tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88398650032990732112024-03-13T20:01:52.804+00:00Swimming and WritingAquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-34476942747787120422015-08-05T20:15:00.000+01:002015-08-05T23:47:25.494+01:00Night and Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took these pictures of St Mary's Island last weekend - Saturday night and Sunday morning, tide on its way in, tide on its way out.<br />
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Tomorrow evening less than a mile from the lighthouse there's a relaunch of the first novel of poet <a href="http://juliadarling.co.uk/">Julia Darling</a> at the iconic <a href="http://amorendezvous.com/">Rendezvous Cafe</a>.<br />
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The Rendezvous has played a key role for decades in many family trips to the seaside. And what a stroke of fortune that my husband hails from Whitley Bay! So regular visits to this special coastline continue to be a highlight in our lives.<br />
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Ten years after Julia died the event looks set to be a lively celebration of a cherished and much missed contributor to the North East writing scene.AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-24282173012401920622015-05-24T09:23:00.000+01:002015-05-24T09:23:26.312+01:00The Decency of the Irish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/una-mullally-decency-of-irish-not-limited-to-liberal-dublin-1.2223717">happier outcome</a> than the last report on this blog.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a2a; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><b>Scaffolding</b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Masons, when they start upon a building,</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Are careful to test out the scaffolding;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Make sure that planks won't slip at busy points,</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">And yet all this comes down when the job's done</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Old bridges breaking between you and me</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;">Confident that we have built our wall.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', -webkit-fantasy;"><b><i>Seamus Heaney</i></b> </span></span></div>
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AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-79241256999465099902015-05-09T23:21:00.001+01:002015-05-10T08:41:17.790+01:00Two Nations - It's Official<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #737373; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reuters: Stefan Wermuth 9/5/2015</span></div>
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Grim start to my birthday yesterday with the depressing news that the unadulterated Tories are back in for another five years. Bad times to continue for the National Health Service, Education, the Arts .....</div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32678518">Riots today</a> outside Downing Street and a remarkable lack of reporting about it but thanks to social media the word is spreading. The people's news channels - Twitter and Facebook - and foreign broadcasting agencies are spreading the information that Cameron wants to suppress. Nice try Mr Cameron, turbulence ahead ......</div>
AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-76173365962308632302015-04-23T23:22:00.002+01:002015-04-26T07:53:07.195+01:00Spring sprung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first encountered this poem a few years ago and I've kept going back to it. It says so much about so many things. It's no surprise that the story of Persephone is so intriguing and compelling - nature, mothers, daughters, letting go, hope, despair, regeneration - all life is there. </span><br />
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And that final couplet - well, what can I say ?!!</span><br />
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<pre style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.26316em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.26316em; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Demeter to Persephone</b></span></span></pre>
<pre style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.26316em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.26316em; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I watched you walking up out of that hole
All day it had been raining
in that field in Southern Italy
rain beating down making puddles in the mud
hissing down on rocks from a sky enraged
I waited and was patient
finally you emerged and were immediately soaked
you stared at me without love in your large eyes
that were filled with black sex and white powder
but this is what I expected when I embraced you
Your firm little breasts against my amplitude
Get in the car I said
and then it was spring</span></span></pre>
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<pre style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.26316em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.26316em; white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/alicia-ostriker">Alicia Ostriker</a></b></span></span></pre>
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AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-60684357449160989502015-04-03T12:36:00.001+01:002015-04-04T21:15:31.266+01:00Are you on the path to mediocrity?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://shop.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/sws/swimming-goggles/maru-sixties-printed-silicone-waterproof-swim-cap.shtml"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPRMRtEzDV2hEh8GEuu3vn9ApOdYVU07_lfNmftsVjsMUzh9Xpi7qMfmpnXKlVz3EjEoF4emqNkd40-qqSA5e2-ig58-i5AtM2yLCi44U4lP3RGifJyJUxcPut2RbYqDs74iWmLovZCE/s1600/maru-sixties-silicone-cap.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
Hell yeah!<br />
This question was posed yesterday on <a href="http://www.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/swimming-blog/mediocrity-and-excellence">Swimming Without Stress</a>, the excellent swimming shop with additional features where I recently bought new goggles and the stylish hat featured above.<br />
I know the question wasn't intended in the way I'm taking it, but after a long dry period with no swimming, followed by several stop-start attempts to get back in the pool on a regular basis, the path to mediocrity definitely seems like a move in the right direction.<br />
Spurred on by that question I got down to the pool this morning just after 9 o'clock, anticipating bank holiday madness, but no, we pre-empted the hordes. There was just a handful of us, all adults, focused on doing our own thing, ploughing up and down. As always, once in the pool, energy begets energy and creativity, and I get home buzzing.<br />
