Travel Theme: Sky

December 1, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 2 Comments

Lincolnshire, UK.

The Old Hall, Hardwick, Derbyshire, UK.

The Jurassic Coast, Devon, UK.

This is my contribution to Travel Theme, hosted by Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack?. This week’s theme is ‘Sky’. Click here for more details and to view the other photos.

The Lion Sleeps

December 1, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 3 Comments

Joe Brown was clearly exasperated. After several minutes of walking around “Brite Sparx” electrical store, he had yet to find a member of staff. Then, turning a corner, he almost bumped into a gaggle of four. Joe tried to catch their eye, without success.

“Excuse me!”

Several assistants with ‘Here to Help’ badges looked over for a second, then carried on talking. After a time, they casually ease ‘Kai’ forward. He looks barely old enough, or bright enough, to tie his own shoelaces.

“Er, yeah. Wassup mate, innit!”

“It’s about this lion!” Joe produced his plastic stone-effect toy.

“Woah! It’s not gonna bite me or summat? ROAAR! Ha Ha! I’m jokin’!”

“No, this one won’t bite, roar or do anything. That’s why I’m returning it. I bought it in your Christmas Sale, back in August. I was assured by one of your ‘crew’ that it plays music and dances at the same time. It does none of these things.”

“It might be on ‘Sleep’ setting. Hang on!”

Kai snatched the lion, and pressed a combination of hidden buttons. He put it on the floor and stepped back.

For the next minute, the toy ‘lion-danced’ its way through several musical classics such as ‘Lion Eyes’ and ‘Pride (In the name of Love)’.

“Wow! Thanks, Kai. Have you got any more left?”

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction, based on the photo prompt, and hosted by Al Forbes. Please click the link for more details.

Click the logo to view the other entries.

Channel Surfing

November 30, 2013November 30, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 8 Comments

Photo: Copyright Ted Strutz

The English Channel: a strip of water that has protected Britain from invaders, for a thousand years.

Maybe I should have been more grateful on my first Cross-Channel ferry trip. I wasn’t feeling it. Instead, I felt the contents of my stomach shifting, as we pitched and rolled our way through the night, from Dover to Zeebrugge.

At last, a cheer! Land ho? Or at least, the welcoming lights of the Belgian port that would end this stygian ferry nightmare?

Actually, the bar had reopened after technical difficulties. A cue for more empty cans to roll down the aisles.

This is my contribution to Friday Fictioneers 100 word Challenge, based on the photo prompt and hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Please click the logo to read the other stories.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light!

November 30, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 10 Comments

These photos were taken during a holiday to Majorca, Spain. I love how the coloured lights bleed into the blackness of the sea.

This is my contribution for the Weekly Photo Challenge, hosted by The Daily Post. Click here for more details and to view the other entries.

Travel Theme: Fragrant

November 25, 2013 / Steve Lakey / 2 Comments

These photos were taken when out walking our dogs along a footpath in the Nottinghamshire, UK, countryside. We came across this field of Rapeseed – with its beautiful splash of colour and strong sweet fragrance, unique to this plant. Honey bees were buzzing around, attracted to its abundant nectar. I didn’t have my camera, so I took these shots with my iPhone 4.

This is my first contribution to Travel Theme, hosted by Ailsa at ‘Where’s my backpack?’ Please click here for more details and to view the other photos.