The Bottom Drawer for Thursday, 20 November 2025, 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Personal memoirs of fondly or humorously remembered incidents, objects, moments predominate in the texts that joined the precious contents in the Bottom Drawer this past week. A successful mix of story, poetry, song and nostalgia can be drawn on for a lively, inspiring and moving two hours of creativity in our Zoom session on Thursday. Be sure not to miss it! We look forward to receiving your entries and texts at bd.writeon@gmail.com

We also have two new Key Words for our Mug of the Month competition: CAN and COVER. The 50-word (max) text containing these words should reach Anne Murray by November 30 (an extended deadline this month). annemurraypost@yahoo.ie

And here are the contents of the Bottom Drawer to date:

The Book by James Conway In this luminous and delicately observed poem, James Conway traces a lifetime through the presence of a single, blue-bound book — a companion whose colour “hailstones washed clean by the blood of the sea” lingers long after childhood. What begins as a slim, slippery volume in young hands becomes, over the decades, a vessel of memory: its vowels tight with discipline, its pages alive with “wild horses” and the hours that shaped (or slipped past) a life. ‘The Book’ is at once an elegy and a celebration — a tender meditation on ageing, imagination, and the quiet objects that carry our stories for us when we no longer can.   A Sense of Place by Anne McManus In this richly woven memoir, Anne McManus traces her family’s roots through the landscapes of Sligo, guided always by her mother’s deep belonging to Rathanoragh — a small ring of fields filled with hawthorn, primroses and the memory of generations. Through pony traps, side roads, cockle-gathering on Culleenamore, and journeys to Coney Island, Anne evokes a childhood shaped by stories, sea winds, and the quiet rituals of rural life. Intertwining family lore with local history — from Neolithic tombs to Queen Maeve’s cairn on Knocknarea — she honours a mother whose love of place became an inheritance of its own. A tender, vivid remembrance of land, lineage and the ties that outlast time.   The Notebook Dieter by Mary Hodson With irresistible humour and a generous wink at her own foibles, Mary Hodson charts a lifelong battle with diets, notebooks, and the irresistible pull of buttery spuds. From slimming classes that feel like confession to weddings that undo months of lettuce-fuelled resolve, she captures the rituals, temptations, and small triumphs familiar to anyone who has ever tried to be “good” — and failed deliciously. Full of sharp observation and affectionate self-mockery, The Notebook Dieter is ultimately a celebration of community, perseverance, and the comforting truth that life’s real measures are laughter, shared stories, and salmon-coloured pillbox hats that made us feel radiant.     A Bittersweet Remembrance of a Christmas Past by Joyce Butcher In this deeply moving personal reflection, Joyce Butcher revisits a childhood Christmas in 1959 — a time of pine-scented excitement, careful tinsel, and two little girls posing proudly beside a freshly decorated tree. What begins as a warm, innocent memory gradually unfolds into a poignant contrast with the darker reality that later emerged: a father whose brilliance and artistic ambition were eroded by alcohol, anger and disappointment, and a family whose happiness slowly fractured as the years passed.   Yet the heart of the piece beats with resilience, love, and the enduring strength of a mother who protected her children and later found peace in her final years. Now, with a grandson bringing joy back into the season, Joyce reflects on what it means to break harmful cycles and to build a gentler, safer home. A tender, honest and ultimately hopeful Christmas remembrance.

The Clensing Fire by Mary Hawkshaw In this sharply observed village comedy, Mary Hawkshaw turns a simple B&B mishap into a hilarious parable of pride, piety, and pyromania. Nora and Tommy Kelly, long-married and long-suffering, have joined the “Global B&B” revolution — offering tourists a rustic Irish experience in their tiny cottage. But when two oversized English guests mistake the range for an electric cooker, the “authentic” turf fire soon lives up to its name.   Mary’s dialogue sparkles with wit and rural rhythm, capturing the gossiping neighbours, the stoic humour of Irish women, and the quiet love between two people bound by endurance. The Cleansing Fire is a comic gem that moves effortlessly from farce to tenderness — a story where the smoke clears, but the laughter lingers.

