TIE MY HEART

Tie
My heart
To this place
Do not let me stray
Here is where freedom dwells
The wanderings of my soul
Led me back again and again
Long nights I cried in the growing storm
But now it has broken the light has come

SACRED TIME

Sacred time
I am held within you
In the Oneness of all things
That hold life and death
As if time were nought
Life and death, touching,
Embracing each other,
Opposites no more
One the mirror of the other,
Reflecting all that is
In Oneness

KIMBER’S GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Get to Know You #75!

I will answer the questions and put the link in later when someone can help me to do it lol

1. The question is whether I could like to live in the cuntryside or in a city, from what I remember.

My b answer is that always it would be the countryside. I hate towns but I actually do live in a town. I love the rhythm of life in the countrusde. I would love to live in a little cottage and to spend most of my time outside watching nature and rising with the sun and going to bed at sunset.

2. Oh I think I got them wrong way round lol.a but question number 1 was actually about what time we get up.

I get up at around seven o’clock in the morning. I have to take a tablet at around that t time and then two hours later I can have my breakfast. When I stop taking the tablets in three months time I think I might get up slightly later, like about a quarter to eight. I don’t like sleeping in although I do sometimes fall asleep in the mornings and I hate doing that because I then always have horrible nightmares and then I can’t wake up properly at all

3. The question is about what the best concert we have ever been to is.

I used to live near to Buxton Opera House in the U.K. and there were many good groups who came there. However, the best one that I ever saw was Steelye Span. I don’t know if they are known in other countries but they are well known in the U.K. I have loads and loads of their C.Ds. They are getting on a bit now, but the real star of the group for me was Maddy Prior. An amazing singer.

ESTHER CHILTERN’S CHALLENGE Games

Writing Prompts

Thankyou for this prompt Esther. It was nice to read about the games you have enjoyed.

Well, I don’t remember too many games as a child. We didn’t play games in our family, but I do remember playing chess when I was at Secondary school. We had a chess club there and that was where I learned how to play it. I don’t think I was bad at it but there were some there who were an absolute whizz at it. I really enjoyed playing it but for some reason I gave up in the end. I was in the bottom class at that school and most of the pupils in the chess club were the ones int the top classes so maybe I felt out of my depth a bit.

I do remember playing snakes and ladders but I don’t remember when or who with. I enjoyed that when I did play it but I think I ended up sliding down the snakes more than I climbed the ladders.

I don’t think I played monopoly except for maybe once. That was more complicated.

Oh I do remember playing ball games. I used to go to Woodcraft when I was about ten or maybe a bit younger and we played with a ball.someone would throw the ball into the air real high and whoever caught it threw it up next and so it went on. I was real good at running to it and catching it. I remember getting all hot and sticky doing it though.

Another game that I loved playing was scrabble. In fact I would still be playing that with my husband today if I could see. We used to while away many an hour playing scrabble.

I used to play a game in the dark winter evenings with my grandmother at the farm, and it consisted of various categories like flowers, boy’s names, girl’s names, countries, towns, fruits, and various other things. We would choose a letter by sicking a pen onto a word in a book and then we had to find a country or whatever beginning with that letter. I used to play that for hours with my grandmother who was very patient with me. Lovely memories.

Thankyou for bringing these nice memories back Esther.

THE DAILY MOAN Come on In

Today it’s the tops on yoghurts. They are on so tight that you can’t get them off however hard you pull them. Then when they finally do come off, the yoghurt splashes in your face because of the force you have to use.

What’s your moan today?

RDP SATURDAY Crushed

Wilma felt crushed. She had always been good at school, and she thought that she was going to get on prize on Speech Day for English. However, her best friend Tilly got it. Wilma was furious. It wasn’t right in her book. Tilly never had to work very hard and she just seemed to walk off with everything. So livid was she that she just had to do something to releive her angr. So, when they were eating their school dinners she put salt into Wilma’s water whilst her back was turned. She watched as Wilma took a sip of her water and then splutterd and spat it out.

“That’s for stealing my prize from me,” aid Wilma. Tilly took the glass of water and threw it all over Wilma. They never spoke to each other again after that.

SOCS SATURDAY Scratch an Itch

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2026 Daily Prompt for Jan. 31st

With thanks to Linda G. Hill

Twice in my lifetime I have experienced having a most terrible itch all over my body. I know what it is like to be desperate to scratch an itch. In 2013 I developed the most horrific itch and at first I thought it was insect bites. As it went on and on I thought it would disappear come the autumn. It didn’t. I continued to try not to scratch the itch, thinking it would go away if I didn’t scratch it. Come Christmas, it still hadn’t gone. I landed in the doctor’s office where I was told I had scabies. This terrified me. A few days before Christmas I was back in the doctor’s office, terrified that it was indeed scabies but convinced that it wasn’t. I was told by this doctor that indeed it was not scabies. He told me to go home and enjoy Christmas and return to see him in the New Year. All through Christmas it was so hard not to scratch that itch. After I returned in the New Year, the doctor didn’t seem to want to do much about the itch that I had had since the previous year n the summer. After many visits to him, he eventually took a blood test. He chose to ignore the results which were bad. So arrogant was he that he even refused to listen to another doctor who told him that this woman had either lung cancer or COPD. I had by now lost five stones in weight and I could not eat at all. I had a deep retching cough and was so weak that I could hardly walk. He diagnosed stress.

One morning I was so ill that my husband called the doctor for a home visit. What a good job he did. A lovely little lady doctor came because the other doctor was on holiday. She examined me and saw immediately that I was very sick. She referred me straight to the hospital and in the May of that year I was diagnosed with Stage 3b Hodgkins Lymphoma which is a blood cancer.

After having eight months of chemo I went into remission and the itch disappeared.

The second time that this happened was not too long ago. Towards the end of last year I developed an all over body itch. Once again I tried not to scratch the itch. I was terrified. I thought the previous cancer had come back. After a blood test, however, it was discovered that I had hardly any iron in my body. Phew. Now, some tme later, I am still trying not to scratch the itch but my iron levels are getting much better. At first it was a dangerous position to be.in however.

I think I can relate very will to these words, much as I wish that I didn’t.

SAMMI COX’S WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT Mourn

Weekend Writing Prompt #453 – Mourn

With thanks to Sammi

Rose did know how to mourn. She never cried. She thought she could defy death. She lay on the Hospital bed in her living room.

“It won’t be long,” said the doctor. It wasn’t. Then we saw a tear on her cheek.

EARTHS WOMB

Earth’s womb
Gives birth to joy
But first are labour pains
And the anguish of souls in the dark
Crying
Out woe
But soon there will be a new dawn
And new life will appear
Hold onto hope
Keep faith

LOVESONGS

Lovesongs
Fall from your lips
Like the tears in my eyes
That fall gently,
Brushing my face,
Your song
Rests there
Down on the ground where my eyes fall
Shining with clear pure light
Looking just like
A tear

Hope says……Bin men causing chaos

Woof woof woof

Dad’s dead angry. The bin men have been causing chaos again. I’ve had to bark ever such a lot. Now we’ve got more bins than we should have. They brought new ones and didn’t take our old one away. It’s ever such a muddle. I don’t think we’ll ever sort it out. Dad was on the phone all morning. I had to go and tell Charlie all about it. Then when Kate came this afternoon, she got in a mudddle with the bins too.

Dad’s wheelchair is ever so poorly and Magda and her husband are coming tomorrow to try and make it better. Dad is using Mum’s old wheelchair and it goes too fast for him. He nearly runs over my paws with it in the kitchen. I try to get away from it but Dad still nearly runs into me.

We n had a strange woman in the house yesterday. She came with one of those needles. It was to stick into Dad to get his blood. She couldn’t get it though. Dad didn’t want to part with it. I don’t blame him. She said she was coming back n but she hasn’t been yet.she needn’t come near me. I want to keep all my blood. I’m losing a lot of me though. All my fur is falling out. Bits of me are all over the house. Charlie says at least he only loses a few feathers. My fur goes all over the place.

I got some salmon last night and I tried to get Dad to give me some more but he didn’t. I keep watching out for chips, frozen or not, but Dad doesn’t drop them as much as he used to.

I think Mr. Arthur is getting a bit better but I still can’t wear my new boots. I licked Magda’s nose the other day when she was on the floor with me. I like Magda’s nose. Magda used to give me cheese because I used to have a tablet for Mr. Arthur but I don’t now cos the vet gave me liquid instead. So I don’t need the cheese so I’m mad. I think I sould still get the cheese. When Dad gets cheese out of the fridge I go and nudge him to try and get him to drop the cheese.

I’d better go because I’ve got a lot of barking to do tomorrow.

Talk to you again soon.

