northie

That is much more my cup of tea - I'm pretty much in the anti-Wagner camp: the idea of being forced to listen to the Ring would be something I'd do almost anything to avoid.

Tim, I'm pleased that the unhappiness you chronicled elsewhere has passed and you're both back in sunnier, calmer times.

Wow! This was so different from what I normally read here and it was so good. A food writer and a law enforcement officer - not your average literary pairing but it worked very well and I was interested in both of them and their lives. How they worked together was funny and sometimes touching. Very enjoyable.

Strange sort of good Samaritan who fucks the object of his pity before doing his good deed. But, our anti-hero should be grateful for small mercies, I suppose. A dark and disturbing look at the underbelly of university life.

Something is wrong here - I understood every word ... And such beautiful words, fashioned with such skill and love. A hymn in praise of the natural world and your beloved. A fitting poem for your half century.

Given you're still being described as the 'Santa slayer', my curiosity demanded that I read this. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending was unexpected but like Puppi, it made me laugh. Visions of a renegade 007 making a successful hit - wonderful! Bet most people are still expecting their presents to be delivered for Christmas, though. Really good.

I've been cutting my writing teeth, you've rediscovered your muse ... and I know Parker's found it light relief. All from one episode I trailed in front of you guys. I'm very happy to be any part of getting you back to writing and I will look out with interest for what results.

Short but beautifully written. An honest, unsparing look at the final death of a relationship - accepted by one but not the other. Your way of making the characters dissect the corpse was wonderful.

I must admit that this chapter left me feeling somewhat queasy. Is revenge ever justified? The actions or intentions of both main characters so far are equally reprehensible and make me dislike them to the same degree. As you say, not an easy read.

I use them sometimes to get a flavour of a particular author - then I can move onto something more substantial. To see the anthology listings go to Stories and then click on the Categories side bar and you can see the listings and the live links to each anthology.

Of course, you couldn't resist a prompt about a police officer, could you? Wonderful! Slipped down a treat.

I was looking for something to read and came across this - Christmas in theory but just the title suggested that it could be something different in practice. And so it is. Abuse of power, being a stranger in a very different foreign land - these are the backdrop for a love story that develops despite everything else. That final decision? Brave, foolhardy, deluded? My thoughts were I hope he knows what he's letting himself in for ... Good involving stuff.

The quite spare and unadorned language somehow better conveys the sense of threat and menace. Less is more. This also applies to the amount of information given out - a tight focus leaves me wondering about a number of things. Next week can't come soon enough!

Thanks for your kind reviews, both. Val, next up in my LPW writing will hopefully be Drewcula oh, and your ninjas

Thank you both for your kind words. Parker knows how unsure I've been about my first attempts at a prompt ... Oh well - next up, number 1 perhaps?

On the way to read a partiular poem here on GA, I got side-tracked and read another instead. It was a piece of blank verse and as I read it, I thought I'd like to give it a go. As a rank amateur writer of verses, it was a bit presumptious, perhaps, for me to think that - I have given it my best go but I realise that may not be good enough ... All comments are welcomed. As ever, I thank Parker Owens for his patient assistance. However, all deficiencies are mine, and nobody else's. This response follows on from my Last Post Wins ballad. I know about your plots, your wicked lies, Your heartless, knavish tricks against a man, A knight so brave and fair, who risked my wrath To save your wretched, worthless life. So hear Me when I say that you do not deserve Such love, so generously given – I Do now command it be your lifelong quest To worship, serve and treasure him for all His time. Go, leave me now to seek your knight And truly sing to him your songs of love. This is the second response. How long have we been friends? Some three decades? The passing years have not increased the depth Of this, our longtime bond; of each, we know So little, yet somehow we thrive and still we travel far to meet, then play and talk Of music, striking, hitting things, both how, And where and when; and this is how it goes, I know, because your life elsewise does not Connect with mine: no talk of art or sport, Or gardens, food, or books and such – just this.

tim, we are all pretenders to some extent and in many different ways. The grouping of self-doubters and self-naysayers is large and extensive. The 'cancer' will never go away entirely but it can be reduced and even occasionally ignored. Does it reoccur? Of course - sometimes quite badly but limited remission is possible and does happen. The experience of a fellow sufferer ...

I'm a great fan of music for viol consort - the dark, grainy, very textural sound appeals to me strongly. It can be a bit of an acquired taste - give it a try ... Purcell's Fantazias and In nomines for viols were a last gasp for this form but they are amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dml7DQCrs1M

Despite having read the introduction to this, I followed the path you constructed - expecting your protagonist to be the hunter right up to the jolt when suddenly I realise that already the tables have been turned. One tiny fault to my English ears was the use of the word 'tavern' - too olde worlde for its context - but that's my problem not yours. I wait eagerly for what follows.

I particularly enjoyed the first one and I always have a soft spot for Thomas Allen.

Yep. I agree with all of this - I work with the public - in person usually. Inevitably, dealing a wide cross-section of humanity I come across all sorts of people: polite, grateful, knowledgeable, aggressive, under the influence of alchohol and / or drugs, mentally distressed ... or just simply someone who wants to take out their fustration on somebody and I happen to be the one in line. One reason why I took the decision to work part-time when my workplace restructured last year, was to avoid this day to day, high-impact working. Certainly, I feel more able to deal with whoever comes in now because I'm not so tired or stressed and I feel I have the energy (mental and physical) to pursue other things (like GA!).

You do find inspiration in some very strange things ... Stars and the heavens are common enough but a scientific priniciple? Yet, it is said that there is poetry in all things and you demonstrate that amply. Wonderment, humour and that final touch of making the universal, personal.

I've been watching a series on the BBC iPlayer following the fortunes of 5 amateur orchestras (including the London Gay Symphony Orchestra). A couple of works appeared in the 'concerto' round which I thought I'd share as they were newish to me. Richard Strauss Oboe concerto https://youtu.be/YS3mD2Mb_bo and the second is Peter Maxwell Davies Orkney wedding with sunrise https://youtu.be/kCeh6amXyYE If you find this too modern, try from 12 mins onwards when the solo instrument finally appears.

I can't remember the last time I knowingly heard any Cherubini - very rarely performed over here. Once it got going, it was tuneful, quite dramatic but not especially memorable. Still, worth a listen.

It's one of the things I love about mediaeval music is how different one tune can sound - different instruments, different moods, different embellishments.