It was going to be Spring but there is no sign of that around here, not much food for the wildlife either after a long hard Winter. Even a dead catfish washed up by the ice eater looks pretty good to the hungry.
But approach with caution, it could be a trick…
Closing March 31, 2015 somewhere about 36 N 75 W.
A tragic true tale told in haiku form. The horrid little chap in the photograph (not one of mine) is not one of the villains of the piece, but he looks remarkably similar.
Two Jackdaws perch high
And hurl the moss with malice
From the dank roof tiles.
Continue reading “The Birds”
Apologies for the delay in judging, and thank you to Gazoopi for reminding me.
The January Competition on the theme of Winter Complaints started off well: three excellent contributions from FEEG, Janus and Christopher.
A pity more entries were not forthcoming but thank you to the three who managed to write thoroughly grouchy pomes!
There can be only one winner, unfortunately, so well done Janus, and I must say, I was rather influenced by your apposite illustration.
Here’s a bit of fun.
When listening to the radio the other day there was a phone in competition, 2 contestants, each had 30 seconds to list as many items as possible on a particular subject.
We’ve had great fun with it, try it on your family and friends.
Ready?
I heard this story when I was a lad from my father and grandfather; no mention of it was ever made in school.
The geezer in the muddy boots is Dr. Orville Ward Owen a medical doctor from Detroit, the date is May 1911, the place is close to the low tide mark of the River Wye in the shadow of the walls of Chepstow Castle.
What led the man to this place was never explained to me back then, although what he sought was well known to my relatives, and their view was that he was wasting his time and money. He made several visits, one lasting longer than six months. In all twelve or fourteen shafts were driven into the river bottom, some deeper than twenty feet. All he found were some heavy timbers that were the remains of a Roman landing stage, these were not what he was looking for.
Continue reading “Mud, Mystery, Murder, Manuscripts and Madness.”
Extract from Winter Complaint by Ogden Nash
I don’t like germs,
But I’ll keep the germs I’ve got.
Will I take a chance of spreading them?
Definitely not.
I sneeze out the window
And I cough up the flue,
And I live like a hermit
Till the germs get through.
And because I’m considerate,
Because I’m wary,
I am treated by my friends
Like Typhoid Mary.
Christmas for Monty and Robin
(With apologies to Amarinta)
And while the critters were all hob-nobbin’;
The field mice and the red-breast robin,
A squeal went up, ‘what, pray, was that?
‘I think it is the farmyard cat.’
‘Oh my sweet holy Jesus
I think she means to come and seize us.’ Continue reading “Christmas for Monty and Robin”
Giving thanks?
It’s what they do in church innit!
Our Father in the larder
Give us our daily bread.
But thanks for what? For what we got?
For shredded wheat, for shoes on feet?
For rain or sun I understand
For life itself – the master plan;
For making babies, yeah that’s fun
So thank you God – a job well done Continue reading “Giving thanks”
My thanks to Madiba for giving me democracy
and his able successor, Thabo ~ baai baai danke
For guiding us through those difficult years
took patience and courage to allay people’s fears.
My thanks too to Jacob for steering our ship
no easy task, There could have been many a slip.
A bountiful country with employment for all
Roofs over our heads, public services on call Continue reading “Ungrateful? Not me!”
Well that was then and now it’s well past the closing time, but better late than not at all, so here goes.
All entries responsive to the theme (including Janus with one both late and illegal from Hong Kong) and some with a slightly different take on it. I particularly liked Soutie’s notices (the changing world of announcements could be a subject with almost as much scope as butchered movie titles).
But the prize this month goes to Pseu, a couple of great photos, taken close to home. We tend to forget how much our immediate surroundings also change over time, just look out the window and try to recall how it was when you moved in all those years ago.
Congratulations Pseu. Good Job.
Boadicea's Chariot 
You must be logged in to post a comment.