Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above

Saturday 4th May 2013

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above   click me for more info

Hi everyone just taking a break from my  hope you like..

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/now-taking-your-requests-2/

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/

http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/

 

White Stag/Hart

3rd May 2013 Friday.

Burley Village

A slightly longer one than usual please bear with it and enjoy..

Let me take you back in time,to the quaint little village of Burley set deep in the New Forest. A young verderer, by the name of Robert lived. Verderers were administrators of the forest law and were set in place by William the Conqueror, so Robert did have some power.Also living in the village was his love Mathilde. Their love was given the blessing of Mathilde’s  father,although Robert was an important man it was still advisable to be discreet. The couple would meet in the evenings on a forest glade just outside the village. This glade was commonly known as the ‘lawn’ this might sound to most people as nice piece of grass in ones back or front yard, but is actually a name for a grassy clearing within the trees.

They would walk there separately, and, separately each would pass the hovel in which an old woman lived. She would always be at the doorway stirring her cauldron, and both Robert and Mathilde would avoid her gaze because her look was malevolent, so full of contempt and hatred, that they would rather not see it’s existence.

The night before their wedding they both passed the old woman at separate times on their way to the tryst. As Robert approached the hovel he saw something incredible. There, fondly nuzzling up to the old woman was a stag a white stag. she spoke to it in strange guttural sounds and words, and it responded to her by breathing on her and rubbing it’s antlers on the walls of her hovel.

Robert seeing this shouted, “Leave the beast alone,it is the kings property.” The old woman glared at him with deep hatred showing in her eyes. The white stag ran off into the forest. The fact that was lowest of commoners upset him so much. He then went to meet Mathilde, and in the glade they talked and planned their future. Robert and Mathilde embraced each other completely forgetting the old woman and the superstition of bad luck of meeting on the eve of a wedding.

On their separate ways home Mathilde came upon the woman in the middle of the lane, standing and staring, her gaze was hostile and full of hatred and Mathilde scared had to run around her to get past and only felt safe when she reached the triangular green that marks Burley. That terrible glare haunted her in her dreams that night.

 THE TRIANGLE BURLEY (Modern Day)

As Robert approached the hovel he noticed the door shut and no sign of the woman.He couldn’t admit to himself that he felt relief, but he felt that he was passing the hovel for the last time after one of his trysts with Mathilde, and it was so good that the woman was not there. But then he saw, staring at him from behind an alder stump, the largest black cat imaginable – and if the woman’s stare was malevolent, the cats stare was positively malignant. Robert stared back at the cat, then Schplatt, it spat the most disgusting flob of mucus into Roberts face. He screamed and clawed and rubbed the vile stuff from his face, but his eyes still burned. The cat leaped from the alder stump and was gone before Robert could react. While at home he washed his face as many times as the fetching of water allowed, and then it was his wedding morning.

All the musicians played and the vicar said his words and the wedding passed successfully, and the wedding guests dancing happily on the green. Then there was a shout and all stopped what they were doing and stared at the edge of the forest trees, there stood watching them, the sun behind it, was an enormous white stag. It is hard to stare into the sun, and the stag seemed to shimmer and change – perhaps it was not a stag, perhaps it was a wild boar, a huge wild boar foaming at the mouth charging at them. The screaming and shouting of the scattering wedding party, did not put the wild boar off, he was locked on chasing the bride around the grounds. She was screaming and being caught when Robert managed to throw a coat over it’s massive head,and he leaped onto it clinging to it’s thick heavy neck. It screeched, a terrible noise in between a squeal and a roar, it tossed the verderer over it’s head and gored him to death with it is tusks. It was a white stag rather than a boar that bounded into the nearby woods.

A vengeful party marched to the old woman’s hovel but she was already dead.On the face of the corpse was a smile. It was the first time any of the appalled party had ever seen an expression other than the look of hatred on the old woman’s face.

My Story..

