Cornwall – My Photographs of my recent trip.

Some of you wondered where I had disappeared to last week, well, here is the answer….

I had been on a week long trip to Cornwall in the far South West of the UK. It took me over 9 hours to drive there and another 9 hours to drive home again. For some of you that might not sound a lot but in the UK that’s a long time to drive!

The traffic jams seemed to go on forever, they were incessant, but eventually I arrived in Cornwall and as you can see, we had fantastic weather and it was truly beautiful. So lovely, I wanted to stay there forever, to escape from the turmoil of normal life.

I did partake of fish and chips while I was there, but I could hardly describe myself as ICHTHYOPHAGOUS (Melanie B Cee, please take note 😉 )

I hope you enjoy these photos.

I have included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/ichthyophagous/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/rdp-tuesday-stay/

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/your-daily-word-prompt-turmoil-ydwordprompt-September-15-2020/

FOWC with Fandango — Incessant

A Garden Contest – Pictures of my Garden

A little while back, I promised some of my blogging buddies that I would upload some recent pictures of my garden. I hope you enjoy the view (s).

Today’s word of the Day is Garden, so I thought I would repost this:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/08/23/garden/

This picture above shows some very moody looking clouds coming my way. You can also see the magnolia in flower, and my efforts to try to re-establish the lawn after my ravenous chickens had rather decimated it.

I think this picture makes a good entry for CalmKate’s challenge, see link below:

Friday Fun – clouds

I was thinking rather carefully

whether I should apply to enter,

a garden contest, locally,

at the community centre.

Would It stand a chance of winning?

would I be laughed at to the exit?

after all the grass is thinning,

I sent my chickens to inspect it.

It would make my worries double,

instead, I’ll sit and think this through,

Rather than take on all that trouble.

My chickens think so too.

I hope you enjoyed my poem, and this journey through my garden.

Happy Sunday 🙂

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/contest/

FOWC with Fandango — Double

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/rdp-saturday-view/

A Steampunk Story – A slightly longer version.

I set out to write a 42 word story for Deb Wittam’s challenge, See link below:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/42-words-32-a-steampunk-short-story/

But then I decided I wanted to write a slightly longer version as the character intrigued me. So here goes, I hope you like it:

The crazy-haired inventor stared at his reflection in the looking-glass. His steam-powered hair rejuvenator made popping sounds as he lifted it to his head and tamed his wild white hair, His eyes protected from the diabolical heat by his green glass goggles.

By the standards of the day, he was naked, which meant that he was fully clothed in his underwear, which covered him from the neck to his knees in horizontally blue and grey striped wool.

Also, by the standards of the day he was seen as a delinquent, neither a wealthy aristocrat nor a hard-working citizen. He may well have been a dope fiend the way decent folk gave him a wide birth.

People failed to consider the inventor as a valid member of society but that didn’t stop them from using his steam-powered gyrocopter to travel to the Riviera for their summer hols, or his piston-powered potato masher. Even the good old Queen herself had been known to use his steam-powered titilatory discombobulator, for what purpose one can only guess but her innocent demeanour was clearly deceiving.

Just then, the heat from his hair rejuvenator set his eyebrows alight.

After the necessary application of Dr Quakular’s Eyebrow soother, he sat down and took his new invention apart again, his skills at tinkering were uncanny.  He was determined to prevail and always had to finish any invention he had started, which probably accounted for why he’d only invented three things so far and one of those had an appalling safety record. Thank goodness health and safety legislation was something only seen in science fiction novels.

 

I have included the following word prompts:

FOWC with Fandango — Finish

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/your-daily-word-prompt-prevail-ydwordprompt-august-16-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/rdp-sunday-deceiving/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/08/15/delinquent/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/08/16/uncanny/

 

 

50 Word Thursday #83 – Dream Couple

And the Words: “Her lips were red and perfectly shaped, her cheeks blushed prettily when she spoke.” – Neil Gaiman, Stardust.

 

It was a special locale, decorated like a film set for some Tudor or medieval based drama.

