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This is my first ever blog, so I'm not really sure what I'm doing  . I guess I'll learn as I go along.
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| I am taking a semi-break from WDC for a short while. Well, it's not really a break. I will be here every day and read everything that's going on. But, I'm just so tired at the moment. I am constantly trying to catch up with all my commitments (on and off WDC), but my brain does not want to play ball. This is down to, mainly, my mental health, I think. But it is also because of my physical health. My diabetes is not stable at the moment, and I've had problems getting the right medications (thank you, Brexiteers!). Anyway, the main reason for this blog post is to say the following contests/activities are on hiatus until December/January. "Verdant Poetry Contest - On Hiatus"  "Second Time Around ~ Birthday Special" "The Taboo Words Contest ~ On Hiatus" "Rach's Chocolate Emporium " Don't worry, I will still send out all the MBs and award icons that have been purchased. As I said, I will still be here, lurking in the background, doing a few things. If you need anything from me, please, don't be afraid to contact me. I will be checking my email each day. Also, I am still running "Shadows and Light Poetry Contest" because I wanted to keep one contest running.So, that is me. Hopefully, I will be back at full speed quickly. I just need to feel more me before I can be very helpful, I think. |
| The Great Hall shines with prismed light As banners wave with all their might Upon the bench, the centrepiece Surrounded by one dozen geese, A quarter stag, a loin of veal, Stuffed chickens, sturgeon, grace this meal By my side sits Francis Drake, A good friend (but that’s all he’ll make) His gift, a pendant packed with jewels, Made me, for a moment, drool But, while I’m fond of Frankie-boy His gift was just another ploy To win my heart (which shall not turn) Oh, will that playboy ever learn? A sugar plum excites my tongue It takes me back to days of young, My mother, the Queen Ann Boleyn, Obsessed with staying trim and thin, So, all her sweets were passed to me And I accepted them with glee Back to today, my birthday treat Determines cakes and strawberries, sweet Shall pass my lips, go to my hips, But so what? I’m now forty-six! A long life, I already claim And, I’m sure, I’ll go down in fame So, to the food, I raise a toast, “My birthday repast thrills me most.” 28 lines |
| What is a birthday without cake? Surely, the sugary treat is every bit as important as presents and spending time with loved ones? Am I right? Personally, I am a big fan of cake (and anything else that is sweet and delicious), so when I was given the task of making the cake for my friend's fortieth birthday, I revelled in the challenge. As a child, my parents always made my birthday cakes. My Dad was both a great cook and incredibly creative, and my Mum was good at coming up with ideas. So, every year, I had a custom-made cake in the shape of my Cabbage Patch Kid (not the prettiest of cakes, but I loved that toy), a horse, and Wonder Woman, to name but a few. The cake was always the biggest surprise for me, and Mum and Dad never revealed it until the party. Maybe that's why I am so in love with cakes today  Okay, maybe I just have a sweet tooth.So, back to my friend's birthday. I've made cakes before. You know, the standard type that are round and have butter cream in the middle and on top. Chocolate, coffee & walnut, lemon drizzle. I've made them, and, usually, they turn out well. For my friend, however, the 'birthday committee' (yes, really; it existed) decided a shoe with a stiletto heel would be perfect. And, yes. They were right. There was probably nothing more appropriate for my friend. But, and I ask this with genuine interest, have you ever tried to cut a stiletto shoe into a lump of sponge? It's impossible. Well, not impossible because professional cake makers do it. I baked three separate cakes, and each time I screwed up with the heel. The first time, I chopped it off, and the second it just came out as a messy lump of cake. The only good thing about this was I had a ton of sponge cake in the house. Vanilla rather than my favourite, chocolate, but cake, all the same. The day before the party, I was having visions of me having to spend the next morning scouring the country, trying to find a shoe-shaped cake that would feed fifty. However, on my final attempt, my hand steadied itself, and I cut out what I thought was a decent Louboutin. I poured myself a coffee and sat back to admire my work. My neighbour popped by for a chat, and I showed her my handiwork. "Take a look at this," I said. "Do you like it?" "Oh, cool. An elephant," came the reply. I can't pretend I wasn't hurt. I really thought I'd done a great job. "An elephant without legs?" I wanted to say, but my faith in my ability had just about dissipated. So, of course, I hit the shops for some grey food dye for the icing. And, if I do say so myself, it turned out okay. On the day of the party, everyone knew it was an elephant, albeit, a leg-less one. My friend loved it. The party was saved. And, I vowed to never, ever offer to make a cake for anyone again. 528 words |
