Thurlbeck is - to quote David Byrne when singing about Heaven - a place where nothing ever happens.
You won't find it on a map, unless that map was purchased from MacPerson's General Store. A cloak of dissuasion seems to hang over the small Durham town, discouraging casual visitors and delivery drivers. Even Jehovah's Witnesses don't like to hang around too long after the first front door has closed.
Roads entering Thurlbeck have Diversion and Road Closed signs put up at every junction. Residents of neighbouring villages whisper tall tales about the ancient woodland (not mentioned in The Doomsday Book) which encloses Thurlbeck on three sides.
Wikipedia entries for the town are rejected due to excessive editing and the often contradictory 'facts' put forward as proof of its existence.
As a holiday destination, the Cumbrian village of Thurlbeck comes highly recommended. It is a beautiful place, and people talk excitedly of the magical experiences they have while staying there.
You will always find a warm welcome when you visit Thurlbeck.
Did I mention the ghost?
Monday, April 11, 2016
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
You little wonder, little wonder you
Until recently it was my habit on waking each morning to check the news. A lot could happen while I was sleeping, it's a dangerous world, and I needed to know he was all right before I could get on with my day.
On that particular day, once I was reassured, I showered and got myself ready. I was due in Exeter, so it was an early start.
When I got to the railway station, I remembered to turn off the Wi-Fi on my phone to preserve the battery. I turned on the phone, signed in and there it was. He was dead. My legs almost gave way under me, and I spent the next 10 hours not crying till I got home again.
I always listen to Today, I couldn't listen to Today, news had just come over and the rest is... fleeting memories. I remember going in to HMV and wondering why aren't they playing his songs, sitting in an interview unable to speak, reading twitter late, late in the afternoon to see if anyone felt the way I was feeling, watching people as they passed me on the street and listening to street musicians just in case.
Continuing...
On that particular day, once I was reassured, I showered and got myself ready. I was due in Exeter, so it was an early start.
When I got to the railway station, I remembered to turn off the Wi-Fi on my phone to preserve the battery. I turned on the phone, signed in and there it was. He was dead. My legs almost gave way under me, and I spent the next 10 hours not crying till I got home again.
I always listen to Today, I couldn't listen to Today, news had just come over and the rest is... fleeting memories. I remember going in to HMV and wondering why aren't they playing his songs, sitting in an interview unable to speak, reading twitter late, late in the afternoon to see if anyone felt the way I was feeling, watching people as they passed me on the street and listening to street musicians just in case.
Continuing...
Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Ceci n'est pas un blog
This isn't a blog.
Oh, I know it looks like a blog, but you have to admit it doesn't act like one.
If I'm very generous, I could say it's pretending to be a blog, but a blog implies an active blogger, and none can accuse me of that.
This is a placeholder. A 'temporary' place where I can experiment and be playful. There are things I would like to post, things I would like to build a website around - and normally I'd be really excited by the 'building a website around' process before I've created any actual content. Then I get dispirited and abandon the whole project.
So before I buy domains, Wordpress accounts and host space, then spend absolutely ages getting everything to look just perfect I shall splash around in the shallows here sharing bits and pieces of opinion, poetry and fiction, while I fiddle with something I've had at the back of my mind for a very long time.
Does that sound like a plan to you?
Oh, I know it looks like a blog, but you have to admit it doesn't act like one.
If I'm very generous, I could say it's pretending to be a blog, but a blog implies an active blogger, and none can accuse me of that.
This is a placeholder. A 'temporary' place where I can experiment and be playful. There are things I would like to post, things I would like to build a website around - and normally I'd be really excited by the 'building a website around' process before I've created any actual content. Then I get dispirited and abandon the whole project.
So before I buy domains, Wordpress accounts and host space, then spend absolutely ages getting everything to look just perfect I shall splash around in the shallows here sharing bits and pieces of opinion, poetry and fiction, while I fiddle with something I've had at the back of my mind for a very long time.
Does that sound like a plan to you?
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