Event

“Creatively Bruised” (jottings from the back of a notebook)

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) British, Culture, Europe, Event, Humor, Humour, job, Literature, London, love, Mellennial, Mental Health, Mermaid, Office, Prompt, Review, Social Media, Swindon, Theatre, Tourist, train, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, Work, Young Professional , , , , , , ,

2026 preface: I was going through old drafts and came across this, originally penned in January 2020. I forgot to publish it so sharing it now.

**

Creatively Bruised 

I once knew a girl, not yet a woman; a note scratch-er, not yet a writer.

Despite her solo travels and trips far away, it was always the cities that led her astray. Where the wine is sweet and the water so foul can a woman be everything and nothing. But do her words twist enough like the mighty Thames, enough to charm the captive fish-eyed audience, or do they fall on deaf ears, washed away down the gutters like tumbling acidic rain on hard black soil? In such temperate climates as this, only the toss of rich man’s coin can decide a person’s fate.

Until that day, when the coin spins true, she must continue to bruise herself against the glass as a fly of hope searching for an opening of luck. She must work hard, but network harder; a friendly face, but a fire starter. She must drink water from spring’s trickle and never from the blistered and swollen mouth of the engorged black river.

I once knew a girl, not yet a woman; a note scratch-er, not yet a writer.

(Penned by AEB, January 2020)

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

I don’t care what people say, this is a perfectly reasonable amount of food to take from a cold buffet

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) comedy, Event, food, Humor, Humour, Uncategorized , ,

Exactly what it says in the title. I would add that this was at all-day event, one that was self-funded and related to my hobbyist interest in writing/publishing. (And there was also a massive queue behind me.)

In fairness, what fool only grabs savouries without planning for dessert? (According to the WhatsApp message Boyfriend Ben sent me at the time, apparently no one.)

My family, however, they were impressed.

For reference, the plate was the size of my hand. And I may have still been eating cake on the journey back home.

After all, if you can’t recoup the entry fee on the buffet lunch, when can you?

**

Could you spare a dollar or two to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Times are a changin’

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Coffee, Event, Humor, Humour, Swindon, Uncategorized , ,

So…a lot of crazy stuff has been happening in my personal life recently. Without saying too much, here’s a little photographic hint.

Stay tuned for the blog post that will give you the full low down (you won’t want to miss it, it’s going to be a juicy one). Expected publication date – two weeks today.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

My Housemate’s a Mermaid – THE PODCAST

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) #blog, adult, British, Coffee, comedy, Coronavirus, Cotswolds, Culture, Dating, Economy, Europe, Event, family, fashion, Film, Finance, First Time Buyer, food, Friends, Gym, History, Holiday, House, How To, Humor, Humour, job, Literature, London, love, Medicine, Mellennial, Mental Health, Mermaid, News, Nonfiction, Pets, Podcast, Review, Social Media, Swindon, Tourist, Travel, Uncategorized, University, Wheelie Bins, Work, Young Professional , , ,

Another one from deep within the MHAM draft posts that never made it to air…until now.

Back in 2021…

I was thinking to myself the other day “you know what? There aren’t enough podcasts in the world. And golly, there sure as heck aren’t enough opinions being shared around. I should do something to rectify this immediately!”

Or, alternatively, I saw an advert for the free podcasting creator, Anchor, and thought I’d give it a shot.

Several coffees later and some playing about with low-budget graphics and ta-da! A podcast was born:

(Before you say anything, I really cannot stress the low budget-ness of this production. Low budget in the sense there is none.)

Who knows what will become of this, but basically it’s me talking to myself for up to half an hour and in episode one I talk about what lead me to start writing a blog. If you enjoy the concept of a one-woman natter then you’re in for a right royal treat.

I honestly could not be selling this venture harder if I tried. It’s just something I’m giving a go at for a bit of fun.

“My Housemate’s a Mermaid – The Podcast” available on Spotify

Jumping back to 2025…

Surprise, surprise, it didn’t catch on and after forcing myself through four recordings I stopped podcasting and went back to pure writing. I think as much as anything it was the realisation that podcasting with free software is difficult (in that I found the free to use software incredibly limiting and of overall poor production value).

I’m currently in the process of getting the original recordings saved (would you believe it, the platform appears to give podcast owners no access to downloading their own work once published).

