I am seriously begining to think of the Philippines as a holiday destination and that’s down to blogs like Sophomore Jinx whose photos show a paradise on earth!

rommel's avatarThe Sophomore Slump

Sun, in my line of work where I’m always outside, a lot of times I just want it to go away. When the sun is brightly up and scorching, every shade is a fortress and even the slightest breeze feels like a christmas present. I hate places that clammy and humid during summer. Oftentimes, I get stuck to those places.

However way they put it, there is no summer in the Philippines, rather rainy days and sunny days. And when it isn’t raining, the sun can be an unforgiving four and a half times brutal monster you want to hide from.

I’m one who don’t complain about the weather. it’s just that it is undeniably *urgh* so hot in the Philippines. It is so easy to lose your cool when you’re there. People are sweating profusely like sinners inside the church. It even feels like you’re at its burning point, so to speak, when you’re in big cities. I’d imagine the…

View original post 294 more words

100 Word Challenge Week # 41

Julia at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week41/ has created a new challenge for this week. The prompt is a photo and the words ‘A pile of bones’.

This is my response.

A Rainbow of Wings

Grandfather’s shell reached the cliff of passing

 each pressed mahogany hands to their heart.

A fleece bag at his waist

 they filled with gold.

‘Grandfather, descend the chasm

  rejoin the earth of our fathers.

Ancient ones, welcome the flesh of your son.

Take his earthly remains

 and breathe his soul

into the child that waits.’

 

The old being fell, shattered, into the abyss

 where a haunting of vultures

created a  pile of bones

dotted with precious element.

A rainbow of wings rose to sing

welcome to the new life,

as the spirit heralded the grandchild

flourishing forth with first breath.

Sunday Post: Vehicle

It’s time for Jake’s Sunday post once again! This time the entries are so awesome that I’m  not trying to compete. I have to confess that although I set the shot up and it was taken with my camera, I didn’t actually press the shutter! We came across this sexy little beast in Italy and I couldn’t resist pretending it was mine, just for a second.  I don’t know what it is, but it’s divine 😉

A Sequel to Short Listing

This is the logo for Flash Fiction South West and I am proud and excited to be part of the very first published anthology, Kissing Frankenstein and Other Stories. Not only is it a first for FFSW, it’s a first for me! My very first time  in print.

I know that lots of you are published writers, do you remember the feeling you had when you first held a book with your name inside? I’ve been bouncing for twenty four hours now!

May 16th is National flash Fiction Day, perhaps you will be inspired to write something on that day. If not, check out the talent that the West Country has to offer,

http://flashfictionsw.co.uk/ and it’s even better to run your hands over the sleek cover and inhale the fresh, gorgeousness of new book.

 

MS is a horrid disease. We have all heard of it but I doubt that everyone knows how it affects the lives of sufferers. This post by Lynne about her daughter is both moving and informative, please have a read.

Lynne Ayers's avatarBeyond the Brush

As Lightly Crunchy pointed out, May is MS Awareness Month. I perhaps should have known this but I and my family are still new to this. Our daughter/sister/niece/cousin/fiance was diagnosed a year ago. I wrote an essay, which I might share at some point, titled “A Helper, A Dreamer and a Radiant Beamer”. It is about my three daughters and Jamie is the Radiant Beamer, and Jamie has MS. We don’t know where this road will take us and unknowns make us fearful and we push them aside.

Jamie is facing this bravely though we know of the fear and the anxiety that lies beneath. I am also still trying to find my way – I want to wave my Mother’s Wand and make it all go away … I should be able to, but I can’t. MS has already affected our family relationships – I do think we are…

View original post 721 more words

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused

I like this! The excuse to use some photos that don’t make the grade.

First of all the city centre by night

Some ghostly Dartmoor ponies

and I don’t know how I made this mess, I was on a footbridge with windows,  the red is reflected from behind and a bit of my reflection is in there too!

The building I was trying to photograph is the Royal Albert Memorial museum.

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups # 40

This is my post for Julia’s 100 word challenge, with the prompt of ruby to mark the 40th week. Take a look over here http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-40/ and maybe join in.

Pearl of Ruby?

I stretched myself awake and saw a carved ivory box on my pillow.

‘Oh no,’ said Leila, ‘They will come tonight then, but you are so young.’ I opened the box and my heart stopped.

‘A ruby.’ As big as an eye.

‘You must be valued highly; the old fool usually sends a pearl, as if that makes up for his stench.’

I was shaking as Leila opened the note.

‘But no . . . Prince Mustafa awaits you . . . the young handsome one is yours, a ruby your price’ she said running her pearls between her fingers.