The Me Mosaic......

Nick (Nick's Bytes) asked me if I'd have a go at this meme, so here's my mosaic.

Here’s how it works . . .

• Answer each of the questions below.

• Surf over to Flickr (set up an account if you don’t have one–it’s quick and easy (AND I DON'T THINK YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THIS - SET UP AN ACCOUNT) and type your answers (one at a time) into the search bar.

• From the choice of pictures shown only on the front page, click on the one that moves you.

• Once the page with your picture opens, copy the URL.

• Surf over to the Mosaic Maker, set up your mosaic, and paste your URLs.

• Click “Create!”

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you attend?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. What is your favorite drink?

7. Where would you go on your dream vacation?

8. What is your favorite dessert?

9. What do you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. Choose one word to describe you?

12. Your Flickr name? (Substitute a nickname if you don't have an account.)



Can you figure out my answers to the questions from the pictures without referring to the photo credits?



It was fun to do so go ahead and do it if you want to, then let me know so I can come and check it out.







Photo credits:

1. Pearls Inside: Spheres57  2. White Lamb: Mountain Mike 3. Houses and Moss: RobinLynne 4.California Oranges: Scandblue 5.  Mel Gibson: Mellow-coton 6. Rose Wine: Danichro 7.Pathway to Heaven: Mode 8.Strawberry Mouth 2 : Sleepydays 9. Graceful:atsjebosma 10. The Man in My Dreams: Anaya's Art 11.Passion: LJ  12.Doodle Akelamalu: crpitt

Saturday Wordzzle # 19

The idea is, every week Raven (View From A Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.

Here are my efforts - complete with my doodles.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: fabulous, aristocrat, tricycle, soft summer breeze, cat litter, silver-tongued devil, curtain rod, lilacs, Abraham Lincoln, garbage can
Abraham Lincoln was a pedigree Persian, an aristocrat amongst cats. Tripping along the curtain rod he slid down the curtains leaving the remnants of the chicken carcass, from his forage in the garbage can, which had stuck to his fur. Marmalade, the ginger she cat from down the street, thought he was fabulous, he was a silver tongued devil who wooed her shamelessly, she was also impressed with how he balanced on the handlebars of the tricycle, whilst the child pedalled furiously. What Marmalade loved most was the fact that Abraham didn’t have ordinary cat litter, no siree, Abraham’s cat litter smelt of lilacs on a soft summer breeze – that was real class!


And for the Mini Challenge: strangle-hold, revelation, dormancy, tripod, space cadet
As the photographer positioned the lights and his tripod the group, ‘Space Cadet’, posed for photos for their new album ‘Revelation’. He was a huge fan and was thrilled to be having a sneak preview of some of the new tracks from the album, like ‘Strangle-hold’ ‘and ‘Dormancy’, which were playing in the background. Also he was hoping if he did a good job on the photos he might get lucky and wangle a couple of tickets to their next gig.
Fabulous, fantastic, look this way guys, great!

Megawordzzle

Annie loved her job as a nanny for the Forsythe family. Lord Arthur Forsythe was a true aristocrat; he was also a silver-tongued devil who had wormed his way into her affections. Annie knew it was a dangerous game they were playing but she couldn’t help herself, he was so attractive with a definite resemblance to Abraham Lincoln and he had the most fabulous eyes, something all the children had inherited. James, the baby of the family, was having fun on his tricycle oblivious to his surroundings, a proper little space cadet, whilst the other children, Jemima and Cordelia, played with the kitten their father had brought them. “Jemima, Cordelia, please leave the kitten alone whilst it’s using the cat litter” called Annie, watching Lord and Lady Forsythe strolling through the garden admiring the lilacs swaying gently in the soft summer breeze. Annie didn’t realise that there wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance of her ever being more than a bit on the side to Arthur, (he’d given her permission to call him Arthur when they were alone), she wanted more than snatched moments on the stairs and half an hour in the summerhouse late at night and she was going to tell him just that! Annie’s delusions of grandeur were in dormancy but now she wanted to be a lady, not someone who was considered to have been born in a garbage can. It had been a revelation to Arthur when Annie told him of her ambitions and that she was pregnant during one of their late night meetings. She mistakenly thought the pregnancy would provide the strangle-hold on him she needed. Arthur laughed so uncontrollably he kicked over the tripod that had been left in the nursery by the photographer, who had been taking photographs of the children that afternoon. Annie was incensed at Arthur’s laughter; she insisted he should set her up in a house of her own where she could bring up their child. Arthur was still laughing when she swung the curtain rod wildly in his direction and although it only caught him a glancing blow on the side of the head, he dropped like a stone. Annie was long gone by the time Arthur had recovered consciousness. She had emptied his pockets and taken some of the family silver but he covered up what had happened, saying he’d tripped and fallen to explain the wound on his head and that Annie had been called home because her mother was ill. After all he didn’t want his wife to know what he’d been up to and Annie could be easily replaced both as a nanny and a lover!

