Paul.E.Bailey’s World – Desert Island (My First WordPress Short Story)

Posted on by Paul.E.Bailey

We’ve all heard of the fabled desert island. That place where you have only three items and you need to decide what they are. That place where you arrive with a small collection of music and they’re the only songs you’ll ever hear again (of course I’m referring to the fabled Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 there).

I’m sure we’ve all imagined ourselves stuck on some little island in the middle of the Pacific like Tom Hanks in Castaway and wondered how we’d fare in such a situation. No doubt you’ve wondered how you would survive or even if you’d survive.

I think a desert island conjures up a lot of different images for us all. For some it represents a trap from which there’s no escape. For others it represents adventure and discovery. For others it represents solitude.

Solitude is a beautiful thing. Honestly; I would say it’s one of the best things in life from a personal perspective. I love being in my own company and always have since a young age. My innermost thoughts and memories are such good company. I actually become really tense if I go too long without some quality time to myself.

My depiction of a desert island is an entirely positive one. I’d give myself a damned good chance of living a fruitful life if I ended up shipwrecked on one regardless of the situation that put me there.

But I won’t talk about what I’d do if I got shipwrecked because that’d be like predicting the lottery numbers for the next twenty draws with absolute accuracy. Firstly, I’d have no idea what the island looked like and what landmarks, flora or fauna existed upon it. Secondly, I don’t know in what state I’d arrive. So I won’t go there.

What I will do is describe my perfect desert island and what I’d have there keeping it as realistic as possible. So no plug sockets in a readymade mansion and a hot tub full of beautiful and lustful Playboy Bunnies. I’ll keep it realistic to within a respectable margin. Here is what will effectively be my first crack at a short story on my blog. I hope you enjoy it.

My Perfect Island (A short story by Paul.E.Bailey)

desert-island_opt-1

I arrive mid-morning and watch the vessel that brought me sail away. All I know about this island is that it’s small; no more than half a mile wide and a mile long in a rough kidney shape. I also know that no other feet have touched it (at least not in recorded history). Seven days of fending for myself await me. I admit to feeling a little trepidation.

On the western end of the island is a tall, rocky prominence somewhere between seventy-five and a hundred feet high, but it’s easy to climb. There’s plenty of verdant flora and a bit of fauna; thankfully nothing dangerous (they told me the island has been scanned with thermal image cameras and brought up nothing overtly threatening). There’s also a small freshwater lake that’ll be good for bathing in and drinking from. The weather is balmy and sunny, but there are more than enough trees to provide shade. In fact most of the island is covered in them.

There’s a small selection of fruit and vegetables growing around the place so it’ll negate the need to hunt animals or fish. Just as well because I’d rather starve than kill an animal.

I make camp on the south facing beach; a stunning expanse of clean, unspoiled white sand. That’s where I pitch the tent I had the foresight to bring. I get the fire set up and ready for the evening. Once that’s sorted, I make my way to the main attraction; the aforementioned prominence.

What a view! All around me is nothing but navy blue sea and azure sky with the faintest wisps of snow-white cloud. It’s truly breath-taking knowing that I’m so isolated; so far away from the nearest human being. It makes me smile. I look down the other way to my small haven. A beach lines each side of the kidney shape with all kinds of trees and plants in between and I can just make out the lake on the eastern side. I wonder momentarily how the island even came into existence.

I already love this place. I could sit here and watch the scenery all day, but I feel suddenly inspired to write and so I make my way back down the prominence to my campsite. I retrieve my laptop and begin tapping away at the keys; letting the ideas and inspiration flow until the battery dies. I’ve brought seven with me; one battery a day. I also have a pen and notepad in case I get a little overzealous with the laptop.

Nightfall comes around quite rapidly so I hastily light the campfire and cook up some of the veggies I picked earlier. By the firelight, I begin working on Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra; a book I’ve always wanted to read, but haven’t gotten around to. I’ve also brought along a couple of the works of Søren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre. I’m not sure of how much I’ll get to read in a week, but I’ll give it a damned good go.

