'What's it to be today, Sir?' 'Options?' 'Well, we have the usual of course: immigration outrage, racial injustice, free school meals for the poorest children...' 'Stop, stop, stop. Are you mad? All of those can be linked back to me. What else?' 'Ah, you want something a bit juicier, more conspiracy theory. How about the … Continue reading THE MINISTRY OF DISTRACTION
She could hear her mother's voice from the grave, 'Is it worth it?' The world tilts out of kilter. Sun sears her eyeballs. Cool tarmac against her face. Shards of broken green glass. A dent in a red metal bin. Memories of the night before. Anger and hatred. Standing firm. Too slow to run. Her … Continue reading THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
It should be something inspirational, something to make the piece soar, a fitting climax to the whole movement. He scratched his head, chewed the end of the pencil, let his fingers dance over a few keys until they ended in a terminal 'thunk'. It was no good. He just couldn't find the right expression of … Continue reading COMPOSITION
One last wistful look at the mist on the hillside before I go. A deep breath in, filling my lungs with the fresh air. It is quiet, only the birdsong breaks the silence. No one else is around this early in the morning. Others will come later for their turn. For me, that's it for … Continue reading ONE LAST WISTFUL LOOK
Gorodskoy Park in the sunshine. Not the most beautiful park. More concrete than greenery, but well-maintained. A series of paths connected by roundabouts. Along the wider walkways, freshly painted green benches, shaded by overhanging wispy branches. So what was I doing in this nondescript park in the middle of Minsk? Well, that is a longer … Continue reading GORODSKOY PARK
