Category Archives: childhood

Etiquette And The Modern World

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

There are individuals whose sensibilities and reluctance to cause offense can seriously damage their chances of making the best of any situation. I am reminded of an event in history when the Kingdom of Postonia got embroiled in an unfortunate … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, creative writing, Fiction, humour, Peter Wells | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

A Mother’s Love

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

I met Ronnie when we were in the same class at school together. He was a bit of a “character” if that is the right word for someone who is somehow challenging, disturbing and demands to be the dominant male … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, creative writing, Fiction, Peter Wells, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Memories Of My Mother

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

While physically present in my childhood, my mother was always more absorbed by questions of faith than the people around her so, in practical terms, she was seldom involved in my daily life. Every week the same succession of meals would … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, creative writing, Fiction, Peter Wells, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

Araminta

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

Araminta was always the love of my life and I hers for a time, I believe, but then it stopped. As teenagers we would run across the rocks of the Cornish beach year after year and adventures of the youthful … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, creative writing, Fiction, humour, Love, Peter Wells, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Cost Of Me

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

It took about forty years to realise we were complete strangers linked by common genes and history; and that moment of awakening took place after her death. During her life my mother lectured me constantly on my awkward manner, or … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, creative writing, Fiction, Love, marriage, Peter Wells, Relationships, Romance | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

An Unsettling Seduction

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

My mother was a woman of rigorous order and routine, disregarding a weakness for iced-buns, and few things were allowed to alter the structure of her day or week, including unnecessary “Hysterical” displays, which was the generic term she applied … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, Creative Fiction, Fiction, old-age, Peter | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

A Glorious Man In Passing But Impossible to Live With

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

I remember those heady days when we first entered college, dropped our bags and said goodbye to our parents, after conversations filled with awkward love and soon-forgotton advice. I remember meeting my new roommates, and sharing stories and then drinks and nodding a … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, community, creative writing, Environment, faith, Fiction, Life, Love, Peter Wells, Relationships, Romance, Talent, values, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Love Again For Me

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

The time for pretending was now over . Her gaunt face on the pillow, taking fought-for shallow breaths. Madelaine our only child, sleeping quietly in my arms, too young to watch her mother’s presence living out its final throw. “Love again,” my dear wife told. “Do … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, creative writing, faith, Fiction, Life, Love, Peter Wells, poetry, Relationships, Romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Family Gatherings

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

I am well-supplied with sisters and one of them had a “milestone” birthday so her two daughters held a party at which cousins from far and wide, of various levels of connection turned up to wave the family flag and wish … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, community, creative writing, Environment, faith, Life, old age, Peter Wells, Relationships, Uncategorized, values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Born Surplus To Requirements

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Peter Wells aka Countingducks

Late in September, some decades ago, a short episode of unremarkable intimacy, coloured by manners more than passion  and governed by ritual rather than appetite, ended the day of a man and wife. This infrequent coupling, occasioned by the man’s diffidently expressed appetite and the ladies “strained-against” sense of duty, was a … Continue reading →

Posted in character, childhood, creative writing, faith, Fiction, Life, Love, Peter Wells, Relationships, Romance, values, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments