Wednesday, 13 December 2017

Words for Wednesday

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, which includes cheering on the other participants.  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 provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton.  The prompts will include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Bill. .

This week's prompts are:


The show must go on


And /or

The straw that broke the Camel’s back

Have fun (Giraffes last week, camels this...)
 
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86 comments:

  1. Linda Starr13 December 2017 at 06:26

    The bedouin loaded the camel for the long journey across the desert. When they reached their destination the camel fell over and died. The bedouin had slept on the straw instead of giving the poor camel a bite to eat. The camel had enough water stored in his hump, but a lack of food to eat. Hence the straw that broke the camel's back.

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 07:00

      Linda Starr: What a foolish bedouin. Shame that they reached their destination... Great use of the prompts.

      Delete
    2. Lee13 December 2017 at 09:28

      All we need now is Rudolph Valentino!

      Well done, Linda! :)

      Delete
    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:37

      I like it linda but like Sue, it is a pity he had not been stranded in the desert!

      Delete
    4. messymimi14 December 2017 at 08:59

      Always treat your animal well or you will regret it. Good story.

      Delete
    5. Sandra Cox15 December 2017 at 01:48

      A well told tale, but sad:(
      You did a wonderful job. It played on the emotions.

      Delete
    6. Cindi15 December 2017 at 05:35

      The camel should have kicked him out of bed and eaten the straw!

      Delete
    7. Susan Flett Swiderski15 December 2017 at 23:50

      I believe there's a "moral of the story" in there. Nice job! Aesop would approve.

      Delete
  2. Cloudia13 December 2017 at 06:33

    Good luck everybody have fun

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  3. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 07:01

    The show must go on!!! said Sally Seal.

    Humph. Or perhaps hump said Carl. Easy enough for you to say. All you have to do it catch fish and clap your flippers. I have a much harder job. I am the camel of all work. I have to drag your props around, and everyone else's too. And each and every one of you says 'just a little bit more'. And the straw that broke the Camel's back? Literally broke my back? Rumplestiltskin's straw. Gold is heavy.
    I don't even know what a seal OR a camel are doing in that story. I quit. This show can go on without me.

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    1. Lee13 December 2017 at 09:30

      It sounds like the circus animals escaped and found shelter in the castle!

      Good job,EC. :)

      Delete
    2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:39

      I think poor Sally is a bit frazzled

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    3. Sandra Cox14 December 2017 at 01:06

      Ha! Love it. Good job, EC.

      Delete
    4. messymimi14 December 2017 at 08:59

      Heeheehee! Yes, i like this.

      Delete
    5. Magic Love Crow14 December 2017 at 12:13

      Loved it!

      Delete
    6. Cindi15 December 2017 at 05:37

      Hahaha, loved it! News headlines will read: Camel on strike over the straw that broke its back!

      Delete
    7. Susan Flett Swiderski15 December 2017 at 23:57

      Great job, as always. I think we all feel like the "camel of all work" at one time or another.

      I hope Santa treats you well, and here's to a new year filled with peace and love. (And books and giggles!) Seeya then!

      Delete
  4. only slightly confused13 December 2017 at 08:21

    Miss Engels clapped her hands to her head in desperation. The Christmas pageant was in 8 hours and so far 2 angels, one shepherd,, a camel and the Mother Mary had called in sick (or their mothers had). Well....the show must go on somehow. Her doberman could fill in for the camel, the remaining shepherds could cluster a little closer to fill in the gap, her 80 year old mother could play the part of Mary and the angels would all just have to sing a little louder and flap their wings a little harder to make up the difference. The phone rang. The organist was on her way to the airport because her mother had fallen and broken her hip. Now THAT was the straw that broke the camels (the camel being Miss Engels) back.
    Fun challenge this week.

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 08:53

      only slightly confused: Love it. And suspect that variations of Miss Engel's woes are being played out right now.

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    2. Lee13 December 2017 at 09:31

      That certainly was a miracle with an 80 year old Mary
      !! lol

      A fun little story, Delores...well done. :)

      Delete
    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:41

      Not only is your story funny but I also laughed at the comments

      Delete
    4. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:03

      Oh, dear. There's just only so much you can do with a Christmas pageant with that much trouble.

      Delete
    5. Sandra Cox15 December 2017 at 01:49

      Ha. This was great. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

      Delete
    6. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:15

      Wonderfully done!

      Delete
    7. Susan Flett Swiderski15 December 2017 at 23:58

      Yeah, it was a fun challenge, and you met it beautifully!

      Delete
  5. Lee13 December 2017 at 09:27

    And the Wednesday show does go on......

    "Christmas was fast approaching – and so was Cyclone Joy. Cyclone or no cyclone THE SHOW MUST GO ON I told myself.

