Whistles and drills, dust and transformation

It’s best part of twenty-five years since our kitchen was last refurbished, and then my new-retired husband did it. (while I went out to work). This week two men, plus plasterer and electrician, have got on with it with far greater efficiency, while I am marooned upstairs. So, no excuse not to read and fully ponder on this week’s entries.

No easier to place one, however slightly, above the rest and I’m relieved that you recognise the difficulty. This week David’s ‘The Last Noel?’ rose to the top of the pile – tight writing and a heart-rending tale.

Words for next week: satchel liberty scrub    

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 5th September, words posted Friday 6th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

“Revenge proves its own executioner” [John Ford 1586-1639?]

And following last week’s excellent entries, and the difficulties you had choosing a winner, you seem to have tried harder still to present me with a near impossible choice this week, and from such innocuous words! I am, if it is possible, even more admiring of the lot of you. Given fourteen to choose from, and being über ruthless,  I came up with a shortlist of four. Stuck there, reading and re-reading, rearranging and discarding until I was left with a favourite. This time it was the language which impinged; the freshness of usage, and in the end it was Terrie’s  ‘Gathering Magic’ which came top, but such a close run thing.

Words for next week: coincidence leather sage

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 29th August, words posted Friday 30th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Relying on you to choose ...

Since I cannot be sure of having time enough to pay proper attention, I'm offering another free choice week: please nominate your personal favourite from last week's offerings.

Words for next week: chair industrial string

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 22nd August, words posted Friday 23rd

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

Fire training school ...

... is where I’m headed on Saturday. Not to learn about ladders, hoses and extricating stretched bodies from a burning building but yet another international BSA gathering – 400 attendees if not motorbikes I’m told. One effect of which is that words will be scheduled for 16th August, and you once again get to name your favourite  entry using the words below, since I’ve no idea about the quality of the wi-fi, nor how much spare time I’ll have.

Many riches this week, and I thank you all for your contributions and your comments – some as richly entertaining as the post themselves – for me Terrie’s  ‘Death’s Handmaiden’ rises to the top.

Words for next week: bench counter obfuscate

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 15th August, words posted Friday 16th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.

A less than blissful ignorance

An impressive amount of Biblical knowledge revealed this week, amidst a variety and richness of settings; for which Patricia’s ‘Deuteronomy 32:35’ gets an honourable mention. Winner, however, somewhat self-indulgently for the memories it evoked for me, is David’s ‘Moses and the Devil’ - so many lovely phrases.   Thank you all, as ever, for posts, comments and your continuing presence.

Words for next week: alphabet hopeless ribbon

Entries by midnight (GMT) Thursday 8th August, words posted Friday 9th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you prefer.