WHO IS THIS GUY CALLED ARIEL?

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Friday, April 14, 2006

HAPPY EASTER! AND THE STRANGE, STRANGE WORLD OF SPAIN, PART THREE

Once more, I thank those nice folks who've left comments on my blog. You know who you are. In my last piece – which, I think was posted about a week after the last dinosaur popped its little clogs – I cited a few humorous examples of the quirks and the vagaries of life in Spain. Well, I think they were mildly amusing, even if you didn’t, so there. And, let’s face it, as the cliché has it, life just don’t come more quirky and vagarious that it does in Spain. Yeah, I know there ain’t no such word... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

THE STRANGE, STRANGE WORLD OF SPAIN. PART TWO

To the expatriate British or northern European resident in Spain, it seems as if laws, rules and regulations are a. made on the hoof, and b. administered ( or not ) entirely at the whim of those whose duty it is to enforce them. Well, hell! Let’s not beat about the bush here: they are! What it comes down to, really is an attitude of “ Well, you can do what you like, only just don’t let me catch you doing it! ‘cos if I do, you’ll be for the high jump, as you English say, señor Ariel! ” I suppose... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

THE STRANGE, STRANGE WORLD OF SPAIN

I have remarked here, and elsewhere, how much of a parallel universe is Spain; one in which foreigners from more rational lands, often feel that they’re diagonally parked. I’ve also mentioned ( yeah, yeah, probably ad nauseam )how much Lady Ariela and I just love the laid-back, mañana-will-do Spanish attitude to life, love, the universe and everything. We’ve got used to, and have come to accept with relative equanimity the Spanish attitude to time, to the keeping ( or more often not ) of... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

A CHANGE OF BLOGGING DIRECTION ... AND "SUSAN " PART FIVE

This is the last part of “ Susan ”, and as it seems that fiction gets short shrift in Blogit, it’ll quite likely be the last story that I shall post. Unless I’m besieged by people begging me to continue, that is. Dream on. Which is not to say that my blog’s ever likely to be graced with such headlines as “ WHY HAVEN’T WE BOILED THIS BLOGGER IN OIL???” or “ IS THIS BLOGER A NOSFERATU??? ” or “ NAKED, I DIDN’T HAVE TO CALL THIS BLOGGER SIR!!!” ( Or ‘Madam’, as appropriate. ) See, I reckon that... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, March 9, 2006

THERE AIN'T MANY PEOPLE READIN' ME ANY MORE! AND " SUSAN" PART FOUR

They sat in a now comfortable silence for a while, then Susan said, “ Since it happened to me, I’ve just …” she shrugged “ sort of closed up inside myself, you know? Like you’ve just said that your Emily did.” She looked startled, and gasped “ What? Me? “ as Julian said, “ But you won’t die, Susan. You’re strong, I can see that, and you’ll go on, and get your life back. You have to, otherwise he’s … that man, he’s won, hasn’t he? He would still be controlling you, wouldn’t he? And you can’t, you... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

"SUSAN", PART THREE

His voice gruff, the man said, “ Look, I’ve brought some coffee with me, would you like some?” Wiping the back of her hand over her eyes, Susan said “ Yes, that would be nice. Thank you” “ Oh, by the way, I’m Julian.” “ I’m Susan.” His hand was warm and firm around hers, and she felt hers hold it tightly for a few seconds, as if grasping a lifebelt in a stormy ocean, this innocent, asexual touch warming her even more. Then, highly embarrassed, she hastily released his hand, and stroked the dog.... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, March 5, 2006

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND SUPPORT .... AND " SUSAN" PART 2

Susan became vaguely aware of someone halting, then sitting down on a bench diagonally opposite to her; an elderly man, probably in his mid to late seventies, neatly dressed in a tweed jacket and tan trousers, his bearing vaguely military. Putting down his bag, he patted the black Labrador’s head, and it lay down, its gaze fixed on Susan, its tail wagging slowly. Unfolding a broadsheet newspaper, he began to read it, absently fondling the dog, and Susan looked away from him, feeling that... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, March 3, 2006

ARIEL'S STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN', FOLKS. JUST...... AND " SUSAN" PART ONE

Susan’s hands shook so badly that she could hardly lock the car, and she leant on the roof, trembling uncontrollably. She felt a weird sensation of being at once light and heavy- headed, her senses swimming as if she were about to faint and at the same time a dull pounding in her skull that felt like the beginning of a headache. A woman passing by, and seeing Susan’s panting, gave her a peculiar look, then smiled in sisterly encouragement, possibly thinking that she was pregnant and practicing... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

SPRINGTIME IN ANDALUCIA ( THE FIRST BIT )

I’m gradually getting back into my stride after my medical dramas over Christmas, and I hope to post more about Andalucia tomorrow. However, we shall see. Once more, I thank you all for your support, your friendship and your affection. We have had rain: but far from the normal amount, and the water-table is perilously low. There is water in the now long-since disused well at the bottom of our land, but the arroyo that runs alongside it remains dry; as it has been for the last four years or so.... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

BABY LOVE, NEW LOVE, OLD LOVE, LOVE FOUND, LOVE LOST. A POETIC BOUQUET

To all my Blogit friends, a happy Valentine's Day! ENDLESS NIGHT All was done, the last word said, and I stood in my window, and I watched you go. You paused at the corner, in a wash of light from a street lamp. Your hair was gold, and your coat a red flame in the night. You looked up once; your face a pale blur, through rain streaked glass. It seemed to me that your eyes met mine, in a final glance. I clung to the moment, Winter filling my soul. You turned then and you walked away. I felt my... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, February 10, 2006

