Writing Letters..
Saturday 18th May 2013
Can you remember a particular time when you would sit down and write letters to your friends, your work but mostly, well in my case it would have been family. I remember my mother sitting at the table, telling us kids to stay away. Not wanting us to knock the table and mess up her lovely handwriting.
Bridge of Bower comp entry???
Tuesday 14th May 2013.
Your help is required:
Below is a 1200 word story of mine, which was incorporated into my Campnano story ‘Birth of the Wizard Prince’ This short story was written before the Campnano project. But my intention is to enter it into a local writing competition. The word allowance is up to 3000 words so have a little leeway for addition. What I am asking is for you you give me your opinion. Either to improve or it general criticism either will suffice. Thank you for all your help.
Bridge of Bower
Written By: Gerry A/C edited TJ Taylor Feb 2013
Hurrying across the heath keeping to the footpath. Weaving between gorse, and small crab apple trees, rising slopes, and descending slopes, the thickening heather making it hard. Ankles and calves hurting.
They were not running, just walking fast. The couple kept looking behind seeing the two distant figures following. They knew they were being followed, they had been for the last few miles now.
The pursuers were not gaining on them as the distance remained constant. In front of the couple was a large wooden five bar gate loomed, the entrance to a wooded area. But when Alan tried to open it he found it to be stuck. No second thoughts, they then both proceeded to climb over it. There was no haste to their actions, just positive movement and the man assisting the lady as she jumped off the second bar.
They both paused, looking back from where they came and still the figures could be seen; slowly but surely coming their way.
“Come on we can lose them in the wood” Alan said, and quickly took the girl’s hand and led them into the wood.
The path was wide and easily traversed. The sounds of nature everywhere; rabbits hopping into the bushes, and birds fluttering from tree to tree. The streaking sunshine with spears of light dazzling them as they progressed. They started to hurry, turning a bend and then again straightening direction. Deeper into the wood they went, and as the wood became thicker less light was getting through. The tall trees and thick foliage becoming a blanket above them.
The path had now become a track, and harder to tread. A slip could be very damaging, a twisted ankle is not what either wants at this time. Even though they could not see far behind them, they both kept looking.
Now because of not being able to see their pursuers, a little bit of panic was creeping in.
A river appeared and there was nowhere to cross, so they turned left to follow the river flow. A few hundred yards they came to a fallen tree stretching half across the river. “Lets rest a minute here, they wont find or catch us here” Alan said.. Eana, was panting a little now after they had sped up a little and the terrain was now harder. Alan walked onto the tree and sat, and the lady followed, “Here Eana take my hand” he said holding his hand out for her to take hold of.
But as she went to reach out she slipped and fell onto the riverbank, and promptly started to shout in pain.
“Alan help me please, I think I have twisted my ankle”. before she finished her sentence Alan was beside her and checking her ankles.
“It is my right one, it hurts like heck.” she said now sitting up holding her ankle.
Alan on inspection saw a slight swelling, and gently and lightly massaged her leg and ankle. “Okay we shall sit here then, you only had to say you didn’t want to sit on the tree” Alan said, and they both laughed.
A few minutes later and after a drinking of water they started off again, Eana now hobbling and using Alan’s shoulder for support. Speed was not possible now. Just care and constant moving.
“We’ll be okay Eana, we have enough distance between us. They have to find our tracks first.”
Behind the two shadows following, shuffling through the brush and weaving their way through the trees. Already over the gate and into the wood, they were showing relentless pursuit. Nothing was slowing them and the pursuers knew they were closing, it was only a matter of time. They felt the closeness the faster they were going traversing the ground at ease. No matter a gorse bush, a small ditch, piles of bracken, or brambles just being brushed aside at will. They could smell the air, they were near.
Alan and Eana still following the river bank, the easiest path but still proving difficult, Eana’s ankle was now swelling and her pain was proving a problem for her. “Come on Eana, we got to keep going. We must reach the bridge of Bower, we will be safe there. It cannot be too far now.”
“I am sorry Alan, but….”
“Don’t, don’t even think it. An accident could not be helped so lets just get on, and find this Bridge of Bower.” Alan interrupted, enhancing his grip on her.
Further up the river they met another fallen tree, this one stretched to both sides of the river. This one looked more like a bridge with wear showing on the trunk. A few stubby branches protruding upwards and sideways, but was mostly just trunk with its root on the opposite bank to them.
They sat briefly regaining strength and having a drink.
“How far is this Bridge of Bower, do you even know it?” asked Eana.
“I know of it, but not how far. Just have to follow the river”
Just as Eana was about speak a small creature appeared at the end of the tree. A small female faerie creature, approximately three feet tall and very lithe and agile looking. With long blonde hair dangling loose under a woollen looking hat. A multicolored ringed hat tied at three corners, she dressed in forest colours of greens and browns blouson, with her brown pants tucked into brown leather knee-length boots.
“Your shadows are near and you must move or they will be upon you.” the voice raspy and throaty at once.
“Where did you come from, who are you?” asked Eana with a sound of surprise.
“My name is Lorrine and I am a tree nymph and where I come from it matters not. I have been sent to warn you and save you from the impending danger you face. The shadows are very close and will be upon you if you do not move.” As Lorrine finished the noise startled them. Noise of brush and heavy steps bundling towards them as Alan and Eana turned to see the two shadows morphing.
The human shapes twisting and turning, sounds of pain, groans, grunts and crunching of cracking bones, Alan and Eana watched as the change was happening. The surprise of this sight, and the fright suddenly appearing on their faces. In unison the creatures fell onto all fours and continued their mutation, scales of dark green on one and crimson red on the other. Horns appearing on the heads, arms becoming wings, and the legs turning into huge muscled limbs. Finishing off with large dangerous, sharp claws, which meant only one thing.
Lorrine jumped in between Alan and Eana. “Quick take my hand, no time now but to trust me”
Without a second thought they did as was asked of them. Lorrine whispered an enchantment, and just a that moment the two dragons sent a laser of fire at them, incinerating the part of the tree where they stood.
The three of them vaporised and was gone.
The two dragons continued hissing fire, until they realised they had missed their prey, their targets. The crimson red one spoke in a guttural voice, “if they get to Bridge of Bower we will have lost them.”
The three of them materialised on a large wooden bridge with ornately carved railings, with an arch at both ends.
“You will be safe here, the dragons know of this place but have no way of finding it, while our Oak King keeps his magic in place.”
“Where is this place?” asked Eana still limping.
“Oh yeah welcome the Bridge of Bower, the home of the forest nymphs”
Alan and Eana collapsed onto knees and kissed the ground.
© GA/C Feb 2013
My Loving Apple Tree.
Sunday 12th May 2013.
I hope you can spend the time to read this, it is a little longer than normal for me, I got carried away,,sorry for this…hope you enjoy also….please say hello..
I am hoping to take you back to sunny days and warm starry nights of the late 60’s and early 70’s, up to 1974 actually, mostly this period because it remains prominent in my memory banks. The reason for this story was because I was a little blank today as to what to post. Then this came to mind. Do not know why.maybe the universe called me, or some sort of spiritual intervention. It was, as it was, a very iconic part of my hippy days. Long hair and guitar playing, every inch part of me, and because of this I think my Apple Tree at least deserves being recorded and remembered for all to read, is only small justice.
My story today is not really a Forest Tale of sorts, (maybe continue them one day) although it is a personal story from me while in the Forest. This tree growing in my back garden of my parental home, just a few yards from my back door. The garden was long and narrowish, split by a pathway.set in the New Forest. Many lazy afternoons were spent with friends and girlfriends, sitting around it, leaning against it. Often having some wine or ice-cold cider and playing guitar playing, and while jamming many songs were born.
