One Of The Best Decisions The Local Council Ever Made

At the end of the garden there was a cherry tree. Mum said that the council had planted fruit trees in lots of the gardens across town. The cherry tree had a sturdy trunk and then it’s branches spread out above our fence and extended way beyond our garden.

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Every spring, what was an otherwise grey sprawl of pre-fab housing erupted with splashes of every shade of pink fruit tree blossoms. Nature can make even the greyest, dullest of man’s creations look pretty.

I would jump up and grab a branch of the cherry tree, and then walk my feet up the tree trunk and swing them round the branch I was holding. Then I would pull myself up like some kind of trapeze artist. Pulling my sisters up was a more hazardous process. I was relieved when they grew, and were able to climb into the tree themselves.

Submerged within the candyfloss pink blossoms, breathing in the sweet air of spring, we would each sit on branches of the tree and decide the make-believe game we would play. The cherry tree usually became a ship. Mandy became the ship’s captain. I was the navigator. Milly might become anything Mandy and I decided. She gleefully accepted whatever role we assigned her because she loved being included in all the fun to be had.

Throughout the spring the grey concrete slabs were bathed with soft pink petals. We walked through the maze of council estate, down to the sweet shop, kicking the petals and admiring all the different shades of pink. They were especially pretty when the sky above was blue.

I have to say…I am glad the local council decided to plant fruit trees in the tiny gardens of the shoddily built houses that made up the estates of the new-town of Liverpool that we grew up in. That was not a waste of money. It brought colour and beauty and wonder to our doorsteps.

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This was in response to THE ELEMENTAL CHALLENGE hosted by Teresa aka The Haunted Wordsmith:

https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/elemental-challenge-april-1/

Friends Or Foe? Will I Ever Know?

Last night I had a disturbing dream. Before I tell you….please know that I have used two random names, to protect the identities of those I am referring to.

When I first moved to London, I worked with a woman named Nadine. Nadine was hard-working and had a sharp wit. She had her friends. I never felt she wanted me to be a close friend of hers, but she became gradually more friendly towards me as she saw me start to thrive. She was like that – she had an appreciation for other people who were working hard. I was working hard. She respected me. We were more on friendly terms that actually close friends. But that is ok – not everyone will click and want to be a close friend. I did not mind that, because Nadine was quite a gossip, and I did not like gossip.

But over time….things developed.

Her husband Liam seemed to regard me very highly. He was a nice bloke, very hard-working just like Nadine. But whereas Nadine could sometimes have a temper, be difficult, sometimes not eat enough and get tired and irritable, Liam was a very cool, calm, and very diplomatic man. He had a serenity about him.

Liam became a very good friend of Jacks. Nadine also became close to Jack. Her sharp wit appealed to Jack who has a great sense of humour.

Nadine and Liam at one stage began to tease me about Jack (long before anything ever happened between Jack and I) and especially so when Jack moved into our apartment. I confided in Nadine. I told her how confused I was, and how stressful I was finding the unkind attention I was receiving from strangers.

But over time….things developed.

At one time, Nadine had seemed one of the few people I could trust. But something changed. I saw Nadine and Liam every day. But they became cold towards me, especially Nadine. I could not understand it. Her sharp wit became cruel sarcasm. I could not understand it. I presumed they were taking sides with Jack. What else could it be?

Last night, I had a dream about Nadine and Liam. Only it was actually a memory of a time we did a TV thing together. It was sitting next to Nadine and for some reason the presenter kept on directing his questions at me. Nadine hardly said two words in that show. Afterwards she seemed annoyed…with the presenter….and with me.

I woke up with a question hanging over me – how angry was Nadine after that TV show? Was that the turning point? Was that when she became cold towards me?

Nadine and Liam had a lot of friends, a lot of connections, a lot of influence. For almost five years I saw Nadine pretty much everyday and then after I was attacked, she never contacted me.

Liam still works closely with Jack, but over the past eighteen months (most of which has of course been within the Pandemic) I have never received a word from Nadine. I have asked Jack to invite Liam and Nadine over, but they are always busy.

