Do you need blog comments?
You spend ages developing your recipe, testing it, waiting for the light to be right for the photos, styling the food, editing and resizing the images, writing your blog post, then you hit publish and wait… and wait… and… nothing?! Sound familiar? You've gone to all that effort and, whilst you enjoyed doing it and love sharing recipes, nobody has left you a comment!
I've seen a few bloggers tweeting recently about how disappointed they are that nobody has left them any comments and I wonder if it is something that the UK food blogging community is experiencing as a whole. Personally, I've definitely noticed a reduction in blog comments over the past year, but I do receive feedback elsewhere – usually on twitter and Facebook.
As we all lead such busy lives and with the increase in the number of blogs out there, perhaps people are looking for easier and more immediate ways of commenting. I know some people have expressed concerns over whether to have comment moderation on their blogs and whether verification systems such as Captcha are off-putting. We all want to avoid excess spam comments on our blogs, but don't want to discourage genuine commenters.
I have to admit, that I do still get excited every time someone leaves me a comment. I love blogging about food and would carry on regardless, but I also appreciate feedback and encouraging dialogue on my blog. I try to reply to people who are kind enough to stop by, but I know some bloggers don't see the point in this. Do you reply to your blog comments?
Making the time to leave comments on other food blogs is a good way of encouraging others to come back and visit your blog. However, always be sure to leave a comment that adds something and not just comment for the sake of it. It can be a great way of getting to know other bloggers and strike up friendships too.
Is it important to you to receive feedback via your blog comments or are you happy to receive feedback via other channels? Does it matter if you don't receive anything at all? Do you still leave comments for other bloggers? So many questions in this blog post but it would be really interesting to hear your views.
I haven't noticed a particular drop in comment numbers, although I don't tend to keep track of them as I would do stats.
I don't tend to comment on every blog post I read, only if it is something of interest or I have something to say.
As a food blogger I find nothing quite as annoying as someone simply commenting saying "Yum" or "Looks good", I would rather people only commented if they have something to say. I reply to comments and like to start a dialogue with the commenter.
I think we need to get away from the culture of leaving comments to get comments back and perhaps not receiving comments will act as a guidepost for making your blog more engaging?
I agree, leaving comments just to get comments back isn't a good idea, but actively taking part in the community is a great idea. I am always mindful that you can't expect to get comments on your blog if you don't bother to leave any for others. Thanks for your views.
I'm always amazed (and flattered!) when anyone comments on my blogposts! I always try to reply when people do comment, with a more interesting response than just "thanks" wherever possible!
I confess that I don't normally comment on other people's blogposts either, as the very popular blogs usually generate huge numbers of responses. I'm more likely to tweet a blogger back (or leave a comment on their Facebook page) in response to their posts. I also retweet posts that I find inspiring, and use Pinterest to save the recipes onto my folders and share them with my Facebook / twitter followers.
Obviously if anyone would like to comment on any of my blogposts, I'd love to hear your feedback…!
Thanks Katy, it's interesting to hear that you use other ways of giving feedback and sharing other bloggers' posts.
I love comments, I really do. I like the conversational side of it, and I always reply when someone has taken the time to say something. I find the number of comments ebbs and flows (though responses on twitter seem to remain the same). I think the huge number of blogs out there means that comments are spread much more thinly now, there's only so much time any of us has for blogging and all that it entails.
I think you're right, there are so many great blogs out there and so little time that comments are bound to be spread more thinly.
I love comments. I love the fact that people have enjoyed my writing and share the same opinion or have a new opinion to offer. I comment on other blogs because I feel that it works both ways – you can't expect to receive lots of comments if you yourself don't comment on any other blogs.
Thanks Frances. It's interesting to see that many bloggers view their comments as an extended conversation and I agree that you can't expect to get lots of comments if you aren't visiting other blogs and leaving feedback.
I agree with Frances, I love getting comments and knowing that someone likes my blog enough to comment on it.
I try to reply to all the comments that I receive and love engaging in conversation with other bloggers, picking up tips and also making new friends!
Like Nelly I only tend to comment on a post if I have found it of particular interest.
I do find that I've had the odd blogger put a comment on a post asking me to visit their blog follow it and to add comments. I'm happy to follow a blog if I think there maybe something of interest, but I have enough trouble keeping on top of the blogs I find of genuine interest.
I will always visit the blog of someone who has gone to the trouble of leaving me a comment, as I love reading all the comments I get, but I won't feel obliged to follow them for the sake of it.
I am also more likely to reply on Twitter if I happen to be reading a blog post from a tweet , whilst I'm out and about on my iphone.
I definitely don't think there is any point leaving a comment just for the sake of it. It's interesting to see that you are more likely to respond to a tweet with a tweet when you are out and about – much more convenient than trying to leave a blog comment.
I disagree, I appreciate all comments, even those letting me know they think the recipe "looks delicious" or similar. Why? Because it lets me know they enjoyed the post enough to want to let me know, even if they didn't have anything specific they wanted to say.
I leave comments in that same spirit, when I am reading blogs, not as a cheap attempt to get comments back, and am now very sad that so many bloggers assume the wrong motives (puts me in mind of my favourite quote, that I've used as a personal signature for many, many years, will share it below).
I shall try and make a mental list of those above who feel this way, and not bother leaving comments on their blogs going forward. Bad enough they don't appreciate them, even worse to learn they are considered annoying or seen as ways to get comments back.
Of course, it's true to say that being a better commenter will increase one's own comments – I don't think it's as direct a thing as "I left you one so you should leave me one" though. For me, what often happens is that I notice a comment from a blog I don't know, pop over to have a visit, and if I like the blog, I add it to my RSS reader. At some point, possibly then but most commonly later, I may well end up leaving a comment on a post I enjoy. So it's not as a direct "payback" to the comment I received, but indirectly resulted from it.
I also prefer comments on my blog than via tweet, though I'm grateful for those too. The reason is that I get genuine pleasure from going back to a post and being able to read the variety of feedback left at the time, something I can't do with comments scattered on twitter or FB.
It's coming up to three years that I've been blogging, and I am still genuinely grateful and thrilled to receive comments, even those brief ones that say no more than the reader enjoyed the post or thinks the food looks delicious.
Some of the comments to this post have genuinely made me sad.
Very interesting points Kavey and I agree with a lot of what you've said. I also like short comments that say they like the look of the recipe – I'm always pleased that someone takes the time to comment at all. I also think time could have something to do with the fact that people leave shorter comments and that all they want to do is show appreciation, not enter into a discussion. I also love discovering new blogs through comments on my posts. I hope there aren't many bloggers out there just leaving comments simply to get ones back – and I'm sure that commenters here are all for encouraging interaction with each other. That is a very valid point that blog comments stay there for you to look back over but twitter and FB comments are fleeting. Thanks again for sharing your views.
Oh, sadly there are — I went to (an AWFUL) blogger event not long ago, with an SEO talk that was horrendously poor advice. One of this awful speaker's advice, unsurprisingly, given how much else he said that was plain wrong, was to leave as many comments as possible, anywhere you could find, especially on popular blogs, just to get comments back. It pains me to think new bloggers might follow his advice.
But, you've understood exactly my point, a short comment, with little substance to it, can STILL do an important job – showing appreciation, enjoyment of a post. For that reason, it still means a lot to me.
As a reader, I don't always have something specific I want to say, but if I've really enjoyed a post, I want to leave that message.
As a fairly new blogger, I can only echo the points Kavey makes. I began my blog as something for me, but the fact that I have begun to have others read and actually take the time and trouble to comment on things I have done is really appreciated. I always try and respond as well, as I think that's only courtesy after someone has taken the trouble to post a comment.
I'm not that technically competent, so trying to find my way around Facebook, Twitter etc, has been something of a stumbling block, and so the most direct way for me to gauge whether people actually like what I'm doing is via comments. It's been really heartening to read some of them (that said. I have had some lovely comments via Twitter, too, as I have begun to get to know that platform).
With that in mind, if I've enjoyed something on a blog, I will always take the time to leave a comment. I try to make it relevant to the post, but you can't actually taste the food can you? So sometimes it may well just be that it looks lovely. I'm saddened that that may not be welcomed by some bloggers, or even perceived wrongly, so I will bear that in mind in future.
I know that there are people who have found my blog via comments I have left on others. That's not something I have deliberately set out to achieve (and I certainly don't leave a comment in the expectation of a quid pro quo), but I do think it seems to be a byproduct of how the blogging world goes around. It's certainly how I have found some fantastic blogs that perhaps aren't as well known as they should be.
