Saturday Wordzzle # 48

The idea is, every week Raven (View From 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's my efforts complete with my doodles.



This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: snow and ice, vegetarian chilli, pampered kitty, anthropology, do you own a home, coronation, you can change the world, hideous curtains, stammering, premonitions

Alice was preparing her own recipe vegetarian chilli when the phone rang.

“Hello” she said into the receiver.

“Good morning madam, do you own a home?” asked a voice.

“I do, on Coronation Avenue, I’ve just moved in” replied Alice

“Well then, you can change the world by reducing your carbon footprint. All you need to do is install our solar panels” said the voice.

“As our weather here consists of mainly snow and ice, I don’t see how solar panels will be effective” replied Alice.

“Ah but what about Global Warming? There have been premonitions that the climate will change completely in this area! Install the panels now and you’ll be ppppprepared” urged the voice stammering slightly.

“Not today thankyou” said Alice. Then picking up Corky, her pampered kitty, she sat down with a cup of coffee and her book on anthropology, making a mental note to replace the hideous curtains she had inherited with the house.



Mini Challenge: Is there a doctor in the house, blowing in the breeze, shadows, comedian, sleeping disorder

Jim watched the leaves gently blowing in the breeze. He was thinking back to the time when he was a working comedian, something he couldn’t do anymore because of his sleeping disorder. He didn’t really remember what happened except being on stage, seeing shadows and then someone shouting “Is there a doctor in the house?” Apparently he had passed out on stage and the next he knew he was in hospital. The diagnosis put paid to his career.



Megawordzzle

Peggy arranged to meet her friend, Eva, outside the theatre at 7 pm. She was quite prepared to brave the snow and ice to see Mr. Coronation’s show. Apparently he was an anthropology professor who played the bagpipes and various other instruments and told anecdotes. Her colleagues had raved about him so she’d booked tickets.

They had just settled into their seats when Eva took a funny turn, she slithered off her seat onto the floor and turned an unattractive shade of puce.

“Is tttthere a ddddoctor in thhhhe house?” Peggy shouted, trying to control her stammering.

Out of the shadows appeared a man who quickly took control and pretty soon Eva was sitting backstage in Mr. Coronation’s dressing room. After talking to Eva, the man suggested she might be suffering from a stomach upset, no doubt caused by the vegetarian chilli she’d had the day before.

Once Eva was feeling better, the man suggested they return to their seats to watch the show and he promised he would give them a lift home in his car afterwards. As the curtain raised, Peggy and Eva were amazed to see their saviour take the stage – he was non other than Mr. Coronation!

“I had a premonition last night” said Eva after the show

“Are you sure it’s not just a sleeping disorder?” suggested Peggy.

“No, I saw Mr. Coronation coming out of a house with hideous curtains, carrying a pampered kitty” said Eva “and don’t you think he has a look of Donald Pleasance?”

“You’re a comedian Eva. You’ve been watching too many James Bond movies you’ve got Blofeld, the head of SPECTRE, and his white Persian cat on the brain” giggled Peggy.

True to his word Mr. Coronation met them in foyer and ushered them to his car.

“I hope you don’t mind but I need to stop off and feed my cat, then I’ll take you straight home” he asked. Eva looked at Peggy with raised eyebrows.

“Do you own a home?” asked Eva casually.

“I do indeed” he answered as they arrived at what appeared to be a country road, which turned out to be the drive to a country house. He pointed to the house “There it is” he said

Eva and Peggy stared at the house noticing the hideous curtains blowing in the breeze through an open window. As they entered the house a white Persian cat sauntered into the hallway.

“My dream!” whispered Eva to Peggy.

Jokingly Peggy asked Mr. Coronation “Have you ever heard of SPECTRE, do you think you can change the world?”

“Of course I have heard of SPECTRE, my real name is Blofeld!” he replied.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 61 Prisoner

Prisoner

Locked in a confined space.

