I've loved all sorts of music since.....well, for a very long time. My dad bought me a reel to reel tape recorder when I was a teenager (That was considered 'state of the art technology in those days!) and I spent hours recording music off Radio Caroline. Oooops, is that illegal? Well I doubt if I'll get arrested now although, knowing my luck............
It drives me mad nowadays how music has to fit into a box. When I was young there was a mixture of music genres in the charts and I think it's from there that I get my wide appreciation of different styles.
I know nothing about creating music - I wish I did, it must be so satisfying to produce a wonderful piece of music however, we can't be good at everything can we!
When people ask me what sort of music I like I reply 'Good music' I'm not being facetious when I say that. I really mean it. Of course everyone has their own definition of good music but why does it have to fit in with what's popular?
One day you'll find me listening to Mozart, another The Scorpions. Depends on my mood. In my (humble) opinion Jackson Browne is a far better song writer than Bob Dylan. As opposed to songs, he writes stories to music. If you listen to the words of his songs they are very moving. It's impossible to pick a favourite song but I thought this week I would like to share some songs that mean a lot to me.
I often wonder what the world would be like without music.I feel that the man in my previous blog has much to answer for when it comes to modern songs and I feel sorry for today's kids growing up with bland, mass produced songs - or am I just getting old?
Watching the news tonight about under nourished children in Afghanistan made me think of this song:
http://youtu.be/ze3ziOoEUNA
This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes, the raw, painful emotion. I've read John Lennon's biography from six different perspectives, what a sad story:
http://youtu.be/NkOoZDK7Rz8
I often think they should make a film about Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. What a love story that would be. I keep willing them to get back together!
http://dai.ly/cVGBnd
Barbara's musings
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Sunday 29 January 2012
The day I Accosted Simon Cowell
This week's events brought it all back! I went with a friend on Tuesday to the Opera House in Blackpool to watch a live recording of Britain's Got Talent. We spent tha majority of the day squashed up and penned in amongst thousands of people getting drenched by the incessant rain. If you want to read about the experience there is an article appearing in the February edition of Gridlock Magazine - www.gridlockmagazine.com.
The last time the show came to Blackpool was in 2008. My granddaughter who was eight at the time was very excited about the possibility of meeting Simon Cowell and co. Her parents - who are song writers - were away working so we planned our day with precision to optimise our chances!
We hardly slept the night before because we were buzzing with excitement - yes I am quite capable of being an eight-year-old or any other age that takes my fancy. I'm not known for acting my age!
We jumped out of bed as soon as the alarm went and got ready for our 'adventure'.and arrived at the Winter Gardens at 6.30 am. Well? the early bird and all that..............
It was cold, miserable and damp due to the continual fine rain, the sort that wets you through, as Peter Kay observes. Exactly the same weather as we had on Tuesday this week.
I mentioned earlier that my daughter and son-in-law are song writers, they earn their living 'gigging' up and down the country but their dream is to be professional song writers. Not one to miss an opportunity I was armed with three CD's of their songs. The judges that year were Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, hence three CD's.
Strangely there were no barriers up that time and - as far as I can remember, no crowds outside. In fact when Simon Cowell eventually arrived I think there were about twenty people there - although the numbers quickly swelled as word got around.
We waited for hours, not venturing far from the front doors of of the Winter Gardens in case we lost our vantage point! I think it was around eleven o'clock when Piers Morgan arrived - I walked straight up to him, shoved a CD in his pocket (They all had my daughter's contact details on in case I didn't have time to explain) and said 'There's a present for you' He looked a bit surprised and said 'Oh Thank you'. My next target was Amanda Holden who arrived about thirty minutes later. She smiled and looked genuinely delighted when I gave her the CD but again, didn't have time to explain as TV camera's were honing in on the celebrities as they arrived.
We then waited with Tony Adkins, Simon Cowell's then body gaurd. He was a very pleasant man and made my granddaughter's day regaling her with stories about how he felt sorry for the contestants - especially the children - who had their dreams dashed. He said he didn't think it was fair to put children through that level of rejection at such a tender age. He would break off to talk into his walkie talkie every so often trying to establish when his boss was going to arrive as he was already about an hour and a half late. Tony assured us that he would get Mr Cowell to stop and pose for a photograph with my granddaughter when he arrived. She was unbelievably excited! Mr Adkins made the wait worthwhile, it's not every day you get an introduction to Simon Cowell.
Simon Cowell's limo eventually drew up at around 2.30. Tony Adkins stuck his head in and had a conversation then Simon emerged shaking his head at his body guard and marched past the small crowd that had gathered ignoring calls from the crowd - including mine and headed straight for the door where a TV camera was waiting.
Well, you know those moments in your life when you see red? I had one of those! Could you blame me after standing in the cold and rain for seven hours with a small, excited child? I walked straight over to Mr Cowell who, I think, was being interviewed on camera, tapped him on the shoulder and stuck a CD in his pocket. 'There's a present for you' I announced as he turned round looking a little surprised.
