I've lost a few things over the years but never imagined losing a story! I only realised I'd "lost" A Window Table when I started working on a blog post to mark my fourth anniversary of writing Furious Fictions. However, when I found and read a copy of the story, I didn't recognise its plot or characters.

This double-feature episode includes the short story A Window Table and a companion blog post, The Lost and Found Story, from the Tall And True writers' website, both written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read A Window Table on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-window-table

Read The Lost and Found Story: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/lost-and-found-story

Listen to Some Things Change, Episodes 79 to 80 of Tall And True Short Reads:

• Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-1979/

• London, England, 1992: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-london-1992/

• Perth, Western Australia, 2023: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-2023/

Read Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/some-things-change-some-stay-the-same

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Squeaky Door Open/Close: https://freesound.org/people/bowlingballout/sounds/398919/

• Pots and Pans: https://freesound.org/people/oneOddEgg/sounds/369633/

• Broken Plate: https://freesound.org/people/jc.sg/sounds/565640/

• Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/

• Microwave: https://freesound.org/people/kwahmah_02/sounds/254814/

• Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/

• Coins: https://freesound.org/people/DBS_Sounds/sounds/613164/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less than forty-eight hours after receiving her online order, Third Age Cybertronics delivered Jack to Daisy, a sprightly centenarian who purchased the Advanced Companion Droid to help her with household chores and carry her bags when travelling.

A New Jack is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-new-jack

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Episode 87 of Tall And True Short Reads, The Lonely Moon: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lonely-moon/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Drone: https://freesound.org/people/DCPoke/sounds/387988/

• Jack Russell Barking: https://freesound.org/people/GH0STY_XD/sounds/594343/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My first "published" writing was an Enid Blyton-Famous Five-style adventure story, Sand Island, in 1972. I wrote the story and illustrated it with coloured Texta markers. My aunt, the only one in our family with a typewriter, typed up the manuscript. And my father helped bind and cover the book. I was ten.

A Good Story is a blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the post and see my illustrations on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-good-story-sand-island

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Episode 88, Finding Inspiration (also mentions Sand Island): https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/finding-inspiration/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/

• Sticky Tape: https://freesound.org/people/megashroom/sounds/390166/

• Bell-Ping: https://freesound.org/people/Antimsounds/sounds/556049/

• Happy Birthday Music Box: https://freesound.org/people/marianna-emma/sounds/516080/

• Rowing: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/438846/

• Waves Breaking: https://freesound.org/people/VMan533/sounds/575894/

• Seagulls: https://freesound.org/people/plantmonkey/sounds/377107/

• Speed Boat: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/438283/

• Computer Keyboard: https://freesound.org/people/D4XX/sounds/567266/

• TV Laugher: https://freesound.org/people/Evil_Ear_Recordings/sounds/524775/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eighteen-year-old Hugo glanced up at the train station clock. It seemed time had stood still, with the minute hand barely moved since he'd last checked. He confirmed the time on his watch and then looked at the departure board, breathing a sigh of relief. His train was running on schedule.

Moving On is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/moving-on

Read A Dad and Son Road Trip: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-dad-and-son-road-trip

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Train Station Ambience/Announcements: https://freesound.org/people/peridactyloptrix/sounds/615660/

• Train Arrives: https://freesound.org/people/Yoyodaman234/sounds/341204/

• Dogs Barking: https://freesound.org/people/Mafon2/sounds/676407/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While sorting through storage boxes at home, I found an old notebook belonging to my son. It wasn't a school exercise book but something he'd jotted and doodled in as a twelve-year-old. Among its random pages was a short story he'd written in 2014 about a father who doesn't have "great ideas".

Trigger warning: This episode mentions teenage self-harm and death.

Lifeline Australia: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Finding Inspiration is a blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the post on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/finding-inspiration

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Episode 60, Kurd Friends in the Mountains: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/kurd-friends-in-the-mountains/

Episode 69, Two Visits to the Berlin Wall - Part One: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/two-visits-to-the-berlin-wall-part-one/

Episode 70, Two Visits to the Berlin Wall - Part Two: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/two-visits-to-the-berlin-wall-part-two/

Episode 78, Taking a Bow: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/taking-a-bow/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Cardboard Boxes: https://freesound.org/people/RavenWolfProds/sounds/503661/

• Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/

• Ship Horn: https://freesound.org/people/monotraum/sounds/208714/

• Metal File: https://freesound.org/people/14F_Panska_Dittrichova_Diana/sounds/420107/

• Footsteps City: https://freesound.org/people/Rico_Casazza/sounds/538949/

• Police Siren: https://freesound.org/people/conleec/sounds/159744/

• Metal Stairs: https://freesound.org/people/conleec/sounds/148462/

• Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/

• Computer Keyboard: https://freesound.org/people/D4XX/sounds/567266/

• Baby Chuckling: https://freesound.org/people/jodybruchon/sounds/459458/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"In space no one can hear you scream. But what if you're deep in the backwoods, in an isolated cabin on a dead-end trail?" Karen set aside the book. A horror story was not ideal reading for the off-grid log cabin Peter had booked for their thirtieth wedding anniversary weekend, especially as she was alone in bed, listening to wind from a storm whistle through cracks in the doors and windows.

A Knock at the Door is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-knock-at-the-door

2020 blog post about my first Furious Fiction, A Song on the Radio: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/furiousfiction-writers-centre-competition

Episode 4 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-song-on-the-radio/

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Door Knock: https://freesound.org/people/anagar/sounds/267931/

• Storm: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/

• Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/

• Thunderclap: https://freesound.org/people/Dave%20Welsh/sounds/194364/

• Creaky Door: https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_7146007/sounds/383816/

• Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. 

Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm taking a short break from podcasting because I'm going on a long road trip with my son from Sydney to Western Australia to spend Xmas and New Year with our WA family. But as I did in 2022, I've put together a Kris Kringle collection featuring three episodes from the Tall And True Short Reads archive: Too Late, Lenny, Stuck in Time and Family Reflections.

The Kris Kringle - Xmas 2023 stories first appeared on the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the stories on Tall And True:

• Too Late, Lenny: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/too-late-lenny

• Stuck in Time: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/stuck-in-time

• Family Reflections: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/family-reflections

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Santa’s Sleigh Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/

Too Late, Lenny:

• Cafe/Restaurant Ambience: https://freesound.org/people/lunchmoney/sounds/380200/

• Comedy Laughter: https://freesound.org/people/Evil_Ear_Recordings/sounds/524775/

• Hanging Up Phone: https://freesound.org/people/DrNI/sounds/164035/

• Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/FlashTrauma/sounds/398275/

Stuck in Time: 

• Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/Julien%20Matthey/sounds/457651/

Family Reflections:

• Door Closing: https://freesound.org/people/soundmary/sounds/117614/

• Washing Face: https://freesound.org/people/lolux/sounds/181355/

• Hairdryer: https://freesound.org/people/ryanharding95/sounds/272446/

• Footsteps in Hall: https://freesound.org/people/Anthousai/sounds/398782/

• Toilet Flushing: https://freesound.org/people/lorenzgillner/sounds/274448/

• Tap Running: https://freesound.org/people/14G_Panska_Kaminkova_A/sounds/419990/

• Banging on Door: https://freesound.org/people/splatbot/sounds/337528/

• Kids Laughing: https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/sounds/371342/

• Drum Roll: https://freesound.org/people/bigjoedrummer/sounds/77305/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. 

Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.