Ha thanks. I do have some short pieces but no novel. Not sure where to put them. They're not political but the books page doesn't have many subscribers yet.
Thanks Dan. Yeah it's vaguely political so I thought I could put it here. More suited to the books page but that is new and doesn't have many subscribers.
A beautiful, haunting, personal passage of poetry, pathos and reverie from Nick.
Many years ago, I visited the United States and paid my respects at Ground Zero and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight No. 93.
Like the Kennedy assassination, September 11th, 2001 acts like a unique time-stamp for the world; its reverberations continue: who knows when and where they will finally land.
Yes Nick for me it was the moment I started to get into the politics to figure out why anyone would do such a thing, I’ve had my eyes opened since and have a strong hate for these people which can cloud each day the happy moments. Oh to remain a teenager, naive and with my head stuck back in the sand! Touching piece mate. Brave 🙏
Lovely personal writing. If I were still teaching, then I'd be putting your writing alongside other extracts from (published) memoirs eg Franzen ...as an example of how to write and look at what it is that writers are doing in their technique.
A very powerful piece of writing, thank you. It truly was a day that changed the world forever and this year’s anniversary has made a lot of people stop and think about the world we’ve lost. A few days ago I had a message from my former boss who I haven’t heard from in over a decade. He remembered me coming upstairs in the office to tell them to turn on the news. 9/11 broke the world in too many ways.
Nick, great piece. It’s funny how these effects can be the fulcrum of our lives and civilisation. Some impacts are evident almost immediately, others decades. Your recollection of the 5-1 over Germany brought back a wave of joy and of a time when responsibilities were low and optimism high. Thanks for the thought provoking essay.
Nick I hate sightseeing too, and it gave me great comfort to read that from you, stated so directly with no apology. The majority of 'sights' are boring and a huge let-down which inevitably requires you to play along with everyone pretending how interesting it is.
Me and my girlfriend had booked a week's holiday in NYC - hotel just south of Central Park -- in early October 2001. We decided to go as we thought NYC would now be the safest place on the planet.
What was interesting was the atmosphere and behaviour of the people: it was as if nothing had happened! (We'd been to NYC the previous year so were able to make a comparison) We went to a performance of The Mikado. I was convinced the mood would be gloomy but no.
My husband & I were married in Sept 2000 & went on our honeymoon to New York.
Exactly a year earlier we were staying in Manhattan.
My deep thoughts had many unanswered questions which led me down the rabbit hole and my outlook on life has never been the same since.
I explained my theory on 9/11 to my Dad quite some years later, around 2011.
He said "Do you really think the establishment would sacrifice thousands of their own people for their political agenda & gain?"
I replied "Oh yes!"
He obviously thought that I was a tin foil hat wearing crackpot at the time, but as the years have passed, we have witnessed, quite possibly, the most treacherous betrayal of its native people by the establishment in British history via mass immigration & the globally orchestrated pandemic.
The facts are undeniable, there is no limit to the numbers of us that they are willing to sacrifice for their political agenda & personal gain.
Nick, you’re a soulful man and your writing rings so true. A fine piece, a pleasure to read.
Many thanks.
Really very good what a bitter sweet pleasure to read.
Thank you.
I was really enjoying that and then it ended! When is the full novel coming out?
Ha thanks. I do have some short pieces but no novel. Not sure where to put them. They're not political but the books page doesn't have many subscribers yet.
Book of short stories
Wow - a bit of a vibe shift from the usual work Nick ‘the big dog’ Dixon woof woof - but a wonderful thought-provoking piece nonetheless. Bravo 💪
Thanks Dan. Yeah it's vaguely political so I thought I could put it here. More suited to the books page but that is new and doesn't have many subscribers.
A beautiful, haunting, personal passage of poetry, pathos and reverie from Nick.
Many years ago, I visited the United States and paid my respects at Ground Zero and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the crash site of the hijacked United Airlines Flight No. 93.
Like the Kennedy assassination, September 11th, 2001 acts like a unique time-stamp for the world; its reverberations continue: who knows when and where they will finally land.
Thanks Keith.
Thanks for sharing this Nick. Lovely writing, and made me cast my mind back to experiencing 9/11 here in Australia. Thanks again.
Thanks.
Nick you are a really talented writer. I absolutely loved this essay. Thankyou.
Thanks Joanne. Pity I got sucked into politics really.
One of your best yet
Thanks David.
Yes Nick for me it was the moment I started to get into the politics to figure out why anyone would do such a thing, I’ve had my eyes opened since and have a strong hate for these people which can cloud each day the happy moments. Oh to remain a teenager, naive and with my head stuck back in the sand! Touching piece mate. Brave 🙏
Beautifully poignant.
Thank you.
Lovely personal writing. If I were still teaching, then I'd be putting your writing alongside other extracts from (published) memoirs eg Franzen ...as an example of how to write and look at what it is that writers are doing in their technique.
Wow, thank you. I don’t even know what I’m doing with my technique!
A very powerful piece of writing, thank you. It truly was a day that changed the world forever and this year’s anniversary has made a lot of people stop and think about the world we’ve lost. A few days ago I had a message from my former boss who I haven’t heard from in over a decade. He remembered me coming upstairs in the office to tell them to turn on the news. 9/11 broke the world in too many ways.
Thanks Stuart.
Nick, great piece. It’s funny how these effects can be the fulcrum of our lives and civilisation. Some impacts are evident almost immediately, others decades. Your recollection of the 5-1 over Germany brought back a wave of joy and of a time when responsibilities were low and optimism high. Thanks for the thought provoking essay.
Thanks.
Nick I hate sightseeing too, and it gave me great comfort to read that from you, stated so directly with no apology. The majority of 'sights' are boring and a huge let-down which inevitably requires you to play along with everyone pretending how interesting it is.
Haha exactly. The history itself may be interesting, but you're just trudging around with other tired tourists.
Me and my girlfriend had booked a week's holiday in NYC - hotel just south of Central Park -- in early October 2001. We decided to go as we thought NYC would now be the safest place on the planet.
What was interesting was the atmosphere and behaviour of the people: it was as if nothing had happened! (We'd been to NYC the previous year so were able to make a comparison) We went to a performance of The Mikado. I was convinced the mood would be gloomy but no.
9/11 changed everything. It was truly shocking.
My husband & I were married in Sept 2000 & went on our honeymoon to New York.
Exactly a year earlier we were staying in Manhattan.
My deep thoughts had many unanswered questions which led me down the rabbit hole and my outlook on life has never been the same since.
I explained my theory on 9/11 to my Dad quite some years later, around 2011.
He said "Do you really think the establishment would sacrifice thousands of their own people for their political agenda & gain?"
I replied "Oh yes!"
He obviously thought that I was a tin foil hat wearing crackpot at the time, but as the years have passed, we have witnessed, quite possibly, the most treacherous betrayal of its native people by the establishment in British history via mass immigration & the globally orchestrated pandemic.
The facts are undeniable, there is no limit to the numbers of us that they are willing to sacrifice for their political agenda & personal gain.