Monthly Archives: June 2012
Reminiscing…
Our ‘100 word challenge’ set out here, where you’ll find a list giving links to all the responses, is to write 100 words (of course) including in the piece the additional seven words shown in bold print in my attempt below.
In the centre stage part of my memory, I can remember the day I mastered the skill of fluent reading. I had been ill, and, once back at school, I asked for every reading book my teacher had in the book cupboard. I devoured them one after the other. I can also recall the day I found out that, if you just kept your nerve (and kept pedalling)while looking in front of you, a bike would stay upright and you wouldn’t fall off. From a later time, I hear again the words “You’ve passed your test, kid!”
In the dark recess of my mind, I remember… yesterday.
It's kind to share!
Silent Sunday: 17 June 2012
A Real Buzz!
The short passage which follows is in response to the ‘100 word challenge’ here, where you can find links to the other responses. The content is entirely fictitious and does not relate to any specific places or people known to me. However, the benefit described is, in principle, a real one.
Since the changeover to organic farming methods at Haynesbury Farm, there has been a steady increase in demand for the excellent range of meat products and speciality baked goods produced there. And now, the discontinuation of the use of chemical crop sprays has yielded a further benefit – a noticeable increase in the abundance of wild flowers in the pasture fields. The Jackson family, who own this farm, have now added a further three hives of bees to to the two they already kept, to take advantage of this welcome change. The honey already produced is proving extremely popular with customers.
It's kind to share!
Silent Sunday: 10 June 2012
The Diamond Jubilee: Reminiscences
Our ‘100 Word Challenge’ explained here, for the jubilee period, is to write a poem of 100 (ish!) words, to convey the passing of sixty years. My attempt is below. The other responses can be viewed by clicking on the list in Julia’s blog post.
For sixty years our queen has reigned –
The monarch has not changed.
But O how much, in other ways
Has life been rearranged!
Production engineering grew
And crossed another bridge;
Very soon the lady wives
Possessed the latest ‘fridge.’
The race for space moved on apace
Teams working round the clock;
Men reached the Moon, and walked about
And brought back bits of rock.
Now… One girl said the rock was… brown?
(Discussion would resume)
But whispers: “She’s got COLOUR…”
First flew about the room!
Now sensors, ‘chips’ and ‘SD cards’
Have ended film’s main part
And amateur photography
Has made another start…
And many more developments
We further might relate –
But ‘progress’ through the passing years
Is open to debate…
The fourth verse, in particular, is based on my own memories. In a lesson one day, the teacher was discussing the moon landing and the rock samples, and asked if anyone knew the colour of the rock. ONE girl replied that it looked BROWN – on TV!
It's kind to share!
The Gallery: Sunshine
To answer this brief at The Gallery, I have chosen a picture of crocuses in the late morning sunshine in February. The weather was incredibly warm! I thought these blooms looked as if they were reaching out for the sunlight…
Silent Sunday: 3 June 2012
Saturday Caption: 2 June 2012
Well, now. Nottingham is quite famous… First of all, I was born there. Well, I had to be born somewhere. And it turned out to be Nottingham. Next, it was the site of the World première of Exxopolis, the twentieth luminarium created by ‘Architects of Air’ – an event which took place just yesterday.* I’ll be telling you more about this incredible piece of architecture as soon as I can, but, for now, here’s a shot of the time when, as they say, all good things came to an end, and the fans (that’s blowers, not supporters) were switched off, and the structure was deflated until today. Those of us honoured to be guests at the opening had had an absolute whale of a time, but now it was time to call it a night.
I’ll pause now for all the schoolboy/girl jokes about ‘a bit of a let-down’ etc. The event as a whole was, indeed, anything but that. A big ‘thank you’ to Architects of Air and Lakeside Arts, Nottingham. We wish Exxopolis every success on its world tour.
*Oh, and Robin Hood? Yeah, him…
But here you are…
Now give me a caption, please, in the reply box…
It's kind to share!
