Jul 22, 2022 – willowdot21

This is Throwback Thursday Lauren and Maggies brainchild.

This week’s prompt is from Lauren and it is : That Was Then And This Is Now, she doing something a little different this week. Growing up, we all had dreams and aspirations. Lauren would like us to think back about what we were like and what we wanted as a kid compared to the adult choices we made.

1) When you were a kid, did you like your name? Would you have changed it if you could? Do you like it now?

Oh! Yes I definitely would of changed it then, I was teased a lot about it! I suppose I have grown into it now.

2) As a kid, what always brought a smile to your face? What about now, as an adult? (family-friendly please)

Cake, family and friends.
Yes indeed..the same now plus and you can add grandchildren too💜💜

3) What was the most important lesson your parents taught you? Did you pass that lesson down to your family?

Be honest and be kind
I really hope so.

4) Are there talents you started as a child that you still have? If so, what are they?

Writing and storytelling…do I still have that talent …. I hope so.

5) Is there something you regret not doing or starting when you were young? What was it?

I wish I had got more A and O levels at school….I actually have no academic certificates.

6) Did you have more close friends as a kid or as an adult? Any idea why?

Definitely as an adult. I was bullied at school by teachers, nuns and my peers. No one liked me so obviously I was not likeable. It’s better now I think I always do my best to be accepted. 💜💜💜

7) Where did you go to think as a kid? Where do you go now.

For a walk, anywhere to get away from people.

8) What would be the name of the chapter of your life from 10 – 18? What would the name be the name of the chapter of your life currently?

10-18
Very almost but not quite, gave up.

Now
Let’s hear it for Hubby and the Boys. Big and little.

9) What wonderful thing happened in your adult life that your child self could never have imagined?

People liked me for being me .(I hope)

10) Would your child self like your adult self? Why or why not?

I truly do not know…she was unpredictable. I hope I have made her proud 💜💜

When we left Morgarna and Merlin on a strange alien planet in another galaxy…Morgarna was not best pleased to be a frog.. if that was not bad enough things are just about to get worse for her!

For visually challenged writers, the image shows an ancient window slit beyond which you can see water and trees.

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Morgarna woke with a start she was alone and it was dark. “Merlin , where are you …shit Merls stop messing around where are you? ” She was just about to curse the fact that frogs don’t smoke when she realised she was no longer a frog, she had arms, legs and a body and her bag.”What the hell’s going on now?” she thought as she reached for her bag and her cigarettes and lighter.
As she lit her cigarette the light from her lighter illuminated stone floors and walls, she recognised immediately she was in a castle, cold damp but nevertheless homely to a scouceress. Who’s castle and when or even where she was. She was herself, not a frog…no Merlin ? No poor sod he was still a frog on some far flung planet in some distant galaxy.. facing who knows what problems…..as she smoked her cigarette she felt a pang of worry for him. She quickly dismissed that with a drink from her trusty bag!

While Morgarna was familiarising herself with the Castle Merlin in a Marshy pond slept soundly the sleep of one who did not yet know the true gravity of his situation.

Morgan could see a slit of light at the far end of the passage, it was an arrow slit, she was drawn towards it. Approaching it carefully she looked out carefully….she didn’t fancy an arrow in the eye, well no one would , would they.
The scenery looked familiar “Northumberland” she thought to herself and my goodness, way, way back in time. Well it all looks quiet out there I best go out and see what’s happening. This can’t be anything to do with Leonardo we sorted him out so what’s going on?
Slipping a spell of invisibility about herself Morgarna passed all the servants and the guards as she headed down the steps and passed through the kitchen, helping herself to some cold swan as she passed a plate full on table near the back door.
“Humm this is good” she thought to herself, looking at the surroundings she guessed she was probably near the coast and looking at the dress and accent’s of the servants she was here before these parts were owned by any English king. No these folk were Anglo Saxon but not English.

Morgarna followed the path down to the beach and looked out to the horizon, she wrapped her cloak around herself as there was a keen wind coming up from the sea. As she watched the horizon she saw five very distinct forms appear, Long ships gliding through the waves their strippy sails caught in full wind, they looked menacing! “Vikings” she said to herself ….her words were carried on the wind, sadly no heard them.
There was no one else on the beach, Morgarna stood there trying to pinpoint where she then it came to her in a flash….this was the year 993 and these Vikings were victors no more no less and this was Banburgh Castle. ….why was she here? There was no point, the history was written in stone. So nothing to correct and no wrongs to right” This was the location of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the kingdom of Bernicia from its foundation in c. 420 to 547. After passing between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons three times, the fort came under Anglo-Saxon control in 590. The fort was destroyed by Vikings in 993, and the Normans later built a new castle on the site, which forms the core of the one that stands the waves of time. After a revolt in 1095 supported by the castle’s owner, it became the property of the English monarch…… But why was she here?She’d not jumped she’d been with Merlin in the body of a frog on a planet in another galaxy.
As the Viking long boats dr

ew up on the shore and the men lined up as their battle plans were drawn.

Morgarna lit a cigarette and watched then something strange happened her invisiblity just fell away and she was revealed.. smoking a cigarette and scratching her head. Slowly she started to back away when the first cries of” woman” went up she turned and tried to run. Her Doc Martin’s wore her down her cloak tripped her and she fell. Try as she might she could not get up, nor could she fly or fight she could not move she reached for her bag it was gone, she tried to flick her wrist and conjure up a sword nothing happened…..
Hot breath and hands were all over, she screamed “Merlin, help me” but no answer came , “Get off me” she thrashed about trying to escape… All in vain… frantically she thought “no, no I will not die here, helpless like this” but… Nothing worked. Then there was a large flash of light , she was wet and slimy all over…a pair of hands were shaking here she felt small and naked she aimed a punch and hit someone in the neverregions!
“Och!” Scream the toad, “Why did you do that l was only trying to wake you, you were dreaming”
It was Merlin..a very shocked and winded Merlin.

As the seven suns rose over the watery planet Morgarna and Merlin set off to find out what was happening and how earth was connected.. Merlin complaining she had comprised his manhood in a very high pitched voice! Morgarna said it served him right but she did feel a tad responsible…but that would not last. She was just relieved the Viking attack had just been a bad dream.

THIS IS PART OF K.L.Caley’s #writephoto.