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.

The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher.  They  will also include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Danny McCaughan.

Without further ado.

This week's prompts are familiar phrases:

1. Sun over the yardarm

And/ or

1. Going commando

I am really looking forward to seeing where these phrases take people.

Sunday Selections #427

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 was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside, and I have accepted the mantle.

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me.
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
I usually run with a theme.  This week while shopping for fruit and vegetables at the market we came across Nils Lantzke.  Nils has been providing a community service I truly admire for well over a decade.

He visits the hospital, the hospice, nursing homes and the housebound to provide therapy.  Free therapy.  Very specialised therapy.  Alpaca therapy.  I was at the funeral of someone whose last days had been brightened by the alpacas, when Nils and two alpacas arrived.  Which was wonderful, and a bright spot on a very sad day.

This is the van they travel in.

I was just taking a photo when Nils came up, said they were on the way home from the hospice, and asked whether I would like to give Hercules an apple as a treat and reward.  Of course I jumped at the chance.  Hercules is a remarkably dainty eater (but the warning to hang on tightly to the apple was warranted).  I then asked Nils if he would feed him while I took photos - he agreed but stressed they should be of Hercules which is the only reason why I didn't show his face.

Checkout those eyelashes!!!

Where was himself while I was having this treat?  As usual he hadn't waited for my slower self and had barrelled off to the car.  He missed all the fun.  I have no sympathy for him on this count.  None.

Nils had a dreadful loss earlier this year.  While he was walking Hercules and Mimosa they were attacked by an unrestrained dog.  The dog owner apparently filmed the attack (and has not yet been located).  Hercules was traumatised but physically unhurt.  Mimosa had to be euthanased.  Hercules kept looking for her and grieved.  As did Nils and rather a lot of people in my city (including me).

I am proud to say that some local businesses clubbed together and bought Nils a baby alpaca, Paprika.  Paprika is in training and will shortly join Hercules on their therapeutic visits.

I would love to receive an alpaca visit if I was confined to a nursing home or the hospice...

Blogger Glitch?

At the moment when I log into my reading list on my dashboard it is empty.

If I click on the names of the blogs I am following on the right hand side it says that blogger (bless it) cannot find a feed and that the url may be wrong.

If I go to manage the blogs and click on a blog it takes me there happily.

Any suggestions?

I really don't want to miss new posts from you.

ALL FIXED NOW so I have turned off the comments.  Thank you one and all.

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.

The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher.  They also include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Danny McCaughan.

Without further ado.

The weeks words are:

1. Scuttle
2. Rapper
3. Drop
4. Machine
5. Flowery
6. Button

And/ or 

1. Cashback 
2. Tipping
3. Pizza
4. Energy
5. Unsubstantiated
6. Clear

Have fun.

Sunday Selections #426

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 was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside, and I have accepted the mantle.She has said that she will post her selections from time to time, and I look forward to seeing them.

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me.

Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
I usually run with a theme. This week I am being a tad self indulgent and focussing on snippets from my life.

I head in to do my shifts at Lifeline early.

 A colourful dawn is always an excellent start.

I smiled seeing one of Enlighten's jellyfish blooming in the city too.

 I don't think I have ever seen a mural being painted before.  I couldn't see what it is, and will try and take a photo of the completed mural when next I go into town.

Then to a bizarre co-incidence.  Our car is now seven years old.  At least.

When we got back to the car after doing our groceries this week we noticed that the car next to ours had a number plate which is only separated by one digit from ours.  What are the chances of that?


Another shopping centre.

I adore bearded ravens but this one didn't look at all impressed at having its photo taken.


Then to a What the ??? moment.
The kitty litter we usually use has been unavailable for a little while (a pricing dispute between the manufacturer and the supermarket).  So we bought a different brand.  After we got home I read the back of the packet.

I know we are constantly advised to eat more fibre, but they cannot seriously think that people are turning to kitty litter as a source.

I am going to finish on a subject which peeves me.   Our city has just acquired light rail for a limited area.  The entire bus network has been revamped to co-incide with the start date.  I don't drive.  I rely on the bus service if I am travelling early, to places which don't interest himself or when he is otherwise occupied.  The people who redesigned the bus network very, very obviously NEVER travel by bus.  

In one example.  On Friday the local hospital was one stop away from me (less than 15 minutes away).  From tomorrow if I want to go to the hospital by bus I can either walk a kilometre to a different stop and take not one but two buses to reach the hospital or I can go to the current stop, take a bus which meanders through the suburbs on a forty minute trip to a city centre, transfer buses to get to a different city centre and change buses yet again to get to the hospital. 

When I saw this on a seat at the bus stop I smiled wryly in agreement.

I should add that the complaints are loud and long across the city.  School children no longer have dedicated bus routes and it was suggested that it was appropriate for seven year olds to cycle through the city centre to get to school.  Retirement homes have lost their bus stops, the street behind me has lost ALL of its bus stops, and the transport minister continues to assert that we are 'better connected'.  I am waiting for her response to my letter of complaint.