The First Music by Mary Hawkshaw In this gentle, reflective short film, memory and melody intertwine. The First Music evokes the wonder of early sound — a child’s discovery of rhythm, a mother’s lullaby, the heartbeat of belonging. Through quiet imagery and voice, it reminds us that music is not only something we hear, but something we are born knowing.

Herself by Póilín Brennan Póilín Brennan’s poem ‘Herself’ captures the music and mischief of a mind in motion. Its quicksilver lines tumble and twist like speech itself — full of wit, warmth, and self-mockery. The poem celebrates the art of rambling conversation, where thoughts flow like an old river, meandering, sparkling, and settling into moments of sudden clarity. A lively, affectionate portrait of the storyteller’s spirit.  

There Comes a Time by Tom Doyle
This thoughtful reflection explores life’s turning points — those moments of transition that invite (or force) us to change course. With graceful insight and gentle wisdom, Doyle examines how personal crises, epiphanies, synchronicities, or tipping points can become opportunities for growth rather than defeat. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like David Brooks and Louis L’Amour, he reminds us that even in adversity, we can “suffer our way to wisdom.” A resonant and uplifting meditation for anyone standing at life’s crossroads.

Fidelis by Tom Doyle On a rain-soaked Christmas Eve, an anxious young man searches Dublin for the perfect gift — something that will say both love and I tried. What he finds instead is a shaggy toy dog named Fidelis, a bus full of onlookers, and a series of small humiliations that lead to an unexpected grace. Warm, funny, and gently nostalgic, Fidelis captures the tender awkwardness of first love and the quiet triumph of sincerity over style.

Losing My Glasses by Kathleen Phelan  
In this quietly radiant poem, a lost pair of glasses becomes a portal to a softer, more painterly world. Through drifting fog, blurred edges, and the memory of Monet and Turner, the speaker discovers not confusion but a fleeting kind of clarity — a gentle unravelling of precision in favour of presence. A meditation on vision, ageing, and grace, this piece reminds us that sometimes, the blur shows us what sharpness cannot.  

The Writing Workshop by Kathleen Phelan  
In this playful and affectionate send-up of creative writing groups, Kathleen Phelan captures the chaos, charm, and biscuit-fuelled brilliance of writers trying (and failing) to be profound. With dream clouds, lost pens, poetic sheep, and a tutor on the brink, this witty piece will resonate with anyone who’s ever stared down a blank page — and found laughter waiting instead of genius.  

The Write-on Story by Write-on Members
This living project is part history, part invitation. The Story of Write-on charts the journey of the group from its earliest days in Galway’s Westside to its vibrant, international membership today — a community united by creativity, encouragement, and shared achievement. But this isn’t just Frank Fahy’s account. It’s a collaborative, evolving ‘book’ — a living archive where every member is invited to add their voice. Whether you joined in person or online, last week or years ago, your story matters. This project gathers those experiences: first impressions, favourite moments, what Write-on has meant to you. The result will be a mosaic of memory and insight — and a welcoming window into Write-on for new and potential members. Published prominently on our website, The Story of Write-on is both a record and a beacon. All are invited to contribute.  

Genre	Title	Author
Memoir	A Sense of Place	Anne McManus
Short Story	The Notebook Dieter	Mary Hodson
Short Story	The Cleansing Fire	Mary Hawkshaw
Short Story	Fidelis	Tom Doyle
Short Story	Bittersweet Christmas	Joyce Butcher
Poem	The Book	James Conway
Poem	Herself	Póilín Brennan
Poem	The Writing Workshop	Kathleen Phelan
Poem	Losing My Glasses	Kathleen Phelan
Song	The First Music	Mary Hawkshaw
Non-Fiction	There Comes a Time	Tom Doyle
Website	The Write-on Story (Living History & Reflections)	All Members