The Birthday Party

Posted on Aug 2, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

Time for another Odd Trio prompt: write a post about any topic you want, in whatever form or genre, but make sure it features a slice of cake, a pair of flip-flops, and someone old and wise.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

by John Yeo

Granny Annie was 89 years old, full of the practical wisdom, that reflected a life spent taking care of a household during some very austere times of war and rationing. Husband Wilfred was a baker who owned and ran his business while Annie went to do her job as a dental nurse, these days she would have had the respectable title of a dental technician. The wisdom of a life well lived and well experienced by the fluctuations of a topsy-turvy economic climate were very useful in the lives of her ever-growing family.

Then came the day of Granny Annie’s 90th birthday, the family gathered with gifts and many smiles were evident, as presents were unwrapped, and the excited expression on Granny Annie’s face mirrored the smiles and laughter of the younger members of the family. Granny Annie unwrapped a huge parcel that was wrapped and wrapped many times, with lots of colourful birthday gift wrapping paper. So much paper that it took several minutes to reach a very interesting cardboard box in the middle, this was the size of a shoe box and had masses of sticky tape on the edges. This was impossible for her to get into with her elderly hands, and she signalled young William to come and open his present to her. The lid was removed and to everyones delight a pair of flip-flops were revealed, not just any old flip flops, a very comfortable looking pair of flip flops, designed to cushion a pair of 90 year old feet very comfortably. Granny Annie gave William a smile of thanks while wagging her finger at him for the cheeky packaging.

A huge pink iced-cake was wheeled into the lounge with a large candle in the middle. Excitedly everyone urged Granny Annie to blow the candle out and make a wish, she managed this with the able help of William. Then came the cutting of this work of art and Granny Annie was served a modest slice to taste. Delicately she nibbled the cake in her very wise, well brought up, delicate, traditional way. Then to the amazement and horror of all concerned, Granny Annie coughed and spluttered, and breathed her last.

Zig zag

Posted on Aug 2, 2014 by John Yeo | 1 Comment

ZIG ZAG

by John Yeo

The seagulls flying high above the landscape were free to ride the thermal currents. The powerful eyes of the hunters were ever on the lookout for food, in the waters or on the land below. Food is their universal reason to scour the skies and seas to survive. Marking out the hunting territory, they would zig-zag across the sky-scape, ever vigilant for morsels to consume, or take to their families in the home nests. Guarding their piece of sky to protect the food supply from hungry gull intruders. Zig-zagging backwards and forwards, creating patterns in the sky. The gull heaven.

First 50 Words~ What ruins a Man?

Posted on Jul 30, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

SUPREMELY BALANCED RUINATION

What ruins a man? Indeed! Or what ruins a woman?
A highly inflated opinion of themselves. Sadly unbalanced.
If one has a balanced view of the world, the inevitable decay
Of self opinionated ruinous decay will be slowed considerably.
Ruin starts slowly and picks up speed.L
Gin was was once called “Mothers ruin” in Victorian England.
Consumption of too much gin at any time, can ruin either
Mother or Father, in a balanced society.

Written by John Yeo ©

First 50 words~ My Secret Place

Posted on Jul 29, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

MY SECRET PLACE

By John Yeo

(1) ~ The Gateway.

I know a private secret place,
That is almost impenetrable to all,
I can alter the vistas and rearrange,
The outlook and furnish my private space,
With dreams and schemes and imagination,
I am careful of the contents, How much I reveal
I carry my secret place wherever I find
Some stimulation for my fertile mind.

(2) ~ The Entrance.

A waterfall guards the entrance
Of a tunnel to a valley beyond.
As you arrive at the end, two Peacocks
Gaze and welcome you to their home.
Streams and brooks with Swans gliding,
A Centaur waits to carry you on his back
To share the pleasure of a magical mind
As you explore this special secret place.

A closely guarded secret place, far too complex to reveal in the “first 50 words”.

First 50 Words~ Incendiary

Posted on Jul 29, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

I remember seeing a horrific picture on the news, of a man on fire, running along an unmade road in South East Asia, screaming with the pain of the flames burning his skin. This was the result of Napalm, an incendiary device used as a chemical weapon, to burn the jungle vegetation. This is a terrible, unforgettable, horrific image, that I will never forget.