Both giving and receiving comments has also generated one of the other things I have really enjoyed – some interaction with others who share the same interests and enthusiasm. That to me is the main purpose.
Thanks for your comment Susie. I think you have hit the nail on the head when it comes to leaving comments. I love the interaction that comes from giving and receiving comments.
I like to leave comments on recipes that sound/look nice, too and really appreciate them being left too. Recipe posts are my least commented, but often most viewed posts. What I'd like most is a comment if someone has actually tried out the recipe – with suggestions for improving it or questions about ingredients, or similar. I'm actually much more likely to leave a 'Sounds delicious' comment on a recipe post than at 'Great post' comment on a family post.
I certainly wouldn't see 'Sounds delicious' as a gratuitous grab for reciprocal comments.
I am very very new to the world of food blogging, to blogging at all actually and I am staggered when anyone comments. I love that they do and the more I explore this world the more I will be commenting on others.
My reason for starting the blog was simply as a means of sharing my thoughts on food and widening the conversation about the food that I eat.
For me, my blog posts, or those of anyone else, are the start of a conversation, good comments or feedback continue the conversation and thus the story.
I do not wish to get bogged down in stats or number of comments – it isn't why I started writing the blog – but hopefully any comments I receive will help to mould both the blog itself as well as the way I cook, the inspiration for what i cook or the ingredients I use.
Like pete, I am also pretty new to food blogging. I alway appreciate it when someone has left a comment, it shows that there are people out there who appreciates the effort and what I do.
Quite a few of the recipes on the blog are pretty close to my heart as it is something that I've learnt from my nan when I was young, watching her cooking all these wonderful dishes such as Singapore chicken rice, satay, chilli crab, beef rending etc and trying to recreate them from memories and to get acknowledgement from reader are always great.
I have started to use Rafflecopter for give-aways and I wondered if the number of comments via Rafflecopter is counted the same way when it comes to ranking.
It is nice to leave feedback somewhere and comments have always been a good way to do this. For one thing if your comment is accepted you get a nice backlink to your website.
The downside is that because of this fact comments can get blasted by spammers. If they at least made an effort to read the article or at least spell 'intresttng artcle' correctly then it would be less frustrating!


You must have heard of car title loans as a way to get yourself out of a cash crunch. However, before you consider going for an auto title loan, you should know exactly how they work and consider the benefits and drawbacks of car title loans. Considering these pros and cons will help you decide if getting a car title loan is really the best option for you or not. Let's have a look at the benefits of car title loans first.
Less Risk – The biggest benefit of a auto title loan is that it is less of a risk as compared to other loans, such as a home loan. At the same time, a car title loan provides you similar value to any other loan, and there is added security knowing that your secured loan is not based on your home. This reduced level of stress during tough financial times makes a car title loan a better option in case of emergencies, which is when you would be in need of a loan the most.
Possibility to get Decent Loan Amounts – Unlike in the case of credit cards and payday loans, the amount you can borrow will depend on the value of your car. A valuable car can fetch you more cash than what other short term lending options will allow.
Credit Rating does not matter – Since car title loans are secured against the value of the car, getting one will not depend on whether you have good credit or not. You simply need to be the owner of the car and that's it.
Apart from these benefits, car title loans do have their drawbacks as well, and if you are planning on getting one, you should be familiar with the drawbacks as well.
Risk of falling prey to a less than reputable company – A lot of people fall prey to a company which is not very well reputed. When getting a car title loan, it is important that you choose a company which is rated highly by the BBB (Better Business Bureau). This will ensure that the loan you are getting is in your best interests and you will get the value you hoped for.
Extremely high interest rates – The second biggest drawback of a car title loan is the high interest rate. Auto title lenders are in a different category than credit companies and banks and work around usury laws. This is why title loan lenders are able to levy triple digit annual interest rates, which are extremely exorbitant.
Chance of losing your car – Since your car is the asset you put up as collateral when getting a car title loan, there might be a risk of you losing control of your car to the lender. Auto title lenders gain ownership of the vehicle if the borrower is unable to pay back the loan on time. Therefore, you need to have a payback plan in place before you put your means of transportation up as collateral.
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Oral histories on the topic 'security'
Roger Martindale
Roger Martindale, born 1943 in England, was a police constable in the UK until 1973 when he migrated to Australia. He joined the Commonwealth Police (now AFP) VIP protection service in 1973 which included being part of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser's security team in 1978 and thereafter that of t...
Topics: 'A Current Affair' (TV program), Aboriginal Tent Embassy, AFL Grand Final, Aircraft, Alresford, ASIO, Attendants, Australian Federal Police, Australian Protective Service, awards, Bahamas, Barrie Cassidy, Barry Brown, Beijing, Bill Hayden, Bob Hawke, Bob Hunter, Bomb scare, Bushfires, Cabinet anteroom, Cabinet Room, Camaraderie, Canberra, China, CHOGM, CHOGRM, Chris Conybeare, Commonwealth Police, Constitutional Convention 1998, Cook Islands, Craig Emerson, Demonstrations, Denis Richardson, Doug Anthony, Dubrovnik, Duck shooting, Election campaigns, Fairstar (ship), Family life, Firearms, Frank Leverett, Frank Lowy, Gambling, Gareth Evans, Geoffrey Yeend, George Davidson, George Shultz, Golf, Gorbachev, Government House, Governor-General, Graham Freudenberg, Graham Richardson, Graham Seidel, Hampshire, Hazel Hawke, Hilton bombing, Hilton hotel, Horse races, Hostels, Ian Sharp, Ian Sinclair, India, Indira Gandhi, Ireland, Irish Republican Army, Israel, Jill Saunders, Joe Feldman, John Bowen, John Button, John Hewson, John Kerr, KGB, Kim Beazley, Kirribilli House, Kremlin, Laurie Oakes, Lionel Bowen, Malcolm Fraser, Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Grattan, Mick Young, Migration, Monterey, Mullumbimby, Nanjing, Nareen, New Dehli, New Parliament House, Ninian Stephens, Osvaldo Meneghello, Pakistan, Party Room, Paul Keating, Peter Harvey, Phil Lynch, Photographs, Policing, Portsmouth, Press Gallery, Princess Anne, Provisional Parliament House, Queen's Visit 1992, Radio, Rajiv Gandhi, Red Square, Right to Life, Robert Ray, Royal Marines, Royalty Protection, Group, Sandy Hollway, Security, Security Intelligence and Diplomatic Liaison, Shandong Province, Singleton Army Base, South Africa, South Pacific, Forum, Tamie Fraser, The Lodge, Thomas Kelly, Tiananmen Square, Tipperary, Training, Turkey, US Secret Service, VIP Protection, Washington, Wombat trail, Yasser Arafat, Yasushiro Nakasone, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zelman Cowen
Cheryl Cartwright
Cheryl Cartwright, journalist and manager, came to Canberra in 1978 to work as a secretary for Prime Minister Fraser. In 1980 she enrolled in university studies and in 1984 returned to the provisional Parliament House as a journalist. She worked in the Press Gallery before moving to Adelaide to w...
Topics: ABC radio, Adelaide, Advisors, Alan Jones, Andrew McKellar, Andrew Peacock, Ansett Airlines, Australian Associated Press, Barrie Cassidy, Barry Jones, Bill Hayden, Bill Heffernan, Bob Hawke, Brian Loughnane, Budgets, Business Sunday, Canberra, Canberra Times, Cathy Quealy, Centrelink, Channel Nine, Channel Seven, Claire Arthurs, Cotter dam, Dale Budd, David Kidd, David Woodrow, Education, Election campaigns, Facebook, Family, Fax machines, Female Eunuch, Focus groups, Footscray, Gareth Evans, General Motors Holden, Gough Whitlam, Graham Richardson, Grahame Morris, Hansard, Ian McKay, India, Jeff Kennett, Jillaroo, Jocelyn Newman, John Hewson, John Howard, John Moore, John Stanley, Journalists, Kerry O'Brien, Kerry Packer, Labor Party, Liaison officers, Liberal Party, Macquarie Radio, Malcolm Fraser, Malcolm Hazell, Martin Ferguson, Media advisors, Michael Cavanagh, Nareen, Neal Blewett, New Parliament House, New Zealand, One Nation party, Paul Keating, Paul Kelly, Peter Costello, Peter Hand, Peter Harvey, Petro Giorgiou, Pipeline Industry Association, Politics, Press Gallery, Prime Minister's Office, Provisional Parliament House, Question Time, Radio, Radio 2GB, Radio Alley, Ralph Willis, Russell Schneider, Ruth Murray, Secretaries, Security, Shorthand, Smoking, SP bookies, Speech writers, Stan Collard, Stephen Spencer, Switchboard operators, Technology, television, Telex machines, The Australian, The Lodge, Tony Street, Tony Streeton, Twitter, Typewriters, Typists, Vietnam War, Wal Fife, Warren Truss, Weekly Times, Wilson Tuckey, Women's Weekly
Frank Jennings (1930-2014)
Frank Jennings was Senior Private Secretary to Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies from 1963 to 1966 and Prime Minister Harold Holt from 1966 to 1967. He was also Private Secretary to Ralph Hunt, Minister for Health and Minister for Transport from 1978 to 1983. He was born at Ballina, New South Wal...
