The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 11, Part 6 – Solihull, late March 1962: Whitfield’s World of Wonder (Section 2 of 3) “You spoke of marking a presence at Warstone Lane Cemetry,” the strange Shopkeeper began. “Officially that is the purpose of these mirrors.” “And unofficially?” “You think quickly, boy. Unofficially, the mirrors – that you […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 11, Part 4 — Between the Walls, late March 1962: Bethany, Part 1 (Section 3 of 4) The cottage was shadowy inside, and my eyes took a minute or two to fully adjust to the darkness. A windowless corridor leading to the back of the house continued in a straight […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 11, Part 3 – Solihull, late March 1962: Bethany, Part 1 (Section 3 of 4) [The featured picture is of a portion of the trail leading to/away from Ravenshaw Ford.] “But how now, where might Stan be?” Bethany said, anxious to change the subject. “Not permitted t’ be near me,” […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Solihull, late March 1962: Bethany [The featured picture is of a portion the area of Ravenshaw Ford that Bethany is said to haunt. This photo was shot in early spring; add a bit of snow, and it would be just about right for the setting depicted in this chapter. By summer, […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Birmingham: Penance (Section 2 of 3) [The featured photograph is of the kind of meeting room larger churches tended to have in the 1860s-70s.] D.S. Higgins met us at the gate. With him was a tall, gangling priest with lank, straw-colored, somewhat thinning hair and an open, friendly countenance. He looked […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 10, Part 3 – Birmingham, 23 March 1962: Penance and Father Fitzgerald (Section 2 of 3) [The featured picture is of a rectory parlour much like the one Father Fitzgerald would have had.] “At the end of the hallway to the left is a small parlour,” Father Fitzgerald said. ” […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 10, Part 1 – Edgbaston & Birmingham, 23 March 1962: Penance (Section 1 of 3) [The featured photograph is of a church and rectory much like St. Ita’s.] “I can’t believe you said that,” Ian said. “Warstone Lane Cemetery – are you nuts?” We were outside hearing range of anyone […]
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SNEAK PREVIEW! Second of a Two-part Glimpse into “The Bluebottle Boys” (Volume Two) [This is the second part of the excerpt from The Bluebottle Boys (Volume Two), relating to Moseley Bog. At the point where it ends, Reggie is headed into the Bog, but it will be an “alternative” sort of Bog, with many more […]
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SNEAK PREVIEW! First of a Two-part Glimpse into “The Bluebottle Boys” (Volume Two) Notes: (1) Today and next Tuesday, I’m presenting a Sneak Preview of a portion of Volume Two of “The Bluebottle Boys.” On Thursday, May 4, there will be a special announcement. The serialising of Volume One of “The Bluebottle Boys” resumes on […]
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The Bluebottle Boys – Chapter 9 – Edgbaston, mid-March 1962: Dares & Dispensation, Part 3 [The featured pic is of the common room, as seen from the fireplace] Meanwhile, Doof and Tiny must have seen me making a run to the front of the school. Even they could deduce Ian would be alone and unattended; […]
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