One particular day and night I recall, we, that is four of us two couples went to a pub called Forest Park Hotel. Here there was a back bar where people like us, as in long hairs and music enthusiasts frequented mostly at weekends. This being so because the bar often had small bands, mostly local, and some not so. My friend John and I played a few duets there. It was hot evening, and we had downed several cold beers and listened to a good acoustic band. We even had a chat with the..
..group for a short time. We all return back to my garden and sat on the ground of thinly spread grass, and I supplied a few more drinks. My older brothers looked down their nose at us, nothing unusual about this, still like this today. Do not get on very well with any of them, hardly ever do we speak during each year. Sad but it is life, well my life.
Anyway I meander, I have a habit of doing this. We spent a couple of hours under the stars talking and playing our guitars and singing quietly, girls also joining in, due to the lateness of the night. I would always position myself against the trunk of this lovely icon of my past. It was due to a recent friendship that I realised how important this tree was in my past life. It is amazing what we take for granted or as just general things of life until we talk about it to people and then realise how big a part of ones life it really was.
It was even a main part, well actually it was the star, next to the characters of my Nanowrimo 2012 romance story. There were many scenes from here, the start of the couples day, and the ending of their day. In fact it was probably the main source for their developing love. As some of you might know, through my past Nanowrimo posts, this story was completed with an ending, now needing a little editing, but I cannot do this due to emotional strings attached with it, so it will probably stay in my computer’s SD card for the rest of it’s life, it might even get deleted, unless (1) I can find someone to edit for me or (2) my approach can change and the emotions greatly lessen.I cannot even get to reading it at the moment. Again I meander away. After a couple of hours John and his partner left and me my partner continued to sit and talk and hug, and enjoy each other’s company. The sky was starry and the universe could be seen, imagination was our only limit. Still very warm, and while star-gazing we both fell asleep in each others arms, and was awoken to the sounds of the dawn chorus and warm sunshine on our faces. Anyway my point is that this Apple tree of mine witnessed many nights and days like this, and was probably my best friend, he was loyal, never lied to me, he made smile, made me cry but he was constant, always there when I wanted him,even gave me food in the summer. I have to also let you know as I recall, we kept Bantams and they also clucked their way into this story, ranging from the cockerel crowing in the early morning or me collecting the small eggs for breakfast. They would also be part of the dawn chorus, although limited in melody.
My oldest brother has this vision of me sitting under this Tree with my guitar and playing my tunes, long blonde hair, swishing in the breezes and just minding my own business. I recently found some lyrics that I wrote for the tree, or I should say my adventures with him.So might try to reinvent them and put some music to them. Don’t know why though.
Many nights I spent falling asleep leaning against it’s trunk, being hugged and look over, sometimes on my own sometimes not. My mother, a very loving woman would bring a blanket and place it over me, she did this several times. One morning the dawn chorus was loud and clear and beautiful, the chirping sounds of many breeds of birds, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Starlings, Robins just a few, merrily auditioning for my band. As I gathered my bearings and focus I noticed a small Robin redbreast perched on my guitar fret board, I would like to believe he was looking at me, but in truth he was not. I remained still and watching and as he hopped along the length of the guitar frets it could be heard the low plucking tones of the strings he was bouncing on. Quite amusing, I would even go as far as to say he enjoyed the quiet tones he was producing. I could actually go on and on because I remember more as I think more, and surprises me even now how important this tree was to my life, to my friends, to my past love’s, and of course my music, not to forget my romance story of 2012. As I am remembering I am thinking now whether to do another tale of my Apple tree as well as the Village bridge.(I have done a couple on the bridge already) If you would like more please let me know, I would be happy to oblige, emotional journey or not, and whether I like it or not, it was after all part of me, past and present and recent, and others within me. even this small piece is starting to pull at the strings.
All the pictures used are from Google and only symbolic, (even though the tree is pretty close visually to mine) for the story.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern
Friday 10th May 2013
Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern click me for info:
My participation in this weeks photo challenge…
1. 
