Devastated to hear about the fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

So far at least no human casualties are known, and my heart and thoughts go to the fire fighters and emergency workers of Paris.

Those men and women are the valiant and courageous first line in all disasters. As catastrophic as the damage to or total loss of a monument is, loss of human life or injury is far worse.



Que les conséquences soit moindres par rapport aux risques.

That the consequences are minimised in proprtion to the danger.

Nailed it Maggie.

APPLE.

Next clue: six letters - bane of busboys

Tables ?

Knives ?

Diners ?

Busses ? j/k on that one

Can't sleep, but what else is new.

I'll take a ginger ale and I'll curl up in a comfy chair to look up the history of Ireland. Thanks, Ping.

Cheers!

This Irish Times article might be helpful in trying to grasp the gist of the tragic history of Ireland.

The History of the Irish Border From Plantation to Brexit

Ping is correct, Brexit will very likely affect the border and risks disrupting the peace that has prevailed along the border since the Good Friday Agreement ended the blood bath euphemistically known as "the troubles".

This is just one of the many things that worry many of us here in the EU.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hNiBzblTMxo

Transcript of a radio conversation between a US Naval ship and the Canadians, off the coast of Newfoundland, Oct 95. Radio released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

CANADIANS - Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.

AMERICANS - Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

CANADIANS - Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision.

AMERICANS - This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

CANADIANS - Negative. I say again. You will HAVE to divert your course.

AMERICANS - THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN. THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET, WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, SAY AGAIN, THATS 15 DEGREES NORTH OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.

CANADIANS - We are a lighthouse. Your call.

A duck goes into the pharmacy and waddles up to the counter.

DUCK: "Have you got anything for a sore beak?"

SHOP ASSISTANT: "Try this ointment. That'll be 2.99 please."

DUCK: "Would you put that on my bill ."

Did I misunderstand? Was I not supposed to post here or is everyone else late to dinner?

Either/or

Submit it as a text for publication, or as a text in this thread.

Having gone for the thread choice, I think you could quite rightly submit it for publication.

Because, you know, it really is excellent...

A proper burial.....

A young preacher was asked by the local funeral director to hold a grave-side burial service at a small local cemetery for someone with no family or friends. The preacher started early but quickly got himself lost, making several wrong turns.

Eventually, a half-hour late, he saw a backhoe and its crew, but the hearse was nowhere in sight, and the workmen were eating lunch. The diligent young pastor went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place.

Taking out his book, he read the service. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, sending the deceased to the great beyond in style.

As he was returning to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say: "I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years and I ain't never seen anything like that."

A police officer is sitting at a stop light as a car passes by containing a man driving the car and a penguin in the front passenger side of the car. The officer turns on his lights & siren and promptly pulls the man over.

"Mister, what are you doing with this penguin?" asks the officer.
"I was just taking him for a little ride, sir," responds the man.
"Well, this is just not acceptable. I want you to take this penguin to the zoo right this instant!" scolds the officer.
"Well, ok, if you insist," responds the man sadly, and drives off.

The next day, the same officer is sitting at the same stop light. Once again he spots the same man driving down the street with the penguin perched neatly in the front seat. He wastes no time in turning on his lights & siren, and chasing the man down.

He is quite angry as he approaches the car, and says to the man "I thought I made myself very clear yesterday that you were supposed to take this penguin TO THE ZOO!"
"Oh, officer, I did exactly as you told me to, and you know what?" said the man with a smile on his face "He liked it so much, we are going again today!"

<img src="/images/emoticons/wave.gif" alt="wave">

Depressed - Buoyant

"Start random playlist," he said, waiting expectantly, unseeing eyes turned straight ahead. Two guitar chords, loud and clear, shook loose a memory. He knew what was coming. Singing, she entered the spotlight, her clear, powerful voice pealing out: cheated and mistreated, when would she be loved. In his mind's eye he saw her, young, beautiful, sure of herself and of them. The music...

Added 27 Jan 2019 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 463 | 12 Comments

  Dear Alan, It's been a while since I wrote to you. Did you know there's a story competition in your name? I had an idea for it, started to write something. It was clever, funny, titled Jankowski's Lost'n'Found . The story got lost, but it goes something like this: Jankowski and Al were old friends, co-owners of a cab they took turns driving. They had a flat rate, 4.20, due to the...

