The Written Word Group

I wanted to hold her hand, to reach for it. Feelings of euphoria which had come after making her laugh in wood tech, the last lesson of the day, swiftly evaporated as we passed the roundabout on our way to smuggler's ditch. She'd gone quiet and a small gap formed as we walked, as if she was trying to put physical distance between us. I knew the reason, Timbo. It was only a few weeks since he'd "Houdineed," so there was anxiety around, especially at school, and I was annoyed about the attention she was giving him. Yeah me and him had been closer but I knew they shared classes and the way she pined over his absence was sending me mind to pessimistic places. No, she didn't like him like that, she couldn't... We skirted the ditch, heading for the steep bank called the muddies. I kept stealing glances, slyly admiring her body; sleek, black hair, soft clean skin, and big, white, perfectly straight teeth. She'd catch me every now and then and I remember think...

Next Meeting: Friday 11th September 2026 Location: Hostal Meson Time 10.30-1pm 500 word subject: “Damsel in Distress” Everybody who has an interest in writing or the written word is welcome to our meetup at:  Hostal Meson Arboleas, Almeria, Spain.  Back Room.

"She was a hero you know. It was kept secret from the public. She had to to go to the CIA Headquarters at Langley to get her medal. Pinned on her chest by the Vice President himself. Got a French medal as well she couldn’t show. Most people thought she was just a translator during the war. Little did they know our Damsel was a covert operator." "Damsel? That’s an unusual name for a girl."  "Is it? Never thought much over it it. The wife was the one that, wanted her named Damsel. After that Hollywood actor." "Hollywood actor? Which one? I can’t place that actor with that name." “Yea, a black actor, was in some crazy Vampire movies. Went to prison for Tax evasion.” “You mean Blade, Wesley Snipes. She was named after Wesley Snipes? "No, not him, must be the other action Equalizer guy." “Oh Denzel Washington, you mean Denzel Washington." Yea, him, Damsel Washington. The wife loved him. Saw all his movies. Action her...

 https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/organismos/ema/areas/incendios-forestales/prevencion/interfase/normas-autoproteccion.html ****This isn't meant as a substitute for following the instructions of the emergency services during an incident.**** This guidance is issued by the **Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía)** for properties located in the **Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI)**—areas where homes are situated close to forests, woodland, or scrubland. It is intended to reduce the likelihood of homes igniting from radiant heat or wind-blown embers during a wildfire. PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. * Construct and maintain a firebreak around the development that is free of shrubs and tall grass, with a minimum width of **15 metres**. Trees may be retained, provided they are sparsely distributed and their canopies do not touch each other. * Remove vegetation and dry plant debris from all undeveloped areas, including abandoned plots, roadsides, and gulli...

 When the cuckoo comes to the bare thorn, sell your cow and buy your corn." - Old proverb. I couldn't stop thinking about those stones, what the oldies called Shepard's crowns. Could they exist, and could they protect me from the strange? It was a heavy night, close with mug. Petrichoral aromas wafted strong from outside as I heard the first angry rumblings at sundown. The heat clung to me and the air closed in, a great crack sounded and a bright flash lit the bedroom. The storm grew rapidly in an impressive display, it was right overhead, seemed to wait there, deliberately striking around the village and surrounding silver hills, and though aware these were the conditions needed for the stones to appear, I wouldn't allow meself to believe. That would've been ridiculous. The storm stopped suddenly but moisture hung on the atmosphere like a wet towel. Must've dozed off... Thinking back, I remember that in me halfsleep, I'd a notion there was someone outside....

I was born in  Chile,  bred  in the UK, and retired to Spain. But to understand who I am today, you have to go back, all the way back to where the itch began. In September 1973 Salvador Allende was overthrown by the Chilean military financed and  supported by the USA. Overnight our world collapsed.  Mum, my two sisters and I fled to Argentina leaving  our house, our  belongings, our relatives, and our friends  behind us, in search of our father who had crossed the Andes by foot to Argentina a few months before.  Dad was on the military's hit list for being an active supporter of Allende. He would've been killed if found, as was the fate of many. My middle sister and I had no option but to live in the shadows moving from one safe house to another, while  mum contacted friends to borrow money for the train tickets to cross the border to Argentina. We were NOT living, we were hiding. We settled in San Juan, Argentina for about a...

  Next Meeting: 10 July 2026 Location: Hostal Meson Time 10.30-1pm 500 word subject: “Scratch the Itch” Everybody who has an interest in writing or the written word is welcome to our meetup at:  Hostal Meson Arboleas.

  The Written Word Group where at the latest Luuvies Open Day. We had booked a big table and where ready to take part in the celebrations. Jeremy turned up like the good trooper he is to fill in for Aileen. Who had to give the day a miss due to unforseen circunstances. Jeremy read some of his favorite poems. Mike read some very funny word play verses Tom spun the wild tale of El Dia Del Libro, or What Did the Romans Ever Do For Us.? And Mongolita gave us the touching tale of Floppy Ears.  Which dovetailed nicely into the Charity that was collecting money for abandoned dogs. So well done everybody. It looked like we were well received by the big crowd on the day.  And it  gave us a lot to ponder, into how we may run an event like this.  It all went like clockwork and the music segements (well done Steve) and the Quiz where fabulous. It was a great way to spend a day in the sun. Drinking cold beers getting entertained by some very talented people. Whats not to lik...

  The Flash is peak Season on the mining planet Arthur Scargill. In the Antares System, 500 Million light-years from our home base.  Arthur Scargill swings dangerously close to the sun. The intense solar gravity stretches the planet's crust, triggering massive global volcanic eruptions. The air fills with Flerovium (element 114) and Copernicium (element 112) gases. The essential building blocks of our spacefaring civilization. Our harvesters run at 100% capacity, skimming the atmosphere. Collecting our priceless cargo. Big bonus credits on the way for everybody. Happy days. Then the season changes to, The Deep freeze: The planet swings far away into the freezing dark of space. Mining stops, and we await the return of, The Flash season. If the harvesters haven’t suffered to much degradation or need to be replaced, we can move them to either of the other Flash mining planets, Herbert Hoover or George Hearst. We ship the collected and extremely volatile Flerovium and Copernicium ...