For now, enjoy the bittersweet car crash that was the MHAM podcast and who knows, maybe I’ll revive it one day on better terms.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Merry Christmas 2024!

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Cats, Christmas, Event, Humour, New Year , , ,

Wishing all of my wonderful readers a very happy Christmas. I hope you all get what you were wishing (present and otherwise), and make sure to have a decent sized glass of gin and/or wine on my behalf. Well, it is Christmas after all.

A couple of book reviews will go live during the festive break and don’t worry, there are plenty of fun and antics coming your way well into 2025.

(Because it never gets old.)

Have a good one and merry Christmas. AEB x

(This was from last year, btw. Like we have enough money for butterbeer every year, ha!)

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

10 Years of “My Housemate’s a Mermaid”

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Anniversary, British, comedy, Event, family, Humor, Humour, Mellennial, Mermaid, Review, Swindon, Uncategorized , , ,

On 11th November 2014, I went to the supermarket to buy toilet roll, which inspired me to start a blog. Ten years later, I’m still here.

Five years ago I wrote the very aptly named piece, Five Years Ago Today…. Aside from it being very surreal that five more years have gone by, a hell of a lot more has changed since then.

What MHAM is, and always will be, is an insight into my world, from the highs of getting my short stories published, to the foot injury lows and the ranty McRant face of Jus-Rol’s cinnamon swirls. It has also been the place to share all the wonderful holidays I’ve undertaken as a solo traveller and, more recently, with my wonderful “Boyfriend Ben”. I setup a social group for young people, moved to London, came back from London, built a career from a History degree in execution and country houses. I’ve volunteered for nine separate non profits, and met an amazing bloke who to this day continues to champion my corner, inspiring me to strive for the stars each and every day. It really has been a rollercoaster of emotional content.

Around the world there are so many instances of people being denied their freedom of expression and creativity, which is why I feel so privileged to have the family and professional career that supports me to keep doing what I love. It is the utter joy I get from recognition and compliments, the unexpected surprise when someone reaches out to say how much they enjoy my work. The odd competition win or shortlisting. It is those glints of gold that give me the euphoric buzz to keep hitting these keys.

In 2014, on that chilly dark night where nothing seemed possible, I discovered my voice. And you, the reader, are 75% of the reason why I’m still here. Thank you.

With little more to add, I will leave you with visual memories of the last ten years (and a couple from before) and a simple vow, that I will continue to write for ten more years and beyond, whatever form that takes.

May your hearts always be full and your coffee only slightly spilled.

AEB x

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

A birthday card for my sister

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Birthday, British, comedy, Cotswolds, Event, family, Humor, Humour, Uncategorized , , , , ,

From the makers of Seven Degrees of Pie, ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the collage-card I gifted my sister for her birthday:

Now, I know how it looks. It looks like I found a really old newspaper, cut it up and threw it altogether to squeeze into a birthday card…

In my defence, I didn’t realise the coupon for the iweekend newspaper was dated.

Besides, who couldn’t be left in absolute awe over the contents of this birthday card? It has words such as “amazing”, “5*”, “Discover Paradise”, and a inserts of a pilot with a ukulele and Richard Madeley with a knowing smile.

I obviously threw in some smudgy words into the gap before handing it to her, but we all know the real reason why it’s a birthday card she won’t forget in a hurry. After all, you know what they say, “don’t judge a [generic greetings card] by its cover.”

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Two book launches in 48 hours: Bournemouth Writing Festival and Swindon Literary Festival

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Culture, Event, Holiday, Humour, Swindon, Uncategorized, Vacation, Writing , , , , , ,

Following official PR, I am now able to share with you details of two writing competitions I won, and their associated launch events. And, eek! They were both an absolute blast!

Bournemouth Writing Festival

At the Bournemouth Writing Festival, I won in the fiction category for my piece of flash fiction, “How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family”.

Boy, did Bournemouth pack a punch! As well as receiving free tickets to attend some interesting talks held by the festival, there was also a Sunday evening showcase and awards presentation.

Photo credit: Solid Imagery

There was a weird knotty feeling in the pit my stomach watching people read copies of the book, and it was only later that evening, when boyfriend Ben pretty much forced me to sit down and listen to him read my story, that I noted what I’d written was actually pretty good.

