By William Van Zyl – Published January 2022. As the slender butler pulled the chair out for Mephibosheth, he shuffled closer and steadied himself by holding onto the chair’s back support. His eyes scanned over the feast set out on the large table. The grandeur of the table displayed the wealth of the palace owner.… Continue reading Half of Mephibosheth.
Category: Writing
Writing skills, ideas, concepts and more. Articles and eBooks.
War medal of 12-year-old ‘Penkop’ War Hero – Pieter Grabbe – located in the U.K.
By William Van Zyl. Published January 2022. Pieter Grabbe van Zyl (Zijl) also known as PG. Pieter Grabbe – Anglo-Boer child hero – was born on September 30, 1888. He joined the Heidelberg Kommando in 1901, during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa (1899 to 1902). He would have been just over 12 years… Continue reading War medal of 12-year-old ‘Penkop’ War Hero – Pieter Grabbe – located in the U.K.
Bathtub-pilots saved miraculously by instruction manual.
By William Van Zyl (Published December 2021). Listen to the podcast of the story and article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xgu7v-116beac The bathtub plane flew like a giant concrete brick, shaking and vibrating violently through the air. Two babies took off from the bathroom floor without wings – the bath flight baffled aeronautical engineers. The structures around them rattled,… Continue reading Bathtub-pilots saved miraculously by instruction manual.
Odourless Poison Saves Murderer from Prison.
By William Van Zyl (Published December 2021). Listen to the podcast while reading: https://williamvzyl.podbean.com/e/odourless-poison-saves-murderer-from-prison-by-william-van-zyl/ She grabs the black book – nobody is watching. She turns, holding the book in her right hand, behind her back. The doctor is at the large window in the bedroom; he looks over the ocean. She quickly and securely slips… Continue reading Odourless Poison Saves Murderer from Prison.
Gold of Ophir: You have no Time to Die?
By William Van Zyl (Dec 2021). The first building block for this article is a dream – a true dream of several years ago. A friend revealed this exciting dream and scenario to me. In the dream, he visits a shopping mall. Two attractive African women are wearing beautiful precious metal headpieces. They strut up… Continue reading Gold of Ophir: You have no Time to Die?
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger! タイガー、タイガー、タイガー！
Nine unique lessons on the planning and attack at Pearl Harbour (WW2). By William Van Zyl (December 2021). Listen to the podcast of the article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cyjiw-115b17b Weeks earlier. A tiny reed protrudes out of the water – hardly visible – slowly moving from ship to ship. His eyes are wide open; his brain is making… Continue reading Tiger, Tiger, Tiger! タイガー、タイガー、タイガー！
Advice to Beginner Bloggers and Prospective Writers.
By William Van Zyl (published in December 2021). Listen to the podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-z8md6-1169742 Answers to the questions and comments from blog readers (Five House Publishing). I have received many questions from visitors to my website – Five House Publishing. The questions range from: How do I write good blog posts? I want to start blogging;… Continue reading Advice to Beginner Bloggers and Prospective Writers.
Silver Chopsticks Miraculously Save Dong-Hyun’s Life.
By William Van Zyl (December 2021) Listen to the dramatised podcast of this story: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-a6m27-1148599 The grey and blue coloured nutrient-rich placenta swirled around in the large glass bowl before it fell into a small hole with a soft thud. The bloodied mass pulled the severed umbilical cord into the hollow at the base of… Continue reading Silver Chopsticks Miraculously Save Dong-Hyun’s Life.
Ancient Leviathan finally rolls over – 5000 fathoms under the sea – and reveals its secrets.
By William Van Zyl (November 2021) Listen to the podcast of the article/short story while reading it: https://williamvzyl.podbean.com/e/ancient-leviathan-finally-rolls-over-%e2%80%93-5000-fathoms-under-the-sea-%e2%80%93-and-reveals-its-secrets/ The yellow coloured speckle – at 5000 fathoms under the surface of the South China Sea – was filming. The umbilical cord of the small motorised submarine sent images to the mother ship from the yellow seeker… Continue reading Ancient Leviathan finally rolls over – 5000 fathoms under the sea – and reveals its secrets.
Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force
‘Science and spiritual life parallels.’ By William Van Zyl (2020) True North My bones and muscles are feeling weak. I don’t feel any pull; The influence of magnetic North is waning. But wait—I feel something… It is unfamiliar. ———-0——— To go with the flow or to resist? – that is the question. What is this… Continue reading Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force
The Sauniere Code.