Woof woof woof

THE STRANGEST OF BLENDS

While folks make merry
The light holds hands with the dark
The strangest of blends

THE FIELD

The field offered its soul tonight
Raw, unadulterated,
White with the innocence of promise
Now silent after busyness
A moment of contemplation
A waiting time
When nature can be still, rest,
And in the silent peace
A family
Of Little Egrets wandered
But this was just a moment
Soon the ploughing will begin
New seeds sown
The silence broken
The cycle will begin again

RDP THURSDAY

Ragtag Daily Prompt Thursday: Snarl

With thanks to Bushboy

When I saw this word it took me back into my childhood. I used to live in a tiny hamlet and although I was only three years old, I used to play with the kids of a farmer who were older than me. One day they took me right down the main road in the hamlet to a tiny road. There was a man living there who didn’t like being disturbed. He lived alone in his cottage and seemed to have a grudge against the world. When he saw us kids, he flew out of his cottage and began to snarl at us. He threatened us with all sorts of things and I had never been so scared.

I don’t think I ever told my parents about what had happend but we certainly learned our lesson not to go down that road.

FOWC Grass

FOWC With Fandango — Grass

With thanks to Fandango

David looked at his watch. He was about to travel from the village where he lived to the big town to meet up with his school pals. A group of them had decided upon their first visit to a night club. Mike was due to pick him up in ten minutes time. As he walked out of the door his father warned him to be careful. His brother Jonah heard it all. He was younger than David and so could not be admitted to a night club.

David’s parents spent the whole weekend worried about him, unable to sleep for wondering what was happening in the big town. David was stying with one of his mates from school. Except that, they each got a girl at the night club, and they spent the night with them.

When David returned home after the weekend, Jonah was constantly asking him what he had got up to. In the end David told him, in almost a boasting manner. Jonah took it all in.

One night, David’s father began haranguing him.

“You spent the night with a girl when you went to that night club didn’t you.”

“How did you know that?” Said David.

“Your brother Jonah told me,” replied his father.

David was incdescent with anger. How could his brother grass on hin like that?

In a fury he stalked out of the house and went into the garage where he found some spray paint. He also found Jonah’s treasured bicycle. He took the spray paint and sprayed the bike with the paint. Then he rubbed his hands in glee.

“That’ll teach him,” he said to himself.

THE EXPLODING WHEELCHAIR

My husband’s wheelchair explodid the other day, well it happened on Tuesday. He was driving it in the living room, and our cleaner, Magda was in there too tidying up, asking him where to put things. He had parked up and turned it off, as you do, and she asked him to move so that she could get in somewhere so he turned the wheelchair on again and oh boy. All the lights on it started flashing and it wouldn’t move anywhere. Panic stations. Magda went and got him my old electric wheelchair and helped him into it. What a good job she was here. He rang up Eden Mobility where he purchased the wheelchair at the end end of December last year and they refused to come until next Monday. He was stuck with a dead wheelchair in the room, and fear of fire. We thought it had a lithium battery in it and so were worried sick about fire and power was still going into the motor. My husband rang round lots of people asking them if it was a fire risk. He even rang the fire station to ask what to do. They said that they would only comes when it catches fire. Social services wouldn’t help him to get the battery off the wheelchair and no one else would come either. We were terrified as it was sitting in the living room below this bedroom where I am. In the end someone called Peter agreed to come. I used to play my flute in a group with Peter. He is not a very practical person. He can manage a guitar but not much else lol. However, he did manage to get the offending battery out and he took it outside, wrapped in a plastic bag.

All of yesterday we were on the phone to various people trying to get something done. My husband cannot manage without that wheelchair as it is a riser one that lifts him up to the height of the work surface in the kitchen. He is cooking for us both all of the time and also he has to provide me with red meat as my iron tablets have been cut down. Panic again. Despite many desperate phone calls to Eden Mobility they still said that no one could come until next Monday. They had no engineers in. We were stuck.

The situation now is still that he can only use my old electric wheelchair. We had to get sandwiches in from Tescos but that wasn’t very filling and no iron in them.

So we are stuck now until next MOnday and even then it may take a while to repair it depending on what is wrong with it.

Last year he had bought the exact same wheelchair in about June. It had done excactly the same as this one. It needed the motor replacing. It was ging to take a long time to get the new motor and fit it. This was in December. We couldn’t get through Christmas and were desperate so he gave that wheelcahir in part exchange for another new one. We lost a lot of money but we were desperate. And now this one has done exactly the same thing as the first one. We don’t know if it is the motor again or not.

So, my friends, I was not on my blog all day again yesterday.

I’ll let you know if the wheelchair explodes any more.

THE BIRDS OF THE AIR

The birds of the air
Are as free as the warm wind
Looking down on us

WHEN NOTHING IS LITTLE

When nothing it little
And little is nothing
Where do I find something

TWO PATHS

You have before you two paths

One is rocky and hard
The other is broad and easy to tread
Littered with words that are pleasing
Which road will you choose to travel?
The more tempting one is the broaf road

Filled with all kinds of Temptations
Appearing as Truths

Only in experiencing both paths

Can you know which one leads to Truth

The broad path may call sweetly to you

As it did to me
But only in going down it will you discover

Its ludicrous and obscene deceptions

For on those sweet meats you will fall

And their sweetness will stick in your mouth

Making you unable even to scream at the horror

The rocky path is unattractive
And appears too hard to follow

You balk at the sight of it

Unable to contemplate travelling it

Negotiating the hard rocks and the huge mountains
But where does it lead?
I have experience of both
And the hard path is the one that leads ultimately to Truth

not filled with easy platitudes

that fail to norish the suffering soul

but honesty that recognises the soul’s plight

DAILY WRITING PROMPT Books that I Want to Read

https://blindwilderness.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&answer_prompt=1830

There are many kinds of books that I like. I have favourites from years ago that I have read many times but I don’t at this moment want to read them again.

I often like to read spiritual books of all kinds, because they make me feel peaceful and calm and often through reading them, I find a wayb through difficulties and problems. However, laterly I have loved reading murder mysteries. I think I am a bit stupid tough, because I don’t like graphic ones. I mean, how can you have a proper murder mystery without a bit of blod and gore? I like the cosy murder books that are all the rage now, but even some of them can be too graphic for me. I used to love ‘Agatha Christies but I always found myself getting a bit lost as there were always so many characters in them and they were often introduced veryb quickly. I maybe should read some more but my brain gets a bit taxed with them.

I know that this might sound a bit odd, but I still love reaiding Theology books, because that was the subject that I was engaged in during my academic life. It is really hard to keep up with what is going on in the theological world now, however. I am unable to get to libraries any more and many theological books are not produced in Kindle and, being blind, I need my books in Kindle. That way, voice over will read them to me, or Alexa. I actually have many books in my Kindle library that I have never started, but some of them, I no longer feel the desire to read.

I guess I go in waves.

FOWC Shivering

FOWC With Fandango — Shivering

Wiath thanks to Fandango

Jake stood shivvering on the landing. He was a big built man who loved nothing more than to play rough sports. Nothing ever fazed him……escept……..spiders. And there was one in the bath. A huge one. It was running all over the place. Jake shivered and sweated all at the same time. How on earth was he going to get rid of this spider?

After standing there for about ten minutes, he called his wife.

“Jean,come and get rid of this spider.”

Jean climbed up the stairs and stood looking at the spider. She was only a tiny woman. After calling Jake a few chice names she went into the bathroom and managed to catch the spider alive. She then carried it carefully outside.

HERE IS MY EARTHLY HOME

Here is
My earthly home
Born of the dust I came
To live in the divine darkness
Glowing
Pure light
That can be seen only by hearts
Open vulnerable
There the shining
Does dwell

HOME AGAIN

Back in the sacred place
I am home again
My spirit now at rest
I sit here very still

I am home again
Absent was I for so long
I sit here very still
Basking in the silence

Absent was I for so long
My restless heart did ache
Basking in the silence
I have found my peace

My restless heart did ache
Longing to be home
I have found my peace
Healed was my heart within

Longing to be home
My footsteps brought me here
Healed was my heart within
As I knelt here this day

My footsteps brought me home
Back to familiarity
As I knelt here this day
I felt my spirit still

Back to familiarity
Where all is safe and sure
I felt my spirit still
And inside I am calm

Where all is safe and sure
I know I need not fear
And inside I am calm
The light has shone again

I know I need not fear
For here you are with me
The light has shone again
And I can see your face

Here, you are with me
Dispelling all the dark
And I can see your face
Making all things well

Dispelling all the dark
Eternity has called
Back in the sacred place
I am home again

RDP MONDAY Cord

RDP Monday: CORD

Larry had been driving a lorry for the council at New Mills for a long time. He was very experienced and they always turned to him when there was a particularly difficult job to be done. Over a period of time, large potholes had appeared on many of the roads. It was especially problematic on the main street in the town. People were having to watch they were walking in order to avoid falling down them. People driving along the road also had to take a lot of care otherwise they could come to grief.

So it was that Larry was approached one dayn by the Head of the council and asked to go round on his lorry and pick up all the holes and dispose of them – carefully. Larry realised that this was a very important job and he immediately agreed to do it. He prided himself on his ability to tackle difficult jobs and he wasn’t going to be beaten by a load of holes.

