Far, far away, the streetlights were coming on in one of the cities. Snow lay in a thick new coating on the pavements, the roofs and the gardens. An army of snowmen had appeared the previous day, sprouting statues with ungainly smiles, courtesy of secretly robbed kitchen drawers and cupboards. One snowman had a face […]
Mother Christmas Takes Over – Part 3 Read More »
She picked up one of the empty bottles and sniffed its contents; the bottle had contained almond brandy, now all gone. “Arthur!” she cried in exasperation, “what have you done?!” Still came there no response from Father Christmas. There was nothing for it, Father Christmas would have to be put to bed. A team of
Mother Christmas Takes Over – Part 2 Read More »
There can be no doubt about it, Father Christmas was drunk. As much as it pains me to relate this fact, there is no escaping it. The elves knew it, the reindeer knew it, the polar bears knew it. Why does this matter? Well, Father Christmas was drunk on the day before Christmas. The
Mother Christmas Takes Over – Part 1 Read More »
“Well,” I said, not knowing anything about Freud apart from a book review I had read in the TLS some years before, “think Patricia Highsmith then, is that dark enough for you?” “Patricia Highsmith I can work with.” We had left the discussion there, all that remained was for me to write the book.
On Corfu: A Dry Patch – Part 3 Read More »
Sohpia emerged once more from the house, carrying the precious liquid cargo; she handed me the glass without comment, an ice cube tinkling deliciously. “Dinner ready soon Mr Gardner. You eat in dining room?” Sophia knew that by eating in the dining room, I would be less likely to drink, as I considered drinking on
On Corfu: A Dry Patch – Part 2 Read More »
Lord Byron turned on his back; he eyed my bare feet, which lay tantalisingly close to his paws, one big toe waving in time to the Greek pop song playing on the radio in the kitchen, where Sophia was preparing dinner. I sat in my favourite armchair on the terrace, and sipped from a glass
On Corfu: A Dry Patch – Part 1 Read More »