Photo prompt round-up: Keep #writephoto

To read Sue’s poem and explanation of the photos prompt plus all the entries.

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Song Lyric Sunday:Bottom/End/Middle/Side/Top

It’s Sunday again and time for Song Lyric Sunday. Our gracious host Jim Adams has said our prompt for January 12, 2020 – is: Bottom/End/Middle/Side/Top.

Now Jim introduces us to this prompt by talking about “Football Terms” Obviously I realised he was discussing American Football because to my English ear he was describing Rugby… I will go no further on this but I will say : “Two nations divided by one language!”

In 1973 when Stuck In The Middle With You, was released I had been married two years, expecting our first child and living miles from my London home. In the middle of nowhere in Devon. On top of a high hill, I had to walk down to the bottom of the hill to get to the shops . That was a mile and a half. My travels didn’t stop there it was another Mike and a half further down the hill to the town and the sea. If I needed the doctors that was off to the side up another hill. Where ever I went it was a long walk down and a long walk back up to the top to reach the end of any journey. I was truly stuck in the middle.

Stealers Wheel were a Scottish folk rock/rock band formed in 1972 in Paisley, Scotland, by former school friends Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty.^[1] Their best-known hit is “Stuck in the Middle with You“. The band broke up in 1975 and re-formed briefly in 2008.

Egan and Rafferty met as teenagers in Paisley, and became the core of Stealers Wheel. They were initially joined by Roger Brown, Rab Noakes and Ian Campbell in 1972. By the time the band was signed to A&M Records later that year, Brown, Noakes and Campbell had been replaced by Paul Pilnick, Tony Williams and Rod Coombes.

The original line-up recorded Stealers Wheel (October 1972), produced by American songwriters and producers Leiber & Stoller, andwas a critical and commercial success, reaching No. 50 in the US Billboard 200 album chart, with their hit single “Stuck in the Middle with You” coming from the album. On 7 November 1972 the band appeared on BBC 2‘s The Old Grey Whistle Test, performing “I Get By” and “Late Again”. Read more here.

The band performed the song on the BBC’s Top of the Pops in May 1973, and the song charted at No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. It also became an international hit, reaching No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Cover Reveal : Mr Sagitarrius – Poetry and Prose #Tanka #Tuesday #Poet’sChoice #Coverreveal #Poetry #Prose

Look at Marjorie Mallon’s beautiful new book cover. Not only is this book a perfect read but the first month’s royalties will be donated to the fund for helping Australia in it’s present predicament.

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The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Dec. 28/19

It’s the last Saturday of 2019 and so it’s the last SoCs of the year.

LindaGHill said, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “year.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy! #SoCs

Image from Pixabay

Year Ending was a strange place nothing much ever happened there. The streets were always shrouded in half light, that late afternoon light just before it gets dark. There was always rain or snow, even both on occasion. The houses were always dressed for Christmas but the decorations inevitable looked old, tired!

There was always something in the air, a coming to an end of things past that cannot be undone and a conflicting expectancy of an unknown start a comming. Nothing ever got started or ended it was as if everyone and everything there was caught in a void.

Just up the road in the next town everything was bright and new everything was hustle and bustle. The streets were lined with houses that looked brand new. People were busy full of good intentions and resolutions! Yes everything was always bright and new.

Two towns only a minute apart, yes indeed Year Ending and New Year.

Image from Pixabay

Mary and Jo Part 25

Today is the twenty fifth day of Advent, Christmas Day. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry

Irena got there first a huge smile on her face, she was so happy to be doing her real job, even if it was in a strange place. She could not believe the sight that met her eyes, there was a cat and a dog and the lady from up the way and doves covered the skies.
Well she thought we can’t move her now she will have to give birth here in the gazebo! It felt so good to be wearing her blues again, Jo was flapping quietly rubbing Mares’ back pretending he was in control…. but that was all in vain!

Annya arrived she almost hurdling the bushes, how are things going she asked Irena, who smiled replied you have made it in time for the pushes. So between the four of them a little babe was born. It was strange it took all night but some how it did not not seem long
Mares seemed so calm , in fact she was serene, Annya was amazed and told Irena for a “first time mum” she was the calmest she’d ever seen. There seemed to be so many people there,angels people later said, with golden flowing hair and bright rings around their heads.
The pets from up the road and the lady too, and some shepherds arrived with their sheep they all wanted to be there too. It all seemed so surreal Oh! was it a dream.Here in the gazebo with doves and sheep and things!! The star above the hotel began to burn so bright it turned the scented garden and gazebo into a haven of light.

And so the babe is born. This the first day of the new dawn. This child has come to lead the way to take us to a better day.
The shepherds brought their sheep as gifts to the young king and his parents in love to keep. Josh has bought his friendship band he placed it in the baby’s hand. The children offered up the paper chains they had made with Mares and she in turn has kissed them all and blew away their cares.
On their way towards the hotel Delph in a limousine our three wise men are approaching fast they want to warn Jo again and fast.
But for now all is light and all is love as the star shines down from heaven above, born for us this day our saviour to wash our sins away.