The morning of the operation arrived, and Larry arrived for work feeling rather proud of himself. No one else had been asked to do this important job. If he was lucky he could have it finished off by lunch time. He went to the depot and got his lorry ready. He could get quite a few holes into it. He set off, whistling as he went. He took along a length of cord with which to tie the back of the lorry so that the holes wouldn’t be able to escape. He arrived at the first hole, and as he loaded it onto the lorry, there were many onlookers. They all clapped when the hole was safely on the lorry. Then he went to the next one. And the next one. And the next one. Soon his lorry was full of holes. He began driving towards the place where he was to dump the holes, when suddenly the cord broke and one of the holes fell off. Larry didn’t realise what had happened, and accidentally reversed into the hole. His lorry disappeared completely. Soon, there was a huge crowd of people all peering into the hole. Larry had managed to get out of his lorry and was clinging to the sides of the hole.

“I’ll throw you a rope,” shouted a man. The rope was lowered into the hole and Larry b managed to grab hold of it and he was slowly lifted up onto the road. Everyone cheered as he was brought to safety. Larry felt rather embarrassed, but the people hailed him as a hero. It didn’t matter that he had accidentally backed his lorry into one of the holes. He had taken on a dangerous job, and all the people said he deserved a medal for it.

Not too long after that the Qyeen paid a visit to Mew Mills and Larry was presented with his medal. He became known as the Hole Hero for all time to come.

THE FLEA WHO GOT INTO A FIGHT

There once was a flea in a fight
Who hadn’t got very much sight
He hit the wrong bloke
Then started to choke
When the guy he had hit said “I’m Mike.”

THE WORLD IS UNTIDY

The world
Is untidy
Littered with lives gone wrong
Upside down people challenging
The right
Way up
Ones who really are upside down
A new world of mercy
Beckons us all
Greet it

DAILY WRITING PROMPT

https://blindwilderness.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=post&answer_prompt=1828

My favourite pursuit in my leisure time used to be bird watching. It was something that I discovered and feel in love with after we moved from Derbyshire in England to Lincolhnshire, which is my home county. It all started one evening when we were driving along the reverbank road, out in the countryside, and saw some geese flying above the river, ging home to rest for the night. Watching them moved me intensely for some reason. I thought of how they had been out all day doing whatever geese do, but now, they were going to a place hopefully of safety for the night. A place where they could sleep and not have to worry about watching out for dangers. The words “going home and for me, it meant going home when we pass away. I have no idea at all whether indeed we do “go home” or whether in fact we just go to dust and nothing more. It all seemed to link in with my father’s death as his death was much on my mind. I thought how vulnerable the birds are, and in a way that broke my heart. So many of them meet adversity of some kind or another and come to grief.

Having had my interest aroused, I began watching birds more closely, and I always got some message from them. I would go bird watching every day. I purchased binoculars and spent many happy hours watching them. One of my favourite places to go was a place called Far Ings which was alongisde the Rive Humber. There were many birds of different kinds there, as there, the river becomes the estuary out into the North Sea. Herons became some of my favourite birds, and I would sit by a particular lake watching them standing absolutely still on one leg for hourse. I would watch for them cathing a fish. Quite suddenly I would see them plunge their beaks uner the water and they would come up with a fish and often the fish would be struggling. I felt sorry for the fish, but it was all absolutely fascinating.

One time we had an intensely cold spot, and the lakes actually froze over. The birds that were fresh water birds couldn’t feed as they could no longer fish. Many of them perished, and we thought that there would be none left by the time the cold snap ended. We thought about the herons and also the little kingfishers. They eat only fish. However, one day we saw a kingfisher eating from the bird table and it was eating bread. As far as we knew, kingfishers had neber been known to eat bread. So the little kingifhser had found a new way of eating and surviving. It made me think of how we ourselves sometimes have to find new ways of doing things in order to survive. It is possible but we need to find the way despite the most adverse circumstances.

I also discovered the ospreys. I had heard in the past of how the ospreys in sccotland were disappearing and they had tried to re introduce them and get them breeding there again. The project was successful, and they had a few breeding paris there, notable at the Loch of Lowes. There was a bird there whom they called Lady, and she was in her twenty sixth breeding season, which was a phenomenol age for an osprey to be still breeding. I often thought of how they would leave this country at the end of the breeding season and have to make a dangerous journy back to Africa, meeting many hazards on the way. Some of them did perish and each year it was hoped that Lady would return to her nest in the Loch of Lowes. When she did, I would watch her with her mate, producing eggs and then the young osprey. I would watch the pair feeding the little birds and once again it moved me intensely. The birds would have sacrificed themselves for the sake of the young. The young were totally dependent upon their parants for their survival for they couldn’t yet fish for themselves. They were so vulnearable that it was almost painful to watch for there were predators all around. Eventually however they would fledge and make their first flight and soon they would learn to fish for themselves. Then at the end of the breeding season they would all set off on their journey to Africa or some other warmer clime again. The parents would always go first whilst the young would remain in Scotland for a week or so on their own. Then they too would start their dangerous journey. I felt as if I had learned so much from those wonderful birds.

I could write for ever about the birds but then I became totally bedfast and I can no longer watch the birds and I miss that so much. If I had leisure time now, that would be what I was doing.

Just jojan Transmission

Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 25th, 2026

With thanks to Linda

Having just purchased a new transistor radio, I can home in on this word because the transmission is not always that good. Despite it being a brand new radion, it often crackles and sometimes it is not possible to tell what people are saying. I find that the men’s voices are not too bad whilst the womens’ voices are quite difficult at times. As it is only a very small radio I suppose I shouldn’t expect much better, but I must admit that, being disappointed with my first purchase, I did purchase another one. It would really be much easier maybe to listen to the radio on my iPad, but, being blind, I need someone to find it for me. I haven’t listened to the radio for years, but listening to television programmes is not so satisfrying when you are blind. As radio programmes are made just for listening to, they are much better for me. I do find many of the programmes very interesting.

I am not sure how clear my own transmission is. As I write, I am aware that I can’t get my thoughts together properly. Also my many typing errors may make what I am saying unclear.

I remember my grandfather listening to the radio each evening. He would often be playing around with the knobs on it to get it to be more clear. It would often be crackling and sometimes it would fade out completely. Radios in those days were not as good as they are now. I remember those days with affection. It was always a bonus if you managed to get clear transmissions and could listen to a whole programme. We have moved on from there now.

MORNING

Morning
Dew falls
Clothing the earth
With the freshness of Love
Yesterday now is gone, all things
Made new
I wake
From slumber to newness of life
Still I know the path hard,
It must be trod
This day

HAVE YOU GOT TIME

In the passage where time waits
I stumble
Trying not to look back
Afraid to look forwards
A blockage has occurred
Thrashing around I try to kill time
And find
That it is an illusion
A construct
Made to control us
Trip us up
“I haven’t got time,” you say
No, you don’t have time
You have eternity

SAMMI COX WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT – Letter

Weekend Writing Prompt #452 – Letter

Kathy clutched the letter in her hands as she ran. Would she get to the station before she was caught? She had been a prisoner for far too long, but today she had escaped. As she boarded the train she heaved a sigh of relief. Until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you Kathy Hill?” A voice said. It was too late. She had beencaught. Sweat poured from her.

k8

SOCS SATURDAY Take another look

SOCS SATURDAY Take another look

With thanks to Linda G. Hill for these words

When I read these words, I couldn’t at first remember any situation where I had wanted to take another look at something. It makes me think of seeing something but being so surprised by it that you have to take another look at it. Almost as if the assure yourself that that was what you had seen.

I do remember one occasion when I maybe did take another look. We were travelling along in the car on a fairly main road, and all of a sudden we saw a fox walking along at the side of the road. I could hardly believe my eyes. There it was, in broad daylight, not bothered at all. It was so bold, and I felt amazed at this. So yes, maybe that was one time when I did take another look.

It reminds me of a comedy programme that used to be on the television. I don’t remember the name of it now, but the old guy hears somebody say something and he says,

“I heard that, pardon.” That always made me laugh and it was hearing instead
of seeing, but he had to hear once again what he had heard to make sure he really had heard it right.

Another occasion on which I kind of had to take another look was when I was much younger and I used to do an awful lot of sewing. I made a lot of my own clothes as I was a good seamstress. I was looking round the local market and there was a stall there where they sold material of various kinds. On this occasion there was some heavy material for winter. It consisted of some kind of check that was put alongisde another roll of material that complemented it. The stallholder tried to get me to buy some, but I walked away, unsure. However, as I thought about it, I imagined myelf making myself a suit with it. So I walked back to the stall and took another look at it and decided to buy it. In fact I never did get that material made up into anything. That was rather sad.

I am very interested in those really deep large holes that are often dug at the side of roads. Usually there are men with yellow hats on either peering into then or actually in them. As I got past them, I always want to take another look. I am curious about what is in the hole. I don’t think I have ever found out what it was.

I think I had better take another look at what I have written, for I always make a lot of mistakes. I tend to type very fast and then make some mistakes. Here’s hoping.

