FOR GRANDAD - Part 1

My Grandad was asked to contribute to a book which was being written by soldiers about their wartime experiences. Unfortunately, my Grandad passed away before his story could be published. I would like to share some of the first draft he wrote with you here. The writing is in long hand and is difficult to read at times but I will do my best Grandad.


I landed with the 2nd Battalion O & B light Infantry, 6th Division on D Day 6th June 1944.

Our job was to capture the bridge over the river O and also a bridge over the c Canal. This was the main purpose of the exercise and to keep the way open for the seaborne forces who were to land on the beaches 4 to 5 miles away.

We experienced hand to hand fighting, grenades and small arms, I remember that as soon as we landed by glider that I was fired upon by small arms fire. My platoon led by Captain Mason were detailed to go to a place called R, which we did, and on the night of 6th June we dug in on the outskirts of the woods.

I remember that during the night as it quietened down a bit, I was lying in my foxhole and I heard footsteps approaching through the woods. I looked around to find all my mates were asleep. As I looked towards the approaching men about 6 or 7 in number I could not see in the dark who they were. I picked up my S gun and felt the button which controlled single shot or repetition and found that it was on single shot. The men approaching stopped, as they did I raised my gun and pressed the button to repetition. In the quiet of the night it seemed to make a loud click. After what seemed a long time the men gradually retreated much to my relief, and I never found out if they were friend or foe.


PART 2 tomorrow

CHRISTMAS DAY

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day. Mine was one of the most relaxing I've had in ages. Opened pressies with Steve and Coco in the morning, over to Mum and Dad's for lunch with my sis and her boyfriend. Finished off with a DVD in the evening. Lovely!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to you and yours. I will leave you with an amusing poem and catch up with you all next year.






Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck

**Contributed to Swenny's E-Mail Funnies by Walter Schumacher, OK and NC**

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...

How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves".

"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

And labor conditions at the north pole

Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,

Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear

That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,

Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;

The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.

And people had started to call for the cops

When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.

Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite rightened.

His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,

Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose

And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,

Demanding millions in over-due compensation.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,

Who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,

Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion

That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,

Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.

Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.

Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.

Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.

Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.

Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.

And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,

Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

For they raised the hackles of those psychological

Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt;

Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe;

And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there,disheveled, perplexed;

He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,

But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;

Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might

Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,

Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every hue,

Everyone, everywhere...even you.

So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...

"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

HOME, SWEET HOME

Hi all,

We've been in our new place for almost two weeks and starting to feel settled now. We've spent the last couple of weeks buying bits and pieces we needed. Most of that has been taken care of now. Just need a few pics to brighten up the place. We're also waiting for our outdoor furniture and barbecue to be delivered, then we can relax and enjoy. Oh wait, then there's Christmas...YIKES! Haven't had much time to think about the festive season as yet but I have put the tree up, that's a start.

Coco has been with us for just over a week. She has settled in marvelously and is enjoying having the freedom to run around in the garden.

Here are some pics for you to enjoy. I'll take more later.

Merry Christmas

Love KB
XXXX

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE RUGBY

I’ve been too busy to write so here’s a quick summary of what I’ve been up to this week:


THE GOOD

My Steve celebrated his 50th birthday.




















Our landlord and his wife cooked a delicious Korean BBQ lunch, many beers were sunk and a good time was had by all.

We found a lovely new place to live which isn’t far from work, is close to my parents and the best part…has a fully fenced section for Coco to run around in. We’ll be moving in before Christmas. Woohoo!

We’ve been furniture shopping today. All we need now is a fridge and a few other bits and pieces and we’ll be sweet.

I've started reading again...yay!

22 The Seventh Scroll - Wibur Smith
23 The Gunslinger - Stephen King



THE BAD

I received my first speeding fine…bugga!

I will need to attend the small claims court re car insurance claim as the driver who crashed into me has decided I was the one who went through a red light. Apparently, his insurance company can’t decide if it was him or a woman who was driving and my insurance company said they would be surprised if he shows up at the hearing so I’m not too worried. It’s more of a nuisance really as I have enough going on with our move and Christmas coming.

Steve was assaulted at work . He was punched in the head…TWICE so I took him to the Accident and Emergency room. Other than being swollen and a little shaken up, he’ll be fine.


THE RUGBY

All Blacks gave the French rugby team a hiding…nuff said.


I’ll update after we’ve moved.

Love KB
XXXX

FLASH 55 - SPRING TIME

Spring's beauty arrives
Like a breath of fresh air
Winter blues exit
On a cloud of despair

Young lambs are playing
New lives just begun
My aches and pains fade
In the warmth of the sun

Kids invent games
As daffodils bloom
Summer is imminent
For me, not a moment too soon

SPRING IS HERE!

NOt my best work but it's great to be back!

