This meme was started by Delores a long time ago. Computer issues led her to bow out for a while. The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast.
Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write. Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image. What we do with those prompts is up to us: a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore... We can use some or all of the prompts.
Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme. If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
This month the prompts will be posted here but are being provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton. The prompts will include photographs taken by her Margaret's friend Bill.
This week's prompts are:
Hold on to your hat
And/or
A penny for your thoughts
Have fun. I have picked up a dose of Manflu from somewhere and will probably be absent for a day or two.
Sorry to hear you are 'under the weather' ... manflu ..... ugh!!!!!! Great prompts this week. I shall apply myself.
ReplyDeleteonly slightly confused: It is perhaps a judgement for me after my story last week. And not only do I have manflu there are signs that the man of the house is coming down with it.
DeleteI always look forward to seeing the results of your application.
"A penny for your thoughts," she said to me as she approached.
ReplyDelete"Hold on to your hat," I said. "You are not going to believe this..."
Feel better soon, EC.
Marie Smith: Thank you. It is unpleasant and uncomfortable but will pass.
DeleteI would love to know what we are not going to believe (curiosity is one of my besetting sins).
There were times when i wasn't sure i was believing what someone told me. Like Elephant's Child, i am curious what could happen that would be so unbelievable.
DeleteStartled, I jumped when the stranger sitting opposite lent across and said, “A penny for your thoughts!”
ReplyDeleteI’d not realised how lost in my reverie I had been.
Shaking my head, I replied, smiling, “No...keep your money...they’re not for sale. I doubt you’d be able to decipher them, anyway.”
The train rattled noisily along the tracks. The wooden carriages swayed from side to side.
Often I liked to jump aboard one of the carriages being pulled along by the old steam engine. It was a popular attraction for those wanting to experience something of the past.
For me, I was always taken back to the days of my childhood; to the days of innocence when our grandmother used to take my brother and me on train trips to visit our cousins up north.
“Hold on to your hat!” I exclaimed, smiling at the stranger. “And close your eyes. We’re about to career around a sharp bend just before entering a tunnel. For some reason, the carriages always jerk abruptly, and unless you close your eyes, you’ll get a dose of coal dust in your eyes!”
Take good care, EC. I hope you're feeling 100% again real soon. :)
Lee: There is something about steam trains isn't there? Dirty, inefficient - and magical.
DeleteThank you for your well wishes.
This brings back memories of long ago, when opening a window could be disastrous if the wind was blowing the steamy smoke the wrong way. Those were the days when getting off a train meant getting straight into the bath to wash off the sooty dirt.
DeleteYeah! But they were so much fun! :)
DeleteAs a tourist attracting the "Gympie Rattler/Mary Valley Rattler" will be up and running again this coming December - between Gympie and the Mary Valley and back again to Gympie Railway station giving the passengers a thrill of their lifetime. :)
https://www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au/
We travelled everywhere by train when we were kids. And with us were brought egg and lettuce sandwiches, ham sandwiches, and, sardine, tomato and onion sandwiches.
And....of course....a packet of Minties! Minties were a must, no matter where we travelled or by what method! :)
You've brought back memories of train rides i took as a very small child!
DeleteI closed my eyes too and for just a minute I was transported back in time.
DeleteThis was very fun as train rides are something I don't get enough of!
DeleteA penny for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteTo which I said, "What?"
How much did I earn?
Martin Kloess: Much more than a penny I hope? Perhaps the Penny Black stamp? Face value one penny but it would cost three or four thousand pounds to buy...
DeleteIf you've ever read Calvin and Hobbes, perhaps you remember when Hobbes said his thoughts were worth a quarter? Yours are probably worth at least that much.
DeleteUnder the weather or not, I couldn't stay away from this meme.
ReplyDeleteHold on to your hat, and don't go off half-cocked. I know you said 'a penny for your thoughts' but you should be aware that a fool and his money are soon parted. The ball is in your court, but I would suggest that it is best to let sleeping dogs lie...
Aha! No man, nor man-flu has a chance of stopping you, EC! :)
DeleteVery well done, seeing how many of these fit in a small story.
DeleteA lot of old favourites there.
DeleteIt's good to see how writing/creating/words and visions can bring us out under the weather or not! Bravo I enjoyed your take!
Deletesad to say I've discovered actions of supposed friends haven't panned out, hate to be negative but supposed friends and family members and relationships have proved to be sadly disproportionally negative and more detrimental than supportive.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: I am so sorry. So very sorry.
Delete:(
DeleteHang in there, Linda...hold your head high and don't let others get you down. Take good care. Hugs from Down Under.
DeletePeople can be disappointing...we're only human after all.
DeleteHand in there, surely it will pass. A great prompt for the week, as always. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteBlogoratti: Thank you.
Delete"A penny for your thoughts," she said.
ReplyDelete"Hold onto your hat," he replied. "This idea is a big one."
