mixed emotions
the changing moods
of her mood ring
13 February 2014
12 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: book
library closure
all the empty shelves
stacked neatly
There's a silver lining to this, I suppose, as the library in question is the local studies one attached to the building I work in. The silver lining is that the library has been merged with the county's refurbished record office, residing in a swanky new building. As far as I know, there have been no job losses.
all the empty shelves
stacked neatly
There's a silver lining to this, I suppose, as the library in question is the local studies one attached to the building I work in. The silver lining is that the library has been merged with the county's refurbished record office, residing in a swanky new building. As far as I know, there have been no job losses.
NaHaiWriMo prompt: break
custody battle
dog pictures missing
from my colleague's desk
I recently made the mistake of saying "at least there's no children involved" to be met by a hard stare.
"Yeah, but there's still the dogs to consider"
It was a lovely afternoon here yesterday. It had snowed earlier in the day but it hadn't settled.
The afternoon brought a clear blue sky and the usual air traffic travelling trans-continental far up through the stratosphere, unravelling their vapour trails as they went.
While contemplating one member of this airborne convoy, I noticed how its vapour trails had dissolved sporadically, leaving a morse code across the sky. "Perfect for the break prompt" I thought, but so far nothing's come of it.
dog pictures missing
from my colleague's desk
I recently made the mistake of saying "at least there's no children involved" to be met by a hard stare.
"Yeah, but there's still the dogs to consider"
It was a lovely afternoon here yesterday. It had snowed earlier in the day but it hadn't settled.
The afternoon brought a clear blue sky and the usual air traffic travelling trans-continental far up through the stratosphere, unravelling their vapour trails as they went.
While contemplating one member of this airborne convoy, I noticed how its vapour trails had dissolved sporadically, leaving a morse code across the sky. "Perfect for the break prompt" I thought, but so far nothing's come of it.
11 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: biscuit
bakery trip
the time it takes to choose
her usual treat
Another one which came to me this morning. I usually take my youngest to the bakery after her gymnastics class at the weekend and, after much deliberation, she always chooses a gingerbread minion biscuit.
All night I had been grappling with ideas reflecting that I've recently re-discovered malted milk biscuits (the ones with the cows embossed on them). They have become my favourites simply because they instantly take me back to being a four year old.
There is much scribbling out in my notebook with the following as perhaps the latest version:
a secret portal
to my pre-school -
malted milks
the time it takes to choose
her usual treat
Another one which came to me this morning. I usually take my youngest to the bakery after her gymnastics class at the weekend and, after much deliberation, she always chooses a gingerbread minion biscuit.
All night I had been grappling with ideas reflecting that I've recently re-discovered malted milk biscuits (the ones with the cows embossed on them). They have become my favourites simply because they instantly take me back to being a four year old.
There is much scribbling out in my notebook with the following as perhaps the latest version:
a secret portal
to my pre-school -
malted milks
10 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: bean
frosty morning
the steam rising from roofs
and my African coffee
I normally have the bones of the poem nailed before the end of the day, but I found this one tough. I grow vegetables on an allotment, so I was pondering the possibilities there last night. I even asked my youngest daughter (6) what she thought of when I said "bean."
"Mr Bean" came the reply, but couldn't work one out here without writing a desk haiku.
Luckily it was a clear cold night last night and the final pieces fell into place on my way into work
the steam rising from roofs
and my African coffee
I normally have the bones of the poem nailed before the end of the day, but I found this one tough. I grow vegetables on an allotment, so I was pondering the possibilities there last night. I even asked my youngest daughter (6) what she thought of when I said "bean."
"Mr Bean" came the reply, but couldn't work one out here without writing a desk haiku.
Luckily it was a clear cold night last night and the final pieces fell into place on my way into work
8 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: bounce
again the tourist
star jumps for her photo
- kangaroo park
(as seen near Adelaide last year. It was a Japanese tourist and she was jumping in a "Yay!" kind of manner. Each time she jumped, I think the photographer was a little late with the shutter release, meaning she had to do it again in the middle of a gang* of kangaroos)
*not sure of the collective noun
star jumps for her photo
- kangaroo park
(as seen near Adelaide last year. It was a Japanese tourist and she was jumping in a "Yay!" kind of manner. Each time she jumped, I think the photographer was a little late with the shutter release, meaning she had to do it again in the middle of a gang* of kangaroos)
*not sure of the collective noun
7 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: box (part two)
equalities lecture
the speaker ticking
all the boxes
I tick one or two boxes myself, by the way. I work for a large local authority and every few years you get sent on the odd training course revolving around equalities. I don't mind as it gets me away from my desk for a day and I get to meet people in other departments. I'm also a bit of a leftie, so these courses are like preaching to the converted when it comes to me. The last time I went on equalities training, the facilitator was a black lesbian with a walking stick. She was very good - she obviously spoke from experience and she made what can sometimes be a dry subject very interesting.
