Author: Thomas Kelly

Ryan had started to sleep badly again that week and was awake. Through the curtains, a grey light pushed through, and even though it was June, he knew it was early. He glanced over at the side table and hoped his phone would ring. Anyway what time was it, two, three? He wasn’t sure, but…

The exercise was to take a passage from a favourite novel and write the next part. I chose Decline and Fall, written in 1928. Decline and Fall: by Evelyn Waugh 1928 ‘Sent down for indecent behaviour, eh?’ said Mr Levy, of Church and Gargoyle, scholastic agents. ‘Well, I don’t think we’ll say anything about that.…

I was asked to write in exactly 100 words about a current topic for a competition. I have added a photograph for good effect as well! What is it about the concept of offshore? Is it those bent palm trees, beaches with unnatural blue waters and jet-skis that skate across the waves? Is it the…

We were drawn by numbers to the line A firing squad in all but name. So in the early morning light, we had dressed And our deeds were blessed As we marched to take our place in the row, Ordained by others to deal the final blow Of sharpened lead that would rise from our…

Between the trees, we weave a path to the field; bracken brown and sodden. It is dead of night and the busy moles whisper under our feet. The moon, like a soldier with a lantern, keeps the midnight watch And small creatures who own the darkened land worry along their way.   On the far…

In my creative writing course in Winchester, we were asked to take a familiar story and change it to show another ending or time period. I have always enjoyed Albert and the Lion, especially when spoken by Stanley Holloway. So, this too has to be read in a ‘Northern’ accent! The Lion and Albert (With…

At 13 I was sent to Bedford School. It had been established in 1552 and was one of the four under the Harper Trust. I had been at Manor House for my prep school and I needed to pass Common Entrance for public school. I duly passed although just I recall and entered this austere…

A letter from Nassau in August 2016 This is a story about people in The Bahamas or the 32 ‘family’ Islands and almost 800 uninhabited sand bars or Cays. Sheikh Abdullah bin Al Nahyan arrived today on his yacht Pelorus from Las Palmas, he is not from Spain of course but as Foreign Minister of…

Saigon May 2016     The Saigon River is silted, heavy and dark. It pushes south, dragging dreams to the South China Seas. And from my window, the evening light is broken apart By bats that whistle and dart towards the trees.   The millions of scooters have woven their route home now And like…

Dining with Royalty can be awkward. Not that I have too much experience, but I certainly have some memories and these reflections. Whatever they might be or try to be, the Royals are different and very cautious. They occasionally allow us to peek under their bonnets. I had been asked to try and get to know…