Tale Weaver Prompt – Dickens Writes from Hogwarts.

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Michael

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My Dear Edward,

My son I am taking a well-earned break from Our Mutual Friend to accept an invitation to visit Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

My old friend Albus Dumbledore has extended to me a chance to visit with him at his fine school.

And oh my but what a vivid and unusual world this is. You would be so intrigued by what I have seen.

I am feeling very much out of my depth in this world of magic and mayhem.

Before arriving at the school Albus took me go on a tour of London as it is in their time. My oh my, but the cold and bleak world in which we lived has paled somewhat. I found Diagon Alley somewhat similar to the hustle and bustle of my London but a more relatable location was Knockturn Alley where the dirt and darkness, the grit and grime of our world was much more evident.

My first night at the school was the annual intake of new students who come from all sorts of backgrounds; the poor are represented, as are the rich and wealthy.

This particular evening there was a buzz of excitement around the school as rumours of a very famous student abounded.

In a massive hall students and teachers gathered for the welcome and evening meal. I was so taken by the ceiling which gave the illusion of a clear sky but that failed into insignificance when Dumbledore clapped his hands the feast, of every imaginable delight appeared in front of me.

In this world magic is a way of life. It manifests in so many ways, spells, potions, shape shifters, mythical creatures are there for all to see and the mail, you will find this funny but hard to believe is delivered by individual owls the property of their respective owners.

My visit ended with a meeting with a delightful young man, Harry Potter who has the most unfortunate scar on his forehead. I did worry as how he will cope in life with such an affliction.

I left the world of Hogwarts on the 7th Instant arriving back home in the most extraordinary way but I may make that tale the substance of a future correspondence to you. Needless to say I am happy to once again pick up my pen and disappear into the world of Our Mutual Friend, which I fear my be a rather long tale.

Your affectionate Father

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/dickens-and-khan-tale-weaver-prompt/

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“Love Is In Da Blog” ~ A Love Affair – Claire

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Michael

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My phone rang with Claire asking me to meet her at the bus stop.

That in itself was unusual, as she hadn’t given any previous hint of wanting to meet with me.

In fact she’d made it clear from our previous conversations that not everything revolved around me and that it was time for me to pull my head in and stop asking impossible questions.

But today was different.

She was insistent. There was a sense of urgency in her tone.

I saw her alight from the bus. Before me was the flashing blonde hair, the slim beautifully proportioned figure, the piercing eyes and above all the face of an angel.

Straight away I could see the tear sitting on her cheek.

We sat in the park as she poured out her tale of woe, of being married to an abusive man who treated her abominably, who made her of financially dependent and who ran her life in his uniquely tyrannical way.

She’d had enough she said. It was over and she wasn’t going to stand another minute in his life.

Over the next few hours she talked and I listened.

As the afternoon waned I suggested we go back to my place as it was close by and there was nowhere else right now she could go.

She was a bit reluctant as she could see me becoming embroiled in a possible ugly situation, but she needed to be with someone and I was the best option at that time.

As we left the park her small hand slipped into mine and we walked back to my place in silence.

I had some wine and dinner I ordered in.

I gave her space, not wanting to do anything to exacerbate her already fragile situation.

The spare bed I made up, thankfully I had some clean sheets.

As is often the case these days, I wake up a lot during the night. On one occasion I noticed my bedroom door open and watched as her slight form slipped into my bed. She moved in against my back and wrapped her arms around me.

Sometimes you don’t need to say anything but hold someone when they most need holding.

Written for: https://justfoolingaroundwithbee.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/love-is-in-da-blog-a-love-affair/

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“Love Is In Da Blog” ~ Celebrate

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Michael

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It was said I should celebrate today

There are so many reasons to do so.

My gender, yes I am male

I have two muses, so lucky me.

I have been lauded today

“You and your ego

Should be having a mini-celebration

At the joy of it!”

All in recognition of my writing.