Topics: Acton Guest House, Aid to Church Schools, Ainsley Gotto, Air Force One, Aircraft, Al Stafford, Alan Cumming-Thom, Allan Rose, Allen Brown, Anti-Discrimination Commission, Anzac Day, Arthur Calwell, ASIO, Athol Townley, Attendants, Australian Clerical Officers Association, Badgerys Creek, Ballina, Bede Hartcher, Bert Shepard, Bettina Gorton, Betty Greenwood, Betty Jennings, Bill Butler, Bill Harris, Bill Hayden, Bill Heseltine, Billy McMahon, Billy Snedden, Bingil Bay, Bob Drury, Bob Furlonger, Bob Hawke, Bob Jordan, Bob Lawrence, Bob Linford, Bob Willoughby, Brian Howe, Bushfires, Cabinet leaks, Cabinet Room, Cabinet submissions, Cadet patrol officer, Cambodia, Canberra, Canberra Club, Canberra Times, Canberra University College, Car accident, Caravelle Hotel, Carol Summerhayes, Charles Halton, Charlie Upton, Chigee, CHOGM, Chris North, Chris Warren, Code of dress, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth Employment Service, Commonwealth Gazette, Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, Connair Airways, Conscription, Cotter river, CRTS (Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme), Darwin, David Barnett, David Ortega, Democracy, Department of Territories, Department of Transport, Dick Klugman, Don Chipp, Dorrigo, Doug Anthony, East Block, Economic Commission for Asia Economics Division, PM's Department, Eddie Connellan, Education, Egypt, Election campaigns, Family, Far East Conference, Farming, Federal Executive Council, France, Frank Ball, Frankfurt, Gamal Nasser, Geoff Yeend, Government House, Governor General, Hansard, Harare, Harold Holt, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Havelock House, Hawaii, Hazel Craig, Hotel Canberra, Hotel Windsor, Hugh Dash, Ian Fitchett, Industrial Chemistry, Interdepartmental Committee on GATT, Ivor Hele, Jack McEwen, Jack Pettifer, Jack Waterford, Jan Moore, Jane Macphillamy, Jim Hodges, Jim Killen, Jim Plimsoll, Jim Short, Jim Starkey, John Bunting, John Carrick, John Fitzgerald Kennedy assassination, John Gorton, John Hammond, John Kerin, John Overall, John Waller, John Wilton, Jon Menadue, Jonathan Gaul, Journalists, Julius Nyere, June Walters, Keith Sinclair, Kenneth Kaunda, Kevin Andrews Kings Hall, Kirribilli House, Korea, Laos, Lawley House, Lennox Hewitt, Les McSpiran, Loans Affair, Lobbyists, Lord De L'isle, Lucerne flats, Lyndon Baine Johnson, Malawi, Malcolm Fraser, Manuka, Margaret Guilfoyle, Marie Halford, Marie Helsford, Marriage, Martinis, Mary Newport, Media, Messengers, Mick Young, Milk run, Mim Hunt, Ministerial Staff Advisory Committee, Nancy Prasad, National Capital Development Authority, New, Parliament House, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigel Bowen, Nora Mills, Norfolk Island, O'Connor, Owen Brown, Owen Wilson, Papua New Guinea, Pat Delacy, Pat Wheatley, Patrick Waters, Pattie Menzies, Paul Davey, Paul Hasluck, Penny Wensley, Personal assistants, Peter Bailey, Peter Cullen, Peter Howson, Peter Kelly, Peter Lawler, Peter Morris, Peter Nixon, Peter Wilenski, Petro Georgiou, Petrov Affair, Politics, Port Macquarie, Portsea Postmaster General's Department, Premiers' conference, Press conferences, Prime Minister's Department, Protests, Provisional Parliament House, Pru Goward, Public Service Board, Queanbeyan, RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force), Ralph Hunt, Ray Coppin, Ray Taylor, Ray Whitrod, REDEX trial, Referenda, Refugees Club, Regional Shipping Conference, Reid House, Religion, Research officers, Residences, Richard Casey, Ron Mendelsohn, Rosemary Follett, Roy Bullock, Royal Canberra Golf Club, Royal Family, Royal Visit 1954, Russell Snyder, Science, Secretaries, Security, Seychelles, Singapore, Snowy Mountains Authority, South Pacific Forum for Civil Aviation, Special Branch Police, Sport, St. Barnabas Church, Standing Orders, Statistics, Stenographers, Stromlo, Suez crisis, Sunday School, Sunshine Coast, Superannuation, Sydney, TAA (Trans-Australia Airways), Taiwan, Tanzania, Technology, Tim Conway, Timbrol Ltd, Tom Ferrie, Tom Hartigan, Tony Eggleton, Transport, Treasury, Tutoring, U3A (University of the Third Age), Ungary, Valerie Taylor, Vietnam, Vietnam War, Walgett, West Wyalong, Zambia, Zara Holt, Zimbabwe
Fred Johnson (1907-2001)
Fred Johnson worked on the Parliament House construction site in the mid-1920s. After the Parliament House was opened in 1927, he joined the parliamentary staff, working in the building until his retirement in 1967, when he was Deputy Principal Attendant and Keeper of the Mace. Born in Sydney in ...
Topics: Accommodation, Alan Tregear, Alf Backley, Archie Cameron, Billiard Room, Billy Hughes, Bob Menzies, Bruce Mathews, Builders, Building workers, Burt Fields, Cabinet Room, Canberra (1920s), Caterers, Causeway, Charles Hawker, Charlie Adaman, Choristers, Dame Nellie Melba, David Fairbairn, Doug Blake, Frank Packer, Earle Page, Empire Parliamentary Association, Golf, Gracie Fields, Griffith (NSW), Harry Johnson, Hoskins (steel company), Hotel Canberra, Italians, James 'Digger' Dunn, Joe Alexander, John Butters, Joint House Department, Journalists, Kings Hall, Kitchen, Leeton (NSW), Les Dwyer, Littleton Groom, Members Bar, Members Dining Room, Opening ceremony 1927, Opposition Party Room, Parliamentary Refreshment Rooms, Party Room, Press Gallery, Provisional Parliament House, Queanbeyan, Records Office, Sammy Sampson, Save Our Sons, Security, Serjeant-at-arms, Speaker's Chair, St Andrews Cathedral choir, The Mace, Tradesmen, Vietnam protests, Wilfred Johnson, Working conditions (1920s), World War One
Laura Beacroft
Born in Brisbane in 1957, Laura Beacroft came to Canberra in 1974. She worked in the Parliamentary Library on a casual basis in 1975 and was in the building on November 11, 1975.
Topics: Australian Labor Party, Australian National University, Belconnen, Bicycles, Brisbane, Canberra, Dismissal 1975, Gough Whitlam, Hotel Canberra, Hyatt hotel, John Kerr, Legislative Research Service, Librarians, Parliamentary Annexe, Parliamentary Library, Police, Provisional Parliament House, Security, Social clubs, Student Employment Service ANU, TAA (airline), Technology, Wages, William Wentworth, Working conditions, Yeronga
Neil 'Bluey' Baker
Neil 'Bluey' Baker, born 1947, was a telephone technician in the provisional Parliament House from 1973 to 1988 and thereafter in the new Parliament House for many years.