When I woke up from that dream last night….I was gripped with fear…..did Nadine have anything to do with those rumours that were spread about me?

These thoughts are unhelpful. But they may perhaps explain some of what happened. I don’t really need to get to the bottom of who was responsible for the slander. All I have ever wanted is peace. But it is going to play on my mind until I understand why Nadine seems to be avoiding contact with me when for almost five years we were on friendly terms every day…..and her husband is a close colleague and friend of my fiance.

It’s Started Already

Last year, Jack and I went a little soup crazy. I made a different soup every weekend and we ate way too much bread along with our soup. So then in February, we decided that too much bread was not a good thing. So we stopped the soup and bread habits.

But this past weekend, we gave up our soup pact. I made soup, and together we ate an entire ciabatta. No self-control at all!!!

Oh how are we going to get through autumn and winter without consuming vast quantities of soup and bread? Hmm.

I Am A Scaredy-Cat!

Jack likes the ITV drama Endeavour. The new series has been broadcast over the past three weeks, and after working all day together on a Sunday, he has wanted to curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine and watch each two hour episode.

It is a great show. It does so much justice to the original Morse series. I remember a few years ago, they had a brilliant series – so so clever – and I told Jack I was happy to watch Endeavour with him.

But last night, my oh my, the episode completely frightened the wits out of me. I am not going to give away the end result, in case you are planning to watch the episode that aired last night. But a group of people ended up stranded due to bad weather. Power-cuts, darkness, creepy goings on, people going missing. I was so scared, scared.

I really really don’t find any enjoyment in being scared.

The end result…..I had to close my eyes and stick my fingers in my ears at certain parts. Jack said I was adorable, and gave me lots of hugs and kisses. The glass of wine helped me sleep very well, but I could tell Jack was holding me in his arms. I don’t like being scared. I really really don’t.

That Handsome Boy Over There

Jim Adams, aka Newepicauthor, the creator of A Unique Title For Me, is hosting SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY and this week he has chosen the theme: OTHER/THAT/THIS

I understand it is Fandango Sunday – whoop whoop! So, I have picked a song that not only include the word “THAT” – it is also a tribute to our provocative, political Fandango, who does everything on his phone and is reliable as the sun and moon with when it comes to hosting his prompts for WordPress bloggers to join in with. Yes – indeed Fandango is a very fine blogger.

The song I have picked is “He’s So Fine from The Chiffons! Have a great Sunday!

(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
(Do-lang-do-lang)
He’s so fine
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
Wish he were mine
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
That handsome boy over there
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
The one with the wavy hair
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
I don’t know how I’m gonna do it
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
But, I’m gonna make him mine
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
He’s the envy of all the girls
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
It’s just a matter of time
(Do-lang-do-lang)

He’s a soft-spoken guy
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
Also, seems kinda shy
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
Makes me wonder if I
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
Should even give him a try?
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
But then I know he can’t shy
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
He can’t shy away forever
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
And, I’m gonna make him mine
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
If it takes me forever
(Do-lang-do-lang)

He’s so fine
(Oh, yeah)
Gotta be mine
(Oh, yeah)
Sooner or later
(Oh, yeah)
I hope it’s not later
(Oh, yeah)
We got to get together
(Oh, yeah)
The sooner, the better
(Oh, yeah)
I just can’t wait
I just can’t wait
To be held in his arms

If I were a queen
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
And, he asked me to leave my throne
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
I’d do anything that he asked
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)
Anything to make him my own
(Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang)

For he’s so fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
So fine
(So fine)
Oh, yeah
(So fine)
So fine

Written by: Ronald Mack

A Surge Of Sickos!!!

It truly is satisfying to care for the health needs of people. I love people. I care about them. Working with the NHS is a role where even the toughest days, though tiring, can be very rewarding.

We have noticed something at work (this may or may not interest you) – a huge increase in infections needing antibiotics. The reason that is of interest to us….is partly because in recent years, the NHS guidelines have basically been to avoid antibiotics because of the danger of lurgies developing resistance to antibiotics.