All within the vicinity of this story my own one begins, it was in the bar of the Queens Head, my friend and I went into the lounge bar where there was a  roaring welcoming log fire. After ordering our drinks we sat and started to talk, we were waiting for a couple of friends. The fire probably tells you that it was cold outside, we thought we were the only ones in the bar, but we were not there were two old men sitting at a table near the fire. At first we took no notice, until we heard one ask the other how long they had been here in the bar. It might have been purely a play on words. The other in reply said “oh must be 90 years now.” We being very alert and clever and having our wits about us thought nothing of it, we just laughed at the thought that the two men, old they were, but not 90 years old.  Both of us just thought the usual, two old men and too much ale inside of them. As we finished our drinks we went outside as we saw our friends coming down the hill. This time went back into the bar but went into the public bar, here we met with others to listen and lay music. My friend went to the bar to purchase another drink. He came back and put the drinks on a table, he pulled my arm and led me away.

“I just started talking to the barman about the two old men in the other bar, he said there is no one in the other bar only us two were there.” We both went through too other bar where we were only ten to fifteen minutes earlier and right he was, no one in there and no sign of anyone being there.

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/now-taking-your-requests-2/

http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

Enigmatic Graveyard

BY COBBIES69 Re posted from Legends Undying.

Friday 19th April 2013

Let me take you back 236 years where stands the very pretty  lonely little village of Boldre, in the New Forest.  With a few small settlements near by. The church of St John is on top of a small hill amongst trees, in a picturesque position. In 1777  the Reverend William Gilpin took over this parish. Apart from being a vicar he was also a writer of traveling books and one of his most memorable was titled ‘Remarks on a Forest Scenery’.

William Gilpin (4 June 1724 – 1804) was an English artist, Anglican cleric, schoolmaster, and author, best known as one of the originators of the idea of the picturesque.

After working as curate, Gilpin became master, and from 1755 headmaster, at Cheam School. He was an enlightened educationist, instituting a system of fines rather than corporal punishment and encouraging the boys to keep gardens. Gilpin stayed at Cheam until 1777 when he moved, with his wife Margaret, to become Vicar of Boldre in the New Forest in Hampshire. While there he took as a child pupil the future poet Caroline Anne Bowles. He was succeeded at Cheam by his son, another William Gilpin.  (via Wiki)

When he settled in Boldre he describe his parishioners a ‘little better than a set of bandits’ he applied his earnings from his books and the sale of his paintings to try and improve their lives by building a school and a poorhouse.

His grave, a simple alter tomb, about 30 feet away from the middle of the north wall, and is inscribed with the words.  ‘IN A QUIET MANSION BENEATH THIS STONE SECURED FROM THE AFFLICTION AND THE STILL MORE DANGEROUS ENJOYMENTS OF LIFE, LIE THE REMAINS OF WILLIAM GILPIN, SOMETIME VICAR OF THE PARISH, TOGETHER WITH THE REMAINS OF HIS WIFE MARGARET. AFTER LIVING ABOVE FIFTY YEARS IN HAPPY UNION, THEY HOPE TO BE RAISED IN GOD’S GOOD TIME….TO A STATE OF JOYFUL IMMORTALITY . HERE IT WILL BE A NEW JOY TO MEET SEVERAL  OF  THEIR GOOD NEIGHBOURS  WHO NOW LIE SCATTERED IN THESE SACRED PRECINCTS AROUND THEM’

Ever since, the word several, has led to speculation; were there some, Gilpin would have preferred not to see in his after life?. or did he assume some were beyond redemption, and so would not be there.

ST JOHN’s CHURCH, BOLDRE..New Forest.

My Story

190 years later,, Gerald and Dennis crossed swords with this beautiful church one March Sunday..We were both out enjoying cycle ride, peddling the small lanes of the forest near by to our homes. Setting out this Sunday morning, sun is shining brightly and was fairly warm. Riding through the village high street and out through the watersplash, passing our lovely village bridge. Turning left and then a hundred yards further we turned left again, up a small hill road called ‘The Rise’ he was a large hotel called the Watersplash Hotel and in the company of other large houses, and coming down the other side on your right was a lodging house for the students of the Grammar school.

We turned right onto Sway road and passed my old primary school.

