For me, this week was characterised by different kinds of writing, from poetry workshop to increased journalling to following prompts based on existing poetry. And I have had another piece of writing published by ‘Know Thyself, Heal Thyself’: How to Make Your Fish Ride a Bicycle – When all it wants to do is climb ladders. A big ‘thank-you’ to Diana C and May More for that. I am also enjoying the challenge and the discipline of the poetry workshop, based on ‘In the Palm of Your Hand: The poet’s portable workshop’ (second edition) by Steve Kowit.
The mild, early Autumn weather, currently being experienced in Bristol, UK is very pleasant. And I look forward to a continuation of that for the next few weeks, before it begins to become colder and damper on a daily basis.
My week has also been characterised by sorting pensions out and being granted some independent living support from the government, which will be very helpful. Thus, I begin to settle into the welcome of retirement living. It is great (or at least, comfortable) for me, but I worry about how things will be for my children and generations to follow, given the current, slow economic growth in the UK. I worry, too, about the possible escalation of war in the middle east, and between Russia and Ukraine. I hear the sabre-rattling and the war drums sounding – no longer in the distance, but getting closer and closer. Again, I worry for my adult children, rather than for me.
The most astounding thing I experienced this week was watching ‘Suni’ and ‘Butch’ (stranded astronauts) give a press conference from within the International Space Station, after their spacecraft returned to earth empty because of possible safety issues, and which has resulted in their stay being a matter of months now, instead of an intended stay of weeks.
It made for fascinating viewing, listening to these courageous and resilient people talk about the support they were being given, and to watch the effects of a loss of gravity on both of them and the people floating by and performing ongoing tasks as they were talking.
Both Suni and Butch stressed how important it was for them as citizens of the USA to be able to vote in the presidential election, and how that had been arranged for them to do from their current location. Hats off to these astronauts, and their ability to adapt to adverse circumstances and turn them into opportunities to serve in a different way whilst waiting for their flight home.
I found the whole press conference to be amazing, and it gave me a real appreciation for everyone doing all the jobs on the International Space Station, and all those on the ground supporting them. It is a whole world I know nothing about, and even now, only have a few threads of knowledge relating to it.
As I write here, I am hearing breaking news of ex-President Trump coming under fire during what is assumed to be another assassination attempt, whilst he was playing golf at 2pm (local time) on Sunday. It is understood that he is unharmed, and the shooter has been apprehended by the FBI. There will doubtless be further coverage of that in the coming days.
And so, on and on I go into the next week, with all the things it might bring, hoping the best for anyone reading this, and me too.
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Fraser
September 2024