Category Archives: Fiction

Finally the time for pudding arrived; the mother snuck away from the table to fetch the pudding and, as she returned, the pudding glazed in brandy and a secret extra drop of the magic liquid, the whole room fell into a hush, struck with awe, almost meditative. Whatever feuds had made them forget the prospectContinue reading “The Gift (Day Five)”

When the mother and father came back inside, their search yielding no results, the mother got back to the task of making the pudding. She looked at the mixture; it was all ready, except for one more ingredient. There was a small bottle in the pantry that had no label on it. The bottle wasContinue reading “The Gift (Day Four)”

The goblin knew that at the foot of one of the hills lived a very bitter family. Life had been hard for that family and, with every misfortune, they had planted bitter fruit in their garden – gourds and eggplant and bitter melon and the bitterest of grapefruit that you could find. There was notContinue reading “The Gift (Day Three)”

The Story of the Goblin Who Poisoned the Christmas Pudding Once upon a time, there was a goblin. (“You don’t know what the story is about,” says Alana. “You’re stalling.” “Just listen,” says Peter. “Okay…” says Alana.) Once upon a time, there was a goblin, and he… No, once upon a time, there was aContinue reading “The Gift (Day Two)”

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and this year I have decided to see Advent in with a story that I have written. It is the 200th anniversary this year of Charles Dickens’ birth and not only was Dickens one of my first and most profound literary influences but also one of the mostContinue reading “The Gift: First Candle (Day One)”