Terrified and hot.

No means of escape.

Her only hope - that someone would miss her.

Time ticking away, the air thinning, stifling.

Sweat trickling down the centre of her back.

A stifled scream.

"Hello" called a disembodied voice.

A saviour!

"We'll have the lift working in a jiffy" it said.

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.

Hilarious.........

My favourite TV programme at the moment is ‘Dancing On Ice’ on a Sunday evening.

Last Sunday’s programme was the funniest thing I’ve seen on TV for a very long time.

For those of you who didn’t see it the cause of all my mirth was Todd Carty (above) who, almost at the end of his routine, tripped and disappeared down the tunnel with arms flailing and a look of horror on his face. He then reappeared as though someone had turned him round and pushed him back down the tunnel. I almost wet myself laughing.


If you didn’t see it and are in need of a good belly laugh click here.

The Meme With No Name........

Mimi (Mimi Writes) swiped borrowed this meme from somewhere and tagged the whole blogosphere with it, including me, under pain of imprisonment in her dungeon if we don’t do it. I’m not frightened of Mimi (I lie) but I’m short on blog fodder at the moment so I’m gonna do it.



When was the last time you splurged on a gift for yourself? I’m always buying myself stuff!


Have you ever bought yourself a gift for Christmas, Valentines Day, a birthday or any other occasion and then wrapped it up and pretended it was from someone else?  No - does anyone actually do that?


Have you ever sent yourself flowers, chocolates or anything else to your place of employment so it seemed as if someone else were sending you a gift? That’s more or less the same as the previous question isn’t it? The answer’s no.


How often do you text message? All the time!


Is there someone you'd like to fix things with? I’m on an even keel with everyone I know I think so no need to fix things.


Are there any previous relationships you wish could have lasted longer? They lasted long enough for me to discover they should be over!


When do you blow out the candles? Before the wax melts onto the cake and the fire brigade arrive!


Do you give out second chances too easily? Yep but I don’t forget.


What's the next big life decision you will have to make? How much notice to give my employer that I intend to retire.  Do I give them plenty or just a month which is the statutory requirement?   That depends on how much they piss me off!

If you could cuddle with anyone right now, who would you pick, and why?  That would have to be MWM as he’s sitting right here next to me, oh and I love him!


Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now? I don’t care. Whilst they’re talking about me they’re leaving someone else alone.


Who was the last person to REALLY piss you off? Someone at work but  I’ve forgotten who it was.


Would you ever want to be a supermodel? No but I wouldn’t mind being 3 dress sizes smaller!


Your motivation for tomorrow? If I don’t go (to work) I don’t get paid!


Do you know what you will wear tomorrow? Well it would have been my grass skirt but Mimi’s borrowed it. I guess something warm as it’s a tad cold here.


What is the last thing you put your lips against? MyWonderfulMan’s


Have you ever gone two or more days without changing your underwear?  Absolutely not, not even one day!


Have you ever accidentally eaten an insect? My mouth sometimes feels as though I have when I wake up in a morning.


What serial killer do you find most disturbing? All serial killers are disturbing but those who kill children are definitely NOT human!


Are you ever purposely irritating? I could be if someone pisses me off.


What was the last thing you used your debit card for? Cash out of the ATM.


Are you cheating on your significant other right now?  Absolutely not and that's not because I know he may read this!

Are you contemplating cheating on your significant other right now?  Definitely not, it would never, ever enter my mind. Unless George Clooney knocked on my front door.


When was the last time you sat down and watched kiddie cartoons?   Last time the grandchildren were here.


Do you sleep with one leg out from under the covers?   Yes, when I get too warm which tends to be most nights because of the blessed hot flushes!


Do you have any text messages that you would be embarrassed to let your mom read?  No, I delete them straight away!


How old do you think you will be when you finally have kids/your next kid?  If I have any more kids there will be a star over my roof and three wise men in the garden!


Have you ever thought about converting to a new religion? My religion is ‘Mrs Do As You Would Be Done By’ that way you don’t have to ask forgiveness.
 
Do you know anyone with the same first name as you?  Not my blogname, it’s a made up name, my real name yes.


When was the last time you went to church?  Probably for a wedding or a funeral but I can’t remember when.


What song plays on your Myspace profile page?  None but I have a playlist on my blog.


Do you know anyone that smokes pot?  Probably but they don’t advertise.


What were you doing the last time you were in the bathroom? Brushing my teeth.


Have you ever had a Razr as a phone? Is a Razr a phone?


Which energy drink is better; Amp or Rockstar? I’ve never heard of either.


Would you rather eat a Milkyway or eat a Twix? Are you trying to tempt me off my diet?


Do you like that new shoe smell?   I love the smell of new shoes. Shoes, shoes, shoes, …. You’ve set me off now!


Do you like the taste of licorice? It’s OK.


Would you ever walk around with a free hugs sign like the dude on youtube? You have to advertise hugs? I give them without advertising.


Did you ever flip out on a teacher and walk out of a class?   You’re joking I was too scared of getting into trouble!


Do you/did you ever have dreams of being a rockstar? I dreamt of being married to a rock star.


If vegetarians think its wrong to eat living things, why do they eat plants?  If God didn’t want us to eat animals why did he make them out of meat?


If you are not one of the millions Mimi tagged please feel free to take the meme and do your stuff!

Saturday Wordzzle # 47

The idea is, every week Raven (View From 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's my efforts complete with my doodles.



This weeks10 Word Challenge is: air tight seal, bitter cold, draft card, diner, paragon of virtue, broken computer monitor, CPR, a love of folk music, scatter-brained, can of worms

Monica sat in the office of the diner, where the door provided an almost air tight seal against the bitter cold draughts that were blowing in each time someone entered. Ever since old Tom had collapsed a couple of weeks ago she had decided she had to learn CPR and she wanted to search the internet to find how to go about it. Staring at the broken computer monitor she wished her son was here, he’d know how to mend it, there was no way she was trying to fix it that would be like opening a can of worms. Unfortunately her son’s draft card had arrived and he was away on training. Her son was a paragon of virtue, with a love of folk music and a bit scatter-brained but she loved him and was worried about him, another reason to get the computer fixed, so she could receive his regular emails.



Mini challenge: California here I come, Springtime in Alberta, panorama, etchings, miracle foot repair,

It was time to move on for Dolly. Packing up her etchings of the panorama outside her window, she knew she would miss springtime in Alberta but she’d had enough of chilblains and having to use miracle foot repair. Now the sun was beckoning so “California here I come” she sang.


Megawordzzle

Dylan had seen springtime in Alberta fourteen times. He loved this place, living in the mountains, the panoramas were superb. His life here was hard, the bitter cold winters took their toll; he suffered terribly with chilblains but luckily he’d been given a miracle foot repair lotion, which really worked, by an old guy he’d met,

Five years ago he’d met Betsy Etchings when he’d taken his broken computer monitor to be mended. The guy who owned the shop had a funny turn whilst he was there and lucky for him Betsy was a nurse. She had quickly assessed the situation and decided he wouldn’t be needing CPR, so there was no need to call medics, within minutes the man was feeling a lot better. Dylan and Betsy got talking and he offered to buy her a coffee . Over coffee in the diner they discovered they both had a love of folk music and had both lived in San Francisco at the same time, though obviously they’d never met.



Betsy had only been in town a few months she told him, she’d been born there but left to train as a nurse and had been working in San Francisco, now she had come back home to look after her ailing mother. Apparently her mother had been complaining about becoming a bit scatter-brained but Betsy guessed it may be something more. Dylan proclaimed her a paragon of virtue, Betsy would have none of it because although she loved her mother dearly and wanted to look after her, she really missed the sunshine and constantly wanted to return to San Francisco. She had tried to get her mother to move to the sun but she refused saying there was no way she could leave the mountains. It was like there was an air-tight seal around her that no amount of coaxing and cajoling could penetrate, so Betsy had resigned herself to staying.





