As we had our first batch of snow in 2024 it reminded me of seeing children getting overly excited.
The sleighs came out aplenty. Warm coats and wellington boots were located . And of course gloves were to tools of creativity as Snowmen/women started to appear for the briefest of periods.
The shorter-lived but eternal joy could been seen, as the winter snow-filled fervour saturated the day, as the schools closed, leaving hosts of happy, free spirited children to once again enjoy their youthfulness!
Here’s my little take on the ‘iceman’ created by cold hands, yet leaves you with a warm heart.
With so many forms of exercise that is available my personal favourite is walking my (JRT= Jack Russell Terrier) on a daily basis finishing with a few stretches on my return. A dog walk gets you out (for me twice a day ) meaning I hit my 10k steps most days . It’s fresh air – a change of scenery (helps your mental health ) especially as I work from home.
For protection many will seek only the people or the process close to home. The ones you can trust. In effect you have to put yourself in a ‘bubble’ to keep out the ‘rays of destruction’ firing at you from all angles.
Well being is touted often and maybe in some people’s eyes far too often. Yet everyone has the propensity to ‘suffer’ from any type of instability. As it’s such a personal journey what affects one person is water if a ducks back to someone else. Still you treat each case as necessary. Maybe little little ditty reminds us all that it could be ‘me’ next or at some point in the future.
The Bubble
Something isn’t quite right
I cannot tell you what;
Tormenting me all day and night
Like that buzzing fly, I need to swat
I rack my torrid, fragile brain
Hoping to find some respite
No umbrella nearby and here comes the rain
A creeping darkness now envelopes the light
How do I get break free?
What help can I seek?
Is the answer; a glass of vodka martini?
Or will someone listen, as my words leak
Being in a bubble keeps you sane
Locked inside a delirium of fantasy and awe
The next addiction is sweet like sugar cane
A damaged mind plays tricks and is never a bore
As I sit here and ponder the winding route
Of where to plunder next;
Where is the map of support I can salute?
You can send that to me by text
I can read it, and will probably weep
My eyes, heart, filled with trepidation
Out of my skin my words begin to seep
Please defibrillate me into resuscitation
With a heavy, laden load I submit
Over to you to pick me up
I hope you’ll never ever quit
Lead me to once again, to drink from the ‘happy’ cup
What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in?
Once again I I haven’t choices for this question.
One of my alternative careers would have been to become a stockbroker or an actuary ..something along those lines . I’m good with numbers and I’m in sales now so this would have been one of choices if I could have gone to university. (Another goal aspired to but not reachable from my background) . Watching films like Wall Street I did wander if I could have lived that life especially in the decadent and voyeuristic Lifestyle depicted in the 1980’s and 90’s. Anyway the money would have been great, as long as you survived the 100 mile an hour weekly race to step on anyone around you (if the films are to be believed )…
2nd choice is still my dream. Becoming a full time and sustainable writer of books, poetry , thrillers and adventures. I have 3 books available covering : poetry (Poems for the Festive Season)- 25 poems one foreach day to take from December 1-25th. I https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Q3C4BEU
I have a Young Adult fantasy, mystery adventure – Pentagon Pirate Gang: The Secret of the Orchard (available on Amazon and book shops- this is the first in the series)- https://amzn.eu/d/c4Xq0Ef
finally for Adults- Company of Fools (Amazon only ) – comedy drama about the year in the life of a salesman as he seeks 3 life goals (1 a wife 2 a good job 3 start a family )…https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08GFS1W18/
Maybe one day that ‘Dream’ will become a ‘Reality’..,(happy to get any advice /help on anything to do with writing/publishing/marketing )
Chargrilled , barbecued jerk chicken with rice and peas (with fried plantain and a fried dumpling for dipping in the jerk sauce!!) heavenly nutritious (should be vegan friendly (depending on oil used) and minus the chicken for Vegetarians)!
Simple and honest Omelette…my favourite is with ham, peppers & cheese (on the side with Jamaican hard dough bread-toasted & a side salad for balance !) enjoy…
1. New York September 11th when ‘real and genuine terror’ shook the USA and the world at large. This has a personal view a my cousin was one of thousands who lost their lives in this ultimately unforgettable and heinous act of violence .
2. The marriage of Princess Diana of Wales in the 1980’s and then her unfortunate demise years later in France, following her dissolved marriage with our now King Charles .
‘There’s no mystery to Black History‘ (that’s my little poetic saying). Parents from Jamaica. I have traced my ancestry back to the point when slavery was just abolished (around 1834).