WHERE THE SEAGULLS CRY

Where the seagulls cry
I feel the wind sting my face
The sea is calling

IN BUBBLING AIR

In the bubbling air
They ran hand in hand on sand
Leaping to the sky

AFTER THE NIGHTS DREAMS

After the night’s dreams
Dawn breaks and birds sing again
All is well within

FOWC exclude

FOWC With Fandango — Exclude

With thanks to Fandango

Susan had learned to exclude herself from all kinds of activities in the school. She couldn’t bear to look at herself in the mirror. She had no hair, and hadn’t had any since birth. Whilst the other kids at school accepted her, she herelf felt unacceptable. One day she didn’t appear at school, and at the morning assembly the headmaster announced that the next day Susan would be appearing at school with a wig on. He warned evryone not to remark on it or to tease her or to make her feel uncomfortable in any way.

The next day Susan went to school with her new wig on. No one remarked on it. In fact the wig was never mentioned by anyone even in the next days and weeks. Howver, Susan was often heard to say,

“My hair’s a mess today,” and she would pull at the hairs in her wig. Still, no one commented.

Susan began to wonder what was wrong with everyone. Why was no one saying anything about her wig? One day she exploded.

“Why doesn’t anyone ever say anything about my wig?”

No one said anything. Susan stalked off, and never returned to that school again.

IT FEELS LIKE A MIRACLE

Well, as many of you know, I became very ill towards the end of last year. After having a blood test it was found that the iron in my body was almost non existent. The doctors were very worried and they frightened me almost to death. However, they prescribed iron tablets for me – high does of it which did upset my stomach rather. I was very careful how I took them, taking them with orange joice to help absoorbtion.also avoiding dairy.

As I reported in a post the other day, I recenlty had another blood test and my iron levels had gone up from almost nothing to 44. Well within normal. It was amzing as the doctors had told me that it would take months if not years to get the levels up just on iron tablets and at first wanted me to hav a blood transfusion which I refused for various reasons. It being near to Christmas I did not have an infusion either although that was something that I thought would happen.

When I spoke to the doctor this orning he could hardly beleive it. He said it was a miracle. Something they would never have expected. He was so happy. So now, I have been told to cut the iron tablets down to just one a day, and after three months I will stop having them altogether. Then they will take my bloods once a year to make sure that things are staying alright.

I can’t tell you how over the moon I am.

Of course there are still all the other problems that I have, but at least this one has now been dealt with. I feel like a kid with a massive Christmas resent. Lol

RDP FRIDAY Fierce

RDP Friday! Fierce!

With thanks to Martha
I found some old socks the other day and one of the pairs was black with a ferocious looking kitten on them. It brought back a memory of someone saying to me that they weren’t coming near me because of my socks. The person referred to the fierce kitten on the socks. I had to laugh again.

Also the word “fierce” reminds me of a night that we spent camping near to Scarborough in England. A fierce wind arose and went on all night long. We got no sleep at all as we spent the night holding the tent down. It was ighty cold and often we thought that we were going to llose the tent. Again, this brought a smile to my lips. We were on a high cliff above the sea. One of our more frightening camping escapades.

IN THE CANDLELIGHT

In the candlelight
I know that my soul will live
Watching the flame dance

MORNING SONG

Still the morning song
Trills from the rooftops thrilling
Our now weary hearts

HILLS

There was a time when hills were just hills,
They had no meaning, they just were,
Until the day they became mysterious,
Sometimes dark, sometimes light,
Enticing, entrancing, beckoning,
What wonders did they hide?

Enfolded within them, I wanted to hide,
Be absorbed into those hills,
Their spirit seemed to be beckoning,
From wherever they were,
Within their darkness I knew there was light,
Something so mysterious.

Life to me was mysterious,
So often I’d wanted to hide,
Shrink back from the light,
Now I’d found the hills,
In this new place where we were,
Gently they were beckoning.

Why would they be beckoning?
This to me was mysterious,
Standing where we were,
I no longer wanted to hide,
Someone had given me the hills,
Secreting their everlasting light.

I was now drawn to that light,
As I felt it beckoning,
I knew there was glory in those hills,
A glory so mysterious,
That they never truly could hide,
It fell wherever we were.

And that was where we were,
Enfolded in their light,
Love bade us hide,
It was Love that was beckoning,
It was all so mysterious,
The glory of the hills.

One day I found the hills hiding their light,
I could see from where we were that they were beckoning,
Though it was so mysterious, in their glory I’d hide.

RETURN ANOTHER WAY

Return
Another way
From the still, silent night
That touched you deep within your soul,
Narrow
May be
That way and dark, but the darkness
Will be the safer way
Eternal light
Will shine

HOPE SAYS…..I’m going to be posh again

Woof woof woof

I’m going to be posh again. Dad has just found a new groomer for me. That Sally who used to take me to the groomers did that horrible thing just before Christmas and so Dad has had to find me a new one. This one is called Moon Paws but I’m not sure about going to the moon. Anyway, she is coming here to my house to do me. Maybe she comes from the moon. I’ll have to ask her. She is ging to wash me as well and dry me and then make my coat look pretty and maie me smell queer again. I wonder if that’s what they do on the moon. I wonder how many dogs live on the moon.

N

I’d better watch out for a spaceship coming in the sky. I hope they manage to miss the men on ladders because they go up in the sky again.

I think life just got very interesting. Who’d have thought that 2026 would go like this. First a prick yesterday and then a groomer from the moon.

I think I’m going to have to go in and see Charlie about this.

And yesterday Magda put another hat on. I think she likes hats and she looks ever so funny in them.

Kate came today but Kate isn’t keen on dogs. I don’t understand that. I’m ever so nice. I give people a real good lick and keep tripping them up cos I get in the way. I thought Kate might like a game or two.

Anyway I’ve got a lemonade bottle now. I never get bottles now because Magda clears them all awy. But Dad dropped a lemonade bottle and I pinched it and I keep cracking it in my jaws. I’m going to hide it from Dad and Magda otherwise they’ll steal it.

I’d better go now because I need to see how long it takes to get to the moon and back.

Woof woof woof

RDP WEDNESDAY Captivating

RDP Wednesday: CAPTIVATING

 

With thanks to Heather for today’s word

Bernice sat looking at the photographs – and remembering. She would never go back to that place now. She had spent ten wonderful years there, and had never expected to leave it. The photos were captivating, just as had been the scene at the time. An absolutely still lake, surrounded by hills. The day had been bright, and she had hugged herself knowing that this would be her world for ever. It was the sort of place she had longed to live for many years, but she had not thought she would ever achieve it. But she did. That day, the hills and scenery were perfectly reflected in the lake. It was mesmerising. A wave of sadness swept over her. Ters pricked the back of her eyes. But she mustn’t cry. No, she mustn’t cry.

She looked at Ron on his bed, and aall she could feel was sorrow. Why did it have to happen to him? He had been fit and well. An active man. But now, he could hardly do anything at all without help. She opened the window and smelled the smell of the steelworks. A far cry from that beautiful place. She sighed, and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

HUNCHED

She sits hunched

Lost in her own world

Seeing nothing

In the sun’s glow

Forming patterns

People she once knew

Come and go

Though she now knows none

Never will they speak

Her world nonsensical

Though if you look carefully

Her eyes say it all

WHEN THE VEIL TEARS

A sword
Hangs over me
The clock ticks on the wall
My fate in the net of time
Its fruition is eternal
This life
On earth
Simply a preparation
For that which cannot change
When the veil tears
In two

AUTUMN HAS GONE

Autumn has gone winter waits in the bows
Cold silver streaks adorn my garden gate
The cold wind blows chills the walls of my house
The wild night tells me it will not abate
Trees stand naked baring all to the world
There is no hiding place now mongst their leaves
The truth stands plain whilst all is now unfurled
My spirit heaves and unto you I’d cleave
All is revealed now in this darkened place
But then the Spring will come with all its light
Yet another sight of raw nature’s face
The jigsaw makes a picture in the night
As I lie dreaming for much clearer sight

BLOOD TEST RESULTS THROUGH – BUSY DAY

Well at last, after all this time, we finally have some blood test results. And they are good.

Beleive it or not my iron levels have gone up a lot and much more than they would have expected. Despite being dangerously low they are now within normal range. It should have taken months to get like this so we don’t know how it has happened so quickly. I still have to stick to my regime with iron tablets and other supplements and will not be cleared for a long time

My white blood cell count was a little high though. So they may repeat the test.

I just feel so happy because no longer are they syspection cancer. I can relax now.

It’s been such a busy day though, with the vet coming to see Hope and to give her her injection for arthritis. So all in all i haven’t got to my blog until now. And now, my arm is hurting like mad from the blood draw because she had to furkle around in my arm a lot to get the blood to flow.

Typing is hurting at the moment so if I don’t type any more then that is why.

Wooo hooo I a ok.

HOPE SAYS…….I’ve had a prick

Woof woof woof

I’ve had a prick today. Mr. Vet Man came. He said he’s trying to stop that Mr. Arthur. I got some new liquid pain killer as well so Magda won’t be putting my tablet in cheese any more. Thati’s not fair.

I lost weight too and Mr. Vet Man said that is good. He said it was alright at my age to enjoy my food. He was ever so nice and he said Bless you.

I took Magda for a little walk today but only just up the road. She didn’t have a silly hat on today. She had a hole in her sock though. She took a lot of Mum’s socks that she won’t wear again.