By William Van Zyl (Nov 2021). The muffled scoop and thump of a spade and pick disturbed the dead. The unexpected sound – at 1:15 am – sent a shiver through the cemetery. The moist soil and decaying bodies were disturbed. Though many of the dead were at peace, the sound of spades and picks… Continue reading The Sauniere Code.
Hairspray and magnets outwit Medici Bank!
By William Van Zyl (2021) A can of hairspray made a clanking sound as the small glass ball mixed the sticky liquid in the canister. Jules Bartolnoro lowered himself slowly; he covered the can with his right hand – cupping his hand over his pocket – as he held on to the rope. At 12:16… Continue reading Hairspray and magnets outwit Medici Bank!
HEROES, HEROINES AND ME: Tuahangata (Heroes) & Tuawahine (Heroines). MAORI CULTURE COMPARED TO PAKEHA AND OTHER GLOBAL HEROES (LESSON & RESOURCE FOR 13-YEAR-OLD TO 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS).
Tauhangata & Tauwhine (Maori – New Zealand context) Download the full ebook (lesson on own identity) for free: Overview of the resource: Tuahangata (Heroes) 1. (personal noun) hero, male idol, principal male character, male celebrity – a familiar name for the main male character of a story, etc. and is often used as a proper… Continue reading HEROES, HEROINES AND ME: Tuahangata (Heroes) & Tuawahine (Heroines). MAORI CULTURE COMPARED TO PAKEHA AND OTHER GLOBAL HEROES (LESSON & RESOURCE FOR 13-YEAR-OLD TO 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS).
Cardboard Art, Sculpture, and Bas-Relief work: An integrated lesson on ‘identity.’
Front cover. Back cover. Available at fivehousepublishing.com By William Van Zyl ( First published in 2017, edited in 2018 & 2024) The Battle of Bloodriver The first shot from the ‘Sanna voorlaaier’ (rifle) broke the silence of the fog. It crept slowly up and along the cold river like a thick blanket. It was an uncertain,… Continue reading Cardboard Art, Sculpture, and Bas-Relief work: An integrated lesson on ‘identity.’
Helium Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Our New Jellyfish and Alien ‘Space Killers’ of the Future?
By William Van Zyl (Published in 2020) Essay: Soft bait is a silent killer. Synthetic fishing lures have been developed to catch any type of freshwater and saltwater fish. Designers and manufacturers have spent large amounts of money, time, and resources, on creating the most effective lures and soft baits. Soft bait is so effective… Continue reading Helium Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Our New Jellyfish and Alien ‘Space Killers’ of the Future?
River Rights: A United Approach to Improve Sustainable Practice.
By William Van Zyl (2019) Overview of this article From a sustainability perspective, this article investigates the views of three prominent cultures: Hinduism, Māori World view (New Zealand’s indigenous people), and Christianity. By comparing the different cultures or perspectives, the concept of giving rights to natural features like rivers are discussed. However, there are many… Continue reading River Rights: A United Approach to Improve Sustainable Practice.
Out-Foxed.
Two one-page stories. By William Van Zyl (Oct 2021). Listen to the dramatised story on podbean: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-y4nr5-11407a5 At 11:16 am, it was all over. On July 15, 2016 – at 11:17 am – John Parrish ran over his robber-friend, Jack Leonard, and grabbed his bag full of money. They had just robbed the Atlantic Bank… Continue reading Out-Foxed.
Painting, painting on the Wall – Old, Gray and Wilde – is young Dorian, Dorian Gray, the Fairest of them all?
By William Van Zyl (Sept 2021) Listen to the podcast of the article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cxmsz-10f7824 The dagger is lodged deep in the chest of the rather ugly looking man. The now ‘older man’ is lying on the ground in a pool of blood. The painting of a beautiful young man lays beside him – almost unrecognisable… Continue reading Painting, painting on the Wall – Old, Gray and Wilde – is young Dorian, Dorian Gray, the Fairest of them all?
Unparalleled find – a Badge, a Skull, and a 2000-year-old Coin.
By William Van Zyl (2021) Listen to the podcast of the article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-r8ua7-10f7929 The wet blade made a long continuous ‘slit’ sound as he sliced through the skin and flesh. The tummy opened. The well-skilled calloused hand reached inside the warm body to remove the intestines. It was still warm. He stopped. The eyes of… Continue reading Unparalleled find – a Badge, a Skull, and a 2000-year-old Coin.
The World’s shortest Poems.
By William Van Zyl (published September 2021) Listen to the podcast of this article online as a blog post: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5iaj8-10f7cbb Have you ever wondered what is the shortest poem ever written? After a search, here is a result. The shortest poem in the English language, by the late great Muhammad Ali, is simply “Me, We”.… Continue reading The World’s shortest Poems.