A beautiful 19th century old building, I spent 6 really happy years and memory of Mrs Spracklin and head teacher Mr Williams, in the winter all class pupils gathered around the large coal furnace fires in the class rooms and enjoying our little 1/3 pint bottles of milk..no longer done.

A couple of miles along we turned left again onto road known as Lymington road, and this took across the Setley plain area, mostly gorse covered heath these, but during the 2nd world there used to a low level prisoner of war camp. So my neighbour at the time told me he used to be one, Mr Mueller, the local butcher, he was a traitor to his country and finished his living days in Brockenhurst as a respected business man. We reach Setley House and turn left left into the road leading past it .

This was Church Lane and about four miles along this picturesque lane we will find this beautiful church.. The one that our friend Reverend Gilpin was vicar.

Another view of this lovely church.

We pedalled slowly, passing hedgerows and fields, small thatched cottages set back from the road. Over a small bridge that spanned a small stream. Turning a slight bend and now the road was rising and at the top on our left here stands this church. The road continues right, but we stopped by the gates, and just rested and took in the picture of the church and the grounds.

We walked around the small gravel path leading left and around the back of the church. The grass in the picture was covered in daffodils, a sea of yellow. We settled leaning against the fence north wall, we noticed this alter tomb but never really took much notice of who the people actually were, the names were just names to us. Then the church bell started to ring, the main heavy fronts doors opened and people filtered out… We both hopped over the fence into the grounds and proceeded to pick a large handful of daffodils. We did not hang about too long when some shouted at us, do not what they shouted but it sounded unfriendly. Quickly mounting our bikes and pedalled fast and hard and we were gone, out along the gravel track and about 2 miles along this we came to the main road home. We now were just enjoying a casual ride home and happy with our ill gotten gains. When I got home I passed them onto my mother with the words. ‘Happy Mothers Day mum’ she did not ask where I got them, just gave me that mother’s smile of I know… Thank you Reverend Gilpin.

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/now-taking-your-requests-2/

http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/

   http://geeton1.wordpress.com/

)))))))))))))000000(((((((((((((((

Forest Tales..changes..

27th March 2013 Wednesday

My new widget keep your eyes open for it thank you and hope you will continue to support  and enjoy my Forest Tales and photo challenges, and even if you have any ideas and would like to see any topic particular please let me know and I promise I will do what I can.. Otherwise please enjoy.

Today I have had to make a decision about my time management and the skills I do not have on this. Most of you will know that I have been doing guest posting on Sundays for Legends Undying. Well I have decided to give this up at the moment due to other commitments and wanting to keep my own blogs up to date.

Some of you might have noticed that my postings have suffered recently… I have proved to myself I cannot do it all, plus outside projects, and together with the time needed to compose and research some of my stories and other pieces. So because of this I have decided to cut back on some things I am currently involved in, and unfortunately writing for Legends Undying is one, at least for the time being and not on a regular basis.  Because of this change, plus other changes my Forest Tales will continue here on .  I will be starting with a few that I have already posted on Legends Undying,, so I apologise to those who have already read it on Legends. One might say Spring cleaning, although it is not spring cleaning weather.

Starting on April 1st Monday, Camp -Nanowrimo starts, a little more relaxed version of Nanowrimo. I will be participating in this for the very first time. So a new experience for me even though I have completed the past years November’s Nanowrimo. i have manged to finish one story, a romance this year and am trying to edit. While my 2011 I am only half way through a fantasy story, and fully intend to complete. This Camp, I am doing a story based around kings queens and princes and princess. Their struggles for power and life. But all the events are true to my life but I have altered it to fit a medieval period. I hope to update on posts and maybe post a chapter or two on my Writing Hell blog,, please check it out.

http://www.campnanowrimo.org/

http://geetoni.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/now-taking-your-requests-2/

http://cobbie69.wordpress.com/

BB’s and Wendells Awards..

Thursday 14th March 2013.