Topics: Alexandria Training School (Sydney), Arthur Gietzelt, ASIO, Badges, Bakelite, Baker's Better Beverages, Barry Jones, Bathurst (NSW), Bill Gellatly, Bill Hayden, Bill Rickaby, Bill Snedden, Bob Hawke, Broken Hill (NSW), Canberra, Canberra Times, Catholic schools, Commonwealth Parliament Staff Association, Cootamundra (NSW), Cordial manufacturers, De La Salle College, Don Chipp, Eddie Hunter, Eddie Jones, Factories, Family background, Flo Bjelke-Petersen, Fraud charges, Gambling, Garfield Barwick, General Post Office (GPO), Gough Whitlam, Hansard staff, Hardie-Ferodo car race, Ian Burn, Ian Sinclair, Jim Cairns, John Corkill, Junie Morosi, Juvenile gangs, Ken Fry, Kevin McDermit, Kim Beazley, Leeton (NSW), Letraset, Linesmen, Mal Colston, Malcolm Fraser, Marbles (game), Margaret Reid, Marist Brothers, Marrickville (Sydney), Michael Somes, Mick Young, Mungo MacCallum, New Parliament House, Non-Switching units, PABX system, Parliament's telephone system, Paul Savage, Peter Hall, Peter Harvey, Peter Horn, Post Master General (PMG), Press Gallery, Provisional Parliament House, Radio, Retired Technician's Union, Ron Cahill, Rural automatic telephone exchanges, Security, Serjeant-at-arms, Snooker, SP bookmakers, Steve Angelo, Sydney (NSW), Technical training, Technology, Telecom, Telecommunications technicians, Telegram boys, Telephone technicians, Telephones, telephonists, television, The Dismissal (11 November 1975), Usher of the Black Rod, Wollongong (NSW)
Morrie Adamson (1926-2013)
Morrie Adamson, born 1926 in Queanbeyan, NSW, worked at Old Parliament House between 1964 and 1986, initially as Secretary to the Public Works Committee and subsequently as Secretary to a number of HOR standing and select committees. He became Senior Parliamentary Officer supervising HOR Committe...
Topics: Aboriginal Affairs Committee, Aboriginal protests, Acton, ad hoc committees, Administrative and Clerical Offices, Allan Fairhall, Andrew Peacock, annex, Arthur Calwell, Arthur Higgins, Australian National University, Ayers Rock, Bauxite, beef roads (Northern Territory), Ben Chifley, Bernie Harris, Bert Kelly, Bill Brimble, Bill Stanner, Bill Wentworth, Billy O'Connor, Black Mountain tower, Bob Fulton, Bob Hawke, Bob Thompson, Bryan Harvey, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Cabinet, Cabinet Room, Camp Hill, Canberra, Canberra High School, Canberra Times, Canberra University College, Commerce degree, committee secretaries, Committee system, Committees Secretariat, Commonwealth Department of Works, Commonwealth Parliament Association, David Reid, David Smith, Democracy, Demonstrations, Department of Administrative Services, Department of Civil Aviation, Department of Territories, Dick Hillier, Don Piper, Doug Anthony, Doug Blake, Duntroon, Edgar Prowse, Environment and Conservation Committee, Felix Dittmer, Fred Chaney, George Branson, George Henry Rottenverry, George White, gold mining, Gordon Pike, Gordon Scholes, Gough Whitlam, Gove Alumina, Government printing offices, Hansard staff, Harold Holt, Harold White, Harry Jenkins, HMAS Cerberus, Hotel Acton, Hotel Canberra, House of Representatives, Ian Emerton, Jack Marshall, John Button, John Ferguson, John Gunn, John Howes, John Knight, John Langmore, John Overall, Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory, Joint House Department, Ken Fry, Kerry Clancy, Kingston, Len Bosman, Liberal Party, Linguists, Lionel Murphy, Malcolm Fraser, Maldon (Victoria), Manfred Cross, Manuka Swimming Pool, Margaret Reid, Max Neutze, Methodist Overseas Mission, Military service (WW2), National Capital Development Commission, National Library, National Mint, National Parks, New and Permanent Parliament House Committee, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea, Parliament House, Paul Hasluck, Phillip Lynch, Phillip Ruddock, President Johnson's visit (1966), Press Gallery, Prime Minister's Department, Program officers, Project managers, Public Accounts Committee, Public Works Committee, Queanbeyan, Ralph Hunt, Raymond Court, Records officers, Reggie Wright, Retirement, Road Safety Committee, Robert Menzies, Roy Bullock, Royal Australian Navy, Rupert Myers, Security, Senate, senior parliamentary officers, Serjeant-at-arms, Softwood and Forestry Agreement Acts, statutory committees, stonemasons, Ted Egan, Telopea Park Primary School, The Dismissal (11 November 1975), Tom Uren, Tony Lamb, Transcripts, Travels for work, Tullamarine airport, Uluru, War Cabinet, West Block, Whitlam government, William Holford, Wilson Tuckey, World War Two, Yirrkala people
Stephen Mills
Stephen Mills was born in Victoria in 1954. From 1977 to 1983 he worked in the Parliamentary Press Gallery as a reporter for The Age. In 1986 he joined Prime Minister Bob Hawke's staff as a speech writer, a position he held until 1991 when he rejoined the Parliamentary Press Gallery working for t...
Topics: Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Alan Reid, Albury Border Mail, Alex Zubrzycki, Alistair Drysdale, Amanda Buckley, ANU, APEC, Arthur Calwell, Australian Associated Press, Australian Broadcasting Commission, Australian Financial Review, Australian Journalists' Association, Australian Labor Party, Authors, Bachelor of Arts, Barrie Cassidy, Bathurst (NSW), Be Just and Fear Not (book), Beaufort (Victoria), Ben Chifley, Bill Hartley, Bill Hayden, Bill Kelty, Blanche d'Alpuget, Bob Hawke, Bob Sorby, Brian Toohey, Brotherhood of St Lawrence, Bruce Juddery, Canberra, Canberra Times, Caravaners, Carol Thatcher, cassette tape recorders, Cathleen Frankovic, Chelsea, Children in poverty (speech), Chris Conybeare, Cigarette smoking, clergy, Clyde Holding, Cole Parks, Commonwealth Fund of New York, Craig Emerson, Creighton Burns, Croatia, Curly (nickname), Dennis Richardson, Dorothy Scurry, Editors, Election campaigns, England, Fairfax newspapers, Family background, Farmhouse Creek (Tasmania), Farrago (newspaper), Football, Franklin Dam decision, Gareth Evans, Gary Hart, Geelong, Geelong Grammar, Geoff Kitney, Geoff Walsh, Geoffrey Yeend, George Gear, George Schultz, George Zubrzycki, Glasnost, Golden Age Hotel, Gorbachev, Graham Evans, Graham Freudenberg, Graham McDougall, Graham Perkin, Graham Richardson, Grant Nile, Greg Hywood, Hansard, Harkness Fellowship, Harvard University, Heather Ewart, Hebrew University, Helen O'Neil, History degree, House of Representatives, Hunter S. Thompson, Ian McPhee, Ian Sinclair, Ian Wilson, Imre Salusinszky, Inverleigh State School, Israel, Jacaranda Press, Jean Sinclair, Jerry Noonan, Jesse Jackson, Jill Saunders, Jim Cairns, Joe Napolitan, John Barton, John Bowen, John Carrick, John Edwards, John Gorton, John Hewson, John Jost, John Kerin, John Mills, Journalism, Journalists, Judith Hoare, Kate Legge, Keating-Hawke challenge, Ken Wriedt, Kennedy School of Government, King's Hall, Laurie Oakes, Lazlo's canteen, Liz Dale, Lloyd O'Neil, Lobbyists, Lou Cullen, Malcolm Fraser, Manuka Travel Lodge, Margaret Guilfoyle, market research, Master of Public Administration, Melbourne, Melbourne Sun, Michael Mackellar, Michelle Grattan, Mick Young, Micro-cassettes, Middle East, Mike Codd, Mike Pezzullo, Moscow, Mungo McCallum, Nagra recorders, National Press Club, National U (newspaper), Neville Wran, New Delhi, New Guinea, New Parliament House, News Ltd., Nigel Balfe, Nigel Wilson, Non-Members' Bar, Old Melbourne Stock Exchange, Overseas trvael, Ozzie Meneghello, Palestine, Pandora Livanes, Patrick Walters, Paul Keating, Paul Kelly, Peggy Noonan, Peninsula Boys' School Mt Eliza (Victoria), Perestroika, Pete Steedman, Peter Abeles, Peter Harris, Peter Hollingworth, Peter Smark, Politics, Press Gallery, Primaries (USA), Prime Minister's Office, Question Time, Rajiv Gandhi, Ranald McDonald, Red Hill (ACT), Rex Connor, Richard Wirthlin, Rod Kemp, Rod Sim, Rolling Stone (magazine), Ronald Reagan, Ross Garnaut, Russel Barton, Russian Jews, Sandy Hollway, Scott Milson, Seamus Dawes, Security, Senate, Shorthand, Simon Balderstone, Simon Crean, Simon Nash, SOCOG, South Korea, Speech writers, staffers, Steve Lewis, Steve Sedgwick, Steven Nesbitt, Stuart Harris, student journalism, Sydney, Sydney Morning Herald, Technology, Telex, Tennant Creek (NT), The Age, The Australian, The Bulletin, The New Machine Men (book, 1986), Tim Dodd, Tom Mockridge, Tony Abbott, Tony Walker, Typewriters, United States, University of Melbourne, US-Australia alliance, Vietnam War, Wal Merryman, Walter Mondale, Washington, Wayne Swan, White Australia policy, Wine and Brandy Producers' Association, Writers
Russell Schneider
Russell Schneider was born in Sydney in 1946 and grew up in Newtown. He worked as a journalist in the Press Gallery from 1968 to 1983. During that time, in 1975, he became Press Secretary to Senator Reg Withers but returned to the Press Gallery in 1978. In 1983, he became Chief Executive Officer ...
