Tag Archives: Christmas

The little matchgirl. A tale re-told. Part 2 of 2

Posted on December 20, 2015 by

A spiteful wind howls around the streets. Blows away the fog, the smoke – the warmth. Jack Frost mocks the locked gates of the arcade. Dances through their iron bars, into the doorway where the little girl huddles. Touches her … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, probably | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Jesus weeps. The Pope, Christmas, war – and lemon myrtle soap

Posted on November 28, 2015 by

The pope gave a sermon last month which was widely reported. It was timely. The western world was turning its thoughts to the annual winter ritual of overspending and over-eating. No surprise, then, that the resulting headlines all seemed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Thinking, or ranting, or both | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Moon over the meanygates

Posted on December 31, 2014 by

Dark clods of earth, like sticky remnants of Christmas pudding,* form ragged ridges over deep, ice-filled ruts. What once were puddles, ruffled by angry winds, now double as skating rinks – for voles and weasels, mice and stoats. A wintry, … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain now & then, Lancashire & the golf coast | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments