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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.
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. And huge thanks to those of you who come back, sometimes time after time to cheer other contributors on.
Huge thanks to David M. Gascoigne for providing the prompts last month. The
prompts will be here again this month and are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher .
This
week's prompts are:
- Tennis
- Turkish
- Delight
- Melon
- Brook
And/or
- Officers
- Steps
- Conclusion
- Earliest
- Pan
- Asparagus
Have fun.
Brook was thrilled when she heard her tennis club nominating committee was presenting its slate of prospective officers for
ReplyDeleteacceptance at their monthly club meeting. The vote would not be until the following month and this would be the earliest the committee had ever released the names.
She had taken all the necessary steps to have her name slated for the club president, including even taking 3 of the committee members to separate lunches. She made sure they knew she was willing and ready to lead the group for the next 2 years.
The day of the meeting came, getting the business part out of the way before the slate was presented right before its conclusion.
Once home, after the meeting instead of having her planned celebratory dinner of steak, potato, asparagus, and chilled melon, she gorged and ate the entire pan of Turkish Delight she had in the refrigerator.
She was nominated for absolutely nothing__again. Damn it!
Un divertit final, les coses que surten millor són les que no es planegen. 😉
DeleteAnne in the kitchen: I love it. Big smiles...
DeleteNah! Damn it, indeed! ;-)
DeleteExcellent story! Brook counting her chickens before they've hatched.
DeleteExcellent! I'd eat my disappointment away, too.
DeleteLove,
Janie
Sometime you just want it too much.
DeleteThey say every Pope who enters the conclave comes out a Cardinal.
DeleteWell done, Anne! Spare me from ever being nominated for an officer again! I'd say, "yay!" not "Damn it!" 😂.
DeleteOh, how disappointing for her, but it could be a blessing in disguise. Good use of the prompt words!
DeleteHi Anne - well done ... that was excellent - and I expect none of us will be able to match this 'entry' ... thanks so much ... what a fun take - all good things won't happen if planned! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI forgot today ... so I'll be back tomorrow ... and now get to think of something very different from Anne's excellent gambit!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
DeleteMajor Morris and his friends considered themselves to be officers and gentlemen. The Major in particular was a stickler for rules and would brook no insubordination. At the earliest hint of bad behavior I will take steps to curtail it he said. from his subordinates.
ReplyDeleteLittle did he know his batman Fred Hunt despised him. The landing at Gallipoli aimed to distract the Turkish forces and allow the British Navy to advance further into the Dardanelles. Major Morris and his friends remained safe Fred complained. While our friends were dying they were at the back waiting for further orders. The campaign was a failure but no-one would reach that conclusion listening to Major Morris. ‘He is yellow. Yellower than my mum’s iris’
Fred took great delight in imitating them. ‘Anyone for tennis’ he would mince with his little finger extended. ‘Afterwards I will get my man to rustle up a pan full of asparagus and a melon to finish.’
Fred did his job it is true but he took lots of shortcuts. A less trusting or confident man than the Major might also have wondered just why his possessions met with so many disasters and why his mail took weeks longer to arrive than other peoples…
Good one! And I can think of a few people who despise someone else: the "war hero" Churchill.
DeleteInteresting story. I don't know much about Gallipoli, was the Major part of the English crew who stayed safe while Australians fought and died? Fred was certainly a sneaky character.
DeleteI love "he would mince with his little finger extended." I can see it. Great work.
DeleteLove,
Janie
Wonderful story, Sue. And true in many instances, I have no doubt.
DeleteHi Sue - I'm listening to the Aussies playing South Africa now!! However with what is going elsewhere in the world ... life is not easy ... and so many get away with things - which they shouldn't. I also happened to relook at the poem 'The Siege of Belgrade' by Alaric Alfred Watts ... which I love - fun to read ... references history ... and other sieges. Yes - I'm sure revenges by the troops would occur rather often ...clever story - using my prompts - cheers Hilary
DeleteWell done as always, EC. Nice and crisp. I especially liked 'yellower than my mum's iris'. Woot. Woot.
DeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Every group has these characters, you described them well.
DeleteI really liked "yellower than my mum's iris too! Nicely done, Sue!
DeleteVery well done, and I'm sure historically accurate in many parts of the world.
DeleteUna bona feina!! 👌
DeleteI think of the two men, I would like to spend my time with Fred. I love a little sarcasm served with my tea!
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time Turkish officers found delight in hitting an iris yellow melon with a pan over a brook, and thus are to be considered the inventors of earliest tennis. The winner used to be awarded with a wood asparagus and was henceforth allowed to adorn himself with the sobrequet 'Surviving Iris Yellow’.
ReplyDeleteConclusion: The first steps of anything on earth and in universes still to discover always are being made by Turkish masterminds.
corr.: wooden. ;-)
DeleteSean Jeating: I like it - and am reminded that my partner would consider the wooden asparagus to be more edible than that which is served to us today.
DeleteUff! How cometh the asparagus served today is considered less edible by himself?
