Words for Wednesday

The lovely Delores at Under the Porch Light had been running this meme for a considerable period of time, week after week.   Computer issues led her to bow out for a while and I took over.  When Delores' absence looked like being more permanent I begged and cajoled for other volunteers to share providing the prompts, and Words for Wednesday became a movable feast.  Delores discontinued her blog for a while, but she has returned.  Her new blog can be found here.

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 published here, but are provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulcher.

This weeks prompts are pictorial.  

and/or

 

Sunday Selections #294

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week?  Changeable weather.  Spring is most definitely here, and more comes out in the garden each and every day.  However, sometimes she forgets, and allows Winter back in on a temporary basis.

I had to go out early one day last week.  The dawn promised a bright and beautiful day...

It was beautiful, but the clouds were scudding past very, very fast.  Less than an hour later this was the view.

It dribbled down for most of the day.  Not really raining, but not dry either.  And the sunshine was missing.

The sunset was fairly half-hearted too.

And then it relented and blushed beautifully.

And a little proof that spring really is here.

The king parrots continue to brighten each and every day too.

Words for Wednesday

The lovely Delores at Under the Porch Light had been running this meme for a considerable period of time, week after week.   Computer issues led her to bow out for a while and I took over.  When Delores' absence looked like being more permanent I begged and cajoled for other volunteers to share providing the prompts, and Words for Wednesday became a movable feast.  Delores discontinued her blog for a while, but she has returned.  Her new blog can be found here.

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 published here, but are provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulcher.

This weeks prompts are:

1. The darkest hour is just before the dawn

AND/OR

1. Kangaroo court.

Challenging aren't they?  Or is that just me?

Have fun. 

 

Where are the Words for Wednesday

Words for Wednesday is a moveable feast.  A big thank you to everyone who has stepped up and provided the prompts to keep it going.
 
At the moment it looks like this.

September:  The prompts will be here, but provided by Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton.

October:  The Cranky will post the prompts on her blog.

November:  Carolyn McBride will post the prompts on her blog.

December:  Vest has joined us, and will post the prompts on his blog.

 

Recently two more people offered to host the meme.  I made an executive decision and allocated the next months on a first come, first served basis, so (subject to their approval)

 

January 2017:  Granny Annie has offered to provide the prompts.

 

February 2017:  We are coming full circle and Delores will post the prompts on her blog.

More participants are always welcome, so if anyone else would like to participate please let us know in comments on tomorrow's Words For Wednesday post.

 

Thank you one and all.  

Sunday Selections #293

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.   This week?   We have had some (mostly) very welcome rain recently.  So I am sharing some wet photos.  Some from the Out of the Shadow's walk I did yesterday (thank you for your comments on that post - it is an issue which is very important to me) and some from our garden the week before.

After the walk finished I had a choice of going to an expensive breakfast with other participants or heading home.  It was an easy decision.  There was a lot of emotion about and I was all peopled out and didn't feel like spending buckets of money either.  I have complained about our bus system before, and on weekends it is even more unreliable.  I would have had a wait of over an hour before the next bus into town, so I continued walking...

And then I got lucky, and got a lift for the last few blocks into town where I caught a bus home.  And only had to wait twenty minutes for it.  

Last week's wet garden shots.

 Lots of the daffodils were flatttened by the rain so I HAD to bring them inside.  

There is more and more coming out each day.  Exciting times. 

Out of the Shadows, Into the Light 2016

World Suicide Prevention Week started on Monday.  Today, September 10th, is World Sucide Prevention Day. 

Most of you know I do voluntary work with Lifeline Australia, a telephone crisis line.  Almost everyone who rings those lines with thoughts of suicide has at least a degree of ambivalence.  I, and all the other volunteers, will work on that ambivalence to keep the caller safe for the moment/the day and to help them see and consider other options.   Lifeline believes that suicide is often preventable and that the start of the journey to safety can be only a phone call away.  It is often a long and painful journey but should never ever be one that people feel condemned to walk alone.

Here in Australia suicide is still the leading cause of death for people aged under 44.  More people die from suicide each year than are killed on the roads.  Sadly the numbers of people we lose to suicide are rising again.  Which, given that I suspect suicide is under reported, is scary.

Not only does suicide take its toll on our young, there are other groups who are over-represented in its tragic ranks including (but not limited to) our indigenous population, people with mental health issues, farmers, and the military.  We lose more of our veterans (and those still serving) to suicide than we do in combat. 

In 2011 Lifeline began  national suicide prevention walks - 'Out of the Shadows and into the Light'. The walks begin before dawn and continue into the growing light.  It remembers those lost and those bereaved by suicide, with an addition focus on raising awareness.  The symbolism of starting the walk in the dark and progressing into the light of a new day means a lot to me.

I don't think that all suicide is wrong.  However, it is such a final decision that I hope it is not the first option considered or tried.  And, as a solution to a temporary problem, I do think it is wrong.  It is always a tragedy.  A tragedy for the person who had, or believed they had, no other options and a tragedy for those they leave behind.  And the ripples from that tragedy encompass a lot of people.  Research shows that each time someone suicides, there are up to 135 people affected.  

I couldn't attend the first walk, but have gone on the subsequent walks. Which saw me heading off again before dawn this morning.  The dread disease means that I am not walking easily or well at the moment - but I didn't care.  The issue is much more important than I am.    So I walked.  Slowly, at the back of the pack.  Stopping to take photos.

This year we again started from our National War Memorial and did a loop down Anzac Parade towards Lake Burley Griffin and back to the War Memorial.  Our Parliament House is directly opposite on the other side of the lake. 

There were brief speeches.  Some of the names of those lost were read out - which I find moving.  No longer nameless, but identified and missed...  I added the name of the father of a friend to the list.  Illness and disability had made his life intolerable.  His family understood, but grieve.

The skies opened this morning.  Buckets of rain.  Tears from the sky?  Come walk with me, through the cool, wet and cloudy dawn, into the hopeful light of a new day.

The empty seats were reserved for those who have gone before us.

RU OK day is also celebrated in World Suicide Prevention Week.  A question we should be asking family, friends and colleagues every day.

Some services which may be useful for Australian readers include:

Lifeline 1311 14

Beyond Blue

Suicide Call Back Service