Friday 55 Flash Fiction #33 Shipwrecked

Shipwrecked

Crawling out of the water, exhausted from the exertion of swimming.

He’d wondered how he’d manage when his boat went down.

The water had been icy cold, and deep.

He’d no idea what was lurking beneath the waves, thank God he’d made it.

“You’ll have to pay for that boat!” bawled the boating lake boss.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.

Scared? Me?....

David’s (Authorblog) Weekend Wandering question this week is:

The question is: What are you most afraid of?

If you wish to take part here’s what David would like you to do:

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

I’m not a big fan of things like slugs, cockroaches and general creepy crawlies but faced with a mouse or God forbid a RAT I would probably drop down dead! Mice and Rats can strike paralysing fear in me even when they’re in a cage. I think it’s the tail – I know it’s irrational but they just have that effect on me, though nothing has ever happened, that I can remember, to instil this irrational fear in me. I think it must be hereditary because my mother was terrified of them too. Is that possible to inherit a fear of something? I remember seeing a contestant on ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ where she had to lie in a coffin like box underground whilst it filled up with water and RATS! I was hyperventilating just watching, how she stood it with them crawling all over her I will never know. I once worked for a pet food supplier and I arrived one morning and opened my desk drawer to get out my comb and found a mouse looking at itself in the little mirror I kept in the drawer - I almost fainted!

I’m not keen on bats either because they look like rodents, but ever since one got in the house I’ve liked them even less. MWM had opened the front door to put the empty milk bottles out (we still have a milkman who delivers) and left the lounge door open too and as he bent down to put them on the step what I thought was a bird flew in. I shouted to MWM “A bird has just flown in” but he came in and announced “It’s not a bird it’s a bat!” You wouldn’t believe the state I was in, I was curled up in the foetal position, screaming and covering my head with my arms. MWM had the cheek to tell me to stop screaming because I was frightening the bat! Eventually I crawled on all fours to the dining room and locked myself in until MWM told me he’d caught the bat and it was safe to return. I know it’s stupid but I can’t help it.

Did I tell you about the time a squirrel chased me? I had spent hours planting 180 flower bulbs in my garden only to find a squirrel digging them up an hour later. I ran outside and ‘shooed’ it away but it just sat staring at me. I picked up a tennis ball which just happened to be lying around and threw it at the squirrel to scare it away only it must have thought I wanted to play and came bounding over to me – s**t I wasn’t expecting that, I ran inside quick and shut the door. It sat there for ages waiting for me to go out and play!

Give me an ogre of a boss to deal with any day, but an animal that could shoot up your trouser leg before you’d had chance to say “What’s that?” leaves me a nervous wreck!

Mona's Meme............

James (Rants, Raves & Random Thoughts) did this meme recently and left it open for anyone who wanted to have a go - so here goes.

Mona's Meme


1. At what age do you wish tomarry?
A: I married at 24 but I would have liked to have married earlier – at 14 when I met MWM.


2. If the end was near and you had the chance, what would you say to your beloved?
A: He’s been my life, my love since the day I met him.