In recent months writing has been difficult, I've found a hundred and one good reasons not to get down to it. Yet when I'm swimming, writing follows in its slipstream and the world's a brighter place.<br />
So am I on the path to mediocrity? Let's hope so! Then who knows what might happen?!!AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-68948270827813435322015-01-19T09:26:00.000+00:002015-01-19T11:53:15.609+00:00South is the word, is the word, have you heard...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my poems is in the current edition (Number 27) of the excellent journal <a href="http://www.munsterlit.ie/Southword/Issues/27/contents.html">Southword</a>. The guest editor is Matthew Sweeney and the assembled company is star-spangled. Needless to say I am very chuffed ..... Can you spot me? (Clue: I'm not wearing my swimming hat .....)AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-63994029961206687382014-12-31T23:41:00.003+00:002014-12-31T23:41:39.464+00:00Speculate / Accumulate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Plant IX-XII the instructions said, so I was out in the garden till 9.30 tonight, making sure the little sack of narcissus bulbs is safely established in containers before the month's out. Brrrrr that soil is chilly .......</div>
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Next, the Red Squirrel James Kirkup Poetry Pamphlet competition, closing date 31/12/14. </div>
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Ten previously unpublished poems selected and assembled on a word doc. </div>
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£10 entry fee paid via Paypal. </div>
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<b>Send</b> button pressed.</div>
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Now a glass of fizz and Jools Holland's Hootenanny.<br />
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I'm reasonably certain the bulbs will appear and brighten our lives in 8-10 weeks .....<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year 2015 !!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(top photo - Lux exhibition at Cragside earlier this year)</span></div>
AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-85193781541832728212014-07-29T23:33:00.000+01:002014-07-29T23:33:17.351+01:00What It Is Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwnO55rdjF2cKFzp0C5QGoLT36FjmGRNx6JGNh-eBVrfPKbKuCrGbYSMtCxowyLbMiEmAh3RREdpvbA-n1F6vQog4BgVM2vBzhBd171zHRpDH3lJWgHKcF13rK7hyphenhyphenJ5HzeBlh0STAu3M/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwnO55rdjF2cKFzp0C5QGoLT36FjmGRNx6JGNh-eBVrfPKbKuCrGbYSMtCxowyLbMiEmAh3RREdpvbA-n1F6vQog4BgVM2vBzhBd171zHRpDH3lJWgHKcF13rK7hyphenhyphenJ5HzeBlh0STAu3M/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Birds in L's Garden</span></div>
<br />
" Poetry is the kind of thing you have to see from the corner of your eye. You can be too well prepared for poetry. A conscientious interest in it is worse than no interest at all, as I believe Frost used to say. It's like a very faint star. If you look straight at it you can't see it, but if you look a little to one side it is there.<br />
<br />
If people around you are in favor, that helps poetry to be, to exist. It disappears under disfavor. There are things, you know, human things, that depend on commitment; poetry is one of those things. If you analyze it away, it's gone. It would be like boiling a watch to find out what makes it tick.<br />
<br />
If you let your thought play, turn things this way and that, be ready for liveliness, alternatives, new views, the possibility of another world –– you are in the area of poetry. A poem is a serious joke, a truth that has learned jujitsu. Anyone who breathes is in the rhythm business; anyone who is alive is caught up in the imminences, the doubts mixed with the triumphant certainty, of poetry. "<br />
<br />
William Stafford<br />
Writing the Australian CrawlAquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-63949583230498034942014-05-09T22:31:00.000+01:002014-05-09T22:36:54.989+01:00East Coast West Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
My husband had a meeting yesterday in Blackpool so I decided to go along for the ride, it being my birthday and no commitments in the diary.<br />
<br />
He dropped me off in Cleveleys, just slightly north of Blackpool and I went for a walk by the sea with Dash. I'm not so accustomed to the beaches on the west side of England. They've a different character to those on the East coast which are so much more familiar to me. For a start, when the tide goes out the west coast beaches are very wide.<br />
<br />
The beach at Cleveleys is beautiful but quite bleak, divided up every hundred yards or so by breakers running down into the sea. I had to clamber over these and the tide lapped in unevenly round the sandbanks which were soft and very silty in places. There are warnings about incoming tides catching visitors unawares, so being on my own and a bit cautious, I was slightly jumpy as I got used to my surroundings. Dash however was in his element, all he wanted was for me to sling his ball as far as possible.<br />
<br />
I started collecting shells which caught my eye, thinking I'd take them home as mementos. But instead I decided to make a picture and leave the shells there where they belonged.<br />
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Tomorrow I'm going to London. I'll take poet Jean Sprackland's award-winning <i>Strands</i> to read on the train, deepen my acquaintance with this west coast that she loves.<br />
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<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-63585877875944495562014-05-08T18:26:00.000+01:002014-05-08T22:09:33.435+01:008 – 5 – 59<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrKfpEekZtoSFGLNX8RfkYxxs_4wqrxxA7EZUlGDiRlhQ2_Ftplw_DShiqicc_aTA8WgpyvkQJJEaKeR8L2ndoJn2yMWqgfTAA87h7qKjQdgJjYhldvRPT6uZuIPA-Gf9j22PTpsVnTw/s1600/IMG_1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrKfpEekZtoSFGLNX8RfkYxxs_4wqrxxA7EZUlGDiRlhQ2_Ftplw_DShiqicc_aTA8WgpyvkQJJEaKeR8L2ndoJn2yMWqgfTAA87h7qKjQdgJjYhldvRPT6uZuIPA-Gf9j22PTpsVnTw/s1600/IMG_1211.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bilbao - Santander Train</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tony Wilson</div>
<br />
I took this photo of a line drawing by the artist Tony Wilson when I was at my friend Lucinda's house in Dun Laoghaire last September. The artist is Lucinda's uncle.<br />
<br />
I love the people in the railway carriage and I recognise that type of Spanish train because we've travelled on a similar one that still runs between Soller and Port de Soller in Mallorca. The faces and hands are so full of character and life, the figure at the front - a little boy? - seems amused and invites the viewer to smile too.<br />
<br />
What also caught my attention when I saw the picture was the date - my exact birthday! That uniquely magic combination of numbers that, if I'm writing the date, would always have me writing '59 instead of the current year if I'm not careful!<br />
