September 2025

We always think that time tricks us, sometimes passing us like wading through porridge, sometimes sleeting past like a Formula 1 car on an overtake. It seems that it has been over a year since I completed a Blog post but I really thought it was only a few months.

Anyway, a lot has happened in the intervening year and a bit. Keith and I came Third in 2023 with a song called 'Prison Rain' and then in 2024 we came Second with our song 'Drifting'!

I've had some of my poems Shortlisted in both competitions I entered, and a short story as well. I never entered any competitions before 2023. Not because I don't believe in my work, but because actually putting it 'out there' was a step too far. I needed to work up to it and it only took several decades!

To have such a competition come to my attention via my writing courses at UCG felt a little like serendipity. I looked into it and felt like it was possibly the right 'time' at last. So I submitted work in the poetry, performed song, lyrics and short story categories in 2023. Then, in 2024 I entered all five categories; which also included a written Script as well.

In 2024, I had one of my short stories and a poem make the shortlist and Keith and I came Second with our performed Song 'Drifting'. An amazing achievement for this old duffer!

The competition entries need to be in by the end of every September, so I  have a little over 2 weeks to sort out the ones for this year. Each competition has a theme and the theme for this year is 'Secret'. You and I both know that every human being who has ever lived has many secrets. We therefore have a lot of scope to work with!

I'm pleased with the songs Keith and I have chosen and actually have high hopes for one of them (which is bound to be the 'kiss of death' as the saying goes!). Plus, I have already chosen a few poems and made an (ahem) shortlist. I have one finished short story and two more in the works but I don't think I'm going to be able to come up with a finished script in time. I have what I think is a good idea and made a start, But whether I can get it into a reasonable state to submit in time? Who knows.

Anyway, this is a busy month for me so I will aim to create another blog post in October if all goes well and time stays within its linear form. Quite what happens regarding any entries we submit will have to wait for history to unfold, but it's not as if anyone actually reads these blog posts, is it!

Keep reading guy(s).

Alan