Dylan and Betsy’s courtship gathered momentum, it was a match made in heaven everyone said and, after a year of getting to know each other, they married and moved in with Betsy’s mother. It wasn’t long before Betsy got pregnant, much to Dylan’s delight, another pregnancy followed quickly and all Betsy’s time was taken up with looking after the children and her mother.



Five years later Betsy’s mother was dead. She had been difficult to look after but Betsy was glad she’s come back, reasoning that if she hadn’t she would never have met Dylan or had the children. Now she was yearning for the sun again and constantly badgered Dylan about moving back to California. Eventually Dylan gave in. The arrangements made, there was no turning back.



‘California here I come’, maybe to open a can of worms” thought Dylan. He was now thirty-two and too old, but it didn’t alter the fact that he’d dodged the draft card.

Friday 55 Flash Fiction #60 Blade....

Blade

The blade sliced through the surface, sending spray in all directions.

He moved swiftly, wanting to finish in the time he had allotted.

Planning and practice had been imperative but there was no guarantee that it would go according to plan.

Completing the last manoeuvre he waited.......

for the applause befitting an Ice Skating Champion.

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.

I'm so excited........

See that Cruise ship (Ocean Village), I've just booked a two week Caribbean cruise for January 2010, on that very ship in that very cabin the arrow is pointing to!

Come next November I will be 60; in December MWM and I will have been married 35 years and I will retire from work so we're off to visit the following islands:  Barbados, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Tobago, St. Lucia, Grenada, Isla Margarita, Mayreau and back to Barbados.


We have upgraded our cabin to a suite with a balcony. you can see a 360 degree tour of it here and read what luxury we will be in for a whole two weeks. There's everything you can imagine on that ship, just click on some of the tabs on the link and have a look around.

I've booked Premier seats on the plane so we'll have more room, a nice meal and FREE drinks! Also when we get to our cabin there will be flowers, chocolates and a basket of fruit awaiting us and we can nominate a day to have a luxury continental breakfast, including champagne and strawberries dipped in chocolate delivered to our cabin, where we can scoff it sitting on our balcony whilst watching the vast Caribbean stretch out before our very eyes.

Go on, admit it, you're just an itsy bit jealous aren't you?


Oooooh, I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

Portrait Of Words #5

Jeff (A Word in Edgewise) has started up this monthly challenge, derived from a previous challenge from R.E.H.'s "Picture Fiction Challenge".
The object is to:

Write a story of any length or style. Long or short, comedy or tragedy, fact or fiction, etc,etc... it's up to you.


Use each of the picture representations in your story. (one from the wild card options)

Here's my story:

“Just hold my shopper would you Jack, whilst I nip into the post office and pick up the mail for the hotel” said Mary. Jack felt a fool but he did what Mary asked. Jack thought her job as manageress at the countryside hotel was too much of a challenge and the strain was beginning to show.

The truth was, Mary thoroughly enjoyed her job at the hotel. It was really upmarket, catering for the country set who still participated in fox hunting, had their own horses and arrived for dinner in their carriages. Mary had really come up in the world from her poor beginnings as the daughter of a fairground worker.    Jack dropped Mary off at the hotel telling her “I’ll pick you up later.”

In her office Mary sifted through the mail stopping at an envelope addressed to Mary Leach, which was her maiden name. Taking the letter opener she sliced open the envelope. A cold hand gripped her heart as she read the contents.

Her past had caught up with her.