Topics: Ahmed Fakhruddin, Ainsley Gotto, Air travel, Alan Cumming Thom, Alan Ramsey, Alan Reid, Alister McMullin, Allan Barnes, Ansett Airlines, Archie Cameron, Arthur Calwell, Association of Independent Rights for Retirees, Attendants, Australian Associated Press, Australian Broadcasting Commission, Australian Democrats, Australian, Journalists Association, Australian Labor Party, Australian Medical Association, Australian National University, Australian United Press, Bill Cousins, Bill Hartley, Bill Hayden, Bob Bordino, Bob Hawke, Brian Boswell, Brian Harradine, Brian Howard, Cabinet submissions, Camdenville Primary School, Canberra, Canberra Rex, Catholicism, Civil Construction Corps, Clyde Cameron, Cocos Island, Committee on Electoral Boundaries, Committee on Securities and Exchange, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Conscription, Copy boys, Crisis Control Centre, Daily Mirror (newspaper), Daily Telegraph (newspaper), Dale Barton, Dallas Hayden, David Barnett, David McNicoll, Democratic Labour Party, Depression (1930s), Derrick Shaw, Dismissal (November 11, 1975), Don Cameron, Double dissolution (1983), Doug Anthony, Doug Lowe, Ed Clark, Election 1972, Electoral Amendment Bill, Elsie Morgan, Enmore Boys' High School, Eric Robinson, Evan Sutton, Executive Council, Fairfax press, Family background, Family life, Federated Ironworkers Union, Fin Crisp, Financial Review, Frank Connor, Frank Packer, Fred Brenchley, Fred Chaney, Geoff Kitney, George Crawford, George Georges, George Poyser, Gerald Stone, Germany, Gerry Willesee, Ginninderra Schoolhouse, Gough Whitlam, Graham Freudenberg, Graham Morris, Graham Richardson, Greek migrant social security fraud, Hansard, Harold Holt, Harold Young, Hazel Hawke, Herald and Weekly Times, Herbert Vere Evatt, Hilton hotel, Hospitals Contribution Fund, Hotel Ainslie, Hotel Canberra, Hotel Civic, Hotel Wellington, House of Representatives, Ian Fitchett, India, Indonesia, Industrial action (AJA), Israel, Italy, Jack Simpson, Jenny Macklin, Jim Cairns, Jim Killen, Jim McClelland, Jim Odgers, Jim Quirk, John Gorton, John Howard, John Kerr, John Overall, Journalism, Justin O'Byrne, Kathy Martin, Kay Hilvert, Kay Kersop, Keith Bradshaw, Ken Cowley, Ken May, Ken Wriedt, Kenneth May, Kep Enderby, Khemlani, Kim Beazley, King Watson, Kings Hall, Ladies Lounge, Lance Barnard, Laurie Oakes, Laurie Short, Leaks (media), Lennox Hewitt, Leo Basser, Les Love, Liberal Party, Lionel Murphy, Liquor Trades Union, Lobbyists, Magna Carta (Kings Hall), Magnus Cormack, Mal Colston, Malcolm Collis, Malcolm Fraser, Margaret Guilfoyle, Max Walsh, Medibank, Michael Moore, Michael Townley, Murwillumbah (NSW), National Capital Development Commission, Neal Blewett, Neville Bonner, New South Wales Parliament House, News Limited, Newtown (Sydney), Non-Members' Bar, Non-Members' Dining Room, Order of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Paris, Paul Hasluck, Paul Keating, Perth Daily (newspaper), Peter Beattie, Peter Bowers, Peter Hardacre, Peter Lawler, Peter Rae, Peter Reith, Peter Walsh, Petro Georgiou, Phil Lynch, Political Science, Politics, Press Gallery, Private Hospitals Association, Question Time, Red Hill (ACT), Refugees Club (social club), Reg Withers, Rex Connor, Richard Carlton, Robert Maher, Robert Menzies, Ron McAuliffe, Rosemary Sinclair, Royal Commission 1978 (Electoral Boundaries), Rupert Murdoch, Russia, Seamstresses, Security, Senate, Short-hand, Slums, Smoking, Social life, Sydney, Tasmania, Technology, Telecommunications, Teleprinters, Telex operators, The Age, The Colt from Kooyong (book), Tom McNeill, Tom Uren, Tom Watson, Tony Abbott, Tony Eggleton, Tony Street, Tooth's Brewery, Trades Hall (Sydney), Trans Australia Airways (TAA), Tullamarine airport, Typecorders, Una Fraser, Vietnam War, Voluntary Health Insurance Association, Wages, Weekend Australian, Whips, William McMahon, Work conditions, Work routines, World War One, World War Two

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
L'Institut de recherche Dialogue des civilisations est un groupe de réflexion international basé à Berlin, avec des antennes à Vienne et à Moscou, et cofondé par Vladimir Iakounine, Walter Schwimmer et Peter Schulze. Le DG de l'institut est Jean-Christophe Bas.

Histoire

Création
Né en 2016 de la refonte du Forum publique mondial « Dialogue des civilisations » qui existait depuis 2002 et était basé à Vienne, il organise des événements visant à promouvoir le dialogue et à réduire les tensions dans le monde. Il se positionne également comme un laboratoire d'idées et d'analyse afin de guider les décideurs.

Principaux projets
Son principal événement annuel est le Forum de Rhodes, en Grèce qui depuis 2003 réunit des experts d'environ 70 pays, des chefs d'État et hommes politiques, des responsables économiques et des médias, pour débattre des grands problèmes internationaux et esquisser des solutions. Depuis 2016, le Forum de Rhodes est devenu la conférence annuelle clé de l'Institut de recherche du Dialogue des civilisations. Vladimir Iakoutine y invite des personnalités que le Kremlin considère comme des relais d'influence, comme Éric Zemmour.

En 2017 et 2018, un des sujets de discussion centraux débattus au cours de ce forum est le développement du continent africain en présence d'hommes politiques anciens ou en place.

Le 28 et , l'Institut de recherche Dialogues des civilisations lance l'initiative Tunis Process en partenariat avec la fondation de Lotfi Bel Hadj, la Fondation LBH, et Al Jazeera Centre for Studies. Tenue sous présidence Tunisienne, le projet vise à l'étude du thème « Islam et Europe: surmonter les différences, partager les chemins », à travers un processus de débats réunissant des experts internationaux et multidisciplinaires. D'autres conférences sont programmées à Rhodes, Doha et Berlin jusqu'en 2020.

Le think-tank est décrit comme « l'un des principaux outils d'influence du Kremlin auprès des décideurs européens ».

Notes et références

Liens externes

Le'Forum de Rhodes

Organisme fondé en 2016
Association ou organisme ayant son siège en Allemagne

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
January 13, 2019 January 13, 2019 AJ.Dixon17 Comments
"Hello, granny! I let myself in, sorry if I scared you!"
Mary blinked and looked up, squinting against the afternoon sun. She beamed as a young woman with long brown hair strolled up the garden path towards her.
"Hello, Lottie, my love!" Mary said, wincing as she stood up from her deck chair. "Oh, don't worry about that, it's always lovely to see you! And you've brought Harry along too!" Mary gasped in delight as Lottie set down a squirming little boy in a white shirt with blue dungarees.
"Hello, my little soldier!" Mary cooed, opening her arms wide. "Give me a cuddle!" The little boy's face lit up and he ran full pelt into Mary, throwing his arms around her knees and bouncing with excitement.
"Oof, you're getting so big!" Mary exclaimed, ruffling his mousey hair. "What have you been eating, young man?"
"Everything!" Lottie said with a laugh. She put her arms over Mary's shoulders and kissed her.
"Sit down, sit down, both of you!" Mary pushed Lottie gently away and untangled Harry from her legs. She waved at them until they were seated, Lottie on a second deck chair with Harry perched on her lap.
"Would you like a cup of tea, dear?" Mary asked, straightening her faded blue dress. "I think I've got some squash for the little one, too."
