I’m off to a festival! It’s the first time that I’ve been let loose for a while so I decide to splash out on a taxi to get to the racecourse. Unfortunately, I’ve got Doncaster mixed up with Dorchester, and I’m at the latter where they’ve never held such an event. I’ve hired an Uber but I’ve gone for the cheapest option not realising that there’s no decimal in the quoted fare, and he’s actually taking me down south. After dozing off in the back of the cab, we near our destination and I tell the driver that the event’s at the main grandstand. Unfortunately, he decides to take a shortcut across the track where a wedding fare is taking place. We drive through marquee after marquee, ripping canvas out of the ground as we pass through a corridor of white and crash table after table full of cakes and gifts.
Thursday, 16 April 2026
Friday, 10 April 2026
The Quiz Goblin Rides Tonight
You wouldn’t expect a goblin to be in the centre of Birmingham. It could be someone who just has pointy ears with lot of earrings and wears leather. Does he go round from venue to venue asking questions in an evil voice? Does he punish people if they get the answer wrong? Perhaps he’ll keep asking question after question and won’t let people leave the pub. The landlord isn’t going to argue as people are just going to keep buying supplies from him. Maybe the goblin himself has to buy supplies. I wonder what he’s riding. Is it a motorbike, or perhaps he has a fancy glider to get around like in Spiderman films. Perhaps it’s a warning to stay out of his way. When he does get out and he can’t host any more, he likes to explore the coffee shops to search for victims to answer his questions.
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Tinted
Is the fireplace trying to mimic the TV or vice versa? I
think the fireplace is winning. All the TV has managed is an orange glint in
the corner. The fireplace could be a TV screen displaying a fireplace. Even my
shirt is trying to join in with bits of orange displayed. Maybe it’s going to
combust into flames. The golden clock has begun to glow. Is it the cause of all
this? Maybe it will melt. The picture in the mirror has also caught the bug. The
carpet has started to glow white and will set fire at any moment. Flames are
creeping up behind the TV and around the curtains, or at the very least, it’s
smoke. And I wouldn’t be surprised if something shot out of the bin. Outside,
the flames are starting to lap the window. And all we can do is carry on. Maybe
there’s no escape.
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
-Aristotle Onassis.
I’ve been sitting in the dark for too long getting distracted. I’m not focusing. Instead I’m avoiding things. I don’t want to give up, but it’s easier not to do nothing. But nothing happens and I don’t go anywhere or do anything new. I’ve got to try. With a little bit of effort, things become easier. And if others can see you trying, they’ll pitch in too. You need to be very careful of how you manage your time, as it might not always be yours to waste. You need to be doing something, even if it’s the wrong thing, to demonstrate how important things are to you. You need to keep going. You might need to rest occasionally. At other times, you need to go all out otherwise you’ll feel that you’re sinking into a hole and you’ll never achieve your objectives. You must find a way to fight.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
A few moments earlier...
Monday, 6 April 2026
The Advance #vampress 26
For a moment, she considered an outsider who could provide an honest opinion with the willingness to get the job done to earn some cash. She’d later betray them by taking them into the fold to avoid paying, but she’d have to make sure that others would not come looking. People who had visited before would surely note that the topography had changed, but inviting new people from further afield would also attract attention. Perhaps someone young who would be keen to move to make a good impression and create a reputation? Perfect. She would send her subordinates to the cities to see what they could find. She couldn’t demean herself to a lower life form, but she would have to bestow intelligence upon someone, and provide him with some protection as well. Perhaps there was a way of transporting herself further inland by slowly integrating her minions into another community.
Sunday, 5 April 2026
Sharp Scratch
Saturday, 4 April 2026
GDK
It’s as if McDonald’s started to do kebabs. I opt to download the app where I can get my food made before I arrive and I’m instantly treated to a discount kebab but I can’t get my voucher to work. It’s not entirely clear if you’ve selected any options via a dial at the bottom. The fries look interesting so I go large so as not to miss out on anything, but the drink option is a bit basic. It’s just a can of pop. And despite using an Apple device to create an account, I can’t see a way to pay with Apple Pay. I’ve been given an estimate collection time but no instructions on what to do when I get there. I can see a kitchen with a bag on the counter with my name on it. Do I just grab it and go or do I need to check in with someone? Two days later and I’ve still got the taste of onions in my mouth.
Friday, 3 April 2026
Got Your Nose
Thursday, 2 April 2026
Yak Yak
This could be a long one. I hope they’re still going, and I’m expecting to have a list of games that are good with words. I’ve no idea what any of them are. I doubt that I’ll be chased by yaks, though that’ll be interesting if that does happen. I like the concept of saying it to play it, though it should have recognised that I haven’t played before. I’m presented with a list of jazzy theme tunes including celebrities or Deal or no Deal. I thought that it was Voice of the Dead but it turns out that it was of the day. I recognised the voice and got it right on the first go. I now rank about 1 in 189,000-something, and I can come back tomorrow to improve my leaderboard. Until then, I’ve got another game to choose. I’ve actually played the others that it’s suggested before. The next batch of games involves a subscription which I deny, before heading onto a quiz.