Barefoot Baroness her award to me… Happy Birthday!

   http://barefootbaroness.org/

My great friend The Baroness has seen in her wisdom to nominate me for this lovely award.  Over the past months I have been surprised by people and their friendliness within this blogging cyber world. I have even read how some have even met up, and became very good friends… Well apart from the meeting part, BB and myself have become good friends, and have learnt much about each other. We share a couple of sites which most of you know,

these sites are CyKlopps – http://geetoni.wordpress.com/ –   a fabulous music site that relies on you the blogs followers leaving their requests,, this site was part BB’s idea,, so it made sense to have her as my partner.
And we must include BTH – http://geeton1.wordpress.com/ – this is another brain child of hers about the passion we both have about helping children. We talked over ideas and developed the site.. and this site is gradually gaining momentum and picking up a great deal of interest. So pop along and support it.. “The more eyes that View, the more we can Do”  It goes to show how a friendship can develop and be productive. This lady is a lady that I am privileged to know and may it continue… So my lady…

I Humbly Accept.. Thank you BB…

 Include this set of    . yes more

The “” for the award include:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.       Done
2. Add The Very Inspiring Blogger Award to your post.    Done 
3. Share 7 things about yourself.   Done
4. Pass the award on to 10 nominees.  See Notes!!!!
5. Include this set of rules.    Done.
6. Inform your nominees by posting a comment on their blog.   Will Do…

My Seven things about myself,,,are they??

1. A person born in Hampshire is commonly known as a ‘Hampshire Hog’

2. I am currently trying to write another story via Campnano in April.

3.I have never ever broken any bones, not mine or anyone else’s.

4. My favourite Books are fantasy.

5. My favourite author is Terry Brooks.

6. My mother was Elizabeth the 2nd.

7. I like telling tales as well, not all true, heehee!

NOTES…..

But here my abiding by the ends. I wish to pass this award onto all who wish it by commenting and just saying Thank you for it. Not much to ask is my friends. Enjoy.

Thank you to you both..see video from me to you……

MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOG AWARD 2012….

Wendell who has become a good friend of mine over the past year, always supportive and loyal to my blogs, this  is becoming a rare thing nowadays, and is so important to us bloggers.. So a great big thank you….  And  Wendell I accept…..

However I would like to apologize to Wendell for the delay in my response for this award…

Wendell I thank you so much for this lovely and thoughtful award, and especially thinking of me for this..

MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOG AWARD 2012

http://foreverpoetic.me/

Wendell’s site full of enlightening poetry. Pop along to his site and be sure of a warm welcome and top class poetry.

Apparently there are no real  to follow except, within six months you must pass the honor on to the blogs that have influenced you the most, and are deserving to receive the award, which will label them as being one of the Most Influential Blogs of 2012.  There are no rules, which  is quite a surprise!

Although I normally say that people who visit and comment on this post then please accept this award from me with all my blessings. I still say this but will nominate a couple of people as below..

My nominations….

Lady Barefoot Baroness - http://barefootbaroness.org/     All that I have said above…

Dellaanna - https://campanulladellaanna.wordpress.com/     another friend of recent times with an excellent site so please visit..and say hello.

Trish - http://soundslikewish.wordpress.com/  Trish has a site that has always impressed me,, and no doubt you would also.

Sandra – http://sandraconner.wordpress.com/   Sandra one of my mostly friends who also has a fabulous site, and well worth a visit, you will get a great and warm welcome..That I can promise.

Can I say apologies to any and all for not actually naming you, but please anyone of you that likes and or comments on here  then please feel yourself nominated.. Another big thank you to Wendell.

              ‘Please Accept this Award as my Gift You All’

The Coat.(Ghosty Tale)

9th March 2013 Saturday

I have changed the place and town to suit my local tale. But this story in itself does have many variations world-wide. So please just enjoy the tale for its content, and if you have a story similar them please let me and all our followers know. In 1981 an American academic, Jan Harrold Brunvand, wrote a book called ‘The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and their Meanings.’

The Tale…

On a damp, dark miserable evening, the hospital standing hauntingly in the background. On this dark evening. the street lights burning dully and casting an eerie glow onto the road below. The A337 Southampton Road the main road leading out of Lymington, and heads towards Brockenhurst.

