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The Wall Flowers

A Little Bit of Chelsea in Essex One summer Laura went on a budget holiday to Spain with her girlfriend, June. As soon as they left Essex, they started drinking with some Chelsea boys in the airport bar and nearly missed the plane. The holiday was a real lark. June found a Chelsea shirt to …

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Cleo

I cannot imagine you as Felicia,” he said. “You’re Cleo.” “Are you always in the habit of redefining your female companions?” “If you must know, it’s your hair. Your hair is far more Cleo than Felicia.” She laughed. “Now you’re being silly.” “Sorry it’s a little bugbear of mine,” he said. “Underneath it all, however, …

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The Sleeper

No one could deny the romance of the Highland Sleeper Train. Who could not love the old-fashioned carriages, the earthy and ever pleasant stewards and the rattle of the track as the train spend northwards? It did not matter whether you were in the Aberdeen or Edinburgh section of the train, when dawn broke you …

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Angus Maclean

When Angus went on his summer holidays, it usually took about three days before he began to pine for his home in Scotland. He loved the Mediterranean with its warm evenings, whispering pine trees and golden sands. He adored the terraces, the pink wine and the grilled fish. But it was not home. In fact, …

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Where is she from?

A rich man had sent his butler and assistant to make inquiries of a lady he had glimpsed in an exclusive West End club. “Well, did you see her?” “Yes, sir.  “She’s Indonesian?” “I didn’t think so. At least she never told me where she was from. Besides, she sometimes spoke French.”  “Oh, one of …

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Nice Girl

Everyone used to think Francesca was a nice girl. Francesca who had just started learning English would say: “Is it very surprising for someone who was born in Nice?” The adults would laugh indulgently at her quip. Although she was determined to be a nice girl, one summer, after she had just turned seventeen, she …

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The Pen and Paper Girl

There is a very attractive lady of forty years of age sitting just opposite wearing a skirt which is clearly inappropriate for the weather. She also wears a pair of grey patent leather shoes, which are fetching, but not with extravagant heels. She is clearly married, but not bejewelled. She has a nice white bag …

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The Double Header

Without doubt they were the most glamorous couple in the restaurant: he with his sharp blue eyes, carefully cropped hair and muscular frame, dressed in a suit of sangfroid; she with her long dark hair, flashing eyes and the simplest, most elegant red dress adorning her tanned and gluten-free body. Their conversation was animated but …

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Dressing Up

It was unrequited love. She was a large woman, and he had a thing about large women, but Lola wasn’t interested. “Don’t be silly, Phil. You’ll get over it!” No matter how hard he protested, she would not take him seriously. She was quite happy to go drinking with him, or even out to the …

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The Screenwriters

“Suck my finger.” “No, he doesn’t say that yet.” “When does he say it then?” “He must wait a beat.” “The beat is so crucial.” “She’s working on him.” “By the way, where are they?” “You’ve forgotten.” “In the Jacuzzi?” “That’s right. There’s Live and Let Die on the soundtrack.” “The Wings’ song? McCartney?” “No, …

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