After reading awhile and eating my vegetable medley, I realise the negative point of placing my camp on the south side because now I can’t see the moon. The trees are obscuring my view. I don’t regret where I’ve placed the camp as it made good sense to keep the sun off me with the shade the trees provide. I’m blonde-haired after all. UV and I don’t mix terribly well. I do want to see the night sky in all its glory though.

Not to worry. I pack up a little kindling in my bag along with one of a few bottles of Colombard I brought along. There are some creature comforts I simply couldn’t bare to leave behind! I use my torch to make the short walk from the south side of the island to the north. I fear almost every noise I hear, but there’s nothing here that can harm me; so I’ve been told. I remind myself of that fact and keep on moving through the trees.

The less impressive north beach appears before me in the darkness. I’m not bothered about the beach though. The moon is stunning and so is the blanket of southern hemisphere stars. I’m not familiar with this sky. I’ve never been south of the equator before so this really is a treat for an astronomy lover like me.

I quickly set up the small campfire and then I just lie there; alone with my thoughts. I drink a couple of glasses of Colombard. The wine is slightly warm, but who cares? The breeze is cool and refreshing. The sound of the waves splashing gently against the shore intermingled with the crackling of the fire is therapeutic. The moon and stars are bright and beautiful. Everything is just so.

After the second glass, I decide I should head back for camp before the wine gets to my head. I make it quickly and safely back to camp before snuffing out the glowing embers of the campfire and retiring to my tent for the night. It’s warm enough that I don’t need a sleeping bag. In fact, I’m going to lie here completely naked. Who’s going to stop me? Who’s going to judge me?

The shade of the trees prevents the bright Pacific sun from waking me early; not that I have any idea what time it is locally. I don’t really want or need to know. It was the best sleep I had in years and I wake up with much gusto. I eat some fruit for breakfast, but realise that I’m running low on water. A trip to the lake it is then today.

I dress myself lightly and make my way east to where I know the lake lies. It doesn’t take long; it never does on an island this small. The lake is no bigger than a standard twenty-five metre swimming pool and the water as calm as a millpond. I fill up a couple of large bottles and am about to walk away, but I’m struck with a sudden urge to swim in a body of water that no other man has before.

Once again, I strip naked before dipping a foot in the clear water. It’s fresh and invigorating. I procrastinate a moment over what creatures might inhabit the lake, but the apprehension soon passes and I plunge in. It feels incredible and immediately cools me down. There are indeed little fish in here, but they’re a lot more afraid of me than I am of them and dart in every direction. A family of wild pigs take interest in my aquatic antics for a minute before disappearing into the trees again. This is amazing! I feel more alive right now than ever.

As I climb out of the lake some time later, I wonder if I’ve spent a little too long in there, but I remind myself that this is my island. I make the rules here. How I choose to survive is my business and nobody can interfere. That kind of power, that kind of freedom is something I’ve never experienced and it’s admittedly intoxicating. I dress myself; caring little that I’ve wet my clothes; and carry the water back to camp.

When I arrive back, I’m greeted by a couple of unexpected visitors. A pair of leatherback sea turtles has come ashore. I have no idea what they’re doing or why, but they don’t seem ruffled by my presence. They don’t even mind when I reach out and touch their shells. It pleases me that they seem to know I’m no harm to them. What beautiful creatures! I feel a little melancholy when they finally decide to leave, but what a moment!

I’m hungry so I decide I’ll cook some veggies over the fire again. The smell obviously attracts my pig friends from earlier and they come over sniffing around. They’re wary of me, but soon venture closer when they realise I’m offering up some of my grub. The piglets are absolutely adorable and seem really intrigued by me; sniffing around and trying to jump on my knee. They’re like puppies. I don’t even mind that they go on to eat all my food meaning I’ll now have to pick some more.

After gathering more vegetables, I prepare them and finally feed myself. I then pick up my Friedrich Nietzsche and head for the rocky prominence. There I sit reading until sunset. I close the book as the sun is on its final approach to the horizon. It’s the most beautiful and dramatic sunset I’ve ever seen; a true deathbed memory. As the orange orb slips beneath the horizon, a stiff breeze picks up and I can see storm clouds approaching from the south. Time to head back to camp.

