cliff

the white cliff face at Saltdean in Sussex on Sunday..such a beautiful day

unbelievably blue sky

the sea was rough

air filled with the taste of salt

sunday lunch 

and a long walk

we found the enchanting walled gardens of the writer Rudyard Kipling

and thought this door amazing with its covering of ivy

as we walked back we watched the sun set over the now calm sea

flocks of seagulls flying out to the horizon

and a lone surfer catching the waves

thanks my darling girl for a wonderful day..x

picture from tess at magpie tales no.93

by c.donnier-valentin

Bag Lady

my back so sore

found

by way of a miracle

under the arches

of Saint Pancras

a raspberry red,

if somewhat dusty

sofa

 itchy velvet reminded me

of the seats on the number 47 bus

on my daily ride to school

i think it was in '41

that was some time ago

the trains lulled me asleep

slumber only disturbed by the uninterested revelers

who passed by loudly unseeing

in the night

i clutched my bags closer and turned my back

to dream of better times to come.

the roosting pigeons cooed and fluttered

 my alarm call at dawn

i stretched old bones creakily

to another day

wandering the city

hopeful that my bed 

may remain another night

abandoned.

I once read that we are all only two steps away from being homeless, i can think of nothing worse that being in that situation, to have nowhere to call home.

what a week

....the last week has been an epic one....the downsizing from a big house to an apartment has been completed for my Mum.....the whole family pulled together to get the house cleared and it was undoubtedly a hard time for her..there were tears and then relief it was done and the next chapter of her life could start....

..the early morning and late afternoon walks were a solace for me....a gentle breather from the mayhem around me...a time to stop the organising...the 'have I remembered to do everything'....and feel the sun rise through the misty mornings....the amazing skies....watching the wildlife on the river.....and the autumn changing into winter......frost on the grass.....highlighted cobwebs.....and leaves to kick through.......that late year sharpened scent....breathing deep, waiting for my wings to start unfurling....

 .

....smiling through the mountain of packing paper!!!

..the lodger...'wake me up when its all over, please!!'

white linen

steam rises from the board

the lavender scent engulfing me

crisp white linen

now flat

and

tucked in

waits for the curve of your body

Magpie tales prompt from Tess at Willow Manor.

breathe

I have waited for what seems
like a lifetime of time and space
for this moment
we have loved and lost
been lost and found 
beholden,betrayed
idolized and scorned.
we have
fallen in love
and fallen out so often 
and not  just with each another

and yet I always knew
that one day
you would return
so here we are
with the mist just rising
as the dawn breaks
with the debris of last night
laid waste
come let me skim the dew from your brow
and gather the perfume of lost time
in my cupped hands
may i breathe the future into us
and hope 
that i am yours.





Magpie tales with prompt photo from tess.

late november afternoon

we walked along the road the lodger usually refuses to walk down....don't ask me why but at times he is like a stubborn child and just sits and refuses to budge.....he may sit suddenly on the pavement for no reason and refuse to go forward, i have learnt that this usually means he would like to cross the road and having done so will walk perfectly...some would say he has me wrapped around his little(paw) finger...possibly i might agree...

...the road we have never walked down led to this fantastic red brick wall ...obviously meant to keep the peasants out at some point in history but now only holding back an abandoned walled garden...

i could see the abandoned greenhouses and untended vegetable beds through this amazing gate..

 ..the row of cottages...beautifully thatched probably the workers tied cottages once upon a time...the sun was setting and the sky had a wonderful  light...we are quite close to the river and could hear the ducks quacking furiously!!

 ..the old GR post box on the side of a house..i wonder how many letters have been posted here across the decades?

on the walk back, beautiful lichened twigs in a hedge slowly decaying, just loved the colours and textures..

flaking gray and mustard

looking dead

but so alive.

Remembrance Day

Standing here,

my heart beats fast with emotion

pin pricks of scarlet on my cheeks.

The rough worsted collar

grey-green, chaffs my fragile skin,

while coloured ribbons of medals sway

slower in time now the march has stopped

the brisk November wind 

makes them clink

now and again.

My body soft with age trembles

as the minutes tick by

the birds overhead are the only sound

as we stand lost in our silent thoughts

of battle

fear

exhaustion

sadness

of aeroplanes screeching, 

gunfire thundering 

and as the dust settles
triumph is marred by

the counting of despair.

My rheumy eyes focus on the plain white stone ahead

arthritic fingers clasp

the wreath of poppies.

The last post echoes through the cemetery. 

I walk to lay my tribute 

my fallen comrades surround me 

on this Remembrance Day.




This is my entry for Magpie tales from Tess's prompt

The years....

can you believe it is just about three years since i started this blog?.......i can't tell you what a slog this year has been....in a few weeks though my life may be my own again....i can finally feel that my new home is my 'new home'

 .....cook books ready to invite friends for dinner...i have such a basic kitchen now who knows what will be dished up!!

the lodger won't mind as long as there might be sausages....

 my daily chat to the money plant is working wonders!!!..no i'm not mad..go on try it!!

 favourite things are finding their place

i'm trying to clear unnecessary stuff but somehow there are too many memories to some things.....my first real antique bought over 30 years ago...knocked over by a kitten and repaired.....feathers from countless walks in the countryside and a eighteenth century broken teapot decorated with insects..bashed and broken but deliciously beautiful can stay a bit longer!!

Do you have things that you can't bear to part with!

Our shop Martin and the Magpie is ONE YEAR OLD today!!!

I find that incredible, it was surely only last week we opened the doors...

the months have flown by and a part of me ..at this point in my life... feels like the sand is hurtling through the timer too fast....

slow down , slow down....

give me time to savour all that life is giving me at the moment...i want to look, touch, feel in my heart all that is happening....

this is my wish

has this year been good for you and what are your hopes for next year?