'Oh thank you very much' he oozed, now the camera was on him! One of the security staff called my disappointed granddaughter over and told her to go down and see him at the tower the following week and he would get Simon Cowell's autograph for her. I took her down and he had kept his promise. She was delighted.
My daughter never heard from any of the judges about the songs but.....it was worth a try!
Here are links to a few of the songs on the CD. Have a listen and see what you think.
Jenny Cox - Would you run broadjam.com/artists/songs.
When She Cries http://www.broadjam.com/artists/songs.php?artistID=33439&mediaID=447766
The last time the show came to Blackpool was in 2008. My granddaughter who was eight at the time was very excited about the possibility of meeting Simon Cowell and co. Her parents - who are song writers - were away working so we planned our day with precision to optimise our chances!
We hardly slept the night before because we were buzzing with excitement - yes I am quite capable of being an eight-year-old or any other age that takes my fancy. I'm not known for acting my age!
We jumped out of bed as soon as the alarm went and got ready for our 'adventure'.and arrived at the Winter Gardens at 6.30 am. Well? the early bird and all that..............
It was cold, miserable and damp due to the continual fine rain, the sort that wets you through, as Peter Kay observes. Exactly the same weather as we had on Tuesday this week.
I mentioned earlier that my daughter and son-in-law are song writers, they earn their living 'gigging' up and down the country but their dream is to be professional song writers. Not one to miss an opportunity I was armed with three CD's of their songs. The judges that year were Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, hence three CD's.
Strangely there were no barriers up that time and - as far as I can remember, no crowds outside. In fact when Simon Cowell eventually arrived I think there were about twenty people there - although the numbers quickly swelled as word got around.
We waited for hours, not venturing far from the front doors of of the Winter Gardens in case we lost our vantage point! I think it was around eleven o'clock when Piers Morgan arrived - I walked straight up to him, shoved a CD in his pocket (They all had my daughter's contact details on in case I didn't have time to explain) and said 'There's a present for you' He looked a bit surprised and said 'Oh Thank you'. My next target was Amanda Holden who arrived about thirty minutes later. She smiled and looked genuinely delighted when I gave her the CD but again, didn't have time to explain as TV camera's were honing in on the celebrities as they arrived.
We then waited with Tony Adkins, Simon Cowell's then body gaurd. He was a very pleasant man and made my granddaughter's day regaling her with stories about how he felt sorry for the contestants - especially the children - who had their dreams dashed. He said he didn't think it was fair to put children through that level of rejection at such a tender age. He would break off to talk into his walkie talkie every so often trying to establish when his boss was going to arrive as he was already about an hour and a half late. Tony assured us that he would get Mr Cowell to stop and pose for a photograph with my granddaughter when he arrived. She was unbelievably excited! Mr Adkins made the wait worthwhile, it's not every day you get an introduction to Simon Cowell.
Simon Cowell's limo eventually drew up at around 2.30. Tony Adkins stuck his head in and had a conversation then Simon emerged shaking his head at his body guard and marched past the small crowd that had gathered ignoring calls from the crowd - including mine and headed straight for the door where a TV camera was waiting.
Well, you know those moments in your life when you see red? I had one of those! Could you blame me after standing in the cold and rain for seven hours with a small, excited child? I walked straight over to Mr Cowell who, I think, was being interviewed on camera, tapped him on the shoulder and stuck a CD in his pocket. 'There's a present for you' I announced as he turned round looking a little surprised.
'Oh thank you very much' he oozed, now the camera was on him! One of the security staff called my disappointed granddaughter over and told her to go down and see him at the tower the following week and he would get Simon Cowell's autograph for her. I took her down and he had kept his promise. She was delighted.
My daughter never heard from any of the judges about the songs but.....it was worth a try!
Here are links to a few of the songs on the CD. Have a listen and see what you think.
Jenny Cox - Would you run broadjam.com/artists/songs.
When She Cries http://www.broadjam.com/artists/songs.php?artistID=33439&mediaID=447766
Sunday 15 January 2012
FIRST WIN OF 2012
You probably know this by now but in case you don't - I like entering competitions. I enter quite a lot which is presumably why I've started winning a few. I opened my emails on 12th January to find an email beginning with the word Congratulations. I like emails that start with that word. Anyway, it turns out I've won a spa break for a family of four - or four adults - at Alton Towers including overnight stay, bed, breakfast and Evening meal. It's a first prize and my second spa break prize! The only trouble is it has to be taken by March so I don't think I'll be able to go.
I sold the last spa break I won so when it arrives I'm hoping to do the same (depending on the terms and conditions) The point is I'm still winning so it looks like the wins I had last year weren't a 'fluke' as I thought.
