This week Morgarna and Gail are still helping Paul and his dog Sam come to terms with their traumatic end. Apologies for any repetition.
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Morgarna had explained everything to Paul but she could tell he really was still very confused. “Okay I can see this is not working …I think the best thing I can do is take you back to Hellmand and let you see what happened, that way you’ll see with your own eyes and you can then relax.” Getting up Morgarna took her C.O.T.A.S. and called Merlin. A minute later the anomaly arrived and they all including Sam jumped.
Landing on the hot sand was a pleasant sensation for Gail she had not liked the snow at all as she’d been dressed for the beach. They were standing by the side of the road they could see an army convoy approaching, walking towards them was a man carrying what looked like a child, he was praying quietly to himself. Paul went to make a move towards him. “No point” snapped Morgarna, no one can see, hear or feel you.” Paul stopped short and looked at her. ‘We are only here to watch.” She added.
The driver of the armoured car at the front of the convoy stopped, from the lorry behind a young man wearing jeans and t-shirt jumped down to the road. Pushing his sunglasses up with his middle finger he walked up towards the man holding the child. “Salam alaikum” he called and smiled as he approached the man. As they watched the passenger door of the armoured car opened Paul and Sam got out and followed Rashid. Watching, Paul was fidgeting, but Sam seemed restful and relaxed. Rashid was asking the man about the child…. The man was sweating profusely and shifting from foot to foot. He was definitely on a high… Rachid knew the guy was stressed. He sensed rather than saw Paul approaching, taking off his sunglasses he looked straight at Paul and slowly, very slowly he ran his left hand over his jet black hair. “That’s it that’s his sign for danger” said Paul to Gail “he’s warning me ” … Gail watched as Paul, on the road, made several flapping movements with his hand. The driver of the vehicle watching through binoculars saw this and understood. He put his arm out of his window , first he did a thumbs down the a gun signal followed by two fingers and finally a backwards motion. The vehicle at the rear of the convoy started to reverse the other vehicles followed suit. The second vehicle in the convoy was a Foxhound, out of its two front windowd two soldiers appeared guns trained on the man with the child.
Morgarna lit a cigarette as she watched Paul walk up and stand alongside Rashid, his arms outstretched offering to take the child. The man was shaking and Paul and Rashid were stock still. The man suddenly dropped the child…. Paul and Rashid saw there was no child just a bundle of clothes. Paul and the man were eye to eye, Paul shouted at Rashid “run” while he stared at the man who had tears running down his face. His tunic had opened slightly and Paul could see the suicide vest and the man’s sweaty hand on the device’s trigger. Rashid started to back away, Sam moved towards the man and lay at his feet. Paul held the man’s gaze willing him not to move. Back at the Foxhound both soldiers hand the bomber in their sights, and waited their signal. Rashid had turned now and was sprinting back towards the convoy. Paul said to the man you don’t have to do this you really don’t.
Rashid was almost back at the convoy when the two soldiers got the signal to fire, they both aimed at the head of the bomber. Unfortunately for Paul and Sam the man depressed the trigger seconds before he was hit in the head. An earth shattering explosion took the two men and dog out! Paul watched open mouthed as he, Sam and the bomber were blown to pieces, there was blood and body parts all over the place. Looking towards the convoy he saw Rashid was safe and in one piece .
“You saved Rashid ” Gail said gently. Paul took Gail’s hand and said to her and Morgarna, ” thank you ladies ….what happens now?” Morgarna smiled and said you saved Rashid , he went home to his family and he is still alive. He and his wife have a photo of you and Sam in their house… “What about the bomber” Paul asked “He has gone to his end, his destiny” Gail looked askance but Morgarna motioned to her not to say anything ! Paul looked at Sam , “Oh! You beautiful boy you have been so loyal to me ” He bent down and hugged Sam who licked him and wagged his tail. Then turning to Gail and Morgarna he asked “what happened to us? “ “You were flown back home together, buried together and your family celebrated your beautiful partnership.” Morgarna touched his arm… Now you and Sam need to go!” “Where?” asked Paul . Gail smiled, “this way over here ” A door with a huge rainbow on it had appeared, Gail smiled there a special concession for you two , you are both going through the rainbow door together. Neither of you have to wait for the other. “
After Gail had seen Paul and Sam through the door and had a glimpse of them crossing fields towards a group of people and dogs he seemed to know she turned to Morgarna and asked. “Why the snow, why the fort?” “Last thoughts” Morgarna smiled “he was so hot and nervous, his mind had taken him back to a winter of his childhood when his family had visited the fort one New Year “….. Gail was just about to say more when the Anomaly appeared and they jumped.
Fresco, For visually challenged writers, the image shows a beautiful, vibrant painted frescos on an otherwise dilpadated building
The two landed bump in what looked like an excavation. There was a protective roof above them and they were standing in front of a beautifully vibrant painted fresco in an otherwise dilapidated building. “What now Merlin” Morgarna hissed as her C.O.T.A.S. started to ring
This week’s story is sensitive so I apologize in advance ….but I feel it is a relevant story… It will conclude next week.
For visually challenged writers, the image shows battlements, a strait of water, then a large fort
Fort.
Deciding to stay paddling for a while she carried on alongside the prints in the sand until the paw pints turned up the beach away from the sea. Eventually Gail came to some battlements which formed part of a large fort overlooking a strait of water. Gail followed the paw prints up the steps to the walkway and looked to see if there was any sign of the creature who had made them . There was a door to the right and she could not resist, she pushed it open and went inside.
It was dark cold and damp inside after the heat of the afternoon. There was a damp musty feel to the place which made her shiver. Moving forward Gail began to hum …more and more of late she’d found a good hum always lifted the spirits. There was a door ahead of her and she reached for the handle, as she did she felt a shudder as a young man in army combats ran straight through her and out of the door hot on his heels was a dog. The young man left the door ajar and so Gail followed him into the sun……. But it wasn’t sun it was snowing and it was night. Gail looked along the pathway edged by the fortifications and saw the young man just up ahead , he had a Labrador on a lead. Looking at his uniform Gail could see he was equipped for dessert combat and the dog had a stab proof vest on similar to the soldier’s body armour. He turned in her direction and that was when he saw her!
“Hello” he said, “do you know where we are “ “Well not really but I was on a beach in England on a hot sunny afternoon when I followed what I assume was your dogs paw prints in the sand” Gail stopped to see if the young soldier had anything to say but he just stood still looking at her. “I followed the prints through from the otherside of that tunnel” she said pointing to the door behind them. Suddenly he found his voice and he smiled at her. ” Well I was in Hellmand province we were travelling through a village when a man ran out into the road carrying an injured child.” He stopped and rubbed his side and then stroked the dog, “that’s so strange” he said. “What is?” Asked Gail. “Well, err, no let’s stick to the facts for now. We stopped and our interpreter Rashid jumped down to speak to the guy. I got this feeling that things were not right so I got out of the armoured car and walked up the road to see what was occurring!” … suddenly he sat down on the pathway and the dog nuzzled him. “Sam, here follows me everywhere, he’s a very clever dog his job is to sniff out explosives.” Gail walked across and sat down next to the soldier. “So this is Sam” she said stroking the platinum Lab, who licked her and wagged his tail. “I am Gail ,so who are you?” “I’m sorry where are my manners my name is Paul and I am so confused. I was in Hellmand and now I am here.” Gail smiled and said “well if you continue your story we might work out what is happening to you.” “Yes! I walked up the road towards the two men and the child in arms with Sam at my heels. As I got close Rashid signaled to me to stop. He turned towards me and signalled danger. Sam suddenly moved forward and I could tell he was sensing explosives . I signalled back to the others to withdraw then I shouted to Rashid and asked was there a problem. As the vehicles moved back Sam and I joined Rashid. I went forward and put my arms out to take the child. Just then Sam lay down at the man’s feet , I screamed at Rachid to run! “ Paul stopped and fought to catch his breath. Gail put a reassuring hand on his chest and gently asked him to carry on. Paul shuddered then continued. ” All hell let loose, the man threw the child, which I could now see was a bundle of rags, to the ground and I saw the suicide vest he was wearing, he looked me in the eyes, Gail, and I knew we were dead. I felt Rachid run past me and I prayed that he could get far enough away from the blast to survive.” Taking another deep breath Paul, continued. ” The man and I held eye contact for at least a minute I saw he had the trigger device in his hand I willed him not to active it …… One of the guys back at the convoy obviously had a clear shot and I felt the bullet whistle past me, too late because he’d triggered the the device and the whole world exploded. I remember flying and hearing Sam cry out too. Then we were falling fast then thud into black nothingness. I felt like I was lost in a blizzard “ Gail looked at Paul and Sam and she felt tears burning in her eyes. Paul stood up and looked out to sea then he turned to Gail who was sitting with Sam’s head on her lap and said “I am dead aren’t I, and Sam too, we were blown to pieces weren’t we? Where are we and what happens next?” Gail looked at Paul and said, ” I am not sure where we are but I am pretty sure that I am here to get you and Sam to where you are meant to be. “ Paul looked at Gail and said, I am scared, I am so grateful that you are here but I feel I have to stay here until I know what happened to Rashid and the others in the convoy .”
Back at the house an alarm was going off in the lab Merlin was in the library looking at star charts while Morgarna had just jump back from Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool… Looking a tad dusty. “What’s that alarm for Merls isn’t it the one you fitted to Gail to let us know if she got into problems?” Merlin was by her side immediately, ” it is lets see what the problem is.”
Morgarna landed at the fort and went through the tunnel out into the snow and the night. She found Gail, Paul and Sam looking out to sea. “Morgarna” Gail was supprised to see her standing there. ” What are you doing here?” “Merlin and I picked up your alarm… We all have one so who ever is back at the house can make sure we are okay.” “I didn’t know that “ ” Well it’s a good job we do your stress readings were off the scale my girl. Right cigarette anyone, and I have whiskey and lemonade. I have been back to Hellmand province 2007 and I found out exactly what happened. Paul , are you ready to hear the outcome? …….
Newborn takes first breath Down the hall, patient, black cloaked death waits. Betwixed and between the earth spins on its axis, life to ashes, ashes to life. What is there to fill the years, joy, hate, love, anger, despair . Emotions all.
Well Morgarna, Merlin and Gail have had a very busy fortnight….not as busy as mine though so here we have a two fa one!
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Well all had been quiet for a few days after their return Avril the chicken seemed to behaving normally apart from a huge appetite for feed! Merlin and Morgarna were keeping a close eye on the chicken for any abnormalities but so far she seemed to be very much a chicken, she had not grown anymore since their return and Gail absolutely loved her. “Do you think it was just a blip finding that egg” Morgarna asked Merlin, they were sitting in the lab checking Avril’s DNA, ” Well” Merlin replied ” she looks like a chicken, eats like a chicken and has the DNA of chicken…. I’d say yes she’s a chicken “ Morgarna’s drained her coffee and lit a cigarette…” Well for now we’ll just have to accept she’s a chicken but we’ll just have to keep an eye on her! “ Merlin was about to answer when Gail poked her head around the open door. ” Can you two come out into the garden I have something to show you both!”
Merlin did not look too pleased but Morgarna couldn’t help but laugh, “What the, where did these come from? “ There were eight chickens and a cockerel running around in the garden, well to be fair in a huge wire fenced chicken run! Gail was smiling ear to ear and holding Avril in her arms. “I have got these guy and girls as company for our girl ! “ “Did you not think to ask ” Merlin’s eyes flashed angry. “Well I did but I knew what your reaction would be. Look I will be looking after them and we will get lots of eggs ….they won’t be any bother to you honestly! “ Merlin threw his arms up in the air and turned to walk back to the lab muttering as he went. ” You may as well get some pigs, sheep, a cow or two and a goat!” Gail’s eyes lit up and she opened her mouth to speak but Morgarna winked and put her fingers to her lips and Gail took her meaning!
Later that afternoon Morgarna was sitting in the conservatory sipping a very nice Shiraz she helped herself to at the hotel . She was watching Gail introducing Avril to the new arrivals and was glad to see that they were actually all getting on quite well. She was just on her way to get a refill when she heard the C.O.T.A.S. ringing in the lab. She filled her glass and wondered in to see what was happening.
Merlin ended the conversation as Morgarna came in and put the C.O.T.A.S down on the top. “I’ve got a job for you Morgs it’s Leonardo he’s woken up in a Taverna in Tuscany right now! “ Lighting a cigarette Morgarna said “I bet he’s been fiddling with the time continum again, we should of confiscated his time machine! ”
“I know he’s such a pain but we need to get him back he’s right in the middle of painting the Mona Lisa and she get annoyed if she’s kept waiting.” Merlin looked at Morgarna with his pretty please eyes and she blew smoke in his face and grimaced ” Not much choice is there, will you keep a close eye on those chickens I don’t want Gail upset” Merlin stifled his coughing and nodded in the affirmative! ” I’ve replenished your bag for you! ” He said handing it over. Morgarna took it and thought to herself …I’ll just make sure everything is in there before I go he’s let me down before. When she was satisfied Morgarna threw her bag over shoulder and went off to say goodbye to Gail and Avril and the new chickens. Seconds later the anomaly arrived “Chow Bella look after those chickens” said Morgarna as she jumped.
Morgarna landed in an alleyway filled with tables and chairs, flags of many nations were fluttering above. A sign in front of her read Trattoria.
Flags
The alleyway was silent and empty, except for four people frozen in time, which was very strange because it was a beautiful evening and the place should of been absolutely buzzing. Walking up to the Trattoria Morgarna opened the door and went inside. It was also totally deserted, no sound no people. Turning on her heels she went back out into the alley and headed up towards the main street. Reaching the corner she was knocked back by the noise and bustle , locals and tourists at the bars and restaurants everything was as it should be on a summer evening in San Gimignano , behind her silence and stillness. Right she thought to herself let’s get this mess sorted. Taking her cigarettes and lighter out of her bag she lit one and returned to the Trattoria.
Leonardo was sitting in the kitchen drawing on the table and humming to himself. He looked up as Morgarna entered, “Oh! Bellisima how wonderful to see you , you’re looking very sexy!” He reached out to touch her hips but she slapped him back “Don’t you Bellisima me you rogue what are you up to now” Tilting his head to one side and grinning he replied ” honestly I am not up to anything. I was trying out one of my inventions when everything went black , then the whole world flipped then turned sideways and I ended up here.” “Okay but where are all the people that were here ….” Morgarna looked out of the window, then back to Leonardo, “exactly what were you doing when this happened. “ “Well I was trying to reverse time and see if I could shift it at all.” Morgarna thought for a second then took her mobile and rang Merlin.
Seconds later the anomaly arrived and grabbing Leonardo by his arm she jumped taking him with her … shouting “No Morgarna” They landed back in his rooms , which were totally ram packed with confused people who as far as they knew had minutes before been sitting in the late afternoon sun enjoying food, drink and good company. With a wave of her hand everyone in the place was suddenly asleep in a huge heap on the floor. “Right Leonardo tell me, without touching anything exactly what you did!
Morgarna and Leonardo had jumped back to the house and they were sitting in the Lab with Gail and Merlin. “So” Merlin said ” let me get this straight you time shifted sideways and took everyone , barr four people back to your studio? “ “Yes Merlin my friend that’s exactly what happened! Can you fix it?” Merlin was not in a good mood and his eyes were burning into Leonardo. “I have told you before don’t mess with things you don’t understand… I am running out of patience! You have your place in history, no one can take that from you! But if you carry on I will erase you completely myself! “ Leonardo looked like a sulky child but he did agree to behave and hand over his paperwork and time machine to Merlin. So Merlin and Leonardo went back to San Gimigarno, Merlin reversed the time flip, he wiped everyone’s mind, they all finished their evening believing they’d had the best night of their lives! The rest of the town went on totally unaware of what happened in the alley. Meanwhile Morgarna went back to Leonardo’s time and took all his writings and his time traveling mechine. So by midnight all was well everyone back where they should be and the flags gently fluttered.
Merlin and Morgarna were sitting in the garden watching the chickens, ” you know since the cockle arrived the girls, even Avril have been laying” “No ” replied Morgarna did that start while I was away?” Merlin nodded , ” yes indeed ”
“Where is Gail Merlin “ “I gave her the car she’s having a day at the beach.”
Footprints
It was a beautiful day and Gail was happily walking along the beach , her feet in the cool clear water the sun shining down , she felt happy she felt at peace. Then she saw paw prints in the sand and she decided to follow them …..
This is part of K.L.Caley’s#writephoto Flags and Footprints.
They make the house too crowded, no room to move too loud Balling and squabbling until a common enemy threatens one or all. Then nature shows blood is thicker than water and roots run deep.
Well I am going for UK Grunge with a band I like because they are forever evolving.
I chose Comedown by Bush. .
Gavin Rossdale wrote the song about an ex-girlfriend, stating, “It was written in the context of half regret, half celebration and just being objective about the situation of coming down from that high and dealing with those intense emotions.” In 2017 he added:
“I liked the idea of euphoria. But having that euphoria has a comedown. It’s inside your brain and just says, ‘I’m having the greatest time, and I don’t want to stop.’ But most of the time, people lose that zone and it changes and you’re like, ‘No, I didn’t want this.’ And that’s such a common feeling. I watched it being sung every night – it’s one of the songs where I can step back and let the people sing. It’s the best feeling in the world as a songwriter.”
Drummer Robin Goodridge told music publication Modern Drummer that the bass line and drum grooves in “Comedown” were borrowed from a song by English band Massive Attack.
Of the 12 songs featured on Sixteen Stone, “Comedown” was the first to be written, and remains unchanged lyrically from its original form
Bush are an English rock band formed in London in 1992. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Gavin Rossdale, lead guitarist Chris Traynor, bassist Corey Britz, and drummer Nik Hughes.
Bush have been described as grunge, post-grunge, alternative rock, and hard rock. One of the first bands to be described as post-grunge, Bush were labeled almost pejoratively as such. Matt Diehl of Rolling Stone described Bush as “the most successful and shameless mimics of Nirvana’s music”. In the book Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota, Chuck Klosterman wrote, “Bush was a good band who just happened to signal the beginning of the end; ultimately, they would become the grunge Warrant”. In the book Accidental Revolution: The Story of Grunge, Kyle Anderson wrote about Bush’s album Sixteen Stone, writing:
“The twelve songs on Sixteen Stone sound exactly like what grunge is supposed to sound like, while the whole point of grunge was that it didn’t really sound like anything, including itself. Just consider how many different bands and styles of music have been shoved under the “grunge” header in this discography alone, and you realize that grunge is probably the most ill-defined genre of music in history.”
Love and hate, get it wrong She cut me right back down to size Sleep the day, let it fade Who was there, take your place
No one knows, never will Mostly me, but mostly you What do you say, do you do When it all comes down?
‘Cause I don’t want to come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this time to find out what I need again I don’t want to come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this, all this time
There is no blame, only shame When you beg, you just complain More I come, more I try All police are paranoid
So am I, so’s the future So are you, be a creature What do you say, do you do When it all comes down?
‘Cause I don’t want to come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this time to find out what I need Yeah, yeah, yeah I don’t want to come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this, all this time
Shoot up, shoot up Shoot up, you’re high
Love and hate, get it wrong She cut me right back down to size Sleep the day, let it fade Who was there to take your place?
No one knows, never will Mostly me, but mostly you What do you say, do ya do When it all comes down?
‘Cause I don’t wanna come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this time to find out what I need Yeah, yeah, yeah I don’t wanna come back down from this cloud It’s taken me all this, all this time
Why did you, why did you, why did you, why did you Why did you, why did you, why did you, why did you Why did you Come down?
I don’t wanna come back down from this cloud This cloud, this cloud, this cloud, this cloud This cloud, this cloud, this cloud, this cloud
Entering the dining room Gail and Morgarna caused quite a stir ! Both in their flapper dresses and their bobbed hair, Morgarna was delighted she could smoke and squealed with delight when Merlin handed her a beautiful black and silver cigarette holder… “Here babes complete the part!” He smiled. They were greeted by the head waiter, a very tall and handsome man who lead them to a beautiful table over by the far wall. Above the table there was large crystal laden chandelier with a rather creepy portrait below it.
Chandelier
Gail was delighted by the whole affair, the high tea with champagne was a whole new world to her ! As were the beautifully dressed people on the dance floor. “What is this” she asked wide-eyed ” Everyone, even the orchestra look so posh” “It’s a tea dance Gail” replied Morgarna, sitting back and enjoying a smoke. A young man made his way up to the table and asked Gail to dance , she was so excited and readily agreed. Once the young couple were on the dance floor Morgarna lent across to Merlin and asked “Okay Merlin why are we here and it’s not by chance, so what’s the story?”
“Really babes I just wanted to treat you to a little luxury and I couldn’t have left Gail out could I?” Merlin ended with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders. Morgarna nearly choked on her scone… “Last time we had a cream tea you lumbered me royally why would I trust you now….Babes? “ Merlin smiled, “Another glass of bubbly, and I will come clean when Gail gets back .”
“So is it the painting?” Asked Gail looking at it…. “It’s rather dark isn’t it?” “It is indeed dark but no it’s not the painting the problem is the chandelier.”
Morgarna lit a cigarette and pushed back her chair “yes she said I can feel it ….there is something really not quite right about it Merlin and you sir know exactly what the problem is! “ Gail stopped pouring herself another cup of tea and shivered. ” I feel it too every one of those crystals is a trapped soul, I can hear them screaming for help.” Merlin said “Yes ladies we really have got a job on here.” “Well” said Morgarna “I guess we just need to set them free, some of these have been trapped for hundreds of years! “ Merlin smiled and nodded as he added, “And I knew this is just the job you’ve always longed for mil-lady” he finished with a grin and a bow, offering Morgarna his hand. Morgarna stubbed out her cigarette, gave a squeal of delight, lifted her skirt and pushing Merlin’s hand aside she climbed up on to the chair!
The entire dinning room was suddenly stunned into a shocked silence as Morgarna champagne bottle in one hand and chandelier in the other swung around from the chandelier her skirts revealing silk stockings and suspenders and thankfully for all present a pair of satin knickers… luckily not one of Morgarna’s commando days!
After a few minutes as Gail jumped up and down excitedly there was a creaking from the ceiling, as the rose cracked and the chandelier fell to the floor and smashed into a thousand pieces. Morgarna had leaped clear! Then Merlin waived his hand and a white light filled the room, all the tea dance guest were frozen in time as thousands of souls and spirits escaped from the crystal shards on floor. They all looked so grateful to finally be free. Morgarna chanted a spell and a door in the far corner of the room opened and Gail ushered all the souls towards the door.
After an hour all the souls had gone through the door and Merlin had swept the room with the E.R. to make sure no soul or spirit had been overlooked. The dinning room was completely restored to its glory! Merlin had magically repaired the chandelier and it was back in situe, Morgarna had wiped all the guests memories, some would say gratefully, of her antics. The anomaly arrived and Merlin, Morgarna and Gail jumped! As they left Morgarna clicked her fingers and everyone woke up and carried on where they had left off. All where left wondering why the tea was so cold?
Later that evening when all the guests were either in their rooms or gone home, there was a quiet thud as the painting beneath the chandelier slide down the wall and hit the floor. In the morning the maids were confounded by the dark black goo running down the wall onto the carpet. ……
So Morgarna is furious with Merlin for not giving her the full story…so now because of Merlin Morgarna has to face serious danger to correct Merlin’s mistakes….here we go!
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Wrapping her cloak around herself Morgarna stepped through a door into a covered passageway. Taking some wipes from her bag she cleaned the blood from her face and arms. She lit a cigarette and taking out her C.O.T.A.S (communicator over time and space) she noted she was back in 2023 so she called Merlin.
“Babes where are you?” Merlin was sat at his computer and could see exactly where and when she was. ” Don’t you babes me you shit, what are you playing at now , sending me off with no preparation or decent information! Did you know this Zephra is not only a tomb raider but she’s also a mummy desicrator ? Eh? Eh? Or did you decide it was on a need to know basis as in you know and I am left in need?” “Morgs babe honest I maybe should of told you a tad but I need you to be on her side for a bit and …..well….the truth is she’s not really Zephra she is actually Keket and she was mighty annoyed by the real Zephra’s husband who turned her down flat saying he loved Zephra. “ Morgarna ran her hand over her face and arm healing the scratches as she did so, then lighting another cigarette she replied, “You rat, you let me deal with the Goddess of darkness without so much as a wink? What the… Do you think you’re playing at ….well?” “Look babes I am sending the anomaly jump home and I’ll explain all.” Morgarna was about to refuse when the anomaly appeared and all she could was jump! As she disappeared into the anomaly a man and a woman dressed in Elizabethan garb walked out onto the roof , they both saw the anomaly as it dissipated …. “What was that Kirsty?” Asked the man getting his mobile out of his doublet, but he was not quick enough to get a shot of the strange lights and colours, “did you see that Kirsty?” He asked. Kirsty nodded ,”Aye it is the second time today I’ve seen that, I think this tour guide job is getting to us, all those tourists and these weird clothes…. Come on Ken I need a drink !” They both turned and left!
It was still raining when Morgarna landed on the lawn at the back of their house, she was now soaked and in a bad mood she wrenched open the kitchen door to be greeted by delicious cooking smells and Gail dressed in a blue and pink, bell sleeved paisley mini dress and knee high white boots and carrying a tray of freshly baked scones.. The anger seeped away as she saw the look of delight on Gail’s perfectly made up face. “Have you been raiding the dressing up box?” Morgarna laughed . Gail put the scones down and took off her oven gloves and replied “No I have found this amazing website where you can buy antique well loved clothes , it’s perfect.” She ended by doing a twirl and then poured Morgarna a coffee and handed it to her. Totally disarmed Morgarna sat at the kitchen island and helped herself to a large slice of Victoria Sponge that was sitting on the top. “Where is shitface ” she asked with a mouthful of delight, “where did you learn to bake so well this is so light” ” My mum taught me loads when I was little by the time I was twelve I was an accomplished baker …by the time I was fifteen I was runaway druggy.” Gail’s eyes went dark and tears welled up, Morgarna reached across and touched her arm. This soothed Gail and she felt happy again. “If you mean Merlin when you say shit face he’s in the lab” Gail smiled.
After Morgarna had had a bath and got changed she walked into the lab to find Merlin busy with his laptop and charts all over the place. “Ah! Babes” he said then seeing the look on her face rephrased and said, “Morgarna you look ravishing” “Don’t soft soap me Merls it doesn’t suit you at all, it’s creepy and never bodes well for me” She sat down next to him and lit a cigarette, “Do you mind…” Merlin started. “Yes I f***ing do” finished Morgarna.
Morgarna sat and flicked ash all over Merlin’s charts making him visibly winch as she did so. “Right” she said “spill” “It’s like this , when Gail and I got back here and you jumped to HMS Belfast Zephra / Keket was here waiting for us. She spun me the same line she spun you but I had the E.R. on and I spotted she was not a spirit of light as Zephra would have been, the reading was so dark as to be pure evil. So I looked her up and she was a priestess in the temple of the Pharaoh. A priestess she was named after the Goddess of Darkness Keket. The truth is Zephra’s husband turned her down and she was sent away to serve in a temple far away. Zephra and her husband showed her great mercy. They lived long happy and productive lives. Keket though was not a good soul and she plotted and schemed and sold her soul to her name sake Keket who was the feminine balance to God Kauket known as “Bringer-in-of-the-Light”, as he guided the sun barge of the god Ra toward the sky from the underworld before dawn each day. Keket was his female side with the head of a serpent, also called “Bringer-in-of-the-Darkness”. In ancient Egyptian religion, she presided over the twilight hours when the sun was setting and guided the sun barge into the underworld. I knew she was not who she said she was so after she left here to meet you I took a deep look into her story using these charts and discovered that her plan was to steal Zephra amulet, and destroy the face of her mummy. Thus removing Zephra’s spirit from the hereafter. Then she could finally go to the hereafter and reclaim the pharaoh.” Morgarna looked at Merlin askance “but she has succeeded Merls , you didn’t give me and warning I could of stopped her had I known. “ “I know Morgarna but I found a section in these old papyrus here that said she might repent and not defile Zephra and she would live a peaceful ever after …” Morgarna poured herself a Bacardi and coke and replied, “Yet well that happened didn’t it?”
Merlin and Morgarna sat up late into the night devising the best plan of action, Gail popped in and out with food and drink and proffered her ideas too. Eventually a plan was set.
Morgarna landed inside the tomb she stood at the head of Zephra’s sarcophagus and waited for the door to open . Looking down at the sarcophagus she could see it was still perfect and unbroken. Looking at her phone she saw she had only two minutes two minutes to wait. Going over the plan in her head she smiled to herself.. Merlin said give Keket one chance…. Okay thought Morgarna one chance only.
Suddenly a deep rumbling filled the tomb Morgarna shook her phone so that the torch came on and she stood ready. As the door slid back Keket stood there, Morgarna raised her phone so the torch light shone straight into Keket’s eyes blinding her for a second. Keket screamed in surprise and step back covering her eyes with her hand. As her eyes became accustomed to the light she was shocked to see Morgarna. “What are you doing here Morgarna? “ She asked. “I am here to give you one chance to do the right thing, if you leave Zephra alone you can take your place in a peaceful hereafter or you can ….” At that point Keket head turned into that of a serpent and she grew in size! She grew until she almost filled the chamber and towered over Morgarna. From her nails came showers of poison and her tongue whipped around the chamber looking for Morgarna.
Morgarna held her breath and slowly recited an ancient spell as she spun around shooting oil from a spray bottle and then she took a match and threw it at Keket….. The flames rose above her head and the screams and oaths from Keket mouth filled btye tomb . Keket was writhing and shrinking finally she disintegrated into ash….. “Uuuuum? Said Morgarna, so you weren’t even a human! Slowly Morgarna swept up the ashes and put them in an air tight jar. Finally there was silence in the tomb, Morgarna waved a hand and the whole tomb was clean, every piece of ash gone. …… The door of the tomb rolled shut, Morgarna looked around and all was as it was before.
Just then the anomaly arrived and clutching the pot of ashes Morgarna jumped. She landed with a bump on a carpeted floor of a sumptuous room. Looking up she saw a white plaster ceiling with beautiful artistic carvings in the centre is a painting featuring angels and the odd animal. ” What” thought Morgarna ” Are those king Charles spaniels?”
Ceiling
Suddenly Merlin and Gail were standing above her smiling down at her. “Get up Babes we’ve organised an afternoon tea for you after all the hard work you’ve done lately. “ “Were are we asked? ” asked Morgarna. Looking at Gail and her clothes she suddenly screeched …Oh! Woohoo 1930’s afternoon tea Oh! Yes please. ” Jumping up she handed Merlin the pot of Keket’s ashes…then arm in arm they walked towards the beautifully set up dinning room.
Hi this week Jim Adam our knowledgeable host for Song Lyric Sunday is here with prompt. This week it’s New Wave Music. Well that’s a huge pallet for us to cover Jim…. I could spend a month on this subject and barely scratch the surface. So we are talking late seventies, eighties and beyond so I was young married and had small children to look after.. but I always made time for music , this shows in our lads eclectic tastes!
So what is New Wave Music, as always I shall get Wiki to explain, as I said it’s a huge subject!
New wave is a loosely defined music genre that encompasses pop-oriented styles from the late 1970s and the 1980s. It was originally used as a catch-all for the various styles of music that emerged after punk rock, including punk itself. Later, critical consensus favored “new wave” as an umbrella term involving many popular music styles of the era, including power pop, synth-pop, ska revival, and more specific forms of punk rock that were less abrasive. It may also be viewed as a more accessible counterpart of post-punk. A number of common characteristics of new wave music include a humorous or quirky pop approach, the use of electronic sounds, and a distinctive visual style in music videos and fashion. In the early 1980s, virtually every new pop/rock act – and particularly those that employed synthesizers – were tagged as “new wave”. Although new wave shares punk’s do-it-yourself philosophy, the artists were more influenced by the styles of the 1950s along with the lighter strains of 1960s pop and were opposed to the generally abrasive, political bents of punk rock, as well as what was considered to be creatively stagnant “corporate rock”. New wave commercially peaked from the late 1970s into the early 1980s wit h numerous major artists and an abundance of one-hit wonders. MTV, which was launched in 1981, heavily promoted new-wave acts, boosting the genre’s popularity. In the mid-1980s, new wave declined with the emergence of the New Romantic, New Pop, and New Music genres. Since the 1990s, new wave resurged several times with the growing nostalgia for several new-wave-influenced artists. More information here.
As said above where to start. So I am going with three yup three and believe me it was hard to stop at three! Thr first one is a real catchy tune I used to dance around the house baby in one arm hoover in over hand and if they were not at school, the older boys either dancing with me or telling me to turn it down so they could hear their music!
… Doctor! Doctor!” is a song performed by the British new wave band Thompson Twins. It is the second single from the band’s fourth studio album, Into the Gap (1984). It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway, and prominently features a keyboard solo. Following the successful chart performances of the Into the Gap single “Hold Me Now“, “Doctor! Doctor!” was released in the UK on 27 January 1984 as the album’s second single. In 1983, after the commercial success of their third album Quick Step and Side Kick, the Thompson Twins collaborated again with producer Alex Sadkin to record Into the Gap at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. Bailey and Sadkin co-produced the album’s tracks, including “Doctor! Doctor!”.
I saw you there, just standing there And I thought I was only dreaming, yeah I kissed you then, then once again You said you would come and dance with me Dance with me across the sea And we can feel the motion of a thousand dreams
Doctor! Doctor! Can’t you see I’m burning, burning Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Is this love I’m feeling?
Ships at night give such delight We all leave before the morning light Please don’t go, no, please don’t go ‘Cause I don’t want to stay here on my own, ooh
Doctor! Doctor! Can’t you see I’m burning, burning Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Is this love I’m feeling?
Doctor! Doctor! Can’t you see I’m burning, burning Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Is this love I’m feeling?
Fever breathe your love on me (breathe your love) Take away my name (take away) Fever lay your hands on me (breathe your love) I’ll never be the same
Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Can’t you see I’m burning, burning Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Is this love I’m feeling?
Doctor! Doctor! Can’t you see I’m burning, burning Oh, Doctor! Doctor! Is this love I’m feeling?
Come with me and make believe We can travel to eternity
So I fell in love with Aha from the get go, their first release Take on me had me hooked but here’s my favourite one of theirs. I don’t think any of the lads were keen on these guys by then they had developed their own tastes!
“The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released as the third single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The song was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar. In some commercial markets the single was not as popular as their previous (debut) single “Take On Me“, which had achieved the top spot in the United States and several other countries around the world, but in the United Kingdom and Ireland it improved upon the number-two charting of “Take On Me”, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1986, having been released there on 16 December 1985. Its success secured for the band the prestige of having achieved number-one single status in both the primary Anglo-American popular music charts on either side of the Atlantic.
The band’s Paul Waaktaar-Savoy said… we wrote “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.,” that Andrew Wickham’s secretary felt was a hit. She convinced him to make room for it. When we recorded it, we were really sick with influenza. Magne and Morten were lying in the studio on camping beds with high fevers. The bass line for the song was performed using a Yamaha DX7. Other synthesizers include PPG Wave, Roland Juno-60 and sampled instruments. The oboe during the song was played on a sampler. Information from Wiki.
Touch me How can it be Believe me The sun always shines on T.V
Hold me Close to your heart Touch me And give all your love to me To me…
I Reached inside myself And found nothing there To ease the pressure off My ever worried mind
All my powers waste away I fear the crazed and lonely looks The mirror’s sending me These Days
Touch me How can it be Believe me The sun always shines on T.V
Hold me Close to your heart Touch me And give all your love to me
Please don’t ask me to defend The shamefull lowlands Of the way I’m drifting Gloomily through time (Touch me)
I reached inside myself today (Give all your love) Thinking there’s got to be some way To keep my troubles distant
Hold me Close to your heart Touch me And give all your love to me
The boys were older by now and Tears For Fears were liked by all of us. In fact later our youngest worked, for a time, for a record company who had Tears for Fears on their books.
The Seeds of Love is the third studio album by British pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 25 September 1989 by Fontana Records. It retained the band’s epic sound while incorporating influences ranging from jazz and soul to Beatlesque pop. Its lengthy production and scrapped recording sessions cost over £1 million. The album spanned the title hit single “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” as well as “Woman in Chains,” and “Advice for the Young at Heart”, both of which reached the top 40 in several countries.
The Seeds of Love was an international success, entering the UK Albums Chart at number one, and top ten in other countries including the U.S. It has been certified Gold or Platinum in several territories including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands. Despite its success, personal tensions during recording led to band members Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal splitting up at the conclusion of their 1990 world tour, with Orzabal remaining as the band’s sole official member until the two reunited in the early 2000s.
High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man And the lovetrain rides from coast to coast D.J.’s the man we love the most Could you be, could you be squeaky clean And smash any hope of democracy? As the headline says you’re free to choose There’s egg on your face and mud on your shoes One of these days they’re gonna call it the blues yeah
Sowing the seeds of love (Anything is possible) Seeds of love (When you’re sowing the seeds of love) Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love (Anything is possible) Seeds of love (When you’re sowing the seeds of love) Sowing the seeds
I spy tears in their eyes They look to the skies for some kind of divine intervention Food goes to waste So nice to eat, so nice to taste Politician granny with your high ideals Have you no idea how the majority feels? So without love and a promise land We’re fools to the rules of a goverment plan Kick out the style! Bring back the jam!
Sowing the seeds of love (Anything is possible) Seeds of love (When you’re sowing the seeds of love) Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love (Anything is possible) Seeds of love (When you’re sowing the seeds of love) Sowing the seeds
The birds and the bees My girlfriend and me In love
Feel the pain Talk about it If you’re a worried man, then shout about it Open hearts, feel about it Open minds, think about it Everyone, read about it Everyone, scream about it! Everyone (Everyone yeah, yeah) Everyone (Everyone), read about it, read about it Read in the books in the crannies And the nooks there are books to read for us!
Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love We’re sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds
Sowing the seeds of love Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love
Sowing the seeds of love
Time to eat all your words Swallow your pride Open your eyes Time to eat all your words Swallow your pride Open your eyes
High time we made a stand (Time to eat all your words) And shook up the views of the common man (Swallow your pride) And the lovetrain rides from coast to coast (Open your eyes) Every minute of every hour “I love a sunflower ” (Open your eyes) And I believe in love power (Open your eyes) Love power Love power (Open your eyes)
Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love The seeds of love Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love The seeds of love Sowing the seeds
An end to need And the politics of greed With love
Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love (Anything, anything) Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love Sowing the seeds
An end to need And the politics of greed With love
Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love Sowing the seeds Sowing the seeds of love Seeds of love Sowing the seeds…
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