Well here we go again, another week, another round-up.
We’re very busy with those who are still trying to hang onto their New Year’s resolution but we know that come the middle of February, most will give up.
I’ve a sneaking suspicion that there are those folks out there who don’t read, don’t research, don’t essay write, don’t people watch, don’t listen and don’t look at guidelines. What they do do is promise to themselves that they’ll write a story by mid to late January and send it to us. I think that is the only explanation for the majority of the first timers that have submitted to us lately!
But we still love to plough through as we, are every now and then, finding those few gems that make us all happy.
I’ve been off for the last ten days so am like a bear with a sair erse as I’m going back to my work on Wednesday.
There is nothing I can say about that, that is positive. I’ll think on this while I’m reading my papers!
Five papers read, ‘Match Of The Day watched’…And nope, I still have zilch regarding happiness at work. I’m still hating having to go back in tomorrow!
I was hoping that they would have given me inspiration as this is one of those weeks where I hadn’t a Scooby what I was going to type. I found a couple of things.
I see Carl Weathers has died. What a shame. Handsome man with an absolute amazing physique.
It’s weird when the iconic stars from films that you grew up with die. From the original Rocky, I reckon that’s; Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Tony Burton and Burgess Meredith all passed on.
And don’t get me started about all that is left from ‘The Towering Inferno’!!
There was tragic news in Britain this week. All the fawners and commentators were in tears and in need of a damn good therapy session. Crowds gathered at that big hoose in London and prayed. The reporters were out to talk to them and they stated that he is so strong that he’ll get over it. Everyone (I really do hate when folks use that word – As how do they know what around seventy million (??) people are thinking? I was doing it to make a point!!) will be sending him all their best wishes.
You see, the paedo’s brother has Cancer. (That disease is a leveller – However- The quality of treatment really does depend on who you are.)
This has come as a surprise to the whole of Britain. (See last point!)
Those who give a fuck haven’t been told where it is affecting him. No-one is supposed to know.
If that is the case, then, personally speaking, I’d give the royal photographers their jotters as we all could see the horrible growth that has been stuck to his arm for many a year.
Richy Rich, our Prime Minister, is maybe being a bit premature as he is wearing his socks at half mast. (He’s the guy who married a woman who has more money than Scrooge McDuck.)
If you want me to apologise for that last section, all I can say is you should’ve seen the uncensored version!!
There were thirty-two more swear words, thirteen insults, twenty-seven observations and five wishes!!
I think I better move on!
Okay, onto the wonderful batch of this week’s stories.
We had two new writers, a returner and two well-established contributors who have been wonderful friends of the site for many a year.
As always, our initial comments follow.
First up was Harrison Kim – He has now graced the site an impressive twenty-eight times. (If my counting is correct.)
He got us up and running on Monday with his story, ‘Connor Walks The Musqueam’
‘The tone of this was excellent throughout.’
‘Harrison does these slightly out of tune, rumpled persons brilliantly.’
‘You feel so much sympathy for the MC and just wish that you could help.’
Tuesday was next, as is its wont. That was time for our first new writer, Nina Welch. We extend her a very warm welcome and hope that she enjoys her time on the site.
‘Green Lizard Lounge’ was our next story.
‘This has stayed with me ever since I first read it.’
‘An interesting nod to the ideals of the 1950’s and very visual’
‘The two totally different characters complimented each other and the whole story.’
On Wednesday, we had Mr Doug Hawley – The site wouldn’t be the same without him!
Both Doug and Harrison comment regularly as well as continuing to send us their work.
‘The Assistant’ was story number sixteen for Doug, that is another good return!
‘Doug always sends us such interesting pieces.’
‘Very dry.’
‘This is a very factual style, one that Doug does so well.’
The tenacious Mason Yates returned to the site for a second time on Thursday with, ‘The could Have-Beens’
‘This held my interest all the way through.’
‘Mason has come a long way!’
‘I was so happy to see this being published.’
And our last story was Charlize L. Love’s first with ‘Lions And Zebras’
– We extend the same welcome that we did to Nina to Charlize.
‘This really did surprise me.’
‘There were hints to something dreadful.’
‘A bit chilling and unsettling.’
That’s us for another week folks.
Please keep the comments coming – There is nothing that makes us so proud as seeing a dozen or so comments!
And we have a Re-Run Feature, An Old Author / Book review, and a Sunday is kept for more Essay types of work.
Have a look back and you’ll see the type of thing that we are looking for.
Just to finish:
As I already stated, I’ve just looked through the papers and this truly did make me laugh. Belly laugh! I nearly hurt myself!!
I’ll type the headline as it was written and not what I’d call them. (I could have said so much!)
…
Queen thought Diana was better match for Andrew.
Monarch worried she was ‘too young’ at 19.
…
That is a headline that just keeps giving!!!
Lastly, I give you a wee bit of tremendous music!
Gwen found this group and when I heard this version, it blew me away.
These guys play venues in Glasgow and they sell out very quickly.
Image: – A pile of folded newspapers from Pixabay.com
literally stories 
Hugh
Stagger Lee is such a great song. The name alone scores big points.
This a big chance for the King to show the commoners just how effective the UK healthcare system is. He should go in without special favor and prove the grandeur of the system.
But I guess there’s already a team of loyal toadies out harvesting organs of the young to plug into royals.
Leila
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Leila – Your mother may have told you – when the Lloyd Price version first became a hit, it was deemed too violent and a softer version was made. Oh, those innocent times.