3. If sex is a game … would you be good at it?
A: I’ve not had any complaints!


4. Where is the place that you want to go the most?
A: Anywhere with my love.


5. If you could have 1 dream come true, what would it be?
A: A cure for all types of cancer would be found – I’ve lost people very dear to me through it.


6. Do you believe you can survive without money?
A: I have survived on a lot less than I have at present but I’ve worked for what I have so I enjoy it.


7. What are you most afraid to lose?
A : My love.


8. If you won £1 million, what would you do?
A: Make sure all my family have enough for their needs, then my friends, then I’d travel the world.


9. If someone broke your hand, what would you do?
A: Manage until it mended.


10. List 3 good points of the person who tagged you.
A: James didn’t tag me he just proferred the baton but I’d say 1. He’s a fantastic author 2. He seems like a thoroughly nice person and 3. He obviously loves his family.



11. How would you feel if your parents stopped giving you cash to spend?
A: They don’t give me money now, it’s my turn to repay.


12. Describe your fantasized-life.
A: I would have enough money to be able to give up work, help my family financially and travel the world with my man.


13. What is your ambition?
A: To retire and enjoy the rest of my life.


14. What is the one thing that would make you think someone is bad?
A: Anyone who hurts a child is not just bad they’re evil and do not deserve to be on this Earth.


15. What are the most important things in your life?
A: My family.

16. Are you a shopaholic or not?
A: Definitely!


17. If you had the chance, which part of your character would you like to change?
A: I have a quick temper – not a redeeming feature in anyone.


18. Do you believe in yourself?
A: Yes now, but it wasn’t always the case.


19. Honestly, do you think life is fair?
A: What’s fair? Life is a series of ups and downs, which is how it should be. If you didn’t have downs you wouldn’t recognise an up would you?


20. Are you an optimist or pessimist?
A: An optimist most of the time.


I’m not going to tag anyone but if you’d like to take up the baton please feel free. If you choose to play, please let me know so I can read your answers.

Saturday Wordzzle # 18

The idea is, every week Raven (View From A Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.

Here are my efforts - complete with my doodles.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: solitaire, pathological, grackles, alternative life style, manifest destiny, polarization, ugly duckling, folding chairs, flibberty-gibbet, hand grenade
Dr Frank Enstien perused the pathological casebook on his desk thinking it had been his manifest destiny to become a doctor, he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. Besides being a doctor his father was an expert in the physics of Polarization but he had been killed by a hand grenade during the war so had been unable to pass his knowledge on the subject on to Frank. Whilst Frank found his job boring, his alternative life style was anything but. He was a big time gambler on the game Solitaire, which he played online under the user name Grackles. It was this pastime that led to him meeting Moira, another solitaire fan. He thought at first she might be a bit of an ugly duckling or flibberty-gibbet when she disclosed she worked in a factory making folding chairs, however he arranged to meet her and found to his delight that she was in fact gorgeous, clever and witty. Unfortunately he didn’t know she was in fact a spy working for a government that thought Frank could be of some use to them.


And for the Mini Challenge: marathon, the butler did it, curtain, hand cream, flatulence

Jake had done really well getting people to sponsor him for the marathon. He and Sam had decided to dress up for the race, himself as the incredible hulk, Sam as a butler. They went to a fancy dress hire shop nearby where they were greeted by a rather attractive young woman, who appeared from behind a curtain at the back of the shop rubbing hand cream into her hands. It was while they were trying on their costumes that Sam got an attack of flatulence, much to Jake’s embarrassment, and as the young woman looked at them disgustedly Jake said quickly “The butler did it!”