| The moment I dreaded was finally here: my auntie’s house, full of birthday cheer, with twinkling eyes, she proffered my gift, from foot to foot, I had to shift. “Open it now,” she said with a grin, "show everyone what you find within.” Smiling back, I slowly unpeeled the paper, saw the present, I reeled, silver trousers, shining bright, I had to shield my eyes from their light, “How pretty,” my dear husband said “You should try them on, go ahead …” Grimacing, I climbed the stairs, into the bedroom, I sat on the chair, one leg first, then the other, they fit perfectly, “Oh bother!” In trepidation, I re-joined the crowd, my husband actually laughed out loud, I shot him a look that plainly said, when we get home, my love, you’re dead. 20 lines   Written for
Prompt: Worst Present Ever |
| Katherine smiled at Mel as the younger woman entered her bedroom. "Good morning, Mel," she said, smiling. "Good morning, Katherine. What a beautiful morning." Katherine looked for the smile beyond the mask, for the upturning of the carer's eyes to show the connection between the two. "I hear somebody has a birthday today. Is that right?" There. The smile threaded through her voice. "Yes. But I try not to count them too much at my age." She reached for the cup of tea Mel had placed on her table. "Thanks for this, dear. I was parched this morning." "You're welcome. I'm only stronger it's nothing stronger than tea. You should be drinking something cold and fizzy today." Mel chuckled as she stood in the doorway. "When you've finished that, I'll help you have a zoom call with your son." Katherine nodded, a lead balloon falling to the pit of her stomach. Since the pandemic began, John had only visited once. He came alone, and Susie stayed at home with the children. She missed them all. She missed their weekly visits that always brought such fun and laughter to her world. She sipped her tea and settled back in her chair. Last year, she turned eighty-nine. All her family surrounded her and wrapped her in their love. They all spoke of what she would do for her ninetieth. A day trip to Weston Beach with lunch at Harry Ramsden's. Maybe, even, a party with all her friends and family. Not that that number was anywhere near as high as it had been in the past. She had looked forward to her birthday. Until the pandemic arrived. Katherine's care home had closed to visitors three months ago. Residents she counted as friends entered hospital and never came home. Everything changed. "Are you ready, Katherine?" Mel entered the room. "Have you got your iPad ready?" Katherine reached for the tablet. "Here. You'll have to fire it up, I'm afraid. I can't use the thing, myself." Tapping the screen a few times, the picture came to life. Her son's smiling face appeared as if by magic. "Hi, Mum. Happy birthday!" "Happy birthday, Nanna!" Daniel and Matthew waved and commenced singing. When they reached the end of "Happy birthday to you" Katherine felt a warmth spread through her bones. They spoke for twenty minutes. It seemed much harder to hold conversations these days. When Mel returned to the room, she brought Ivan with her. "Right. Are you ready for us to take you to the communal area? We have a little surprise." Images of mint chocolate chip ice cream and Baileys on ice flitted through Katherine's mind. I would love a glass of Baileys right now. A chorus of "Happy birthday!" sounded as she entered the living room. As she settled herself into a chair, people started to sing. From the corridor, Mel emerged, carrying a cake. "Oh, this is wonderful," Katherine said, her cheeks flushing. "No candles, I'm afraid. We can't have anyone blowing onto it." Mel placed the cake on a table in the centre of the room. "Wait a minute. One more surprise ..." She pulled up the blind covering the window next to Katherine. There, the other side of the window, stood Katherine's daughter and grandchildren. "Lena." Katherine gasped. "My girl. And Harry and Carla. Oh, look at you all." She watched as her daughter placed her hand against the window. Standing slowly, she turned to face her little family. With all her heart, Katherine wanted to hug her daughter and grandchildren, to feel the warmth of their skin, smell the scent of their shampoo. But, this birthday was not like any other. This year, she had to be content with almost-contact and cake without candles. By the end of her day, she returned to her room, the sweetness of strawberry jam and icing still on her lips. "Next year, I will be with my family. Next year will be special." She paused. "Maybe, I'll do a wing walk, or something." 669 words |
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I thought of you yesterday and I went on YouTube to look for Queen Elizabeth knighting Captain Tom Moore out in the sunshine in 2020. You are the person who told me about Captain Tom. I found watching the two of them comforting. So sorry for your loss, which is much more profound then ours over here although I have rarely seen anything that brought so many people together. She has been the only Queen I was ever aware of my whole life long. Much more cherished than any politician, I'd say. 
