Pleasures

Stacks of Books

books, Photography, Pleasures

Salford 15th September 2018

#CFFC #Books

It’d be true to say – I like reading.

I go for books with a bit of character in them,  Goscinny and Uderzos Asterix books were a favourite of mine as a kid – and I’ve now got my hands on six anniversary editions

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Bedtime Reading

My favourite author is Terry Pratchett, he created some brilliant characters. And I’m happy to say I had the pleasure of meeting the man himself at a Waterstones bookstore in Manchester, before his untimely death. One day i’ll have the nerve to pick up and read his final epic – the shepherds crown – but till then I’ll satisfy my discworld fever, by reading one of this lot (and the smaller paperbacks)

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and when i’m bored with that (NEVER! sic) youll find me skimming through my comedy collection – The Goons, Monty Python, Morecambe and wise and Scott adams

Almond and Raspberry Bake

Food, Pleasures, writing

#Threewords #Food #Baking

8th September 2018

I was never a fan of almonds as a child

come to think of it – i never liked any nut if it was still in its shell.

it might have had something to do with the way you could never break them open

after the joys of unwrapping presents and the christmas lunch there was always the pain of cracking them open with a small hammer

and the feel of shards of broken shell inside your mouth.

So i avoided them in my youth – picking them out of my portions of fruitcake, watching what kind of fudge i was eating – that kind of thing.

Marzipan was public enemy No 1

even the favorite chinese was scrutinised for the phrase “May contain Nuts”

funny thing was i’d eat everything else – even chillis in a curry.

Till one day coming home from college – i’d entered a cafeteria nearby for a warm drink before catching the tram home.  I liked the look of the cake in the display so i ordered a piece….”Almond and Raspberry Bake ?” – The chef asked

Errr…”Yes Please”….I Paused….”Just a small slice”

My mind got transported to being ten again. I’d just ordered edible dynamite.

The hot chocolate wafted under my nose….I couldn’t leave it

I broke off a bit with the fork and swiftly started to eat,

It was different to my childhood memory – not grainy or sharp – and what’s more – it was sweet….with the raspberry jam, it was like eating a raspberry sponge…and it made the hot chocolate taste nicer in a way

By the time i’d finished my drink – the plate in front of me was empty

The edible dynamite – hadn’t exploded

So i paid my bill – and decided to celebrate

“Can i have another slice of that – for the way home please ?”

Astonish

Places, Pleasures, Poetry

Astonish

As the acrobat flew into the air

Some held their breath

totally transfixed by the mid air cartwheels

only a single rope stopped the artiste seeing

night stars before sundown

incredible feats of daring occurred under the big top

some may have called him foolhardy, but at the end …everybody

hailed the master acrobat and his tip top tumbling act

Riff

Music, Performance, Pleasures, Poetry

Riff

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Right about now

in music classrooms in high schools up and down the land

four piece bands are being formed and

fret boards are taking a hammering

Repeated notes

in ordered formation

fill empty spaces on the musical page

forming a foundation to create something magical

Rythum and Blues follow guitar

in concert halls up and down the land

following the familiar formation

followed by the star playing the guitar strings

Eggy Bread

Eating, Food, Growing up, Pleasures, Poetry

Egg

This ain’t no restaurant “French toast”

it’s made over burning logs

in the country air

Foundation for the morning

Set against a glorious sunrise

and cups of camp tea

Thick crusty bread

absorbed in a lake of

golden runniness

Bacon awaits its partner

as it cooks away

in its fat

Poor Man’s omelette ?

after a night on the hills

it’s the food of kings.

Knives and forks ?

or eaten as a sandwich

only quandry – sauce Red or Brown ?

Stained Glass Window

Art, Arts, BASIC, Places, Pleasures, Poetry, Religion

Salford 18th September

Poem borrowed from my page at Allpoetry.com

A tale a bit crafty, a bit religious, but all by me

Artwork created at Craft Sessions at Brain & Spinal Injury Charity in Salford.

 

 

As the Sun comes up,

its light shines through

the panels of coloured glass

angling the now coloured light

painting a picture,

of scenes on a floor

And as the sun shines,

through that brightly coloured window

reds cast with yellows

and greens cast with blues

as molten lead holds on tightly,

keeping the picture alive

 

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Poetry Workshops

BASIC, Pleasures, Poetry, writing

14th September 2017

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Great British Write off – a book i’ve appeared in!!!

Today i’ve had my hands in the soapsuds helping out at BASICs Cafe, Food for thought.

I’ve also been assisting in helping to run a poetry workshop in the conservatory.

we discussed what makes a poem and the different kinds of poem you could write

covering everything from Rhymes to Acrostics, Haikus to San-sans