Added 28 Sep 2018 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 19 | Avg Score 4.95 | Views 359 | 18 Comments

Come with me, come here, We'll fly away soon, Give me your hand, And a hug Then settle on my rug Hang on tight, tuck arms and legs in, Are you ready to take off? Let's go for a spin! The altitude's no problem, We've plenty of air, As you will soon know by the wind in your hair. We'll swoop and soar Above earth and its cares - - Tedious, boring, Gloomy and drear! - Before landing quite...

Added 05 Sep 2016 | Category Songs | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 743 | 8 Comments

Random rhymes: punchy, munchy scrunchy, bouncy, jiggly, hunchy, Loosely, widely, funky, Stinking, rotten, clunky * Save it. Saved. Is it any good? Unlikely, so... Don't get your hopes up - The answer is no * Not much is likely to be salvational - side note, is that even a word? - side reply, It is now, get used to it. * So... Continue as before With doggerel words ...

Added 29 Sep 2018 | Category Poetry | Votes 5 | Avg Score 5 | Views 279 | 5 Comments

“You don’t have to do this, you know. In fact, you shouldn’t be doing it.” “Yes, I know, but it’s all right, I’m going to do it.” “I really don’t think you should, and would prefer you didn’t.” “I’m still going to do it, it’s the least I can do for you. You shouldered me as a burden often enough, in the past.” “That was different, you weren’t old enough or big enough, and needed to...

Added 22 Jul 2016 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 5 | Avg Score 5 | Views 590 | 4 Comments

Chances, Taken without regret, Embraced, Without hesitation or doubt Like that time When you dove Into an ice cold lake Not on a dare But because it was there And to do so affirmed that you existed Those chances, No regrets, As you sank Stunned with shock by the bone chilling reality of the water - So cold So clear So intransigent yet so welcoming, Heart pounding, Adrenalin coursing,...

Added 30 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 6 | Avg Score 5 | Views 658 | 4 Comments

I make my point by tossing him out a window, He'd been warned when he entered the room, "You found your way in, you can find it back out, And if it isn't done quickly, From me you'll get a good clout." I repeated my warning twice over, Was he hard of hearing or just buzzing about? At any rate my threat was put into action, With a fly swatter I rubbed his life out. * Author's note: I have...

Added 23 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 6 | Avg Score 5 | Views 508 | 6 Comments

So here I am waiting, And biding my time, For a shipment that was Ordered From a store that's on-line. Their products are alluring, Like snacks to consume, The virtual basket's expanding There is always more room For specialty items, Things new to the store, Best deals of the day, And more, so much more! I wasn't enticed - Well, maybe some of the time - But the items I needed Remained...

Added 15 Jun 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 480 | 7 Comments

Look by the door, A row of hooks Hung with keys - Basement, attic, car All are useful If you please But one sits alone No door does it claim That door is long gone And all that remains Is the key That unlocked its dreams....

Added 09 May 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 725 | 5 Comments

International Women's Day A day that means a great deal to me. It leaves me serious, reflective, thinking about the women who have influenced and formed me, those I know, those I have never met. Among those I know, my mother, grandmothers, and their lives - It is not for me to speak in their names, I can only be witness to who they were, Honour them, Acknowledge them, Carry...

Added 08 Mar 2016 | Category Poetry | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 562 | 6 Comments

  MARTIN HANDED A MUG of fresh coffee to Jane and slid into the seat opposite her at the breakfast table, pausing a moment before he spoke. “Jane, I need to ask you something.” Caught off guard by the statement, she slopped a little of the steaming liquid. “You always do that when I’m holding a drink,” she chided gently, dabbing the spill with a napkin. Her lighthearted tone belied...

Added 13 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 242 | 6 Comments

  THE CALENDAR TAUNTED JANE, its little yellow-highlighted square outlined in a bold red stroke mocking her lack of progress. ‘You’re going to miss the deadline, you know. I’m just six weeks away now,’ it scoffed. ‘Whatever made you apply for that fellowship anyhow, and what could the panel have been thinking when they gave it to you? You’re no writer; you’ve proven that over the past...

Added 12 Sep 2018 | Category General | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 330 | 6 Comments