    I had a resort full of guests and I wasn’t going to let the wild weather be THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK.

    My back and my Christmas spirit were both stronger than any damn camel’s back.

    Christmas on Newry Island was going to be one my guests would never forget...one way or the other."

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 13:38

      Lee: I know this is a true story, and your guests were very lucky to have such a capable woman (and her team) to look after them.

      Delete
    2. Lee13 December 2017 at 16:54

      I was the only "team" when on Newry, EC! lol

      Thanks. :)

      Delete
    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:43

      That's the spirit. being tht determined, " the show must go on"!

      Delete
    4. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:04

      You are the hostest with the mostest!

      Delete
    5. Sandra Cox15 December 2017 at 01:50

      Great job, Lee! Your determination shines through:)

      Delete
    6. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:16

      It sounds like a Christmas filled with surprises and excitement

      Delete
  6. Margaret D13 December 2017 at 09:41

    Indeed 'the show must go on' come hell or high water!

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 13:39

      Margaret-whiteangel: Sadly yes. Some shows should be put to bed.

      Delete
  7. River13 December 2017 at 14:51

    The originator of this challenge succumbed to computer problems and bowed out. "The show must go on!", cried EC and volunteered to provide the words. Within weeks it almost became the Straw that broke the camel's back, and volunteers were called for. Many put up their hands and so the show goes on.

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 15:25

      River: Love it. And this camel did feel her back was breaking.

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    2. Lee13 December 2017 at 16:55

      Terrific, River. :)

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:45

      I am glad Bloggers came to the rescue of EC so that the "So that Show WOULD go on"!

      Delete
    4. only slightly confused14 December 2017 at 00:30

      Thank goodness for EC and the volunteers. It would have been a shame to lose this fun challenge.

      Delete
    5. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:04

      Yes, otherwise we wouldn't have all these fun stories to read.

      Delete
    6. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:17

      Yay for EC! We'd be lost without her!

      Delete
  8. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 17:35

    This was only the second time I had produced a Shakespeare play. It had been decided to perform Romeo and Juliet outside in the Walled Garden of Ward Park in my home town of Bangor in June. Surprisingly, rehearsals had gone well, even I was pleased with the dress run. Oops! I spoke to soon, the night before the first performance, Juliet ended up in hospital with Appendicitis. THE SHOW MUST GO ON! As I was the only other one to know her part I would play Juliet after I shaved my beard off!!

    I was already fed up with my husband’s laziness, his selfish ways and sitting up well into the wee small hours of a night on the computer, but it was his refusal to get off the couch and come with me to my Mother’s funeral that was THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK!

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    1. Elephant's Child13 December 2017 at 19:07

      Margaret Adamson: Smiling at both your stories. And it wouldn't only have been the camel's back which was broken in the second. I think the husband's head may have suffered too.

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    2. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:06

      In the Shakespearean tradition of getting young boys to play the girls parts, i'm sure it will work out quite well. Not so for the marriage...

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    3. DMS14 December 2017 at 11:41

      Wonderful job, Margaret! I enjoyed both of your stories. :)
      ~Jess

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    4. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:19

      Two well written stories! Although a bearded Juliet might have been an interesting take on the play ~ what if all the characters were played by opposite genders?

      Delete
  9. Barbara13 December 2017 at 19:22

    The show must go on but Christmas really is the straw that broke the Camel’s back.
    As you can tell I’ve got the hump!
    None of the above is true by the way. I love Christmas, and I really don’t have the hump. Smile.

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    1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure13 December 2017 at 20:00

      I love this Babarab and it did make me smile also

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    2. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 05:40

      Barbara Fisher: Love it - and thanks for joining us.

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    3. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:06

      As much as i love Christmas, sometimes i am tired of the bustle. Nice use of the prompts.

      Delete
    4. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:20

      I'm echoing Mimi. Normally I like Christmas but this year has been such a struggle.

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    5. Barbara16 December 2017 at 06:09

      Thanks for allowing me to join in, it was fun! x

      Delete
    6. Elephant's Child16 December 2017 at 06:14

      Barbara Fisher: The more the merrier - you are welcome to play any time.

      Delete
  10. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com14 December 2017 at 06:21

    The show must go on
    So I shall sing this song:
    Oh Hanukah, Oh Hanukah
    Happy Hanukah to you, uuu, kah. =)

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    1. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 06:37

      Rawknrobyn: And a Very Happy Hanukah to you too. And to Dude Three if he is still around. If not, not.

      Delete
    2. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:07

      A blessed Hanukkah to you!

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure14 December 2017 at 20:48

      And from me also

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    4. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:22

      Lovely! Happy Hanukkah!

      Delete
  11. RO14 December 2017 at 07:18

    These are surely fun phrases for the middle of the week, EC! Now there are all these thoughts in my head so I can work them in. (lol) Hugs...RO

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    1. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 15:51

      RO: Margaret and her friends have set us thinking haven't they?