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<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-91299899668397611942014-05-07T23:15:00.000+01:002014-05-07T23:15:17.045+01:00Meadow Sweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo8P3D4RI_k9dB5T2Wq-_bZreLTT94Dt0QqPmYORe2FXBEkya-OQE_qKAGweBhDVgUvGs7VnOszcCqnKWsnM9F7FLtVXjRwqERvujZ7-RQnH5aoEPtHQiVJSSOFBbbo41a8TaK71rZ0M/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo8P3D4RI_k9dB5T2Wq-_bZreLTT94Dt0QqPmYORe2FXBEkya-OQE_qKAGweBhDVgUvGs7VnOszcCqnKWsnM9F7FLtVXjRwqERvujZ7-RQnH5aoEPtHQiVJSSOFBbbo41a8TaK71rZ0M/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the raised bed I've sowed with flower seeds to make a mini-meadow for bees and butterflies. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The plants in the front of the bed are Verbascum Bombyciferum - they develop dramatic furry candle-like stalks with tiny yellow flowers that bees can't resist. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many of the meadow seeds are well past the recommended planting dates on the packets, so it'll be interesting to see what comes up. I sowed the seeds last week, little plantlets are already making an appearance.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCYlVs1Wm8vCsQBzty8HUBZR73o2z-H5v0ItUuB1UQbUgdRDs0iUUf30Hp9_tNFMQiDHtWc8O2kwpPesoHJUfRoyvEH9cOgw-hm00kKWmP0RLnP6Juhsg-fzz7PN_fxDGLDotMwFEi98/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCYlVs1Wm8vCsQBzty8HUBZR73o2z-H5v0ItUuB1UQbUgdRDs0iUUf30Hp9_tNFMQiDHtWc8O2kwpPesoHJUfRoyvEH9cOgw-hm00kKWmP0RLnP6Juhsg-fzz7PN_fxDGLDotMwFEi98/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The bars should keep birds and the local cats at bay till the meadow establishes itself.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's an intriguing poem with a field and butterflies. Ok, rather dark. Beautiful, nevertheless.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="tab-content active" id="poem-top" style="display: block;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">O</span>ver my head, I see the bronze butterfly, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Asleep on the black trunk,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Blowing like a leaf in green shadow. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Down the ravine behind the empty house, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The cowbells follow one another </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Into the distances of the afternoon. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To my right,</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a field of sunlight between two pines, </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The droppings of last year’s horses </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Blaze up into golden stones.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I lean back, as the evening darkens and comes on. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A chicken hawk floats over, looking for home.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have wasted my life.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">James Wright</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-50376562425084004962014-05-06T22:32:00.001+01:002014-05-06T22:32:48.533+01:00Poisson d'Avril<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-GGcstBn31OSNcaydJwVQl7nMDQTzMIhoBUA4Cyn9KstSrVueEXpZUvHTnZgNI0tR9BekfnZdNu0bwG-pQWRjosAMTZO_19E74vnN0eNAHUFRV4fckHAK74GSfG66L3K6SjcAB65ILY/s1600/relaxing-water-buffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-GGcstBn31OSNcaydJwVQl7nMDQTzMIhoBUA4Cyn9KstSrVueEXpZUvHTnZgNI0tR9BekfnZdNu0bwG-pQWRjosAMTZO_19E74vnN0eNAHUFRV4fckHAK74GSfG66L3K6SjcAB65ILY/s1600/relaxing-water-buffalo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I was getting annoyed by this piece from the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-swimming-blog/2014/apr/01/star-sign-affects-swimming-ability">Guardian swimming blog</a> about star signs and swimming. Then I noticed the date when it was posted .....AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-32754970443708754622014-05-05T22:14:00.000+01:002014-05-05T22:16:27.126+01:00Bees in my Bonnet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnS8OmL62lj7cPs209aYXG1dix0CR3vyHgyWq015eVkLGHMShT4ifJMJNmq72nMttgk4ofhmSSnQmeE3815RneB3v2I16oVQAO2yHNtQTf4a9zH0aeW1RrY2ONwscleQAjzMoMQdsMDE/s1600/IMG_1425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnS8OmL62lj7cPs209aYXG1dix0CR3vyHgyWq015eVkLGHMShT4ifJMJNmq72nMttgk4ofhmSSnQmeE3815RneB3v2I16oVQAO2yHNtQTf4a9zH0aeW1RrY2ONwscleQAjzMoMQdsMDE/s1600/IMG_1425.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just finished watching the final episode of <a href="http://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns-and-initiatives/sos-for-honeybees/a-bee-in-my-bonnet!-martha-kearneys-bee-blog">Martha Kearney's</a> <i>The Wonder of Bees</i> on BBC4. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've been fascinated by bees for a long time and have enjoyed learning more about keeping them from this series. I'm planning to do an introductory course on beekeeping in September to find out more. My family are getting edgy and making jokes whenever I mention the subject .....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read Sean Borodale's collection <i>Bee Journal</i> a while back but it irritated me, something rather disconnected, dissociated about his style left me cold. I may get it out of the library again and give it another chance .....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the meantime, I've sown a mini-meadow in a raised bed - all the flower seeds that I've not got around to planting over the past few years. Most of them are long past their use-by dates, yet despite that, tiny plants are starting to appear - verbena, poppies, marigolds, nigella, snapdragons, pansies, cornflowers. I want to attract and feed the city bees and butterflies and to offer pleasure to our noses and eyes. It's too dark to take a photo now but I will log one here later in the week and monitor my meadow's progress.....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I took the photo up above in the entrance to Manchester town hall. The bee, representing industry, was adopted as one of the symbols of Manchester, a city built on the infamous cotton trade .....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And as for bee poems, no-one can offer a more thought-provoking and chilling take on the subject than Sylvia Plath. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Arrival of the Bee Box</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ordered this, clean wood box
Square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift.
I would say it was the coffin of a midget
Or a square baby
Were there not such a din in it.
The box is locked, it is dangerous.
I have to live with it overnight
And I can't keep away from it.
There are no windows, so I can't see what is in there.
There is only a little grid, no exit.
I put my eye to the grid.
