"Have a good day!" |
"Step" ... "Jump" |
"Hop on one leg" |
...and into the sunset |
"Have a good day!" |
"Step" ... "Jump" |
"Hop on one leg" |
...and into the sunset |
I think I remember a line from The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor, "Things can go wrong in an empty house." Also in a seemingly empty hotel and arguably an empty relationship, perhaps. Intrigued? Read our Story of the Month for May by Cath Barton to find out what happened. (Ed.)
The Willesden Herald Story of the Month
May 2024: At the Hotel Swinburne by Cath Barton
When we returned to our room after breakfast on the fourth day of our holiday, Arnold told me he didn’t like the mirrors in the hotel.
‘Really? We can cover that up if it bothers you,’ I said, pointing at the full-length one opposite the end of our bed. ‘I suppose some people get a kick out of looking at themselves performing.’
‘For goodness sake, Marie,’ he said.
Cath Barton is an English writer who lives in Abergavenny. Her novella The Plankton Collector won the New Welsh Writing AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella in 2017, was published by New Welsh Review the following year, and is due to be republished by Parthian Press later in 2024. Subsequent publications are In the Sweep of the Bay (2020, Louise Walters Books), Between the Virgin and the Sea (2023, Novella Express, Leamington Books) and The Geography of the Heart (2023, Arroyo Seco Press). Her most recent publication is a pamphlet of short stories, Mr Bosch and His Owls (2024, Atomic Bohemian).Cath Barton
This is a story that will linger in your mind and make you think about people past, present and future. They are out there. Ed.
The Willesden Herald Story of the Month
April 2024: April 2024: “With Every Choice Something is Lost” by Mike Fox
“She was there most days, though it took me a while to realise. Still and unobtrusive, I began to notice her small figure, always in a white blouse part-concealed by a faded grey mac, standing in what seemed to be contemplation. Before long, as I passed through the churchyard, I found myself looking in the hope of seeing her.”
Mike Fox |
Bookmovie from Fonoteca de Poesia - Stephen Moran
I love a story where you have to ask yourself "What is happening here?" And by the end you think you might know. (Ed.)
The Willesden Herald Story of the Month
March 2024: Outlaws by Neil Brosnan
It’s bizarre; four women travelling together and not a single word being exchanged between us. It’s not as if we’re not all acquainted: his sister is driving, my sister is the front-seat passenger, and the driver’s daughter is sitting beside me in the back – doing something on her iPhone.
Neil Brosnan |
"NHS Health Review - Make Every Contact Count Worried about your health? Come and talk to us." |
"NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Service Walk-in vaccines available here today ..." |
Two parking spaces have been reserved for the mobile NHS vaccine van, seen here. Greenford Road, North Greenford, next to Sudbury Hill station, outside Iceland supermarket. |
For February we have a story that touches on respect for local history and traditions and aspects of behaviour at home and abroad and people who are wonderful. So for once I have nothing funny to say in this intro. But I can assure you that it has nothing to do with interior design. (Ed.)
The Willesden Herald Story of the Month
February 2024: "My Yellow" by Amanda Huggins
... Avril shakes her head. ‘I understand the thinking behind it – I know they don’t want Davy to be frightened of the sea – but sending the young bairn out there in this weather isn’t quite the same thing as getting back on a horse after being thrown. And the clothes? He’ll catch his own death dressed like that.’
I turn away from her for a moment, clenching and unclenching my fists as I try to hide my irritation. ...
Amanda Huggins |
She has won several awards, including the Kyoto City Mayoral Prize, the Colm TóibÃn Short Story Award, the BGTW New Travel Writer of the Year, and three Saboteur Awards. She has also placed in the Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Com-petition, the Costa Short Story Award and the Fish Short Story Prize, and been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize.
Three shop window mannequins dressed somewhat bizarrely |
Wider view of TRAID shopfront |
Visit TRAID Shepherd's Bush for more details and how to donate or arrange a collection.
Monday afternoon |