Now, I've seen a competition that ends in three days and the prize is a brand new fitted kitchen worth £20,000 including planning, fitting and top of the range appliances. I AM going to win this prize - watch this space. It involves writing a hundred and fifty words about your dream kitchen. Sounds easy enough doesn't it? Trouble is I've been thinking about it for three days now and haven't come up with fifteen words, never mind a hundred and fifty. I love competitions that involve writing and I've put in some pretty fantastic entries - at least I thought they were fantastic - sadly the judges didn't agree.
I was certain I was going to win that BMW in December. You should have seen what I wrote, it was genious.....mmmm I wonder who's driving round in that car! Maybe I should change tactics and write an X Factor type sob story......
I always get excited when competitions involve writing something because it isn't down to luck. Maybe I'm fooling myself because I've only won the ones involving luck so far. I did once win a National Writing competition, yes, I won the Gold Award. I was mighty impressed with myself until the prize arrived. Call me ungrateful - go on, I can't hear you - they sent me a certificate stating I was a Gold Award winner and a pen set containing a smart looking pen that didn't work. You wonder why I'm bitter and twisted!
When I win a major prize you'll be the first to hear about it unless it's majorly major in which case I may be too busy laying on a sunny beach somewhere to be bothered writing my blog.
Now, I really must go and write about my dream kitchen. All that stands between me and that kitchen is a few inspired sentences.............
I sold the last spa break I won so when it arrives I'm hoping to do the same (depending on the terms and conditions) The point is I'm still winning so it looks like the wins I had last year weren't a 'fluke' as I thought.
Now, I've seen a competition that ends in three days and the prize is a brand new fitted kitchen worth £20,000 including planning, fitting and top of the range appliances. I AM going to win this prize - watch this space. It involves writing a hundred and fifty words about your dream kitchen. Sounds easy enough doesn't it? Trouble is I've been thinking about it for three days now and haven't come up with fifteen words, never mind a hundred and fifty. I love competitions that involve writing and I've put in some pretty fantastic entries - at least I thought they were fantastic - sadly the judges didn't agree.
I was certain I was going to win that BMW in December. You should have seen what I wrote, it was genious.....mmmm I wonder who's driving round in that car! Maybe I should change tactics and write an X Factor type sob story......
I always get excited when competitions involve writing something because it isn't down to luck. Maybe I'm fooling myself because I've only won the ones involving luck so far. I did once win a National Writing competition, yes, I won the Gold Award. I was mighty impressed with myself until the prize arrived. Call me ungrateful - go on, I can't hear you - they sent me a certificate stating I was a Gold Award winner and a pen set containing a smart looking pen that didn't work. You wonder why I'm bitter and twisted!
When I win a major prize you'll be the first to hear about it unless it's majorly major in which case I may be too busy laying on a sunny beach somewhere to be bothered writing my blog.
Now, I really must go and write about my dream kitchen. All that stands between me and that kitchen is a few inspired sentences.............
Sunday 18 December 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GRIMNEY NEW YEAR
I thought I would just take this opportunity to wish my readers a Very Merry Christmas. It's a busy time of year and not much time for writing - unless you're ultra disciplined (which I'm not!) I think this will probably be my last post for 2011 as I'm sure you'll all have better things to do over the coming weeks than to read my blog!
If something particularly exciting pops into my head in the meantime I'll put a link on Twitter.
My regular readers - all three of you - will know by now that I have slipped into a fantasy world during the past few months. Now, there are some who know me that would say I've always lived in a fantasy world, but never mind about that.......
Of course, I am referring to The Land of Grimney. I do spend a lot of my spare time there these days and I love it! I have three characters in this strange land now and they seem to be taking on lives of their own which is fascinating to me, not being a fiction-type person. I suppose as much as anything it's the challenge I'm enjoying. I haven't played with imaginary people since I was about eight years old, I'd forgotten how much fun it could be.
I have also been promoted to 'site administrator' this week which I'm buzzing about even though I don't quite know what it means! It's a lovely feeling to be valued and given a promotion - even though it is in a fantasy land. Well let's face it it's the only place where I'm likely to be given a promotion! So I thought I'd just like to take the opportunity to let you know that I am important now. I promise I won't let the power go to my head though so don't worry all you peasants. Grimney are also running a Christmas poetry competition but if you want to enter, you'd better get your ice skates on because the closing date is the 25th December.
If you still haven't visited Grimney I suggest you give it a try if only to read some of the amazing poems and stories that members have posted in there. The address is: www.thelandofgrimney.co.uk
I thought I'd leave you with a couple of festive poems. The first is one of the entries I put into the Grimney poetry contest followed by one my twelve-year-old granddaughter wrote this afternoon. I'm so pleased that she likes poetry at such a tender age.
Have a lovely holiday and I'll see you in 2012 x
I thought I would just take this opportunity to wish my readers a Very Merry Christmas. It's a busy time of year and not much time for writing - unless you're ultra disciplined (which I'm not!) I think this will probably be my last post for 2011 as I'm sure you'll all have better things to do over the coming weeks than to read my blog!