After the showcase, we made a toast to my success with a glass of prosecco and a McDonald’s in the hotel room. It was wonderful.

It was a truly delightful weekend (and that was before I got a mention in this glowing 5 star review!)

A lovely sunny weekend, spent on the English south coast.

Swindon Literary Festival

The launch of Swindon Writers III came with a packed-out library venue, much to everyone’s surprise. Boyfriend Ben was unfortunately not feeling well on the night but I sent him a message to reassure him that I had more than enough attendees to keep me company.

Words were said by the editors and extracts read from the publication. To know my short story, “Bee Kind”, had been selected to sit alongside them in the book meant a lot.

A close up of some of the audience, featuring the back of my head

Two book launches, two reasons to celebrate and a very happy author in between. As I say to people, prizes and publication aren’t the sole reason why we do what we do, but it damn well helps.

**

Head over to my publishing credits page to find out where you can purchase either book

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

Alice E. Bennett Wins Flash Fiction Competition at Bournemouth Writing Festival

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Event, Humour, Prize, Uncategorized, Writing , , ,

I am thrilled to announce that flash fiction submission, “How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family” has been shortlisted for publication in Bournemouth Writing Festival’s debut anthology.

Judge and Bournemouth academic, Charlotte Grace Fodor, said of the piece:

“How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family” is a well-crafted, thought-provoking story with good attention to detail and is glittered with humour. I particularly enjoyed how the ending of the story adds depth and layers to the narrative, prompting the reader to reflect on themes of self-expression, transformation, and authenticity. The question posed by the shopkeeper…invites the reader to consider the choices we make in presenting ourselves to the world.

This question can be interpreted in various ways, encouraging introspection about personal growth and self-discovery.

Needless to say, I am completely over the moon by this news. Given the hundreds of submissions into this competition, I was more than flattered to have made the longlist, let alone the top 20. That in mind, I want to congratulate all of my fellow longlistees and thank all those involved in running this competition.

I’ll be joining my fellow winners for a special awards ceremony taking place as part of the festival later in April. Watch this space for updates!

Lines in the Sand will be published by Dithering Chaps on 26th April 2024. It is available for pre-order from Amazon, with physical copies available during the festival and from the publisher direct.

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**

How I got free tickets to RIAT (the Royal International Air Tattoo)

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) British, Charity, Event, Humour, Uncategorized , , ,

To say Ben is into planes is more than a little modest, it is the understatement of the century. We both also happen to live close to Fairford, the Wiltshire RAF base which once a year becomes home to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).

Two slight issues with my initial plan of a date-day visit:

  1. In 2023 the price of an individual adult ticket was £65
  2. As well documented by Captain Obvious, RAF Fairford is an exposed airfield. If it rains, you’re gonna know about it

The solution? Volunteering!

Ben and I put enlisted as event volunteers, selling programmes to raise money for the RAF Charitable Trust. Two highlights were Ben saying “I didn’t think you were actually going to dance with a stack of programmes” and a police officer who tapped me on the shoulder and said, in an incredibly stern tone, “excuse me, madam, but do you work in a boxing ring?” (I was waving a programme high above my head at the time). After realising I wasn’t getting a telling me off, I laughed and waved it even higher.

I know it wasn’t meant to be a contest but Ben and I sold a lot of programmes from our combined efforts, a lot.

By noon we were released from volunteering duties and allowed to enjoy RIAT for the rest of the day, free of charge. We enjoyed both the static and air displays with plenty of sugary snacks and then, when the British weather turned we darted into Ben’s car and continued watching the displays, warm and dry and accompanied by RIAT’s FM radio commentary (another perk of volunteering, prime car parking).

Not even strong winds and rain could stop us laughing during our day at RIAT. I learnt a lot about planes (although I don’t see me becoming RAF recruitment material anytime soon) but I also got to learn more about the great work of the RAF Charitable Trust. All whilst having a cheap date day out with Ben. We came away with Ben’s vocal cords ripped to shreds and my arms and feet feeling the burn from all the dancing. But you know what? It was totally worth it.

You can find out more about volunteering opportunities at RIAT through their official website

**

Could you spare a dollar to support me? Donate here!

Alice’s Funding Page

**