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

But suddenly….we are seeing people of all ages full of gunk, of the most ghastly colours….coughing, croaking, telling us they feel like they are more ill than they can ever remember in their lives!!

Oh the joys of the NHS!! You have to have a strong stomach to listen to patients describing the worst of their symptoms. I am glad that today is the last working day of the week. For the next couple of days….all my work will be in connection with work I am doing in connection with the charities I work for. So exciting!!!

Ocean Of Sleep

Some nights I come home so tired I feel as if my legs will give way and I will collapse in a heap on the floor.

Last night…..I came home, opened the fridge and everything tumbled out all over the floor. What a mess!! I spent half an hour clearing up all the glass and sauce and veggies that jumped out of the fridge onto the floor.

It was like someone has booby-trapped my fridge to play a prank on me!!! After I cleaned up the mess….somehow, I did not feel like making anything to eat. I had a glass of wine instead. Very bad – I know.

I had a shower and climbed into bed. It felt as if the waves of sleep just pulled me under the surface and I sank into the ocean of sleep. I was consumed by the waters and drifted away. I was lost, lost in the sea of sleep…..

….until my blinkin’ alarm clock woke me up like a hard slap in the face!!!

Photo by u0410u043bu0435u043au0441u0430u043du0434u0440 u041fu0440u043eu043au043eu0444u044cu0435u0432 on Pexels.com

Do You Remember?

Do you remember how I would kiss you on the cheek and ask you if you would like a drink?

I would return within a minute with a glass of apple and mango juice for you. I noticed you liked mango very early on. I always made sure I bought a bottle of some kind of fruit blend with mango and had it chilled waiting for you in the fridge.

Then I would head back to the kitchen and start to prepare breakfast for you. I remember the first day we had breakfast together. I remember exactly how you ordered your eggs even now over eighteen months later.

The first time I ever made your breakfast you were surprised and said I had made your favourite. Every thing you liked, everything you enjoyed, all of your preferences – I was absorbing it all. Treasuring it all within my heart.

I loved loving you. I still love loving you. What I find hard is that there are so many ways I would like to show love to you. I would love to go shopping and think about all the flavours you like. I would love to search through cookery books looking for recipes to excite you. I would love to cook your favourite dishes.  I would love to wash and iron your shirts and even your handkerchiefs.

I think what is killing me…is that the only way I have to express my love for you now, is through words. I ration out the amount of times I say “I miss you” because I don’t want you to feel bad. I always try to have something cheery and fun to share, so that you think I am fine. And I am fine really. Except for intensely missing you. Only I feel I have to keep that to myself, because I don’t want to be a burden to you.

Sigh. Thank you for all these wonderful memories that warm my heart, brighten my day, and fill my eyes with tears. I love you.

Dark Cold Nights

I noticed two weeks ago when I left work that it was dark. 😦

So….I have equipped myself with my winter essentials. By the time I reach home, I cannot see the locks….so I have put a torch into my bag.

I don’t like walking home in the cold. But I do like looking up at the stars. I do like heating a bowl of warm soup and curling up under a cozy blanket.

Counting the days until spring returns!

Photo by Grafixart_photo Samir BELHAMRA on Pexels.com

What Kind Of Twisted Fantasy Are You Suggesting?

On my way to work I pass a perfume shop. Recently they started displaying a large poster of the baddie in Star Wars. Not Darth Vader, but one of his progeny – I have lost track of all the new characters.

I don’t know the actor’s name, but I do know he plays the baddie in the last three Star Wars films, and he even turned on his own father, Han Solo.

This poster on display reveals him bare chested, rising up out of water, all sort of romantic fantasy-like. Are they kidding? What kind of twisted fantasy would that be? Imagining romantic occurrences with the guy who turns on Han Solo and attacks all the little kiddie-winkles?

I mentioned it to one of my colleagues and she said she had exactly the same reaction. It is very weird…all a bit creepy. I am sure the real life actor would not do those terrible things….but he will forever be famous as being the scary creepy baddie. Seeing him featured as some kind of romantic fantasy – I cannot get my head round it.