If something particularly exciting pops into my head in the meantime I'll put a link on Twitter.
My regular readers - all three of you - will know by now that I have slipped into a fantasy world during the past few months. Now, there are some who know me that would say I've always lived in a fantasy world, but never mind about that.......
Of course, I am referring to The Land of Grimney. I do spend a lot of my spare time there these days and I love it! I have three characters in this strange land now and they seem to be taking on lives of their own which is fascinating to me, not being a fiction-type person. I suppose as much as anything it's the challenge I'm enjoying. I haven't played with imaginary people since I was about eight years old, I'd forgotten how much fun it could be.
I have also been promoted to 'site administrator' this week which I'm buzzing about even though I don't quite know what it means! It's a lovely feeling to be valued and given a promotion - even though it is in a fantasy land. Well let's face it it's the only place where I'm likely to be given a promotion! So I thought I'd just like to take the opportunity to let you know that I am important now. I promise I won't let the power go to my head though so don't worry all you peasants. Grimney are also running a Christmas poetry competition but if you want to enter, you'd better get your ice skates on because the closing date is the 25th December.
If you still haven't visited Grimney I suggest you give it a try if only to read some of the amazing poems and stories that members have posted in there. The address is: www.thelandofgrimney.co.uk
I thought I'd leave you with a couple of festive poems. The first is one of the entries I put into the Grimney poetry contest followed by one my twelve-year-old granddaughter wrote this afternoon. I'm so pleased that she likes poetry at such a tender age.
Have a lovely holiday and I'll see you in 2012 x
Present by Barbara Thomas
The present looked exciting
Yes ever so inviting
It sat beneath the tree
With love it said, to me!
Wrapped in crinkly bows
And Santas in the snow
I picked it up, I pressed and squeezed
Then back it went beneath the tree
For weeks and weeks I tried to guess
The contents of that treasure chest
I willed my dog to make a tare
So I could take a peep in there
But she just sighed and licked her feet
‘Cos it didn’t smell of bones or treats
So finally surrender came
I had to play the waiting game
On Christmas day the gift was placed
Into my lap, did my heart race!
I pulled the bows and sellotape
And tore the Santas out of shape
When I finally got to see
What had plagued my curiosity
I forced a smile and tried to hide
The disappointment felt inside
The hints I dropped were very clear
But must have fallen on deaf ears
No Kindle did I find in there
Instead a dryer for my hair
A poem of Christmas by Tyrion Cox
Putting up the decorations,
The sound of cheer and celebrations,
Outside the snow twinkles and glistens,
The choir sing, and everyone listens.
Chestnuts roast on a flaming fire,
The Christmas spirit is lifted higher.
The star upon the festive tree,
Sways, and shimmers gracefully.
Presents look so beckoning.
We sit and wait its so exciting…
Then it comes, the magnificent day!
Both children and adults all shout ‘hooray!
The presents are opened,
Faces are brightened.
Everyone’s happy, cheerful, and glad,
Christmas time, here at last!
Saturday 10 December 2011
This week's blog is another true story from my childhood - followed by a poem based on the story. - Enjoy!
SNOW JOKE
I was born in
Burnley, Lancashire and lived in a big, old terraced
house with a backyard, the gate of which, led out to a large cobbled area which
was our play ground.
Most of the
houses in the area looked the same, row after row of big, grey terraced houses
with chimneys that oozed out clouds of black smoke. This was the age before smoke
free zones and being an industrial town with factories and cotton mills, it
wasn’t just the smoke from residential chimneys spewing out smoke but also the
tall industrial chimneys which dominated the landscape.
Looking back,
the setting was quite gloomy and depressing but that’s not how I remember it,
with lots of extended family living close by - my grandparents lived next door
but one. There were always lots of family members popping in and out, lots of
laughter and quite regular family get - togethers mainly in my Grandma’s house
where there would be around thirty people crammed in, chattering or singing and
dancing to the strains of Grandad’s accordion playing.
Beyond the
green, latched gate next to ours, lived the original grumpy old man who was
known – for some inexplicable reason – as ‘Pop’
Pop constantly
aggravated my Mum with his moaning and grumbling about ‘them kids’ which
referred to me and my two elder brothers, Tommy and David. David was the eldest
and therefore should have known better but he was a proper lad and led Tommy
and me into all sorts of scrapes and misdemeanors, the likes of which would
never have entered our innocent heads had it not been for our rebellious
leader.
These misdemeanors
involved such pastimes as knock and run, and shouting “Baldie” out of the
window at folically challenged passers-by before swiftly ducking behind the opened
sash windows and peeping over the sill to catch the bemused reaction.