The previous night was glorious and breath-taking in its own right, but tonight is equally so, albeit in a much more vivacious fashion. I watch from my tent as the rain sheets down, the thunder rumbles louder than I’ve ever heard, the lightning illuminates everything as though it were a brief flash of daylight and the waves crash against the shore violently only feet away from where I sit. It’s exhilarating and fearsome in equal measure. I’ve never felt more organically involved in a storm before.

After an hour that feels more like several, the storm passes and the clouds quickly dissipate to reveal the twinkling stars behind. If I ignore the wet sand on the beach it’s as though the storm never even happened. It occurs to me that I haven’t got any writing done today so I quickly set up the campfire (I remembered to store the firewood before the storm) and work away. Again, the inspiration flows from what has been another unforgettable day on my island.

The following five days pass quickly, but no less perfectly. I cover every square metre of the place and there’s something else to discover in each one, even if only on a small scale. I learn more about myself in those days than at any point in my life before. I feel closer to nature than I ever have. I’ll miss the family of pigs that turned up daily after that second day to eat my veg and play. I wonder if they’ll turn up tomorrow. I hope it doesn’t upset them when they realise I’m not there. How strange; I was the only human inhabitant on this island and yet I still managed to make friends.

I feel I owe this perfect little island something. It’s given me so much; it surely makes sense to offer a little sacrifice in its honour. I ask the captain of the vessel that’s here to collect me to hold on for a while as I make my way up the prominence one last time.

Breathing heavily from the jog up, I retrieve my copy of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. I scribble a quick note inside the front cover thanking the island for all it’s given me and then lodge it beneath the rock I’ve used as a seat each time I’ve gone up there. This seems a fitting tribute as I’ve taken to calling the prominence Zarathustra Peak. I take one last look around and down at my island. I hate to leave, but my family and friends await my return and they’ll have many questions to ask.

I stand at the stern of the vessel and watch as my island disappears into the distance. Tears protrude from my eyes. They’re tears of sadness because I’m leaving and tears of happiness because I had the experience. The captain asks me what I decided to call the island. I don’t answer straightaway. In all honesty, I haven’t even thought about it until now. I look at him and smile. My response is just one word; “Mine“.

I found my paradise on an earth that I had become convinced was so grotesque. I make my vow then and there to return one day. And I will. I definitely will…

How would your ideal desert island compare to Mine? Does the thought of being stranded fill you with fear or are you the kind of person who would revel in it like I would? I would love to know your thoughts and feelings about it so please leave a comment below. Thanks for reading.

Image Credits

Image header from Silversurfers article ‘Desert Island Discs: the best interviews’ by Silversurfers Feature Editor.

Image one from Oregon Entrepreneurs Network article ‘If You Were Stranded on a Desert Island, Which Entrepreneur Would You Want There With You?’

100-likes
As a footnote, I would like to thank those who have contributed to the 100 likes my blog has received so far. You’re all amazing!

115 thoughts on “Paul.E.Bailey’s World – Desert Island (My First WordPress Short Story)”

  1. Pingback: Paul.E.Bailey’s World – Six Months Later… | Paul.E.Bailey's World

      3. I’d have no idea where that would be near me at the moment LOL… I’ve been known to just walk out and drive myself somewhere to sit in the car and have a cigarette… if nothing else… but to be fair, that scenario usually happens during a fight – I have the urge to just get away in those cases

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      6. I can appreciate that. Isn’t it weird how as child you’ll cry at the drop of a hat, but as you get older you generally rarely cry in front of others even in times of serious grief. I can’t remember the last time I cried in front of anybody. Or to myself actually

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      12. Weirdly, the reply I just gave to your comment on anorther post could apply here. I’ve been too busy with my writing to actually have time to play on my PS4 of late, though I imagine an Assassin’s Creed marathon is inbound once I’ve finished editing my novel