Megawordzzle

Solitaire was no flibberty-gibbet she was a highly trained agent who had been sent into the area to collect information after the polarization of the people, which had resulted in the troubles which were now rife in the city. Beautiful and dangerous was how some of her colleagues described her, certainly she had blossomed from the ugly duckling she had been at school. Others thought she was a pathological maniac after the way she had calously tossed a hand grenade into a car full of soldiers who had cornered her after a hair-raising chase a couple of years ago in Mozambique. Solitaire slipped easily into the alternative life style of a reporter and her press card gained her entrance to the places she needed to be. She had wangled an invitation to dinner at the Embassy and was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, whilst at the same time eavesdropping on the conversations that were going on. She was busy listening to some Ambassador when the curtain she was hiding behind was suddenly whipped aside, thankfully the butler did it whilst looking for an earring one of the guests had dropped, so she made some lame excuse and disappeared into the crowd. Solitaire made her way to the ladies restroom and sat for a few moments on one of the folding chairs because there was a queue. She was surprised to see a cage containing a bird that looked remarkably like the grackles back home, she wondered how on earth it survived in such an environment, when the air was often blue because of the flatulence of the overweight, lazy women who frequented embassy dinners. Washing her hands she took advantage of the free luxury hand cream that was available before getting back to the ballroom and her fact finding mission. Hours later the guests were leaving and Solitaire was non the wiser after what seemed a marathon of boredom. Collecting her coat from the cloakroom she filtered out with the crowd but had to stop to pick up her scarf which had slipped from the pocket of her coat. As she reached for the scarf a strong masculine hand picked it up and handed it to her. “Ah Solitaire, we meet again”. Straightening up she looked up into the one good eye of her foreign counterpart, it was she who had blinded him in one eye a few years back. “Hello Nicolai, it seems our manifest destiny to meet up at Embassy soirees .” “It does indeed my dear, you won’t mind accompanying my friends and I to a meeting will you?” he murmured as his two goons took hold of her arms and escorted her to his car.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 32 Watching

Watching

She was here again, that made twice this week.

He followed her, at a discrete distance, watching her every move.

He was entranced, she was beautiful.


He would speak to her today, he was determined.

As she removed the scarf and put in her pocket he said

“I’m Security madam, have you paid for that?”


Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.

Where's me camera?......

David's (Authorblog) Weekend Wandering question this week is

What was your worst camera nightmare?

If you would like to join in here is what David would like you to do:

Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

In 1989 we went to Kusadasi in Turkey, with some friends, for a holiday. We were lucky and found an extremely friendly and helpful taxi driver who adopted us and would turn up at our apartment virtually every day, whether we’d booked him or not, to see if we needed transporting anywhere.

We booked him to take us to a particular place during the second week of our holiday, then the evening before we were due to go he came to apologise saying that he wouldn’t be able to take us as something had cropped up, but he was sending another driver who he assured us would look after us.

The new driver, a nice young man, turned up on time and took us to our destination, unfortunately it was only as he drove away that our friend discovered he’d left his camera on the dashboard of the taxi. We tried signalling and shouting but he didn’t hear us.

The following day we were in town shopping and spotted the young taxi driver from the previous evening standing with his car at the taxi rank. We headed over to him and asked about the camera but he didn’t speak English very well and gestured that he didn’t understand what we were saying. One of the older drivers, who could speak English, asked us what the problem was then starting speaking to the young driver in Turkish. Quite quickly two other drivers joined in the onslaught on the young driver until eventually he was in tears! Our friend asked what was going on and the older driver explained he had told the younger one that he must pay for the camera as it had been left in his taxi so it was his responsibility! The older driver explained to us that the younger one hadn’t noticed the camera in his car, so it had possibly been picked up by another fare. However, he said that didn’t alter the fact that the younger driver was responsible for the loss and must pay. Obviously he didn’t have that kind of money and our friend told them that it was OK he would claim it off his insurance, but it took a lot of persuading before they would let the young man go and we were convinced they were ready to lynch the poor boy. Thankfully the older drivers let the young one go by which time we were sorry we’d bothered to mention the camera at all!

The following day our ‘friendly’ driver stopped by at out apartment and was mortified that the one time he hadn’t been there for us we had lost something so valuable, he offered to pay for it out of his own pocket but of course we assured him that wasn’t necessary and thanked him for his offer.

That was our first holiday in Turkey but, because of the honesty and kindness of the people, we have spent many holidays in various resorts since the ‘worst camera nightmare’ scenario.