Okay! Spill!!!! :)
DeleteLet's hope it pans out!
DeleteRiver: I hope the big idea flys...
DeleteSorry to hear you have man-flu. Rest and fluids and hope you are better quickly. Staying warm helps, but that really just means keeping your body temperature stable by not going from hot to cold extremes.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Thank you. The body is going from cold to hot all by itself.
DeleteFeel Better!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you.
DeleteTwo good sayings.
ReplyDeleteMargaret-whiteangel: Familiar to most of us too...
DeleteShe walked across the room and noticed the incredibly handsome man looking at her. Oh, looking at her did not even come close to way his eyes moved back and forth over her entire being. Flattering? Indeed! Enough that her gait changed for her usual composed deliberate walk to an all out sashay. He started walking toward her, hesitated and the made his way to her. Now there was no doubt of his intentions to make some connection. He raised one finger slightly and cocked his head to one side to get her attention and indicate he wanted to speak to her. She was amused and interested all at the same time and decided to open conversation with the tried and true "A penny for your thoughts" He blushed, leaned close to her left ear. and whispered "Hold on to your hat, but you have about a 10 foot trail of toilet paper trailing your dress.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a personal note, hope you feel much better soon
Anne in the kitchen: I am blushing for your protagonist. It was toilet paper on my shoe rather than my dress, but the shame for the teenager I was still reverberates.
DeleteAnd thank you.
OMG! What a letdown! ten feet of toilet paper instead of a kissed hand and sweet talk.
DeleteOuch! You set this up perfectly for the letdown.
DeleteFantastic. I was waiting to hear that he was looking at someone behind her but this is WAY better.
DeleteOh no not the toilet paper trail! This was wonderful.
DeleteSuch fun responses. Thanks for the smiles. E.C. hope you're feeling better quickly. Take care.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: Thank you.
DeleteHope you recover very quickly.
ReplyDeleteBased on how i drive, this is me and my Sweetie
messymini: Loved your story - and your photos. And thank you.
DeleteEnjoyed your story and loved seeing the pics of the beach. I thought that sand looked familiar and when I saw the card you found I knew I was correct!
DeleteMy story is posted on my blog. CASTAWAY by Granny Annie. Love what the rest of you have done with the prompts. Thanks Margaret, Sue and Bill.
ReplyDeleteE.C., sorry you are under the weather but happy you were able to post a story regardless. Hope you are fit as a fiddle very soon.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: Thank you. I will be over to read your story very shortly.
DeleteThat was fun Granny Annie!
DeleteI had difficulties this week......I've become accustomed to the list of words. You know, I'm old and don't like change lol. Anyway, here we go with my attempt. I've used, "hold on to your hat".
ReplyDeleteWhen I started out today
the wind had not come out to play,
but,
by the time that I came back
the wind was strong and at my back.
A kind policeman
told me that
I must hold on
to my hat.
He said, "It's a windy day
and sometimes wind
just likes to play."
And so, I held on
to my hat
and shared the helpful message that
on windy days it's wise
to HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT.
only slightly confused: Love it. And sometimes, sometimes we need to hold onto our hat to keep things under it from emerging.
DeleteNothing hinders you, Delores! Well done! :)
DeleteOh goodness I liked your take on this and the kind policeman is just an added touch to your story!
DeleteHope you feel better soon, EC.
ReplyDeleteJo: Thank you.
DeleteI hope you and your fellow have a fast recovery, EC. It's hard when both partners are sick at the same time and there's no one to take over for a few days. Jazz will just have to change his own litter box and open his own food ...
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Thank you. Jazz's needs will be met. He insists on it. And hopefully both of us will recover quickly. Himself is coming down with it, and I am in the thick of it.
DeleteI have my story scheduled for Friday, I didn't manage to get the phrases in, but I'll get them in next week.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I have been, I have read, I have cheered.
DeleteHi EC - first I hope you're feeling better and that 'Mancold' has eased off ... oh! just read above ... it is at least passing by ...
ReplyDelete"Hold on to your hat:
To school she went on the steam train … the girls hanging out of the window … she remembered her mother’s words ‘Hang on to Your Hat” …
… too late – the blast of wind hit her full on … she felt her head tip back, her hat … her hands went up, but … fly off it did …
She knew she’d be in for a drubbing when she got to school, let alone when she got home …
She will forever remember she will hold on to her hat … "
Cheers - back to bed now ... recover soon - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I remember when losing an item of school gear meant trouble. No hats though. Probably fortunately.
DeleteLoved your story.
I hope you are feeling better. Sorry I missed this week.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: Thank you. I missed your take on the prompts, but some weeks like gets in the way. Or the prompts don't speak to you. Not a problem.
DeleteOh no, I hope you spring back to health quickly, so sorry to hear! I am going to put a post together for this right now. Take good care of you.
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: Thank you.
DeleteHello again, as I promised I'm back and here is where you can view mine! I sure hope you're feeling better.