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  3. Reblogged this on SUMMER STARTS TO SHINE and commented:
    This blogger bloke (A northerner like me *claps and cheers*) is fast becoming one of my fave writers. This was one of his early posts, which I’ve just come across…a description of his desert island fantasy. Beautiful escapist writing which painted pretty pictures in my mind and evoked imagination of lush sensory experiences. I so need to step into this story. Maybe I’ll write my own Summer spin off desert island story. Mmm. When you read this, imagine what your desert island dream would be 😍😍😍 Bloody LUSH X

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  4. This is SO GOOD. Although it’s fictional it feels like I am imagining you there. It’s a dream world you’ve created. The details make the write pop. I’d wanna be there with you, based on that description. Just fabulous. I’m reblogging this baby 🙂 X xx

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  5. Pingback: Have a read at this amazing young gentleman’s latest blog. A very interesting and descriptive short story. This guy just keeps evolving with his writing. | Just a few words about ….

  6. Another great read Paul. Love the descriptive element of the story. I can see you evolving with each blog you post. You know I have very confidence that you will achieve you goal of getting published. You know I’m behind you every step of the way. Keep up the amazing writing

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  7. Just looked and was surprised to find she’s American. And quite busty, hahaha. I don’t watch reality television generally. The minute someone cry’s at the drop of a hat, I’m done. It’s horrible how everyone’s crying in every damn show these days.

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    1. I only know of her because my bloody girlfriend watches Teen Mom. Farrah is an absolute dick face! The crying is bad enough, but the worst thing about her is that she literally won’t let anybody tell her she’s wrong. She argues with somebody every episode and her style of arguing is talking louder than the other person every time they say something. I’d like her to get run over by a Bugatti Veyron. Twice!

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      2. Please! Give me some credit. I’d rather watch Manchester City than Teen Mom! It’s still bloody going and she doesn’t miss it. It could be worse I suppose. She could be watching The Only Way Is Essex or Geordie Shore.
        I wasn’t so much yelling as using my rant voice. My rant voice is much more passionate than my yell.

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      6. Aware of the names because all shite American TV makes it over here before long. We’ve started with Cheshire Housewives over here. I’d happily shoot anybody who takes time out of their day to watch such drivel. Seriously; go out and get a goddamned hobby!

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      7. Agreed. There’s so many hours a day wasted on that crap. I feel the same for candy crush. No offense if you play but I know so many that are literally addicted. Wasting away opportunities to interact with people and or learn something new.

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      8. Nope, I do not play it and never have. It’s utter bullshit! It really gets on my tits that they’re all a ‘saga’ as well. There is nothing saga-esque about swiping bits of computerised candy to create rows or columns of the same colour. I despise the whole premise of games like that. Just another way to turn people into complete dullards with no personality. How people don’t realise that it’s all part of a big game to turn them into mindless zombies I will never know.
        You’re my new highest commenter by the way. The guy behind you is somebody I actually know in the flesh as well so that’s mightily impressive. Haha

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      10. As an Englishman I should be annoyed about that, but as I’m in no way patriotic I’m not annoyed in the slightest. England sucks! To be fair, I’m ignoring Facebook because of you so I’m actually really grateful for our back and forth

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      11. I didn’t even think of the whole Eng-Scot rivalry. Hee hee.
        I’m glad to be a distraction. I’ve cut down my FB time for a while now. I don’t like all the spam or hateful posts. I do check periodically to see family pictures and original updates though.
        My WP app is acting up, so if you get a million identical posts, thats why.