Twenty-five years ago she had walked away from the fairground, her parents and her baby boy, who had been conceived from her relationship with Michael, the boy who helped run the Carousel with her father. She and Michael were in love but her father said they were too young at fourteen to know what love was. Michael and his family had left the fair and Mary’s baby had been taken away at birth, the only reminder she had of Michael was the rose bush he had planted outside her parent’s caravan. Mary missed Michael so much but no-one seemed to know where he and his family had gone.
 

As soon as Mary reached her sixteenth birthday she packed her bag and left, vowing to find Michael. For a few years every time a fair came to town she would go and ride the carousel hoping that maybe, just maybe, Michael would be there. Eventually she gave up looking and created a more acceptable past for herself. Finding work was easy for Mary, she was pretty and a hard worker, she started off as a chambermaid and worked her way up gradually to Manageress, through a series of hotels around the country.

Eventually she met Jack and they married. Jack knew about Mary’s family and what had happened to her at such a tender age but it wasn’t something she broadcast to all and sundry, it didn’t quite fit with her position now.

Going back to the letter Mary couldn’t believe what she was reading, somehow Michael had found her and was coming to visit – today!

Suddenly the telephone rang.

“There’s someone at the front desk looking for you Mary, says he’s a friend” said the receptionist.
Stepping out of her office Mary recognised Michael straight away.

Michael held out his hand “Good to see you Mary, how have you been?”

“Hello Michael, won’t you come into my office?”

Michael explained he had never wanted to leave her but his family had insisted and like her, as soon as he was old enough, he had started to look for her, just as she had looked for him.

“I have something for you Mary” said Michael. He reached into a bag and pulled out a pot containing a rose, which was identical to the one he had planted for her all those years ago, and an envelope which he passed to her.

“Open the envelope” he insisted.

Once again Mary took the letter opener and sliced the envelope, inside was a photograph of a line of Coldstream Guards.

“I don’t understand Michael, what’s this?” asked Mary.


“The second soldier from the left in the photograph is our son Mary. My family brought him up and I thought you might like to know just how well he turned out!”

Saturday Wordzzle # 46

The idea is, every week Raven (View From 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.


No doodles this week, short on time.


This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: tuna on rye, ghost hunters, I'm as corny as Kansas in August, sympathetic ear, science fiction, muffler, cavernous, giraffes, prospecting, paraphernalia


The shop had a small window, which was deceptive because inside it was cavernous. It was the type of shop that sold all sorts of paraphernalia - books on science fiction, ghost hunters and prospecting; they sold mufflers, crystals and jokes; there were even a couple of wooden life-size giraffes! Dotty loved working there, she got to meet so many different people and they liked her because she had a sympathetic ear. Tapping her foot to the music that was resounding through the shop, she sang along in-between bites of her favourite lunch - tuna on rye.     “I’m as corny as Kansas in August” she trilled happily



Mini Challenge: Key Lime Pie, porcupine, Library of Congress, fingernails, spell-bound


Porcupine, the lead singer in the group ‘Library of Congress’, pointed one black painted fingernail at his spell-bound audience.
“We’re now gonna do our latest single “Key Lime Pie” so start clappin’!”


Megawordzzle


Tina was taking a holiday from her job at the Library of Congress. She didn’t mind holidaying alone, she always managed to get talking to someone so was never short of company. Eating her lunchtime sandwich of tuna on rye followed by key lime pie one day on the beach, she was spell-bound watching a young man with a metal detector. Finishing her sandwich her curiosity got the better of her and she strolled over to him.

“Hi, any luck?” she asked.
“Not yet but I live in hope. I’m Jake by the way.”
“Tina, pleased to meet you” she replied offering him her hand.

They struck up an easy conversation, Jake told her besides prospecting he loved science fiction and ghost hunting. “I’m as corny as Kansas in August” he said with no trace of embarrassment.


Tina laughed, “Me too, I collect paraphernalia, mostly anything to do with giraffes is my passion” she explained.