ReplyDeletehttp://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2017/06/words-for-wednesday_15.html
The little boy in the cowboy hat is my sweet grandson, Danny Jr.
DeleteKaren S.: I have been and thoroughly enjoyed your take. Thank you for joining us again.
DeleteThanks, I'll be back again, trying to get more blogging time!
DeleteI hope you will feel better very soon!
ReplyDeleteTo me, as my English is "weak" it is not easy to get the phrases...
Wishing you and yours a happy day and nice weekend too!
sonia a. mascaro: Thank you. Your english is MUCH better than my knowledge of your language.
DeleteI hope you and yours have a wonderful week and weekend.
He walked past as she strummed her guitar. He retraced his steps. You're not playing, he said. Not really, she replied, I am practising... and thinking, she added. A penny for your thoughts, then, he smiled. Have you got the time? You might want to go to the hole in the wall around the corner, she smiled back. Is that true? Have you got that many thoughts to sell? Well, I have had to sell other things since I was 12, so, why not my thoughts? On hearing this, he lost his straight posture. his shoulders slumped and his smile disappeared.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened next?
Greetings from London.
A Cuban in London: I would really like to read more of this. And shudder at the things she has had to sell...
DeleteOh wow, I need to know what came next! My imagination is churning possibilities
DeleteBetter late than never ... http://lettingthewordsescape.blogspot.com/2017/06/wednesdays-words_15.html
ReplyDeleteCindi Summerlin: I have been, I have read, I have absorbed. I would have to give people change too - particularly this week.
DeleteI am so sorry to hear you are unwell, hope you and family feel better soonest.
ReplyDeleteSorry also to have missed the prompts this week. I've been moving home, the confusion is indescribable. Holding onto my hat somehow. No pennies for any of my thoughts.
Nilanjana Bose: Moving? You have all my sympathy. I hope the confusion can be cleared quickly.
DeleteSorry to hear you have not been feeling well. Hope you and the man of the house are feeling better soon (if not already). :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~Jess: Thank you. We are getting there. Slowly.
DeleteMan flu? Is this something you caught from a man? I hope it fades fast.
ReplyDeleteNot sure my thoughts are worth a penny.
Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Of course your thoughts are worth a penny. Many pennies.
DeleteMan flu is a term for those who never get a cold, but flu, never get a headache, but a migraine. Rightly or wrongly men are considered prime sufferers.
The man flu makes sense.
DeleteAs for holding on to my hat, when I wore a wig to cover up chemo induced baldness, I had to 'hold on to my wig' as it would become airborn with the least amount of wind.
Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: One of my friends had that problem. And gave up and went bald.
Delete... do hope you are feeling lots better.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. I am getting there.
DeleteThis is a story from Sue Fulcher (one of the girls who supplied the prompt but not a blogger).
ReplyDeleteThis is the adventure of a life time, a journey through space and time. A chance to find out what's in my head, why I am what I am.
It started with an obscure advert in an even more obscure scientific magazine requesting volunteers for a unique experiment. £300 paid on successful completion. And I could so use £300! Oh and I was suffering from a broken heart, again,. My life seemed to be filled with broken hearts.
I arrived on time dressed in casual attire and went through a short interview with perfunctory questions and I was then shown into a room bristling with glowing dials and snaking wires.
I was invited to sit and contraptions were placed over my heart and on my head. I bent my head to look at the scary heart contraption and the headpiece slipped forward.
The words 'oh for heaven's sake' were distinctly heard and a guy in a white overall who looked as though he should have been at home with a bag of crisps watching Telly Tubbies sauntered into the room.
"Just hold onto your hat" he said "it'll be just fine , just a few initial glitches". And then he left.
Ok I thought, but hold on a moment. How many times has this been done? And am I really a guinea pig?
Suddenly my head felt odd. Thoughts that I hadn't had for years started flooding by and there she was, my childhood sweetheart. All blonde hair, blue eyes and teasing. Oh and the fun we had. Lifting stones to see the bugs run, making dens, jumping in puddles.
I felt myself begin to cry tears of joy and regret and then she waved goodbye and began to fade. I was bereft and back in the room.
The young scientist reappeared
"So?" He asked, "good time?. This machine is a thought actuator. It has been developed especially to remind human beings that the world is not all bad, that there is time for fun and laughter. Happiness is all around in the simple things and it needs to be shared to make it grow. In return for your help, we gave you a Penny for your thoughts and as it happens Penny answered the ad too and her happy place was with you.you should go and find her, she's not far. I'm away now to find another volunteer.
And with that he , and the room were no longer there, but in the street where I inexplicably found myself was a blonde woman holding the hand of a small girl who was all blonde hair, blue eyes and teasing.
"Penny" i called out. She turned and I saw her mouth move with my name..... happiness was indeed to be shared.
Margaret Adamson - and Sue: This is very, very moving. I suspect a lot of us would benefit it the thought actuator existed.
Delete