DeleteHe thinks it is poison and would rather eat wood. Or simply do without.
DeleteHa ha ha ha ha ha ...
DeleteHe has, of course, not yet eaten asparagus "a la Sean".
I had always wondered about the origins of tennis, and now I know (or at least will say I do)
DeleteA good enough origin for tennis as any other I'd say. I'm not a fan. Not a fan of asparagus either, it's either overcooked and mushy or undercooked and hard to chew.
DeleteVery clever!
DeleteLove,
Janie
Hi Sean - I'm a big fan of asparagus ... and tennis ... and cricket! Also thank you for the introduction as to how the game of tennis came about! Yet another story to add to the lore that is found throughout English history - cheers Hilary
DeleteWell done, Sean, cleverly constructed.
DeleteVery nicely done! Do you know if the Turks actually invented golf and then gave the game to the Scots?
DeleteMimi, what a question! It was – of course! – a Turk who invented this planet and all universes yeat to discover!!
DeleteGreat fun, Sean!
DeleteNo m'agraden gens els espàrrecs, tinguin el gust que tinguin i estiguin cuinats de la manera que vulguis. ;-)
DeleteI delight in Turkish delight.
ReplyDelete(Not really. It's kinda gross!)
I agree with you!
DeleteSandi: Himself tells me that 'real' Turkish delight is a very different treat - and that it is a treat.
DeleteTurkish Delight is one of the greatest treats the world has to offer.
DeleteHappy Writing! And Happy Almost Winter to You.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: Thank you.
Delete:-)
DeleteI always look forward to Words for Wednesday such a thoughtful and creative space. Thank you, Hilary, for providing this month’s prompts, and cheers to Charlotte for the lovely “Surviving Iris Yellow” inspiration.
ReplyDeleteIt’s heartening to see how this meme has grown and endured, much like those yellow irises. I’ll be posting my take shortly and can’t wait to read what others come up with. Let’s keep the creativity blooming!
Asep Haryono: Thank you. When you have posted please let us know which of your blogs you are using. I look forward to reading it.
DeleteHi Asep - thank you for enjoying the prompts I provided ... it is certainly a creative space - cheers Hilary
DeleteReally good stories here. I have noted the words and will see if I can't expand on last week's effort. I have plenty of time, being stuck at home while coughing my lungs out still.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I am so sorry you are still unwell - but look forward to your story.
DeleteI don’t care for TURKISH DELIGHT at all, I’d rather eat a piece of MELON any day as I watch the TENNIS down by BROOK.
ReplyDeleteGood tales.
Margaret D: I am not a fan of tennis or Turkish Delight or melons. I do like brooks though. Great succinct use of the words.
DeleteI want some of EC's partner's real Turkish Delight and I'lll be watching the tennis til I need to go out later on ... sadly no brook nearby! Cheers Hilary
DeleteAt the first moment I thought I were reading "Major Mike's" entry. :-)
DeleteThere are not many delights that are Turkish, these days.
Nicely done! Although I do enjoy Turkish Delight, myself.
Delete😂
DeleteCurt però efectiu! ;-)
DeleteSome called it Lokum, but to her it was Turkish Delight and her latest batch was the color of a ripe honeydew melon. He would arrive soon, after finishing his tennis game at the courts near the brook. He always left the house at the earliest opportunity, off for fun with his friends, while she changed the dirty diapers, pushed the vacuum around, cleaned up the piss on the bathroom floor because he drunkenly missed the toilet every night. But today would be different. Today her plans would reach their conclusion. She had followed the steps for this recipe with care. She hated Turkish Delight; he loved it. He would shove a piece in his mouth the moment he saw it. Within minutes, his face would be the color of that paint swatch––Surviving Iris Yellow. But survive he would not.
ReplyDeleteJanie Junebug: I love it - and he probably deserves it. Incidentally a plumber once told me that in a significant proportion of his call outs to leaky toilets the toilet wasn't to blame.
DeleteHi Janie - clever ... well done and I'm sure there are many around the world who think about this sort of result everyday ... Agatha Christie could come up with a mystery around this tale - cheers Hilary
DeleteI catch myself thinking, Janie, that my peace-loving self cannot help but feel a clandestine joy.
DeleteSome women let themselves get too desperate, it's sad. Nicely told.
DeleteLove this, Janie. The last two lines are super!
DeleteThank you, all, for your kindness. I promise I'll never poison you.
DeleteExcellent!!!
DeleteOohh, very nicely done! By her, and your use of the prompts!
DeleteNi la mateixa Nancy Crampton-Brophy ho hagués explicat millor. ;-)
DeleteIris loved asparagus … early summer 'twas the season for this spring vegetable, but she knew the surviving yellow sulphurous repercussions appearing later would irritate the nasal passages of some of her fellow passengers.
ReplyDeleteThe officers and crew didn't look very inspired - they were struggling with the muggy heat … their Turkish flannels were being used to constantly wipe their brows, but playing tennis at this time of year was an essential in the British summer, even if it meant climbing loads of steps to get to the court but they needed to keep their guests occupied and happy.
