Poetry
In A Moment
By Helen Elliott Salt-spray foam glided over shell and stone with all else still despite the season. I cleansed my lips to taste the day dropped my gaze, blocked out the grey counted colours; speckled [… read more ]
Southsea
Fiction
Consequences
By Shelagh Simmons So that’s it. The twisted, burnt effigy to so much destruction in our lives – itself meeting a violent, blazing end – is finally sold. The property developer will raze what is [… read more ]
Poetry
Things to Do Around Southsea
By Maggie Sawkins Sit where Steve Tebb, Drainman of Portsmouth, sat, watch the dancing sea. Reminisce the Wild Mouse, the Wall of Death, Uncle Charlie’s tattoos. Get married for the third time. Launch a [… read more ]
Fiction
A Polar Bear in Southsea: Part IV
The fourth part of J.S. Adams compelling eco-apocalyptic drama, in which climate change brings an iceberg to the south coast and a polar bear to Southsea, encountering some of Portsmouth’s most memorable residents along the [… read more ]
Memoir
A Monkey in the Kitchen
Jade Burrell blows the whistle on the high-pressure, sweatshop-like conditions of a Southsea restaurant kitchen. ‘What are you monkeying around for?’ Lawrence shouts over the kitchen fans. His dark eyes catch a scrawny kitchen porter [… read more ]
Memoir
The Rolling Melon
Gareth Rees considers various methods of conquering the winter blues. Something triggers the blues and you blame the trigger. It’s like blaming the symptoms for the disease. Right now I’m blaming teeth or rather the [… read more ]
Poetry
Portsmouth Pounds
By Donna Jones. There’s pounds here in these curved yachts, In these block penthouses; Italian leather bags cupping keys, crafted wallets and lip gloss; Crisp suits, crinkle linen and boating shoes that know they [… read more ]
History
Rees’ Sacred Pieces Part II
In this second excerpt from his book Read Rees, Southsea-based author and son of a vicar Gareth Rees offers his thoughts on the greatest story ever told. Jacob Brother Esau was out hunting for meat to feed [… read more ]
Reviews
Review: Hong Kong Charlie’s Vodka Bar
By Rebecca Slack Ernest Hemingway once said ‘I drink to make people interesting’. This, I believe, is something most people would find easy to relate to but I would offer an alternative version for students: [… read more ]
History
Rees’ Sacred Pieces Part I
In this excerpt from his book Read Rees, Southsea-based author and son of a vicar Gareth Rees offers his thoughts on the greatest story ever told. The Garden of Eden Well, there’s plenty of paradise around here [… read more ]