…And The Scars They’re Leaving

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: ILLNESS/INJURY/SCARS

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Please forgive me, I am dashing out and have prepared this post in great haste. I love the song I have picked for today. I grew up loving “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo”, but I absolutely adore this ABBA track, which has been one of their most successful and was used to raised funds for UNICEF. I leave you with ABBA’s fantastic “Chiquitita” (which I believe translates as “little one”).

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Written by: Andersson Benny Goran Bror Andersson and Bjoern K Ulvaeus

I Don’t Care How You Get Here

Guess who is back?!!!!

Don’t worry if you don’t know who I am talking about. I have tried my best not to harp on about how much I was missing Jack. But he arrived back in England yesterday, and this evening he is on his way to me!!! (I am writing this on Friday by the way.) It is so exciting!!!

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I have longed to see my beloved. I am counting the minutes now. I know he had a lot to sort out today (and he has claimed to me that he will not be bringing a suitcase of laundry for me to deal with) and that he will come as soon as he can. I have made something that I just need to slip into the oven and bake for half an hour when he arrives. He will be hungry – he is always hungry. I am so excited!

Little One Run Free

I had cause to use one of my favourite bombshell phrases at work today. I describe it as a “bombshell phrase” because when I voice it, there is always a reaction. Some people look blank at me thinking I am some kind of scary revolutionary. Others look at me as if I am some kind of inspired prophet and speak sacred truths and wise proverbs.

The “bombshell phrase” I voiced was “WE ARE NOT BATTERY CHICKENS”.

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Both the person I addressed that phrase to, and those around me all seemed to marvel and be comforted by this.

But not long afterwards I was back at my desk and receiving cold glares because I had been absent for longer than it takes to make a coffee or use the bathroom.

I arrive at my work early every single day and stay late every single day. I never take my full lunch hour. I sit at my desk and work solidly. I don’t have my personal phone with me, I just work. I know I am doing a lot of work. I have a very good reason for not being at my desk for half an hour. A very good reason. If my colleagues were interested, they could find out the full story from HR about how I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when a colleague was in need of some human kindness.

I am not going to worry. I know something that not everyone appreciates – when you do what is right, when you do what is kind, when you do what is good – it is noticed. It is always noticed, even when you don’t think anyone does see.

What kind of people do you think will live on this earth forever?

Me And My White Dress

I have a white dress…and between you and me…I LOVE IT!!! I love that it makes me feel so incredibly feminine. I feel clean when I wear it, classy, daring, summery, glamourous. It is just an absolute pleasure to wear.

I have to admit, I especially like wearing it since my arms caught a little bit of sunshine and have turned a pale caramel colour. Oh how I do love my white dress.

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Help! Nothing Is Working!

Since I returned from holiday, it appears that everything is either broken or everyone is on strike. Yes, yes, I am perhaps over-dramatizing the situation but it does feel a little bit that way.

We had huge problems at work – technology wise and have lost a lot of time due to the interruptions. I have had my commute made more arduous due to strikes. The light in my bathroom is flickering like there is no tomorrow. But the straw that threatened to break me today was when my basic mobile phone was not connecting to any service.

To make matters worse, an advisor looked at my phone and told me I had been disconnected from the network and I had lost my phone number and it was irrecoverable (apparently because I do not top-up often enough). They told me to ring Customer Services – which I did – but to my dismay I did not seem to be getting anywhere. When the phone advisor told me there was nothing he could do for me, I asked if I could speak to his manager. He put me on hold for ten minutes and then told me that actually there was a problem with the service in my area and my phone would be fine by this evening. I am hoping that by the time I wake up that is true, because so far my phone is still lifeless.

I just wish there was a helpline I could ring to say, “nothing is working”. Or do you think we could go back to basics and scrap all this rubbishy technology that keeps on breaking?

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Itchy Itchy Ouch!

I have to be careful in the sun. I avoided the 40 degree sunshine altogether, preferring to remain cocooned inside my little nest. But the weekend before and the week since that extreme heat, I have had to be outside a bit.

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Despite applying plenty of sunblock, sticking to the shade and dressing sensibly, I still managed to catch the sun a little. A wide brimmed hat protected my face, but my arms ended up rather sun-kissed – and they turned a sort of pale honey colour. My arms have not burnt, but after a few days they were a little itchy, probably due to my skin being too dry.

