Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.

On 25/07/201825/07/2018 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Fiction, Mars, Progress

As there's still nothing new to report re the WIP, and therefore no true progress on the book, I thought I’d continue along the lines of last week’s post. This time, I’m looking at the content; in particular, the inclusion of sex and nudity in my work. So, if you’re at all prudish, narrowminded, easily …

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A Guest Post on a Fascinating Website

On 31/12/201731/12/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Nature3 Comments

You can find the whole text, with accompanying pictures of my Year in the Forest of Dean by following this link. Enjoy!

A Taste of Village Life

On 07/08/201708/08/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Nature7 Comments

Monday; the weekend over, a new week starting. Here, in Lydbrook, we’d had a pretty busy few days and were missing our usual walks in the Forest of Dean. The sky, alternately threatening and promising, made us wonder about our best option. The village has two very good, and reasonably-priced, pubs that serve …

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Celebrating a Life Well-Lived

On 18/06/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Nature3 Comments

Monday, we travelled to Southampton for the funeral of a much-loved old lady. Aunt Vera, elder sister of my dad, Ken, fell and broke her hip. At the grand old age of 103, she was quite frail and failed to recover from the op to mend the break. She was a woman who enjoyed life, …

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A Sunday Walk in the Forest

On 02/04/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer, Nature4 Comments

A few days ago, Valerie and I took a ‘quick’ walk following a tough stint in the garden. No surprise that, as we walked one of the tracks we favour, we impulsively decided it was time to explore a faint track we’d noticed a few times previously. Track? It was more like a scramble up …

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At the End of a Long, Long Road.

On 06/02/2017 By stuartakenIn Creative Writer13 Comments

Far together have we travelled Trod road trail and path and track Up hill steep down dale deep Slipped on shale and shingle scree Marked deep mud with steps of purpose Wandered waters topped with stones Clambered rocks and limestone pavements Stepped up stiles and crossed fell walls Splashed in rock pools furrowed sands Followed …

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A Walk in the Autumn Forest

On 15/11/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature7 Comments

Let’s face it, the past few days, weeks and months have been pretty traumatic. In UK, the unresolved Brexit situation lingers. Devastating earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes, have caused destruction worldwide. And a new President Elect threatens changes of real consequence to more than just the USA. So it’s been a pretty torrid time. Hope’s depressed, …

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Returning to the Digital Drama

On 20/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, opinion, Procrastination4 Comments

On 20th September, I wrote a short piece titled ‘Denying Digital Demands’. This is the follow-up. If possible, once a year, I attempt a break from the demands of online life. Usually, it coincides with a holiday away from home. Breaking free from both the everyday and the unending demands of constant connection can refresh …

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A Sojourn on Samos.

On 18/10/201618/10/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Nature5 Comments

Nestling close to Turkey, so you feel you might swim the channel to the mainland, lies the Aegean island of Samos. If you dared that swim, though, you’d probably be swept into the wilder parts of the sea never to be seen: the undercurrents are very strong! Valerie and I hadn’t visited Samos and chose …

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How Soon Nature Retakes Expropriated Land!

On 10/05/201610/05/2016 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature11 Comments

Yesterday was my birthday (68, for those who care) and Valerie and I had planned a visit to a local feature I’ve wanted to photograph for a while. The weather, however, had different plans. The morning forecast was pretty dire, with predicted heavy rain and the possibility of thunderstorms. Not ideal weather for the 9-mile …

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