Flaming Nora

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, events turned very dark in the grooming storyline. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

My dear Mr Bond I find myself putting pen to paper today To write a few words I have oft wanted to say About the outfit you gave me when I came in from Peru The hat and the coat might have seemed fine to you But the duffel didn’t fit, it was always too tight With pockets too small for sandwiches of marmite Oh yes, and that’s another thing!  At Paddington station My culinary preference got lost in translation Marmalade’s turned me fat  But I don’t think you care After all, to you, I am only that bear. Yours sincerely, Paddington (with a hard stare) Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Come with me now, if you will, on a stroll down memory lane for a look at my life through women’s magazines. The very first mag I ever read was a comic and I can vividly remember my mum bringing in Twinkle from the shops, just for me. I must have been under ten years old. From Twinkle I graduated to reading, greedily, both Bunty and Mandy each week and absolutely loving and taking delight in the wickedly subversive Blind Bettina comic strip. There's a fab woman here called Mel Gibson (yes, really) who did her PhD on girls' comics. Next, it must have been Jackie which became my bible for a few years, getting all the advice from Cathy and Claire that I never knew I needed. Oh, and then came the biggest leap of all. From Donny Osmond and David Cassidy pin-ups in Jackie I stepped up to My Guy, the magazine I had to hide from my mother because she didn’t approve. It was racy, was My Guy , it had snogging and girls on the pill. I learned a lot from My Guy , believe me, I...

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, Derek Griffiths left the show. Sadly, not through the round window. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, the show's most feisty female got together with its most boring bloke. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Life is a writer, well, it's a bit like this right now. I've been a bit like this for some time. If it should change, I'll let you know. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

“I need to get back home soon…’ ‘Stay with me, come on. It’s still early, don’t go.’ He’s kissing my neck; he doesn’t understand. ‘You don’t understand. If I don’t get back before midnight…’ ‘What’s the rush, babe? Who’ll be waiting?’ He’s nibbling my ear, trying to undo my dress. ‘My two sisters need me, back home.’ His hand slides up my leg. ‘You didn’t tell me you had sisters.’ His breathing turns heavy, laboured.  ‘There are more like you at home?’ ‘I need to go, really, I have to be back before twelve… before my shoes turn to glass.’ Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

“Pass the remote control,” he demanded. “The colour’s gone all wrong.” “Looks fine to me,” she replied, squinting at the telly. “Those trees shouldn’t be purple, look…” She looked. “And it’s too bright.” She liked it bright. Buttons were pressed, levels were changed. A smile took the place of his frown. “See, that’s much better,” he said. “Those trees are the proper colour now.” “Go and put the kettle on, love,” she said to him. And when he plodded to the kitchen, she took control of the remote. The trees were purple again. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Susan is an enthusiastic and positive learner. Her contribution to the school netball team has been remarkable, resulting in St. Mary’s becoming national champions for the first time in its 150 year history.  Her English and Maths grades are improving.  In Science, she shows an impressive understanding of chemicals. However, she needs to learn to treat school property with respect and to be more sensitive to the opinions of others in her group..  Other than that, she gets on well, in the main, with her classmates and we trust that Keith will be out of hospital soon and his burns have not scarred too much. We also hope this might result in Susan's return from expulsion in time for the start of St Mary's netball season. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Mucky buddleia The greyhound stadium This is … your station Mirrors on the platform Overhead live wires Silver tracks shining  Passengers disgorging Pylons Passengers must not Maximum penalty Swaying side to side Trying not to touch the man sitting next to me Manspreading  Traffic lights  Security cameras on spiked metal poles Abandoned garage Sheds in gardens Pylons Stop, look, listen Graffiti and bridges Roaring and rolling and screeching and shunting Long stay car park Yellow and black, stand back Bike lane, blue sign Bobby’s Bathroom Tiles You are here Pylons Trains to Tunnel Blackness Escalator All change Disgorge Hoovers up Spits out Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Christening invitations had already been sent before their baby died. Eggshell blue, heavy linen cards scalloped with silver she’d designed while life was growing inside her. A cell that had split and split again, creating skin, eyes and bone. A cell that had split into two. The christening could still go ahead, the vicar said gently - if she felt able to cope. The  funeral for his twin was arranged the same day. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

When Joe left I cried so much my tears turned sticky and black. I went to the doc who prodded and poked and looked puzzled. He sent me to a lab where men in white coats diagnosed oil leaking from my eyes. I was a phenomenon, they said. I ended up on chat shows, those modern-day freak shows of daytime TV. I made the cover of OK! and HELLO and the Oil & Gas Journal. I was the crying oil lady, they all wanted to see.  Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