Flash Fiction - Each Friday, I compose a short story of 55 words - no more, no less. If you would like to join in the fun and games... post your story and report to the boss -
G-MAN
If you're not interested in contributing a story, feel free to read the other entries. I'm sure any comments you have would be appreciated.
Happy reading and writing!
Love KB
XXXX

THE STORY SO FAR

As you know, Hubby and I have parted ways. It had been on the cards for a while and it was my decision to leave. I won’t go into the details as that is between Hubby and I. We had some wonderful years together but it was time for me to move on. I’ll leave it at that.

Leaving has been the hardest thing I have ever done but I am happy with my decision. I’ve been doing what has been ‘expected’ of me for many years and now I feel it is time to stop putting everyone else’s wishes first and find me again. Sounds so cliche but it’s the truth.

I knew friends and family would be shocked and confused when I left. It’s true that at times like this, you really find out who your true friends are. Which reminds me, a big thank you to all you wonderful bloggers who have sent me kind wishes and encouragement. There are few people outside of blog land who have stuck by me.I have found there is a special person out there for me and I would have thought if they truly loved and cared for me, they would want me to be happy. My step-daughters aren’t even talking to me, which is devastating but I can understand why they are angry. Hopefully, they will come around but if not, who am I to tell them what to think.

Anyway, enough of that, I was writing to tell you guys what I have been up to. Every day there has been a different challenge to overcome and I will admit it is hard but I feel really happy. It’s hard to explain, I feel a wave of calmness and love washing over me. My anxiety has become almost non-existent (amazing considering what a strung out mess I had become).

So, I moved out of my huge house and started renting a small room on a weekly basis. It wasn’t long until my best friend moved in as well (you probably know him already as Steve/Whitesnake). We are still here and feeling quite at home. The landlord is adorable and looks after us well, I think he wants us to stay forever but this place is hardly big enough to swing a cat (lucky we don’t have one). We do have Coco to consider though. Our landlord (Mr. Lee) said she could stay here on a trial basis. Unfortunately, my dog appears to be racist and barks and growls at him. He didn’t ask her to leave but I didn’t think it was a good idea to have her growling at him all the time. She has moved back home with hubby for the time being and I visit her often. We have been searching for a new place to live but it’s hard to find a landlord who will agree to have a dog live on their property. Besides, I think I will be scarred for life if I don’t escape from this wallpaper soon.




Anyway, all is well with me but I have limited Internet time here. I miss you guys and will catch up with your blogs as soon as I can. You know where to reach me in the meantime.

Oh, I almost forgot, look what happened to my baby car.




Some bastard ran through a red light and hit me. Luckily, I was travelling slowly (my light had just turned green), or someone could have been hurt. The other guy wouldn’t even give me his insurance details and I had to fill out a Police Report the next day. My insurance company has finally found him and he says I am the one who went through a red light. What a wanker!!!!!!!!!! I had a witness in the car with me and since I was the one, who followed the correct procedures, looks like he hasn’t got a leg to stand on but it still makes me angry. In 21 years of driving, I’ve never had an accident or even a parking fine. Least I have my car fixed and nobody was hurt…that’s the important thing.


Lots of Love
KB
xxx

BYE FOR NOW

Hubby and I have decided to go our separate ways. Thank you for your friendship and support over the past few years. I've missed you all and I'll be in touch when I am more settled.

Take care my friends,

Love KB
XXXX

TIME FOR A BREAK

I'll be taking a short break due to some personal issues I need to take care of.

I'll be back in a about a month.

Take care all

Love KB
XXXX

MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT YOU'RE ADDICTED TO...

I stumbled upon this unfinished post which I wrote ages ago. Often I will sit in the garden with pen and paper and put down thoughts as they occur only to add them to my pile of unfinished pieces. I found this one interested as I looked back on how far I have come. I used to spend hours of my day and night on the net chatting and playing games. I'm happy to report I have cut down the time I spend on here and I limit my time to writing, visiting you lovely folk and the occasional chat.

This is what I had to say at the beginning of the year.


IS IT AN ADDICTION?

Following my previous post , I decided to do some research. I discussed my reading decline with hubby and he suggested that maybe I was spending too much time on the net. Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. He handed me an article on Internet addiction. I found the idea of being addicted to the internet amusing. Does this mean if I spend all my time reading instead, I will be addicted to books? I decided to read the article anyway.


Here are some of the addiction danger signs:

Do you think a lot about your online activities and anticipate the next online session?

Do you feel upset or moody when trying to control or stop your internet use?

Do you regularly stay online longer than you originally intended?

Do you use the internet as a way of escaping from problems?

Do you suffer sleep deprivation, time distortion, back strain, eyestrain or carpal tunnel syndrome from using the internet?

I'm sure I won't be alone in the blogging community when I say some of these points rang a few bells for me.

