt Margot. ‘I’ll have a little nap,’ she smiled. ‘You can go all round here – the sand, the rock pools and even the very tall palm trees.’

After about an hour, the two boys caught up with Great Aunt Margot.
‘Enjoying yourselves?’
They both grinned.
‘I’m going over to the little market just over there,’ she pointed. ‘I will still be able to see you.’

Later, Great Aunt Margot was still chattering in the car park. While the two boys were running around the tall, tall palm trees.
They kept looking at them.
‘I’m sure those trees are getting closer to us, don’t you think?’
‘Weird, isn’t it?’

They were still talking about those trees. And then Great Aunt Margot said: ‘don’t worry, they often move,’ as she winked. 

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

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.

(250 words)

A Scurry of Squirrels

Chris Hall44 Comments

Squirrels, an Acrostic Nonet Poem

Squirrel, are you in that drey over there?
Quite a place I imagine, is that right
Under and hiding in that palm tree
I definitely think I can see you
Room for many of them
Run out now, go on
Every one join in
Link up together
Scurrying


Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Willow. She has asked us to think about what is happening underground. Seeds and bulbs are waking up, while roots are looking for nourishment and reaching out looking for communication and news. Little creatures and insects are all on the move.

PS – I hope I’ve got away with this. These squirrels are not quite underground, although they are under and hiding in our palm tree.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 9 Acrostic Poem, 4/22/2025

Making it up? (Tales from the SSC&B)

Chris Hall50 Comments

Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

previous

The red-headed writer (aka la Raconteuse) had been a bit rattled in the deep night yesterday; she had almost lost the plot as she had continued to write furiously on her laptop, but at least this morning she was feeling much better, particularly since she had been fortified with her breakfast in the Six-Sentence-Café-and-Bistro just now.

She was very keen to show this to Deborah, but la Raconteuse still needed to read back again, since she wanted to make sure what she had written was as good as she could; she knew that the lovely librarian would be perfectly happy to be callous as she explained how it could be better – otherwise, what would be the point?

A final read would be all she’d need, so she settled down in her usual booth, while she put her phone to charge on her laptop, as she started to read again.

She picked up her big bag, waved a hand as she left, then almost ran up the three steps, but then she stopped… dead; she stared in the distance, something suddenly had confused her, but then she continued to walk again – everything would be fine.

Soon she had arrived in the excellent library, as she hurried to the counter to where one of the librarians appeared, a young man, she’d asked for Deborah but what a blow; alas, there was no Deborah, there had never been a Deborah, but how can that be?

Did she just make it up… everything… really?

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

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Di of Pensitivity 101 – Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge: ALAS, CHARGE, CALLOUS

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

More #SixSentenceStories

is it art?

Chris Hall59 Comments

is it art
we think so
it’s in a gallery
the colours are brilliant
russet, amber, cerulean and mauve
excellent! let it mingle and bloom
vibrant, that’s what we want
magnificent, such flare
now, get a picture
we have it
art then
is all

~~

Image credit: Zach Heiberg @Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a view of a sand hill and green shrubs through a broken window of an old building.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #285 photo prompt.

What do you see #285- April 21, 2025