This short story was previously published in the 2012 anthology, Seaside Stories , which can be downloaded FREE from this URL:- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241567

Here's a video of me reading aloud one of my short horror stories, Make Do and Mend , which was first published in Flash Fiction Magazine on 4th September 2019. Enjoy!

  Today I discovered that the timer on my effectively prehistoric Kodak has died. When this tragedy happened I do not know. It passed away peacefully in the back of a drawer, its fate only coming to light when, of course, it was needed in a hurry. Now, a normal person would simply wait for a passing buddy to take aim with a camera so the required shot could be taken. This would have been much easier. Instead, as I needed to get the image emailed off sharpish, I had to improvise with the camera on my PC. First there was too much light coming in from the window beside me. Then, with curtains closed, there wasn't enough light so I created something of a homage to Heath Robinson with an assortment of spotlights and tinfoil reflectors. I had been asked to pose holding my books. That's easier said than done when one hand is needed to operate a computer mouse. And smile - but not so you end up looking as ridiculous as you feel while posing like this. Well, here's the result. Pleas

  A corner of my art studio, May 2021. It has been a while... Yes, you've had some new videos to look at, but not much in the way of words to read. Okay; I'll endeavour to fix that with a quick round-up of  recent events. Just before Xmas, I was made redundant. I'd worked part-time for the same company as an Activity Co-ordinator  for five years with no complaints at all. The most recent CQC evaluation had been full of praise for the lively and diverse activity programme. Then COVID 19 hit, and the company looked around for ways to cut overheads now the resident population had been reduced in size. So, it was bye-bye Adele. Colleagues made my last day there lovely, with flowers and gifts, including a large case of art materials. Two of the elderly residents walked across to investigate the fuss, and when they learned I'd be leaving, one told me she'd really miss me and the other said, "It's you who keeps me going!" Twang went the heart-strings. Ouch. B