In typical fashion for a British summer, it was raining when the couple rushed into the room, carrying luggage and holding an umbrella.

They were out of breath and had clearly enjoyed the whole escapade.

She fell ono the four-poster bed, panting and he gazed at her in awe.

Her lips were red and perfectly shaped, her cheeks blushed prettily when she spoke

“Lock the door, darling,” she said, breathily.

It was like a dream and he couldn’t believe she was his wife.

[100 words]

This story was written for the 50 word Thursday challenge:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/07/30/50-word-thursday-83/

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/dream-2/comment-page-1/#comment-34571

FOWC with Fandango — Escapade

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/rdp-wednesday-umbrella/

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/your-daily-word-prompt-locale-ydwordprompt-August-5-2020/

 

 

 

 

50 Word Thursday #80 – Fugitive from Horror

And the words:

“You don’t need to know what you’re escaping from to become a fugitive.” ― Bella Pollen, Midnight Cactus

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge hosted by Deb Whittam:

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/07/10/50-word-thursday-80/

 

The room was dark and there was a musty smell that was vaguely familiar and unpleasant reminding her of a butchers shop.

Waking up and feeling her arms tied behind her back had been a bit of a shock and then the sight of the bodies hanging from the ceiling had really ruined her day.

The grinding noise of a chainsaw filled the room from somewhere below.

She screamed and then pulled herself together feeling ridiculous.

She remembered that she was good with knots and adept at getting her hands free. After a short while, the rope tying her hands fell to the floor and she untied the rope around her ankles.

Then she peered through a crack in the floorboards and saw below a moveable conveyer belt on which were piled bodies like those hanging around her, with their arms and legs tied, all moving towards vertical blades.

She couldn’t see anyone around and had no idea who was running this horror show, however, You don’t need to know what you’re escaping from to become a fugitive.

This was not the time to vacillate. Above her she saw the round open window, her means of escape; she took it.

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

 

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/moveable-movable/

 

FOWC with Fandango — Vacillate

 

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/your-daily-word-prompt-rediculous-ydwordprompt-July-15-2020/

 

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/07/15/rdp-wednesday-horror/

 

50 Word Thursday #79 – Clear Orders.

And the words: “My orders are clear. Eleven o’clock was the deadline.” – The Moon is Down – John Steinbeck.

 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge. It isn’t too late to take part, click on the link below. You have until tomorrow evening to enter.

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/07/02/50-word-thursday-79/

 

 

 

It seemed an unlikely venue, a quiet lodge up in hill country.

The instructions were clear. They always were. He never left any room for ambiguity and he wanted the job done quickly.

I glanced at my watch, it was ten to Eleven. Strange, these things were usually done at high-noon in the old westerns but my orders are clear. Eleven o’clock was the deadline. 

An anonymous looking black van pulled up and two men got out.

I walked over, taking my time. I wasn’t going to rush for them.

“Hey, you!” One guy called to me, “Are you gonna take all day?”

I didn’t walk faster, I slowed down.

“OK, have you got the Ruby?” I shouted.

“Yeah, have you got the cash?” the guy called back holding up a small velvet bag.

I waved the briefcase at them.

“Well come on. I can feel myself ageing here!” the man said. He wore a finely tailored suit. Exquisite taste.

I walked the final steps and held out the case.

“At last, I don’t want to age another minute!” the guy said.

“Happy to oblige” I replied and shot them both dead.

Ruby acquired and no cash outlay. Mission accomplished.

 

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/aging/

FOWC with Fandango — Taste

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/your-daily-word-prompt-oblige-ydwordprompt-July-7-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/07/07/rdp-tuesday-ruby/

 

 

 

 

50 Word Thursday #78 – Without due Caution.

And the words:

“She launched herself at their leader.” – Lorraine Heath’s When A Duke Loves A Woman

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge, hosted this week by Deb Whittam:

https://debbiewhittam.wordpress.com/2020/06/26/50-word-thursday-78/

 

 

The lake was beautiful and tranquil, an oasis of peace in the middle of a busy zoo.