I’ll have to sneak in to tell Charlie all about it and I think he’s been cheeping to try to get me to go in. He’s nosey.

Anyway I’ll tell you a bit more soon.

Woof woof woof

A HIDDEN GARDEN

A hidden garden
Where the mystical rose dwells
And the silence speaks

LOVESONGS DANCED IN TREES

Lovesongs danced in trees

Came down and caressed my soul

Gently soothing me

HOPE SAYS…..Magda came in with a funny hat on and no hair

Woof woof woof

Well it’s not quiet here any more. Magda came today and another lady suddenly walked in through the front door. I didn’t know what to do because she didn’t knock or ring the bell and she just walked in shouting Mum’s name. I didn’t even get time to bark. Magda had been up in Mum’s bedroom for a long time with Dad. Anyway this lady went upstairs to Mum and I think she had a needle with her. I don’t like needles. Mum doesn’t either. I think she got Mum’s blood eventually. I listened hard to everything. Magda kept on laughing but I don’t think she was laughing at the needle and Mum’s blood. After the blood lady had gone, Magda came down and she had a funny hat on. Her hair had gone too. I think she had tucked it up into the hat. It was a cream wooly hat with a pink rose on the side. Magda didn’t want to take it off but she was laughing at it.

I was fed up though because Magda didn’t have time to take me for a walk. I think she will tomorrow and if she doesn’t I will complain to Dogline. I haven’t threatened to call them for a long time but I might now.

Anyway a new vet is coming to see me tomorrow and he’s going to put a needle into me. Just like Mum. It is an injection to kill Mr. Arthur, but he keeps on coming back to life. You can’t kill him. He’ll come before Magda does so she will be ablt to take me out for a walk.

I think either Tescos or Ocado is coming tomorrow too. Everyone is coming at once again. So it’s not quiet any more.

I’ll let you know if I have to ring Dogline.

Woof woof woof

ANOTHER DAY WHERE LIFE GOT IN THE WAY

It’s been another day where life got in the way of blogging. But oh boy – someone finally came to get my bloods. I could hardly beleive it. The request from my doctor went in at the end of November. We were unable to find out why they were not coming to me and we couldn’t find out and my doctor needed the results urgently. Even the doctors themselves couldn’t find out why they hadn’t come.

Well, today, my husband and Magda were clearing out a drawer in the bedroom and we were in a right old mess. Stuff all over the place. On the floor, on the bed, and in every corner. Then suddenly we heard a voice downstairs. Someone had come into the ouse and it was a woman’s voice shouting out my name. Hubby went to see what was going on and it was Emily to take my bloods. No warning first. There should have been but there hadn’t been. I shouted to her that there was a mess up here but she wasn’t bothered. No one can usually get my blood and she managed it last time but I was nervous anyway. She came and got her stuf out and then got onto my bed lol. She did that so that she was in a better position to get at my veins. She knew it was difficult to get my blood.

She put the needle n and no blood came. It hurt a LOT. So then she watned to try again. This time she got the needle in ok and the blood flowed. Oh my. I could hardly beleive it.

So now, we have to waith until Thursday for the results. I am hoping and praying that my iron levels have gone up, but it is unusual for them to go up quickly. I am hoping that we can just carry on as we are ding and that I don’t have to go for an infusion.

The day has been so busy in all kinds of ways. I am only just starting to settle down and relax.

What a day!

Wind rustled the trees

Wind rustled the trees
A tiny wren was singing
The heavens rejoiced

TIME STOOD STILL

Time stood still that day
While souls told their own stories
Birds sang in the trees

WOTD Real Time

Real-time

With thanks to Alice

If I think about what is happening in the present, or real time, then I could very easily go mad. Nothing happens for me in real time. I simply sit on my bed looking into darkness and going almost mad. Of necessity I tend to look back into the past because there is nothing in the future for me now. Just a need to get through until the inevitable happens. More and more I am aware that there is no future. Only what I have now. I try to think of ways to change it but there are none. I guess some wold say to change the way that I think. But to anyone who says that I would say,

“Try living just for on day in my shoes.”

I guess I spend my real time in attempting to do my blog for some of the time, but also simply managing to exist alone. Each day stretches in front of me and I know not how to fill it. So I just sit here staring at the darkness. Sometimes I do listen to the radio but my radio isn’t very good and purchasing another one isn’t easy either because most of them are too complicated for me. I can’t feel with my fingers and so knobs are hard to locate. I do spend some time on Yout Tube if I can manage to find anything. Again, being blind I can’t find my way to videos that I might like to listen to. Playing music is hard also for the same reasons. For every single thing that I do I need someone else to help me. I am totally dependent upon someone else. And there isn’t anyone else. My husband helps me a bit but he is very busy. There are things to do in the house and he is fully occupied and when not, he is sleeping because he is exhausted.

If all this sounds depressing then maybe it is. Today has been a bad day. Very bad.

IN A DIFFERENT WORLD

This afternoon I am feeling very alone. I want to explain. Today I have been made very aware of the fact that people are in the normal world whilst I am not. Firstly I can hear the world outside. Things going on in the street. I can hear cars and car doors slamming. I can hear all sorts of things. This afternoon my husband and Magda went outside to start my husband’s car which we have not been out in for over two years. It stands in the drive because I can’t walk down the ramp because of my blindness and thuus to the car. It reminded me so much of when we used to go out and even when I wasn’t able to do very much I could still enjoy the countryside. That is not the case now and I am all too aware that soon the car will have to go. We will never go out in it again.

I have also listened to what Magda has been saying about her world and of course she is part of the normal world doing the normal things. And then my husband is always downstairs when Magda comes and I hear them talking. I am not part of it. Even the things in our house are now foreign to me. I hear that things are being moved around and some of them are my things and yet they are not my things any more.

I spend a lot of my time entering the world of other people and listening to it and I feel so alien today because no one ever says to me,

“What is it like in your world?”

I long to tell someone about my world. It is a dark and lonely world. Many many hours spent alone in the darkness. On the bed all day long and in fact I never leave it now. I do my best to cope with all of this and this is only part of it, but I am very vrey very lonely. I long for someone to just say to me,

“Tell me about your world.”

This is something that is never going to happen. It is hurting badly this afternoon. I don’t even get to see Hope now and I don’t get to see charlie the budgie either. I just sit here in the darkness.

Sometimes I try to put my world into a poem but it doesn’t work very well.

Life is so short and I am at the wrong end of mine. I hate what my world has become. But there are others who could make it feel a bit better by trying to relate to me and talk to me. Of course, I wouldn’t push it onto anybody. And it sounds selfish to ask someone to listen to me about my world.

One of the worst things is the loneliness. And today I don’t want it any more. Today I am struggling.

HOPE SAYS…..It’s a bit quiet here

I’m not used to this. Ir’s real quiet here just lately. After the boiler man came and all the chaos ended no one else much came. Now we only get the Tesco man and the Ocado man. There are no birds outside and no men up ladders. All the fireworks have stopped and there are no boxes coming into the kitchen on their own. I went in to have a word with Charlie about it the other day and he said it would soon liven up because it will be Spring. He said he didn’t know much about it but he thought he might be chirping more than usual to try and get a lday budgie.

I think I heard Dad saying that a DPD man was coming today because he is bringing my food and some new carpets for Charlie’s house. That’s about all the excitement we are going to get. Mind you, Dad did drop a few chips onto the kitchen floor the other day and I hadn’t forgotten how to chase them and then pounce on them. I hide them too for later and Dad doesn’t know where they are.

Oh and the other thing is that I have learned how to move the big rubbish bins that blocked me into the dining room when Kate is here. I can get into the kitchen now and Dad has to close the door to the dining room to keep me in there. I don’t know why Kate doesn’t like me. I mean, she could have her ears licked and her bum nudged. And I could help her to do things and generally be a nuisance.

I don’t wear my boots any more because they make my legs tired. I still take Magda out for a walk and I can still run real fast even though Mr. Arthur tries to stop me. I think a vet man is coming to the house soon because Sally said she wouldn’t take me to the vets any more because Dad wouldn’t have me put to sleep. I thought she was my friend but she wasn’t. Anyway the new vet will give me my injection to stop Mar. Arthur hurting me any more and my pain killer. I hope the new vet is nice because if he isn’t I shall push him with my nose. It’s quite good that I have a long nose cos it will go into all sorts of places. I still get some of Mum’s dinner. I had half of a beef quarter pounder last night and the other day I had some shephers pie. It didn’t have a shpherd in it as far as I know though. It had beef in it. And sometimes I get salmon cos Mum can never eat all of hers. So I’m not doing too badly. Dad is fed up with me kicking my water dish over though. I have two and I always kick one of them over and then dad has to clear up the water. Magda tells me I am norty but I still do it anyway. It’s good fun. Then if Magda is clearing up the water I can lick her ears and shove y nose into her bum.

9t’s been real cold lately and often I don’t want to go out. But Dad shoves me out and I don’t like that. It’s not fair. Matt the gardener has stopped coming too and Dad says he’ll be back in the Spring. So I can’t even bark at him.

I’m getting really bored at the moment. I need something to happen.

