Brilliant story. Jodie really came alive for me, as did Nick. Great ending. I think it WAS Gaiman who said that, composting is a good analogy. I believe many, if not most, and possibly all, writers are collectors of stories, anecdotes and snippets of conversation
Fear not, Nathan. I'm way behind too, which I blame on someone convincing me to watch Dark, which has become a bingefest. My brain has been well and truly tied in knots, and I've only watched around six episodes
Also: "I think it’s really important for a writer to have a compost heap. Everything you read, things that you write, things that you listen to, people you encounter, they can all go on the compost heap. And they will rot down. And out of them grow beautiful stories." —Neil Gaiman
This is hilarious, Nathan! Love how you made do with the little time you had to write your weekly newsletter and took out this little 'sausages in a thermos' treasure and put it to good use.
You're truly using this platform to hone your craft and this is so inspiring. I need to reflect on this.
Collections of the everyday - think that is such a fun and useful way to approach writing. Enjoyed this, Nathan! Technical question: can you actually cook sausages in a thermos? Going on a picnic tomorrow and never heard about this…
Bahaha. Nah, I don't think so. Well, you'd be poaching them, I suppose. Probably a bad idea. This was more the Vienna Sausages in my mind, which I think can be eaten straight out of the can.
I love a little "slice of life" vignette like this. Sometimes it's the stories you have little faith in that surprise you by getting a great reader reaction. Beautifully unsaid but implied is that Tom's jealousy over Nick's date with Jodie gradually turned to a kind of sympathy for a fellow traveler. (I could be wrong but I enjoyed it!)
We always observe and like a sponge soak up all that is around us, store it, keep it, like sausages in a thermos, to squeeze it onto the page sometimes years later. Well done Nathan, a wonderful vignette!
What else might one cook in a thermos!? What woman would not be wooed by such ingenuity? Wonderfully entertaining story, Nathan. I like your exploration into comedy.
I think Jodie made the right decision. I’ve totally been there, some incriminating evidence in metaphorical hand that I thought was totally normal, when someone else pointed out the folly.
Such a sweet final line. And such a brilliant reminder of the amount of fodder in the airwaves! Train journeys, especially. David sometimes plays a game in cities where, as he walks, he opens his ears to snippets of conversation as people go by, and then pieces the sparkliest bis together into a poem, or a song. It's amazing how brilliant some of what floats through, is.
Thanks Mya. I find it quite heartwarming that something I scrawled out in a carefree manner (unlike my usual sweating over each work 😆) has been well received. Hope I haven't ruined the joy of a good thermos! ;)
This is adorable, Nathan - and I love the addendum - aren't we all (well, many of us) full of these little snippets? You've reminded me of my own quite different thermos story - I must use it in something :)
This is hilarious. I thought you were talking about tinned hotdog sausages for a minute and was thinking "they'd be all right" but no, what was described was far worse 😂
Hehe thanks Hannah. You know, my original intention was the hotdog sausage type of canned sausages, but I was happy to leave it open to interpretation as to precisely what sausages ;) 🤢
Brilliant story. Jodie really came alive for me, as did Nick. Great ending. I think it WAS Gaiman who said that, composting is a good analogy. I believe many, if not most, and possibly all, writers are collectors of stories, anecdotes and snippets of conversation
Thanks Terry! Relieved to know I attributed that correctly.
And my sincere apologies, I have at least one of your posts waiting for me in my inbox. Today is catch up day! I hate being a "late" reader.
Fear not, Nathan. I'm way behind too, which I blame on someone convincing me to watch Dark, which has become a bingefest. My brain has been well and truly tied in knots, and I've only watched around six episodes
I wonder who would convince you to do such a thing? 🤔😆
🤣🤣
Yes, to all of this. We are the sponge.
Also: "I think it’s really important for a writer to have a compost heap. Everything you read, things that you write, things that you listen to, people you encounter, they can all go on the compost heap. And they will rot down. And out of them grow beautiful stories." —Neil Gaiman
Aha, thank you. I suppose I could have gone and Googled to check, but you checked for me. Thanks for including the quote.
And thanks for reading as always, Alexander!
I was thinking of Voltaire so I had to check. :)
This is hilarious, Nathan! Love how you made do with the little time you had to write your weekly newsletter and took out this little 'sausages in a thermos' treasure and put it to good use.
