I do not apologize for basing my Sijo this week on News story: Jan. 24, 2023, at 2:14 p.m. LONDON (Reuters) -British voluntary aid workers Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw were killed during an attempted humanitarian evacuation in eastern Ukraine, Parry’s family said on Tuesday, weeks after they were reported missing in the war-torn country.
THE FORTUNE OF WAR.
Caught up in the theatre of war, two heroes gave their lives for others. Winter showed no pity, the enemy gives no quarter. Four seasons witness atrocities, the miss fortune of war.
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.
Here we are part two of the catch up on Morgarna and co!
For visually challenged writers, the fourth image shows a red tractor busy in the field.
For visually challenged writers, the fifth image shows a stone tower with an arched centre. Beyond the tower is a line of houses.
Farming – Image by KL Caley.
The sun was shining when Morgarna landed outside the cottage with a red door on the terraced street . On the wall outside there was a plaque that read Castle Cottage… Hum? thought Morgarna, interesting name…I don’t see a castle. As she was standing contemplating what to do and why she was there she got a call from Merlin on the C.O.T.A.S. phone. “Hey Merls yes I am back not sure where or why but yes I’m home. That Leonardo is definitely not improving with age ….what, yes I have made sure he’s not smuggled any rogue technology back with him this time. Yes babes , definitely I made double sure he had nothing secreted about him!” She ended with a wicked grin across her face. Standing in the new lab Merlin smiled “Excellent we could do without having to clear up his mess every five minutes! Now let me guess, you are are standing outside a cottage with a red door and a blur plaque? “ “Yup Merls I am that, so what’s the problem?” “It appears that there is one last rupture left in the continuium this one is not a dimension problem just a time error , should be a doddle for you to fix then you can come home, Gail’s been asking when you’re due back.” “Okay Merls I see what’s what, give my love to Gail, by Merls someone is watching me. “
A young woman looked out of the door. She looked really scared and something about her suggested she was just not understanding what she was seeing. Morgarna was definitely getting the vibes of someone out of their time. Putting the C.O.T.A.S. back in her bag Morgarna smiled and waved to her. “Hi she said any chance I can come in? “ “Well certainly” said the young woman dressed like a farm labourer and sounding like someone out of a 1950s film . Morgana followed her in The interior of the house was as neat and tidy as the outside. It was however rather dated …1940s she would have said if asked . Following the woman into the kitchen she could not stop herself from smiling and saying “Wow this is very retro, very chic indeed” “Chic? Retro? What do you mean?” Asked the woman who though still looking uneasy was a little afronted by Morgarna’s tone” Note to self thought Morgarna let’s rein it in a tad this lady is not of this place. Taking out her cigarettes Morgarna offered the woman one. ” Have a cigarette “ “My name is Joyce , would you like a cuppa…er…” “Morgarna, I’m Morgarna and yes I’d love a cuppa in fact …have you got any biscuits I am starving “ “Morgarna that’s an unusual name are you American?” “Me?” laughed Morgarna I am too old for that no I am not American. “ “Well you’re dressed very oddly, oddly enough to be one!” Joyce said folding her arms and looking at Morgarna.
The kettle started whistling making Morgarna jump. Joyce made the tea and they both sat at the kitchen table and drank it as they smoked their cigarettes. “Are you sure you are not American?” Joyce asked again, “these cigarettes don’t look familiar.” “Honestly, I am probably more English than you are young lady” Joyce’s eyes flashed , “Don’t you young lady me ,you are not much older than I am” Morgana looked out the back window and saw rolling farm land and in the distance a red tractor working in the fields. Thinking on her feet and crossing her fingers behind her back Morgarna took a leap of faith and asked Joyce. ” How long have you been a landgirl on this farm , and how long has there been a problem outside the front door. “ Looking a little taken aback Joyce replied, ” How do you know I am a landgirl? I have been here two months now.” “Are there other girls here?” Morgarna asked. “Yes there’s six of us here and we all have beds in the out houses it’s quite fun really!” Morgarna suggested they go outside and meet the others and Joyce readily agreed… “But she added we need to go out the backdoor there’s something really wrong about the front….”