You could hear in the distance the occasional roar of a lion or the chatter of monkeys, but that didn’t detract from the stillness of that place.

Then a gang of youths appeared, shouting at each other, boasting and taunting.

On the edge of the lake swam some baby swans. One of the kids picked one up and then threw it at one of his friends who caught it.

The Mother swan came out of nowhere and she launched herself at their leader, squawking loudly with a frantic beating of her wings.

Now it’s an empirical fact that Mother swans have been known to kill to protect their young.

It’s a shame that those kids hadn’t known that or maybe they would have shown more caution and then they’d still be alive today.

[150 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/zoo-3/

FOWC with Fandango — Empirical

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/30/your-daily-word-prompt-caution-ydwordprompt-June-30-2020/

50 Word Thursday #77 – The Birthday Wish

 

And the Words:

“It is a puzzle. How can life go on its stupid course on such a day?” – Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck. 

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday Challenge:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/06/18/50-word-thursday-77/

 

As she wandered through the parterre the neatly clipped box barely caught her eye and the lavender with its perfume failed to penetrate the thoughts that kept her occupied. She paused to admire the bronze statue, a paragon of manly virtue. Her eye took in each curve of muscle. She’d led a sheltered life, staring at this statue had been the extent to her experience of the carnal. She had just turned forty and a lonely spinster who had inherited a fortune but had no one to enjoy life with. Despite her birthday, she was in no mood for celebration. Instead, she stared longingly at the familiar statue and made a wish.

Suddenly there was a flash that temporarily blinded her and a loud metallic noise like the sounding of a gong. Her heart raced and she was afraid that something momentous had happened. The statue had come to life its dark bronze patina replaced by tanned flesh.

It is a puzzle, How can life go on its stupid course on such a day?

As the man climbed down from his plinth, she caught sight of something and realised that despite huge muscles other things appeared to be quite diminutive.

[200 Words]

 

I have also included the following word prompts:

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/celebration/comment-page-1/#comment-33090

FOWC with Fandango — Diminutive

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/your-daily-word-prompt-afraid-ydwordprompt-June-24-2020/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/rdp-wednesday-paragon/

 

50 Word Thursday – Strange Allegiances

 

And the Words: “Nobody can be held responsible for the pranks of destiny.”
― Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock

This story was written for the 50 Word Thursday challenge. If you want to take part, you have until Wednesday evening (GMT) click on the link below:

https://talesfromthemindofkristian.wordpress.com/2020/06/04/50-word-thursday-75/

 

There were a few of us in the wedding party and we decided to make the most of our time together before we all went our separate ways.

It seemed apt to take them to the quiet spot where Alice and I had met, on a walking tour. This was where it had started.

The gorge, normally dry had been transformed by the recent rains into a watering hole.

Alice enjoyed swimming and I knew she could not resist the sight of that cool water on that gloriously hot day.

It was two days after our wedding and already I had begun to think it wasn’t worth it. Sure, she was an heiress and was simply rolling in money, but she was one of those clingy types.

My cousin, his wife, my friends John and Laura and Alice’s Uncle George made up the rest of the gathering. We all looked on as Alice waded into the inviting waters.

There is no honour amongst thieves, so the old adage goes, and I have the distinction of being one of the best. Up to that point, I’d only indulged in the odd bit of bribery and blackmail, but if this paid off, I’d get my hands on a goldmine. My Allegiance was to myself alone.

I remember we were tucking into some cooked chicken when Alice started screaming, needless to say, we were too late.

Nobody can be held responsible for the pranks of destiny, at least that’s what the Judge said.

[250 Words]

 

I have also incorporated the following word prompts:

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/rdp-tuesday-distinction/#like-9054

FOWC with Fandango — Apt

https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/your-daily-word-prompt-allegiance-ydwordprompt-June-9-2020/

https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/honor/

 

 

 

A thief called time

 

There is no greater thief than time

it takes from us our very breath

while we whittle away those moments sublime,

we’re one step closer still to death. 

 

FOWC with Fandango — Thief