Another thanked me

For bringing others to her prompt

“My appreciation for helping my site!”

Earlier today I was told

‘It would an honour’

To help out with another blog site.

Then the demons kick in.

Part of me just doesn’t believe it.

What pretence I hear them say

If only they knew the real you.

I want to shut off the computer

For in real life there is pain

Not the pretend joy of the net.

What is it I might celebrate?

My luck at putting words

Randomly in some cognitive order?

That I have an ability to explore ideas

Express them, have others enjoy?

My cynic jests at this dissembling.

Overall I will celebrate today

One factor greater than all others,

That I can rise each morning

And being vertical

Take one step forward

Into a future which despite myself

Is exciting and rewarding.

I learnt long ago the value

Of self love, of humility,

Of moving forward

Aware of limitations

Celebrating the me that I am.

Written for: https://justfoolingaroundwithbee.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/love-is-in-da-blog-trans/

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Creative Expressions #9: Black and white memories – The Rose Sisters

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Michael

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Our town bred eccentrics. I should know I am one of them.

The Rose sisters Camellia, Violet and Daisy were always trying to stretch the boundaries of fun.

During the war years our local paper tried various ways of lifting people’s spirits and one was to place a photo in the Friday edition with the subjects hidden or disguised in some way. The Rose sisters appeared as you see above.

The caption read ‘Blackout curtains to wear around town.’

The added thing was to guess their names in the order they appeared in the photo.

There was always a prize associated with the photo quiz usually something a free Friday paper not a great deal to get excited about but life was tough back then. Fred Jessup won that week and the girls turned up at his house the next Friday morning with his prize. They also stayed for breakfast.

The winter of 43 was a bleak one for us. The war raged across the sea and things were tight as were the thoughts of most people. In the spring came the news that the Rose girls had lost their father during a battle in the Coral Sea.

They were very close to their father and you might say so much about them wilted as a result of that.

They lived in the same house all their lives, never married, and in later life became all but reclusive.

I know, I was their neighbour.

Written for: https://penntonic.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/creative-expressions-9-black-and-white/

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Tuesday’s Photo Prompt #47 – February 10 – I See You All Around Me

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Michael

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Image: Catrin Welz-Stein

I see you all around me

The winter snow never chills me

As once it did.

You take me into your arms

Guarding against the cold

You are shelter and nurture.

I see you all around me

In summers heat

Along a sweeping beach,

As water swirls

Around your ankles

You cry in delight at

The unsuspecting cold.

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/tuesdays-photo-prompt-47-february-10/

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Poetics – Writing to the Art of Danny Gregory – A Mouthful of Onion.

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Michael

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Image: Danny Gregory

Life comes with challenges

Youth, health, learning,

Age, no energy, death.

So much is promised,

The world is your oyster

Its there for the taking.

But taking is easier said than done.

What if circumstance prevents

Youth, learning, growth

What if through no fault of yours

Everything goes pear shaped

Not round like a bagel

Not tasty, not nourishing

What if when you bite into your bagel of life

You get a mouthful of onion?

Written for: http://dversepoets.com/2015/02/10/poetics-writing-to-the-art-of-danny-gregory/

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100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#167 – Go Julia Go

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Michael

This week’s prompt is to make up the conversation that is occurring below.

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It’s the fifth race that’s got me stumped.

Not a winner amongst them

Well the winner is there.

Yes but which one?

It’s a hard game.

It certainly is.

Julia’s Beauty went well last week.

As did Grown Up.

What about Word Challenge?

Not a chance.

I think I’ll have a bet each way on Julia.

That’s playing it safe.

Better than loosing my shirt again.

True.

Yes. You got twenty bucks I can borrow?

You already owe me forty.

Double or nothing?

What the heck lets give it a go.

Go Julia go you good thing go!!

