Mar 2022 – willowdot21

Throwback Thursday #32 – Report Cards and Progress Reports

Maggie, said :Surprise, surprise! It’s me, pinch hitting for Lauren this week so she could attend a few appointments today. She will be back next Thursday tackling the first of our abbreviated prompts for the month of April.

This week’s prompt is: Report cards and Progress Reports.

You can use the questions that follow to spark your memories or you can answer them as they stand. It is totally up to you.

Looking back now, would you say you were a good, fair, or struggling student?
I was never a good student, or so I was repeatedly told. I believe I did my best but was made to feel I was stupid.
How often were your school efforts reported to your parents?
Constantly or so it seemed.
Did you receive letter grades, i.e. A, B, C, etc?
Yes but I was usually at the lower end of the marks.
Was your behavior reported on your progress reports or report cards?
We had report cards.
In what subjects did you excel and which subjects were a challenge?
I felt I was good at English, Geography, drama. I was not much cop at Maths, or the sciences or gymnastics.
Did you ever try to change your grade? Turning a C into a B for example?
Yes I always tried.
Did you keep any of your report cards?
No.
Did you get rewarded for good grades?
We’d get a word of faint praise for good behaviour.
Punished for ‘bad’ grades?
Yes they’d wipe the floor with us .
Did the subjects you excelled in prove to be where you excelled in life?
As I said I enjoyed English, and I love poetry and to read and write stories.
What was your biggest detraction from your school work?
Lack of self belief.

This is part of Maggie and Lauren’s Throwback Thursday.

Ronovan Writes Sijo Wednesday Poetry Challenge #3. Use GUARD as your inspiration this week.

The child was born in winter, while all was encased in snow
Warm in heart and spirit , guarded by those who’d watched her grow.
Blossomed in the spring, flowered in the sun, gave of fruits in Autumn.

37 words
44 syllables.

part of Ronovanwrite’s Weekly Sijo Challenge.

One-Liner Wednesday, Coda.

Though Mum did have some hearing Dad was deaf, they both had hearing aids. I am sure they selective hearing!

“My childhood taught me that there are more ways to heard than just raising your voice! “

My Quote. © willowdot21.

This is part of LindaGHill’s One-Liner Wednesday.

#TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 251, #ShareYourDay

WELCOME TO #TANKATUESDAY!

Colleen asks us are you ready to try a new challenge? #ShareYourDay is a way to get to know each other better. Take a photo and write a syllabic poem about your day. Don’t think on it too hard. Make it fun.

For this challenge, write your poem in one of the forms defined on the cheat sheet OR from the forms found on Poetscollective.org.

I have chosen to try The Sijo, I hope it is an acceptable form. A Korean form believed to have first been used in the fourteenth century. It is similar in structure to various Japanese forms such as Haiku. As with many forms of poetry, the Sijo became a preferred poetry form of the yangban or ruling class as well as royalty. They were written in Chinese and were originally short songs set to music. The focus of the Sijo is usually nature and contemplation.

There are three Lines in the Sijo
14-16 syllables per line
A total of 44-46 syllables for the entire poem.

My Sijo is a contemplation of those at war brought on by warmth and beauty in my kitchen. I was inspired by some of the flowers brought for me by our sons and grandsons on Mother’s Day.

Flowers in my Kitchen

Beautiful flowers in my kitchen, brightening my day.
Bringing hope and happiness on a dull and windy morning.
Safe in the heart of my home, I pray for peace for those at war.

******

33 words
44 syllables.

This is part of Colleen’s Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday’s Poetry Challenge.

Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 403 TOWER and Watch.

Ivory towers
The old guards are on the watch
Do they see future

part of Ronovanwrite’s Weekly Haiku Challenge.

K.L. Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Dress.

The next chapter in The 3 Ms adventure. For K.L.Caley’s #writephoto

The woosh stopped right outside the door, Morgarna lifted her left hand and whispered some strange words making Morgause disappear. Then she took two more drags on her cigarette before stamping it out on the floor. She stood facing the door as the shadows rushed in and surrounded her.