My Resimay......

To hoom it mae cunsern,I waunt to apply for the job what I saw in the paper.?



I kin Type realee qwik wit one finggar and do sum a counting. I think I am good on the fone and I no I am a pepole person, Pepole realee seam to reespond too me well. Certain men and all the ladies.?



I no my spelling is not too good but find that I Offen can get a job wit my persinalety.



My salerery is open so we kin discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth, I kin start emeditely.



Thank yoo in advanse fore yore anser. hopifuly Yore best aplicant so farr.



Sinseerly,BRYAN nikname Beefy



PS : Because my resimay is a bit short - below is a pickture of me.?







Look at piccy then scroll down

Employer's response:...



Dear Beefy-I mean Bryan,



It's OK honey, we've got spell check.?



See you Monday

Saturday Wordzzle # 17

The idea is, every week Raven (View From A Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.


Here are my efforts - complete with my doodles.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: prenomial, inexplicable, tangerine, masks, chocolate cake, panorama, librarian, Stonehenge, meek, florid.

Tarquin stared at the librarian who was busy peeling a tangerine. “Can I help you?” she enquired. “Where can I find books on Stonehenge?” he asked. “All the books on Stonehenge are out at the moment, if you give me your name and number we’ll give you a call when they’re back” she offered. “Thank you, it’s Sir Tarquin Farquarharson” he said. “Very well Mr Farquarharson….” “No, it’s Sir” said Tarquin insisting on the prenomial title. “Oh sorry Sir Tarquin” replied the woman pretending to be meek when she really had the inexplicable urge to smack his face. Suddenly she remembered that she had seen him on the television programme ‘Panorama’ talking about the book he had written about African Tribal Masks. She had bought the book for the library and glanced through it but had found his style of writing very florid. “I will get in touch with you as soon as the books come back” she assured him before turning to the piece of chocolate cake and cup of coffee her colleague had just placed on her desk. “Silly old fart” she muttered as Sir Tarquin walked away.


And for the Mini Challenge: vituperative, bunny rabbit, house warming, sanitation, triangular


If Charlotte heard one more vituperative remark about her wearing a bunny rabbit costume to her cousin’s house warming party she would scream. She was sure her cousin had told her it was a fancy dress do. Making her way out into the triangular shaped garden she was glad of the fresh air, there was an awful stink in the house, something to do with the sanitation no doubt. Taking out her mobile phone she dialled for a taxi to take her home – she’d had enough, they didn’t know what they were missing because she had intended stripping off the bunny outfit to reveal a sexy belly dancing costume!


Megawordzzle
Ms Agnes Cathcart (she insisted on the prenomial Ms, as opposed to Miss) was taking a well earned break from her job as a librarian and was determined to enjoy herself. She had recently moved house and it was in need of decorating but she had no intention of spending her break from work beautifying her home, oh no that would be done at weekends, this holiday she was spending in Greece. She had packed her case, taken her bunny rabbit to her sisters for the week, primped and preened herself with leg waxing and face masks in readiness for her trip. This was to be her very first trip abroad, she’d seen the film Shirley Valentine and she was secretly hoping for a similar outcome to her trip. Her colleagues had made some vituperative remarks about her being taken in by some Greek waiter who only wanted a meal ticket but she didn’t let them get to her. She was branching out, she had seen most of the sights Britain had to offer like Stonehenge, it was time to shake off the meek cloak she had been wearing for years and throw caution to the wind. Arriving in the sleepy little village Agnes surveyed the beautiful panorama of the olive groves, which were the backdrop for the village and the long stretch of sand leading down to the azure water dotted with fishing boats. She unpacked her case and was pleased to note that the sanitation in the pension was at least adequate, though she was somewhat surprised at the triangular shape of her room. There was a pool nearby which residents of the pension were allowed to use but after spotting the number of ‘barbie dolls’ with their tangerine tans lounging round it, she decided that the beach was a better option. Three days into the holiday Agnes found herself on Captain Costa’s boat heading out to visit other islands in the vicinity on an organised trip. Captain Costa was jolly fellow with a florid complexion and a twinkle in his eye. Of course because Agnes was alone he made a beeline for her at every opportunity but Agnes was only interested in Petros the Adonis who helped run the boat. Petros was no boy, he was probably about the same age as Agnes (35 ish), but he had a well toned, tanned body and handsome features. Agnes watched him, behind her large sunglasses, rushing about the boat serving drinks and following orders from the Captain, she daydreamed about a romance with him, she was sure he was watching her. When they dropped anchor at a secluded bay Agnes watched as people dived into the water laughing whilst she sat alone, she had never learned to swim. Suddenly she had an inexplicable urge to cry but before the tears sprang to her eyes she was aware of a glass of wine suddenly being thrust into her hand. Looking up she was surprised to find herself staring into the warm, brown eyes of Captain Costa who proffered a plate containing a piece of chocolate cake and proceeded, in passable English, to tell her all about his wife and eight children. Oh well, a girl could dream, Agnes thought, perhaps she should have a house warming party when she got back home.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 31 On the pull

