St Patrick’s Day holds special significance. It means one thing to me: potatoes. St Patrick’s Day is when I plant the first seed potatoes of the year. Being half English and half Welsh each side of my family possessed their own idiosyncrasies and one of these concerned potatoes. For my English ancestors planted their potatoes…
The ‘Stanbridge House’ Anthem Your sideboard, and that old scuffed chair – That’s all you’ll need When you move in there…. “Four-square” walls and “three square” meals For the sedentary life you’ll lead! ‘Cos – by the time you move in there (a fact that is well-known).. Your lifetime’s work is over And the…
Many people say that the experience of moving house is beset with endless problems. But my experience could not have been more different; moving to this beautiful home has made all my dreams come true. The idyll began when I discovered one Saturday evening that I had won a large sum of money in the…
We were delighted to welcome back Sue Hunter who clearly couldn’t resist returning although she can no longer commit to every meeting. We had some lively readings today, including poems from Edna, Realising a Dream from John Hermon. There were also some romantic and threatening Unexpected Valentines including this, from Keith McClellan The Unexpected Valentine…
In the blink of an eye it disappears, The days, the weeks, the months, the years. We hold on tight and plan ahead, Regret the things that went unsaid. We see the tree and watch it grow, The leaves turn brown, then fall below. We water flowers, smell their scent, We wonder…
As a child, I loved looking at pictures of warmly dressed children making snowmen, snowballing and sledding in deep snow. I was fascinated by gently powdered trees, delicate icicles like miniature stalactites, sparkling frost. It never occurred to me that snow was cold or wet, that ice was slippery or that skating was not as…
Revd. Philip Davies: Philip writes fantasy adventure novels for teenagers and young adults, and the first of these, Destiny’s Rebel, is due for release by Books to Treasure in Spring 2015. He has produced four booklets of short stories and poems, and is the Acting Chair of the U.K. Association of Christian Writers. Fiona Gow: Fiona…
Naked Turkey in the oven Saucepan full of sprouts. Shiny chestnuts slowly roasting What’s it all about? Lights twinkling round a fairy Tinsel dangling from the tree. Presents piled in lurid colours Mistletoe: will you kiss me? Mince pies, a carrot, sherry Reindeer footsteps in the snow. Happy smiling children faces It’s Christmas, don’t you…
Preface Aynho Writers Group was established in 1996 and we have published an anthology every year since. This year we present our latest selection in A Way with Words. We offer our usual mix of prose and poetry, fiction, and life’s experiences. A special feature in this edition is a small collection of fairy tales…
Aynho Writers October 2014 The haunting chords of the guitar reveal a sad story that draws the dancer to the stage. Eyes downward, she holds the folds of her bright red dress, as she moves slowly, stalking in time to the music. She doesn’t look Spanish with her blonde hair tied at her nape…