Monthly Archives: January 2012

100 Word Challenge

You Bought Her What?

4 Comments

If you haven’t already done so, then please read the ‘100 word challenge’ prompt for this
post here, where you can also find links to other responses to it. And then read on.

“You and Sal going to come to the party, then, Geoff?”
“Hey, is that an official invite? To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Anna’s twenty-first.”
“Help! What you bought her, then?”
“A piece of corundum.”
“You bought her WHAT?”
“You heard. And yes, it’s what she asked for.”
“But… hang on… that’s what they call that stuff we use in the polishing shop…”
“That’s right. So, are you coming, or not?”
“Too right, we’re coming. I can’t wait to see this.”

***

“… And this lovely girl – Anna here – has said she’ll marry me.”

On Anna’s finger was a beautiful, pink sapphire, engagement ring.

Mummascribbles

Mumzilla
It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest
100 Word Challenge

Critique: ‘Translation Issues’

3 Comments

If you first of all look at our ‘100 Word Challenge’ prompt here, you’ll see we are to compose a critique of any entry from the previous week.

This is a late entry this week. Serves me right for bragging about being quick off the mark last time! I could (truthfully) make excuses about duty calling, but the real reason is that I found this challenge the most daunting yet, calling, as it does, for honesty, generosity, and constructive suggestion. When we write, we expose a part of ourselves, in some sense, to others. I am reminded of the words of the poet, W. B. Yeats: 

“I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

After some consideration, I selected the contribution of ‘Taochild’ here.

This response to the challenge is ingenious. It is a story, written in the first person, which meets the criteria given. But it is so much more than that. It sets out, so beautifully, a moral issue, namely, that honesty, openness, and sincerity count for much more than linguistic accuracy, especially if the latter is accompanied by overbearing haughtiness. This is done in a clear and humorous way, by comparison and contrast across the Atlantic Ocean.
If I might make one constructive suggestion, impact could be added by giving emphasis to the last word, perhaps with an ellipsis:

said… ‘ALUMINUM!’

I hope I have been fair, and trodden softly.

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest
Musings

Nought to One Hundred in Nine Months

No, that isn’t a window sticker for my car. It’s the number of posts on this blog, before this one. In that time, I hope I’ve learned a little, reflected a little, progressed a little. Here and on Twitter, I’m grateful for the interest and good humour shown to me by so many people.

I grant you, many of those posts are a single photo with no words, and yet more are based on one or more photos with just a few words. Others are responses to prompts of various kinds. So thanks to all of you who’ve taken an interest and accepted this as part of my voice, my way of speaking.

The way you all face day-to-day trials of all kinds with grit and laughter still amazes me. What I ventured here in my first post still holds true. Thanks for coming along. The journey is unending; the views along the way are incredible.

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest
100 Word Challenge

An Unplanned Descent

13 Comments

This post was prompted by the ‘100 Word Challenge’ here, which requires the
five words shown in bold print to be used along with 100 further words.

The view from the aeroplane portholes was magnificent – an intense blue sky, and below us, mountains and the ocean, aquamarine.

Then – a sudden silence…

The loudspeakers crackled into life.
“This is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped.”

Passengers looked at one another, aghast. The ocean seemed gradually closer – telling us that the crew had acted quickly to put the aircraft into a controlled descent.

Then, after fifteen minutes, came a roar as first one, then another engine restarted, closely followed by the other two.

 Never was that roar more welcome. Our captain deserved – and finally, got – an award.

This account is based on what actually happened to flight BA009
from Kuala Lumpur on the 24th of June, 1982.

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest
100 Word Challenge

A Happy Ending

10 Comments

To understand the idea of this post, look here at the prompt (a photo) for the ‘100 word challenge’ –  complete with explanation – if you haven’t already done so. Then come back.

When we heard about this, my mates said I would be a – what is it you say? – ‘spoilsport!’ – not to join in. So I said yes. But I have a problem. I can’t sing – not very well. On the night, I wondered why I was there.

Then the van came with the musicians and instruments. One guy was missing – sick, someone said. Rolf, my friend, just passed me a violin – he knew I played a bit. “Go on, Yasi” he hissed, “We need you.” And… somehow, I just played. And I was happy then. I – what is it?- ‘forgot myself!’

At the same link (above) you will find a list of all the other entries.

It's kind to share!
facebooktwittergoogle_pluspinterest