Mary and Jo Part 24

Today is the twenty fourth day of Advent, leading up to Christmas. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry. This though is another brand new chapter.

image from Pixabay

Mary awoke a looked at the star, it was brightest up in the sky by far. “Gabe said there would be star to say just where we are do you think we are safe here?” Jo told her that God would not let harm come to his son so they need not fear.

“What shall we call him?” Jo asked, “Gabe had told me his name” Mary whispered. “I want to choose his name” said Jo. “Okay” replied Mary, ” what do you want his name to be.” Jo thought the he smiled and replied, ” Jesus, let’s call him Jesus”. Mary smiled a huge smile and happily agreed, knowing that was the child’s chosen name.

“I shall teach him my trade I shall love him he will be my boy, Mary we will show him so much joy.” He will have a childhood just like all other children they both agreed.

Image from Pixabay

The angels looked down and smiled, the knew the right parents had been found. Later that evening Mary began her labor.

Image from Pixabay

Of Blurbs, And Other Things

Lookie, lookie Ritu has a publishing date and we can all pre oder !

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Mary and Jo Part 19

Today is the nintheenth day of Advent, leading up to Christmas. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry. Today’s chapter is actually a new one.

The animals and children came daily, the grown ups came at night. The path to the Hotel Delph was trod gaily and the place was full of love and light. So far it was locals and guests who visit the young couple somehow they were a secret well kept. The manger was delighted as his sales were up and the hotel was out of debt.

image from Pixabay

So it was a huge surprise when the camera crew from the local news arrived. Gabriel was not happy, he was not best pleased. In fact he actually was experiencing feelings , which put him ill at ease. Now luckily for Gabe the concierge was used to handling publicity, he said “Gabe my man relax and leave it all to me.”

Image from Pixabay

So when they set their cameras up at the brake of day , David the consierge was out to greet them with a tale that would soon have them on their way.

David greeted them withs and hot coffee, he asked why they had picked the Delph hotel. They said they had come to see the young couple who had this place under a spell. “Oh! what a shame” smiled David, “you’ve missed them by just hours , but if you get a move on you’ll catch Posh and Becks as they arrive at The Staton Towers.”

Strangely this seemed to work a treat, and David smiled and waved as they drove off up the street. Gabe joined David on the forecourt .Gabe thanked him heartily and David said that playing with the press was just like sport.

So once again for now our secret is safe and Mares and Jo can relax again in their safe place.

Image from Pixabay.

Mary and Jo part16

Today is the sixteenth day of Advent, leading up to Christmas. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry

Image from Pixabay

“I have an idea” said Balthazar “I think we should wear our national robes to show honour to a new king I have mine with me do you two need to go shopping”.
The other two men smiled and produced the robes they’d brought, they had all had but one thought.

The shepherds on the way down from the pastures to the town discussed whether the sheep would be a good idea for the parent’s of the new king to keep. We must take them though our intentions we need to show.
Sitting quietly in the back was Josh a nephew who was out with the shepherds the night the angels came. He will never forget the light, the voices or the beauty, he will never be the same again.
Scouring his mind Josh wanted to find a gift but he had none, then in his pocket something slipped into his hand he did not know at first but his search was done. A friendship bracelet his friend had given him, as he had left to go and fight a war. This bracelet had protected him and now it would carry the protection over to the new king

a gift fit for a king

Sitting back and feeling good he was happy to pass his good luck on to the new child who was to be the One. Easier now in his head he relaxed and closed his eyes and relived last night. The angel and how was lit the countryside. He felt angel wings touch his face and felt his soul fill with grace.

Image from Pixabay

Mary and Jo Part 15

Today is the fifteenth day of Advent, leading up to Christmas. I would like to re-run my take on the Nativity story. I first wrote this in 2011, in the style of prosetry

Image from Pixabay

LISTEN TO ME HAVE YOU HEARD I WAS TOLD MY A PASSING BIRD.

My mistress has been knitting all week it has been so long she since has been this happy. She has been singing a song. Now I can tell and this is true I can’t remember her this happy not since I was new!
Well miss pussy my young master has been so excited about a baby soon to be born he has been doing all his home work early, and before school he is up at dawn .
It is that young couple staying at the hotel yes, yes it is. I like their smell. Well miss pussy what do you say shall we go and a visit pay?
I should really love to do so I am so grateful that they have made my mistress sing so. I have a toy mouse as gift I could take, that sounds lovely but it makes me blue, because I have nothing to give them, unlike you. Don’t be silly doggy dear you have lots of love to spare. yes your right when all else fails love is the gift that never pales.
So these two friends of old are going to join the fold of those who’s lives have touched by these two young people who’s child will mean so much.

Image from Pixabay

LISTEN TO ME HAVE YOU HEARD I WAS TOLD MY A PASSING BIRD.