It is dark, dark,
With the swarmy feeling of African hands
Minute and shrunk for export,
Black on black, angrily clambering.
How can I let them out?
It is the noise that appalls me most of all,
The unintelligible syllables.
It is like a Roman mob,
Small, taken one by one, but my god, together!
I lay my ear to furious Latin.
I am not a Caesar.
I have simply ordered a box of maniacs.
They can be sent back.
They can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner.
I wonder how hungry they are.
I wonder if they would forget me
If I just undid the locks and stood back and turned into a tree.
There is the laburnum, its blond colonnades,
And the petticoats of the cherry.
They might ignore me immediately
In my moon suit and funeral veil.
I am no source of honey
So why should they turn on me?
Tomorrow I will be sweet God, I will set them free.
The box is only temporary.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(from <i>Ariel</i>)</span></span>AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-37909158081019171372014-05-04T22:34:00.002+01:002014-05-04T23:34:15.863+01:00Resting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_u1VktFnHAzbXysOwqlcfmGXkNyVsIfoLtC6t5k299NLy-LdIqYEh9QoazXxc8W3a_4WF-PgIf-i3ZUQXvQRARwxBDyIjmWNxCIxYhu1hLAaEjGLgHWmBD5tHthe0TQsbrw-wfe75Ro/s1600/writers+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_u1VktFnHAzbXysOwqlcfmGXkNyVsIfoLtC6t5k299NLy-LdIqYEh9QoazXxc8W3a_4WF-PgIf-i3ZUQXvQRARwxBDyIjmWNxCIxYhu1hLAaEjGLgHWmBD5tHthe0TQsbrw-wfe75Ro/s1600/writers+block.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
Does writer's block exist? Probably not, but it's a seductive idea.<br />
<br />
I like this motivational page on the subject by <a href="http://amandaonwriting.tumblr.com/post/30419586660">Amanda Patterson</a>.<br />
<br />
Between acting jobs, actors aren't unemployed - they're resting. At the moment I seem to be resting between my last poem and the next one, wherever that is lurking.<br />
I do seem to write more when I attend weekly classes with homework and tight deadlines. Maybe the fact that I've just finished a fairly intense writing course means that my writing has dried up somewhat, but it's a temporary state and normal service will resume if I'm patient and stop fretting.<br />
<br />
Mslexia have a <a href="https://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/ncomp_active.php">memoir writing competition</a> with a mid-September deadline. I've decided to take the pressure off the poetry and write something for this instead.<br />
At the moment I'm reading <i>Howard's End is on the Landing</i> by Susan Hill. It's a bookish memoir, I'm really enjoying it. At one point she suggests it's perfectly achievable to write 50,000 words in three months so I've decided to be inspired by that and get on with it. Naturally, the central theme will be swimming. I'm limbering up to get started in the next week. (That's not procrastinating, I've made a new document and written the first sentence.....)<br />
<br />
From time to time I get asked to participate in surveys from Mslexia. I completed one today on this very subject - writer's block.<br />
Here's my response to Question 9 - I copied it to remind myself of things that help the writing process. (Others on the list also work well, but it says tick up to five, and Rules is Rules.....)<br />
<div class="qHeader" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font: normal normal bold medium/1.4 Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 5px; text-decoration: none;">
<abbr class="noborder" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px;" title="Question 9"><br /></abbr></div>
<div class="qHeader" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font: normal normal bold medium/1.4 Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 5px; text-decoration: none;">
<abbr class="noborder" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px;" title="Question 9">9</abbr>. Have you noticed any factors that seem to cure, prevent or ameliorate a block? (Tick up to five answers)</div>
<div class="qBody" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font: normal normal normal small/1.5 Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="position: static; width: 1232px; z-index: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="color: black; font: normal normal normal small/1.5 Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; width: 1232px;" valign="top"><div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920543_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920543_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920543_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920543_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920543_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:78A43E6C-3612-47EC-9E07-F119C71C5E09" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="hlbl" style="height: 1px; left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; top: -5000px; width: 1px;">Have you noticed any factors that seem to cure, prevent or ameliorate a block? (Tick up to five answers)</span>Morning pages or some other daily writing practice</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920544_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920544_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920544_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920544_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920544_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:F4EA0051-7C27-42EB-A8A8-BAF5026FF804" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The need to earn an income from my writing</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920547_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920547_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920547_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920547_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920547_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:F883314C-9129-4A30-88C8-4456C19FF26A" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">An unavoidable writing deadline</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920549_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920549_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920549_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920549_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920549_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:3F06843D-37B7-4344-BB18-47493EDE9CF2" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Doing writing exercises</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920551_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920551_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920551_0" /><label class="cb_on selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920551_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920551_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:46FDFB9E-74AC-4DCE-8496-EF40F46E2875" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -60px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Attending a writing group</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920553_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920553_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920553_0" /><label class="cb_off selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920553_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920553_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:F29D4163-EA43-46F8-89FD-025B2A83E640" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Contact with a writing buddy</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920555_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920555_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920555_0" /><label class="cb_on selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920555_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920555_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:86029F9B-EDC2-416A-9C30-AC59157FE76D" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -60px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Competition or publication