Category Archives: Uncategorized

(first published in The Drabble, November 16th, 2022) By Michael Bloor On the small Isle of Rousay in the Orkneys, there lies a great chambered tomb. Five thousand and four hundred years ago, the farmers and the fisherfolk of the island laboured over many years building the tomb, the better to house and honour theirContinue reading “Midhowe Chambered Cairn”

by Michael Bloor (first published in Literally Stories, 20th October 2022) I was visiting Fraser, an old friend, in Fife. It was one of those fine, dry, crisp, cold days that you often find in Scotland in February and we took a walk out into the countryside. Fraser pointed out a ruined tower in theContinue reading “The Laird of Balwearie”

by Michael Bloor (first published in Literally Stories, 27/09/22) Have you ever ordered a DVD of an old film that, once upon a time, you thought was wonderful (back when you were at an impressionable age, say, between the ages of 15 and 25)? And when you settled down to watch it, accompanied by aContinue reading “Citizen Wyckam-Smith”

by Michael Bloor (first published in Scribble, No.95, Autumn 2022) The minister, the Reverend Donald MacAlistair, left the Health Centre with a spring in his step. He’d attended for his annual check-up, a service the centre offered to all their over-65s. His blood pressure had reduced since last year and he’d lost half a stoneContinue reading “Earwigging”

By Michael Bloor (first published in Free Flash Fiction, 24th of August, 2022) I read somewhere that cats live in the ‘eternal present,’ which is why they never express gratitude, only pleasure. This strikes me as a pretty good life-principle: okay, gratitude goes out the window, but we could also say goodbye to regret, disappointment,Continue reading “The Wisdom of Work Placements”

by Michael Bloor (first published Grey Sparrow Journal, Issue 40, July 31st, 2022) I believe quite a lot of people chat, from time to time, with their deceased relatives. Myself, I’ve often chatted to my dad, especially when stuck in traffic. But I imagine that chatting to Samuel Taylor Coleridge is more unusual. Unusual, butContinue reading “Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Life Coach”

(first published in Literally Stories, June 28th, 2022) He woke abruptly in the lonely bed. It was still dark. The dolorous memories of yesterday’s events knotted his guts and sent him to the bathroom. Downstairs, he fed the clamorous cat and chucked more fuel on the stove – autopiloting. A pause and a deep breathContinue reading “The Next Morning by Michael Bloor”

(first published in Free Flash Fiction, 17/6/2022) Dr. Ernest Mathewson was eating an early breakfast. He was about to head off to the University of St Andrews to examine a postgraduate dissertation. It was a longish drive from Glasgow and the external examiner’s fee was a joke. But, as he’d patiently explained to Mrs Mathewson,Continue reading “The Trip to St Andrews by Michael Bloor”

By Michael Bloor (first published in The Drabble, 15/6/2022) In 1934, Derby County FC toured Germany, invited by the German Football Association. A year previously, Hitler swept to power, banning all other political parties. The manager told the players that the British Ambassador had insisted that, prior to kick-off, the Derby team must line-up withContinue reading “An International Incident”

by Michael Bloor (first published in the Potato Soup Journal, 15/5/22) Working at Larchwood House suited Ben very well. Ben had trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. But four years after graduating from RADA, the only acting job he’d been offered was in a Christmas panto at the Wirksworth Empire: he played anContinue reading “Role Call”