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Hi Doug
I do like my bar fighting music. I recall Jim Croce having Big Jim and Leroy Brown. Both tunes followed the same plotline. Slim jacked up Jim, but Leroy’s comeuppance was unnamed as far as I can remember. Might have been Stagger Lee.
Leila
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Jim Croce gone too soon. Motorcycle accident?
Have a good day LS peeps. Little old man is another year older today and has grown another tentacle.
Let’s not forget Jimmy Dean’s sausage, I mean hero, Big John.
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Happy birthday Doug!
The sun is out. Maybe a good omen.
Croce was yet another performer who died in a small plane crash. Yet another reason I refuse to board planes.
Leila
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Leila – Thanks for the Croce correction. I thought about going to work in Tryon Park because of the lack of rain. It’s still cold, and I’ve got pizza, beer, and other celebrations to take care of. To the numerate, as editor put it, I’m n^(n+1) today. Only my friend / video producter / techie could do the calculation.
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Ha!
I make up (well a little bit) for my lack of math skills with a surprisingly good memory for numbers. In the same way that I still remember my locker combination from fifty years ago, seem to recall the year 1943 being mentioned about a year ago.
Then again I might be slipping.
Regardless, Happy birthday again.
Leila
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If the subject is slipping, let the late fine Little Richard tell it –
Lucille was Slipplin’ and Slidin’ with Long Tall Sally, but Miss Ann came along and broke them. They ended up forming quadrouple with Miss Molly who Sent Them Some Lovin’ and got the Heebie Jeebies. Ooh My Soul True Fine Mama.
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Hi Leila,
They sicken me in so many ways!!
And you are right about the song, whether it is slowed down or sped up, done simply or done with a bigger production, it’s always a belter of a tune.
Thanks as always!!
Hugh
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Yes, I do think that this does rub salt in the wounds of those patients who have waited years for treatment but then – the world is like this. Wouldn’t it be great if each one of the priveledged who pay for private care also paid it forward so one NHS patient could be treated privately. Like the cafes that let you pay for a coffee for a person who can’t afford one. Anyway, nothing to be done about it but I think its a misjudgement giving the population half a story and then I suppose they’ll be anoyed about speculation. Ach well.
As for the music video, I really enjoyed that it is excellent.
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Hi Diane,
I wonder how long it was from diagnosis to treatment. I’m quite sure it will have been the same as all of us! That’s equality in our times!
Thanks as always!!
Hugh
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Yep, cancer is not to be scoffed at, it’s the waiting that kills. Honestly, the media tend to go overboard on many issues, King Charles’s medical condition being one of them. Honestly, I think he should abdicate and go to Switzerland to enjoy his retirement.
“we all could see the horrible growth that has been stuck to his arm for many a year.” Not seen that mentioned in the media, perhaps too sensitive for some.
Had to laugh.
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Hi James,
It’s always a pleasure to see you around the site my fine friend.
It would be at home in Switzerland with the money it has.
Also, he could show some dignity…
…I’m quite sure you know where I was going with that!!!
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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I remembered that the big hit was by the Lloyd Price who died recently – Peronality, I Want To Get Married, Lawdy Miss Clawdy (don’t care what anyone says about “appropriation”, the Elvis (and Little Richard) versions are also fine) and more. Based on some folk legend, earlier Stack-O-Lee or something like that, goes back to 1911.
Don’t understand some Americans facination with the Royals. I can’t keep track, and have no opinion. In the USA we have an elderly war monger against an elderly sociopath. That’s enough for me.
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Hi Doug,
Happy belated birthday!!
I’m always uncomfortable talking about another countries politics, that is for their own folks to sort out.
But who am I kidding, if anything does get sorted out, it gets fucked up just as quick, no matter what country we belong to!
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’d forgotten about Stagger Lee. That’s a good rendition. Good post and roundup. I’d say I had a pretty good job … but I still dreaded Mondays and the end of vacations. People who truly “love” their work must be rare. (Or liars.)
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Hi Dave,
Hope all is well with you.
Me and work have a terrible relationship. I have the work ethic that makes me do the best I can but I hate being there and resent myself for having that ethic, but on the other-hand, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do the best I could.
I despise the politics of a work-place, the greed of the firms, the hypocrisy of basically everything and I especially hate the illusion and insult of the lie of a work / life balance.
The box ticking, the shit that we have to listen to regarding us being valued and all the fucking falseness that goes with everything!!
But what the hell, bills have to be paid and a few tatties are needed for the pot, so we carry on!!!
All the very best my fine friend
Hugh
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Great post as always. I feel equal vitriol about the royals and am a staunch anti-royalist. I read two headlines on the BBC within a day of each other: ‘Nottingham: Mum found under coat in A&E died days later‘ vs ‘Will King’s cancer diagnosis bring a thaw between Harry and William?’. You can probably guess which one of those took a higher billing – sorry, but makes me want to puke frankly – not the position of these stories on the news, but that the two things occur in the same week in the same country.
Anyway, that’s my bile dispensed of! Thanks for the post and another great week of stories!
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Hi Paul,
Thanks as always.
There are so many examples like the one you have given throughout our history…Or should I say, ‘their’ history – Ours doesn’t matter. Never has and never will!!
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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I will soon send a story to you that I wrote in mid to late January he he. Stagger Lee is a very old folk song one of the first I learned on guitar because it can be played with 2 and a half chords, this is a fine version.
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