success</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920557_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920557_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920557_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920557_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920557_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:04E9AC63-E352-4650-8AF0-7AAC1F5B43EC" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Positive feedback by someone whose opinion I value</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920559_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920559_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920559_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920559_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920559_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:35B28038-7462-4224-93E9-F59E06765B0E" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Feeling loved and valued for myself</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920561_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920561_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920561_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920561_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920561_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:6459CBD0-9BE2-4AEC-A628-9F670540B086" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mood-altering medication</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920563_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920563_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920563_0" /><label class="cb_on selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920563_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920563_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:25448C03-8614-4774-922F-9AE5DB9B4F28" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -60px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A regular time to write</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920565_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920565_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920565_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920565_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920565_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:AE900E7D-1410-4BBC-96FA-161B673443FA" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A room of my own</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920567_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920567_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920567_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920567_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920567_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:89058777-5F71-45B8-8BBD-666CCA2BB76D" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A change of scenery</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920568_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920568_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920568_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920568_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920568_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:4AA2B41D-AC83-46BA-9D98-639F8FA2E463" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Solitude</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920569_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920569_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920569_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920569_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920569_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:091BCFF3-7156-4D50-9A76-6C2B26E4C911" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Remembering past achievements</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920570_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920570_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920570_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920570_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920570_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:478D09FD-7F44-456B-80A6-43886E0176EC" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Encouragement from friends, family, partner</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920571_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920571_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920571_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920571_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920571_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:5F9254EA-341D-4700-933F-66CBADAAC43B" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Regular meditation</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920572_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920572_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920572_0" /><label class="cb_on selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920572_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920572_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:F8026B19-5531-42E3-A9C4-04C41FE9F6F2" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -60px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Regular physical exercise</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920573_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920573_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920573_0" /><label class="cb_on selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920573_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920573_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:4D0B5EAE-5F30-4025-AF8A-23B704E0FD52" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -60px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Reading great writing</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920574_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920574_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920574_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920574_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920574_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:A2D380F2-D666-496A-888D-5FB3E5617295" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I am hardly ever blocked (lucky me!)</span></label></div>
<div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920575_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920575_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920575_0" /><label class="cb_off" for="input_647467697_20_7489920575_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920575_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:1F4CE382-608F-405F-9543-7058349A6E7E" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">None of the above</span></label></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="1" style="color: black; font: normal normal normal small/1.5 Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;"><div class="qOption hover AnswerOptionText" style="cursor: pointer; margin-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 1219px;">
<input class="cb" id="input_647467697_20_7489920539_0" name="input_647467697_20_7489920539_0" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; left: 4px; position: absolute; top: 4px;" type="checkbox" value="7489920539_11" /><label class="cb_off selected" for="input_647467697_20_7489920539_0" id="linput_647467697_20_7489920539_0" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;"><object alt="" class="selImg" data="cid:33238E00-F425-4B9B-8257-0E28A6565AF1" height="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://secure.surveymonkey.com/i/sprite_checkmark_alpha.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -40px 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: -1px; pointer-events: none; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 20px; z-index: 11;" type="application/x-apple-msg-attachment" width="5"></object><span class="qLabel AnswerOptionText" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Other (please specify)</span></label></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-11612658036246079482014-05-03T23:50:00.001+01:002014-05-03T23:50:24.122+01:00Pick 'n' Mix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8K-DQ9MTxHNL_FrZm5qS0bwxMosf6jBrLyIwD8JbI4XVTuhUp-x_Bjr5F6wAnZ6m23_QKfSBswqqtQdmu3L7lUHNP18KMZX40JFdu0tSP2tsQoqqtPf0qnz2LlwK3oD6DtLA9xHpSiM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8K-DQ9MTxHNL_FrZm5qS0bwxMosf6jBrLyIwD8JbI4XVTuhUp-x_Bjr5F6wAnZ6m23_QKfSBswqqtQdmu3L7lUHNP18KMZX40JFdu0tSP2tsQoqqtPf0qnz2LlwK3oD6DtLA9xHpSiM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