2.
3. 
4. 
I have not done these photo challenges for awhile,, been a little side tracked of late, above is a mixture of photos from my collection.
1. Salou beach Spain.
2. Dungeon in Dunster Castle
3. Bicycle park Portsmouth.
4. Carpet Butlins Minehead.
Super Sweet Blogger Award
10th May 2013 Friday
Super Sweet Blogger Award.
Johann at the above site has taken me by storm and love every minute of her visits. She has however got a great site worth visiting and I fully recommend it.. This lady is sure to give you a warm welcome as she has me.
So Johann thank you for this award.. But I need to tell you I am a little bit of a law breaker with the rules of awards..
The Sweet Rules for accepting this nomination are:
1. Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated them
Have done so .. http://johannisthinking.com/
2. Answer five super sweet questions – Have Done
3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post –Have Done
4. Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers – See Notes below..
5. Notify your nominees on their blog – See Notes Below
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
My five (5) sweet responses to the delicious questions are:
1. Cookies or Cake? Cake..Lemon mostly
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla good ole’ Cornish Dairy
3. Favorite Sweet Treat? Magnum Ice cream Lollies
4. When do you crave sweet things the most? Well being Diabetic now, most of the time.
5. Sweet Nick Name? Anything one wishes to call me.
Notes…
Johann I must apologise to you for not being able to pass this award to people, I just cannot go through my followers and select 13, I have a great set of followers and do not want or cannot to choose. Any particular blog. But I will just to be a little different again I will select the followers who have been great at commenting or liking this past week. I think this might be a good idea. But probably get this wrong..
And any other followers of me that stops by and likes or comments then please consider yourself nominated. I do love all your blogs and posts.
Experimental Writing Challenge#2
9th May 2013 Thursday…
http://sandraconner.wordpress.com/
Sandra’s new challenge so come on guys give it a try…
My Story 2..
The portal closed behind him, and as his eyes adjusted to the weird light he could see many shapes, and a mix of colours. The ground he was standing, many colours ranging in shades of greens and blues and reds. Hard rock ground, but as he walked he felt the softer feel underfoot, almost sand like.
He could see mushroom shape objects, all different sizes, looking down like horrific creatures from a horror film. The first one he came upon he realised they were made structures, and not plants, their feel very much of concrete and wood, cold and rough. Continuing along the coloured path, another, larger and blue mushroom. He wondered if there is a reason why the small ones were red and the larger were blue. A big crash made him look up, he saw a man in what he thought was a space suit, and another figure hanging from the edge. Laser beams firing from an unknown source at them and the green planet,and the ring circling it was breaking apart. Where is the debris falling, he could hear nothing hitting the ground, just seeing them splintering off into the air. More sounds of laser fire starting to scare him now, hurrying along, turning a bend, he confronted another space man, “Quick! you must move along, it has become dangerous, quick move along that way, through the open portal, quick go.” the spaceman said pointing along the path. Started to hurry, panic starting to take over, the next corner he came upon a very strange-looking creature, standing upright like a human, but he was green bodied with a red head. Parts of it looked scaly,but the light was making his vision hard, so he could not be sure, and other parts he was wearing some really strange clothing. It was waving what looked like a gun, and guttural sounds could be heard. Running now very scared, and laser beams shooting across at him, just missing in front and a couple just above his head. The noise was deafening, and he was now smelling burning, the fires being ignited by the lasers. He tried to look behind but dare not, the foot steps were enough to tell him he was being chased.
