It might form an entry into such a competition without requiring the author to undertake any new or extra work (apart from completion and maybe re-editing?)…

Rthhyfl raised her gthydf towards the uyhts. "I have journeyed a thousand thyopters from Rtyjhgsdt to bring the Gthydf of Tyibfdfa to the peoples of Huibgsjhg," she proclaimed. "I hope it will help with the evolution of your…

The Royal Society of NZ Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing, supported by the NZ Listener and Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria. There's an ad for it in the…

Bet you a beer it isn't.

I'm with Emma on that.

I'm going to run the idea past my usual 'brains trust' of David Slack, Emma Hart, and Creon Upton and see what they think. But, having said all that, my concept is probably crap.

Bet you a beer it isn't.

and see what they think

Even without seeing the numbers I like the sound of it.

Stephanie wrote:

Does this mean we can look forward to another story where you WERE the person who was stabbed?

It's a story that I'd rather forget — but, yes, it…

I wish I could report that the stabbing victim married the wife of the new neighbour; but alas, their relationship — although very intimate — did not survive the court case.

Ah, so this was a crime passionnel . I trust the stabber received a suitably light sentence?

The universe may well have run out of energy (or 'exergy', to be technically correct) by the time I finish.

Is exergy just a form of special pleading? The uinverse might evolve thermodynamically in a way that doesn't suite us but what about all that dark matter – it might…

Does this mean we can look forward to another story where you WERE the person who was stabbed? You've raised our expectations now!

Both the stabbee and the stabber. I've an inkling this might be doable.

(I enjoyed your story....)

:-)

http://www.bnz.co.nz/About_Us/1,,3-34-482,00.html

__REPLY: Thanks for the pointer, Ian! I am aware of the KM awards (I'm even a fan of KM herself, as well as a number of the previous winners). What I was trying to say is that I suspect my unsophisticated prose style…

Have you considered entering the Katherine Mansfield short story Competition. You should!

Thanks for the flattering comments, Ian... No

I think she's dead so YMMV with that idea anyway.

Is your uncle visiting soon..? I've the feeling that this is a story that would work regardless of you knowing how it went...

Sorry Tim, I should clarify: my uncle's version of the story was only performed around the dinner table — not in his professional capacity…

Thanks, David, a good laugh (except for the stabee, of course).

fantastic piece of writing...I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall if your grandfather ever met Gerry's older brother Larry...

__REPLY: Thanks for the kind words, Jill. There is actually a 'printer version' button (marked…

A masterful piece of writing – thank you!

Thanks for the kind words, people. You've certainly given me something to think about. I'm currently working (with glacial speed) on a book about energy — but frankly, it's pretty boring, even to me. The universe may well have run out of energy (or 'exergy', to…

Er, sorry, that was a bit serious. I hope young Bob gets to read the bit about your screaming in times to come.

Are you going to publish your stories? You should do.

From your comment I can tell you're not a publisher, James! No, I hadn't thought of putting them in book form, although it strikes me as not a bad idea — in fact, I would be quite…

As early as 1926 he had developed the habit of shouting "get a proper job" at policemen who happened to cross his field of vision. His latest crusade was the abolition of central government. He had already written an impassioned letter on this…

query: your grandfather *really* chose to read Orwell's Homage to Catalonia to six-week-old you?

Although present, I have no personal recollection of the incident myself. The story has been told and re-told so many times that I don't think I would swear to the minor details (although the…

For one who was (a) six weeks old and (b) asleep, you have a phenomenal and detailed memory of the event. Your mother was absolutely right in her theory that reading to a sleeping child aids its mental development.

Are you going to publish your stories? You should do.…

genius.

(But, query: your grandfather *really* chose to read Orwell's Homage to Catalonia to six-week-old you? Because if that's true, it might be the most hilarious thing... well, ever.)