I particularly
enjoyed playing knock and run. I didn’t really understand the purpose of the
game I just remember it was a source of great excitement, one minute we’d be
standing in front of someone’s door whilst whoever’s turn it was knocked
loudly. The next we’d be running like the clappers in a desperate bid to get
out of sight before the door was opened. Great fun!
I remember one
particular night when Tommy and David rushed into the house excitedly and
insisted I come out and play with them. I was delighted; I wasn’t usually in
such great demand. When we got outside they pointed to a gate.
“See
that gate?” asked David “Go and rattle it really
hard” he instructed “and
you’ll get some sweets.”
So off I went to
accomplish my mission. I grabbed the handle tightly and pushed and pulled with
all my strength. The gate rattled furiously but no sweets appeared. .I threw a defeated look towards the two
expectant brothers lurking in the shadows.
“Nothing’s
happening.” I whispered.
David emerged
temporarily from his hiding place to give further instructions.
“You’re
not shaking it hard enough.” he advised, “You need to shake it really
really hard.”
I returned to
the task filled with a new determination after the pep talk. Grasping the
handle in two hands I proceeded to shake the gate until it was about to come
off its hinges. Then everything went black and my excitement turned to horror
as I felt myself shuddering from head to toe. I realised that I was freezing
cold and dripping wet. From within my miserable, wet darkness I could hear the
stifled sound of giggling. My vision
returned as one of the delightful brothers came to my aid and lifted the bucket
off my head. Then came my next set of instructions delivered in a somewhat
menacing tone:
“Right,
you better not tell mum what happened, tell
her
you fell in a puddle.”
“I…. I fell in a puddle.” I wailed as my
mum wrapped a towel round me, but from the dark looks she threw at the two
‘innocent’ onlookers, she didn’t believe me.
It wasn’t until
later it emerged that David and Tommy had been rattling the gate earlier and
had been warned by an exasperated Pop that if they did it again he was going to
place a bucket of water on top of the gate and they were in for a soaking. Ever
been had?
In those days
winter really was winter with the obligatory four feet of snow. A path would
have to be cleared from the back kitchen door to the gate before even the
shortest of journeys could be considered. On one such day – the story goes –
Pop’s heart must have thawed a little, unlike the frozen snow and as a gesture
of goodwill, he had entered our back yard armed with a shovel and cleared a
path for us. To most people this would be a sign, an extending of an olive
branch, so to speak, but not to my Mum, withered by the constant barrage of
abuse about her ‘little angels’ this was
an opportunity for……revenge!
She donned her
wellies and crunched her way round to Pop’s door to confront the snow thief.
She ‘ram tammed’ on the door – as she put it – and a few moments later, Pop
opened it a little sheepishly, probably expecting to see a burly policeman
standing there judging by the violent hammering at his door.
“Now
then” began my Mum, “Warrave you done wi’ our snow?”
After
an incredulous pause and a sharp intake of breath Pop replied hesitantly:
“I…
er ….. I’ve cleared a path for you.”
“Well
you’d no right” continued my Mum, “That’s OUR snow, now
gerrit
put back, the kids want to play in it!”
That said, she
turned and crunched her way home victoriously, wearing a wicked grin.
Pop, rather
grudgingly, trudged back and forth with spades full of snow until every last
flake had been replaced – so the story goes.
Now, I can’t
validate this story, it is being passed down through the generations (Kunta
Kinte style) by my brother David. That said, David is the man who, during his
three ‘lost’ years when he disappeared with the hippies in a cloud of smoke,
was roadying for Pink Floyd, the man who
now lives ‘just up the road’ from Chris Jagger (Mick’s brother) who he
regularly has ‘jams’ with and who, incidentally, once announced:
“Oh she’s great this chick”
just after the presenter on Top of The Pops
had introduced Alice Cooper.
SNOW JOKE – a Lancashire
tale
Bill the grumpy man next door
Often
gave my mum what for
Her little cherubs he complained
Were running wild and unrestrained
Chance came for sweet revenge one day
As she beckoned us to come and play
In snow that had fallen two feet deep
While we’d been drifting off to sleep
What possessed him we don’t know
But Bill had been and cleared our snow
Perhaps the path was his device
To end the feud and break the ice
But mummy’s angels had been wronged
And for this moment she had longed
A chance to air her deep frustration
Off she stormed for a confrontation
Face to frosty face she came
With the perpetrator of her pain
Hands on hips she pursed her lips
Warrave yer done wi’ our snow? she quipped
Bill was taken quite aback
By this incredulous attack
I’ve cleared a path for you he mumbled
Put
that snow back, it’s ours she grumbled
Bill’s jaw dropped in disbelief
Lost for words that slippery thief
The poor old wretch had met his match
When he ventured on to mummy’s patch
So off he trundled with his spade
Quite disgruntled and dismayed
To re-instate our stolen snow
Truth or fiction? No - one knows
Saturday 3 December 2011
Here's a true story from my childhood days - followed by another true story written as a poem.
