Author Archives: xmarksthespotno

It was a Sunday in April. It was a beautiful spring day, the sun was shining from almost clear skies giving off a nice spring temperature. The trees in the parks had already been given a splash of colour by spring and the lawns were green. It was about nine in the morning so thereContinue reading “My city of ruins”

The construction industry is like the story of King Midas. But instead of everything turning to gold it turns into a circus. At least for a while before some buildings shine like gold for years to come.  The circus was back in town! Or rather; the circus has been here all along, but I’m backContinue reading “The Circus”

It is Friday. The sun is shining and sends us hope that spring is coming soon. The radio is on, the cat is asleep in the basket under the table. I notice that the text in the book I am reading disappears as my thoughts begin to wander. I philosophise about everything from whether life shouldContinue reading “The Playboy”

When I was 13 years old I had a photograph of my father, which according to my mother was an 18-year-old version of him. The photograph was taken when he came back from sea, after the ship he was on had been taken by a British Royal Navy prize crew during World War 2 andContinue reading “Exploring the past”

Many, many, many years ago I went to my first rock concert. I grew up in a time when rock was still a repressed art form. Of course, we got hold of the music on vinyl records, but there were few concerts where you could see great artists. We sat up all night to watchContinue reading “The first concert”

I get by with my level of skills in the everyday digital demands of society today. Barely, I must add. If I was pushed five years ahead, I would fall behind with the pace of development today. I’m probably not the first generation to feel that way. When I look back to my parents’ generationContinue reading “I´m an immigrant”

An epistle about the new year is expected to contain something positive, life-affirming or a hope. This text may not meet those expectations. The plague does not seem to go away anytime soon, so we can expect that 2022 will be more similar to 2020 and 2021 than 2019. I still have tickets for concertsContinue reading “A New Year”

Firstly, I must apologise sincerely for not posting last Friday, which was also Christmas Eve itself! I can tell you all that it had been a very busy week. Not just for me, but for everyone around the world who celebrate Christmas. But was it really because I was so busy that I did notContinue reading “The holidays”

This is a follow up to the earlier story “An offer I could refuse” It had been two years since I last met Luciano and La Familia. Now I was having a conversation and a glass of wine with his daughter at a members club on the New York Upper East Side. I asked howContinue reading “La familia”

Excuse me? Do you ..? She stood a few meters away from the bench I was sitting on. She leaned forward a little as if she wanted to be much closer but didn’t dare. She looked a little scared. Afraid and curious at the same time. She wore a black short dress and heels. HerContinue reading “Russian bratva”