good short stories - Just transient gibberings - a blog

Good old dad.

19/11/2017

Many a time in life I have said these words, 'good old dad,' out loud. When something he taught me, told me or left me comes to use. An old fishing rod bag I use for aikido wooden weapons gave up the ghost the other day - the strap broke away.
I thought about sewing, or perhaps glue but then - inspiration !
Out in the garage I have a box of bits inherited from cobbling days. Amongst them were rivets. Must be 50 years old at least but as good as the day they were made. With judicious use of inherited tools the job was done. Clean easy and strong ... good old dad.

Coincidence? I think not.

4/11/2017

Recently, I was throwing a few darts at the board and without much success.
I decided on an experiment - to trust body over mind. Instinct over thinking. I relaxed and released my mind from the process and let my body throw the dart. Smack, dead centre it went.
I cannot repeat this, because now my mind knows what I am up to and won't relinquish control.
Coincidence? Yeah, that's really likely eh?

Renewing spirit.

13/3/2017

Surely in all of us there must be something of the adventurer, warrior, and philosopher; in all of us a curiosity to know ourselves; to step out of our sheltered place and into a wilder, grander world, to feel the wind and hear the sound of boots on snow, to feel the sun and watch the eagle fly. To enjoy the pleasurable fatigue of the honourable toil of journeys well made. To tell our tale and relive the feeling of our day, no matter success or loss, for those that tried can only win.

The Christmas Card

5/2/2017

The Christmas Card.

Five days I watched the letter box,
and not a thing came though.
Then seventeen came all at once,
though sadly, none from you.

Such fears as come with policeman’s knock,
not knowing, why or how,
and still I long to hear your news,
so missed in life, right now.

Bright envelopes of every size,
to open each, a thrill.
With eighty seven on display,
there’s one, I wait for still.

January 8th 2017

Risk and rocks

28/7/2015

The tide is on its way in, it's not a toy tide in this part of the world. Tidal range can be over six metres and wind and waves can make it much worse. The little dots on the rocks are climbers, doing this for fun. When the tide is in, where they stand now will be covered in water, even now, one slip is all it takes. There is no other way out but up. It's what they are there for . . . risk, and life.

A real rock garden.

28/6/2015

Natural gardeners work their magic on a rock wall on the north Devon coast. Very few of us will ever achieve such perfection.

Badger in Wood?

28/6/2015

When I walked by this wood knot in a garden bench I thought, "hey, that looks just like a badger!"
I suppose a little imagination . . . or alcohol, is required.

Dancing Dragon

26/5/2015

By standing quietly on tip toe at my kitchen window it is possible to watch this 'dancing Dragon' embrace the sky with joy, just beyond my neighbour's shed,. So far it has been there every evening this year. Will it go or will it grow?
I'll keep watching.

Sticking your head above the parapet.

4/5/2015

Here's a nice example from nature as to what may befall those who decide to stick their head above the others. Near Pinkery pond on Exmoor, Devon.

Solar Eclipse March 2015

20/3/2015

You didn't expect me to look at the Sun did you?
I was up at the crack of dawn, okay, before 0930 hours anyway and sat in the garden with a cup of herb tea to absorb the ambiance of this stellar event. As you can see the time is just about right by the sundial which bears the evidence of an overnight frost. I sat there so that I was part of it, not just thinking or watching but trying to be one with it just as was the lone blackbird sitting on the roof in a silence of its own. We were there the day it happened, will we be around for the next one? They say it might happen tomorrow as well, so we're in with a fighting chance, that blackbird and me.
The birds were silent all except for the doolally wood pigeon that lives near here ... too near here!