Jake explained how the metal detector worked and let her have a go. Tina was thrilled when, within a few minutes, the detector buzzed and after digging only a few inches down she unearthed some coins and a ring. She was so enthusiastic that Jake promised to take her to buy her own detector.

“I’ll have to get some gloves for digging as well, don’t want to ruin my fingernails!” said Tina.


Jake and Tina spent the next three days together on the beach though they didn’t find anything of value. Tina could sometimes be as prickly as a porcupine but she also had a sympathetic ear and listened intently as Jake told her about how he was alone now. He’d been engaged but they had split up when they had gone on safari in Africa, apparently she had taken a fancy to the big game hunter they’d met and decided not to return home with Jake. Jake was obviously upset, Tina had a cavernous capacity for caring so she was totally sympathetic. Jake told Tina he was going on a trip for a couple of days further up the coast, he’d found some ruins in a forest and had discovered some old coins last time he’s been there. “You can come along if you like” he told her.


As she still had over a week left of her two week holiday Tina was happy to take up Jake’s invitation. He arranged to pick her up at her hotel the following morning,
“It’s only a two hour drive” he said.
The scenery changed as they travelled inland and before she had time to realise they were in a thick wooded area. Luckily Jake had warned her to bring walking boots and clothes suitable for trekking as he explained they would have about an hour’s walk once they left the car.


Reaching into the boot of the car Tina was bemused to see him pull out a rifle along with a backpack.


“There’s been reports of wolves here, don’t want to take any chances do we?” he said as he passed Tina the detector and a water bottle to carry.


The going was quite rough but Tina didn’t mind the exercise and Jake seemed to know his way without the aid of a map. As Jake had promised they reached a clearing after just under an hour’s trek and Tina sat on one of the boulders to get her breath back.


Hearing a click, Tina looked up to see Jake fitting a muffler to the gun.


“Got your breath back?” he asked then levelled the gun at her.


“Jake that’s dangerous, you shouldn’t point guns at people” Tina admonished.


“I forgot to tell you about my other little hobby Tina.   I like hunting – humans – start running!”

Friday 55 Flash Fiction #59 Fate

Fate

Abandoned, no longer of use.

Caught up in a sudden gust of wind.

Dragged this way and that, in an undulating rhythm created by nature.

Swirling upwards, heading for heaven.

Destined to spend eternity flapping like a flag

snagged in the branches of a barren tree.

Thus the fate of a discarded plastic carrier bag.

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.

Griddly pod, griddly pod........

On the 3rd January MWM and I experienced our Christmas present to each other.

If you've been a regular reader you will probably know that MWM is mad about trains and we are regular passengers on the East Lancs Railway which runs from our town, Heywood, to Rawtenstall.

The Class 40 Preservation Society advertised its first tour in 20 years from Rawtenstall to Edinburgh and although MWM prefers Steam Engines we decided a day out even on a train pulled by a diesel enginge (see the photo below for the actual one), first class, would be a great Christmas present to each other and our friends K & T who came with us agreed.

Class 40 Diesel Locomotive

40145 "East Lancashire Railway"

It was a VERY early start as we had to board the train at 6.30 a.m. Although there was a buffet car and trolley on the train we took sandwiches and snacks with us and drinks for the journey. The journey was to take five and a half hours to Edinburgh, we were due to arrive there at around 12.50 pm with three hours free time before setting off on the journey back home.

The tour was a great success with the train carrying over 570 passengers from Rawtenstall to Edinburgh and we arrived in Edinburgh a few minutes early, having tackled both the summits of Shap and Beattock on the way north.

It being a monumental occasion the train was met at Edinburgh by the Lord Provost who was presented with a model of 40145 by CFPS Chairman John Stephens.

Luckily the weather was bright and clear, albeit cold and we had a wander around Edinburgh city centre, where there was even a little fairground.

and of course we called in a couple of pubs for some liquid refreshment.

Then we called in Marks & Spencer for some supplies for the journey home i.e. sandwiches and wine!