But this Sunday there was a lovely breeze, and it just did not feel very hot….so perhaps I was a little lax in applying the sunblock. The result is burnt shoulders, and they actually hurt. Ouch ouch ouch!

Walk It Off

I had a bit of a moment over the weekend. I was told some news…really sad news…about a group of people we have been supporting and a political decision that has worked out adversely in their case. I think due to how hectic my schedule has been and not having Jack to balance me out (because that is what he does) I went into a bit of a meltdown. I just felt so much outrage, prompted by love for those people, and bafflement that political eed-yats can dash the hopes of people who are so lovable, humble, honest and hard-working.

Essentially their lives are going to be harder now. Well…that just made me feel mad. I had a mighty big whinge. Very correctly, one of the gentlemen I work with tried to ask me a few questions to reign in my fury. I was only seeing red. So, he directly advised me that I ought to walk it off.

So I did.

I walked for two whole hours, and it was good for me. I cried for the first half an hour, tears of empathy for those dear people who are not being cared for the way they ought to be. But then I started to think of all the miracles I have seen, and the acts of generosity and compassion from people with means when things moved their heart.

In all my years as a volunteer, I have seen far more wonderful than I have ever seen calamity. I have seen impossible mountainlike obstacles melt away like sugar-cubes. By the end of my walk, I was calmer and my conviction had returned.

Sometimes walking it off really helps.

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The Music Is Weaving

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: A SONG THAT SURPRISINLY NEVER REACHED NUMBER ONE ON THE CHART

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They say it is one of the greatest injustices in UK music chart history. There is a song that everyone feels should have reached the Number One spot (especially when you realize the track that did win that accolade) and are baffled as to how it didn’t.

The band – Ultravox. The song – “Vienna”. It reached Number Two in the Uk charts and remained there for four weeks. Now…as you enjoy this song you may wonder which song reached Number One , You can find out at the end of this post.

We walked in the cold air
Freezing breath on a window pane
Lying and waiting
A man in the dark in a picture frame
So mystic and soulful
A voice reaching out in a piercing cry
It stays with you until

The feeling has gone, only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna

The music is weaving
Haunting notes, pizzicato strings
The rhythm is calling
Alone in the night as the daylight brings
A cool, empty silence
The warmth of your hand and a cold grey sky
It fades to the distance

The image has gone, only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna

This means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna

Written by: Ure James, Currie William, Allen Christopher Thomas, and Cann Warren Reginald

Apparently the first week “Vienna” was at Number Two, John Lennon was at Number One with his track “Woman”. However, for the following three weeks the Number One spot was held by Joe Dolce with the track “Shaddap You Face”. Yes – a true injustice!!!

Reading For Pleasure Is Becoming A Luxury

When I went away on holiday, I took a couple of books and I am ashamed to admit that I did not have chance to read a single page. I was so looking forward to having the time to read, to let my mind wander, but it did not happen.

I have no regrets that I spent so much time with family. If course my relatives come before reading for pleasure. But now I am back in London, I would still love to wangle a way to have some time to myself to pick up a book and have a little escape through it.

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I Used To Dig Deep

When I first started writing and publishing my work on this site, I found myself digging deep, and digging deeper and deeper as I gained great satisfaction from expressing deep hidden gemstones and precious relics into words.

But I have felt as if over the past couple of years, I am not longer digging as deep. I think the major reason behind that is limited time. I think also when I started writing, a very turbulent traumatic stage in my life was still dominating everything, whereas several years later, I have such peace of mind and heart and the painful estrangement that tormented me is long forgotten (and has of course become an engagement!)

Then there is another factor. When I started writing, I kept my site a secret from friends for a long time. It was only during the Pandemic that people I know expressed an interest in blogging, and gradually they came to learn that I had been publishing for a long time. I do sort of think that because I know that what I share may be seen by my friends and some of my colleagues, I hold back a little now.

I do miss it. I was thinking about something I wanted to write about as I walked home from work. I wanted to get it out and put it out there. But remembering friends would see it and perhaps worry, I decided not to. I miss digging deep.

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