As they stepped into the yard, Morgarna could see it was a typical farmyard. “What do you mean there’s a problem out the front?”asked Morgarna. Though in truth she could easily she the problem. “Come on you’ll see what I mean,” Joyce called over shoulder as she led the way along the of the house. Immediately she could tell something was amiss . Not only was there nothing of the urban scene she had arrived at! The first thing she noticed was that the neighbouring houses had simply disappeared and the back of the little house was actually the back of a huge farm house! Morgarna was just getting her head around what was happening when she heard voices from the cow shed … “Joyce is lunch ready yet we are hungry. “ “Oh! Gosh!” Whispered Joyce “I was supposed to be getting lunch when everything went haywire and half the house went bang and I saw you outside in the street….that strange street that just isn’t there. ” Joyce looked like she was going to cry.. “What am I to do they will be really angry if lunch is not ready” “What were you supposed to be doing for lunch… Tell me I will sort it, do they come in or do you take lunch out?” “Soup and cheese and pickle sandwiches and they will expect to come in to have a break!” Joyce looked so worried that Morgarna hugged and said go and get the girls and by the time you get back here with them I will have lunch on the table…What about the farmer and his family?” “They are at the Market today .” Joyce looked confused and worried…. How can you produce lunch in seconds ” Morgarna silenced her and said, ” go and get the others and you can all have lunch.” Joyce went to say more, but Morgarna pushed her towards the barn and said…”trust me! As soon as Joyce was out of sight she waved a hand stopping time, then walked into the kitchen and made a mountain of door step cheese and pickle sandwiches, the veg soup well? Let’s throw a viel over that in case Merlin is reading this….. suffice to say when the girls came back into the kitchen they were delighted to see a mountain of food on the table… including thick hot vegetable soup.One of the girls, a big eyed blonde with a cockney accent said, “Cricky Joyce you’ve excelled yourself this time , look girls she finally got the idea of decent sandwiches. ” They all laughed and slapped a smiling Joyce on the back. As they all say down they looked at Morgarna, “who are you” asked a mousey girl with glasses and a lovely smile.”Hi, I am Morgarna and I am from the American base up the road , I am distantly related to Joyce and when I heard she was here I popped in to see her! ” Joyce’s eyes widened …she opened her mouth, closed it and smiled at Morgarna, she mouthed Thank You. After lunch all the girls had to return to their jobs… Morgarna took Joyce to one side and said “I enjoyed meeting you all and I have to say you and every landgirl are doing a great job. Stay safe all of you. As Joyce went off to meet the others Morgarna got her time rife sweeper out of her bag and moved it around the whole yard…. She found it after about an hour and sealed it up she checked the house front and back and it was really and truly in the 1940s the land and time line was safe and as she looked across the fields she saw all the girls riding the tractor she waved and they waved back. The Anomaly appeared as she jumped she wiped all their memories of her visit and Joyce’s of the split in time!
K.L.Caley’s Cottage.
Morgarna landed back outside of the the cottage with the red door…. With a loud tut she fished her mobile out of her bag and rang Merlin. “I am back at the house again Merls I want a bath and a special meal I am tired!!” “Babes trust me knock at the red door believe me you won’t regret it? Ask for Joyce, I’ll meet you after the next jump in the Beema” With that he hung up!
Well there was nothing for it Morgarna walk up to the door of castle cottage and knocked. After a few minutes the door was opened by a familiar looking woman. “Hello can I help you’ she asked with a smile. “Hello I’m here to see Joyce, my name is Morgarna.” “What, did you say Morgarna.. Mum has been telling us all week that you were coming….to be honest we thought you were a figment of her imagination… Really you’re really too young to have been a friend of her’s from the war.” Morgarna smiled and waved a hand behind her back and whispered in Joyce’s daughter’s ear… “No I am not too young and you will think this is all perfectly normal” as she swept round her and into the room.
Sitting in a chair by the fire was a nintey six year old Joyce beaming at her. “Morgarna you came how lovely I am so pleased to see you….I know you made us all forget you but last week my memories of you returned and, I knew you come .” Morgarna was delighted to see Joyce had survived the war . She sat down with Joyce and her daughter came in carrying a tray of doorstep cheese and pickle sandwiches and a pot of tea. “Mum told me you needed cheese and pickle doorsteps and tea… She said not to attempt the soup as that was your magic…. whatever that means! “ Joyce’s daughter Diane left laughing and Morgarna and Joyce set in for a long catch up. Eventually Morgarna left and so happy to hear all about Joyce , the other land girls, Joyce’s family and why they lived in Castle Cottage.
As Morgarna left late that evening the Anomaly was waiting for her and she jumped. As she landed she saw , a stone tower with an arched centre. Beyond the tower is a line of houses. Then to her delight standing by a BMW waving like mad was Gail and Merlin….shouting “it’s your round!”
Bullies cower, smaller nations by oppression. Raging in, all barrels blasting, no mercy, proving evil garners evil. Yet the oppressed stood strong and for freedom. Strength in adversity.