We made our way back to the station and waited for the train. When it arrived we barely had time to get settled in our seats before we were setting off.

When the train got back to Preston it was joined at the rear by 67007 another diesel, which is one of the two Royal Train locomotives.   This was needed to assist us back into Heywood because of technical problems where the East Lancs Railway joins Network Rail.  For anyone who is not an anorak train buff,  MWM can draw you a diagram and give you all the technical information if you're REALLY interested - no?  Ok I understand, me neither!

67007 Locomotive

Now painted silver for it's royal duties

If you click on the picture it should biggify so you can read the plaque

After such an early start it wasn't long before we were all catching forty winks before enjoying our M&S goodies. It was gone 11 p.m. when we arrived back at Heywood, absolutely worn out. We'd had a brilliant day, a fantastic Christmas present and are even thinking of doing it again next year if they run another tour.

Saturday Wordzzle # 45

The idea is, every week Raven (View From 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's my efforts complete with my doodles.

This Week's Ten Word Challenge is: We were born on the same day in the same hospital, Weeping willow, Two for one sale, Highway robbery, Burial ground, roll of paper towels, gospel singer, gallows, weirdo, volcano

“We were born on the same day in the same hospital and we are going to the gallows together for highway robbery, like a two for one sale, how weirdo is that?” asked Bob.

“What was your last request?” asked Jim

“I want to be wrapped in a roll of paper towels so I look like a mummy and be buried in a grave that looks like a volcano!” Said Bob “What was yours?”

“I want an oak casket with a Gospel singer preceding the cortege to the burial ground, where I want to be buried under a weeping willow” said Jim.




Mini Challenge: Symbiosis, Sagging breasts, Navaho blanket, Frogmen, Who says I got no heart?

Hugging the Navaho blanket around her sagging breasts the old indian woman sat watching the various species that existed in the river, living in harmony, a perfect example of symbiosis. Her son-in-law, Frogmen, had abandoned her there to die, claiming “Who says I got no heart?.  I could kill you, but at least this way you stand a chance!”


Megawordzzle

Mona first met Ida at church one Sunday evening in the middle of summer. After the service they struck up a conversation after Mona asked about the Navaho blanket Ida was wearing as a poncho and Ida enquiring if Mona was a gospel singer. They instantly felt a connection and became good friends, combining their talents in their service of the church and found out much about each other.

“How extraordinary that we were born on the same day in the same hospital” said Ida after discovering this fact. Ida had been adopted and had never managed to trace her birth parents, though she did know her father was part of a crack team of frogmen in the navy who had died on a mission before she was born.

“Another coincidence” cried Mona “so was mine, perhaps they were on the same mission?”

As the months went on their friendship strengthened, they became reliant on each other, in what could be described as symbiosis had they been two different species. They went shopping together, especially when there was a two for one sale on shoes, for which they both had a penchant, hell they even had a boob job together to cure their sagging breasts! That escapade earned them the title weirdos from their acquaintances but they didn’t give a damn, except they complained bitterly that what they’d been charged for the op was nothing short of highway robbery!

Ida asked if Mona would like to meet for lunch on New Year’s Day.

“We could go to The Volcano, they’ve got special deal on for New Year’s Day and I’ll pay” laughed Ida “who says I got no heart?”

Of course Mona agreed but said she had to go to lay flowers on her mother’s grave first, Ida offered to go with her.

They met at the burial ground and laughed when they realised they had chosen the same flowers. Mona led the way explaining that her mother’s grave was in a secluded spot quite close to a weeping willow. As they reached the grave Mona took a roll of paper towels from the bag she was carrying, pulled off a few sheets and began cleaning the headstone. Ida watched as the names on the stone became clear –










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“I don’t believe it” said Ida “those were my birth parents’ names. Did I tell you I had a twin Mona? I was told she died at birth! You never told me your maiden name was Gallows!”