My Annus Horabilis!

It has been a long time since I wrote on my blog - well over a year in fact. This has partly been due to the fact that I'm basically lazy,BUT in addition to that in February 2010 I was taken ill and rushed to hospital with a ruptured intestine. I can't remember much about the actual event but it was very dramatic and following two operations I was admitted to ITU where I was put on a ventilator for some time. My poor wife was told that there were three options: 1) I wouldn't make it 2) If I did make it I could be severely brain damaged because of loss of blood or 3) I'd make a full recovery.
And guess what - I made a full(ish) recovery. I say 'ish' because I have so little intestine that I now suffer from 'short bowel syndrome' and that means I have problems getting enough nourishment from the food I eat, so occasionally I have had to go into hospital to have top ups of Magnesium and other fluids. The best thing though is that over the intervening past year I have had very little pain and no horrible blockages. The ITU consultant advised that it could take a good 18 months to two years to fully recover so I guess I'm still only half way there. the experience has taught me to cherish the life I have and to be thankful for the big mercies and fine hospital care that I had at Treliske Hospital in Truro. And, also, I can now concentrate on Book 2 of 'The Locked Door series.

New News

Sorry I've been a long time posting but I've been writing a book which has now been published! Hurray!
I've also been very busy on various other writing activities.
My book, 'The Locked Door Book 1 Enter Laura', is a 9 - 14 children's book which I'm hoping will become a series. It tells of a young girl, Laura, who lives in a small village in Cornwall, who is coerced into approaching and entering a 'strange' house. By doing so Laura becomes involved in an adventure which goes beyond her wildest imaginings and takes her to places far in the future.
The book is available on the www.newgenerationpublishing.info website under 'marketplace' price £6.99 plus post a packing. If anyone out there reads it feel free to let me know what you think.

Crikey, it has been over a year since I posted anything!

I feel thoroughly ashamed. Have I an excuse? Only

that I've been busy writing and trying to get into print.

Have been attending terrific writing sessions in Newlyn

run by Angela Stoner and we are collectively producing

a paperback (fully funded!) which, hopefully, will be on sale

in the new year.

Have also been reading stories at babbahogs in Falmouth.

We meet there on the last Tuesday of each month. Some

excellent readers and writers to listen to. Look out for the

'telltales' website to view some of the stories and poems.

Chickens

I have been neglecting my blog for far too long - pressure of retirement I guess.

But we have been very busy with a new kitchen extension and have also acquired

two French Morrans, Hilda and Edna, who are a couple of free range chickens.

They settled in very quickly and have been laying superb eggs from day one.

I have not written a poem in their honour - yet, but will get round to it in due course.

Dangerous Mackeral

(On seeing a novelty ball point pen with the body of a curvy mackeral)

‘Hi Mac,’ I said
As the fish weaved succulently.
‘What’s up, Doc?’ he replied
Somewhat malevolently.
His eye flashed and the
Sunlight shimmered on his scales.
I threw my harpoon
But he was too quick for me.
His razor sharp snout
Reared up
Forcing me off my feet.
A black tail swiped across my face
And I tasted blood and salt.
I watched as his fin
Sliced through the water.
‘Hey Moby!’ I called, angry now,
‘I’ll get you one day!’
The sea swallowed his reply
Leaving me hollowed
And alone.

On Carrying the Rubbish Age Seven

To know the dark
Is to have confidence
In controlling
The wilder excesses of your imagination.

To know the dark
Is to be prepared to step forward
Into an uncertain future
With a confidence born of
Complete
Ignorance

And thus
To find yourself back, many years
Remembering suddenly
Standing
On
The
cold
stone
steps
leading
to
the
cellar
And meanwhile the push-in button
Which lights the single bulb
Has pushed out
And you are once again
In
Total
Darkness
BUT
WAIT
You’ve done this walk before
You’ve carried the household rubbish
down
down
Down
to the great bins beneath the pavement.
Slowly, Carefully
You take each blacked-out step
Hip close to the wall.
Downstairs
At last
You reach the other push button
Light, thank God!
Now, do your job, perform your task and get back up the stairs before………….

Gran'dad's Little Gift

My daughter gave birth to her first child in November

so here's my response to that event. A bit schmatlzy, I know.

To My Grand Child Freya Rose

It was more than good to see you lying in your crib
In fact, ‘bloody marvellous’ would be nearer to the mark.
Your little face, so tiny and intent; large hands clutching at thin air.
You have your mother’s features, but it’s early days as yet,
And maybe as you grow a bit, your eyes will go dark brown
Like mine.
I hope I live a good few years to see how your growing goes.
My wish for you, a great childhood, my darling Freya Rose.