On the pull


Can I buy you a drink? asked the beautiful blonde.


“Why not?” he answered “ Do you come here often?”

“Only when I want to pick up strangers” she replied resting her hand on his thigh.

“Well that was fun, honey” he said

“I suppose we’d better get back now and take the baby sitter home!”

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The object of the game is to write a story using exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.

Weather..............

This weeks Weekend Wandering question from David (Authorblog) is

When did you last complain about the weather?

If you would like to join in here's what David would like you to do:


Please answer today's question on your own blog, any time until next weekend. Just link to this blog (or to this post) so I can follow the progress of the discussion.

This question just made me laugh out loud!

It is not an urban myth that the favourite topic of conversation by English people is the weather. Any greeting of “Hello”, “Good Morning”, “Hi” will be followed by some comment on the weather – either too hot, too cold, too windy, too much rain, too extreme. We are never truly happy here unless we are complaining about the weather.

Recently we have not had two days the same weatherwise – one day sunny and warm, the next dull and raining so it’s not surprising we complain is it?

I remember the summer of 1976 (the year our youngest son was born), it was a long hot summer. The Summer of 1976 was one of the best summers ever in the UK. London had a record June temperature of 95°F (we thought in Fahrenheit then!). We had a heatwave that lasted from May to September, there was even a hosepipe ban, mind you if we get more than two days without rain here the Government always seem to say there’s a water shortage. I have never been able to understand how an Island can be short of water, go to one of the Greek Islands and there are never any restrictions on how much water you can use and the weather there is hot, hot, hot for at least six months of the year! Anyway back to Britain in 1976, I can remember the ground cracking and the tar on the road melting. In some areas people had their water supply turned off for most of the day to conserve water. Hosepipe bans were across the country and even firemen in the New Forest were told not to put out forest fires. The peak of the drought coincided with the holiday season and much of the south west of Britain could not cope with the increased demand for water.

A Drought Act was passed and half a million people in Wales suffered cuts to water supplies. Standpipes were in use in Devon. Throughout Britain people became adept in saving water, including British Rail who stopped washing their trains.Of course people complained bitterly and were happy when the rain finally arrived but it turned out to be the wettest September for 250 years – something else for us to complain about!

Anyway, in answer to the question – probably yesterday!

Military Ranks.....

GENERAL – Leaps over skyscrapers in a single bound. More powerful than an express train. Faster than a speeding bullet. Walks on water. Gives counsel to God.


COLONEL – Leaps lesser buildings in a single bound. More powerful than a shunting engine. As fast as a speeding bullet. Sometimes walks on water. Talks to God.


LIEUTENANT COLONEL: - Leaps lesser buildings, given a good run up and favourable wind. Has the same pushing power as a shunting engine. Can fire a gun, but not necessarily hit the target. Totters on water. Talks to God, occasionally.


MAJOR – Barely clears the height of a bivvy tent. Is often run over by a shunting engine. Can handle a gun and hit the target, but only at the edges. Swims well. Sometimes pleases God.