WHITE
MARE ON ELM STREET
I swear my Dad invented Jim Royle’s
catchphrase “My Arse!” When I was
a child I thought the expression was part
of the English language
In fact if you know Jim from the Royle
family, you know my dad, he was
Jim Royle, but with a work ethic.
I don’t remember being bored when I was a
young girl, I always found
ways to amuse myself, usually out on the
cobbled back street either skipping
or throwing a ball against a high brick
wall and catching it. On one of these
occasions
my attention was diverted by a
strange sound. I must have been
around five years old and this is one of my
enduring childhood memories.
Along the bottom of the cobbles ran Elm Street which
led on to Colne road,
a busy main road. From the back street
could be heard the distant rumble
of traffic travelling along Colne road and occasionally
the rumble would
become a loud roar as a car turned left off
the main road into Elm Street.
On this particular evening, a new sound
emerged amongst the distant rumble
of the traffic. At first it was barely audible
but as it approached it gradually
got louder and louder. I stood and watched,
curiously waiting to find out what
was making the noise.
It started as a soft sort of clattering
noise like someone wearing big, heavy high heels.
It got steadily louder until into my view
appeared a magnificent sight. I gazed in
wonder as a huge white horse with a rider sitting,
proudly aloft, passed by the end
of the cobbled street and the clattering
noise faded away again.
I was totally fascinated and strangely
excited by the spectacle. Over the next few
days I noticed that the same thing happened
at around the same time every day
and I would find myself waiting with great
anticipation
After
about a week of this, I could stand the suspense no longer and a crazy plan
started to form in my little head.
I waited and waited for the moment when I
could put my plan into action then
the day arrived. I waited and waited then eventually the soft clatter could be heard in
the distance. Horse and rider came into view and I was off!
the day arrived. I waited and waited then eventually the soft clatter could be heard in
the distance. Horse and rider came into view and I was off!
I
chased the horse along Elm Street On and on I ran, all my energy andconcentration
focused on the black outline of the rider seated on that magnificent beast. Although I
continued to run at full speed, the gap between me and the horse began to widen.
focused on the black outline of the rider seated on that magnificent beast. Although I
continued to run at full speed, the gap between me and the horse began to widen.
I kept on running, I couldn’t let them get
away now I’d come this far. Idon’t know how
long I ran for but somehow they got away, the silhouetteof horse and rider vanished over
the brow of a hill and the clatteringbecame softer and softer until I could hear it no more.
long I ran for but somehow they got away, the silhouetteof horse and rider vanished over
the brow of a hill and the clatteringbecame softer and softer until I could hear it no more.
Not only had I lost sight of my horse and
my bold plan to ask if I could have a ride
but now I had a new and more immediate
problem. I was totally lost! Theunfamiliar
landscape which just moments ago had seemed so inviting, now looked frightening and
mysterious, green hedges lined with trees, rapidly descending intohalf light as the sun faded.
I spun around on my heels and surveyed the strange and unfamiliar landscape I could feel
my tiny heart pounding against my chest, partly from running, partly from fear and partly
from wondering what my mum and dad would say when they found out where I’d been.
landscape which just moments ago had seemed so inviting, now looked frightening and
mysterious, green hedges lined with trees, rapidly descending intohalf light as the sun faded.
I spun around on my heels and surveyed the strange and unfamiliar landscape I could feel
my tiny heart pounding against my chest, partly from running, partly from fear and partly
from wondering what my mum and dad would say when they found out where I’d been.
Why had I chased that stupid horse up here?
I had to get home, but how?
With incredible clarity of mind I decided that
even though I hadn’t a cluewhere I was, if
I started running in the opposite direction to the one thatbrought me here I would
eventually recognise something familiar
I started running in the opposite direction to the one thatbrought me here I would
eventually recognise something familiar
The return journey was the complete
opposite to the exciting adventure which
had
brought me here, full of terror and uncertainty, all I wanted to do was get
back to
that
familiar cobbled Street.
familiar cobbled Street.
Oh! the feeling of relief when,
eventually I came upon a street that I recognisedbut the feeling
was short-lived, soon to be replaced with the fear of facing my mumand dad and trying to
explain where I’d been. I was sure they’d be out franticallysearching for me by now, I must
have been missing for hours. Finally I turned onto those WONDERFUL cobbles. No sign
of my frantic mum and dad. With great trepidation Ilifted the latch on our green gate, walked
around the bend in the yard and opened the heavy, black kitchen door.
was short-lived, soon to be replaced with the fear of facing my mumand dad and trying to
explain where I’d been. I was sure they’d be out franticallysearching for me by now, I must
have been missing for hours. Finally I turned onto those WONDERFUL cobbles. No sign
of my frantic mum and dad. With great trepidation Ilifted the latch on our green gate, walked
around the bend in the yard and opened the heavy, black kitchen door.