I’ll come back soon and make another boring post telling you how bored I am.

If you can think of any way of making some chaos here then please let me know. Answers on a post card please.

Woof woof woof

RDP SUNDAY Jalopy

RDP Sunday: jalopy

With thanks to Dr. Ottoway for today’s word

My Dad used to won a jalopy that he was very proud of. I am not sure that my Mum was very proud of it because we always ended up getting out of it to try and push it. For some reason it never wanted to go. This was way back in 1958 and even getting it started was a pain. Me and my Mum would be pushing it from behind and my Dad would be in the driver’s seat and eventually as we pushed it for all we were worth, it would suddenly burst into action. My Dad would then end up driving it quite a long way before he dared stop, and we had to run after it.

The car was an old Austin 7 and to this day I can remember the number of it. It was FW5937.how and why I remember that all these years later I have no idea. In a way we all loved it unreliable though it was. My Dad was one of those people who managed to break everything though, and he was forever breaking the plastic indicators and he would end up putting his hand out of the window to tell drivers behind him that he was turning right, and often if he was going sloe he would put his hand out of the window and turn it round and round to indicate to the car behind to pass him. We never went very fast in it, and I am not sure it could have gone very fast. I don’t remember how long we had it for, but once it was gone, we didn’t own a car for many years. But that car had a very special place in our hearts even if we did spend most of our time cursing it.

FOWC Disclaimer

FOWC With Fandango — Disclaimer

With thanks to Fandango

Freddie stood in the dock looking at the sea of faces in front of him.

“What did you mean by saying that the government is a load of rubbish?”

“Well they are,” said Freddie. “You ask anyone else. Everyone thinks they are rubbish. I mean, they took our cold weather payment away, and they did lots of other things.”

“And what did you mean by saying that they should all be hung drawn and quartered?”

“It’s true. They should be.”

“In your disclaimer in your book you said that you weren’t responsible for anything that you wrote because everyone else was aying the same.”

“True,” said Fredie. “Everyone can’t be wrong.”

“And you said that any person referred to was only a character in your imagination and not any member of the government. It is patently obvious that one of them was Keir Starmer.”

“I said what I said,” replied Freddie.”

As Freddie spoke the sea of faces suddenly came to life and were all cheering him on. The whole court was in uproar. It all ended up in a bun fight and that night everyone was in jail for contempt of court.

WORLD IN A SEASHELL

World in a seashell
To a child’s listening ear
Hear the waves of time

SEAS OF CHANGE

Swimming
In seas of change
Against a strong current
We tire and grow oh so weary
Home calls
This night
I will rise at the crack of dawn
To a new world waiting
A place to rest
My soul

SOCS SATURDAY Favourite saying

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2026 Daily Prompt for Jan. 17th

I don’t have any particular favourite saying. I do have sayings that many people use that I absolutely hate though. I hate it when a particular person whom I know says,

“All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.”

This comes originally for Julian of norwich, but when it is used when you ar in dire situations that absolutely will never get any better, it grates on me.

This is just one example of a favourite saying of someone else gets me mad.

I suppose that I sometimes do say,

“It’s raining cats and dogs.” This rather upsets our dog. She says that she can’t see any dogs coming down out of the sky.

This one has got me a bit flummoxed because neither my husband nor myself use sayings. Well, not that I can think of anyway. So as I’m a bit flummoxed maybe I’d better button it up.

Time and tide wait for no man and I have things to do this morning.

RDP WEDNESDAY Tally



RDP WEDNESDAY Tally



BETWEEN SKIES

Between
Skies and ground tears
Fall grey sheets of sadness
Covering the cries of mourners
Stifled
By pain
Too deep to express coursing through
Veins that carry death blood
All shall be well
Shall it?

ABANDONED TO FATE

Today darkness came
Where nothingness swallowed me
Abandoned to Fate

FIBBING FRIDAY

Thanks Di for these questions

1. Who were Lennon and McCartney?

The blokes who owned the fish and chip shop down the road.

2. Who were Torville and Dean?

They lived in a cathedral and one was the Dean and the other took people on tours round the cathedral.

3. Who were Tom and Gerry?

The two dogs that live down the road.

4. Who were Dumb and Dumber?

A pop group alled the Silent Sisters

5. Who were Little and Large?

My husband when he was aged 20 and 60

6. Who were Hinge and Bracket?

The joiner who lived at the end of the street and his apprentice

7.

Who were Rogers and Hammerstein?

My bank managers

8. Who were Laurel and Hardy?

Singers who sang outside in the winter wearing a laurl wreath

9.

Who were Calvin and Hobbes?

I don’t know but I received a letter for them once

10.

Who were Barbie and Ken?

Models for Keir Starmer and Rachael Reeves

JUST JO JAN Philosophy

Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 16th, 2026

The first time that I encountered philosophy was when I was doing my degree. In philosophy? No, definitely not. It’s just that it was a module in my main degree. I remember thinking,

“What they heck is that?” It sounded a bit airy fairy and kind of not too much good to anybody.

The first thing that we had to do for this module was to write a ltter to a friend using philosophical arguments to back up our opinion of whether there was a God or not. Phew. That was a bit of a biggie.

I don’t think I ever really got into philosophy, but one of our lecturers did. He always lectured walking from one side of the room to the other. We asked him why he did this and he said that if he sat n a chair like many of the lectuerers did, he would fall off it because he got so excited and waved his arms around so much that it made him fall off his chair.

It all seemed a bit esoteeric to me anyway.

When it got to whether a chair really was a chair or not, I lost the will to live. I mean,a chair is a chair is a chair – isn’t it?

I suppose if you sat on a chair and it wasn’t a chair, you’d end up falling on the ground. A bit like that lecturer. So doesn’t that prove that it’s a chair?

WOTD Prepaid

Prepaid

Thanks Alice for this word

It was their Wedding Anniversary and Frank had surprised maureen with a booking for a fantastic holiday in the Seychelles.

“Wel we have been married for quite a few years now,” said Frank. “I reckon we ought to really splash out and celebrate big time.”

Maureen had looked at him wide eyed when he told her what he had done.

“Oh my goodness, I’ve got no clothes,” said Maureen.

“Well I don’t think you’ll need much there,” said Frank. I’t hot there.”

Maureen continued to look surprised.

“We don’t have to do anything,” said Frank. “I’ve prepaid for the train journey to Manchester and then the airport.”

The morning arrived on which they were to set off for the airport, and they made their way to the station. Upon arriving, Frank presented his booking slip to the man in the office on the station.

“Oh I’m sorry mate,” he said. “I think you’ve got the wrong station. You need to be in the next town.”

FOWC Scandalous

FOWC With Fandango — Scandalous

Thanks Fandango for this word

“Look at her,” said Bertha to Ethel. “Mutton dressed up as lamb I’d say.”

“All fur coat and no knickers,” said Ethel.

“It’s scandalous,” said Bertha. “And just look at all that make up on her face.”

“It’s so thick you could cut it with a knife,” said Ethel.

“I bet it takes her nearly all day to get that lot on her face,” said Bertha.

Beattie walked towards them.

“Oh, you’re loking nice today,” said Bertha.

I WAS YOUR DAUGHTER

I was your daughter perfectly dressed
Hiding behind the skirts of your world
Coming out at your decree
To fool the world relentlessly
You made me your clone and all admired
The child that they saw who sang and danced
Inside her head the child knew the truth
A truth too awful to speak
Silent tears fell from her eyes
With no one to see the grief in her heart
The child caught up in the mother’s charade
Aching to speak yet donning a smile
The chains broke one day she ran so fast
Faster and faster gathering speed
A whirlwind of freedom carried her on
Laughing and singing through a fear filled heart
Yes, I was your daughter and now you have gone
Can you see me dancing from where you are now
No chains can bind me ever again
I am who I am and that is me

TILTED

This is an old poem but it still makes me laugh

Tilted” it said,
“Patient appears tilted,”
So now it’s official,
I’m tilted,
The whole world is tilted,
Flawed,
Marked,
Spinning
Out of control,
When will the spinning stop?
In this
Vortex of fear,
Nothing seems right,
All controls gone,
Powerless I wail,
“Please put me right,

WOTD THURSDAY Reverse

Reverse

There was nothing that he could do to reverse his decision now. He had signed on the dotted line. He looked at all the other cars in the forecourt and wondered why on earth he had chosen a bright orange one.

CAN YOU TELL A STORY IN

Can You Tell A Story In…

Thanks Esther for this challenge

Ralph was a tower of strength to Cheryl with her champagne couloured hair. He even got overdrawn at the bank to help pay for her diploma. He didn’t know Cheryl was going out with Tom behind his back.

BEEN ABSENT TODAY

It has been one of those days. Life got in the way.

I have felt a bit despondent recently because I love to do the various challenges, and feel awful because I can’t go and read everyone else’s contributions. I know that it is good to go and read what others have written and to engage with them, but I can’t get to other peoples’ blogs without help, and my helper is not available too often now.

I do thank those of you who do still come to me, and oh how I wish that I could take part in things fully.

I am so sorry that this can’t happen.