the speaker ticking
all the boxes
I tick one or two boxes myself, by the way. I work for a large local authority and every few years you get sent on the odd training course revolving around equalities. I don't mind as it gets me away from my desk for a day and I get to meet people in other departments. I'm also a bit of a leftie, so these courses are like preaching to the converted when it comes to me. The last time I went on equalities training, the facilitator was a black lesbian with a walking stick. She was very good - she obviously spoke from experience and she made what can sometimes be a dry subject very interesting.
NaHaiWriMo prompt: box
behind glass
museum box brownies
out of focus
(what's the betting that tomorrow's prompt will be "brownie"?)
photo taken at the National Media Museum, Bradford in 2013.
museum box brownies
out of focus
(what's the betting that tomorrow's prompt will be "brownie"?)
photo taken at the National Media Museum, Bradford in 2013.
6 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: battery
the cheapest eggs
no blemish, no dirt
...no blood
other avenues explored included jump leads and Martello Towers.
When I see the uniform pristine white of battery eggs, I often equate them to the photoshopped models you see on the magazine shelves. Things ain't always what they seem. Give me an egg with blood and crap all over it any day.
no blemish, no dirt
...no blood
other avenues explored included jump leads and Martello Towers.
When I see the uniform pristine white of battery eggs, I often equate them to the photoshopped models you see on the magazine shelves. Things ain't always what they seem. Give me an egg with blood and crap all over it any day.
5 February 2014
4 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo prompt: Bump (or black)
power cut
how carefully
we bump about
I arrived at this one while considering the prompt for 4th Feb: "black" and I was about to post it on the NaHaiWriMo wall when the prompt for the 5th was posted: "bump."
I'm kinda glad because I always struggle more with the broader prompts, so I'vecheated bought more time for the black prompt.
Of course, I could write another bump piece.
how carefully
we bump about
I arrived at this one while considering the prompt for 4th Feb: "black" and I was about to post it on the NaHaiWriMo wall when the prompt for the 5th was posted: "bump."
I'm kinda glad because I always struggle more with the broader prompts, so I've
Of course, I could write another bump piece.
3 February 2014
NaHaiWriMo 2014
Oh heck, I said I'd give this a try again this year. The haiku bit of my brain needs exercising. Hopefully it won't burn out - I may not last the course.
All the prompts this year appear to start with the letter B. I'm playing catch-up a bit, but here's my first two:
Prompt: banjo
back from the pub
we acapella
duelling banjos
Prompt: brother
years later
my big brother's kids
led astray by mine
(I hate the banjo one)
All the prompts this year appear to start with the letter B. I'm playing catch-up a bit, but here's my first two:
Prompt: banjo
back from the pub
we acapella
duelling banjos
Prompt: brother
years later
my big brother's kids
led astray by mine
(I hate the banjo one)
2 February 2014
15 January 2014
9 January 2014
Happy new year!
coming soon...
After a couple of years of keeping a low profile, I have a few things in the pipeline.
I'll be appearing in the following in the new year:
Journals
Anthologies
Publications
Other
After a couple of years of keeping a low profile, I have a few things in the pipeline.
I'll be appearing in the following in the new year:
Journals
- Blithe Spirit (March)
- Presence (guest edited by Matt Morden)
- A Hundred Gourds (March)
Anthologies
- The Scent of Music (Ed. Marlène Buitelaar) ('t Schrijverke) (Dec 2013)
- Red Mood Anthology (Ed. Jim Kacian) (Red Moon Press) (April)
Publications
- Still Fighting The War (eChapbook, Alesbury Press) (April)
Other
- NaHaiWriMo - I succesfully took part in this in 2011, but dipped out last year. I'm hoping to give it another go this year. Initial publication will be on the NaHaiWriMo Facebook page in February.
Have a good new year everyone!
20 December 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)