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      12. I have no beef with the Jocks. I don’t like Wales, but it’s a tongue-in-cheek hatred. ROFL (you’ve started something now).
        I go on FB more than I’d like, but WP has definitely stemmed the flow. I try to use the app as little as possible and go on my laptop instead. It’s miles more convenient

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      13. I use my phone for most of it, its more portable. Then I can fold laundry and whatnot without missing out on everyone’s stories. I think I may be developing a WP problem. Harr, Harr, Harr! (You like that?! lol)

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      14. Hahahahahahahahaaaaaarrrrrrr!!! That’s my pirate laugh in written form. As a pirate I have to have a pirate laugh.
        Of course, you have all the mum stuff to perform so it makes more sense. I manage to work around it, plus my laptop is invariably on because I’m either working on future blogs or editing my big project

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      15. If I leave mine on, my son begins an unending loop of whiney begging to download minecraft and other spammy crap onto my laptop. For my sanity, I usually just write the bigger stories when they’re at school. It’s safer for everyone that way. Hmm..hm.hmm..hm. (My smarmy closed mouthed brititsh lady laugh)

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      16. That had me in stitches. Well done you cunny funt! (I assume that hasn’t made its way Stateside yet)
        My little protégé isn’t in school yet and takes a vested interest in my laptop so I have to try and keep it out of his reach. The other child knows better than to ask to download crap on my laptop. His dad might be a muggy prick, but I certainly ain’t. Sense the animosity there? Mmm-mmm-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah (that’s the Count from Sesame Street)

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      17. Nope cunny funt is new, I can guess at the meaning. lol. People don’t say cunt much here. My husband calls most of his friends Pussy or Bitch. Not too much of a difference. Muggy is a new descriptor also.
        Many of my friends do the quadruple parenting thing. It can get pretty rowdy. Some people still keep a high school level of drama in their lives. Eventually they settle it down, but not usually until the kids are in their teens.

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      18. Muggy is a very Cockney term. I try to avoid such terms as I’m a long, long way from being a Cockney.
        Cunt is very popular over here, especially when people are drunk. It’s probably seen as the most vulgar swear word as well.
        My other half and her ex boyfriend have extremely conflicting views on how to raise their son and the arguments are pretty much constant. We try to instil some values in him, such as earning a reward for doing something good, while his dad just constantly gives him rewards regardless. Obviously as a result the kid feels he should have what he likes when he likes. That’s just one example

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      19. Seems to be typical behavior for single dads. It’s easier to give in (not in the long run) and they think the kid will like them better. But as everyone knows, kids respect and want boundaries. Even if they don’t know it yet.
        ㅋㅋㅋㅋ! ( Korean text Lol)

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      20. He isn’t single. His girlfriend has no kids of her own though. The bad thing about that is if she ever has kids with him she’ll take her cue from him and parent in exactly the same way. God help that child!
        My girlfriend’s son definitely prefers his dad at present. It’s all about what he can get, but he is only 8. Hopefully he’ll realise that he’s being bought by his dad eventually.
        Okay, I think you have me beat in the laugh department. I can’t think of the Latin for ‘hahaha’…

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      22. Hopefully, but the boy has his father’s personality and I’m not just saying this because I feel personal animosity towards him…the guy is a bellend of the highest order. Material in every sense of the word. He doesn’t pay CSA (or whatever the equivalent is in the US), yet has the capital to turn up in new clothes and new cars every week. Runs a business without paying taxes and works a job alongside it, but somehow still gets away with not paying what he’s legally obliged to. Despite this, he still expects to be given all the rights and privileges where his son is concerned. He’s an awful and shady human being. A poisonous influence on the boy

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      25. I’m sure you will. But at least you’ve got full control over your little one. Well, at least as much control one can have of a toddler.
        Huphupphuphub! (Laugh of a fat man with a mouth full of food)

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      31. Good one! I haven’t seen B & Butthead in ages.
        Its a wonder I survived really. My parents were definitely using the free range kids strategy. I did what what I liked all day. It was fun, but its scary looking back now as a parent thinking of all the trouble I got myself into.