A LITTLE SLICE OF ARIEL'S SPANISH LIFE

I often wish that I were a painter, instead of a writer: given the talent of, say, a Velasquez – or better still a Goya – I might be able to capture the extraordinary sights that I see around me every day. There is an oddly surrealistic quality to living in the Spanish campo that I’m sure most of those extranjeros who live in their British-only ghettoes down there on the costas never experience. In Britain there is an almost total severance from the past, which is more than the result of history... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, February 2, 2006

ANOTHER BIT OF, WELL .... ARIEL'S STUFF

FLOWER GIRL He was heart flutteringly handsome, and when he came into her florist shop – which was almost every day – he was very shy and seeming nervous in her presence. Every time he came in he said “ One rose please”, and it was usually red, but sometimes white, and she always put a small spray of fern with it, in a pretty new foil and clear plastic sleeve. His hand would tremble as he took his rose from her, and she would watch him leave her shop, wondering who he bought those single roses... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

REUNION PART 5

Julia said, What is your job, Naomi?” “ I’m a ‘cellist.” Naomi named the orchestra in which she played, and Julia said “ Ah! How wonderful! Bravo you!” The, gazing at Naomi’s hand, she said “ I see you are not married, dear. Do you have a boyfriend?” “ No I don’t. Nobody steady I mean.” “ Oh my dear, how sad! You are so pretty you know. You mustn’t wrap yourself up in your career at the expense of having fun. That is what I did... after it happened: after you were born. I threw myself into my... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Naomi wanted to reach out and touch her mother: to put her arms around her and hold her. Wanted to do anything to soothe her hurt. But the wall of reserve and constraint between them had not yet been fully breached, and she sat motionless, gazing at Julia. But despite her sympathy she thought “ I couldn’t have done that. I would never, never give up my baby: no matter what. Never!” But she was ashamed of having such thoughts, for this was not the time for facile, harsh judgements. It was a time... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

A BELATED PART 3 OF " REUNION" AND A THANK YOU

The road to ruin is paved with good intentions, they say, and when I posted part 2 of this story, I promised, Deo voluntatis – God willing – to post part 3 on the following day. Well, apparently Deo wasn’t voluntatis, ‘cos I’ve been having a pretty rough ride, what with one thing and another, and have barely looked at Blogit. However, my loyal friends, despite it sometimes appearing that every silver lining has a dirty great black cloud attached, some good has come out of the bad. See, parts 1... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

A LITTLE BIT OF ARIEL'S WHIMSY. " BLOGGERS "

Not havin' such a good day today, so I offer a little repost, which I don't think many of you will have read. I hope it tickles your fancy, and reaches the spots that other poetry doesn't! Sorry about the demented type. Sort of fits, tho' don't it? LOL What manner of being are these? from what clay were they made?; For sure not that of you and I! What kind of creature are they, to do what they do, they do? For they do it all the time! These bloggers! What god or devil made their minds? Not He... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, January 23, 2006

THE SECOND PART OF " REUNION". ( WHICH ISN'T A REPOST. )

I've been feeling quite a lot better today, so I'm wondering if I dare wonder that things are getting back to normal. Fingers and toes crossed. Thank you all for your nice comments, your friendship and your continuing support. hasta luego! REUNION Naomi was hurt that her father was not present at this reunion, and she felt mixed emotions engulf her, when Julia said “ I am afraid that I can’t tell you where Nigel – your father – is, Naomi, because I haven’t seen him since before you were born.” “... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

SOME MORE OF ARIEL'S STUFF

Tired. Tired. Tired. I can’t believe how tired I am! It’s now 5.51 p.m. here in Spain, and I’ve just got up to post the first part of this story. ‘cos I was falling asleep in my chair, and I thought that if I didn’t do it right now, I’d never get around to it. Yep, lethargy rules okay in Casa Ariel, and I guess that what I had took a lot out of me. Still, I might cheer myself up by watching “ Night Of The Living Dead ” on DVD later on; tell myself how lucky I am, see? Anyway, hope springs... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, January 20, 2006

A LITTLE UPDATE

Had a bit of a shock today; Lady Ariela and I went in to the doctor's this morning, to get a prescription, and I just happened to mention that I'm still getting a bit of chest pain, so he did an ECG, and said something like " I ain't happy with this, dude, so get yo honky ass down to the A&E in Velez-Malaga! "( in Spanish, of course ) Which we did: had more blood tests, X-rays, probing, prodding etc, another ECG, blood pressure test etc, etc. But had the all clear, and came home about 6.30 pm.... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND A BIT OF ... WELL ARIEL'S STUFF

The Emperor’s New Clothes … updated With profound apologies to Hans Christian Anderson The Emperor strode along the street in all his might and majesty, surrounded by numerous courtiers, lackeys, placemen, CIA hit men, henchmen and women – or maybe one ought to call them henchpersons. There were generals, admirals and air marshals demanding more money for the war that was currently raging in some remote desert place that nobody had ever heard of until the Emperor got a bit jittery, because the... Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

Fiction, poetry, articles and a whole lot of other Ariel's stuff ; musings and ponderings ; they're all here, and i hope you'll find something here that you like. But I have a deeper purpose in mind. See, reading the papers and watching TV, it's so easy to think that the whole world's motivated by racial and religious hatreds of various kinds. Well most of us aren't, are we? We ordinary people are moved by love and compassion for our fellow humans ; and respect and tolerance for their differences. It's true that all that it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing, so we who are motivated by love have a duty speak out against the evils of the world ; not to be ashamed of our histories, nor embarrassed about being and saying clearly what we are and what we believe. If we don't learn to love each other, we'll perish. Although I am an atheist, my guiding principle is, and always has been, Christ's adjuration to " Love thy neighbour as thyself"

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