When Benji grew wings, the vet agreed it was unusual for a dog of his age. It troubled me more than it bothered the dog that we had to visit the vet. It was the first time in months I had left the house - but I still couldn’t make eye contact. When the vet said beware of Benji flying at night I gazed at the animal hair on the floor. But as it turns out, the night flights are the best. Benji circles the garden, jumping and barking and just before take-off, just before, I jump on his back and we soar, the two of us laughing and barking and flying and happy. And I see all that I’ve been missing in months. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

After changing the font twice he underlined the title, made it italic and bold. Then he stared at the cursor blinking, blinking. That’s when he saw greasy fingerprints on the screen. He wiped it clean and liked how it looked, so he polished his writing desk too. And then he got the hoover out and did the whole house, knowing he’d score points with his wife who always complained he never did anything. And once the carpets were hoovered, it was time for his lunch. This was followed, as always, by his afternoon nap. Refreshed, he returned to his desk where the cursor was waiting, still blinking, blinking. Then, and only then, he was ready to start his first draft. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Each week I enter the Let's Twist competition in The Spectator. I've never won and I never will and that's not false modesty, I know I'm not literary enough. But each entry I send in, although it doesn't win or get published, sits on my computer wanting its day in the sun.  Now is the time for my little poems to shine. The Spectator brief was:  You are invited to submit a poem of 16 lines in which the lines begin with the letters of the alphabet from A to P.  Here comes the bride by Glenda Young All of the people Behind me today Came to see me get married and Dad give me away Even the vicar said my Frock was rather nice Groom didn’t mention it as He was miffed about the price I was almost ready to say ‘I do ‘ Just as mt pregnant bridesmaid fainted ‘Keep calm!’ I said ‘Let’s carry on’, but the wedding day was tainted My husband cared for fallen maid Now giving her the kiss of her life ‘Oh!’ cried the vicar, looking on. “I Pronounce those two husband and wi...

Each week I enter the Let's Twist competition in The Spectator. I've never won and I never will and that's not false modesty, I know I'm not literary enough. But each entry I send in, although it doesn't win or get published, sits on my computer wanting its day in the sun.  Now is the time for my little poems to shine. The Spectator brief was: The Rime of the Wedding Guest Thick neck and tattoos by Glenda Young She’s far too good for him, they say And I think they may be right He’s got tattoos, a very thick neck, an unflattering overbite But I’ll smile when they exchange their vows and rings I’ll giggle when she throws her bouquet My Chanel suit will shine on the wedding photographs Of my son’s wedding day Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Each week I enter the Let's Twist competition in The Spectator. I've never won and I never will and that's not false modesty, I know I'm not literary enough. But each entry I send in, although it doesn't win or get published, sits on my computer wanting its day in the sun.  Now is the time for my little poems to shine. The Spectator brief was: You are invited to supply a protest song for Donald Trump’s detractors. Reasons to be Fearful (World War 3) by Glenda Young Why don't you get back into bed Why don't you get back into bed Mike Pence, Building a fence Ban him, Twitter! He lies Fake News, Dodgy Views Coiffured Hair and Panda Eyes Pandering to Putin, From the Lip Shootin’ Hacking emails to Hilary Huffing, Puffing, He’s a down and dirty rough ‘un And he’s gonna cause World War Three Why don't you get back into bed Why don't you get back into bed Reasons to be Fearful (Part 3) 1 2 3 Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image be...

Each week I enter the Let's Twist competition in The Spectator. I've never won and I never will and that's not false modesty, I know I'm not literary enough. But each entry I send in, although it doesn't win or get published, sits on my computer wanting its day in the sun.  Now is the time for my little poems to shine. The Spectator brief was: You are invited to submit a poem about a deadly foodstuff. Sunday Dinner by Glenda Young If the chicken doesn’t poison you Then the roast potatoes will And beside your Yorkshire puddings Lurks the killer kale  Leafy greens and artichoke Sunday dinner? What a joke Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Each week I enter the Let's Twist competition in The Spectator. I've never won and I never will and that's not false modesty, I know I'm not literary enough. But each entry I send in, although it doesn't win or get published, sits on my computer wanting its day in the sun.  Now is the time for my little poems to shine. The Spectator brief was: You are invited to recast John Masefield’s ‘Sea Fever’ in light of the news that the poet suffered from acute sea sickness. See the Chemist By Glenda Young I must go down to the chemist again, to the pharmacist counter, quick And all I ask is a packet of pills to stop me feeling sick As the mouth hurls and the head heaves and the legs are shaking, And a green pallor to the face, with a multicoloured yawn breaking. I must go down to the chemist again, for the fluids in my ear Are calling loud and calling clear; I retch, but I can not hear And all I ask is my vestibular system be still instead of flying As the dizziness spira...

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, everyone's under suspicion for the attack on King Ken of Chez Barlow. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora