Its Lauren’s turn to pick our subject prompt for Throwback Thursday, the brainchild of Maggie and Lauren .
This week’s prompt is: Slang I think this should be no sweat, but I’ll provide some questions to help you along. You can always free write if you’d rather.
What were the words you would have used to describe something cool or popular.
Fab, Gear, Smart, Chic,Far out,Groovy.
How about those things that were uncool?
Square, Old hat , Dated, Sad, What were the hairstyles of the day?
Cilla Black Bob I still wear it, fringe or centre parting with longer hair, the twiggy cut, Prtula Clarke cut oh! Yes and the afro and the page boy must look for a photo of the afro….I wore them all.
Did they have a name everyone used to reference them?
A Bob, curtains, a Petula and a twiggy. What were the styles of the time?
Mini , Maxi, Midi, Paisley, Op Art, tie dye, bell bottoms, Flairs, ect! Platform shoes , Stilettos , Doc Martens What word would you have used to describe something distasteful?
Naff, Square, Old Hat.Boring What about peers you were not fond of or were not part of your tribe?
Geeks, Swats, Oddballs Any phrases you remember that were used (or overused)?
I really don’t know where to start but I feel if I don’t start soon I may just melt into the ether and I don’t want to do that!
Perhaps if I just go chronologically things might become clear to you and hopefully to me .
6th September we dropped Ruby off at an “almost sister’s house” to stay for four nights while we were away.
7th September we headed for London, west London to our old stomping ground to meet people we have known on and off for over 65 years. We were meeting up to scatter the ashes of our bestman Bob.
There were eleven of us present , Bob’s ex-wife and his only son amongst the number. We met at the park at the bottom of the road he grew up in until he married and moved out.
After scattering the ashes we went for a pub lunch and reminised a lot more.
8th September we were packed and picked up my sister and her husband and drove up to Norwich for our niece’s wedding. Late afternoon we arrived at our hotel, after a long and very wet drive. We had a coffee then went to the station to pick up my eldest sister and bought her back to the hotel.
Then we heard the very sad but not unexpected news that our Queen Elizabeth had died. We had a long reflective and chatty dinner.
I was born in 1953 , a few months after the Queen’s Coronation. Therefore the Queen has been the figure head to the background of my whole life. We all knew she would not live forever but , old and tired and yes indeed her hands in the photo of her meeting Liz Truss, our new Prime Minister, looked very bruised, suggesting she had had a canular fitted. Even so her death came as a real shock.
One of my brother’s received a M. B. E. From the Queen, for recognition of his Army Career and service to his country. I saw the lovely photos of him, his wife and daughter at the Palace. My sister Frankie accompanied her husband to a Royal Garden party. We also saw lovely photos of that occasion too.
Apparently the road my family lived in when I was growing up was often used by the Queen on her way to Heathrow Airport or London Airport as it known then. This was before the M4 motorway was built. One day my mum was out walking with me in her arms. The Queen’s car went by, my mum lifted me up and she said that the young Queen smiled and waved…. I was too young to remember.
thank you for your service mam 💜
The 9th of September dawned bright and we went out for a walk after breakfast we found our way out to some woods and found a very spooky looking building which was an Asylum in its day. We met a nice young chap who told us all about the place….he was a painter and decorator and was working in the building behind which is a prison for the criminally insane…..
So then back to the hotel to get ready , then all five of us squeezed into the car…not really it is a big car! Off to the wedding and the heavens opened! ..it rained all through the service , canapes and drinks and the meal and speaches finally it q I’ll cleared up to a lovely evening!
The wedding started normally enough, a friend of the bride was playing the piano beautifully when suddenly she started playing Darth Vader’s theme from StarWars. Low and behold Four Star troopers, Boda Fett and Darth Vader walked up the ailse , apparently they were there so Darth could claim the bride . Thankfully the Groom and Groom’s men successful saw the interlopers off. The service then continued without a hitch!
10th September we packed up and after breakfast we took eldest sister to the station then went back to pick up other sister and her husband for the journey home. Another long day. In the evening we went and got Ruby back she had had a great stay with her new friend Bo, nearly sister’s new dog .
Sunday was washing, dog walking and housework and reading book one of a two book series which you will hear more of soon.
Monday 12th started a week of Drs appointments , phone calls, and the like, hubby is still not well and having trouble with his ears and hearing and other worrying things. We have had our seasonal flu jabs and we booked up for our Covid booster. It’s all go here.
Shopping, helping family and neighbours also filled the week, the weekend was busy too and all the while I wanted to blog but just could not settle to it. There were a few family birthdays three infact!
Then Monday 19th was The Queens funeral and yes we watched it for most of the day. It was meticulously done and really very touching and beautiful. The Royal family really had a very long and exhausting fully of emotions and even tears for their beloved, Mum, Gran and great Gran….Rest in peace Marm you have done your bit.. God Save the King, Charles 111.
R.I.P. Elizabeth.
So here we are halfway through another week and all I can ask is that you could be patient and I will try to catch up …as soon as I can.💜💜💜
Maggie is back and this week she has given up the prompt for her’s and Lauren’s brainchu Throwback Thursday.
Who in your family was the person who made and enforced rules?
Both really, Mum enforced them but it was Dad who made them.
Did you grow up with many rules, or was your life a little more flexible?
We had lots of rules, times to get up, bedtimes, meal times, times we had to be in, how we spoke, when we spoke. But don’t get me wrong we were loved we were happy we had fun but we were disaplined.
Were you a rule follower or a rule breaker?
A little of both.
How were discipline and – in contrast – rewards managed in your household?
Mum would shout at us and I hated that! Dad would tell us off and give us a lecture….we all hated that. I got sent to my room or to bed early.
Rewards were always verbal praise.
Were you given the opportunity to plead your case in matters of disagreement?
Yes but it generally made no difference.
What tools did your parents use – ‘I’m going to count to three’ or ‘don’t make me get up’ or a time-out chair?
“I will tell your father when he gets home.” and she did. With Dad it was just a look?
Did fear of discipline curb your desire to break or bend the rules?
Yes and No.
Did your upbringing influence the way you (as an adult) managed rules in your own home?
Yes I was not a great disciplinarian I always wanted everyone to be happy. Hubby was better at disapline than me, he is very black and white.
Were you ever ‘grounded’? Do you want to share the story?
Yes I was but I can’t remember why.
Did you break rules your parents never knew about? Want to confess and leave with a clear conscience?
This challenge explores Ekphrastic poetry, inspired by visual art or photographs. Now, we can see this is a statue, so get creative and think about what this statue could represent. Think about imagery and symbolism… then select a form and craft your poem!
The Lovers Meet
® willowdot21
This week I have written an Acrostic Nonet linked to a mirror Nonet. The Acrostic part spells The Lovers, the second part, the mirrored Nonet is about Ghosts of the station that are seen on the plynth of the statue.
The hub, central point, the place to meet. Heartbeat of the living station Everlasting friendships made Lonely hearts will apply Open minds still try Vast crowds rush by Earnest vows Repeat Slow. What Type of Ghosts lie low Unseen by us Excavators of Tunnels and trenches watch As life goes scurrying by Women who waited and manned jobs All watch together as people meet.
Maggie is at the helm today. We are back to our usual groove with lots of things to think about. Hop on over to Maggie’s post to read all the guidelines, questions, and ways to join in. Don’t forget To check out Lauren’s post too.
This week’s prompt is: Discovering Your Musical Taste.
What music were you exposed to in your family – genre, artist, or style. Music in our childhood home was very eclectic because there were so many of us! Mum and Dad though both deaf could still apricate music…. It was very loud so we all endured or enjoyed it! Dad loved opera especially Kathleen Ferrier . Mum loved show music, South Pacific, Oklahoma and Carousel. Brothers and sisters loved, Pat Boon, Frank Iflield, Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vee, Buddy Holly, Adam Faith, Jonny Mathis, Helen Shipiro ect.
Loved Adam Faith.
Did you enjoy that type of music or did you rebel against it? So, so, love Buddy Holly, Adam Faith in fact all my siblings music, it took years to stop rebelling and finally appreciate classical and opera! How did you listen to music in your childhood home? Radio? Record player? Television? Radio mainly, Radio Luxembourg and pirate radio, and our old Dansette record player eventually T.V. Did you buy records, tapes, cassettes, 8-tracks or CDs? Started off with records and moved with the times. First record bought was Come On by the Rolling Stones.
