if you haven’t visited We Drink Because We’re Poets, it’s a great blog. Pop across and try one of the prompts. Unlike me, you should be able to get it right and write a poem for a poetry prompt!
Category: Uncategorized
Falling for A Quiz!
And finding it surprisingly accurate. Except for the fact that I’m too lazy. I wonder how many of you have a half written novel – or ten, stashed somewhere. I have, maybe one day I’ll finish it, but that will mean focussing in tightly. Trouble is I love life and I’ve got my finger in too many pies. What’s your excuse?
Perhaps it would spur you on if you tried the quiz, It’s here, http://www.playbuzz.com/morganf10/what-genre-of-fiction-should-you-write and this is the answer I got.
I’d love to know your result, please share!
TGIF
Looming in the mist
Thank God it’s Friday
Oppressive office
Wordless Wednesday
Lazy poets Thursday Tanka
Steps on a Bridge
It’s time to forgive
so let’s meet in the middle
mend and build bridges
discover new ways to be
walk a fresh path together
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #117
‘It’s winter here in the UK and we need comfort!’ Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or . . .
Quite right Julia we do. Here is my response to her prompt.
Spiced comfort
‘Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or?’ these few words uttered by the softest voice were a pleasure to his ears. He chose hot chocolate.
‘Milk, dark, white, with marshmallows, cream on top?’
He frowned, ‘Just dark please.’
‘Mint, mocha?’ he was getting irritated, since when did a hot drink become so complicated?
‘No thanks,’ he sank into an armchair to wait.
She called across, ‘Spice? Ginger, chilli?
His mind whirled, spice? hang on, I remember now. . .
‘Don’t suppose you’d have cardamom?’
She gave him the thumbs up, ‘Two minutes.’
The rich, fragrant liquid permeated his senses and he relaxed.
Ahh, now I’m home.
Join in at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week117/
Wordless Wednesday
A la Ronde
Just a few miles south east of Exeter is the National Trust property, A la Ronde. The house was built in the 1790’s by Jane and Mary Parminter. The two ladies , cousins, had a real sprit of adventure, and I’m sure if they were alive today they would be trekking the Sahara or leading expeditions to the polar regions.
They lived at A la Ronde for fifty years, filling it with things they had collected on their Grand Tour.
Although the name implies that the house is round , it actually has sixteen sides, it’s unique design takes advantage of natural light as the sun moves around through the day. The lower level that you see above is used as the restaurant by the National Trust, the diamond shaped windows are the ground floor. At the centre of the house is an area that rises to the top floor gallery with doors all around it.
It’s really difficult to take photos inside, flash is not allowed, and I’m too lazy to use a tripod. The answer is a very wide angle lens, patience with many other visitors and a steady hand. But here are a few interior shots.
The ladies had several passions that filled their days, embroidery, shells and feathers to name just a few. The drawing room has been hand decorated by them with a feather frieze all around the room.
The feathers come from chickens, game birds and even parrots and have been applied with isinglass. 
When I last went to A la Ronde thirty years ago, it was a private group visit and I didn’t really appreciate it. I did get to see the highlight of the house, the famous shell gallery. It’s closed now to preserve it for the future. With the help of well placed mirrors, you can get a tiny peep at it from the floor below, and this is my shot from the central room on the ground floor. 
I asked one of the volunteers if she had been allowed up there and even they aren’t. So the photos below are of photos on display so that visitors can get an idea what it’s like. What is it like? beautiful, bizarre, indescribable. To think that these women spent probably years creating this.
So that’s A la Ronde, maybe one day you’ll visit if you’re in Devon, I promise you it’s like nowhere else anywhere!
My earlier post of the outside of the house, https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/red-bricks-and-funky-windows-the-charm-of-a-la-ronde/
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week#116
Remember the Gospel
‘I’ve always wanted to come back child’ he skimmed a pebble.
‘But where does the water go Pop?’
‘Oh now, remember that ol’ gospel song?’
Sissy remembered good, but she humoured her grandpa, ‘Don’ know if I do, can ya sing it?’
Wash away your sin
And walk with him
Down by the riverside
Won’t you wash away your sin
The crystal water of life
Will quench your thirst
Down by the riverside
If you wash away your sin
You know, I didn’t think I’d live long enough, I washed away my sin.’
‘Aww Pop, you won’t ever die, but where does the water go?’
Julia’s 100WCGU can be found here, http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week116/
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week# 115
Julia’s first prompt for 2014 is, the path ahead . . . Very timely don’t you think?
Here is my entry, a lazy poem of exactly one hundred words.
Ancestral Path
The path ahead carries the imprint of the ancestors,
wide, red and littered with rocks.
There are many diversions squeezing through tunnels
narrow tracks, and sinking sand.
The path ahead carries the footprints of my ancestors,
who crawled on their knees, jumped for joy,
and stood up for justice
on their journeys through time.
The path ahead is bleached
like the bones of the mothers,
stained with the blood of the warriors,
and flooded with the tears of the children.
The path ahead climbs through forgiveness to freedom
meandering green to air, fresh and sustaining,
to nurture my infinite descendents.
Join in with Julia’s 100WCGU at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-4/
Lucid Gypsy 