The portal ahead, faster, it became closer and closer, then bang, he was through, the door smashed open and he was safe, followed by others. Quickly he found a seat to catch his breath, the sun hitting his face, his heart racing he found himself back outside in the Magic Kingdom theme park.
http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/
http://geetoni.wordpress.com/ pop along and leave a request…
Experimental Writing Challenge
8th May 2013 Wednesday…
http://sandraconner.wordpress.com/
Sandra’s new challenge guys please try it out…
My Story…
He tried to touch the picture thinking he was touching her, he was suddenly drawn in, suck into this fantasy world. This world, unusual, strange but very enticing. The colours were bright, very hypnotic, and he could not help himself, he was blinded by what he saw, the beauty in front of him, just swept him away. He saw her, standing in the distance, then she slipped and slid to the edge and was hanging on for dear life. Hanging by her hands, she happily swung back and forth. She had a smile on her face, did not look scared. He ran to try and help her thinking she was in danger, but she was always just out of reach. He shouted to her, she could not hear him. “Here let me take your hand, I’ll try to pull you up” As he lent over, the slanted flooring of the mushroom shape was making him slide. He tried his hardest to stop, pressing his hands and feet hard to the surface. Slowing down but still slowly nearing the edge. Slipping still and nearing her, he thought he must stop, panic reaching his throat and chest, he would lose her as well as himself. His momentum carried him over edge, and as he started to fall, he saw her smiling and flew into the air and hovering in the air she just watched him fall. Out of sight he went into the darkness.. The last thing he heard was a laugh, so cruel. the darkness absorbed him and he was gone.
Bang!! bang!! the loud knock on the window woke him with a start, he was still clutching the picture of planets and strange shapes by Terry Valley.. his heart was beating so fast and sweat on his forehead, he now realised, and remembering, life was so unfair…
http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/
http://geetoni.wordpress.com/ pop along and leave a request.
Camp Winner!!! Third Time..
Sunday 5th May 2013.
My Final Entry....
Whoohoo oh yes skipping across the floor and doing imaginary cartwheels, Yes my target was met and on Tuesday got it validated. My story as you might notice was originally being called Birth of the Prince, but have now titled it Birth of the Wizard Prince, well as the story developed I had to change it to make it more suitable.
Missing Blog Stories Update...
5th May 2013 Sunday
Below another couple email alerts of stories for you to enjoy.. and do what we can..
The charity Missing People has been very important over the past five to seven years. Having to cope with no answers is what many people affected by a disappearance describe as ‘living in limbo', and we must work very hard to be strong and positive for those around us.
Me, I Think!
Updated 1st March 2013..
formerly known as
I am a person with plenty of time on my hands. In the last couple of years I have started these blogs/posts mainly to speak my mind and generally release some pent-up frustration.
In my early years I played the guitar ( and still do) for several bands, covering various styles, rock and roll, country and middle of the road.I played as a soloist, writing my own songs, lyrics and poems, and started in folk clubs. So I thought this might be a good way to express myself and hope that I can pass on to other people. While I have been doing this I have also discovered other people whose writing I also like so am learning as I travel this road to discovery.
Update… Have now posted a few and received some good responses, and discovered other good pages. my music had become a little more prominent due to frequenting folk clubs and jamming sessions.
Thank you and Please enjoy..
Update ..Jan 30th 2012.. to let you know that I have another site called ‘Writing Hell’ most for written posts. I am posting a novel, poetry and just started a ‘Share the World’ Check it out and please leave a comment. my link is ;;
WRITING HELL!! My other Blog Site If you want to follow this Blog please follow link or Click the Writing Hell tab above and Enjoy I do try to update regularly, which are all posted in the tab as well as on the site… http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/
Bring Them Home
CyKlopps
Missing Kids
Readers Choice Award
7×7 Award
Top Recent Commenter Award
Sunshine Award
Liebster Blog Award
Candle Lighter Award
Versatile Blogger
One Lovely Blog Award
NANOWRIMO 2011
NanoWrimo 2012
Camp Nano
Poets Corner
HUG AWARD
Creative Capture Moment
Awesome Blog Content
All the above bloggers are great in the varying differences, all will give you a warm welcome, so pop along and say hello..I will go into details about them,, I just suggest you find out for yourself. Enjoy.