You're truly using this platform to hone your craft and this is so inspiring. I need to reflect on this.
Hehe, thanks Claudia. Glad you enjoyed. It was actually a lot of fun to just let go and run with this, zero pressure style :)
That's so cool! Love this approach. Writing should be fun and I turn it into a torture way too often.
Collections of the everyday - think that is such a fun and useful way to approach writing. Enjoyed this, Nathan! Technical question: can you actually cook sausages in a thermos? Going on a picnic tomorrow and never heard about this…
Bahaha. Nah, I don't think so. Well, you'd be poaching them, I suppose. Probably a bad idea. This was more the Vienna Sausages in my mind, which I think can be eaten straight out of the can.
I love a little "slice of life" vignette like this. Sometimes it's the stories you have little faith in that surprise you by getting a great reader reaction. Beautifully unsaid but implied is that Tom's jealousy over Nick's date with Jodie gradually turned to a kind of sympathy for a fellow traveler. (I could be wrong but I enjoyed it!)
100% correct, Jim! Or, at least that was my interpretation too when I watched the words form.
Thanks for reading, appreciate it as always. 😊
We always observe and like a sponge soak up all that is around us, store it, keep it, like sausages in a thermos, to squeeze it onto the page sometimes years later. Well done Nathan, a wonderful vignette!
Hehe, thank you. I'm pleased you enjoyed, sausages and all.
I actually Lol'd. Can't believe it made it's way in there so quick! 😂🤓
Just like the rambling man, I *had* to 😉
😆
I love this - especially the dialog. It felt both intimate, and relaxed, and I wanted to spend the whole afternoon with the two of them.
Thanks Troy, appreciate the comment and you taking the time to read.
What else might one cook in a thermos!? What woman would not be wooed by such ingenuity? Wonderfully entertaining story, Nathan. I like your exploration into comedy.
😆 Surely there would be a maximum wooing by such behaviour ;)
Thanks Ben. It was fun to dip my toes into a little bit of light-hearted humour.
I think Jodie made the right decision. I’ve totally been there, some incriminating evidence in metaphorical hand that I thought was totally normal, when someone else pointed out the folly.
Funny piece, and well done!
Thanks Brian!
And ooo, sounds intriguing 😉
Such a sweet final line. And such a brilliant reminder of the amount of fodder in the airwaves! Train journeys, especially. David sometimes plays a game in cities where, as he walks, he opens his ears to snippets of conversation as people go by, and then pieces the sparkliest bis together into a poem, or a song. It's amazing how brilliant some of what floats through, is.
Ooh now that's amazing. I would love to hear one such tune or piece of poetry.
I overheard a real gem today, involving words that would be far too vulgar to leave permanently scribed to this screen.
I’ll dig some out to share! And now I’m absolutely dying to know what you consider too vulgar for the screen…
👍👍
I think I have a mental line that I wouldn't cross, but maybe I would, if it felt worth it haha 😄
Very impressive that you managed to write such a gem under the pressure of time, and thermos will never be the same again!
Thanks Mya. I find it quite heartwarming that something I scrawled out in a carefree manner (unlike my usual sweating over each work 😆) has been well received. Hope I haven't ruined the joy of a good thermos! ;)
So much is packed into this beautiful, little moment. Also, I've developed a craving for sausages.
Why thank you, Will! Appreciate the read and comment.
Enjoy those sausages ;)
This is adorable, Nathan - and I love the addendum - aren't we all (well, many of us) full of these little snippets? You've reminded me of my own quite different thermos story - I must use it in something :)
Thanks Troy :)
I look forward to someday reading whatever that thermos story is.
What a fun little piece! I mean, it might be weird but if you add some mayonnaise you can basically make hot dogs on the spot, no? Isn't that cool?
😆😆
Portable hot dog maker!
Need to patent ssh :D
Brilliant Nath 👏
Thanks mate.
This is hilarious. I thought you were talking about tinned hotdog sausages for a minute and was thinking "they'd be all right" but no, what was described was far worse 😂
Hehe thanks Hannah. You know, my original intention was the hotdog sausage type of canned sausages, but I was happy to leave it open to interpretation as to precisely what sausages ;) 🤢