northie

The combination of publicity and charity is hardly something that Eric'll welcome with open arms. What does it take to change his mind...

'Do-gooder' is an interesting word. Here in the UK, it often comes with connotations of interfering, being holier than thou. Someone willing to do that kind of social intervention has to be tough as well as sympathetic.

Thank you for reading one of my first attempts at a long-form story.

You're not the first person to have that thought... 🤨😄

Excellent way of putting it. Eric has as many preconceptions as anyone else in this story.

Thank you for both reading and taking the time to comment so often. I'm so pleased you enjoyed Eric's story

Yes, they are and they're usually well-used. It's frustrating though that a country as wealthy as the UK should need them.

Sorry - missed your question somehow. Eric is drawing a state pension so he's over 65.

Those older people who refuse to learn online skills are increasingly at a disadvantage.

Thank you! This is a very early story of mine, one that's focused around music which is one of my passions.

Yes, Eric isn't the only one who's changing.

Yep - it's going to be quite a milestone...

Brian's a good friend to Eric, someone he can rely on.

Here in the UK, so much of the info is online only and making the applications is also computer based.

Police? Unlikely. Apart from anything else, they'd take ages to get there. If at all... Yes, the staff should've intervened.

He has indeed. A considerable shock to his system though... Thanks for reading and commenting.

Yes... that's certainly the point I wanted to get across. This is one of the pivotal chapters I would write rather differently now.

They both have expectations that are almost set up to fail. Too much hope against stereotyping.

I love it when you go exploring. The rhythm and form feel vaguely familiar (and yes, old) so I've spent the past 5 minutes trying to chase it down. 🤨😄 The closest I can get is the texts Tallis set for his hymn tunes (Archbishop Parker, appropriately enough...). Nature is so often your inspiration and I hope it continues to be so. 😘

Thanks for this! While this story was written early on in my writing journey, Eric remains one of my favourite characters.

Yep - me pretending to be a kind of US writer (with the very able assistance of @Parker Owens ). I'll have to think of something different...

Hmmm... I really enjoyed being part of last year's contest. Writing a story, but not my writing, if you see what I mean.

Particularly with the world as it is, our own choices can seem pointless or entirely out of reach. I suppose we have to remind ourselves we have value and agency, and our choices, however small, do matter. The bourdon of the repeated question is very effective, a dull, throbbing beat that matches its persistent, pervasive nature.

As ever, dear friend, you use your delight in nature and the natural world to reinforce essential truths.

'Dead happy' by Josh Silver. My rating: 5 (out of 5) stars I haven't posted here in a while. I've still been reading but nothing's grabbed me quite in the way this book did. This was a gripping, emotional follow-up to Happyhead. In continuing to skewer cults and pseudo-psychology, Josh Silver delivers a real humdinger of a book. Seb's journey continues. A queer teen, he's been enrolled in a programme that claims to foster happiness, even in the most unpromising. The psychological and emotional battering given to these younger characters should be enough to make you spit. Or give you a gut punch. Those who don't change (including Seb's would-be boyfriend, Finn) see the other side of the coin. The only humour comes from Seb's sardonic asides. They made me smile even as I fumed and inwardly raged. Their fight back is one of the main plot drivers. Do Seb and Finn win out? You'll have to read it to discover. I let this book sit in my tbr pile for far too long. Once I got going though, I had to see it through to the end. Huw Parmenter's performance as narrator is stellar, adding much to the story. Highly recommended.