Category Archives: Published Work

Passed the old school just now.  Gotta say my artwork’s still lookin’ good. I signed it Baz Woz Ere! I’m not Baz.  That’s my mate.  Landed him a heap of trouble, that. My talent paid off though.  Got me sharp … Continue reading →

Promise us, our men said on leaving, that if… when they arrive, you will kill yourselves before they have you. We promised; we’d heard the rumours. With little to do but wait, we huddled for warmth, and speculated on alternatives. … Continue reading →

It’s a habit, cooking for two, even though you’re long gone, Edward. But now my neighbour is sitting in your chair, waistband undone, buttons agape on his shirt, tenderly rubbing his socked toes against each other in an act of … Continue reading →

Clouds shift lazily, allowing the full moon to bathe the ruins in silver. The two prostrate figures in the arena below me haven’t moved in almost an hour; I think it may be over. I could scramble down to check, … Continue reading →

Until the will was read, I didn’t even know we owned a cottage in the Cotswolds. Clearly the solicitor did; he had, as my son would say, a face like a slapped arse. “He…  errr… several years ago…  a tax … Continue reading →

On reflection, two glasses would have sufficed. That warm, conspiratorial, matey feeling quickly turns to foolishness, the effortless shedding of confidences like confetti whilst you’re helplessly aware that you should stop… leave.  Now. As the fourth glass skims your dulled … Continue reading →

I confronted him with the book, of course. Or what remained of it. “Because you’re not available to me when you’re reading…” he said. I was incensed. So every night I woke him at 2am.  “Because you’re not available to … Continue reading →

The late afternoon thunderheads erupt suddenly, sweeping the storm quickly across the Highveld, its progress heralded by the pungent aroma of newly-dampened dust. A bakkie pulls alongside her stationary car, the driver shouting over the crackling skies and torrential rain. … Continue reading →

3030, 3031, 3032…right, that’s the green tiles counted, now for the yellow. Janice is feeling uncomfortable.  People are staring, guessing she’s been stood up.  What if he’s already turned up, bolted when he saw me.  Maybe I went overboard with … Continue reading →

“How are things at home?” he says, running a finger round the rim of his coffee cup. I stare through the condensation on the café window. “OK… same old.” What does he expect me to say?  I’m trying not to … Continue reading →