Nun's Wooden Leg

The tree grows straight up but leaning towards the sun. It has not grown thick but long reaching out through the walls and pushing past the 'long gone roof' of the disused church. No foliage, no leaves, just bare, barren branches weaving around themselves into the sky. The sun rays through them leaving shafts onto the mud floor but somehow it never feels light; it never feels warm here. The walls bear no plaques, no names, no memories of past parishioners - just bricks and stones still standing in defiance against a world that has long forgotten them. Arches and doorways still bent in beautiful curves with stones borders but no doors or windows remain to prop them there.

In the Nave some smoothness remains on the walls, darkened by damp and age and covered in painted graffiti explaining of Kim 4 Ben who once were here and now long gone only their names and love statement remaining. Its cold in the covered area and darkly dim, feeling uncomfortable - not a place to stay a while.

The tree growing out has a story. It is reputed to be the wooden leg of a Nun who was slaughtered at that very spot. Her body and leg left to rot and grow into this tree. The church destroyed along with her body leaving her spirit and soul to grow forever sky ward.

Dix

MInd Haiku

Mind Fear

Forgotten words;
muddled memories and fear
of loosing my mind.



Hack my Brain

Of all the things
I miss – I miss my mind the
most. I miss it now.


Dix

Haiku Again

This picture made me laugh - and I think explains why Haiku's can be hard.

Debt

Irresponsible

spending by plastic; crash is

inevitable.

Regression
iv>

Galaxy counters,

Spangles, Marathon, Opal

Fruits. All gone too soon.

I know, I know back to food again and I also know that both Marathon and Opal Fruits are still about but have just been renamed but they are not the same and they don't hold the same memories (if you know what I mean).

Dix

BR - The Man Who Disappeared by Clare Morrall

This book was an impulse by from Waterstones on the buy 2 get one free offer but I really enjoyed it. It was well written and explored the storyline of a woman who is left with nothing when her husband just disappears after being implicated in a money laundering operation. It is interesting that he is always about - the author shows what is happening to him and what he is thinking but mainly the story focuses on the wife and her children.

I think she shows so well how children can be effected by their parents, how hard it is to avoid the press and the reality of going from well off to poor. I think she showed the anger, upset and just abject fear but I also think somehow in places it does quite work.

As the reader is always aware of the husband there is the feeling he will come back, and he does. There is always the feeling, even at her lowest point that she will get her MA and things will get a whole lot better, that there is an end to it. Whereas reality for some people is there would be no way back out of the hole he has created.

I generally liked the book, enjoyed and would definitely read others of her work. I would recommend it, if you are looking for something better than a holiday novel this is definitely worth a go.

Dix

21.20 to 21.50

There is something about the time 9.20 to 9.50 pm that makes me space out. Don't ask me why but during those times I just don't seem to be able to function.

I always have a really low point around 3 pm but at least I can stay awake and keep going but in the evening I just seems to phase out. Whether I am on the phone or watching TV or even out I always struggle at this time.

I watch TV programs and tend to fall asleep and then wake up 10 minutes before the end and wonder what the hell is going on. If I am out I find myself sitting quietly and willing myself to stay engaged with other people but if I am on the phone it is worse.

Last night I was on the phone to JC (she has just got an amazing essay result which is just brilliant) I love talking to JC and we often don't keep in touch enough. We were chatting but I could feel myself really struggling to stay focused, to stay on the conversation. But why? I was really interested, really wanted to speak to her but it just couldn't.

And I hate it. People must think I am being really rude. That I am not interested in what they are saying but it couldn't be further from the truth it is just that I have developed this trait - this time when I can't function properly and I can't seem to get out of it. Guess I ought to try and really make an effort to keep myself going at that time - stand up and walk about, that kinda thing.

I am out tonight - darts - and I am going to monitor the time and make sure I stay focused at that time, even if I have to slap myself.

So just to say - to friends and anyone who speaks to me between 9.20 and 9.50 I am so sorry and slap me or call me names if I phase out on you. It is rude and it isn't ok. I wouldn't except it so neither should you.

Dix

More Haiku

The first one is a re write (well I added a little cos I got my syllables wrong) - Thanks JC although I suspect there will be more.


Ice cream

Great glorious
mouthfuls of creamy luscious
Cold. Lick, lick, lick. Hmmm.....


Chocolate

Sensual oblong
cool, unsatisfying
object of desire.


Deprivation

It's so weird -
visualising bed; craving
sleep and dreams.



Bob's Philosophy

Bob said "Born to
be slapped and scream; die
screaming silently."



I don't know - are they better - maybe better meanings. Hope you enjoy and JC I don't mind if you check syllables and let me know.

dix

Attempts at Haiku

Writing Haiku for me, is really just about trying to be creative - trying to get something happening with my writing, however small - much like blogging really - I am writing of a sorts and something may just come out of it.

I brought my friend JC a present for Christmas called Haikubes, little cubes of words and themes to inspire Haiku. My daughter brought me the same set so that we could play together over the long distance that divides us at the moment.

This week I sent her 20 random words chosen taken from the shaken up cubes and we both produced some work. But for me, not without issues. I thought it would be fairly easy to follow the 5,7,5 rule but sometimes syllables are quite hard to work out even though I repeat the words over and over and still couldn't be sure that I had got it right. I really enjoyed the process and am really glad to be creating something however poor.

At the moment I am trying to persuade JC to post hers as well, not only on her blog but on our creative blog Cherry Picker as well. We'll see but I will keep on trying. Anyway here is my attempts.

Smelly Dog

The anal glands
on my dog’s bottom squeezed
of smelly pus. Ouch!

Sleep Wars

Hmmm .., alternative
places swim right by me:

as sleep evades.

Giant Visions

Lots of glorious
glancing giants just because
I consume blue gin.

Ice cream

Great glorious
mouthfuls of creamy
Cold. Lick, lick, lick. Hmmm.....

I have changed the punctuation a bit, not sure it if is right but worth messing about with. I have enjoyed the process and will try more.

Might see if I can make my Bob words in Haiku - that could be interesting.

Dix