From December 2022: the strange tale of Beatrice, who wanted a fantasy life. This story is in the book Strange.

The Week in Review, Saturday, 16 November, 2025 to Sunday 22 November, 2025. What I’ve Written Sunday: New Names, Old Faces Leo/Rick, and Susan, need new identities quickly. Monday: Fool’s Gold Promises only mean something when they’re kept. Tuesday: Afternoon Storm It’s summer storm season. Wednesday: Recycled Post: Techno Ghost Revisiting an early Human Defence Unit story from December 2022. Thursday: Christmas in the House of Death Even people who dispose of bodies for a living need a bit of family time. Friday: Answering the Question…

This story picks up where yesterday’s left off. Answering the Question by Iris Carden “Do you need a hand with that?” The cleaner asked me, as I crossed the deceased’s arms. “No. I’ve got it,” I said, as I rolled the excessively-large corpse into a body bag. “Did you want to answer my question? Or do you need time?” “I said I’ve got it.” I zipped up the bag. Then I pulled the gurney alongside the body, and lowered it. I dragged the head end on to the gurney, and then did the same with the feet end.

Christmas in the House of Death by Iris Carden I suppose it could have been classed as a family Christmas, such as my family was. I had eight bodies in the fridge. That was my allocation from the Christmas road toll, so far. It included a young police constable who was run over by a drink driver, while directing drivers to pull over for random breath testing. I guess that was ironic, as well as being an awful waste of a young woman’s life. We still had Boxing Day to go, so I’d probably be packed solid by the time the funerals actually started.

This is one of the early Human Defence unit stories, from December 2022.

Fool’s Gold by Iris CardenShe’d believed the band of gold,believed when he’d said “I do.”But it was just fool’s gold,because his promises were untrue.He’d vowed to love and honour,but she saw no evidence of either.He’d promised to cherish her for life,but compassion, he denied her.She thought herself a fool,not seeing the truth of what he was.A charming loving maskhid a vicious, narcissist at core.So she made her plan,and packed her important things.She left as soon as she was able,and mailed the fool’s gold back to him.

New Names, Old Faces by Iris Carden We are running, figuratively. In reality, we are driving a stolen car, the car belonging to Richard Evans’ identity being too likely to be noticed. We were in the background of a photograph, leading two, now missing, children, away from a community festival. Not only did you make me feed on a child, now I am in danger, because of you. If not for you, I would still be alive, living my boring life, imagining a love as great as ours, never imagining the horror of it!

The week in review, Sunday, 9 November, 2025, to Saturday, 15 November, 2025. What I’ve Written Sunday: Recycled Post: Curse The strange tale of Karen, who was surrounded by incompetent idiots. Monday: Game Review: Animal Crossing New Horizons My first, and probably last, ever game review. Tuesday: Christmas Gifts It’s time to think about the Christmas shopping, but the important things won’t be under the tree. Wednesday: Recycled Post: Krampus We’re going back to November 2022, and the story of how Jo Burns first discovered the world of the Human Defence Unit.

The Test by Iris CardenIs it COVID, or allergies?Maybe the flu or RSV?The response, now, to sinus pain,is a swab shoved halfway up to my brain.When my sinus already hurts,the swab just makes things worse.Uncomfortable, as this already is,the time’s now come to give it a twist.Now to mix the snot in witches’ brew,and set a timer to let it stew.Finally it’s time, to look for red lines…Negative! Allergy care, and I’ll be fine.

A light little poem from November 2022.

Recycled Post: Krampus We’re going back to November 2022, and the story of how Jo burns discovered the world of the HUman Defence Unit. #shortstory #fiction

Christmas Gifts by Iris CardenDecember’s crowds and heat, make Christmas shopping no fun, so early in November, we get it all done. With a list of the family who we want to gift, with hopes what we buy, will give them a lift. The drama is over, before school holiday chaos, because we’re so organised, it’s great to be us. The wrapping’s done, with some amount of care, despite tape and scissors, disappearing somewhere. At the end of the day, what we’ve bought to share, doesn’t matter as much, …

Review by Iris Carden Yes, you read that title right, this is my first ever review of a game. I’m a words person. I write. I review books. I’m not a gamer. I rarely play games (up until now, apparently.) I don’t review games, and this review, should you dare to continue, will probably explain why. Why am I reviewing this? Simple. It’s taken a massive amount of my time over the past few weeks, and I should have something to show for it. I bought a second-hand copy of New Horizons to play with my granddaughter.

