A library

May 11, 2026 Chris Hall9 Comments

A library, a library, how exciting! Magnificent isn’t it. Beautiful, beautiful books, and so many too. Some of them are pretty old, and there are some rare ones as well.

We must be careful though. We don’t want to bend a book and we don’t want to crack a spine. Gosh, no!

So we will browse and wander around, and this will take a morning, or even longer if we want. There’s no problem, since we are pensioners, although we will need some lunch!

we are bookworm fans
it is such fun, all those books
let’s just read and read

~~~

Image credit: Ahmet Yüksek @Unsplash

This image shows a section of a library, with multiple bookshelves stacked with beautifully bound books. There is a window next to the bookshelf with a white filmy curtain.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #340 photo prompt.

What do you see # 340- 11 May, 2026

Chicago!

April 13, 2026 Chris Hall67 Comments

Chicago, Chicago! What a wonderful city. We know it’s called the Windy City, but from here in this lovely hotel it seems blissful. Such a gorgeous view. We can see for miles and miles. All those striking skyscrapers. What a joy!
So we crane our heads at those views to see the river. The river? No, we mean that huge lake. Ah yes, Lake Michigan. That’s the one.

Okay, so what are we going to do now?
Well, we’ve dropped our stuff in this very nice room.
I’m saying, food.
We could go to get a couple of Chicago-style hot dogs… Downtown Dogs?
Or let’s push our boats out, what about ‘Girl and The Goat’. It’s a very good restaurant, apparently.
Now you’re talking!

so let’s leave them there
since we know some good new facts
anyone else to go?

~~~~~~

Image credit: Alessandro Guarino @Unsplash

This image shows the view from inside a hotel room out of the window. High rise buildings present a calm scene. According to the photographer it is; Nobu hotel-Chicago; the city never asks to be let in. The bed is made and the room seems unoccupied.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #336 photo prompt.

What do you see # 336- 13 April, 2026

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

Park place

February 13, 2026 Chris Hall49 Comments

Photo Prompt © David Stewart

She had been moseying along that long sidewalk, since she had little to do that day. The street was wide and very, very straight, as she continued to walk on. There were trees on the left and trees on the right, and they had been planted for some years.

She almost felt that she should hug a tree.
But that would look daft.

A little later she entered the park there.
There was a handy bench not far, so she sat down.

Opening her big bag, she took out her writing book and a pen.
Then it became a poem.

~~~

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

13 February 2026

Seven words

January 26, 2026 Chris Hall72 Comments

It said, ‘take what you need.’ It was stuck on a telegraph pole by the pavement.
She stopped and looked. Interesting, she thought.
But she moved on, although she continued that thought.

She mused as she walked along that road.
What were the seven words again?
She could remember them, and all were good, she felt.

She pondered as the rain started again. Well, it was the UK after all.
Then the next telegraph pole appeared, which also had the same words.
However, this one had been disfigured.

So ‘love’ and ‘money’ had disappeared, as did ‘passion’ and ‘happiness’ – very sad that.
Then ‘luck’ had become ‘uck’ – very unpleasant.
But, at least it hadn’t been replaced with ‘fuck’ (gosh, naughty).

Right in the middle, the word, ‘courage’ had lost part of it.
Now it’s called ‘rage’… another gosh for that.
All that was left was ‘hope’ and that seemed appropriate.

~~~~~~~

Image credit: Maximus Mazar @Unsplash

This image shows a paper poster on a pole, saying – “Take what you need”
Underneath are tabs marked- Love, Hope, Passion, Courage, Happiness, Luck, Money!

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #325 photo prompt.

What do you see # 325- 26 Jan, 2026

Beach time

December 15, 2025 Chris Hall55 Comments

‘Beach time,’ she shouted as she grinned happily. ‘It’s so warm, it’s so pleasant.’ She grabs her sunglasses – so funky, a tangerine colour, so bright. She pops her floppy hat which is decorated with little hearts and butterflies – very cool. She started to sing to herself as she went to get sunscreen – she knows she should be wise since she wouldn’t want to burn. ‘It’s going to be blazing by the beach,’ as she jumped into her snazzy car. ‘Broom, broom!’ and off she goes.

she’ll run down the beach
she’ll potter around the sea
she’ll take some shells back

~~~~~

Image credit: Amera Pawlik @Unsplash

This image shows an embroidery frame, coloured pens, a pair of child’s plastic glasses and tic tock signs. In the embroidery frame- different emojis are embroidered.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #319 photo prompt.

What do you see # 319- 15th December 2025

The Little Lighthouse

September 30, 2024 Chris Hall65 Comments

The little lighthouse sits proudly just beyond the beautiful bay. Mostly it is sunny and bright, where the sea and sky are blue and bluer. The waves dance with the white foam, ebb and flow, ebb and flow. But sometimes the wind and rain lash around the rocky promontory, as it clashes and moans. It goes dark and there is no moon, but the little lighthouse flashes boldly around, keeping the boats and ships from harm. And then, in the morning, it is light and sunny again.

dear little lighthouse
you shine gaily day and night
keep us safe always

~~~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Elias Kipfer @ Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a lighthouse located on a tiny piece of land near a rocky coastline. The sea around it is misty and gray.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #256 photo prompt.

What do you see # 256- September 30, 2024.

Outsiders

February 28, 2022March 3, 2022 Chris Hall68 Comments

The image shows a red neon sign that reads “Vacancy” over a black background.

Trudging through dark, rain-drenched streets, sodden feet sliding over cobbles, hope ebbs away, like rivulets flowing over muddy gutters. The storm rages beyond the border, and wave upon wave of the cowed and the cowering flee; families struggling, dragging straggling old folk and hungry, wailing kids. Doors open, women beckon, many are taken in. But not us.

midnight approaches
and now the streets are empty
will we ever find refuge?

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

Image credit: Carter Saunders @ Unsplash
The image shows a red neon sign that reads “Vacancy” over a black background.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #123 photo prompt

Forest enchantment

June 15, 2020 Chris Hall53 Comments

For visually challenged reader, the image shows a woodland scene, where blue butterflies are sitting on the forest floor among tiny mushrooms. Tall trees are visible in the background.