The Portrait Of A Lady*

A Ginuary triumph: The Portrait of A Pink Lady:   He looks even better in a photo with this person, my new Triceratops Chanukiah:   You can see them together in the attached photo. Am sitting in the bath, removing my pink micropore from my scars. Seeing an infected corner, with a stitch still in there, […]

High Fidelity*

“Do you know what this is, my lovely?” Seb says, gesturing at the television. “Ummmm,” I say.  There’s Vanessa Redgrave and Emma Thompson clad in Edwardian gear: long skirts, velvet hats, high-necked blouses.  It’s a period film but am not sure what. “It’s Howards End,” Seb says, sounding cheerful.  “This is the film that made […]

The Silence Of The Rain*

Seb has left, taking the sunshine with him. Now the sky is grey, with heavy rain. At the bus stop this morning, all the other girls were wearing tights and boots already. Am resisting winter clothes for as long as possible. Due to the hot flushes, I break out in sweat often. So, even as […]

Into The Land Of The Unicorns*

If only my parentals could see the oncologist  and breast surgeon without me, I think as I walk in the sunshine at lunchtime.   Am anxious about the scan results.  At least the appointment is at 1.30pm so won’t have to spend the whole day worrying about it.  Passing a shop, I spot this little unicorn in the window.  […]

Crash*

“Wow, Tanya, you made it,” Jenny says as she opens the door.  She seems pleased to see me: wrapping her arms round me she says  “So this is my flat.” Taking in the room with a panoramic gaze, I see baking trays laden with my favourite foods: carrots, houmous**, cucumber, apple slices.  Yum.  And some of my best […]

How’s The Pain?

Current Physical Complaints: 1. Upper back pain – probably from sitting at office computer for two solid days: there’s a reason why I don’t go to work too often. 2. Headache – presumably from staring at screen for two days. See above. 3. Aching in thighs – from working legs in training, therefore good pain […]

In Bruges

Have a Date tonight: first one for a couple of weeks. Am nervous as he looks absolutely gorgeous in his photos. He’s half-Belgian/half-Danish: lots of shaggy brown hair, great cheekbones, wide mouth with naughty grin, hazel eyes. He’s not a Bright Young Thing either: this one is forty. A man of Experience. Works in telecoms […]

Pond Life

I’m in a concert hall with a couple of my schoolfriends. There’s a huge pond in the middle of the auditorium chocked with pondweed and green with algae. There are huge koi and pike swimming in the murky depths of the pond. As I’m bending over to look at the fish, the softie falls out […]

Scar Tissue

“What’s that?” Suzie says, pointing at my chest. Looking down, I see that my softie has worked its way out of my bra and is about to dive into my supper. “Ah, it’s my fabric pretend boob,” I say, pushing it back inside my bra. It had better not do that on my second date […]

Regeneration

This morning, waking up in my own bed in the parental home, everything seems much better. There is an orange fluffy cheek rubbing against mine – my kitten has come to wake me up. “Good morning furry monster,” I say, stroking his soft head. “Meow,” he says, arching his back, his tail a question mark […]