You may have noticed in the new this week, that one of those rare occasions occurred in the deep, dark night skies above us.
For about 3 or 4 days this well (Feb 25th -28th) we would have the chance to view all our ‘sister’ planets in an arc in the night sky.
My family drive few minutes from our house (we live near a new Observatory but that was fully booked!) but still managed to see at least 6 of the planets (apparently Neptune was hiding behind the moon..I may have wrong it could be Saturn!)
Anyway it was a rare unique this to see these planets all in alignment with the next viewing of this type not happening until 2040!
This trip inspired this short view response, as it does …
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.
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
‘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…
Company of Fools: Wild, Irreverent Rom-Com Novel Proves Love & Life are Tricky Business (if Not Impossible!)
J.W. Nelson’s ‘Company of Fools’ zeroes in on the tumultuous life of Justin Whalley, a well-intentioned man who dreams of a wife, children and a steady job. But of course, in true literary fashion, this is too much to ask – as Justin finds himself thrust into the pain of heartache, embarrassment, a love triangle at work and the obligatory suspicious death of a colleague. Join Justin as he attempts to unravel the mess, get his life on track and figure out how on earth anyone can define the world “normal”. It’s hilarious, poignant and tugs at the heartstrings.
United Kingdom – J.W. Nelson has been writing his entire life. This unique muscle of creativity affords him a frank view of the world and people around him, something that oozes off each page of his latest romantic comedy novel.
AVAILABLE IN 14 COUNTRIES ON AMAZON
‘Company of Fools: Selling For Love & Life, Is A Tricky Business’ will either make readers grateful their own lives are so “boring”, or provide a wake-up call for them to get their shizzle back on track. Either way, it’s absolutely thrilling.
Meet Justin Whalley. He’s a straight-laced, not too bad-looking young man who wants three things from life – a wife, children and a good job. Not too much to ask, right?
For Justin it’s nigh-on impossible. His tumultuous journey to attain everyone else’s picture of ‘normal’ involves a heady rollercoaster journey (with his family and close friends strapped in beside him) through a wave of emotions, embarrassment and heartache.
He finds the girl he thinks is ‘The One’. Starts to win her affections and hopes his love story is about to blossom. However, the whole game seems impossible. Changing tack he ventures down a dangerous, wild path which threatens to damage his clean-cut reputation at work.
Justin’s ‘so-called’ sales performance sees him hauled up in front of his manger. He becomes embroiled in a love triangle at work. And then things turn disturbingly dark when a work colleague dies in dubious circumstances.
Are women always this difficult?
Is selling for love and life really such a tricky business?
Or is it Justin’s Whalley ways?
“This novel has everything die-hard fans of romantic comedies and drama crave, while of course giving them something totally new and engrossing,” explains the author. “Justin is perfectly flawed and, in a way, represents the hopes and vulnerability of us all. His struggles are ours, and we’ll find ourselves championing for his eventual success and stability.”
Continuing, “I’ve always had a huge interest in the common man, and our relationship with humanity as a whole. Justin isn’t sensational at all; he could easily be living next door, or might even remind you of yourself. Be prepared to run the gamut of human emotion as Justin attempts to emerge victorious from this thing we call “life”. As they say – nobody comes out alive!”
I was born in Birmingham on the same day as my mother.
I have enjoyed writing since I was ten years old. My stories were often read out to the class in English at school. Since then I have continued to write for the enjoyment of it, whether it was lyrics for songs, poems. I attempt to dedicate time to writing full-length manuscripts (hopefully for publication).
I’d welcome the opportunity one day to be able to write screenplays and scripts for movies and/or television.
And recently released on Amazon (and within the next couple of weeks in book shops) – Young Adult adventure mystery – Pentagon Pirate Gang; The Secret of the Orchard (for ages 9+)
Here are some EXCERPTS “From students being sorted into “houses,” the houses able to earn “points,” one teacher on school grounds that’s allowed to keep animals, readers may recognize that there are some elements that are reminiscent of the Harry Potter series. With a diverse cast of characters and a puzzle-like quest, PPG: The Secret of the Orchard has more than enough unique qualities to set it apart”
“In Pentagon Pirate Gang: The Secret of the Orchard, a group of students come together to unravel the mystery behind S.O.F.T, the School of Fruit Teaching. Five students think they’ll have an ordinary summer camp experience but with no parents around, and suspicious teachers circling, they are sucked into a whirlwind adventure they could’ve never expected”
I’d love to get your reader review – to order your copy see the link below (Paperback) (or for a FREE Gifted E-book & for UK readers a Free signed paperback – send me your email address up to Sunday October 2nd) and I will send a copy to you.
See below an excerpt from the book Company of Fools – a comedy drama, with a hint of romance (if you can call it that) available on amazon as a paperback or e-book.
This is the story of one man’s genuine quest to find love, a good job and maybe start a family. His name Justin Whalley. The book is written in the first person as Justin regales his various attempts to obtain or keep one or more of his ‘life goals’.
The random excerpt is from the first page I turned to when opening the novel. Halfway through chapter 9.
“Walking through the cemetery at this early hour frightened me a little. It was winter and still dark, yet the liquid spirit made me feel brave.
Stumbling through the grave yard, I struggled to navigate where my mother’s grave stone could be. Going once a month still left me confused, feeling that I never truly knew where to look, when so many headstones looked familiar. Somehow, the cemetery always seemed different to me. Maybe the drink was having an effect.
The wind calmly whistled through the dense trees that surround the cemetery. I walked following a narrow path and then cut across some grass. This was ridiculous, I couldn’t see a damn thing.
Taking each step slowly, I then found no solid ground. My whole body careered forward and downward. I screamed at the top of my voice.
There I was falling into what must be a newly dug eight foot deep grave. I landed hands first, then body. Flat out. once I regained my my senses, I turned to face, looking upward out of the grave. The darkness seemed to be swirling, moving as though some creature had just thrown me in.
I stood up and dusted myself down and immediately started to call for help.
‘Help! Help! Can anybody hear me?’ Of course no one replied.
I tried one or two more attempts to leap upward but the depth was too steep. Well that’s what I thought. Without warning, down there in the depths of this new grave , a voice spoke to me. ‘Don’t bother mate, I’ve been here all night and can’t get out’.
You’ve never heard a scream ort yell like it. My throat was sore from that yelling and screaming and boy oh boy, when I thought eight feet was too high, I could have jumped three or four times that if I had to.
I don’t know how, but I found a spring that allowed me to escape what could only be described as a spiritual experience, in some way. I know some people have the power to talk to the dead, but this was too close a call”.
Book by J W Nelson (for aged 16+)
Other books: Pentagon Pirate Gang : The Secret of the Orchard (Young Adult) – available on Amazon and in in book shops from spring this year (2022).
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