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      32. Love Beavis & Butthead. Spent the majority of my adolescence watching it. Got all the old series’ on DVD somewhere too. I’ll introduce my boy to it one day.
        My folks were quite hands on; my mum anyway. But we grew up in an area where there were loads of places to play outdoors so we were generally off out on adventures. I gradually became more rebellious the older I got. It started with doing ‘stuff’ with girls, then smoking and finally drinking. Aside from the odd spliff I didn’t get into drugs thankfully. Not that weed is a drug in any way, despite what people think (my opinion of course)

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      33. Yeah, I got most of my drinking and smoking done before I turned 18. My husband decided to quit smoking a few months before my 18th birthday and wouldn’t buy them for me anymore. So I quit too. I’m so glad I did because I was smoking at least a pack a day then and I dont know how people pay for it now! Still have the occasional cig when I drink. I did have the maturity to know not to touch the hard stuff at least. Nothing harder than weed anyway.

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      34. The drinking has never stopped for me, but I’ve stemmed the flow over the past three or so years. I usually partake in a bottle of Colombard and a few bottles of Moretti at weekend, but nothing more. I certainly don’t drink during the week. I knocked smoking on the head a few years ago after I returned from a short break in Prague where smoking is cheaper than breathing. As for weed, not touched that in smeg knows how long. I didn’t smoke it very often anyway so it’s not like I miss it. Very, very rarely I’ll smoke a proper corona as I’ve always loved cigars, but the last one was NYE. Before that my last one was in Prague

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      35. Everything sounds fancy if you throw Prague in there. lol And I’m sure it shows how little I drink that I’ve never heard of any of those liquors.
        And cigars!..Bleck! haha Im allergic, my sinuses immediately rebel and it feels like Ive put on a lead helmet.

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      36. Prague is beautiful! Honestly the most beautiful city I’ve seen.
        Colombard is a wine and Moretti is a lager. I don’t do liquors. My stomach can’t handle them.
        Most normal people don’t like cigars, but then I’ve never, ever thought of myself as anything remotely normal

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      38. I’ve seen normal. No thanks! I’d rather be odd. Normal is fifty people liking a Facebook status about somebody going on holiday while a post about; oh I don’t know; supporting somebody’s blog gets a few likes at best. Normal can swing on left one! Am I bitter? Bet yo sweet backend I am!

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      39. It’ll get there. Just keep shoving it in their faces and they’ll eventually look up from candy crush and notice. At least you have a FB account up for your blog. If I had one for mine I would friend you, but I dont. I don’t think I could get anything written with another distraction. HUhh, heee, Huhhh, hee huh (the laugh of an Ass.)

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      40. I have a page running alongside my normal profile. I dropped the friends to page likes ratio and suddenly about five or six people have liked it in one go. Haha. Sadly, Facebook is what I have to rely on until fellow bloggers on WordPress jump on the bandwagon. Once they do I can pretty much nudge Facebook off. Shit site! And you’re right, it is just a distraction. From life in general! Paaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrp! (the laugh of an arse)

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      41. hahahaha! That’s a good one.
        I spend a lot of time reading peoples stories and leaving comments, and I’m steadily getting numbers. Not that I have a reason or a care to get numbers, like you do, since you have your book. Maybe eventually. No one that I actually know in person reads or knows of my blog. I am keeping it all on WP. It’s still too embarrassing for me to have people I know read and critic my writing.

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      42. You’ve changed your picture to something scary. Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrgh and shit! I try to read as many people’s blogs as I can, but I should probably read more. I don’t mind people I know reading my stuff. Who are they to judge me? I don’t see them writing anything. I also don’t mind critique as I’d rather know what mistakes I was making than remain oblivious

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      43. Yes, I guess. I just get embarrassed, I don’t know why. I’m sure I’ll make that leap sometime. The new pic is of the makeup I put on for Halloween last year. Ah, the many uses of latex. I thought it would be fun to put up until Halloween passes. Hee..Hee..Hee..

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      44. It’s perfectly understandable. You just gotta do it in your own time. Personally I don’t see how anybody could think your stuff is anything less than brilliant.
        Can’t remember the last time I got dressed up for Halloween. I tend to hibernate for it as it’s close to Bonfire Night over here and chavs like to throw fireworks at people. Delightful!

