Author: KokkieH

KokkieH Reviews Spud – Exit, Pursued by a Bear by John van de Ruit

Spud - Exit, Pursued by a Bear cover
Publisher: penguinbooks.co.za

Spud – Exit, Pursued by a Bear is the fourth and final installment in John van de Ruit’s highly successful (at least in South Africa) Spud-series chronicling the adventures of one self-conscious teenager as he navigates the perils of boarding school.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, John “Spud” Milton is a South African boy from a middle class family in the suburbs of Pietermaritzburg.  He wins a scholarship to attend Michaelhouse, a prestige boarding school left over from the days of British colonialism.  Spud differs from the other boys in the school as his parents aren’t wealthy (or classy) and when the first novel starts he also hasn’t yet hit puberty.  And he keeps a journal.  In fact, that’s what we get to read, as the novels are written in the style of Spud’s personal journal, one novel for each year in the school. Continue reading “KokkieH Reviews Spud – Exit, Pursued by a Bear by John van de Ruit”

On Season’s Greetings

On Season’s Greetings

Before Christmas comes to an end in New Zealand where my most eastern reader lives, I’d like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas.  I also want to wish you a Geseënde Kersfees, which is Afrikaans for a Blessed Christmas.

Even if you don’t celebrate it, even if you don’t subscribe to the religious beliefs underlying the day, know that the wife and I wish all of you the same hope and joy the day symbolises to us.

Christmas Tree

On a very cookie Christmas…or is that Christmas cookies?

On a very cookie Christmas…or is that Christmas cookies?

Howdy.  I hope you’ve had/are having/will have a very pleasant Christmas Eve (depending on which time zone you’re in).  We’ve had rather a busy day.  Not shopping, mind you.  The last of our presents have been lying wrapped under the tree since two weeks ago – a new record for the wife and I, but then we usually begin our Christmas shopping around March each year.  No, today and yesterday was spent baking.

When I was little my mom used to bake up a storm when summer vacation (which for us is in December) came along.  Plastic containers filled to the brim with cookies would accompany us wherever we went on holiday and the contents would be fiercely rationed, on the one hand to ensure they lasted the whole vacation, on the other to ensure my sister and I won’t make ourselves sick.

As an adult I’ve turned my hand to baking cookies a couple of times with great success.  Unfortunately the oven in our apartment is currently on the fritz.  It’s still okay for making grilled cheese on toast or the occasional lemon meringue, but not so much for baking.  So, when it was decided we’ll be spending Christmas at my mom’s this year it was also decided that there will be cookies via the exploitation of her oven. Continue reading “On a very cookie Christmas…or is that Christmas cookies?”

Song Title Challenge #30: What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)

It’s time for this week’s third and final Song Title Challenge.

After my call last week for some Christmassy songs I got three suggestions.  I decided that today, just because it’s almost Christmas, I’m going to treat you with all three.  That’s right, three stories based on Christmas-related songs in one day.  You’re welcome.

Write a short piece of fiction, around 300 words, using the song title as your story title but don’t listen to the song.  You can pick your own genre or use the one suggested to me.  Remember to link back to this post so I can find yours.

If you would like to suggest a song title for a future post, you can do so from the challenge page.  You can also leave a suggestion on the Facebook page.

Today’s final song is What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb) from the album Christmas in the Stars produced by Meco Monardo and RSO records.  It was suggested by the wife who didn’t give a genre, but there really was only one choice.  Hat tip to mr George Lucas for inventing these wonderful characters.

The song’s at the end.  You’ve got to listen to this one! 😀

What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)

Continue reading “Song Title Challenge #30: What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)”

Song Title Challenge #29: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo – South Park

It’s time for today’s second Song Title Challenge.

After my call last week for some Christmassy songs I got three suggestions.  I decided that today, just because it’s almost Christmas, I’m going to treat you with all three.  That’s right, three stories based on Christmas-related songs in one day.  You’re welcome.

Write a short piece of fiction, around 300 words, using the song title as your story title but don’t listen to the song.  You can pick your own genre or use the one suggested to me.  Remember to link back to this post so I can find yours.

If you would like to suggest a song title for a future post, you can do so from the challenge page.  You can also leave a suggestion on the Facebook page.

Today’s second song is Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo by South Park.  The genre, as suggested by bumblepuppies, is historic fiction.  I think he’s trying to bamboozle me, but with a bit of inspiration from the inestimable P.G. Wodehouse I think I managed to pull this off (though I will admit to exceeding the word count a little).  Once again I managed to hit fairly close to home as far as concerns the contents of the song.  I promise I didn’t listen to it before writing the story.

Oh, and I won’t be posting the hilarious but deeply disturbing song here – some of my relatives read this blog – but you’re welcome to go google it at own risk.

Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo

Continue reading “Song Title Challenge #29: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo – South Park”