QUARTERMASTER – Provides the bricks for the buildings. Places demands for various trains. Supplies both guns and bullets. Can do the dog paddle. Will supply God with crystal balls if necessary.


CAPTAIN – Collapses on bivvy tent when attempting to jump it. Recognises trains. Is never issued with live ammunition. Can float in a life jacket. Talks to brick walls.


LIEUTENANT – Runs into brick walls. Can use a train set. Owns his own cap gun. Sinks without swimming. Mutters to himself.


2ND LIEUTENANT – Falls over doorstep when entering building. Says “Oooh, look at the choo choo”. Wets himself while playing with his water pistol. Can stand in the shallow end. Talks to plants.


REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR – Lifts multi-storey buildings and walks under them. Kicks all types of engines off their tracks. Catches bullets in his teeth. Freezes water at a single glance. Talks to no one.


HE IS GOD!

Saturday Wordzzle # 16

The idea is, every week Raven (View From A Raven's Nest) gives you between 8 and 10 words/phrases and you have to create a small but coherent paragraph using every one of them and the same with the mini challenge. You can do either, both or a megawordzzle using all the words, or even all three, it's up to you, you can post them on your blog or email them to Raven. If you join in go to Raven's and put your name on the Mr. Linky so other participants can come visit you.

Here are my efforts - complete with my doodles.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: spaghetti, larkspur, Prilosec, roaring lion, adamant, green green grass of home, paradox, filibuster, face cream, trout fishing

The spaghetti bolognaise was delicious but Judy knew she would be taking Prilosec later for the heartburn it caused. She suffered dreadfully from heartburn, it was like a roaring lion sometimes but she was adamant she wouldn’t give up her favourite foods. Walking through the patio doors into her garden she thought how beautiful it was and stood awhile to admire the larkspur before settling down with her book. She was just about to open the book about trout fishing, a sedate sport, which had been written by a filibuster (a paradox if ever there was one), when she remembered she’d forgotten to put on her face cream that morning. Rising from her chair she tripped and tumbled face down onto the green, green grass of home, where she lay unconscious until her husband returned an hour later. Luckily she had suffered no more than a dirty face.


And for the Mini Challenge: jury of ones peers, barking dog, a wing and a prayer, liver, sprained ankle

Tossing a piece of liver to the barking dog the burglar jumped from the wall, landing on a wing and prayer, sustaining a sprained ankle in the process. He wasn’t surprised to hear “Hallo, hallo, hallo, what have we here then?” from the policeman standing over him, “you’re nicked and can expect to face a ‘jury of ones peers’ in due course matey!” “Oh bollocks” said the burglar.

Megawordzzle

Captain Jack was a filibuster of the first order, famous on the high seas and feared for his ruthlessness, but only by his enemies. Jack started his career on the sea as a cabin boy with the navy but was treated badly by the captain and crew of his ship, he was adamant that one day he would have a ship of his own vowing that he would rule the seven seas, but his men wouldn’t suffer as he had. A gambling debt secured his ship for him complete with crew, who had not welcomed a change of leader until they realised that he was only a roaring lion when faced with an enemy. Jack kept his promise to himself and became a legend, his men loved him and he was famous. Jack looked at Maria, his wife of many years, she was as beautiful now as the day he had rescued her from the clutches of the infamous Blackbeard. She had been kept prisoner and cruelly used by Blackbeard, so was expecting more of the same treatment from her ‘rescuer’. Jack. However, Jack was enamoured of Maria, he went to great lengths to make her comfortable, was kind and respectful of her and she came to love him so much that when given the opportunity to go home she refused, electing to stay with Jack. Staring at Maria through the mirror he picked up the face cream and handed it to her, whilst standing behind her brushing her flame coloured hair tenderly. His enemies would not believe he was capable of such tenderness it was such a contradiction to his fierce reputation. He’d had many adventures over the years, often escaping on a wing and a prayer, but he’d enjoyed the excitement and the loyalty of his men. His health was deteriorating now, he suffered from heartburn amongst other things, which thankfully was kept under control by a concoction made primarily from larkspur, not exactly Prilosec but it did the job. Years of hard drinking had taken its toll on his liver and the sprained ankle he’d acquired on his last escapade was still giving him jip months later. After years of adventures Jack had a yearning to return to his homeland, wanting to see the rolling hills and green, green, grass of home and get back to trout fishing and the sound of a barking dog in the yard. His swashbuckling life had been a grand one but he was ready to settle down, with Maria of course, have children and live a normal life. Of course it wouldn’t be easy, if he returned home he would undoubtedly be arrested and would have to face trial which meant judgement being passed by ‘a jury of ones peers’. He knew it was never going to happen – tried for piracy and a normal life – a total paradox. Though his homeland is what he craved he knew it was impossible, so he would settle for second best, the villa he and Maria had built on the little island they’d discovered in the Mediterranean, where they would live out the rest of their lives eating spaghetti whilst watching the sun go down on day after perfect day. Who said crime doesn’t pay?

