Her first taste of fame was winning the #bonny baby competition at Butlins. Her mum kept the cuttings, and the photos lived on the wall.
Throughout her childhood she knew she was special. She starred in every Nativity. Her smile opened doors.
Even the ones that should have stayed closed.
#vss365

We met Melody at our first gig at the Nun She stood at the front, glass in hand, and found beauty in our chaos. We'd never had a singer. She'd never had a band.
#Harmony came along a month later. She made Melody's voice 3 dimensional. Together they filled the room.
We're along for the ride.
#vss365

Our house was struck by #lightning every other Monday. Except bank holidays. On the Mondays we didn't get struck, we bought scratch cards. We even won £10 once.

#vss365

He took her to the Pictures for their first date. The Curzon was showing #spellbound and he'd decided he couldn't love anyone who didn't love Hitchcock.
She had a poster of melting clocks in her bedroom and couldn't love anyone who didn't love Dali.
They fell in love in Gregory Peck's dream.
#vss365

Thanks

It was always the 3 of us; after dad left. Now, it's only 2. Tom and I sorting through Mum's life.

Her Anne of Green Gables books.
Photos outside a caravan in Wales.
A Rolling Stones ticket stub.

A music box protecting her #jewellery:
one necklace.
A brooch for each of her 3 children.

#vss365

First day of school we had a race around the playground. I'm pretty fast - always have been - but he beat me. He was #magnanimous. Said it was close.

Over the next 10 years, he beat me in exams, talent competitions, auditions for the school play.

And he was always nice.

And I hated him.

#vss365

Our ancestors had to struggle and seek out their food. Mum never lets us forget that, and how lucky we are to have such a #bountiful supply. Everything in perfect balance. We never go hungry. Nothing is wasted.

Today, Larry was chosen.
I'll miss him.

#vss365

Saw today's #vss365
#lethargy
Went back to sleep

He closed his left eye and the world was in HD. Every petal on every flower shone in the spring sunshine.
He closed his right eye and opened his left. His wife was in soft focus. His #cataract time machine showing him the movie star he'd met at the church fete sixty years ago.
#vss365

He rested on the fifth floor. Two floors later, he was outside his flat. Inside, he put away the shopping and stood at the window.
A magpie perched on the fire escape and was joined by another.
The sea lapped at the horizon and the sun set over the factory.
So ended another day of #splendour
#vss365

She's visiting Gran this weekend. She smiles as they pull off the main road and she sees Gran's hill. It's a scary world, but this is familiar.
The car stops and a #timid face that's been waiting at the window relaxes. The world is changing, but this is a part of the future that she can hug.
#vss365

Among Dad's stuff was a limited edition bottle of IPA. Sue checked it on eBay but there wasn't much demand, so I opened it to empty it out for recycling.
It was then that I saw there was no beer in it. Only a scroll of paper that fell on the counter.
And that's what started this #quest

#vss365

The adverts came on and he checked Facebook. He scrolled down and every other post made him angry. He had to click and check the comments. Which made him more angry. The tightness in his chest told him to stop but he was #obsessed. Hatred is as addictive as love, but is always requited.

#vss365

The tube was 20 metres long and I slid in feet first. When I was fully in, it was raised to a 45° angle and I felt my stomach turn. Any external sound was muffled as I counted down from 30.

I reached 0 and...
Nothing.

3 seconds later I was at terminal #velocity and headed for the ocean.

#vss365

Feedback bounced around the stage and we headed back to the campsite. Searchlights stabbed the night sky, diverting the flow of the crowd. The beats shook the air and led us to the base of the tor, where #Orbital wordlessly welcomed us.
The night became morning and still the beat went on.

#vss365

Playing in the Helios League had been the dream of generations of fans, so Tony Ashford was already a legend. Taking a half-day holiday for midweek trips to Mars or Venus had become normal, but if they made it to the Inter #Stellar...

Ian was already checking Sirius timetables. Just in case
#vss365

They are never #knowingly undersold. That's always been their proudest boast.
Admittedly it's because they never look at their rivals' prices and put their fingers in their ears when anyone tries to tell them.
But it's true.
Kinda.

#vss365

It would only need a few suggestions. Subtle and simple enough that they would feel like ideas or moments of inspiration. Each innovation would actually be welcomed.
The changes would be gradual. Nobody would notice how #crazed the world had become.
Even if they did, it would be too late.
#vss365

The fact checkers made everyone careful about what they said. The red light on your cheek was only small, but it was still embarrassing when it flashed.
Well... it was at first. Each time it flashed, he realised the shame was a bit less. If the lies were #blatant, everyone became numb to it.
#vss365

Thanks

She never would have believed he could be so #beastly. He wasn't perfect. Who is? But he was never mean.
She could have understood it from one of the curtain-twitching neighbours. They were always looking for an excuse.
He wasn't like that though. Or so she thought.
Until yesterday.
#vss365

Thank you

Everyone loved Tigger. As he said, he was #bouncy and fun; the life of every party. Everyone was #mystified by his inexhaustible brio.

It was only at the end of the day, away from the world, that his loneliness took over. It was those moments when he was most aware that he was the only one

#vss365

Our land stretches to the #mountainous border on the horizon. The ground is flat, grey, uniform; broken up by low, blue domes.

I wonder what lies beyond. What happens to the birds that fly over the purple-tinged peaks? Is there water?

Or is that the edge of the world?

#vss365

Every Sunday Grandad took me to The Seashell. We sat at the #enchanted table, next to the slot machine.
He'd change a 50p piece, keeping one penny back. I fed the machine and he drunk his coffee.
He finished his coffee and put the final penny in the slot; always winning 50p.
"For next week"

#vss365

Thank you

The house shrunk without warning. The car as well. Suddenly everything was #miniscule.
He heard a squeak and a shrew ran between his legs. He took a step and bent down. The shrew cried again as he put a hand around it.
As he lifted it up the squeak grew louder.
"What are you?"
His wife said.
#vss365

Not being able to edit adds an element of risk. Think of it as the writing equivalent of mountaineering; if you don't get it right first time you tumble down the rock face.

She got home and sat at the bottom of the stairs, closed the door with her foot, and let the silence in. She thought about making a cup of tea, but the kitchen was a long way away.
A shadow sat next to her and she leant in. Her head rested on a warm shoulder and she felt a #kiss on her cheek
#vss365