Write-Place

It was the last night of my four night visit to Rome. I'd walked myself to the verge of exhaustion again and was having a final cup of tea in the bar/restaurant next to my hotel. Some new brick paving was being laid on the street and the bar was struggling to keep down the dust, even after the builders had finished for the day and the air conditioner was doing it's best to pump out some cool, moist air onto the tables and customers sitting outside with food and drinks. Emerging from the haze of cold air combined with concrete dust, was a woman, glasses hanging lopsidedly from their cord around her neck, speaking a combination of English and Italian, from which we customers understood that she had something annoying in her eye.  She lurched across to my table and asked if she could "leave this here a moment" , laying down an A4 notebook, whilst squinting and protesting about the "something" in her eye as she did so. "This stupid thing - it keep...

So, just when I decided that it's time I really ought to get back to using a pen or pencil instead of a keyboard constantly, I find this function on my phone. It's called Docs, which is simple enough for me to remember what to look for even when having a senior moment or ten. Whether it's been available all the time I've had the phone or if it's a new thing, I don't know, but I do know that it's a lot easier and quicker than the memo facility and, whilst there is definitely something to the feel of writing on paper- especially brand new paper and I've got a beautiful new notebook that is crying out to be used -  needs must, as they say and my old age and the conditions it brings with it mean that using one thumb as opposed to a whole hand is a more pleasurable experience. I understand that I can write, edit, save and share whether online or not so have visions of me tapping out my next best seller (next ?) while sat on a bea...

 Doubles Alice was older then Evelyn- by twenty minutes precisely. They'd come into the world quite calmly and quietly, the midwife had said, at 7 am on 17th June; definite identical twins. Gemini, in fact. Even from that first moment of new life, it was clear that they were going to be a little 'different', though no one was quite sure how or in what way. They'd been wrapped up immediately in stiff green linen and laid side by side in a hospital cot where their where their wide open eyes had gazed at each other as though trying to establish their togetherness, from the start, oblivious to the other bawling babies in the hospital nursery. Neither of them cried, even when hungry and they needed little in the way of comfort from nurses arms. Their solace seemed to lie in each other and as long the two babies were in the same cot, they were content. No one in later years was quite sure what had become of their mother...

After what has seemed a very long three weeks and two days, my Mam, Marjorie Holmes's funeral was held yesterday. A beautiful service just as she wanted was held at the Crematorium in Rotherham, led by Rev Mick Neal and arranged with the help and support of Jeremy Neal Funeral Director . Thank you to everyone who came to the funeral and all those who sent kind messages of love and support to us all.   Welcome to Autumn The summer may be over, and winter drawing near So now let's light a candle, for loved ones we hold dear. There's purple on the mountains, and beauty all around With here and there a summer rose Still waiting to be found It's time for reminiscing, recalling Summer days For sharing hope and happy thoughts in many quiet ways  A time for being thankful for all the happiness and joy Which created  Autumn memories that Winter can't destroy Gone From Sight I am standing on the seashore. A...

She lived a long and beautiful life, as beautiful as herself. Full of love and grateful to the world. A true Angel; the best Grandma anyone could wish for.  I am truly thankful she was ours 💕 🦋 Dear God, Thank you for allowing us to have the best grandma ever ! A friend as well as a gran, who was always there for us, even at the end when at 93 you'd think she would be a bit selfish and cantankerous, and definately be entitled to, but no. Only 2 weeks ago I was moaning to her about all the mundane jobs I had to do before work - the ironing and washing etc. and she placed her hand over mine and said, "Don't worry, you can do it" ! Bless her.  One of her most known phrases was "sorry for being a nuisance". Always thinking she's a nuisance when she's not ; she couldn't have been any less trouble if she tried and it was a privilege to be able to spend the last 3 years just down the road from her. As children, we longed to just nip ...

Saw this on Facebook today and thought it also needed posting  For the Man Who  ... ... For the Woman Who ... by Brittany Latham F or the man who still leads from the front even although he’s lost inside. For the man who was fired for his fourth late because he has been awake for a straight week with a sick child. For the man who makes an "extra stop" after work every evening, to get something to make his woman smile. For the man who is mourning the loss of a pregnancy that nobody else knew about. For the single dad who doesn't know how the utilities are going to stay on this month. For the man who has gone through 2 IVF's and has tried for five years without success but still is happy for his friends whose women throw baby showers. For the man who still hasn't forgiven himself for the abortion for the abortion of his child 20 years ago. For the man who has a line of judging eyes on him and his children as he counts out coins...

On this father's Day 2018, I'd like to pay tribute to a father who I can confidently say has never been wished a good day by anyone, ever. I am not speaking here of my father, my children's father or my grandchildren's father, even.  Nor any famous fathers that we hear about regularly  - or infamous ones which we also hear about regularly.  This is Bill. (he's a little shy and wouldn't turn his face to the camera) Bill is a cockerel. He was hatched with a batch of eggs about two and a half years ago, along with two brothers and five sisters. Sadly, a few months back his brothers and 3 of his sisters died in a dreadful incident which is now known in this household as "The Catastrophe". The cause of this has never been proved - but I have a strong suspicion - and evidence - that it was cats. Bill was traumatised after the attack. He was silent for at least four weeks, before he had the courage to crow again. He felt, I am certain, ...