Our five-year-old nephew is addicted to collecting Match Attax football cards, just like our son at the same age. Our daughters had a dolls' house, and were similarly fond of collecting Polly Pocket dolls when they were small – I've still got three sitting in my kitchen cupboard.<br />
<br />
Well, today at <a href="http://www.auricula-plants.co.uk/shop/index.php">Drointon Primula Nursery</a> near Ripon, I reconnected with that powerful urge to amass – those pretty little plants were completely irresistible!<br />
<br />
We wandered through the display beds and the growing tunnels, admiring the flowers in their teeny pots, totally spoilt for choice. In the end we selected ten and took a catalogue so we could browse at our leisure and save up for another batch.<br />
<br />
Here's a few of the sweet-smelling beauties we chose:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNEMSPbNjYKpR39sksU2wOiuIbDhlJm928rcRTauk9Y72DDZcK92DPuHJ6xUUTBKtMz-klcMrv0y9VFy1by2OyDSh8ffGiQcxDpVnj_Ib4blyqQk5dgLyr9lFZRxzMzoIlsiltlNq438/s1600/Langley_Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNEMSPbNjYKpR39sksU2wOiuIbDhlJm928rcRTauk9Y72DDZcK92DPuHJ6xUUTBKtMz-klcMrv0y9VFy1by2OyDSh8ffGiQcxDpVnj_Ib4blyqQk5dgLyr9lFZRxzMzoIlsiltlNq438/s1600/Langley_Park.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Langley Park</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgs9Ywc6iXNQZExL3zNk_OrqB-Tiu86bP0XCQThJX6Dy2RE4jllzJXkcSmGIer3Q-W99KDjK7TpfGwMZfV4B9iAeel10ZrwqBfuNlU7OdgdEfgrH8qyv7zZkjACUzvHu9X4Im3kd_kOU/s1600/1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgs9Ywc6iXNQZExL3zNk_OrqB-Tiu86bP0XCQThJX6Dy2RE4jllzJXkcSmGIer3Q-W99KDjK7TpfGwMZfV4B9iAeel10ZrwqBfuNlU7OdgdEfgrH8qyv7zZkjACUzvHu9X4Im3kd_kOU/s1600/1882.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Nymph</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSayEvYccU36qZKiHxJ-5TiAgXB-FfCp7T6Iy5lJRx2j_PqOKLr2Vc1I_Lzv0fwyGGPSZIw9uWJ-fh4vJCZFqP1ZrLkk8Eu1_cMCLRr_zMlYIiuXWFynAJIn2AcPqBMXRLrm08Jxrnw0/s1600/Old+Irish+Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSayEvYccU36qZKiHxJ-5TiAgXB-FfCp7T6Iy5lJRx2j_PqOKLr2Vc1I_Lzv0fwyGGPSZIw9uWJ-fh4vJCZFqP1ZrLkk8Eu1_cMCLRr_zMlYIiuXWFynAJIn2AcPqBMXRLrm08Jxrnw0/s1600/Old+Irish+Green.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Old Irish Green</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdJm1R3_vSMJ32987y2sPr195Dej3CjF86GUSNNfRLE6Dqz9Ros9j4tcE0dMjRQynbtNSN3x7jLqTktFz1VOXM4VsQuWM7LlILuhnP0-j6RkCbJiIX_EPVQq6wLCtnHYZj0Vo6Pv4qdY/s1600/Trudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdJm1R3_vSMJ32987y2sPr195Dej3CjF86GUSNNfRLE6Dqz9Ros9j4tcE0dMjRQynbtNSN3x7jLqTktFz1VOXM4VsQuWM7LlILuhnP0-j6RkCbJiIX_EPVQq6wLCtnHYZj0Vo6Pv4qdY/s1600/Trudy.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Trudy</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA86QS9jXQmZkVDK2nuTts8Cz6lnXXI4qSHJVgufoBH9yHabswjteSk8eKMpJFvswRHyjGwN11M2fy9uwl9yvvVqhyphenhyphenlkFGsuS-3oLlvJLHljN0QVOTtxssRzpO_4acEHXlLRNdAGSLBOM/s1600/JLY5918_PRIMULA_AURICULA_HETTY_WOOLF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA86QS9jXQmZkVDK2nuTts8Cz6lnXXI4qSHJVgufoBH9yHabswjteSk8eKMpJFvswRHyjGwN11M2fy9uwl9yvvVqhyphenhyphenlkFGsuS-3oLlvJLHljN0QVOTtxssRzpO_4acEHXlLRNdAGSLBOM/s1600/JLY5918_PRIMULA_AURICULA_HETTY_WOOLF.jpg" height="200" width="135" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hetty Wolf</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Arundel Stripe</span></div>
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And the others - every one a poem - Cooper's Gold, Wild and Grey, Dick Rogers, Trouble.</div>
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This being a Bank Holiday weekend, maybe we'll start building a theatre tomorrow for our diminutive collection !</div>
<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-456047380471090732014-05-02T23:32:00.000+01:002014-05-03T22:31:22.657+01:00Auriculì, Auriculà<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Who can resist the charms of the Dusty Miller, the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/18/gardens-auriculas">Primula Auricula</a>?<br />
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A favourite flower.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Primula Auricula Hinton Fields</span></div>
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Tomorrow we're going to a primula nursery near Ripon for an open day.<br />
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I hope I'll have my very own theatre one day.<br />
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<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-73073682055908526602014-05-01T18:25:00.001+01:002014-05-01T18:25:39.318+01:00Ne'er cast a clout .....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring has sprung in Manchester, the temperature's rising, I've been casting clouts, but that's ok as the may is out now, looking and smelling totally gorgeous.<br />
Here's Sharon Olds, her wonderful poem from <i>The Gold Cell</i> (1992). It always makes me think of those old photos of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes when they looked so happy and content.<br />
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<b>I Go Back to May 1937</b><br />
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I see them standing at the formal gates of their colleges,<br />
I see my father striding out<br />
under the ochre sandstone arch, the<br />
red tiles glinting like bent<br />
plates of blood behind his head, I<br />
see my mother with a few light books at her hip<br />
standing at the pillar made of tiny bricks with the<br />
wrought-iron gate still open behind her, its<br />
sword-tips black in the May air,<br />
they are about to graduate, they are about to get married,<br />
they are kids, they are dumb, all they know is they are<br />
innocent, they would never hurt anybody.<br />
I want to go up to them and say Stop,<br />
don't do it –– she's the wrong woman,<br />
he's the wrong man, you are going to do things<br />
you cannot imagine you would ever do,<br />
you are going to do bad things to children,<br />
you are going to suffer in ways you never heard of,<br />
you are going to want to die. I want to go<br />
up to them there in the late May sunlight and say it,<br />
her hungry pretty blank face turning to me,<br />
her pitiful beautiful untouched body,<br />
his arrogant handsome blind face turning to me,<br />
his pitiful beautiful untouched body,<br />
but I don't do it, I want to live. I<br />
take them up like the male and female<br />
paper dolls and bang them together<br />
at the hips like chips of flint as if to<br />
strike sparks from them, I say<br />
Do what you are going to do, and I will tell about it.<br />
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<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-65099697103389523292014-02-07T09:38:00.001+00:002014-02-07T22:54:20.321+00:00Why swimming is sublime ......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tynemouth beach again at New Year</span></div>
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My writing has dried up - has my pilot light blown out ?<br />
At least I'm back in the pool - twice a week at the moment - and articles like <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/australia-culture-blog/2014/feb/07/why-swimming-is-sublime">this one</a> just make me all the keener. Incredible writing.AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-32839356800473859382013-12-31T23:48:00.001+00:002013-12-31T23:50:23.144+00:00To Boldly Go .....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not bold enough for the <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/">Official TBR Challenge</a> - some of the rules are a wee bit strict for me - I am going to have my own little Unofficial TBR Challenge in 2014.<br />
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I've chosen twelve neglected books off my shelves that I've not got round to reading yet. Now that the MA is done I commit to reading these over the next twelve months - and maybe then I'll post some reviews of them here.<br />
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I find writing reviews challenging - having to express OPINIONS !!! But I do want to get more confident at it, so this is a bold resolution.<br />