Morgarna could feel their hands reaching inside of her and she could hear everyone of their murderous thoughts…… Suddenly she felt so chilled and oddly light headed , she could feel herself drifting out of conciseness. Just as she decided all was lost and that all her magic had deserted her she felt two familure hands around her chest pulling her backwards.

As her eyes became accustomed to the light after the dark of the celler she made out Merlin in the corner gentle pouring a potion down Morgause’s throat.
“Is she okay” she asked quietly, taking in her surroundings she realised they were back at the lab.
“Yup ” replied Merlin ” it looks like I got you both out just in time, thanks to you using the panic button just in time!”
Morgarna shivered “I am so cold those shadows had their hands right inside me and their thoughts invaded my head, I was slipping Merls honest I was! ” Morgarna held on to the worktop feeling weak.
“Drink this” snapped Merlin pushing a cup towards her.
Morgarna grabbed it and took a couple of long swiggs of the steaming liquid. ” Is this what your giving Morgause?” She asked feeling the warmth flowing through her veins.
Merlin laughed, ” I am not wasting good potion on you , no it is black coffee laced with brandy and cream”

Later while Morgause slept peacefully , Merlin and Morgarna sat in the kitchen eating curry they discussed their next move. Tearing of some naan bread Merlin said, ” I am sorry Morgs Hun , I had no idea what I was sending you into the instructions simply said… Trouble at Barnard Castle , run on eye tests and lots of shadows? “
Morgarna took a sip of her wine, ” I see so really there was no sense in that, that things were lethal? … Is Margause going to be okay, it was touch and go back there. “
“It was and is, Morgause is going to take a while to come round let alone recover. I should never of let her join you she is still a medieval sourceress at heart. I really put her in danger….. And you of course” Merlin added the last bit when he saw the look on Morgarna’s face.
Putting down her knife, to Merlin’s relief, Morgarna half smiled. “It’s okay I know how she can wrap anyone round her finger and she can get you to do anything she wants” putting up her hand to silence Merlin who was about to defend himself she continued. “Yes she is a total anathema, we have had centuries to adapt where as she just Jumped impulsively into our time line before I could stop her! “
” But she is a danger to herself and us ” they both said together.

After they had eaten they sat up long into the night working on their laptops and several magic books until at 5am Merlin shouted “Morgs here I have found it , in this book of spells believe it or not!”
Morgarna wandered across, ” Well what’s the plan then? “
“I think the best thing is you go back to the day you arrived but this time you’ll set down in the castle. Before Morgause joined you.” “Tell me Merlin” Morgarna interrupted, “why did Morgarna arrive as a crab ??”
Taking a deep breath Merlin ignored her and continued, this is the plan” he said handing her, her phone, and guess what Morgs you’ll be wearing this!

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a traditional ballgown made of leaves and foliage.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 26, 2022 On Sunday!

Friday’s here! And so was Linda with our Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “rope.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Have fun!

“Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves.’ Now that’s an interesting one. It basically means to allow someone to accomplish his or her own downfall by his or her stupidity or pride.

“Throw me a rope” this one means help me out , throw me a rope as in a rescue, from a boat, burning building, or even to use during s climb. Those are the litteral meanings. Now it can also mean tell me what happened, throw me a rope and I can help you. Give me a clue of what you need and I will help. Or even show me some patience and I can help you or you can help me.

“At the end of my rope“, that litterally comes from dangling at the end of a rope being hung. But it can mean, to run out of patience, get very angry, be ready to go mad or have a nervous breakdown.

“Being roped into it”. Being tricked, cajoled or forced in to doing something you don’t want too, against your will!

Then there are rope bridges, rope soles on shoes, rope ladders and rope hanging basket holders.
“You can be roped off” like a section of a room, garden, street or even crime scene.

You could be feeling “ropey” or very ropey if you are ill or unwell.
“Ropey” can also mean badly or shoddily made, like a ropey meal, dress, bag, house ect.

You can be “ropped in” mean being made to stop, having limits put on your quotas or boundaries , made to conform.

Now it looks like “I have run out of rope“, come to an abrupt end, no ideas left, no space left, run out of ideas, words, hope ect. So to end a short acrostic rope poem.

Rope.

Rescue me
Oh! I am failing can’t you see.
Please throw me a rope
Everyone needs hope

“Hello, world. I am Ukraine” – Mar 23, 2022 “

Jen has found a wonderful video about the Ukraine we all should watch it.

