One day not long ago, I was trying to tell my daughter how I felt about something. It was one of those circular conversations that concluded with, “I know but I don’t know. I can’t explain it.” “You just did.” my daughter said. Yesterday, I listened to a report from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. A mother was … More I can’t explain it
(On fufilling a promise made to my parents to empty their attic of all my stuff dating from before the time I had to grow up.) I begin the day with a walk in the rain, to get myself in the mood. I am sprayed by a succession of cars, I dart their drivers stern … More A day in the attic
Yesterday, I did something I’ve never done before. I went to the cinema in the afternoon, on my own. At least I can’t remember having done this before, but now a vague memory is whispering that this is not true and that many years ago, when I lived in Mainz in Germany, I fled a … More Alcarràs
I wrote the end of my story in a bit of a rush, delighted to have got the job done. One of my readers, who hasn’t yet got to that part, recently commented that the penultimate segment is a bit “traumatic“, and he queried: “does the story just drift to a heartbreaking close or is … More A great reveal
On Aide-Mémoires: Shopping Lists – An Exhibition Lists – for bread and beer, red and green apples, dark soy sauce and cajun spice. Word associations with ‘Martha is crackers‘ and ‘Mummy is nuts‘. A child’s script. A spidery hand. (Mis-)spellings. On paper shaped as a dress or jotted with music. On the back of an … More Does Alan want cheese?
The grave of three men: Jobo, Cabo, Baco. They all look alike. Two could be brothers, the third could be the son of one, or a nephew, or a much younger brother. This youngest man (Cabo) died in 1943 at the age of 23. The 23-year-old man of a different family looks thoughtful and resolute. … More Montenegro Lives
Some hours ago I went for a walk to find the solution to a problem. I put on a podcast about pilgrimage (a subject pertinent to the project I was avoiding) and played a childish game: if I took the long route to the two-shelved mini library three roads away, I might discover a book … More Miracles and games
I know a woman who sprays herself with perfume each time she goes for a run. Afterwards, she takes a shower and washes both sweat and fragrance away. I know a man whose right hand clenches into a fist when he runs. His left hand always remains relaxed, even when he tries to clench it … More On ‘Being young until you get old’.
The narrative of the newest war in Europe seems to be clear: it is good against bad; democracy versus dictatorship; an underdog in battle with a tyrant. A European nation is under an existential attack. On one side is Vladimir Putin, at the end of a very long table, an autocrat who has been described … More Trying to make sense of the narratives of war
Have Paprika, Will Travel 