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 30 Coming Home

Coming Home

Penny sobbed as the plane came into land, returning her son to the land of his birth.

Expecting the worse, the news had come as a shock.

Anticipating it, but never really thinking it would ever happen.

Cablegram read - PEACE declared – I’m coming home soon, Tom.

Everyone cheered as the troops descended from the plane.

I wrote this 55 in honour of Mimi’s Peace Globe movement to carry on the theme.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The object of the game is to write a story using exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.

Dona Nobis Pacem.......

People living in harmony and peace

The whole world over

Should not be just a dream

Each and every one of us

Can do our bit

And be a part of making it come true

All of us have a voice

We need to make heard

About what we want for our world

Constitutions have been changed

By the voice of the people

So the possibility is real

Everyone join together and

Shout out

We want World Peace

Why not join in THE BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE, go get your Peace Globe from Mimi just click on the button below and you will find all the instructions to get one.

Right to die……..

A controversial new "right to die" card is being offered to the public in Salford (England) that allows anyone to refuse treatment in a medical emergency.

Salford's card scheme was dreamed up by just one person. The woman is involved with social care services in Salford because she has a son with mental health problems. Available in pubs, banks, libraries, GP surgeries, even some churches and by Salford Council, the Advanced Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) card sits snugly in a wallet or purse and instructs a doctor to withhold treatment should the carrier lose the capacity to make decisions, because of an accident or illness.

Its backers say it is a practical way of implementing the Mental Capacity Act, which came into force in 2007. The act allows adults to draw up "advance directives" stating what sort of treatment they don't want should they lose capacity. They build on the principle of "living wills" but, crucially, mean that doctors are legally bound to abide by a patient's wish to refuse life-sustaining treatment. Carrying the card alerts anyone who finds it that the patient has made decisions about treatment, and there is a detailed statement to be found with named relatives or friends and, ideally, their GP.

Pro-life campaigners say they could be snapped up in haste by people who haven't fully understood the complexity of the issues involved. One of their concerns is that the things people want when they are well are very different to those they want when they are unwell, their values change.

One person who is carrying the card said she started thinking seriously about her rights some years ago, while working as a nursing assistant. Having watched a young woman go through a slow and painful death from Huntington's disease and cancer, she knew she would never want a similar experience. She had seen her father go through it and knew what was coming, she said she didn't want to die like he had, but she hadn't written anything down and her mother and carers had to watch her go through exactly the same thing. It made me think about my options and my rights. Would I be able to make decisions if I knew what might be coming?

I can understand the reasoning behind the card and feel it is probably a good idea like carrying an organ donor card – which I do – but I can’t help but wonder what medic would have the time, in an emergency situation to try to determine if the patient was carrying any sort of card?

I am all for introducing the ‘opt out’ system, for both organ donorship and right to die, on a national computerised system, whereby if you’re NOT on it medics can harvest your organs and put you on life support. That would save carrying cards – the information would be there at the click of a button.

What do you think?