"No need, granny! I've got a surprise for you…" Lottie slid a white handbag from her shoulder and rooted around in it. She found what she was looking for and held it aloft in triumph. A grin spread across Mary's face.
"A flask? I bet I know what's in there, you little rascal!"
"Ta-da!" Lottie gave a bow and Harry clapped and laughed. "I had to bring some, especially today!" Lottie withdrew a yellow plastic cup from her handbag and unscrewed the lid of the flask. A rush of steam burst out, accompanied by the smell of chocolate. Lottie filled a cup with a flourish and handed it to Mary, who breathed in the rich smell with relish.
"Just how my mum used to make it!" Mary sighed, closing her eyes.
"I'll never get tired of hearing that," Lottie grinned, and she filled a smaller cup for Harry. The boy was staring at the flask with wide, hopeful eyes.
"He loves this, too!" Lottie chuckled and blew on the liquid to cool it. "Can't get enough of it. I'm blaming great-grandma for how much of a little chubster he's turning into!"
"Choc! Choc!" Harry demanded, reaching for the cup. Lottie shushed the squealing boy and let him drink a mouthful. The look of joy on Harry's face made Mary burst out laughing.
"It'd do my old mum proud to know our little 'uns are still enjoying her recipe," she said, and she took a swallow of her own drink. She savoured the hints of orange zest and nutmeg as it swept over her tongue, and the warmth spread into her bones. For a moment, Mary was once again a bright-eyed, curly-haired girl dancing around the hem of her mother's dress. She lowered herself into her chair, a contented smile on her face.
"Oh, love, this has cheered me up," she said. "I'd been thinking about how much Harold would love this weather. He'd sit out here, take his slippers off and let the grass tickle his feet while he read the paper."
Lottie looked up from seeing to Harry. "How are you today, granny? Managing alright?"
"As well as I can, my love," Mary sighed, taking another sip of chocolate. She probed the dull gold ring on her left hand. "Hardly seems like he's been gone two years, does it?"
"It doesn't," Lottie agreed. "That's why I brought the choc; I think I was making it for him in the back of my mind. Old habits, y'know?"
"I know," Mary smiled. "Remember how he'd grumble because you always poured him the first cup?"
"Don't worry about me, girl! Think of your mum and your granny!" Lottie intoned in a gruff voice, and she and Mary fell about laughing.
"He'd always drink it, though!" Lottie declared, rubbing her eyes. "Birthdays, exam results, family gatherings…he was the first to raise a cup at my graduation! He must've lived off it while great-granny was alive!"
"Well, he didn't like to say no," Mary said, her smile slipping slightly. "He was so good to my mum, bless his heart! Thick as thieves, those two!" She blinked rapidly then withdrew a tissue from her sleeve to dab her eyes.
"Sorry, love," she said with an apologetic smile. "I miss him so. He was a wonderful man, and he's left a big hole in this family."
"I'll drink to that," Lottie replied, lifting her cup. "To granddad!" Mary sniffed and raised her own.
"To Harold!" The two women drained their chocolate and lapsed into a sad silence.
"I was thinking about our wedding," Mary said after a while, tracing a finger along the lip of her cup. "I was so full of nerves, I thought I might be sick at any moment. Then I saw Harold standing at the altar, waiting for me; there he was, handsome and patient, with that same silly grin on his face, and all my worries melted away. I couldn't've guessed that he'd not slept a wink that night, either."
"Was he nervous as well?" Lottie asked, hugging Harry to her chest. Mary chuckled.
"He might've been, but we'll never know!" she said. "No, he'd been up all night with my mum at the hospital. She'd had a fall and my dad couldn't get her up, so Harold took care of her. She was terrified of hospitals, so he stayed with her all through the night and made sure that she got to the church the next morning. My sister told me they'd arrived only ten minutes before I did!"
"That's lovely, granny," Lottie whispered. Harry protested and tried to wriggle from her grip.
"Yes, it is," Mary said, and a wicked grin appeared on her face. "He was exhausted, though, so we had to put off the wedding night, unfortunately for me!"
"Granny!" Lottie's mouth fell open.
Mary cackled and slapped her knee. Harry stopped fidgeting and giggled in imitation, and then sucked chocolate from his fingers. Lottie cleared her throat and gave the flask a shake, sloshing around the liquid inside.
"More choc?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Mary thrust out her cup and Lottie refilled it. She dutifully filled Harry's cup as well, tutting as he slurped it greedily.
"Oh, look at that, he's got it all round his face now!" Lottie fished in her handbag for a wet-wipe.
"He's a delight!" Mary chuckled. "He loves that old recipe, no mistake!"
"Just like granddad, eh, granny?"
Mary didn't answer but stared into her cup as Lottie cleaned Harry's face.
"I'm going to let you in on a secret, Charlotte," Mary said softly. Lottie's head jerked up in surprise. Mary cleared her throat and leaned close, her rheumy eyes fixed on Lottie's.
"Harold always hated that recipe, ever since the first time he tasted it."
A breeze whistled through the silent garden. Lottie blinked, then smiled broadly.
"Oh, come off it, granny!" she laughed. "You'll have to do better than that! Granddad used to guzzle it down!"
"Yes, my dear, but he couldn't stand it! I think it might have been the orange zest, but I can't be sure. Not my cup of tea, that's what he used to say to me." Lottie's smile slipped under the intensity of Mary's gaze.
"But…I brought him a flask every time I saw him in the hospital!"
"You did, and he loved you for it," Mary said with a happy sigh.
"Granny, if that's true…" Lottie was crestfallen. "Why would granddad lie about that?"
"Because he understood how much that recipe means to us," Mary said patiently, reaching out and squeezing Lottie's hand. "It's our heritage. Nothing meant more to my Harold than family, you know that."
"Does mum know?"
"Of course, dear, but she's been sworn to secrecy. It's my responsibility to spill the beans!"
"He never liked it…" Lottie said in a small, childlike voice. Harry sensed the change of mood and craned his neck to look at her. Mary spoke up hurriedly.
"No, my love, but he never complained," Mary patted Lottie's hand, and blinked as her eyes grew moist. "He once told me that he'd drink a barrel full of the stuff just to make you and your mum smile." Lottie couldn't help but smile at that, and she shook her head.
"The old sod!" she said, and her voice cracked. She lifted her half-full cup again, a single tear trickling down her face. "To granddad! I bet he's up there having a right laugh at my expense!"
"I'm sure he is, my love!" Mary said, raising her own cup. "To Harold! Two years gone, but never forgotten!" Both women tipped their heads back, and sunlight glinted on their damp cheeks. The sweet taste lifted their sadness, and soon they were reminiscing about Harold and his many quirks. The afternoon stayed warm and the breeze caressed their faces like the gentle touch of a loved one.
Little Harry was set down on the ground, and unbeknownst to the older women, he wriggled out of his shoes and his socks. He sat there on the grass, letting the slender blades whisper across the soles of his feet. He giggled and squirmed in delight, feeling happy and safe and loved. Just how Harold would have wanted it.
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
July 15, 2017 AJ.Dixon9 Comments
The following story is one I sent out a few months ago as a competition entry, but sadly it was not placed. However, I was quite pleased with it and would like to share it will you all. The theme for competition was to write a story using dialogue ONLY. I found this to be an exciting and interesting idea, and so I went for it! Have you ever tried writing a story in this way? Please do let me know in the comments section.
I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading!
"Come on, grandma, let's run!"
"Slow down, please, my darling, I can't keep up with you. Jenny, come back! Jenny! There are nasty people around these days, come back this instant!"
"Nasty people? Where, grandma? I can't see them."
"Oh, well, you can't be too careful! Please come back, I don't want to have to shout! Plus, people are looking at grandma now…"
"Grandma, why didn't you run too?"
"I don't think I can anymore, my darling. It's part of getting old, I'm sorry to say."
"That's bad, I don't want to get old ever!"
"Nobody does, sweetheart, but you can't stop it."
"How old are you, grandma?"
"Now, now, Jennifer, it's not very nice to ask a lady her age."
"But I'm a lady and I like it when I get asked! I'm four and a half now!"
"Yes you are, sweetheart. You'll be catching me up soon."
"Yeah, grandma! But I still want to run!"
"Oh, I don't think we'll be able to stop you! Come on, let's go home, it's getting dark."
"But I wanted to play on the swings again!"
"I know, my darling, but it is getting late. Don't pout, Jennifer, it's very childish! I'll tell you what, you be a good girl and I'll buy you an ice cream in the shop. How does that sound?"
"Ice cream, before tea?!"
"Yes, before tea, but you must promise not to tell granddad. It will be our little secret."