See here at Jen’s blog

Happy Mother’s Day.

Good morning everyone it’s Mother’s Day in the UK. I would like to wish everyone a lovely day, if your have a mother, Mother in law, or are a mother of any disciption be happy today…and remember you are making a lot of retailers very happy! 😊

Photo by George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com

I also want to wish those who not mothers by choice or not a happy day to . So a happy day to all women .

Seriously have a good day. I am a mum, a mother in law and grandma plus an honourary mum not forgetting I am a mum to a fur baby too. My family spoiled me yesterday in honour of today.

Sadly my mum and mother in law are no longer with me infact I lost my mum over twenty years ago. My mother was a gentle woman, loving and kind, her favourite flowers were Anemone, I have written a Nonet about her and her flowers because I miss her.

Polesden Lacey — © willowdot21. My Mum .

Always small yet colourful
Never over assuming
Elf like colour pools
Mother loved these flowers
Open bright and blooming
Nothing pleased her as these
Enchanting little Anemones.

My Mother in law was an amazing woman, she never let anything get in the way of what she wanted to do. She lived to one hundred, she beat cancer twice in her eighties and nineties! She died of Covid in 2020 a wonderful example to us all.

God bless mothers and non mother’s everywhere.

💜💜💜💜💜💜🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Throwback Thursday #31 – Technology Influences

Today its Thursday and it’s Maggie’s turn to pick the Throwback Thursday Challenge. The subject is Technology Influences. Maggie’s post should be interesting because she has had a long and varied career in I.T.

What kind of technology existed around your house as a child?
We had huge wireless full of valves which too years to warm up! Dad had a telephone, it was part paid for by the NUVB National Union Of Vehicle Builders, because he was a union rep and shopsteward for the organisation and worked tirelessly for them every evening and occasionally weekends after a long day’s work at his day job. He was an upolster and made the seats for the London Tubes and Buses… He was a body maker for London Transport.

What technology do you remember coming into your home for the first time?
The Telephone of course, The electric iron poor mum had to cope with a heavy iron irons that you heated up on the stove! When I was about twelve/thirteen years old our first TV arrived! We rented ours from The Rediffusion retail chain, renting and servicing TVs, radios, VCRs and hi-fi systems, was common on high streets until it was bought by Granada Rentals in 1984. The VCRs and stereo system were beyond our means!
What kind of televisions or radios did you have – post pictures if you can find them.
We had a rental T.V. black and white and not very big. As I said the radio / wireless was huge and like the T.V it had valves too. Eventually my brothers and sisters got transistor radios, they seemed tiny and we had a red and grey Dansette record player and there was a reel to reel tape recorder.

How did music technology change in your lifetime?
Well we went from scratchy 78s to 45s and 33¹/³ vinyl to tapes, cassettes, CDs to streaming on line and funnily enough back to vinyl!
When was the last time you purchased music? In what form was the music?
Streamed from iPlayer Imogen Heap, and a CD also Imogen heap!
Did you have a home computer? If so, what was it?
Not when I was young …my hubby had one from work a Toshiba I believe. Our eldest first purchase in his early teens was an Amiga. The boys progressed to towers and laptops, tablets and phones!

Did you have a webcam? Did you stream content with it?
Yes I do but no not really.
What kind of phone did you have? Do you have a landline today?
I have a Moto 600 5G. Yes we do have a land line .
Did you have toys with integrated technology, robots, automation, etc?
No but the boys did.A dog robot.

What technology ‘blew your mind’?
Nothing really I just accepted it all!

When did you get your first cell phone?
I held out against a cell / mobile phone for ages , I guess it was late 90s and was either a motoroller or Samsung. Compared to my present phone it was a brick and was just a phone.

What brand and model was it? Did you carry a pager?
As above but no I never had a pager but hubby and the boys have all had them for work . I remember in 1988 hubby came home from work and he had a brief case which when opened up had a large phone in it almost like a walky talky lol we were impressed a mobile phone!

Is there any current technology you refuse to own or have in your home?
No I don’t think so …not keen on internal security cameras but they do help us look after Ruby 💜💜