      Delete
  12. Hilary Melton-Butcher14 December 2017 at 08:38

    I wondered as I came into this world ... which species was I ... one or two humped, or perhaps just the wild version ...

    Not long and I realised I was two humped ... and that piglet running around over me was trying to leave his straw reserves on my back - they slumped down ... leaving little ol' piggy to run back down again ...

    oh why don't they make nursery rhymes like the old days ... not muddle them up for the child of the elephant - and that adds another dimension ...

    I need an afternoon's sleep - it is after lunch sleep time here - back in my old place it's getting on towards bedtime ...

    Sometimes I wonder about life ... straw, one or two lumps, which side of the planet am I on... am I up there or down thereunder - where the child of the elephant lives ...

    We are all one ... humpety - do ... off I goes ... tiddlypom ... where are my toes - oh covered in snow ... tiddlypom -

    Cheers before total silliness comes in - it's not snowing here (yet) ... now to think about giraffes in advance - Hilary

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    1. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:08

      They don't make nursery rhymes like they used to, but you know how to make the story fun.

      Delete
    2. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 15:52

      Hilary Melton Butcher: Big smiles. This child of the elephant is applauding. Loudly.

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    3. Margaret Birding For Pleasure14 December 2017 at 20:52

      Hilaary Some tme I am still wondering what species i am!!!

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    4. Cindi15 December 2017 at 07:25

      grinning at tiddlypoms!

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    5. Hilary Melton-Butcher15 December 2017 at 11:06

      Thanks everyone ... just some silliness to amuse or bemuse .. just glad you had happy smiles all round - thank you ...

      Delete
    6. Sandra Cox17 December 2017 at 03:29

      What fun, Hilary. Kudos for thinking of nursery rhymes.

      Delete
  13. messymimi14 December 2017 at 09:09

    My entry for last week and this is at http://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com
    and i've quit trying to make it into a link it just does not work.

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    1. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 15:52

      messymimi: Thank you. I will be over very shortly.

      Delete
  14. Magic Love Crow14 December 2017 at 12:14

    Excellent posts everyone!

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    1. Elephant's Child14 December 2017 at 15:53

      Magic Love Crow: There are some stunners aren't there?

      Delete
  15. River14 December 2017 at 21:35

    I like all the above efforts. Mine is scheduled for tomorrow.

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  16. River14 December 2017 at 21:36

    I really wish more people would drop in and see my Friday writings...

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    1. Elephant's Child15 December 2017 at 05:52

      River: I wish they would too. Your stories are ALWAYS worth reading.

      Delete
    2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure15 December 2017 at 08:06

      MAy I suggest if you would like more people to see your writings, you copy it onto Sue's site when the promts are on her site as well as having it on your site.

      Delete
  17. Jimmy15 December 2017 at 02:02

    It's been a busy week with company and doctor visits for Cindy's dad, and here is my offering using a trip to see the doctor yesterday Doctor visit battle hope you stop by and enjoy.

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    1. Elephant's Child15 December 2017 at 05:53

      Jimmy: I hope despite the business it was a good week. I will read your story v shortly.

      Delete
  18. Cindi15 December 2017 at 05:33

    Here is mine. I'm under the weather again this week. Brought on by my own stupidity and attempted heroics. I've injured my back, so now am flat on it. Hope everyone is doing much better than I am. Love reading the contributions. Wednesday's Words

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    1. Elephant's Child15 December 2017 at 05:54

      Cindi Summerlin: I am sorry about your back. Very sorry. And have already read your contribution - and loved it.

      Delete
  19. Charlotte (MotherOwl)15 December 2017 at 07:02

    Hello, new kid on the block. I'm Danish, and never met a challenge like this one before. It sounds interesting. I don't know if this "nonsense-verse" suits the bill. It just popped into my head almost finished.

    The straw that broke the Camel’s back.
    Is the one straw that in the sack
    Is the last straw to enter.
    But baby Jesus in the straw
    Holds up His hand and filled with awe
    The camel kneels off center.
    Thus it be Christmas once again
    And Camel can forget his pain.

    I'm not a native speaker, so I welcome any and all comments and corrections.

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    1. Elephant's Child15 December 2017 at 07:13

      Ugelmor: Welcome and thank you. Your verse suits the bill perfectly - and is so appropriate to the season.

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    2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure15 December 2017 at 08:02

      Well done very seasonal so hope you will join in next week also

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    3. Hilary Melton-Butcher15 December 2017 at 11:05

      Hi Ugelmor - well done ... lovely story-poem - cheers Hilary

      Delete
    4. Sandra Cox17 December 2017 at 03:27

      This was wonderful. And so perfect for the season.

      Delete