Written by John Yeo ©

THE SURVIVOR

Posted on Jul 28, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

This is the latest “Picture it and Write” prompt from Ermilia’s blog

Picture it & Write

The image is provided by Ermilia

THE SURVIVOR

Written by John Yeo

Hallo! This is a picture of me, I am Gallimaufry the grey. I am on my way to our store with some berries to put away for the long cold winter, when food is very scarce. I put them a hole, in the hollow of an old Oak tree, where we all live during the cold months of the year deep in the forest.

I always dream when I sleep. Last night in my dream I was a giant flying white angel squirrel, I never had to sleep as it was always sunny and we always had as much food as we could eat.

Back here in the harsh real world of the wild forest, I have to protect my store of food from roving gangs of bandit, lazy grey squirrels. These idle mobs will steal a store of food, they are far too lazy to put nuts and berries away for themselves. It is rumored that these gangs are composed mainly of half-breeds, the result of liaisons between grey and the native red squirrels. I have my doubts about this for many reasons.

The native red squirrels are getting scarce as we grey squirrels take over and displace them from the woodlands. They are very much weaker than us greys and they have a different diet than us, we can eat their food but they have difficulty digesting some of our food.

Our American cousins are known as mini-bears. We are descended from some of these mini-bears, who were brought here and released in the wild many years ago, we have been very successful in making our home here. Sadly hunters are now trying to kill some of us grey squirrels to restore the balance in the numbers between the two separate kinds of squirrel.

We are settled and happy in our little island home, we have learned to survive by squirreling away our little stores of nuts and berries, to get us through the winter.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral ~”REFLECTIONS”~Flower festival.

Posted on Jul 26, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

An exceptional treat was in store for us as we entered the imposing doors of the cathedral. Many people were drawn here from many parts, to view and enjoy the spectacle, a celebration of 100 years of the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

The few examples pictured below show just a very small selection of the beautiful colourful flowers, so imaginatively displayed.

An interesting nationalistic wartime display, showing a helmet with a union jack flag in the background.

White Chrysanthemums and Blue Agapanthus

A large photograph of the cathedral framed with flowers.

The wolfs head, illustrating a wolf from Saxon legend that was rumoured to have found the head of King Edmund, who was killed in a battle with the Danes in the year 869.

A floral depiction of a Viking vessel

Poppies to commemorate Flanders fields in World War 1

Floral musical instruments on display.

A beautiful countryside floral arrangement ~Sadly with a stuffed fox in the corner.

Hunted, Persecuted by dogs, Stuffed, then brought to a place of worship as an exhibit.

SICK!

A very artistic display~ An empty picture frame, framing real flowers with a floral palette containing colourful flowers to represent paints.

An interesting wooden house set in a lovely floral display.

An impressive brass eagle head, lectern, highly polished and tastefully decorated with flowers

A crumbling mausoleum in the cathedral grounds

First 50 Words~ Short

Posted on Jul 25, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

A life cut short in the prime, Sadness at the start of the rhyme, You lived on this earth with grace, Lighting a fire within your space, You stunned the world of the word, With writing that was revered, So young to be snatched away, In this cruel heartless way. As I try to praise your depth of thought, The “First 50 Words” is far too short.

~~~~~~~~~~

A life cut short in the prime,
Sadness at the start of the rhyme,
You lived on this earth with grace,
Lighting a fire within your space,
You stunned the world of the word,
With writing that was revered,
So young to be snatched away,
In this cruel heartless way.
As I try to praise your depth of thought,
The “First 50 Words” is far too short.

🙂

First 50 Words~Practical Information

Posted on Jul 24, 2014 by John Yeo | Leave a comment

CREATIVE PRACTICALITY

It would be difficult to display creativity as practical information,
This world is full of many kinds of creativity.
Try to avoid the discrimination,
By not labelling the different shades of creativity.

Just love creativity in all its wonderful guises,
Practical creativity is to be creative
With a particular goal in sight.
Creative design is very practical.

All creative writing contains practical information,
Although sometimes it is very hard to find.
Creativity can split one hundred words
Into two separate first fifty words, in a poem.

Velvet Verbosity~100 words~FADED

Posted on Jul 22, 2014 by John Yeo | 3 Comments

My story was spellbinding, amazingly I was part of the action. I fought invisible monsters, drifted in time and found myself in a gentle space. Overawed by the breathtaking work of literature I produced, I grabbed the nearest pen and paper and I furiously began writing. The results were incredible, I knew I had writen a best seller. Every word was poetical dynamite, explosive words, resounding from my head to the paper. The vision faded. I awoke from my dream with the realisation that the pen and the paper were also a part of my dream. Dreams can come true.

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The Birthday Party