The picnic spot that had been chosen was easy to see why … the melons could be kept cool in the brook … allowing for a refreshing thirst quenching dessert in conjunction with Turkish Delight … which Iris did enjoy and of course was within hearing distance of the tennis court … while they basked under the huge oak tree …
They'd started out with an Anatolian Fizz – what a delight to find such a unique cocktail from Turkey … pomegranate juice, lemon, honey and a splash of soda … a spirit could be added … but really wasn't needed in this heat.
Once everyone was in place for dinner … the pan with its herby butter could be put on the fire ready for the prawns to be quickly cooked and then served with the various salads on offer – the crew were once again on hand … new Turkish flannels at the ready for the buttery fingers from peeling the prawns …
This was one experience Iris would be happy to have again … she'd enjoyed the tour from the earliest moments until it reached its conclusion tonight …
Summer nights … fresh asparagus – what's not to like … though I see quite a few don't!!
Thanks everyone for participating – I'll be back to comment shortly … cheers Hilary
I was enraptured all the way through this story, Hilary. Made me wish I was there.
DeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: This is excellent - even not liking the heat at all I can see the charm of Iris's day.
DeleteThe first paragraph alone made the corners of my mouth start an expedition to my earlobes. ...
DeleteAn excellent story, you use the prompts very well.
DeleteGreat, Hillary! I'll take an Anatolian Fizz, please, along with buttery prawns!
DeleteEnjoyed the tale and would love even more enjoying the food and drinks .
DeleteThanks everyone - and Sean glad your smile started an expedition towards your earlobes ... makes me smile happily too. Fundy Blue - Anatolian Fizz always available especially with buttery prawns. Cheers Hilary
DeleteThis was both fun and well done, Hils:) Sandra
DeleteDeliciously well done!
DeleteEm sembla un picnic de lo més atraient, si al meló fresquet l'acompanya un bon pernil salat i als llagostins fets a la brasa per un allioli, és com pujar al cel. ;-)
DeleteYes sir, Bubba, those TURKISH folks know how to do things. They know the DELIGHT of bashing in a few heads when those TENNIS-playing, ASPARAGUS-nibbling left-wing snobs take STEPS to defy the law and insult our OFFICERS. BROOK no crap, I say, and bust-open those MELON heads, spill a few brains on the sidewalk if you have to. It’s the only logical CONCLUSION to come to. It won’t be long before they know they’ve leaped out of their Cuisinart PAN into the fires of duly-elected authority. I was chosen by the people in a fair and legal vote, having told them of all my plans to reform the country and rid it of immigrants, socialists, communists, woke ideology, liberal universities, and whatever other group I choose to demonize. I was elected to do it. The EARLIEST we can start the purge is right now. Let’s get to it!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Shudder. You have got into his head which is an ugly place to be.
DeleteMay the majority enjoy the fruits of their stupidity. I just feel sorry for all the others.
DeleteI grieve for our world.
DeleteI find myself speechless at the assault on our Constitution. Someone close to me suggested I get a gun to protect myself. Not happening. 😱
DeleteDavid - a horrifying tale of today ... just plain sad, which is a polite notation. Brilliantly told though ... cheers Hilary
DeleteThere is nothing left to say other than well done, David.
DeleteSadly, too close to home for comfort, but a wonderful use of the prompts.
DeleteD'això se'n diu feixisme a casa meva...
DeleteTurkish tennis sounds like a game with candy I'm in! Have fun everybody Aloha
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Big smiles.
DeleteI was so crazy busy yesterday I couldn't even leave my usual comment to say I was working on it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I was, and my contribution is over here.
messymimi: You were indeed crazy busy. Thank you so much for playing with us - with your usual stunning piece.
DeleteWhat a lovely tale. I agree with Grandma about table manners. Unfortunately it is a dying condition.
DeleteUi les àvies! Sempre tenen raó. ;-)
DeleteMine has been published here.
ReplyDeleteCindi: I have read and enjoyed it.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat responses, everyone!
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: Thank you so much for cheering us on.
DeleteHa. Last one again. A slow writer! A very tricky set of words! My effort is here
ReplyDeleteJ Cosmo Newbery: Your difficulties don't show. At all.
DeleteHi J - that was a delightful take on the prompts. Cheers Hilary
Deletehttps://rallentanda.blogspot.com/2025/06/elephants-childwordle.html Here's mine. Fun words.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Deleterallentanda: Welcome and thank you for joining us. I have just read your piece and am still smiling.
DeleteHi Rallentanda - thanks ... yours was clever - cheers Hilary
DeleteMy take on the prompts is here: Fiction: A disorderly dinner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompts.
lissa: I have read and enjoyed it. I would really like some of Muriel's power.
DeleteInteresting take on Mariel's revenge - cheers Hilary
DeleteIt always impresses me how all these interesting stories come together with just a few words. Always enjoyed :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you so much for cheering us on week after week.
DeleteHi Denise - they are good aren't they ...cheers Hilary
Delete