Spirit Hunt

April 29, 2014April 29, 2014 / Steve Lakey / 8 Comments

Photo: Halloween by George Hodan

Welcome to “Spirit Hunt – When the Night Demons Visit”. We review last night’s Investigation at the Amphitheatre.

Cameras focused on clairvoyant Dan T. Inferno, who felt the building had seen ‘Wild Times’.

The team reacted nervously, as they heard a guttural growl, which Dan believed to be the spirit of a terrible Demon. The producer later admitted that his stomach was ‘off’ and may have been the source of the rogue noise.

At 3.02am, all the team’s electrical equipment simultaneously ‘died’. Paranormal activity or overloaded power grid?

A candle lit vigil continues, with the crew repeatedly chanting, “Toga! Toga!”, after consuming several bottles of chianti.

This is my contribution to 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups, Week #131. This weeks prompt is …when the night demons visit… For more details, visit Julia’s Place.

Stuck in a Rut?

April 27, 2014 / Steve Lakey / 10 Comments

People say that I should have moved that pile of mechanical wreckage away from the ‘For Sale’ sign. That it ‘sends out the wrong message’.

To be honest, there was a time when I didn’t know if I’d rather sell the farm, or have the bank take it off me. I’d had it with farming, despite that being all I’d ever known.

That pile of rust was my father’s pride and joy. The first plough he was able to buy from new. When the time came, he handed it down to me. But then our contracts kept reducing in value, year on year. We’d have been better off taking European subsidies to not grow certain crops. You couldn’t make it up!

But now I’ve found a better way. I’ve got myself an even bigger government grant to start a Living Farm Museum. Some of it will show how some farms have gone to the wall. Other parts will form a working enterprise, selling straight to the public. No expensive middlemen taking their cut.

I’m sure Dad would have been proud.

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, 27 April 2014, hosted by Al Forbes. If you’d like to know more, click the logo.

If you’d like to read the other stories, click the blue frog!

Someone… Under the Radar

April 26, 2014April 26, 2014 / Steve Lakey / 21 Comments

Photo: Copyright Björn Brudberg

You’ll probably recognise the legendary axeman, sitting on my right. We have an intimate atmosphere here at the Under the Radar Club. The sort of place where legends can take a break from those sterile arena tours, and play up close and personal to a few lucky punters.

I’m honoured to have sat close to the biggest names in Rock. Well, almost.

To be honest, we’ve all seen the cream of the crop, on TV at least. But their tickets cost a fortune! So here, we’re nurturing the lookalike Tribute acts. Giving them their first break.

Tonight, it’s David Filmore!

This is my contribution to Friday Fictioneers, 100 Word Photo Challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

To view the other stories, please click the logo.

Zen You Least Expect It

April 20, 2014April 21, 2014 / Steve Lakey / 6 Comments

Photo: © Al Forbes

Bob and Jim weren’t having the best of days. The sandstorm had come out of nowhere, and now they were completely lost.

Visibility was still low. The hot, dry sand seemed everywhere, pulling at their ankles, and making every breath painful. Occasionally, huge boulders would appear menacingly out of the dust, only to disappear again, just as quickly.

Heads down, they kept moving forward. But forward to where? Even as they moved, Time appeared to stand still.

“Hey, Bob. I’ve seen that boulder before. I think we’re going round in circles!”

“It’s worse than that, Jim. We’re out of energy drinks and chocolate. Only a miracle can save us now!”

They pushed on, for what seemed like hours, until they could go no further. Finally, the game was up. They sank to their knees in despair…

It was Jim that saw it first, or it may have been Bob – they couldn’t be sure.

Lush greenery amongst the sand. An oasis? No, it’s only a Garden Centre! With Easter holiday Discounts. Yay!

After recuperating in the café, with Mars bars and fizzy drinks, Bob and Jim needed to seriously chillax. They headed to the Zen garden and quickly lost themselves in the moment. Time appeared to stand still.

“Hey, Bob. I’ve seen that boulder before. I think we’re going round in circles!”

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, April 20th 2014, hosted by Al Forbes.

Click the logo for more details.

To view the other stories, click the little blue frog!

Beyond St Peter’s Gates

April 13, 2014July 28, 2014 / Steve Lakey / Leave a comment

Photo: Churchyard Gravestones by John Luty

I’ve learnt a lot about my extended family, from Sunday morning visits to St Peter’s churchyard. To be honest, I’d never been much of a one for churches or gravestones before.

‘Once you’re gone you’re gone – Life is for the living!’, that’s what Ma used to say. That’s before she ended up in St Peter’s herself. Now it’s a different story. She doesn’t still believe that. I know, because I sit and talk to her. I understand that she’s not physically there, but it’s where I feel the closest to her.

Without being morbid, you can learn lot from being in a graveyard. Each gravestone has a tale to tell. A few brief words encompassing a whole life. And there’s a kind of honesty that people have, in talking at a grave-side. It’s really opened my eyes, so to speak.

I’d like to think my relatives have been drawn together in the six months since I’ve passed away. Their visits to my grave have now become a weekly family tradition. And I’m a lot closer to them than they realise.