"Yeah! Yeah! I love secrets!"
"Then we'll shake on it like grown-ups and…ugh, Jenny! What have you been touching? Your hand is all sticky! Dear me, you'd think that the council would keep that slide clean…"
"Grandma, when will I see my mummy again?"
"Oh. Well…she is quite busy now, my darling, but you'll see her again before too long."
"Is my mummy in trouble, grandma?"
"Why do you ask, my darling?"
"Cos only bad people go away, and bad people get in trouble. I think my mummy is in trouble."
"Well…yes, I suppose you could say that…but don't worry about her, sweetheart, she is being looked after. Now, which flavour ice cream would you like when we get to the shop?"
"I want strawberry! Strawberry and chocolate! Strawberry and chocolate and banana! Yum yum yum!"
"There you are, my two favourite girls! Come in out of the cold, that's it! Scrub those shoes on the mat before you come inside, little love. If you get mud on my nice carpet, you won't get your tea and you'll get a knuckle sandwich instead!"
"Argh! Grandma, help me, he's got me!"
"That serves you right, Jennifer. You shouldn't poke your tongue out at granddad, it's very rude!"
"Heehee, that tickles! Stop, stop!"
"Aha! Do you give up, young madam?"
"Yes, yes! I give up! Heeheehee!"
"Victory! You are my prisoner now, so be off with you! Into the living room to await your fate! Stick the telly on, if you like, I prefer my prisoners to be comfortable. Oi, take your shoes off first!"
"You really shouldn't overexcite her like that, Daniel. She'll never sleep now."
"Oh, rubbish! What's the harm? Besides, you've probably had her running around like a headless chicken all afternoon, haven't you?"
"I did very little, as it happens. That girl is like a thunderbolt, Daniel. I take my eyes off her for one second and it's as if she was never by my side at all. It's exhausting!"
"I'm sure it is! Come here, my love. Oooh! Your nose is cold, Barbara!"
"Well don't give me a bear hug if you don't like it, you great fool!"
"You didn't have to stick your frozen hooter in my neck, did you? Come on in, I've made a pot already and it should still be warm."
"Daniel, Jenny asked me about her mother again."
"Right…how did that go?"
"She asked if her mummy is in trouble because the people who have been bad get sent away. I agreed with her, sort of."
"Blimey, not much gets past her, does it?"
"That's what worries me, Daniel. She can tell when we're lying to her, even if she doesn't understand why. What can we possibly say to her?"
"We'll think of something."
"She's still so young! I don't want her knowing about that place! How are we going to explain it to her?"
"I don't know, Barb, honestly I don't. But we can't keep on dodging her questions just because we don't like the answers."
"Oh, I know that, Daniel! I'm not a child!"
"I know, Barb, and I didn't mean it like that. It's not easy, all this, but we'll need to tell her about her mum sooner rather than later. She has a right to know."
"Yes, you're right, of course…did Rebecca call again today?"
"Yes, she did, about 12ish. She seems to be as well as can be expected. Quite upset to have missed Jenny again, though."
"Well that serves her right, doesn't it? Ooh, it makes me so angry to think about her, Daniel! How could she do it, knowing what would happen to Jennifer? To us?"
"I don't think she was doing much thinking at the time, my love. Getting angry won't help, so we'd better roll our sleeves up and do the best we can. Like we always have."
"But our best has led to this…but you're right, we must persevere. Come on, Jenny will wonder what's keeping us if we stay out here much longer."
"Alright, my love. Pass me your coat. I've already put the oven on and the chips are on the tray. I'll just stick them…hang on, is that ice cream on your scarf, Barbara?"
"Hi, mum."
"Oh, hello, Rebecca. You're calling early today."
"Yeah, I asked the warden for an earlier slot. I was…hoping to speak to Jenny."
"Well, Jennifer is at school now, I'm afraid. It is a week day."
"Oh…yeah, of course she is…I forgot…"
"Where's dad? I expected him to pick up."
"Your father is in the loft. He's seeing if there's anything he can take to a boot sale."
"Oh…it's not that bad yet, is it?"
"Well it certainly isn't easy, Rebecca, but we'll manage."
"Mum…I'm so sorry."
"I should hope so, but that isn't going to help Jennifer very much, is it?"
"Mum! Why do you have to be so cruel to me? I made a mistake!"
"Yes, you did, and Jennifer is paying for it! She doesn't have a mother, and her father is goodness-knows-where! Do you ever think about that?"
"Of course I think about Jenny! I can't stop thinking about her! Thinking about her is the only thing that…keeps me going."
"Mum? Are you still there?"
"Yes, I'm still here, Rebecca. Look…I'm sorry for shouting at you. Your father and I are under a lot of pressure. We were a bit too old when you were born and this isn't how we expected to spend our twilight years!"
"You're not that old yet, mum."
"That's beside the point! I feel it sometimes."
"Mum, how is Jenny today? Is she happy?"
"Yes, I believe so. She was singing songs from The Lion King with your father as they left this morning."
"Oh, bless her! I always loved that film, too…"
"I remember…Rebecca, Jenny has been…asking about you. Quite often now."
"What have you told her? What does she know?"
"Very little, but…your father thinks that it's time that she did, and…I agree."
"Okay…please don't make her hate me, mum. I couldn't bear it…"
"I doubt I could if I tried, Rebecca. That little girl adores you."
"That's so…nice to hear."
"It's the truth, Rebecca. I'll speak to Jennifer soon."
"Do you promise? Mum, please promise me!"
"I…promise."
"Thank you…I love you, mum."
"We'll speak again soon, Rebecca. Take care of yourself."
"Where's granddad gone, grandma?"
"Granddad is in his shed, my darling. He's building some lovely things out of wood just like he used to, and maybe he'll be able to sell something."
"Is granddad building another chair like the one in my room?"
"No, sweetheart, I think it's a table this time. I'm sure he will show you when it's done."
"Granddad is very clever, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is, my darling. Very clever, just like you!"
"My mummy is clever too, isn't she?"
"I…yes, she was. Very good in school, just like you, Jenny."
"I'll be good at school so my mummy can come home."
"That's…wonderful, my darling. Jennifer?"
"Yeah, grandma?"
"Would you…like to see your mum? If we can arrange it?"
"Has my mummy stopped being naughty now?"
"I hope so, my darling! She can't come home yet but she can have visitors now, and granddad and I wanted to know if you would like to see her. What do you think?"
"Do you think mummy misses me, grandma?"
"Oh of course she does, Jenny! She misses you very much!"
"I miss mummy, but she went away. Why did she leave me, grandma? If she was naughty you could have told her off and taken her toys away, like you do with me!"
"It's…different for grown-ups, my darling…we need to go to a different place, like a Naughty Step, but far away."
"Did mummy know I would miss her? I don't like missing her. I wish she would come home."
"I…yes, I think she would have known, but…but…"
"I would like to see mummy, grandma. May I see her? Please?"
"Yes, Jenny, of course you may. We can visit her soon, I'll need to sort a few things out first."
"But I want to see her now!"
"Don't raise your voice at me, young lady! You will have to wait for a little while first, and only if you are not so rude!"
"I'm sorry, grandma…"
"Hmm…Jenny, why don't you go and draw a nice picture to give to your mum when you see her? She would love that."
"Yeah! Good idea, grandma! I'll get my crayons!"
"Good girl…I…need to make a phone call…and speak with your granddad…"
"Grandma, why are you crying? Did I do something bad?"
"No, my darling…I've just got something in my eye."
You can find me on Twitter here @ADixonFiction
April 30, 2016 April 30, 2016 AJ.Dixon8 Comments
Here is my second post for today. Two down, one to go!
This prompt comes again from the very helpful Viki, and the word is "YURT". I have only heard this word a scant few times and always uttered by my slightly posh friends when they were indulging in the baffling practice of "glamping". So, armed with thoughts of double-beds in fields, I began writing. Thanks for the prompt, Viki!
Here's what I was able to come up with. I hope you enjoy it.
"Isn't this lovely, darling?" Jackie said, beaming as she spun round and round inside the yurt. "Look at the carpets, aren't they beautiful? Oh, and the fire-pit is amazing! Look at this bed, it's stunning and huge! This is better than I'd hoped!"
"But you saw all of this on the website," Peter said, amused. He was carrying their suitcase in one hand and a list of suggested items for their stay. It was a long list for a weekend, he thought.
"Yes, but now that I'm here, it all seems even more wonderful!" Jackie insisted, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. Their infant daughter, Lily, giggled as Jackie jostled her around. She had caught the infectious joy pouring out of her mother and was beaming up at her with her brown eyes wide with delight.