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And as for the chosen dozen - perched on my ironing board - here they are (not necessarily in reading order) :<br />
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1 How To Be A Woman - Caitlin Moran<br />
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2 Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal - Jeanette Winterson<br />
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3 East of Eden - John Steinbeck<br />
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4 Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel<br />
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5 The Golden Gate - Vikram Seth<br />
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6 The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry <br />
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7 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot<br />
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8 Reality, Reality - Jackie Kay<br />
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9 Waterlog - Roger Deakin<br />
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10 Mary Swann - Carol Shields<br />
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11 Stepping Stones: Interviews With Seamus Heaney - Dennis O'Driscoll<br />
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12 The Invention Of Everything Else - Samantha Hunt<br />
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Now I must away to Jools Holland and his Hootenanny - </div>
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A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY !!!!!</div>
AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-68643947610002979362013-12-20T10:15:00.000+00:002013-12-20T10:15:16.928+00:00Semester's End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tynemouth Beach at dusk - or was it dawn???</span></div>
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I handed in my dissertation on 2 December so that was the official end of my MA course at the Centre for New Writing. A collection of 21 poems, some new, some not so new.<br />
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My library books were due to go back in January, but this week I received an email saying they have to go back today. I can't bear giving library books back - some of them have been on an extended loan, no-one else has wanted them so I've been able to keep on renewing Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Bishop, Kathleen Jamie, Robert Lowell. No matter that I don't look at them that often, I just like them being there. The empty half shelf where they've lodged makes me sad and excited. Now I'll have a place for the pile beside my bed, and room for some new books to gather. Maybe I'll start writing again.<br />
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The process makes me think of the TV programme <i>Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners</i> which I've watched (obsessively) for the last couple of months. The people whose houses need clearing/cleaning inevitably have issues to do with grief and loss. The cleaners whose houses are spotless also have issues around grief/loss. Some days I think I fall in the hoarder category, some days I think I'm a cleaner.<br />
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Perhaps the library is doing me a favour recalling those books ... it was never going to be easy ... and now that I've lifted Robert Lowell off the shelf I've discovered this poem, which I'd probably not have found if the library hadn't ordered me to return him ...<br />
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<b>The Mermaid Children</b><br />
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In my dream, we drove to Folkestone with the children,<br />
miles of ashflakes safe for their small feet;<br />
most coasts are sand, but this had larger prospects,<br />
the sea drained by the out-tide to dust and dunes<br />
blowing to Norway like brown paper bags.<br />
Goodbye, my Ocean, you were never my white wine.<br />
Only parents with children could go to the beach;<br />
we had ours, and it was a brutal lugging,<br />
stopping, teasing them to walk for themselves.<br />
When they rode our shoulders, we sank to our knees;<br />
later we felt no weight and left no footprints. ...<br />
Where did we leave them behind us so small and black,<br />
their transistors, mermaid fins and tails,<br />
our distant children charcoaled on the sky?<br />
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Robert Lowell (<i>The Dolphin</i>)AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-53239853919022275112013-09-04T22:01:00.001+01:002013-09-04T22:13:42.429+01:00Lines Underwater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my poems - <i>My Father's People</i> - has just been published in this gorgeous anthology about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/poemsunderwater">mermaids</a>. The writing in the book is complemented by the most wonderful artwork - I am thrilled to be featured in such an appealing and irresistible collection! I would say that, wouldn't I?! But <a href="http://poemsunderwater.wordpress.com/buy-the-anthology/">find a copy</a> and see for yourself - treasures from the deep!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Ieuan Edwards - My Underwater Love</span></div>
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<br />AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-59660903540404993342013-08-04T23:52:00.000+01:002013-08-05T00:09:35.134+01:00Gone fishin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivAgDJZjGWP4ytGseXbRm4R9r7qSr7BBG2STBBhZefe4f7IfbZ6e3fcp4Sv7Ucg-GDWKdPTPodFYAB26xTEz_AJ5e2TF97Dc80GtNT0d-g6KbAWThyd7hhQ2ad47gxSQ4HX6U1Xj3VP8/s1600/DSC01291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivAgDJZjGWP4ytGseXbRm4R9r7qSr7BBG2STBBhZefe4f7IfbZ6e3fcp4Sv7Ucg-GDWKdPTPodFYAB26xTEz_AJ5e2TF97Dc80GtNT0d-g6KbAWThyd7hhQ2ad47gxSQ4HX6U1Xj3VP8/s320/DSC01291.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>The Fish</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I caught a tremendous fish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and held him beside the boat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">half out of the water, with my hook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">fast in a corner of his mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He didn’t fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He hadn’t fought at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He hung a grunting weight,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">battered and vulnerable</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and homely. Here and there</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">his brown skin hung in strips</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">like ancient wall-paper,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and its pattern of darker brown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">was like wall-paper :</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">shapes like full-blown roses</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">stained and lost through age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">He was speckled with barnacles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">fine rosettes of lime,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and infested </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">with tiny white sea-lice,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and underneath two or three</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">rags of green weed hung down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While his gills were breathing in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the terrible oxygen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">––the frightening gills</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">fresh and crisp with blood,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">that can cut so badly––</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I thought of the coarse white flesh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">packed in like feathers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the big bones and the little bones,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the dramatic reds and blacks</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">of his shiny entrails,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and the pink swim-bladder</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">like a big peony.