As I entered the kitchen, I heard laughter
coming from the front room; I walked up the corridor
on trembling legs and into the room where my mum and dad were sat by a roaring fire,
chattering happily. My mum looked up as I entered;
on trembling legs and into the room where my mum and dad were sat by a roaring fire,
chattering happily. My mum looked up as I entered;
“Oh hello” she said, casually, “I was just
coming
to
call you in, what’ve you been doing?”
“Oh….er….playing with me ball” I replied,
half truthfully.
Relief swept over me, nobody knew about my
crime, and nobody ever did, until now that is.
At some point I must have told my mum about
the recurring horse visionand I must have
given her the inclination that I was excited about it because one afternoon she said
she had something exciting to tell me.
given her the inclination that I was excited about it because one afternoon she said
she had something exciting to tell me.
Apparently she’d been talking to Eileen from
the chippy on Elm Street
and it had transpired
during the conversation that Eileen worked in riding stables on Manchester Road and she’d
told my mum that I could go with her one day and help her to ‘muck’ the stables out.
during the conversation that Eileen worked in riding stables on Manchester Road and she’d
told my mum that I could go with her one day and help her to ‘muck’ the stables out.
“Would you like to go with her?” she asked.......
Would I!
Well! For the next couple of weeks I ate,
slept and dreamt those stables. Finally the great
day arrived. Clad in my new stretchy slacks and shiny wellies, I clung tightly to the carrier
bag containing my picnic and waited anxiously for the door bell to ring.
day arrived. Clad in my new stretchy slacks and shiny wellies, I clung tightly to the carrier
bag containing my picnic and waited anxiously for the door bell to ring.
I boarded the bus with Eileen and she
chatted away happily about what she did at the
stables. I don’t think I said a lot, I was very shy but it was worth going through the pain of
being with this virtual stranger to get to see a horse up close.
stables. I don’t think I said a lot, I was very shy but it was worth going through the pain of
being with this virtual stranger to get to see a horse up close.
I’ll never forget, the wonderful smell of horse
manure as we trudged along the muddy, winding
path leading to the stables. Eileen opened a big gate and I followed her in to a massive yard,
the stones crunched under our feet as we made our way in to that magical place. I looked up in
awe at a massive head peering out over a gate. The jaws went from side to side as it munched on a clump of hay. It stopped chewing momentarily and gazed curiously at me, I stared into the huge
shiny eyes and felt I would burst with happiness. My love of horses had begun.
path leading to the stables. Eileen opened a big gate and I followed her in to a massive yard,
the stones crunched under our feet as we made our way in to that magical place. I looked up in
awe at a massive head peering out over a gate. The jaws went from side to side as it munched on a clump of hay. It stopped chewing momentarily and gazed curiously at me, I stared into the huge
shiny eyes and felt I would burst with happiness. My love of horses had begun.
After a long day filled with new
sensations, including back – breaking work, every minute of which,
I adored, Eileen stunned me with the biggest surprise of all;
I adored, Eileen stunned me with the biggest surprise of all;
“Would you like to ride on one?” she asked.
How much excitement can one child take in a
day?
Sat on that horse with the leather saddle
creaking and the jangling bit on the bridle, soft leather
reins clutched in my tiny fingers and the warm, horsy smell in my nostrils, the clattering sound
came from beneath me now not from a distance, I felt like a princess! Life doesn’t get much
better than this.
reins clutched in my tiny fingers and the warm, horsy smell in my nostrils, the clattering sound
came from beneath me now not from a distance, I felt like a princess! Life doesn’t get much
better than this.
When I arrived home my mum and dad wanted
to know all about my day and I had so much
to tell them that my words were falling over each other, they laughed, I think they could tell I’d
had a good day.
to tell them that my words were falling over each other, they laughed, I think they could tell I’d
had a good day.
When all the excitement died down, I
remembered something important that I needed to ask my dad.
“Can I go for horse riding lessons? Eileen
said she’d take me.”
“And how much is that going to cost?” asked
my dad.
“Seven and six” I replied
[1] “Seven
and six? Seven and bloody six?” he repeated,
“Horse riding my arse!”
[1] seven and six:
equivalent of 37 pence
UNBRIDLED JOY
I’ve
never seen a horse so black
Overwhelmed, must sit on her back
And ride around that field so free
No saddle no bridle, just Diana and me
Alongside the fence she stands
Over I climb and with both hands
Grab her mane and with all my might
Pull myself over and hold on tight
There I sit excited and dazed
She lowers her head and continues to graze
Come on Diana I urge her on
She doesn’t take a step, not one.
I dig my heels
into her sides
Hoping to go
for a gentle ride
She pauses and
lifts her head, at last!
Then
snorts…and continues to nibble the grass.
