Foibles

Odd things.

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Why are we constantly changing things for them to merely stay the same? Will we never learn?

How to unwind

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Fear and Fiction: Britain 5 Years After The Coup

My latest flash fiction at Spillwords.com I’m horrified. I’m not the only one. We have to be scared for the first time in decades. Step out of line and they will try and finish you. They are after Letitia James, for doing her job by holding the President to account. And she is just the latest. For a full list visit wickersham’s conscience . And on this side of the Atlantic, Reform has declared…

Fear and Fiction: Britain 5 Years After The Coup

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I tested a new poem at the local literature group and the chair was scathing. He's a mate so I let it go. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the rules expect polite criticism.

Navigating Criticism: My Poem Experience

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Art and global warming

The rain man Rain clouds make rain colours oflitmus red dust bowl fumed by cyclic hydrocarbons.Diesel is pink for SUV and kerosine bred under milk woodtaking life’s last root from trees telling their death.Rain on Milk Wood, milk the irrational substance, water with a bitta fat or youpay more to have more taken before loading in your trolly. Milk in your tea - bovines sacred as the right to…

Art and global warming

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Science looks backwards to go forwards

Where are the missing kWh?They are at workSupplying the hidden heatTo our glaciersA melt at a time.And when the ice is doneAnd fresh water fills the seas,Flipping densitiesAnd halting the warming currents,Then we will careWhere the heat was hiding.Hiding the heat is in 'I heard the river laugh' Historians and philosophers are helping scientists come to terms with the future, which actually…

Science looks backwards to go forwards

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Books available by Clive

Here is a list of books, currently self-published using the Amazon platform. I know bookshops hate Amazon and the main book retailers are now gatekeeping Amazon generated ISBNs, which means I will have to move platforms, but that is a work in progress. I was one of the first Indie publishers embracing the digital possibilities, way back in 1990 and now have to accept I have to move on. Please…

Books available by Clive

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Santa has had enough.

Santa’s Chase Spillwords has published Desperate Santa flash fiction. https://spillwords.com/santas-chase/

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emotional mismatch

Have a purpose when you writeA child in Africa dies,Because the parched land Can no longer feed it.Mothers watch,While fathers flee the reality,Searching for food, They know isn’t there.A blocked motorwayCaused by a lefty wokeHanging from a gantry,Causes endless rage,But owns the proclamation, ‘Death is more convenient,Than delay.’ I heard the river laugh. Short pieces about our future. Take a…

emotional mismatch

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When every day is a holiday.

How do you celebrate holidays? It is tough when every day is a holiday. How do I remember how lucky I am and not take my good fortune for granted. After all, “familiarity breeds contempt”, is the wise saying. I start every day by asking, what needs to be done, not just for me, but for everyone around me. It’s all about people. Things don’t really matter, but get the people part of life’s…

When every day is a holiday.

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Storms sweep the world

It has been a terrible month, worldwide. Homes have been sewpt away or damaged beyond repair. Take a look at the future.

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Storms sweep the world

But SUV riders refuse to take responsibility. Take a look at the future. I Heard The River Laugh Short pieces to blow your complacency away.

Storms sweep the world

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Learning

Describe one habit that brings you joy. During covid I began polishing my French, which was my favourite subject 60 years ago, at school. Progress was disappointing and after 2 online courses that were OK, I discovered a new, artificial intelligence generated course, straight out of California. Firstly, I’m thrilled about the smart men and women who make it work and improve it weekly. Just…

Learning

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Honesty is best.

What traditions have you not kept that your parents had? My dad never told my mum how much he earned. This always created mistrust and friction. Why did he do it? All part of his power game. When he discovered I shared a bank account with my wife, he warned me of my folly. I told him I would never create the avoidable friction he did. A vicar told me he provided most marriage advice to…

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Learn to say 'no!'

What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being? Say it every time someone wants you to do something that they present, as being for your benefit, but actually is for theirs. Reject the unhealthy extra plate. Examples. The extra beer you don’t want to drink, or helping you don’t want to eat, or film that goes on too late. The Boss who has a high risk strategy but is setting…

Learn to say 'no!'

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Open All Night

Spillwords.com presents: Open All Night, flash fiction by Clive La Pensée, who started writing on the history of beer and became a world … Source: Open All Night

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Classical music defines western culture

What is your favorite genre of music? Four chords. Dot dot dot dash in morse code. The famous V for victory. An unprepossessing start to a piece of music, but 20 minutes later Beethoven has us in a defining moment in Western civilisation. It defined the revolutionary forces sweeping away the defunct aristocratic rulers. It defined the resistance to Nazis controlling Europe just over a…

Classical music defines western culture

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Laborare est orare

Words are my business, and then there is writers’ block. If nothing appears interesting and grabs my attention, how should it interest someone else.  Well, I had the block big time and then I walked down a street in Liverpool that has a Catholic Primary School – not uncommon in Liverpool – and there was the school bus parked up with the school motto on the side. Laborare est orare which means…

Laborare est orare