24 Comments
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Kate Harvey's avatar

This is brilliant, Ros!

I think we must be a similar age as I do feel like there was a point in my late thirties where everything was just the peak of things getting better and better, then it just curved downwards, went sour and now is just awful.

We still have our voices though, and things will change again. 🙏🏻✨

Ros Barber's avatar

Hopefully in our lifetimes! Thank you, Kate, I really appreciate the comment.

k. m. huber's avatar

don't it always seem to seem

like we otter be somewhere else?

Ros Barber's avatar

Ha! The perfect subtitle and I missed it!!

Elizabeth Yoffe's avatar

Love this, Ros! And I’m about to start The Marlowe Papers. As an independent documentary producer I can completely relate to the frustration about the transformed “aesthetic” of our times. We’ll all stick together and push on because there’s still more lessons to learn, right? Being in the U.S. in this current time has certainly made me want to connect with my own Derek and ask “WTF?” Brilliant as always… 🌹

Matthew C Sutcliffe's avatar

Best start to a writing day - any say, lately - I may just go choose a favourite pebble and float in the paddling pool I got rid of when the kids were... 30+.

Where's the Etsy shop? Do I have to go FIND it?)

Ros Barber's avatar

It’s linked in the text above or you can click on the T-shirt pic. I’ve got an inflatable pool that I’ve been sitting in all week, it’s been a lifesaver.

DMHardc's avatar

I would also choose 36 and yes I have thought about it. What a time, fully in your entire power and nothing has started to seize up yet. Love to you ❤️

Ros Barber's avatar

Ah, thanks, DMH x

Elisia's avatar

hey Ros! Love your writing! Just flagging your 'buy me a coffee' button doesn't take us to your payment link (so update when you can).

Ros Barber's avatar

Gosh, Elisia, it is so kind of you to say so and to point this out. Fixed now, I think. Thank you 💜💜 💜

Elisia's avatar

No worries!!

According to Mimi's avatar

Excellent work here. Customer service and poor exchange rates. Love this quirky humor mixed with the depth of psychology and angst.

Fingers crossed that if writers keep pushing, things will get better for the written word, especially for those who excel at it.

Ros Barber's avatar

Thank you Mimi. I had a lot of fun writing this one; it flowed through fast and clear.

According to Mimi's avatar

Tell Derek I appreciate him "sending" you these ideas.

Ros Barber's avatar

My calls keep going straight to voicemail at the moment, but I'll let him know the next time he picks up. Happily, he keeps sending ideas through even when he's ignoring feedback ;-).

According to Mimi's avatar

This whole thing would make such a great screenplay. Faust meets Beetelgeuse!

Ros Barber's avatar

It reminds me a little of one of my favourite old movies when I was a teen, 'Bedazzled' with Peter Cook as the devil and Dudley Moore as the guy who just can't seem to get the right results with his satanic pact wishes. Although from the trailer (which I've just found and watched) you wouldn't necessarily know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBH1jMLzMCs

According to Mimi's avatar

Very Faustian. I had never heard of this one!

Charlie Finch's avatar

This was great. Sort of gave me a little Douglas Adams / Terry Pratchett feel. Will there be more?

Ros Barber's avatar

Thanks, Charlie. No, it was a one-off sketch.

Charlie Finch's avatar

I really liked it. I'd read more about these characters.

Eva Baker's avatar

Next time you speak to Derek can you ask how long until it gets better again. In the meantime I’m gonna try and reconnect with my imaginary twin sisters. We lost touch about 45 years ago. Their names are Elizabeth and Caroline if anyone knows them.