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      45. We take our kids out and get candy, the neighborhood’s good for it. Fire works are only legal here for the month of July. So luckily that isn’t a problem, I’ve never heard of Bonfire Night. It sounds…dangerous.
        I haven’t gotten a bad review yet, but there’s a fear I may and it will crush my want to write. Kind of stupid logically, but my brain refuses to listen to logic sometimes. lol

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      46. Bonfire Night is a ‘celebration’ of the British government’s thwarting of a plan by Guy Fawkes to destroy the Houses of Parliament. Have you ever seen V for Vendetta? That’s a retelling of the story set in the near future. There’s the rhyme that goes with it too. “Remember, remember the Fifth of November; The Gunpowder Treason and plot; I can think of no reason the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot”. Our government basically making a big deal over something that would probably have sparked a revolution and benefitted us all. Meh well!
        Halloween can piss off too. Because it’s such a big deal Stateside obviously we have to copy. Surprised we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Independence Day too. We certainly celebrate St Patrick’s Day more than St George’s Day, but as somebody who isn’t remotely patriotic that doesn’t bother me at all.
        I actually look forward to my first bad review because it’ll do one of two things. Either start an argument or cause me to actually take the criticism on board and become better. Well, better get cracking with my next post…

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      47. Thank you for explaining it for me, I did see V for vendetta. Kind of a funny reason for a holiday but then ours are mostly silly too. Just had “Columbus” day when he didn’t actually even discover America. Anyway…
        I like Halloween just for the fact that it doesn’t require me to stand in a kitchen half the day cooking for everyone. And there’s candy of course. Lol
        I wouldn’t turn down helpful criticism. It’s more that I don’t want to be made fun of by people I can’t tell to go duck off.
        Happy writing!

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      48. Haha. Columbus Day. Wasn’t it Amerigo Vespucci who ‘discovered’ America? Amerigo, America. Sort of makes sense. Even though the indigenous folk who lived there before effectively discovered it. Hasn’t evidence of Viking landings been found up north too? I don’t know, I may have made that up.
        It’s weird; we used to get money over here when trick or treating, but of course as has already been mentioned, we must be like America’s little shadow and do everything you guys do.
        Yeah, I can see your dilemma there. I don’t have such scruples. If somebody tried to show me up on my blog I’d tear them a new arsehole, both metaphorically and physically.
        It wasn’t hard to do today because I didn’t have photos/pictures to credit. All the quotes were made by me

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      49. You know more of it than me, it seems. I glazed that class over in my brain. It seems most of the information in my text book was wrong anyway. I watched a really cool documentary about the vikings and how they most likely were in Canada and on the east coast of the US. And hey, they didn’t feel the need to commit genocide on the Natives…

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      50. Clive Cussler made the viking landing theme of one of his books and it urged me to look into it more. It wouldn’t shock me because they were awesome sailors. As for the genocide, Britain and indeed Europe have been good at doing that. Let’s not discount every other continent they’ve had their greedy mitts on

        Liked by 1 person

      51. The well and true genocide of the Natives was done by the good ol’ USA. They actually had an Indian Removal Act. Like we were rats or something. Anyway,..the pricks.
        Not to downplay all the bad crap going on in Europe in the name of God and Church. That was lovely. (Dammit! I need my sarcasm button!)

        Liked by 1 person

      52. It’s disgusting how the western world has treated the rest of it for the past so many hundreds of years. Indigenous Americans were the ones who believed in natural equilibrium with earth and always repaid whatever they took. They were so barbarous…
        The Vatican is and always has been a corrupt place. Anybody who’s not totally ignorant knows of Rodrigo Borgia at the minimum. The papacy has always been a symbol of the greed of monotheistic religion. Not that other religions aren’t every bit as corrupt as Catholicism

        Liked by 1 person

      53. I’m ignorant, I suppose. I looked him up though. Not a good chap. I tend to not trust extremely religious people. Some are awesome and put me to shame, but some… eew, just eww.
        Yes it’s funny how people are coming up with green living and thinking its a new/their idea. Bitch please..

