Posts

IT IS WITH GREAT JOY

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I wonder what you thought when this  blog landed in your inbox. Where you expecting a great announcement from the writer. Some big news story of excitement. Sorry nothing to declare on that score.  I was just rattling my brain for a title on the matter of 'Joy' and its all my tired early morning brain could come up with.   Have you noticed, and I'm sure many of you sung, worship songs containing the word Joy. I got thinking about it this morning. It was triggered by seeing a friend who is called Joy pop up on social media. It also reminded me of the joy of a recent holiday I've just had: on the last evening watching the beautiful sunset over the beach at Harlech (see the photo on the left, taken by Sarah Joy Holden). Many of our worship songs actually refer in their lyrics to the scriptures. It is hard to know for sure the exact number of worship songs with the word Joy in them. Millions have been written over the decades of time. The dictionary describes joy as a ...

9/11; THE 25th ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE POETRY

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EXPLAINTION FOR MY 9/11 POEMS  Some people have said  9/11 poems shouldn't have been written today. So many tell me to be careful what I have to say. Some have critised and questioned it authenticity. So, I felt I had to write an explanation as to why. But why shouldn't it be written in the poets way, its not for pleasure but to remember that day." I wrote carefully and sensitively from my heart.For security reasons like much of my poems it won't remain posted for long. Knowing the 25th anniversary of 9/11 was pending, I felt I wanted to write something down. I want to remember and honour. Not written to be morbid or grotesque. Not written to anger or upset. Not to open opinion or debate. This poem has not been easy to write; it wasn't written in one day or night. I've taken my time, being sensitive with every word and every line. Repeatly editing and refining, even if some writers disagree with that method.  We all know about that dreadful day, a day etched in...

THE HARVEST GIRL (A fictional story)

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  There’s a young woman called Grace, who lives on her family country farm in Devon. She is single and in her mid thirties. A woman on a farm, unafraid to roll up her sleeves and muck in. Any combination of physical labour, animal care, machinery operation, and business management. Daily tasks depend on the farm type, but modern female farmers and farmhands handle everything from driving heavy tractors to managing finances and veterinary care. Grace dedicate herself to the agricultural labours of her native region. She can be found from dawn until dusk working diligently alongside her father. With her father, a man of considerable years and wisdom, are joined by Keith and Will, the hired farmhands. Meanwhile, her mother manages the domestic sphere, fulfilling her roles as a devoted wife and mother. Regardless of the season or prevailing conditions, there is a constant abundance of tasks. Mutual assistance is readily available from neighbouring farms when required, Grace, Keith, Wi...

BEYOND THE GREEN MANUAL

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Getting a cancer diagnosis is extremely stressful, and that brings a whole load of emotions, and lack of sleep certainly does not help. I think many of us have periods of insomnia and will spend the rest of the night getting frustrated because we can’t sleep. That for some like myself is where journaling any thoughts or present challenges helps. Journaling is a powerful habit that helps clear your mind, process complex emotions, reduce stress, and track personal growth. Putting thoughts on paper turns boosts problem-solving skills, and creates a permanent record of your life's journey. Withdrawing it from within ourselves so it doesn’t stay festering within us, or have they risk of having our thoughts and emotions dangerously or selfishly expressed on to other unexpected individuals. A Macmillan journal is supposed to help you to feel empowered and take control of your treatment journey so that you can focus on what's important . . . you! Going through any treatment can be diff...

THE MYSTERY OF SOMEWHERE

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She is going somewhere, but where did she say? She's off to some place, going out for the day. But where—where has she gone? She did tell me. If I did not know, she wouldn't have said where. Was it somewhere near or far away? And now she's gone to that place—the exact place she mentioned to me. While I sit here reminiscing, trying to jog my memory. She's gone off somewhere. I hope she has a lovely day, wherever that might be. I might go there someday—who knows when that will be? I'll travel to that place she visited today, if it appeals to me. A place with joy and pleasure, somewhere just to get away. I'll know if she enjoyed it by the returning smile on her face. I'll know if she didn't enjoy it by the frown on her face. Wherever she's gone, I'm still right here. The exact spot where we said hello, nice day. She's gone off somewhere, and I've not moved from here. I've spent wasted time pondering, staring into space, about where she s...

NOTHING CAN STOP HER

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Journaling and poetry helps helps us process feelings, reduce stress, and gain clear perspective on everyday problems. These two aspects are my strengths and creative outlets. People have been asking me through this season am I still able to write and write poetry. The answer is definitely yes, just because I'm going through cancer treatment hasn't stopped me, infact its kept me going. I might have taken a different route but once a poet always a poet. I write almost daily about and through this journey both indirectly or directly.   But through this experience and experience of posting on line. I have been the victim of people stealing my words and claiming them as their own. I have experienced the critics cruel side of pulling my words apart. But such things I have learned to overcome, now being cautious where, when and I share my creative inner thoughts.  Through this season I write about the good days and the bad days. I started at the beginning writing a cancer jo...

NHS APPRECIATION

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People call out Shropshire & Telford NSH and give it a bad name. Yes Shrewsbury has its faults like many NHS hospitals and services. Its a countrywide issue let down by previous governments.  Yes it only a stetched system that is broken. Broken by the previous government which the current government is trying too mend. Please give them a chance. Over the last 10 months the care and professionalism of its staff during my treatment has been phenomenal. At all the three main hospitals across Shropshire. Even if they do like sending lots and lots paper in envelopes. I am seeing first hand the sheer exhaustion on their faces, but when they are one to one with patient they give 100% dedication with a smile on their faces.  Yes they might make errors, but we have appreciate the pressure our NHS is under. I'm not making excuses for the nursing staff and consultants. I have seen the pain family and friends have gone through when mistakes have been made. But we're all human and we a...