On this night an elderly couple were driving along this road and noticed a young girl trying to hitch a lift, and against the couples normal view of picking up hitchhikers, the young girl wet and bedraggled and looked very miserable. They stopped and picked her up.

She sat shivering in the back of their car, and told the couple that she had been shopping and had lost her purse, and she did not have the bus fare home. “Oh well, we’ll take you home dear” they told her.

They arrived in Brockenhurst and stopped just down the road from her house. They offered to walk her to her door.

“No, it’s fine”, she said “Thank you for the lift.”

The couple drove home, but when they got there they found the girls coat on the back seat of the car, all wet with the rain. Since they knew where the young girl lived they decided to return it in the morning.

When they knocked on the door, a middle – aged man answered.

“We’ve got your daughters coat. she left it in our car when we gave her a lift home last night”.

“Are you sick?” shouted the man. His wife then appeared behind him.

“People like you should be put away, locked up!” she screamed at them.

     Eventually the confused couple managed to persuade the girls parents that the they were serious – and then the girls parents told them the story: a year ago, the girl had lost her purse whilst on a shopping trip to town, so she had decided to hitchhike home. On this road just outside the hospital she had been hit by a car and was killed.

     Her parents then took the elderly couple to the cemetery to show them their daughter’s grave – and what should they see when they walked towards the grave?  There, draped over the headstone, was her coat.

~

88888888880888888888

@@@@@@@0@@@@@@@

~

After reading this tale and knowing it from memory I have now found that there are so many tales similar to this but with the slight differences ranging from the place of the event, and the people involved. I have even seen a television show with the same tale. In fact the hospital in Lymington, no longer there, is one that I spent a lot of time in, supposed to have my tonsils out, but still got them, another story for another day. But this small area, where I have also hitchhiked a lift from, yes it did have an eerie feel while waiting for a lift  because, I lost my wallet.

~

~

 

Christmas’ Past 2011 Plus..

23rd December 2012 Sunday.

My Final one of my series and hope you have enjoyed. I have incorporated Jake’s challenge as it also topical.

   http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/sunday-post-christmas/

Guys and gals, we have reached the end of this marathon challenge of mine. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I did experience a  little stress at times because it was difficult to find something relative to the year. But mostly trying to prove it was the stressful part. I might even have been wrong on one or two but it was the fun and enjoyment I had and you guys had. This made me happy knowing that I was spreading a little cheer for the season.  Happy Holidays.

My little bit of Christmas to you all...

This Military Wives was Xmas number 1 It was a charity single for all the serving and injured Soldiers.

One of my favourite old songs. …”The Little Drummer Boy” (originally known as “Carol of the Drum“) is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded in 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers  and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.

And to finish off a nice piece of Disney.

   http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

(Pop along and leave a comment or request, Click the link and join in with the fun)

Goodbye for this year and a very BIG THANK YOU.

    MERRY XMAS…..

Christmas’ Past 2005 – 10

Saturday 22nd December 2012

Nearly to the end guys and gals..

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

2005

2006…from A Twisted Christmas Album released October 2006. not the prettiest of bands, so just listen and hope you enjoy.

2007… I cannot understand how this guy is as big as he is. But my opinion only so please enjoy anyway. This was 2007 as near as I can verify..

2008

2009….In November 2009, Bob Dylan covered Brave Combo‘s version of the song in a polka style for his Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart.

2010

   http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

    MERRY XMAS….

Christmas’ Past! 1987 – 92

19th December 2012

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992.  Her beautiful live performance from Christmas in Washington 1992.

    http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

Pop along and leave a  request or challenge…

MERRY XMAS…..

Christmas’ Past! 1969 – 74

Friday 14th December 2012.

My little bit of Christmas to you all..

1969.  This Snowflake Song I am a little doubtful of the year, but as near as I can it shows up as the year but cannot verify. So just please enjoy this little piece of winter wonderland.

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

      http://wp.me/p2CYWA-b0

Pop along and leave a request or challenge..

         MERRY XMAS.....