My first choice was Army Dreamers written and performed by Kate Bush. In 1980 I was mum to two boys number three was not born yet. I was busy looking after the boys, I was working as a cleaner as it fit in well with the boys . Kate Bush was my hero of the day.
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“Army Dreamers” is a 1980 song, the third and final single to be released from the album Never for Ever, by Kate Bush. It was a UK top 20 hit in October 1980.
“Army Dreamers” was released on 22 September 1980 and peaked at number 16 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is about the effects of war and about a mother who grieves for her young adult son, who was killed on military manoeuvres. Saddened by his unnecessary death, she wrestles with her guilt over what she could have done to prevent it. The song is a waltz, which marks a change to Bush’s previous singles. The version on the original single release is longer than on the album release. This version fades; whereas the single release has a dead ending (the version of the single from The Single File, however, fades like the album release).
The single includes two B-sides, “Delius” and “Passing Through Air”. “Delius” is Bush’s tribute to English composer Frederick Delius. The subtitle, “Song of Summer“, comes from one of Delius’s works, and from a BBC film Bush saw about the composer’s life. Again, it’s of note that the album version is different in that the previous track “Babooshka” segues into it, whereas the single B-side version begins unobscured. “Passing Through Air” is one of Bush’s earliest works—originally recorded in 1973 at David Gilmour’s studio, a few weeks after her 15th birthday.
The reference in the lyrics to “BFPO” refers to “British Forces Post Office“, the postal system for the British armed forces, who deliver the message: “Our little army boy is coming home, from BFPO.”.
“Army Dreamers” was one of 68 songs considered inappropriate for airplay by the BBC during the first Gulf War.
The music video opens on a closeup of Kate Bush, dressed in dark green camouflage, holding a child. She blinks in synchronisation with the song’s sampled gun cocks. The camera pulls out and shows that Bush has a white-haired child on her lap. The child walks off and returns in military combat uniform, and during the first pre-chorus, as Bush responds to her bandmates’ comments, the child grows up into a 20-year-old. Bush and several soldiers (two of whom, Bush included, have “KT8” or “KTB” stencilled on the butt of their rifles: “KTB” was a monogram used by Bush early in her career) make their way through woodland, amid explosions. As the song progresses, Bush reaches out for the child soldier, but he disappears. Finally, Bush is blown up.
Bush has stated that this video is one of the few examples of her work that completely satisfies her:
For me that’s the closest that I’ve got to a little bit of film. And it was very pleasing for me to watch the ideas I’d thought of actually working beautifully. Watching it on the screen. It really was a treat, that one. I think that’s the first time ever with anything I’ve done I can actually sit back and say “I liked that”. That’s the only thing. Everything else I can sit there going “Oh look at that, that’s out of place”. So I’m very pleased with that one, artistically. Kate Bush. Info. Wiki
B.F.P.O. Army dreamers Mammy’s hero B.F.P.O. Mammy’s hero
Our little army boy Is coming home from B.F.P.O. I’ve a bunch of purple flowers To decorate mammy’s hero Mourning in the aerodrome The weather warmer, he is colder Four men in uniform To carry home my little soldier
But he didn’t have the money for a guitar (What could he do?) (Should have been a politician) But he never had a proper education (What could he do?) (Should have been a father) But he never even made it to his twenties What a waste Army dreamers Oh, what a waste of Army (army) dreamers (dreamers)
Tears o’er a tin box Oh, Jesus Christ, he wasn’t to know Like a chicken with a fox He couldn’t win the war with ego Give the kid the pick of pips And give him all your stripes and ribbons Now he’s sitting in his hole He might as well have buttons and bows
But he didn’t have the money for a guitar (What could he do?) (Should have been a politician) But he never had a proper education (What could he do?) (Should have been a father) But he never even made it to his twenties What a waste Army dreamers Ooh, what a waste of Army (army) dreamers (dreamers) Ooh, what a waste of all them Army (army) dreamers (dreamers) Army (army) dreamers (dreamers) Army (army) dreamers (dreamers), oh
B.F.P.O. Army dreamers Mammy’s hero B.F.P.O. Army dreamers Mammy’s hero B.F.P.O. No hard heroes Mammy’s hero B.F.P.O. Army dreamers Mammy’s hero B.F.P.O.
My brother was a Major in the army, he was also an RSM. Regimental Sargent Major. He retired as an RSM and was invited back into the army with a commission as a Major.
He was very upset kitting out ‘his boys’ for Afghanistan and Iraq with substandard gear, clothing and equipment not fit for purpose. He advised them to get as much gear as the could from the American troops out there.
“Everybody’s Gone to War” is a song written and performed by London-born, Jersey-raised singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot. The song, an anti-war protest, was written during the early stages of the Iraq War in 2003 and was composed on bass guitar by Pallot.