There was a 'what you can do' list at the end of the piece. One of the suggestions was to contact an online counselling service. I thought this suggestion was a bit like asking an alcoholic to attend an AA meeting in a pub. Yikes!

I decided to try a little experiment of my own. I set myself an allotment of time each day to be online and stuck to it. I don't think I was addicted to the net but I am happy to report I have cut down on my usage, I feel much better for it and I am doing much more reading and writing than I was.

Happy blogging my friends but don't spend too much time on here!

I SAY IT BEST, WHEN I SAY NOTHING AT ALL

Yikes, I read a grand total of one book last month. Well, I have almost finished another and it was a big one.

21. Fatherhood - Bill Cosby

I appear to be having a case of writer's block and have nothing else to say...*slaps self*. Well that didn't work.

Later Gators
XXXX

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS - POETRY

This week's prompt is - Poetry.




She builds me up
When I'm feeling low
No need to think
The words will flow

Sometimes I giggle
At the lines we share
Did I write that?
Blissfully unaware

When I'm stuck in a rut
She whispers and taunts
Words don't make sense
Her rhymes she flaunts

Silently mocking
When I'm feeling my best
Lurking beneath the surface
With my misery suppressed

She knows I'll be back
We are one and the same
Her words I must write
Or she'll drive me insane

She's gives herself freely
Time and again
I can't thank her enough
POETRY... my trusted friend

640 nm NW Honolulu - HUBBY'S 55

Captain Loni Calder was finishing her final Combat Air Patrol for this rotation of the USS Barack Obama, a US Nimitz Class carrier. The Battle Group was heading for Honolulu for much needed R and R. For Loni, call sign “Eel”, it was going to be a great furlough. Her brother Karl would be there.

CARRY ON TUESDAY #15

SHE LOVED WITH A LOVE THAT WAS MORE THAN LOVE,
Why did she feel so alone?
She loved the feeling of being in love,
But barely recognised herself when she came home.

She loved with a love that was more than love,
Why did she feel so afraid?
Conflicting emotions inside of her,
Was jealousy the price lovers paid?

She loved with a love that was more than love,
Was this suspicion and anger she felt?
But when she looked into his eyes,
Her heart would truely melt.

She loved with a love that was more than love,
The rollercoaster taking it's toll,
Exhilarating highs, plunging lows,
She'd never felt so out of control.

They loved with a love that was more than love,
Their hearts and souls entwined,
Together they took a leap of faith,
Left the negetive world behind.

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS

The prompt this week is - ADULT


When I was a wee girl, all I wanted to be was a grown up. All that freedom they had, being able to say and do as they pleased, make the rules, stay up late, watch TV whenever they wanted, play music really loud, go to parties, stay out all night, didn't have to eat their veggies, etc, etc.

Now I am an ADULT I can say and do as I please but have to deal with the consequences. I have to follow rules the same as everyone else. If I watch TV for too long my eyes get tired. I have to eat my veggies to keep me regular. When I play music really loud I wonder what the neighbours think. If I go to too many parties and stay out all night, it takes me a week to recover.

Man, I wish I was a kid again!

But seriously folks. I think finding a balance between being a sensible adult without losing the child within is key to remaining happy and healthy.

Have a great weekend everyone

Hubby's SS is the post below.

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS

.

Hubby's Take

I’m not a great fan of prompts, because I feel it’s someone else trying to elicit a response. However, once in a while one comes up that I feel strongly about, and this is one of them.

Being an adult brings on a whole lot of new responsibilities. Buying a house, getting married, and bringing up children. The problem is, when do we leave the child behind, to become an “adult”?

It is a question I don’t know the answer to. Personally, there is still the child in me, and he is very close to the surface, as much as I hate to admit it sometimes. I still laugh at a really pungent fart (mine or KB’s, though she would tell you she doesn’t), I love an ice-cream on a hot day, I still love fairgrounds and thrill rides (one of the reasons I am a pilot), and I love to watch children having fun (no, I am not a pervert). I think it is important to keep the child within, because it helps to keep a grip on reality. All too often we suppress the inner child in favour of the responsible adult, and I do not believe it is in our best interests.

Society today seems to want to downplay the child in us. I was severely chastised at our daughters’ school fair a few years ago, in the middle of the great “PC” revolution. The incident involved helium filled balloons. Needless to say, I could not help myself, and untied a balloon and inhaled the contents. I then proceeded to make fun of one of the teachers (in a very high Mickey Mouse voice), much to the absolute delight of the children. Unfortunately, one of her colleagues was standing within earshot. I was asked to desist or leave. My daughters were really upset. Where was the problem?