"Careful, my love," Peter warned gently. "You'll bring up Lily's breakfast if you're not careful! That'd be a terrible way to start this break!" Jackie laughed and stopped bouncing.
"Sorry, Lily, sweetheart!" Jackie nuzzled Lily's nose. "Mummy just got a bit over-excited about our lovely home for the next three days! Isn't it gorgeous?"
"Wassat?" Lily asked, gesturing around her with one of her pink hands. Her blond curls waved as she twisted in Jackie's grip.
"This, Lollipop, is a yurt," Jackie crooned, stroking Lily's hair. "It's a lovely big tent based on ancient Mongolian design, and it's for lovely families like us to have a relaxing, comfortable holiday!"
"It was your mother's idea, Lollipop," Peter grinned and tickled Lily's ear. "She wants to try out this "glamping" nonsense and so we're now essentially staying in a hotel room in the middle of a field!"
"Peter! That's not true!" Jackie said, a petulant look on her face. Peter had always found that expression beautiful on Jackie; the way her lips curled at the edges plumped them out almost seductively, and the way her small nose wrinkled made his heart soar. He chuckled and kissed Jackie's forehead, breathing in the flowery scent of her skin.
"I'm only teasing, love," he said winking at her. "The yurt is lovely, and the orchid outside is stunning. I can't wait to watch the sun set with my two favourite ladies." Jackie's face softened and her smile was dazzling.
"Oh, yes, that will be wonderful!" Her eagerness had returned in an instant. Lily mumbled and gestured towards the floor. Jackie obeyed and settled her onto the Persian-style carpet, the pattern of which seemed to captivate her. She sat tracing the pattern with her hand, gurgling happily and swinging her curls.
"This will be a fantastic trip, Jackie," Peter said, slipping his arm around Jackie's waist as they watched Lily play. Jackie leaned against him, laying her head on his chest and taking his hand. She played with his wedding ring absent-mindedly as they stood there. The yurt was spacious despite the large double bed in the centre and the cot alongside it. It was tastefully decorated in purples, maroons and yellows, with a luxurious chez-lounge on one side facing a small wood stove on the other. It looked cosy, comfortable and inviting.
"I wish mum could have seen this," Jackie said, half to herself. "She would have loved it…" Peter gave her hand a squeeze.
"I know, my love," he said, sighing into Jackie's hair. "But try not to think about that while we're here. She'll be well looked after, Susanna and Derek will be visiting her more often whilst we're away, too. She'll be fine."
"I know, I know," Jackie replied, closing her eyes. "I just can't help thinking that I shouldn't be enjoying myself whist she is in that dreadful place, that's all."
"It's hardly dreadful, Jackie," Peter chuckled. "The staff are very good and she never has any trouble with the other residents. But you need a break from it all, you know that. You already do too much for her, so do yourself a favour and focus on enjoying this break. Do we have a deal, Mrs DeWalt?" Jackie smiled and looked up at her husband.
"I suppose we do, Mr DeWalt," she laughed and offered her lips for a kiss. Peter obliged, and soon the small family were settled in to their new dwellings, happy and ready to enjoy themselves. They shelved their worries and concerns for the moment and embraced the world of "glamping".
A – Z Challenge Day 4
April 5, 2016 April 5, 2016 AJ.Dixon13 Comments
It's the fourth day of this April's blog challenge and my prompt comes once again from Kate. Her suggestion for 'D' is "DRAGOON".
This one was a bit of a head-scratcher, if I'm honest! I had a few ideas flit in and out of my mind as I pondered this word, but none of them seemed to want to stick around. Here is what did decide to cling on. I hope I did the word justice.
"Interesting thing about the Battle of Waterloo is that nobody's sure about what time it began," Albert said, gazing off into the distance, as he so often did when he was thinking. Debbie smiled and shook her head. She should have known that her granddad would start rattling off his impromptu history lessons as soon as they got going. Debbie was taking Albert to the theatre, and he looked very fine in his old grey suit. Albert had joked that evening that the grey "really brings out the white in my hair!" and Debbie had laughed and laughed. Shame about the silly tie, though, Debbie thought, casting a critical eye over the canary-yellow monstrosity. They were sat on a busy carriage on the Tube, and upon pulling out from Waterloo station Albert had begun his lesson.
"Is that so?" Debbie said as she settled into her seat. She loved to hear Albert talk about history; he did it so much better than any of her lecturers.
"Indeed it is, m'dear," Albert said, nodding slowly as he continued to stare at nothing in particular. "It was fought on 18th June 1815, a Sunday, if you're interested, in what's now Belgium. They know all that stuff, but no-one is exactly sure of the time the French attacked. You see, Wellington's dispatches say that ol' Napoleon marched at ten o'clock that morning, but others say it didn't start 'til half-past eleven. It's always bothered me that they never recorded somethin' so important to the history of it all."
"Do armies usually record the time battle begin, granddad?" Debbie asked.
"Oh yes!" Albert said eagerly, focusing his rheumy eyes on Debbie at last. "Each battle is a piece of history, m'dear! What good is it if history isn't properly recorded, eh?"
"I think more people are interested in the fighting itself, to be honest, granddad," Debbie replied, smoothing her blue dress and checking her cream handbag. She'd chosen the handbag because it had belonged to her grandmother. Albert laughed and slapped his knees, causing several nearby commuters to jump and gape at him in astonishment.
"Oh, I expect you're right about that, Debora!" he chuckled, winking at her. Debbie smiled; Albert was the only person who called her Debora. "I know that I always used to! I was always askin' my history teachers about the armies and the fightin' when I was just a lad! Earned me a canin' or two, it did, all 'cos I didn't want to hear about the politics! By the way, did I ever tell you that one of your ancestors was actually at Waterloo?" Debbie shook her head and leaned forwards, interested. A few of their ruffled fellow passengers glanced up too.
"Well, he was," Albert grinned proudly and adjusted his huge jam-jar glasses. "His name was Thomas, and he was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather. He was there that day two hundred years ago, facin' down Napoleon with his comrades. I looked him up a long time ago; he's mentioned in the records!" Albert's eyes glittered with infectious excitement.
"That's amazing!" Debbie said, returning his grin. "Was he a soldier then?"
"Yep," Albert nodded. "He was a dragoon, actually, one of those who fought on horseback. He must've been quite a good'un too, 'cos he was part of the King's First Dragoon Guards. Nice bit of family history there, m'dear!" Albert winked at Debbie, who gazed at him in wonder.
"Wow…" she breathed. "What did the King's Dragoons do? Were they important to the battle?"
"Oh yes, in their own way," Albert answered thoughtfully. "They were part a larger cavalry Brigade who were part of a huge charge against the French early that afternoon. They played their part, fightin' in various places through the day, but many of them died before the battle was over. Our ancestor, Thomas, included. He was killed by cannon-fire, accordin' to the records."
"Oh…" Debbie didn't know what to say. She felt a little sad and strangely proud of this hitherto unknown family member who had fought in a war that her generation cared so little about.
"Yes, it's a shame," Albert said, rubbing his nose with a liver-spotted hand. "But it doesn't stop me enjoyin' the story. Why, when my ol' grandfather told me that when I was a nipper, I'd spend hours out in the garden playin' at being a dragoon like Thomas." He smiled at the memory and laughed a little.
"I'd gallop round on my imaginary horse and pretend I was fightin' alongside Wellington all day long! I'd bully my younger brothers into bein' French infantry, and I'd ride them down and lay about them with a stick! I used to get such a wallop from my mum when I'd get too into it an' knock one of them over!" Albert broke off, laughing, and Debbie lent her own giggles to the sound. Some of the passengers nearby were smiling as they pretended not to be listening.
"That does sound like you, granddad!" Debbie said, laying a hand on his leg and giving it an affectionate squeeze. "I bet you'd have made a fine dragoon, too." She added with a smile. They travelled the rest of their journey in a happy silence, and their thoughts were filled with scenes from old battle and of a familiar-looking man galloping amongst it on a magnificent horse. Debbie imagined that he looked a bit like her granddad, and that he waved his sabre bravely as he galloped down the hill towards the French infantry as the cannons fired upon them. She promised herself that she would learn more about the Battle of Waterloo after that night was over. She would go to her university library and borrow some books on the subject and she and Albert would pore over them together. He'd love that, and she'd urge him to tell her all the other stories he knew about the Battle. She could hardly wait.


Broom Capricorn classic speedboat project. The hull is in good condition, no engine but comes with a Volvo Sterndrive, with trailer. Great winter project. This would make a stunning elegant speedboat some up well. Get in touch for more images, etc etc.