Originally distributed as a promotional CD in 2004, the song was commercially issued as the third single from Pallot’s second album, Fires, on 22 May 2006, reaching number 14 on the UK Singles Chart the same month. The accompanying music video features Pallot and other shoppers engaging in a ‘food fight’ in a busy supermarket. Directed by Marc Klasfeld, it received heavy rotation on British music channels with many people praising the humorous setting despite depicting a darker message within..info Wiki
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I’ve got a friend He’s a pure bred killing machine.
He said he’s waited his whole damn life for this
I knew him well when he was 17, now he’s a man who’ll be dead by Christmas And
So, everybody’s gone to war But we don’t know what we’re fighting for,
Don’t tell me it’s a worthy Cause no cause could be so worthy
If love is a drug I guess we’re all sober, If hope is a song I guess it’s all over, How to have faith when faith is a crime, I don’t want to die
If God’s on our side then God is a joker, Asleep on the job his children fall over, Running out through the door and straight to the sky, I don’t want to die.
For every man who wants to rule the world, There’ll be a man who just wants to be free, What do we learn but what should not be learned, Too late to find the cure for this disease
So, everybody’s gone to war But we don’t know what we’re fighting for,
If love is a drug I guess we’re all sober, If hope is a song I guess it’s all over, How to have faith when faith is a crime, I don’t want to die
I, I-I, I
I, I-I, I Don’t want to die
I-I don’t want to die
So, everybody’s gone to war But we don’t know what we’re fighting for,
If love is a drug I guess we’re all sober, If hope is a song I guess it’s all over, How to have faith when faith is a crime, I don’t want to die
I, I-I, I I, I-I, I Don’t want to die
I-I don’t want to die
I’ve got a friend, he’s a pure bred killing machine, I think he might be dead by Christmas.
Emma Nadine Stevens (born 4 May 1986) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, based in Guildford, Surrey, England. She achieved mainstream success with her single “Riptide” from her first album Enchanted, which was featured as iTunes Single of the Week in October 2013 and had over 150,000 downloads. She describes her music as “sparkly folk pop”. Info Wiki
“Keep the Home-Fires Burning (Till the Boys Come Home)” is a British patriotic First World Warsong composed in 1914 by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Guilbert Ford (whose middle name was sometimes printed as “Gilbert”).
The song was published first as “‘Till the Boys Come Home” on 8 October 1914 by Ascherberg, Hopwood and Crew Ltd. in London. A new edition was printed in 1915 with the name “Keep the Home-Fires Burning”. The song became very popular in the United Kingdom during the war, along with “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary“.[citation needed]
James F. Harrison recorded “Keep the Home-Fires Burning” in 1915, as did Stanley Kirkby in 1916. Another popular recording was sung by tenor John McCormack in 1917, who was also the first to record “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” in 1914. (See External links below to hear these recordings of “Keep the Home-Fires Burning”.) Other versions include one by Frederick J. Wheeler and one by the duet Reed Miller & Frederick Wheeler.
There is a misconception that Ivor Novello’s mother wrote the lyrics for the song (propagated—for example—by patter in recorded performances of British musical comedy duo Hinge and Bracket) but Lena Ford (an American) was a friend and collaborator of Novello, not a blood relation.
They were summoned from the hillside They were called in from the glen, And the country found them ready At the stirring call for men. Let no tears add to their hardships As the soldiers pass along, And although your heart is breaking Make it sing this cheery song
Keep the Home Fires Burning, While your hearts are yearning, Though your lads are far away They dream of home. There’s a silver lining Through the dark clouds shining, Turn the dark cloud inside out ‘Til the boys come home.
Overseas there came a pleading, “Help a nation in distress.” And we gave our glorious laddies Honour bade us do no less, For no gallant son of freedom To a tyrant’s yoke should bend, And a noble heart must answer To the sacred call of “Friend.”
Keep the Home Fires Burning, While your hearts are yearning, Though your lads are far away They dream of home. There’s a silver lining Through the dark clouds shining, Turn the dark cloud inside out ‘Til the boys come home.
It’s Saturday and time for LindaGHill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. This week Linda has said “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “comp.” Find a word that starts with or contains “comp” and use it in your post. Enjoy!”
Comfort us in our hour of need Open your eyes and ears, take heed Mindfulness is needed in the world Pain and grief like weapons hurled. All the woes of this vale of tears Sirens and bullets raise their fears Sweet Jesus give them hope In you we trust , help them cope. Oh! the Horsemen love our pain. Now they’re here they’ll not leave again. .
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