It does happen, Cathy. When you work in the voluntary sector you realise how far a little input can go. Otherwise its 5k here and there, caveats, and match funding. When I was working at Age UK, a donor came in and saved two day centres anonymously. I wondered if it was Alan Bennett.
My immediate thought would be who could I help, which is why I'm poor, with the soul of a voluntary sector worker.
Wonderful, thank you.
'More like an ancestor than a parent.' T.S. Eliot's description of his father.
Thanks for reading, Eleanor. She was a complex person and very subtle painter. I first came across her art 20+ yrs ago at a joint exhibition of her and Augustus. She's become better known since. Such silence in her paintings, and I loved that she allowed herself to return to a theme over and over.
Thanks, Nick, will do.
It was odd, because it came out of the blue. They knew me and knew my writing and had invited me to submit. The stories in question had been published elsewhere and in some instances nominated. I've heard of this elsewhere, and wonder if it's sometimes a response to the stress of publishing.
Thanks, Matt. In a funny way it's easier when it's so blatant. I simply thought the person was wrong.
My pleasure, Annalisa, thank you.
Everyone will empathise, Matt. 'drearily repetitive, in tone, rhythm, mood'. An editors comment on a selection of my stories, one of them the title story of my forthcoming collection.
Exquisitely done, thank you.
Thanks, Cathy. Mum said if she'd known it was him she wouldn't have been able to sing.
Frabjous birthday surprise from my wife! Back in the dark mists of time my mum auditioned to be a soloist in the Morley College Choir. The tiny man in specs and a raincoat, sitting anonymously at the back, transpired to be Gustav Holst. He approved her voice.
Is Heimat available to order please?
Toddling along, I'm glad to say...
I enjoyed your essay enormously, thank you. I've looked at the middle self-portrait many times, but hadn't noticed the tiny asymmetries. Such a subtle painter.
Terrific, Tom.
It's a great line, Kieran. Showed the mother in a slightly different light, I thought. I wonder where you're sending your stories - they're surely of publishable standard. Having said that, submission can be such a lottery.
'You stop being the picture, you become the picture frame, Mum said. Do you know what you want?' @kieranstories.bsky.social has an involving way of introducing a story to the reader. Something happens, or is said, it's intriguing, rarely explicit, and immediately there's momentum. Loved this one.
'If you don’t know the art of Gwen John and your mind is open to her subtle talent, the National Museum’s exhibition, 'Gwen John: strange beauties', will be a revelation. If you do, it will still be a revelation.' gwallter.com/art/gwen-aga...
Thank you, I very much hope to go. In case it's of interest @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social have kindly just published this story of mine: thelonelycrowd.org/2026/03/06/s...
Thanks so much, Eleanor. I find her life so intriguing, not to mention her gorgeous, quiet paintings. Close up they seem to emanate silence.
Just a tiny one - lovely to be in such an eclectic literary journal.
Oh thank you - it's helpful to have a way in.
Fascinating insights, Caroline. I've only just started it, but am intrigued. I did try his fiction, but it seemed to me he was hell-bent on not actually telling a story. The friend I mentioned who knew him, and who wouldn't balk at Ullyses, described Murnane an 'obscurist'.
Thanks so much for this, Kieran - I do appreciate it. If you would like to know more I'd recommend the Sue Roe or Alicia Foster biographies, which are much in agreement. And yes, what a wonder is The Lonely Crowd...
That's interesting. I only came across her in 2005, at a joint exhibition with AJ. I wanted to see his portrait of Dylan Thomas, which wasn't there. There was so much stillness and silence in her paintings, and I loved it that she gave herself permission to keep refining a theme.
Oh how heartening, and thanks for reading it, Anne. I thought both the Alicia Foster and Sue Roe bios were terrific, and seemed much in agreement. There's a very touching portrait in Augustus's biography, if you haven't come across it.
Very honoured that my Gwen John story, A More Interior Life, appears today as @thelonelycrowd.bsky.social Story of the Month. A favourite, this one. Am hoping to get to her current exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff.
Just finished this fine collection by @grahammort.bsky.social. Spacious, involving storytelling, but with great momentum - every detail takes the narrative forward. I always read for pleasure, but you can't help but learn from writing like this.