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I looked into his eyes </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">which were far larger than mine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">but shallower, and yellowed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the irises backed and packed</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">with tarnished tinfoil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">seen through the lenses</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">of old scratched isinglass.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">They shifted a little, but not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">to return my stare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">––It was more like the tipping</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">of an object toward the light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I admitted his sullen face,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the mechanism of his jaw,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and then I saw</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">that from his lower lip</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">––if you could call it a lip––</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">grim, wet, and weapon-like,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">hung five old pieces of fish-line,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">or four and a wire leader</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">with the swivel still attached,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">with all their five big hooks</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">grown firmly in his mouth.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A green line, frayed at the end</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">where he broke it, two heavier lines,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and a fine black thread</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">still crimped from the strain and snap</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">when it broke and he got away.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Like medals with their ribbons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">frayed and wavering,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">a five-haired beard of wisdom</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">trailing from his aching jaw.</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I stared and stared</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">and victory filled up</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the little rented boat,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">from the pool of bilge</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">where oil had spread a rainbow</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">around the rusted engine</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">to the bailer rusted orange,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the sun-cracked thwarts,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the oar-locks on their strings,</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">the gunnels––until everything</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow !</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And I let the fish go.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Elizabeth Bishop</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Times New Roman; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">from<i> North and South </i>(1946)</span></div>
AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-75204784113412503712013-05-17T23:09:00.001+01:002013-05-26T00:30:42.816+01:00Picture This<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAxegh2X6epl9dKR6oLyJV4zlMBoXdunThs5GZybrPcJJ-AIKmz-1wo5nmpbUCrN-oTlBZ-1DmnPRbYyI4yqR7W8M0JpXDrmsx-DqIrw7OrbsfqtjaRVyV00KPgoRInPWkjdzbNFbaf0/s1600/print-parsonage_didsdraw_poets-300dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAxegh2X6epl9dKR6oLyJV4zlMBoXdunThs5GZybrPcJJ-AIKmz-1wo5nmpbUCrN-oTlBZ-1DmnPRbYyI4yqR7W8M0JpXDrmsx-DqIrw7OrbsfqtjaRVyV00KPgoRInPWkjdzbNFbaf0/s320/print-parsonage_didsdraw_poets-300dpi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to be reading some of my poems at the Didsbury Arts Festival this year - this is the publicity photo for the event.AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-11083811349636545282013-05-01T21:55:00.002+01:002013-05-01T21:55:44.024+01:00Beltane - again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTEzZ0vxnu3EmsigZheG4oi3_99H7euY_7hMmYB4JJfjB1HqVaW6IiM3mR28RNsCNWwoEIDQ4l0ZBBLZwxUAQhTUTyqJyWyqPolT2mGslx0dXrD61OPqMUhJeTiAanNLYotXQhc094QE/s1600/ChillinghamCattlePostCard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTEzZ0vxnu3EmsigZheG4oi3_99H7euY_7hMmYB4JJfjB1HqVaW6IiM3mR28RNsCNWwoEIDQ4l0ZBBLZwxUAQhTUTyqJyWyqPolT2mGslx0dXrD61OPqMUhJeTiAanNLYotXQhc094QE/s320/ChillinghamCattlePostCard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today Boots offered me Double Points for the whole of May - my birthday month -<br />
Woohoo!!<br />
I might go a bit quiet again now because I'm going to concentrate on <a href="http://underwatergardener.blogspot.co.uk/">Underwater Gardener</a> for a while.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839865003299073211.post-4433931709006554982013-04-12T23:45:00.000+01:002013-05-25T23:03:53.986+01:00Is this the way to Amaryllis?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4BJfK74qC3lcMXWph3jUeZoF15CspTmHJjRvEhwFC203-esfUp4WYukHC75mbRj7fhheHFuZ678sd_aGPg_6z_pFkYhSVImbJEsfi3I-xFz2p26eoKgbmv9H7XqiZOg7ARRWYg6dnIM/s1600/IMG_0350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4BJfK74qC3lcMXWph3jUeZoF15CspTmHJjRvEhwFC203-esfUp4WYukHC75mbRj7fhheHFuZ678sd_aGPg_6z_pFkYhSVImbJEsfi3I-xFz2p26eoKgbmv9H7XqiZOg7ARRWYg6dnIM/s320/IMG_0350.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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Who are you? I hear you whisper.<br />
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Apologies for such long absences. Over the last twelve months I've not done one single outdoor swim. And very few indoor ones, come to think of it. Also, precious little writing.<br />
However, I have been putting effort into promoting my back catalogue, finding homes for poems already written. It has been a bit of a wilderness time, but productive, and a few of my poems are now very well placed. I feel quite the Mrs Bennett, with my daughters out there, making their way in the world.<br />
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I also know, if I didn't before, that when I'm swimming, my writing benefits and vice versa. This dry period has seemed like a phase I've needed to go through, so now I feel like I want to be writing more again, and swimming. I hope that means I'll be posting on the blog again. I've continued reading blogs, all the while, but writing is the exercise that begets more writing.........<br />
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I've also had some good adventures, been across to Dun Laoghaire twice, soaking up the literature festival last September, and enjoying a number of great poetry events back here in England. Our eldest daughter (real life, not a poem - Happy Birthday Nell !!) is also on an adventure at the moment, teaching English in South Korea, so as you might imagine, that is keeping us right on the edge of our seats .......<br />
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All in all, a lively time, even if somewhat quiet here on the western front .......<br />
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Why the strange title for this post? Oh, I bought an amaryllis bulb at Xmas and the photo above shows it now. It's so beautiful I have to sing that song (customized words) every time I walk past it. As I seem to have lost my way of late, Amaryllis seems as good a direction to be heading in as any ........AquaMarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00265386276806403266noreply@blogger.com3