Thirty Forever Back when I was in my thirties, after a particularly heavy snow-storm, I noticed the school-kids having snowball fights every day as they walked by my house on their way to school. I decided to have a little fun with them. I hid behind the hedgerow in my front garden. After stock-piling snowballs ready for the attack, the kids eventually started drifting past, in their two's and three's. I started throwing,...
Her Life in Colour Sketches and doodles. Soups and pot noodles, these are the things of her day. Artistic licence is what she most craves, doing "her stuff" in her very own way. She won't reside in the shadows, I fear, why, if she has her way, she'll graduate next year. Fingerpaints paved the way a long time ago, Her dreams were all coloured in. Little Pink Ponies, Barbies and Kens. Noddy and Big Ears and Little Red Hens....
Parental Mistakes My Mother was called Miriam, but mostly just “Mim,” I didn't know my real Dad, knew nothing, about him. Ma had a fancy, upon a mad whim, I was the result of their passion and sin. I dont blame either for their brief little fling, for without it, I'd never have known life, and what it can bring. It was great good luck, that Ma's hubby Peter, driver of trucks, saw me when I was born, and knew what she'd do...
The Jet-SetNestled in the valley, in the Bay of the Beacon. Hidden in vaults where visuals display. Blackened bountiful tear-drops suspended, for hungry eyes an optic delight. Oh vision. Oh wonder, dark-light in our lives, seeking, craving, wanting and purchased.Ex-miners became, the new artisans of beauty, fashioned and carved the tillings away.A monkey-puzzle tree washed up on our shorelines, sinking and compressing pro...
The Coal Wagons The coal trains ran behind our houses from morning to night, twenty four seven, thundering down from the pit to the staithes at the river, where the coal was transferred from the wagons to the ships. Miles of seemingly endless coal wagons were pulled by a huge, blackly-chuffing locomotive. Our moms, on hearing the trains whistle, dashed to get their washing in before the ash and soot stained them. It felt...
Coal-Miner Thirty year old powerloader Brian, stood amidst the crowd of jabbering miners as they waited to descend in the cage. His aching slightly overweight frame already fatigued with the stress of just getting there. He put his holdall down at his feet, then rested his arms on the guard-rail of the fence at the top of the steps leading to the bottom deck of the cage. Who wanted to be down the pit on a sunny day like t...
No Title Yet Superlatives and adjectives, are words to describe. A verb-ing word is a doing term, behind which I can hide. Full stops and commas, I infuse, with words to halt or pause. Without such things, I'd soon be seen, writing, un-verbose? I get so tired of trying to be, thought of inter-est-ing, I use the words upon my page to try to say some-thing. Anything will do, to provoke you, into verbage or admission. When y...
Dear Doddsy How you doing pal? Sorry to hear of your accident. Jan told me you were bored stupid and didn't have much to read, (to tell you the truth mate, I didn't know you could read). There being no telly till the kids programmes in the afternoons (bet you love those?) So I thought I'd keep you up-to-date on what's been happening at work. All the lads are asking after you. Everyone sends their best wishes. Most of them...
Geordie Martin's Budgie We were all sitting in the Pit Canteen, at one thirty in the afternoon, half an hour from the time we have to go down. It was mid-summer as well, quite a hot day and the last thing we wanted, was to be down the hot smelly dark pit. We'd all rather be on the beach, with a few beers. But we were all trying to be positive. Laughing and joking, trying to keep our spirits up, when in walks Geordie Marti...
The Carpet Train Oh how I miss my Daughters and Me, playing in the garden, the cemetery or sea. The colouring in, the chalk on the path, their friends staying over, or games in the bath. What is it really, I'm trying to say? I wish they'd both visit or maybe even stay. I want to sit down and put them on my knee, but that would be weird, cos one’s now Twenty Three. The other’s Twenty One and ready to fly, a London Town Uni...
I SwearEngland. South Shields, 1967. I leaned against our back gate, acting the big man in front of the bloke next door. Mouthing off to him and swearing even though he'd already complained a couple of times to Ma about my bucket-mouth. Thinking I was so big and clever, the other kids looked on. They were keen to see what happened next.I should have realised something bad was coming my way when their eyes widened in shock...