        Liked by 1 person

      54. Yeah, he was a bit of an dick. The series dedicated to him starring Jeremy Irons is bloody good though.
        Haha. Yeah I know exactly what you mean. Martyrs! They wouldn’t have a clue how to cope if all the technology suddenly ceased to be

        Liked by 1 person

      58. For the problem just to start again once the numbers increased and greed took its hold on a select few. It’s the sad nature of people. You’ll never be rid of megalomaniacs while humans have conscious thought, wants and desires

        Liked by 1 person

      59. I would hope they would use it as an opportunity to keep more of a balance in the world. But your probably closer to the truth. But I do have an optimistic nature.

        Like

      60. Oh also, I dont know if you care to or not, but you can erase some of these 80+ comments, if you wanted. Its possible, is all I’m saying. I don’t think there is a limit on comments, but we have made a lot. lol

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much. It’s building slowly but surely. I keep having to remind myself of that fact because I’m exceedingly impatient and wishing bad things on people who aren’t reading my stuff. Haha or LOL. Whichever you fancy

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. All you can do is put out stuff for them to see. I can never tell what the heck people are going to read. I try not to care anyway. Usually I succeed. Teehee, teehee.(here’s a new one, kind of creepy)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yeah, that is creepy. Don’t do it again 😛 The sticky out tongue is also creepy. Most of the time I don’t give a shit as I’d rather have people like you appraising my stuff; people in the know. But every so often I get wound up with their ignorance. Mainly because if I achieve what I want they’ll likely suddenly give a crap again

        Like

  9. Great, descriptive story! I enjoyed it a lot. As to your questions, I would love to be alone on a deserted island, except for the night. It would be scary not to have someone to nudge when I heard a scary noise. Other than that, it would be a blast. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the show, Naked and Afraid, but they let loose a nude person with one survival item and meet up with another naked stranger. Those two must survive for a month, building everything they need. From this I’ve learned that, next to a lighter, the best thing to have is a big bottle of bug spray with an added sunscreen.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’ve never seen that show, but I may have to GOOGLE it (ha) and have a watch. The night would probably freak me out too if I’m honest, hence why I made the point of my island having been thermally imaged so they knew there were no predators living on it. A place of total solitude though would be amazing for somebody like me

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Boogeymen have no bodyheat, didn’t you know? 😨
        Ps- SNL did a funny clip using the premise of Naked and Afraid, Peter Dinklage (game of thrones), and a very tall comedian woman were in it. It would give you the gist.
        I also enjoy being alone when I can. Kind of antisocial, I guess. Being around people takes a lot of energy it seems.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Ah, but I’m the creature in The Boogeyman’s dreams so I don’t give a monkey’s chuff about him. Besides, he was a crappy jobber wrestler. I’d kick his arse!
        I’m a weird mixture of antisocial people hater and overly nice and polite gentleman. I usually see the good side in people I get talking to straight away, but before that point I see them as entities that are using oxygen I could be using and taking up space I could be occupying

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Just had to Google chuff, I cant believe I’ve gone 34 years and am just now hearing this awesome word. Crazy! Jobber is new to me also. I love the different way you describe things.
        I try to empathise with most people, but you can tell some are assholes the second you meet the.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I acquired ‘monkey’s chuff’ from Jimmy Nail (the sexiest man who ever lived) after he said it an episode of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. As for jobber, that’s very much a wrestling term and is used to describe somebody who’s there simply to make other people look good. My level of empathy depends entirely on their situation. I can’t stand people who moan about the slightest of problems as though the world somehow owes them a debt, yet I am drawn to people with genuine problems; often manifesting itself as a romantic attraction in the past

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Sounds like theres some interesting stories there…
        It’s hard not to want to fix people’s problems when you can. I just can’t stand it when you help someone and then they don’t bother to help themselves. It makes me just shut them out. Useless.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. There are some interesting stories. Very much so!
        I agree; I like to assist those in need of assistance, but when they’re totally unprepared to assist themselves as well then it just alienates you. I’ve closed the book on many a whining twat who just persisted to be the cause of their own hang-ups

        Liked by 1 person

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