Tanks on the HIll, Guns on the Streets – And amphibious vehicles on the beach
In August 1968, the UK government sent troops to occupy Northern Ireland, in an effort to quash rioting and discrimination against the Catholic minority by the Protestant majority. I was 11 years old, playing on a hill, in a town called Ardrossan, on the west coast of Scotland. Ardrossan had a well-established ferry service to […]
From Looking to Listening – Flapping my ears for text
I have most recently been immersed in words, whether that be through learning and relearning through textbooks, listening pleasure through Audible or enjoying some of the words written here, on Medium. I have, however, set aside the ‘Gratitude Journal’ for now, not because I wish to stop writing it (and I will return to it, […]
Postcard Home – Stuck on earth
travelling lightacross the universeI find myselfstuck on this planetthey call earth I could justkeep on movingbut it is thestrangest of placeswith humanoids like us they have this thingthey call countriesand they kill each otherover scraps of their planetdon’t know how to share ugly and uncivilisedI know, I knowbut I can’t help myselfwatching how it unfoldsno […]
The Demise of Old Lions – As birds take flight
she is a beautiful birdand he a majestic lionshe pecks at little thingsand he swipes his wayeach to their ownjoint reality happening together they existwary of the otherhis world enhancedwhilst she feels abusedshe tweets in his earand he roars his demands she counts the sad daysand he basks in the sunwhen she tires of himshe […]
Face – A consideration of physiognomy
face up to itface down in a puddlefacing the musicputting a face onfacing the winds of changefacing east in prayer brave facesad facelong facedrooping facefacial symmetryfacing reality wrinkled facewizened faceweathered facerecognised faceinnocent facemade-up face night-time facesleeping facewaking facetired faceresigned faceface in the mirror healthy faceill facecollapsed faceaccepting faceinjured facedead face loving facesurprised facesmiley facehappy facecontented […]
Respect – And accept difference
I see you reach for the stars and leap over mountains, whilst I plod along, day after day. I am glad that we have each found our own way to journey through life. I’m fond of saying “Horses for courses!” or “Do what works well for you, provided that you do no harm to others […]
Comfit Comforts – The sweetness of a black tongue
1963 and five-year-old me. The Beatles had released their first 2 albums, and their first 2 singles had reached first place in the UK music charts. Doctor Who and The Daleks made their first appearance on TV screens. These things penetrated into my little brain, but the John F Kennedy assassination, Harold Wilson becoming leader […]
Gills and Fins – For children everywhere
oh to be a little fishswimming from afarminding my own businesswhen they put me in a jar they took me to their homeand then they had their teabut what I really want to knowis where’s the food for me dying of heat and hungerthey returned me to the poolI loved the fresh waterand I found […]
Thinking About Writing for Wellbeing – And what it means to me
Wellbeing is something that can be difficult to define exactly as it is so subjective, but I think it is safe to say that it revolves somewhere around the ideas that any individual might have relating to their best possible health and contentment at any given point in time. In itself, that is a bit […]
Moving Forward – And feeling very positive
I know that many people can find January a bit dismal and disappointing after being very active and celebrating during the winter break, and others may be struggling a little to get back into a normal routine of working, and maybe cutting back on food, drink, finances. If you are in these positions, I wish you well, […]