I might try to write a few things later on but the day is going fast now and not sure if I will get anything written or not.

SPRING COMES

Dark nights
Give way to Spring
Snowdrops soon appearing
White of purity, salving tears,
Soon, day
Chases
Night away, welcomes the Springtime
Sighing in the dark night
We wait in hope
Come soon

FOR EVER?

Life lasts
Not for ever,
Our time here is so short,
Nothing stays the same for ever,
Our minds
Are small
Defined by the box we live in
But eternity calls
Remember, we
Are dust

SIMPLY SIX MINUTES

Simply 6 Minutes – Welcome to the Challenge: 01/13/2026

 

The lake in the park was full of rubber ducks. Every one was attached to some child or other but it was impossible to know which duck belonged to which child. I wonder if the kids knew which was their duck. They were all kinds of colours. The ducks I mean, not the kids. Anyway, I never had a rubber duck and I was envious of all the kids who did have one. I dreamed of rubber ducks every night. I don’t know why I never had one but I think my mum and dad thought they were stupid. I mean, what exactly can you do with a rubber duck? I mean, you eat ducks don’t you?

Anyway, I was dead jealous of kids who had rubber ducks. They had sailing boats too and I wanted one of those as well. Anything that would float on the lake. One night I had this terrible dream. This huge rubber duck came to get me. It overpowered me and threw me into the water. I couldn’t swim either. The duck then came into the water with me and showed me how to swim. Aren’t dreams stupid. Anyway, then one night I went into the bathroom and there was this rubber duck. The same one as was in my dream. I screamed and it said to me,

“Don’t be afraid. I come only to help you.” I wondered what on earth a rubber duck could do to help me. Then suddenly it shrank and was a normal sized rubber duck. It got into the bath with me and I was playing with it. So now I had my very own rubber duck. I called it Ducky.

QUESTIONS

Questions rage
Tormenting
Deceptions

Black crosses
Lonely hills
Full of pain

Learning’s hard
So it seems
Life goes on

HARVEST FIELD

Fields of corn
Golden and glowing
Dazzle my eyes

Memories hold me
In celebration joy
Fills my soul

I hear men singing
Harvest is in
All is well

THE FLEA CALLED JIMMY

There once was a flea called Jimmy
Who was just a little bit skinny
He slipped down a drain
It was such a pain
Cos he went in right up to his chinny

THE FLEA CALLED JAKE

There once was a flea called Jake
Who got an awful headache
He swallowed a pill
That he’d got from Bill
Then he just couldn’t stay awake

WOTD – Coupon

Coupon

Thanks to Alice for this word

When I was born, although world War II had ended three years previous, a coupon was still needed to buy certain things. Many things were still rationed. It is hard to imagine this now, but my mother couldn’t get the material for her wedding dress and, fortunately, my father’s sister was the same size as my mother. My mother was therefore able to get married in that dress. I have seen photographs of her in it, and she looked beautiful.

In many ways, I think that people were so much more appreciative of things then than they are now. Nowadays everyone has everything, or so it seems, and people don’t like to either save up for or wait for things. Everything has to be immediate. I wonder what would be the reaction today if rationing was brought back?

RDP TUESDAY Situation

RDP Tuesday! Situation!

It was a very strange situation, but then it was the sixties and they were students. Monica and Geoff lived in a large flat and although they had nothing but bare floorboards and very little furniture, they were happy. Material things didn’t matter much to them. As long as they had a bed they were okay.

They had friends who also were living in a tiny flat and they were very unhappy. There wasn’t even room to swing the proverbial cat. It seemed logical. Monica and Geoff invited Bridie and John to share their flat with them. Fridie and John were over the moon and accepted immediately. At first everything went well, and all four of them often put music on and danced together. In fact they had a whale of a time.

However, bridie rather fancied herself as a cook. One day she got Monica’s prized glass casserole dish out of the cupboard and promptly dropped it on the floor and smashed it. Monica went wild, and she started throwing things at Bridie. Bridie wasn’t standing for it despite what she had done. She began throwing things back at Monica. John and Geoff heard the noise and wondered what on earth was going on. They had been in the living room playing with a meccano set. When they saw what was happening, they joined in too. They picked up books and cushions and tea cups and threw them. Soon the floor was absolutely covered in various things. Eventuall, however, there was little left to be thrown. They all stood there looking at each other, and looking down at the floor, started laughing.

“Oh it was only a silly old casserole dish,” said Monica. “Let’s go into the living room and dance. Then, giggling, Monica picked up a cushion and made as if to throw it. Bridie held her hands up.

No, no,” she shouted. “Enough, enough.” Soon they were all in a heap on the floor, giggling their heads off.

The next day one of the neighbours stopped them and said,

“What were you on yesterday? Can we have some of it?”

3TC

Three Things Challenge #MM303

Thanks Di for these three words today

Paula sat at the reception desk. All kinds of people called in at the Volunteer Centre, from all walks of life. Paula had learned not to be surprised by anything. She took evrything in her stride and was a very empathetic listener to all who presented themselves there. However, when she saw a monk come walking in one day she did a double take. There were no monasteries around there as far as she knew. He was dressed in a brown habit and was rubbing his hands with the cold.

“Cold today isn’t it,” he said as he walked towards the reception desk.

“It is,” replied Paula. “Can I help you? I don’t think you live here do you?”

“Actually I do,” said the monk. “I live just up the road.”

Paula scratched her head but let it pass.

“I was told that you do all sorts of things here,” he said. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in starting a drama group.”

“I don’t think anyone’s thought of it,” replied Paula. “We do have various groups that meet here like the sewing group and the alzheimers group. I think there ight be chess club as well.”

“Well I wonder if you could put it to the manager as I’d be really interested n running a drama group.”

“I didn’t know monks were interested in anything like that,” commented Paula.

“Well this one is,” said the monk.

Suddenly a child’s mitten fell out of his pocket.

“Oh do you have a lot to do with children?” Asked Paula.

“You could say,” replied the monk. “I’ve got five of my own.”

Paula did a double take. Was she hearing things aright?

“Oh, I’m Gordon,” said the monk, laughing. “Would you like a mint? I always carry some around with me.”

“Thankyou,” said Paula, taking one from the packet which he held out to her.”

“I can see your consternation,” said Gordon. “I’ve been practising for a play that a drama group in the next town is doing. I’m a bit fed up with travelling twelve miles and thought it might be a good idea to start a drama group here.”

Paula’s face was a picture. Soon she was laughing too.

“You’ve made my day,” she said. I’ll go and see the Manager and see what we can do. The place needs livening up a bit. I’ll tell her a monk with five children wants to start a drama group here.”

JUST JO JAN – Rubbish

Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 13th, 2026

Can anyone define rubbish? What might be rubbish to one person might be something valuable and special to someone else. Today someone is helping us to clear out our rubbish. We get a lot of rubbish. But we are also clearing out old things that are rubbish and some that might look like rubbish but are not.

Sadly we get a lot of rubbish in our streets today. If you go to MacDonalds, which we haven’t done for years, there is always lots of rubbish in the car park. People just throuw it out of their cars and onto the car park. Then there are rats all around the place. What has happened to society that people think it is alright to throw empty food containers and food itself onto the car park? Sometimes we have been driving through a beauty spot near here, a forest, and there are MacDonalds rubbish on the roads that people have just thrown out of their cars. The forest is about eight iles fro the nearest MacDonalds.

However, with the state of our bin collections, peoples’ bins get full before they are due to be emptied. So often, people have to put rubbish on their drives. Not good. It attracts mice and rats.

In the autumn we have to clear up a load of garden rubbish. Thank goodness we have a gardener now, as he does it. We can’t do it ourselves any more so we are grateful for the gardener.

Actually what I am writing might be a load of rubbish. I think I often speak a load of rubbish too. I heard a load of rubbish on the radio the other night. Well I thought it was rubbish but I am sure some people thought it was good. I don’t think people realise when they are speaking a load of rubbish. Well it is rubbish to others. Often they think they are being very profound.

I am sure that this is not very profound. Perhaps someone will set the Rubbish Police onto me.

FOWC Archive

FOWC With Fandango — Archive

With thanks to Fandgo

Sad to say, I have had to archive all the research work that I ever did. Researching was one of my main loves. In fact I spent many hours in various Archives researching all kinds of things. Family history was one thing and in those days you had to physically go to the Archives. You couldn’t do it online like you can now. It was much harder work but more enjoyable. Another thing that I researched was the story of a rapist in 1899. I happened to be in the central library in York, England, and I had been asked by my Ph.D Supervisor to build up a history of violence against women. I nad to go back into history and find some cases. Whilst I was in York library I found the Court Chaplain’s Book from 1899. He was keeping a record of the prisoners awaiting trial in York Castle. Amongst them was a man named John William Parkinson. He had committed rape against three women. He left at least one of them for dead. The Court Chaplain had written that he was an “utter hypocrite” because he had claimed to be a Primitive Methodist. In fact in name, he was. It was also written that he was a blacksmith from Hessle near Hull, and that he was married. He was married. This all intrigued me and I determined to find out more about this. It took me a very long time to build up the whole story, but in fact I did it over a period of a year. I spent hours and hours in libraries reading old newspapers of the time, and in archives finding out about his relatives and his life at the time. I found out where the graves of the victims were and also his grave, and the grave of his wife and children. I visited each one and laid flowers on the graves of his wife and chldren and one of the bictims. When I found his grave I jumped on it and spat on it.

