I find myself not envying the Poet Laureate. My current course of study is poetry and I need six poems by the end of the week. The instructions said to “make these your masterpieces” and to “show off your skills”. Result of instructions? No rhyme or rhythm. The words are refusing to line up or make sense. Poetry to order does not work for me I think. Remind me of this please if ever I am offered the Poet Laureateship or something similar.
The ideas are percolating though, so at least that is something. The bones of six poems have appeared on the paper but they are fuzzy and unformed. I think I need to relax, detach and let the magic happen in its own time. Forcing my mind through the mincing machine is producing, as you would expect, minced up poems that won’t gain me any accolades.
Please can I have a poetry angel assigned to me? Preferably today.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Where did it go?
If I blinked, I think I would have missed Christmas this year. All the planning, buying, cooking and shopping and then it seemed gone in an instant. I can't help thinking we should be trying to do it differently, the meaning has got lost along the way.
Add to this the powder keg of sticking families together for prolonged periods and tensions are bound to arise. No wonder marital problems are rife at this time of year.
Mothers harassed, trying to juggle overexcited kids, getting impossible Aunt Flo a present whilst writing Christmas cards, making sure the fridge is full, on top of normal chores, are bound to be tetchy.
Children are excited about the prospect of Christmas gifts, Santa arriving and being off school, but suddenly find themselves aimless and bored with the adults in their lives acting out of character.
Husbands are often oblivious to the extra work demands on their wives and take little part in the Christmas frenzy, apart from a last minute dash to the shops on Christmas Eve to get their wives something which smells awful or doesn't fit. And woe betide the man who buys his wife something practical like a food processor - I can still remember the frosty Christmas produced when my father did this one.
Family parties which throw together relatives who wouldn't normally dream of spending more than half an hour together. I generalise of course but you get the picture.
I hasten to add that our household was peaceful at Christmas with no arguments. That didn’t stop me getting rather tense, especially when my pastry decided to resemble a brick on Christmas morning.
I awake on Boxing Day with tensions eased, no particular agenda and enjoy looking at my new books in my dressing gown. Blissful peace in the house and the sun shining. So why do we get so caught up in the Christmas machine, when our modern version of it has no link to the real meaning of Christmas? I vow to do it differently next year - but will I?
Add to this the powder keg of sticking families together for prolonged periods and tensions are bound to arise. No wonder marital problems are rife at this time of year.
Mothers harassed, trying to juggle overexcited kids, getting impossible Aunt Flo a present whilst writing Christmas cards, making sure the fridge is full, on top of normal chores, are bound to be tetchy.
Children are excited about the prospect of Christmas gifts, Santa arriving and being off school, but suddenly find themselves aimless and bored with the adults in their lives acting out of character.
Husbands are often oblivious to the extra work demands on their wives and take little part in the Christmas frenzy, apart from a last minute dash to the shops on Christmas Eve to get their wives something which smells awful or doesn't fit. And woe betide the man who buys his wife something practical like a food processor - I can still remember the frosty Christmas produced when my father did this one.
Family parties which throw together relatives who wouldn't normally dream of spending more than half an hour together. I generalise of course but you get the picture.
I hasten to add that our household was peaceful at Christmas with no arguments. That didn’t stop me getting rather tense, especially when my pastry decided to resemble a brick on Christmas morning.
I awake on Boxing Day with tensions eased, no particular agenda and enjoy looking at my new books in my dressing gown. Blissful peace in the house and the sun shining. So why do we get so caught up in the Christmas machine, when our modern version of it has no link to the real meaning of Christmas? I vow to do it differently next year - but will I?
Monday, 21 December 2009
Let it Snow!
Woke up to a smattering of snow this morning but it barely covers the ground. In my normal, busy existance I can think of nothing worse than the restrictions of snow - I hate slipping (Being out of control in general). Can't help wishing it had snowed more heavily this time though, but maybe that is selfish. I have all my family members tucked up safe and warm in the house, did the Sainsbury's shop yesterday so can withstand a siege and have all my Christmas presents. A little snow cacoon with snow play, warm drinks and no pressure to go anywhere would be lovely for a couple of days. But then...
No doubt hubbie would insist on a trip somewhere just to indulge his daredevil ways scaring me to death in an out of control car. Big son would no doubt still be out until the early hours with me fearing snowdrifts and broken bones. Little son would just be happy to stay in with me and watch films, do jigsaws and cook mince pies. If we all had the same needs, desires and interests life would be boring.
Oh well Universe over to you - more snow or a thaw I'll wait and see.
No doubt hubbie would insist on a trip somewhere just to indulge his daredevil ways scaring me to death in an out of control car. Big son would no doubt still be out until the early hours with me fearing snowdrifts and broken bones. Little son would just be happy to stay in with me and watch films, do jigsaws and cook mince pies. If we all had the same needs, desires and interests life would be boring.
Oh well Universe over to you - more snow or a thaw I'll wait and see.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Christmas coming early!
I feel as if the Christmas roller coaster has got its grip on me and I am been dragged towards the 25th December. Going through the motions of buying presents and writing cards, but do not feel any emotional attachment to it this year.
It reminds me of a wonderful quote which I once overheard a work colleague saying on the phone. I obviuosly couldn't hear both sides of the conversation but he must have been apologising for not having completed something on time. He said, "What with December being a short month this year and Christmas coming early." Strange, at the time it seemed funny, this year it feels true!
It reminds me of a wonderful quote which I once overheard a work colleague saying on the phone. I obviuosly couldn't hear both sides of the conversation but he must have been apologising for not having completed something on time. He said, "What with December being a short month this year and Christmas coming early." Strange, at the time it seemed funny, this year it feels true!
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