Thank you for sharing Hagstone with us, Tom. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I have a hagstone of my own and am now off to look through it at the cows in the field opposite my house. They have been behaving oddly over the last few days and I suspect they are not cows at all.
Three hagstones on one walk, wonderful! Love the story but am now wondering whether the hum I hear in the middle of the night is ominous. Must find hagstone and check out the dog.
I'd been searching years for a hagstone, went to a beach on Yorkshire coast and found 3, one with magical barnacles too. Not sure what the barnacles mean, being able to see true sea creatures? Love the story
PS Never knew they were called hagstones, nor that they were associated with witches, but have been fascinated by them all my life. It now all makes sense...
What a fun story, I love the whimsy and the twists! I collect rocks. I would love to find a hagstone someday. The nearest large body of water to me where they can be found is Lake Michigan (Wisconsin side for me). Now you've got me motivated to take a drive to one of its beaches to find a magical one.
"In time, I get over it, and find much about being alone soothing, including the realisation that the industrial rattling noise I used to hear in the middle of the night was not a ghost, like I’d thought, but merely Mandy efficiently refreshing her ice department."
That made me laugh out loud. I'd have scared the cats but they weren't in the room with me. Thank you.
I’m sorry plummeting subscriber numbers are causing you to worry. More fools they are. You ARE enchanting and hilarious and I have no doubt your work, your singular voice, is loved and appreciated by just the right people because I am one of them. I loved the story, your way of looking at the world is a constant sheer delight.
What a magnificent, imaginative short story! ❤️❤️❤️❤️. I would be proud to cross-post it on Tea, Book & Hammock for my readers to explore your work and page. Do I have your permission?
Thank you for this wonderful story which (coincidentally?) appeared when I rediscovered my holiday hagstone from Flamborough South Landing! Apparently my phone isn't a phone but a portal to psychic coincidences! (Or it's listening to me, you choose!)
Love it. Even at the end of a hot and bothersome week of the day job, and no dinner in sight unless I rouse myself or push my husband in the general direction of the kitchen. Perhaps I’ll find the freezer drawer and eat ice cream instead. Thank you for putting my life in perspective.
Thank you for sharing Hagstone with us, Tom. I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, I have a hagstone of my own and am now off to look through it at the cows in the field opposite my house. They have been behaving oddly over the last few days and I suspect they are not cows at all.
Got the mad giggles upon reading:
"...efficiently refreshing her ice department."
Thanks for the hilariously oddball short story, Tom. I am always encouraged by the way you love what you do (and are so good at).
Thanks Jane!
Three hagstones on one walk, wonderful! Love the story but am now wondering whether the hum I hear in the middle of the night is ominous. Must find hagstone and check out the dog.
This story makes for wonderfully entertaining reading with conversations and twists that could've only been pulled from your imagination Tom!
I love it!
Thanks Gemma!
I'd been searching years for a hagstone, went to a beach on Yorkshire coast and found 3, one with magical barnacles too. Not sure what the barnacles mean, being able to see true sea creatures? Love the story
PS Never knew they were called hagstones, nor that they were associated with witches, but have been fascinated by them all my life. It now all makes sense...
What a fun story, I love the whimsy and the twists! I collect rocks. I would love to find a hagstone someday. The nearest large body of water to me where they can be found is Lake Michigan (Wisconsin side for me). Now you've got me motivated to take a drive to one of its beaches to find a magical one.
"In time, I get over it, and find much about being alone soothing, including the realisation that the industrial rattling noise I used to hear in the middle of the night was not a ghost, like I’d thought, but merely Mandy efficiently refreshing her ice department."
That made me laugh out loud. I'd have scared the cats but they weren't in the room with me. Thank you.
I’m sorry plummeting subscriber numbers are causing you to worry. More fools they are. You ARE enchanting and hilarious and I have no doubt your work, your singular voice, is loved and appreciated by just the right people because I am one of them. I loved the story, your way of looking at the world is a constant sheer delight.
Thanks Suzanne!
This is the only Substack I've paid to become a subscriber of.
Always writing that is nonchalant and humorous in tone yet still possesses that ability to draw in the reader.
Thank you, Thomas.
What a magnificent, imaginative short story! ❤️❤️❤️❤️. I would be proud to cross-post it on Tea, Book & Hammock for my readers to explore your work and page. Do I have your permission?
You absolutely do! Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful story which (coincidentally?) appeared when I rediscovered my holiday hagstone from Flamborough South Landing! Apparently my phone isn't a phone but a portal to psychic coincidences! (Or it's listening to me, you choose!)
Love it. Even at the end of a hot and bothersome week of the day job, and no dinner in sight unless I rouse myself or push my husband in the general direction of the kitchen. Perhaps I’ll find the freezer drawer and eat ice cream instead. Thank you for putting my life in perspective.
Must find a hagstone.
Well that took a turn. Thank you 😆
A great story. It passed the suspension of disbelief test😇
Thank you!