And now nearly 200 years later in the UK my son and daughter are just learning about Black History in school. Wow. Is this ‘Titantic’ ship starting to turn? Who know, hopefully for everyone of colour, wherever we are all are, whatever status we hold, just maybe there are slivers of light appearing amidst the once long and eternally dark tunnel, that we have been treading.
As a would be poet, below is my first take on the many wonderful black inspirational people that have had endure; so people like me, don’t have to as much. More to follow throughout October (and maybe beyond) on other topics.
WHO ARE WE? (starting with the past)
We could be the person on the bus
Your name may be have been Rosa Parkes
Your life made to suffer by the colour of your skin
Yes; they have tried to keep us hidden; into the dark
We were the people without a voice
But Martin Luther made them hear
Look what they did to our dear proud brother
Because he made ‘them’ see what they all feared
We are the ones that move fast
Yes; Jesse Owens showed the dictator this
In the face of complete and utter oppression
It’s something that hasn’t quite fallen over the precipice
We have own Marvel Man from the past
No wheelchair in sight; but his name has an X
A voice for black empowerment
And contrary to many he wasn’t always vexed
A personal mentor; the first black female poet
If you don’t know; Phillis Wheatley was her name
George Washington recognised the talent
For every poet; she should be in your ‘hall of fame’
We need to be like our once enslaved Frederick Douglass
He fought to support those via the abolition of slavery
Putting pen to paper for all to read
His life, his very own Black History
We are the ones that Marshall the Good
Overturn the wrong for the right
Winning against segregation for the learning to occur
We thank him for providing; ‘out of darkness’ we too now have light
We are among the ‘greatest’ ones that had to rumble
The man with fists and feet of flight
Yes Cassius/Muhammed Ali knew how to move
You couldn’t stop him talking either; any day or night
We are the ones that have had to ACT
Mr. Poitier the consummate pro; won an Oscar
Imagine that in an era for his accolade
Showed that black people could also raise ‘the bar’
We should be Harriet Tubman the saviour
Literally saving over 300 enslaved souls
Nursing her community to a better educated life
She was dedicated, selfless and bold
We are the forerunner’s to make things happen
From a seat of power to make the change
Shirley Chisholm started the political race
And now her stepping stones has put us on the front page
We are the entrepreneur’s with a million in the bank
Madam C J Walker knew how to make ‘hair pay’
Making jobs for over 3,000 people at that time
Means we continue to use her genius every single day
We are everyone, everything, just like you
We have beautiful, hair, colour, skin and eyes
We are proud, clever, funny with intelligence
We are here, we are all together, let’s all keep aiming for that prize…
A thrilling match, an even thrilling finale – the final is in the future as we patiently await the outcome. The only question that remains is; What will be the result When the Final Whistle Blows…
When The Final Whistle Blows…
When the final whistle blows,
How will you feel?
Has Kane and Watkins boosted our mood
Will Pickford protect our goal like a shield?
When the final whistle blows,
Can Gallagher and Rice protect us?
Or will Stones and Dunk safeguard our back
Or should we ‘Jose’ and park the bus…
When the final whistle blows,
We can rely on the speed of Bellingham and Eze
We may see Joe Gomez move down the wing
As we celebrate a goal with a ‘Yay’!
When the final whistle blows,
The young Mainoo and Wharton will arrive;
Speed and skill intertwine
Our ‘young bloods’ are starting to thrive
When the final whistle blows,
Saka and Gordon move at pace;
Let’s trouble every defensive guard
And give them something else to face
When the final whistle blows,
Bowen and Foden add more to the mix;
Left or right makes no odds
A problem we hope any team can’t fix
When the final whistle blows
Walker and Konsa sit tight;
Calmness plus speed suits us fine
In any match, any day or any night
When the final whistle blows,
Sublime feet sends Guehi and Arnold out
A pass of brilliance will be delivered
The receiver latches on; and has no need to shout
When the final whistle blows,
We hope to be ‘tripping’ the light fantastic;
At any moment you may not be Shaw
Fingers crossed we won’t need anything too drastic
When the final whistle blows,
Palmer and Toney add even more threat
A chilling celebration we hope
On a final date in the future, that is now set
When the final whistle blows,
Where will you all be?
It could be heaven or in some hell of a place
We’ll all have to wait and see…
When the final whistle blows,
58 years is a long time to ‘roam’
I just hope and pray; with a nod and a wink Gareth; please bring our football home…