Written for: https://jfb57.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week167/

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Scribe’s Cave Picture Prompt #58 – Denial

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Michael

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Image: Antique birthing chair used until the 1800s

 

Charles I don’t like.

But Marigold it’s the latest in birth appliances.

Charles please not the ‘b’ word, I’m happy in denial.

But Marigold your day is approaching.

Well it was your idea to have a baby why aren’t you having it?

Marigold I don’t have a womb.

Excuses Charles, you always have excuses.

But this will help; all the best women are using them.

Charles you know I don’t want to sit in something that will display my bits to all and sundry.

You aren’t having the baby in the village square Marigold.

I should hope not, think what mother would say.

She’s not going to be here either.

Well I’m not thinking about it.

Come on Marigold try it out, sit on it, see how it feels.

Charles you are so bothersome.

Come on, back yourself in. How does that feel?

Ludicrous. I want to call it off.

Written for: http://caveofscribes.starvingactivist.com/2015/02/02/scribes-cave-picture-prompt-58/

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Mondays Finish the Story – Feb. 9th, 2015 – Juliette

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Michael

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Finish the story begins with:  “Dropping her line into Fool’s Lake, she patiently waited for something to bite.”

It didn’t long and Juliette began to feel fishing was like her life…slow.

She had not spent all those years of rigorous training and even more arduous years qualifying to join the Assassins Guild for a life of boredom.

She wanted the thrill of the mark, the preparation, the planning, the pursuit, the cornering, the capture, the look of desolation in her prey’s eyes and then the glorious moment of the kill. She felt a shiver as an unrecognised tingle went through her.

She felt a sudden glow and a feeling of damp she had not witnessed before. In her mind she consulted her Assassins Apprenticeship Text Book for any references, but there were none.

Casting her line once again she thought: Curious…but nice.

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Written for: https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/214/

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Monday Wordle #47 – February 9, 2015 – The Canal

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Michael

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This week’s words to play with: Canal Ripple Elegance Shawl Scripture Improvise Baggage Oubliette (a secret dungeon with an opening in the ceiling) Syrup Dent Paddle Petition

I woke up with a head like a foot and knowing I was up the canal without a paddle.

What was I thinking in going back to see the very elegant Madame Nelly, stunningly beautiful who had answered the door in only her gold trimmed shawl and had immediately lured me into her world of amazing improvisation and allure.

It wasn’t long before everything became a blur but there was that lingering sensation of syrup of some kind being smeared onto me as I could still feel stickiness in a place that should not have been sticky under any circumstances.

Madame Nelly had a reputation among the political savvy as an advocate for the less fortunate. She was always putting a petition in front of you calling for change of one kind or another. The last one had been to petition for the banning of a now disgraced politician’s memoirs as he was a convicted criminal and deserved as many said, to rot in gaol.

Her actions always sent ripples through the community and the scripture sellers despised her methods as she often advocated very liberal ways of dealing with societies issues such as advocating for gay marriage.

I thought of all this as I rubbed the dent I could feel in my head, it was a good sizeable dent and may have come when they pushed me through the ceiling of the oubliette.

Oubliette’s are like that, cagey things, no pun intended, for if you weren’t watching where you were going you could easily fall through the ceiling opening and there was no way of getting out. You were stuck.

Luckily there was a pile of disused baggage in the corner of the dungeon that I was able to pile up and drag myself out of there and seek the freedom I was now trying to understand.

On reflection if I could have assembled my own personal baggage I may have made my way to the moon. As it was I had no idea where I was.

My misadventure had left me bereft of all elegance, with only a thin knitted shawl around me protecting my dignity.

My safe return would be dependent on a combination of luck and my improvisation skills, which my brain at that moment began to petition.

Looking around I decided the best way out of this mess was to follow the canal, towards a sign advertising Ripple syrup in a can so dented as to be believable.

Feeling there were no other options, apart from shivering to death, I pulled my shawl tighter around me and headed………

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/monday-wordle-47-february-9-2015/

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