stephen west (harmattan) Profile Page
stephen west (harmattan)
Hits 2938
Online Status OFFLINE
Member Since 07/30/2008
Last Online 01/04/2009
Connections 8
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About Myself: I am an E. Yorks lad, 62 years, 6ft tall, glasses and a paunch. I have been many things, seen many things and done many things. With my wife, Patricia, I now live in The Gambia, West Africa, with three dogs, two cats and a thriving international restaurant.
Had massive stroke four years ago. Walk, talk, drive and work but not steady on my feet and my memory lets me down. Trying to cobble together a book entitled “Harmattan; Wit and Witless!” Some new stuff, some previously published in newspapers and African magazines: a journal of memories and personal experiences that, I hope, will make people smile or, sometimes, pause to ponder.

My words to live by come from John G Neihardt:

Let me live out my years in heat of blood
Let me die drunk with the dreamer’s wine
Let me not see this soul-house built of mud
Go toppling to the dust a vacant shrine
Let me go quickly like a candlelight
Snuffed out just at the hey-day of its glow
Give me high noon...... then let it be night
Thus I would go
And grant me, when I face the grisly thing
One haughty cry to pierce the grey perhaps
Oh let me be a tune-swept fiddle string
That feels the master melody.....
And snaps.

JGH calls this "A Youth's Prayer", but he was writing over 75 years ago!

Stories


Published Short Stories

 
DateTitleCategoryHits
Sep 29, 2008TO WHOM IT MIGHT CONCERN (Gambia Oct '08)Non-Fiction 484
Sep 26, 2008IN THE CRYPT I SEE MONICAMystery 244
Sep 24, 2008SEIZE THE TIME (Gambia 2008)Non-Fiction 202
Sep 22, 2008MULLET MASONICS (Gambia 1996-2008)Non-Fiction 235
Sep 17, 2008FALLING DOWN (2004)Non-Fiction 228
Sep 10, 2008CAVEAT EMPTOR (Gambia 1996)Humor 206
Sep 1, 2008LIFE, DUTY ,HONOUR AND SERVICE (1)Non-Fiction 254
Sep 1, 2008LIFE, DUTY HONOUR AND SERVICE (2)Non-Fiction 178
Aug 30, 2008MY DAUGHTER. (Healer of the world . 2008)Poetry 230
Aug 28, 2008FAMILY PLANNING: By any other name, 2008Non-Fiction 234
Aug 27, 2008TALESVILLE TERRORSMiscellaneous Stories 255
Aug 25, 2008INTERNATIONALE RELATIONS (C,1971)Poetry 154
Aug 23, 2008PUT DOWN IN HULL (1965)Poetry 196
Aug 21, 2008GO-CARTS AT HORNSEA (1957)Poetry 185
Aug 19, 2008WET AND DRY (Gambia 1999)Non-Fiction 253
Aug 17, 2008CRAZY (Gambia 2005)Non-Fiction 226
Aug 14, 2008GERMAN CRACKERS (Gambia: Christmas 2002)Non-Fiction 235
Aug 12, 2008MELTING IN THE HEAT. (Aids Week, Gambia 2004)Horror 355
Aug 7, 2008ALL THAT GAS (Gambia 2001)Non-Fiction 210
Aug 5, 2008Environmentally Friendly.Poetry 280
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Comments

Total number of comments: 497

Title article: TO WHOM IT MIGHT CONCERN (Gambia Oct '08)
Date: 2008-10-01 17:36:45
To Whom
I just popped back for two minutes to edit this, and I found all your wonderful comments. 
I am doing no more no less than any of you, running up a flag and seeing if anyone salutes. 
I am so cheered by your best wishes thank you. 
The edit: 
I came back to add that on Thurs 3rd Oct I fly to Manchester via Bruxels to don a mop cap and apron and do the housework for pat, because she cannot even lift a cup to her lips for over a week! 
That is the other reason why I will have no time to come to storiesville. 
But I promise I will retrurn. 
I cannot let friends like you down. 
I look forward to further badinage next Whit! 
Thank you from the bottom of my heart 
Harmattan