You’re lovely,
I coax, gently patting her neck
But Diana’s
just not in the mood for a trek
I get the
message and slide to the ground
Diana
continues her munching sound
I clamber the
fence but I’m still feeling fine
For a whole
ten minutes that horse was MINE
On my way to
school the following day
The farmer’s
daughter was coming my way
I want a word
with you she screamed
My heart stopped
dead or so it seemed
My dad saw you
yesterday, she said
I looked at
her blankly and scratched my head
Sitting on
Diana’s back
She spoke of
my non-existent hack
Oh yeah well,
I meekly replied
She was by the
fence and I fancied a ride
Well it was a
stupid thing to do
I didn’t reply
I suppose it was true
What did you
think you were playing at?
Climbing onto
a horse like that?
I just wanted
a ride I repeated
She shook her
head and looked defeated
Then suddenly
I was rudely awoken
She exclaimed,
That horse has never been broken
Oh I gasped,
well I didn’t know
I felt myself
shaking from head to toe
Now the sight
of a horse never fails to remind
Me of Diana,
so gentle and kind
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Who wants to live in the real world anyway!
I know I'm not the first and I'm sure I won't be the last but...I realised a few days ago that I spend more time in the Cyber world than I do in the real one. I'm either writing my blog, entering competitions online talking on Twitter or Facebook or getting lost in Grimney!
I find myself rushing to do things that need to be done on planet reality so that I can get back into my cyber world. My dog doesn't like it, she sits staring at me quite often as if willing me to 'come away from that box'.
She's happy enough today though because we've been playing in the park for two hours so she's tired enough not to notice that I'm on the box in the corner again!
My husband doesn't mind too much, he's in his own little cyber world much of the time! We do meet up in the real world for a coffee occasionally though......
The most surprising aspect of this is my growing addiction to Grimney. I - or at least my character - has been having lots of adventures there recently. The difference between Grimney and planet earth is that you can control what happens to your life!
I used to spend quite a lot of time uploading articles and poetry to various publications in the hope that they would not only publish my scribblings but pay me as well. I don't do that so much nowadays though because I find that simply writing for the pleasure of it is far more enjoyable. My words may not be the most profound that you've ever read but they are MY words and I don't have to have anyone's permission to get them published.
During that particular period when I was desperate to be a published writer, I wrote a poem called 'Cyberspace Race' My daughter then turned it into a song for me which gave me a huge thrill! I can now add the rather impressive title of 'songwriter' to my growing list of credentials.
What?
Well, other people blag their way through life so why shouldn't I?
So until next time I leave you with my poem and my song!!
I know I'm not the first and I'm sure I won't be the last but...I realised a few days ago that I spend more time in the Cyber world than I do in the real one. I'm either writing my blog, entering competitions online talking on Twitter or Facebook or getting lost in Grimney!
I find myself rushing to do things that need to be done on planet reality so that I can get back into my cyber world. My dog doesn't like it, she sits staring at me quite often as if willing me to 'come away from that box'.
She's happy enough today though because we've been playing in the park for two hours so she's tired enough not to notice that I'm on the box in the corner again!
My husband doesn't mind too much, he's in his own little cyber world much of the time! We do meet up in the real world for a coffee occasionally though......
The most surprising aspect of this is my growing addiction to Grimney. I - or at least my character - has been having lots of adventures there recently. The difference between Grimney and planet earth is that you can control what happens to your life!
I used to spend quite a lot of time uploading articles and poetry to various publications in the hope that they would not only publish my scribblings but pay me as well. I don't do that so much nowadays though because I find that simply writing for the pleasure of it is far more enjoyable. My words may not be the most profound that you've ever read but they are MY words and I don't have to have anyone's permission to get them published.
During that particular period when I was desperate to be a published writer, I wrote a poem called 'Cyberspace Race' My daughter then turned it into a song for me which gave me a huge thrill! I can now add the rather impressive title of 'songwriter' to my growing list of credentials.
What?
Well, other people blag their way through life so why shouldn't I?
So until next time I leave you with my poem and my song!!
CYBERSPACE RACE
My words of wisdom keep disappearing
Into cyberspace
I don’t want to grumble
But I’m sort of losing face
All my words are disappearing
To a black hole sort of place
You see
I’ve joined the cyberspace race
The cyberspace race
The cyberspace race
My words are disappearing
Into cyberspace
Now that I’ve joined
The cyberspace race
One day I’m going to get a call
From an alien in another world
He’ll say Your words are clever
And I wondered if you’d ever
Had them published
No not yet
I just upload them on the net
But I’ve never heard a word, not yet
You see:
The cyberspace race
The cyberspace race
My words are disappearing
Into cyberspace
Since I joined the cyberspace race
Log in, Log out
Log in, Log out
All this white space
What is it all about?
The cyberspace race
The cyberspace race
Think I’ll cancel my subscription
To the cyberspace race
All my creative juice
Is floating round in cyberspace.
http://soundcloud.com/barbarathomas#play (Copy and paste this link to bring up player)
http://soundcloud.com/barbarathomas#play (Copy and paste this link to bring up player)
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