By the end of all that, I had built up a very long story. That now resides somewhere in this house, but I am not sure where.

I adore the atmosphere in archives, but I have not been to one for many years now and I am sure they will have changed.

If I had my way I would still be doing research and building up stories.

DEAD DAYS

It was a day once
But now it’s not
How many days have gone
Into the graveyard of time?
Take me to that graveyard
So I can mourn them
Bury other days with them
Cover them over with the cold damp earth
Hear their silence

I STOOD ON THE RISE

I stood on the rise today
Knowing that Someone stood with me
For He had been waiting so long
For me to return
Knowing that at the appointed time I would come
And on that day I was drawn
Unmistakably
Imperceptibly
And in one moment we met
Magnetised
I could not stop
For in another moment in time
Many years ago
I had been given to Him
The first fruits
And in the giving He claimed me for His own
In this place I was named
By name He called me
Down the years
The corridors of time
But time for me is running out
And soon I will be drawn once again
This time by horses
To my final resting place
And on that day too
He will be waiting for me
On the rise
For He sees me coming from afar off
Knowing my time is almost nigh
Arms stretched out to greet me
Speaking my name
And I who can no longer walk
Will run to Him
I who can no longer see
Will behold His face
And in that last embrace I will know
I am “Home at last.”

FOWC Proposition

FOWC With Fandango — Proposition

With thanks to Fandango

Ted was a smooth operator and everyone knew it. Quite a few had been caught out by him. He was desperate to marry, and he had many girl friends, and his latest one was Diane. At first she was besotted with him. Despite everything he really was quite dapper. She knew nothing of his reputation. However, one of her friends informed her as to Ted’s ways.

One night she was sitting in a restaurant having a meal with him. Suddenly he said to her,

“I want to make you a proposition. If you marry me you will want for nothing. I’ll always make sure you are alright.”

Diane looked him straight in the eye and said,

“I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth.”

Ted got the shock of his life. In anger he got hold of Diane’s hand and pushed it down into her dinner. She retaliated and did the same to him. Soon they became riotous and got thrown out of the restaurant.

“I’m off,” said Diane. “I wish you luck – not.”

A CHILDS SEARCH

Down the lane they walked each night
In the vast dark sky the stars shone bright
In innocence the young child cried
To the one who was walking by her side
“Is it God Who gives the stars their light?”

A hand held onto the child so tight
What was the answer that was right?
How could she this night decide
As down the lane they walked

Reasoned answers took their flight
It seemed that faith was better than sight
Who was now to be their Guide
Where in the Universe did He hide?
Was there One Who saw their plight?
As down the lane they walked

COLOURS BRIGHT

Colours bright adorn
The cold dark grey of pavements
Fleetingly they stay

THE DAILY MOAN Come on in

Well my moan today is about the NHS. Groan groan. Nt again. Oh yes, again.

I am moaning specifically today about phlebotomy. My GP doesn’t use his own nurses to go to patients’ homes to draw their blood. He uses the Community Phlebotomy Service. This is a group that is self governing and it lives in a place called the Ironstone Centre in our town. They are ineeficient, rude, and just plain abysmal

My doctor put in a request for them to come and draw blood from me back at the end of November last year. Since then he has put in three more requests, and they still have not come, despite him putting on it that they were needed as soon as possible.

Last week three requests went in and still there has been no movement. The problem is that they seem to be answerable to no one. In fact our doctors receptionist has no idea where they hang out. She only has an email address and a phone number. However, they never answer their phone. You have to leave a message but messages are never answered. We have left loads and they haven’t answered even one.

I think this is utterly abysmal and it has made it mpossible for me to have a conversation with my doctor about where things are going and to see if the treatment is having any effect. Considering that my iron levels were dangerously low, this makes me feel both angr and fearful.

I just wish they would get their act together.

Please come on in and air your own moans

FOWC Earn

FOWC With Fandango — Earn

With thanks to Fandango

When I think what we used to earn at the beginning of our marriage it is incredible. I once found some of my accounts and we used to spend only 7 shillings and six pence on food for the week. Of course that is English money but now, we might spend around £200 a week. This may seem excessive but it includes delivery charges and the need to order extra to cover shortages of stock. That’s giving away how long we’ve been married and our approximate age. The mind boggles when you think about it.

SADJE’S SUNDAY POSER

Sunday Poser # 268- Responding to criticism

Sadje asks us how we respond to criticism. Thanks for the question Sadje

I used to react badly to any criticism at all. I would feel angry but the pain of it would make me withdraw into a corner afraid to ever come out again. I think that came as a result of my mother’s constant criticism of me. To her, I was never acceptable and so my reaction to criticism was very excessive.

As I have grown older, I have tended to just walk away from it. It is not really my experience that anyone has criticised me for my own good and in order to improve myself. It is usually given to me in a more cutting way.

However, the one place where I can and could take criticism is in a writing group situation. It is usual for writers to give constructie criticism to each other and I never minded that at all and indeed would invite it.

Another place where I didn’t mind criticism was in the academic world. In that world there is always criticism of your work offered. It is how we get to take into account every argument against what we have written or said. I adored that cut the thrust of the academic world and didn’t mind that at all. It was exciting.

I think that if we receive criticism of our characters, then this is hard to take. For myself, I try to be patient with people and to overlook their faults. This is something that has come to me with age. I used to be very impatient with people, but not now.

3TC

Three Things Challenge #MM301

Thanks Di for these words

Rosie threw her kit down on the floor. She had just done her stint in the gym. In a slightly irritated manner she pushed a piece of hair off her forehead. Her hair had always been a problem. It wasn’t exactly curly but it had a kind of a kink in it that made it more wavy than curly. Everyone else seemed to favour long straight hair, but she had never been able to achieve that style. In fact it was true to say that her hair was often all over the place. It was worse when she had just washed it. It flew everywhere. Still, it hadn’t bothered Phil. They’d had a whirlwind romance and within six months were married.

Rosie looked at the kiln. She had splashed out and treated herself to it. She had grand ideas of making pots and selling them. She thought it would be easy. She would soon get the hang of it. However, it hadn’t worked out like that. It wasn’t easy at all. She looked at the shelf at all the mishapen pots and wondered if she would ever get the hang of it. Feeling rather irritated with everything, she decided to go for a walk. Maybe a walk would clear her head a bit. Even Phil had been acting strangely just lately and she wondered what was wrong with him.

The village where they lived was pleasant. Not exactly chocolate box pretty but still pretty nevertheless. They had got to know a few people in the village but not many. That was another thing. Rosie had hoped that they would make friends in the village but so far it hadn’t happened.

As she walked along there were a few dog walkers. Everyone here seemed to have a dog. Suddenly a beautiful chocolate brown labrador came up to her and, wagging its tail, obviously wanted to greet her and make a fuss of her. She looked into its dark brown eyes and melted inside. She patted and stroked the dog.

“This is Ben,” aid the man attached to the dog’s lead. “I think he likes you.”

Rosie smiled and patted the dog some more.

“We haven’t lived here all that long,” she said to the man.

“Oh well, I’m Stuart then,” aid th man.

“Pleased to meet you,” replied Rosie. Then they both started laughing at Ben’s antics.

“He’s a real live wire,” said Stuart.

After a little chat, Rosie continued on her way. But Ben had really made an impression on her. And besides, everyone in the village had a dog.

She returned home, and thought about things. Maybe she should get a dog too. When Phil got home from work she told him about her day and about Ben. Phil smiled and said that he had had a dog as a child.

“Why don’t we get one?” said Rosie. “I’ve been thinking about it since meeting Ben.

“That would be great,” replied Phil.

“And it’ll help us to make friends as well.”

That night saw them poring over the internet to see if there were any puppies for sale nearby. They found some gorgeous golden retriever puppies. They looked at each other, and they both knew that they were going to go for one.

Later that week they arrived at an isolated farm, having made an appointment to look at the puppies. There were four of them. As they looked at them, one of them started climbing all over Rosie.

“I thing he’s saying he wants to go home with you,” said the breeder.

Rosie was quickly falling in love with the puppy, and soon it was lying on a blanket in the back of the car.

“What shall we call him?” said Phil.

“Oh I think we should call him Raffles,” replied Rosie.

And thus it was that Raffles went to live with them, and soon Rosie was part of the village. She sold her kiln and gave her life over to looking after Raffles.

AT DAYS END

Gentle breeze blowing
Sun on water
Cormorants on log

End of day
All is peace
My spirit stilled

Memories abound here
Giving us joy
At day’s end

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

On top of the world
Cormorant sits on pylon
Surveying the scene

SAMMI COX’S WEEKEND WRITING PROMPT Sweet

Weekend Writing Prompt #450 – Sweet

With thanks to Sammi

Judy sucked the sweet. Suddenly it slipped down her throat. Choked her.