What performers were you drawn to most as an adolescent? The Rolling Stones, The Monkeys, The Hollies, Beach Boys, Adam Faith, zombies, well everyone really! Who did you go to see for your first concert? The Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds. It was at the Albert Hall London.
Who did you go with? I went with a neighbour’s son . It was my 13th birthday, my parents bought two tickets and asked their friend’s son to chaperone me. He was very nice, liked both groups so it was win, win 😁
.
What concert has been your favorite concert to date? That first one really though there have been others. When do you listen to music? Whenever I can. In the car? Yes. At work? Yes when I first started work as a widow dresser in a boutique, there was always music. I am retired now. While studying or doing projects? Yes 💜 Did the music you listened to affect your attitudes, way of dress, or view of the world? Yes I think it did and it still does. How has your choice of music changed over the years? Not a great deal because I still have an eclectic taste. What is your genre of choice at this phase of your life? Almost anything! Imogen Heap, Queen, Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, Bonus Question: What band or group posters did you have hanging in your room? Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Monkeys, Small Faces. Extra extra bonus points if you can share a copy of it or a link to it.
EXTRA EXTRA BONUS: Care to share a playlist from Spotify? I am not doing Spotify at the moment 💜
Today ten years after I originally wrote this poem, the reluctant poet read my poem The warrior within. I originally wrote this poem in 2012 when I was on the road to recovery after breaking my back for the second time! I visited that post and I have rewritten it here. Thanks to the reluctant poet for reminding me of those hard day’s.
THE WARRIOR WITHIN.
I shall not run I shall not hide,
I’ll face the void with eyes open wide.
I shall call up my warrior from within
And hone my sword, the battle to begin.
If I must make sense of what is my worth.
I shall do it now and justify my birth..
Each time the void comes for me
I make the mistake of trying to flee.
Why do this time after time, the path is futile
I end up broken, spent and feeling vile.
I shall not flinch this time. I will win
I will answer for every sin.
I see the void approaching swirling round,
My lies and fears creep towards me on the ground.
I start to shake terror grips my insides,
I call up my inner warrior from whence she hides.
With flaming hair of my youth and body strong and straight
She takes on the terrors sending them to hell’s gate.
From deep inside I find the strength , that others knew I owned,
Sword in hand my bravery returns , refined and truly honed.
I see you disillusion, I see you hopelessness, I see you despair.
I face you now as a warrier you need to take care.
The season is a changing fast The bulbs are pushing up through snow Their roots are spreading down below Above there’s war, bombs fall and tanks blast Nature hears the echos of the past. She wonders will man ever learn As innocents they crush and burn. The Russians lie and will ignore It is false news the liars roar. Against evil we must stand firm.
Welcome to Colleen’s Tuesday Tanka. This week Colleen said : “Create Your Own Syllabic Poetry Form & Teach Us How to Write the Form”
I thought about this and finally settled on a poem of two stanzas . Each stanza is of seven lines, each line is made up of seven syllables. The lines in the stanza do not rhyme but the lines in the first stanza do rhyme with corresponding line in the second stanza eg. First line stanza one rhymes with line one stanza two, second line stanza one rhymes with second line stanza two and so on . I have called my poem a Septex. This poem is about all the refugees all over the world past and present.
Gently falls the silent snow Covering all the traces Of the plight of the faceless Hidden, easy to forget. The refugee’s plight is plain Unseen crushed under the boot Of those who started this strife
Ceaseless they’ve no where to go. Fear written on their faces Children to their sides are pressed Some bring their beloveded pets. They look for rest, all in vein. The bombs fall and soldiers loot The remains of their once life.
This poem is in support of all those in the Ukraine and was inspired by Jane Dougherty’s poem, On Days of Wind . Please read Jane’s poem. I have borrowed the painting Jane used which is a painting by Franz Marc, killed at Verdun in 1916.
The washing hangs abandoned In the Ukraine, blooded and singed Cowering not from the wind but from the bombs . It is tethered to a line, an invisible line Everyone has forgotten and it stays Abandoned in the cold wind and snow.
It’s a symbol of the people Made refugee Hanging between life and death Bombarded by those with no conscience Empty promises of safe passage Hanging on the invisible line We must not dessert them.
I am with 12 years of experience and ready to achieve any type of works such as, converting any form from JPG, PDF, ...etc into Excel,Word, PowerPoint and other editable forms, In addition to having a deep experience in inserting and managing data
willowdot21 