It’s another recycled post today. I promise I’m trying to get my act together, but my body doesn’t want to cooperate, and I’m always out of energy. Here, from November, 2022, is the Strange Tale of Karen, who was surrounded by incompetent idiots.

The Week in Review Sunday, 2 November, 2025 to Saturday, 8 November, 2025. What I’ve Written Sunday: Pirates! Apparently I didn’t have enough story series going on. Introducing Eusebius Brown, who has the imagination of a ten-year-old boy, and the responsibilities of a forty-something husband, father, and accountant. Monday: Message in a Bottle Eusebius Brown is off to a fictional island for a daring rescue, while his son learns a lesson about communication. Tuesday: Sweet Kitty Prettypaws A poem about life with a cat. (Which may possibly have been inspired by Princess, who is more usually known as Princess Sneakypaws, rather than Prettypaws.

Calling Indie Authors  You might remember my “All I Want For Christmas is Indie Books!” post from last year. Since that was relatively successful, it again this year. For those who missed it, …

Good Dog by canine writing buddy Fantasia Dog Hello Do you see the picture up above? This is my worried face. I am a worried dog. I’m worried about my human. You see, once or twice every week she asks me, “Who’s the good dog?” I know the answer, of course. It’s been established over and over again that I am the good dog. It’s true. I’m a very good dog. I work hard at being a good dog. I pretend not to know the answer, because she’s forgotten, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass her, or make her think I’m smarter than she is.

Calling Indie Authors  You might remember my “All I Want For Christmas is Indie Books!” post from last year. Since that was relatively successful, it again this year. For those who missed it, …

Yet again, I’m not keeping up with everything, so it’s another reblog. This time, it’s a poem from November, 2022, with a little sprinkle of fairy dust to make your day go better.

Sweet Kitty Prettypaws by Iris CardenSweet Kitty Prettypaws says: “Meow, follow me.My food bowl’s half empty,you can plainly see.”Sweet Kitty Prettypawsdemands: “Follow again.See there’s a clump in my litter,don’t you clean now and then?”Sweet Kitty Prettypawssays, “I’m in the mood,to scratch up some furniture,and scratch it up good.”Sweet Kitty Prettypawssays, “I know for sure,you love me the most. Stroke me, while I purr.”Sweet Kitty Prettypaws loves her human indeed.She shows it by giving my tummy a knead.Sweet Kitty Prettypawsis asleep on my lap.I can’t move now, lest she wake from her nap.

Pirates! Eusebius Brown stared glumly at the computer screen while he typed in numbers. Adulthood, he decided, was a scam perpetrated by the capitalist system, to crush the adventurous spirit of once-small-boys. He was so lost in his thoughts, and the mechanical tasks of his work, that he did not notice his boss enter his small office. “Seeb,” Bill Grosvenor said. “I have an unusual assignment for you.” At the word “unusual”, Eusebius was fully alert to his boss. “What’s up Bill?” He asked. “Anderson Anderson’s been kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Calling Indie Authors  You might remember my “All I Want For Christmas is Indie Books!” post from last year. Since that was relatively successful, it again this year. For those who missed it, …

The Week in Review Sunday, 26 October, 2025, to Saturday, 1 November, 2025. What I’ve written Sunday: Calling for Submissions It’s that time of year again. Indie authors are invited to submit to be part of my “All I want for Christmas” post. Monday: Recycled Post: Exhumations The Funeral Director explains why she only ever does elicit body disposals via cremation. Tuesday: Death and Pumpkins Once more, the Funeral Director has an eventful Halloween. Wednesday: We Made Plans A poem about living with chronic illness. Thursday: Pearl…

The Count and the Bloofer Lady by Iris Carden You have bought us Halloween costumes. Why would you do that? Surely Halloween is just for children. You have old-time costumes. A suit with a cloak, top hat, and a fancy walking stick for me. The head of the walking stick looks silver, but you assure me it is merely silver-coloured brass. You are in a pink frilled dress, with a million petticoats, and a matching pink bonnet, a pink drawstring purse to carry. You are all frills and ribbons and lace.

Pearl by Iris CardenShe was looking for a pearl,perfect, precious, tiny moon.Instead she found a barnacle,clinging too tightly, way too soon.She was looking for some gold, something to hold on to forever.instead she found some iron,an anchor for her new short tether.She was looking for a diamond,shining brightly, just for her.Instead she found a lump of coal,toxic, polluting, when it burned. She was looking for some silver,something precious to hold dear.Instead she found uranium,radioactive: dangerous when near.