Title article: The Diary of the unknown Whore, Chapter 2
Date: 2008-09-29 14:22:32
Chapter two
I can see where you are going Elroy, but I will have to catch up in a few month's time. 
This is my last review for a while. 
A bit short, but plenty of information in the brevity. 
Appreciate the hard bitten "street" style too. 
Harmattan

Title article: HOUSE.
Date: 2008-09-29 14:15:11
HOUSE
Terry, 
I opened this box, and I just did not know what to say for several minutes. 
The brutal, savage, hypocritical imagry in your torrent of words has completey phased me out. 
One to read again and again, with relish. 
Thank you for this. 
Harmattan

Title article: WORDS AFTER SEX.
Date: 2008-09-29 14:00:16
WAS
I know exactly what that bastard said to her! 
The bastard! 
You asked Terry. You really did. 
Sad emotive poem about despair. 
And I like your prediliction for the post impressionists too. 
Harmattan

Title article: Acorns Don't Fall Far
Date: 2008-09-28 02:55:19
acorns
This story is not written, it is produced as a mind-film. 
I watched it as I read, it is a documentary about how easily the human race can become media inspired posers. 
There is hope though isnt there? 
Wink. Wink. 
Harmattan

Title article: You Can't Get There From Here
Date: 2008-09-28 02:49:38
here and there
Super conversation piece. 
Style well used. 
If this is true, which end of the phone line were you? 
Harmattan

Title article: Poppy Appeal
Date: 2008-09-27 12:29:42
Poppy?
Only a Derby man could ever call a black and white cat "Poppy"! 
On the rare ocassions that voices are raised in this house Tigerlilly jumps on the table and bites my arm. 
Tabatha? We only see her at meal times. 
Love cats, loved the story. 
Harmattan

Title article: Existentialist mime story
Date: 2008-09-27 12:03:04
EMS
Very well written and poignant story. 
Someone fogot the old adage. 
You have constantly to remind clowns that they should keep passing the open windows. 
Harmattan

Title article: You Want What?
Date: 2008-09-27 11:53:46
Phone?
Who are all these people in the world who do not know about phones. 
I live in one of the smallest poorest countries in the world. 
We have 1.2 million people here, and 1.4 million mobiles. 
At last we are ahead on something. 
Thoroughly enjoyed the comic tale. 
Harmattan

Title article: They are the Dead
Date: 2008-09-27 11:43:16
A vote for tradition is a ?
Max. 
Excellent take on the gurus that many lean upon too heavily for guidance, and to the cost of their freedom. 
"All because you refuse to disagree" ? 
If I am not mistaken you have just ranted the rant I ranted and for which you fell out with me! 
Harmattan

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stephen west (harmattan)'s connections

OFFLINE Kira (kira73)
OFFLINE Helen Moore (HelentheCelt)
OFFLINE Gore And Blood (gore_and_blood)
OFFLINE J. Dane Tyler (DarcKnyt)
OFFLINE Julian (Julian)
OFFLINE Ashutosh Ghildiyal (Ashutosh)
OFFLINE hannah (Eternal_Bliss440)
OFFLINE Philip Neale (philneale1952)
 

Guestbook


Name Entry
Nunyo Bidness (cookingWine)

 Created On: 09/01/2008 23:37:14
Quite the character you put into your comments.
The truth is, you have stumbled into a "youf club", you geezer.
Good stuff though.

Take it easy.
Ashutosh Ghildiyal (Ashutosh)

India
 Created On: 08/28/2008 08:24:14
Edited By Ashutosh Ghildiyal (Ashutosh) On: 09/03/2008 09:45:44
All the best for your forthcoming book.
Philip Neale (philneale1952)

Derbyshire, England
 Created On: 08/18/2008 04:42:17
Getting forgetful in old age - once more act of remissiveness.

Phil
Max Booth III (Chainsaw Enema)

 Created On: 08/14/2008 16:35:36
As Potter said, I enjoy your stories. You can tell you've put a lot of emotion and thought into each one of thems.

Keep 'em comin!
stickfigure (sTiCkFiGuRe)

 Created On: 08/07/2008 15:27:36
Enjoy your style of writing. Carry on.

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