I am now on the higher end of middle age, but I still enjoy the really simple things. Holding hands, a cuddle in the morning, watching young couples start their journey in life. I have a fairly good idea of what faces them, and I genuinely feel for them. It is not easy making the transition to “adulthood”, especially when you are barely out of the teenage years. There are so many pressures, and somehow they have to learn to cope. In many ways, I am very glad those years are behind me, but in some perverse way I miss them. Now that KB and I are on our own, the child within seems to have withered, and I think I take stuff too seriously when I should just back off and laugh. KB would agree, I think. I am very lucky to have her – she has kept me from being too much the parent and too much the child. Now I just have to be “Grown Up”.

My take on being an adult is thus: be kind to yourself and to others, smile at people you don’t know, and treat others as you would like to be treated. Try not to criticize those less fortunate, and hold onto your moral values, because they define you. Don’t get me wrong, I have been guilty of not doing these things in the past, but time and experience are great teachers. As long as you take heed of the lessons.

CUSTOMER SERVICE OR THE LACK OF IT

I worked in the banking industry for 21 years. Most of the customers I dealt with were wonderful but every so often I would come into contact with an asshole. I've been sworn at, yelled at and ignored while still keeping a smile on my face. That's what I was there for - to serve the public.

I've been noticing a decline in the quality of customer service over the past year. Before Christmas, I encountered a couple of nurses who didn't treat me well. I needed to have several tests done, one of the tests required me to fast beforehand. I've had this test before and the nurse at the time said it would be OK to have coffee in the morning but no food.

Hubby accompanied me to the lab as I was a little nervous. The nurse asked it I'd eaten breakfast. I replied that I'd just had a coffee. She informed me I couldn't take the test and would have to come back tomorrow. Not what I needed to hear the day before Christmas Eve. She also informed me in front of the whole waiting area that I could do my urine sample at home. I was about to tell her where to stick her urine sample when hubby took hold of my hand and led me away.

I returned the next day with my sample. I dealt with a different nurse who was worse than the first. She chastised me for not filing out my details on the test tube. I informed her that if I did everything for her, she would be out of a job. Probably not the best words before she stuck a needle in my arm. She asked me if I had eaten but there was no mention of coffee.

I didn't receive my results until after Christmas because of the delay in taking the tests. So the outcome was always in the back of my mind during the holidays. What annoyed me the most (when I received my results) was the fact my cholesterol hadn't been tested and that was the test I had to fast for in the first place. I had to laugh or I would have cried.

At the time, I was worried for my health, stressed because of Christmas and hubby and I had many other problems we were working through. Giving good service can be a lot harder than you would imagine and I have had times when I have struggled to give it. I realise everyone has bad days but you can't take that out on your customers. It wouldn't have taken much effort for the ladies to have treated me better and shown a little compassion. Perhaps they should consider another profession.

Thankfully, my results came back fine. That's all the matters really.

P.S. I asked my Dr about the coffee and fasting thing. The nurse was indeed correct and even a little coffee can have an impact on the result. Still, consistency from the nurses would have made my experience with them much less stressful.

MEME TIME

Tagged by Nazish. The most amazing thing to me about this meme was the fact I had to tag 20 people. Hmmm, who the heck has 20 blog friends? *giggles*


The rules are thus…

RULE 1
You can only say Guilty or Innocent.
RULE 2
You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!
RULE 3
Copy and paste this into your notes , delete my answers, type in your answers and tag 20 of your friends to answer this.

Asked someone to marry you? Innocent

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Guilty

Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent

Ever told a lie? Guilty

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty

Kissed a picture? Guilty

Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty

Fallen asleep at work/school? Innocent

Held a snake? Innocent.

Been suspended from school? Innocent

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent

Stolen from a store? Innocent

Been fired from a job? Innocent

Done something you regret? Guilty

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Guilty

Kissed in the rain? Guilty

Sat on a roof top? Innocent

Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Guilty

Sang in the shower? Guilty.

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Guilty

Shaved your head? Innocent

Had a boxing membership? Innocent.

Made a boyfriend cry? Guilty.

Been in a band? Innocent

Shot a gun? Guilty

Donated Blood? Innocent

Eaten alligator meat? Guilty

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty

Still love someone you shouldn’t? Innocent

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? Guilty

Been too honest? Guilty

Ruined a surprise? Innocent

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards? Innocent.

Erased someone in your friends list? Guilty

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Guilty.

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty

Had communication with your ex? Guilty

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent.

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Innocent


Funnily enough, I didn't have to change many of my answers from Nazish's! I won't tag anyone, do the meme if you like.

FLASH 55 - TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

Hubby's 55 - Los Angeles Airport




This Flash 55 is a follow on from last week's wee effort. I'm taking Eaton's advice.


The Air States AX370 crew arrived at the briefing office ten minutes ahead of schedule. They had already heard about tropical cyclone “Felicia” from the inbound crew. A high intensity storm, the epicenter lay 740nm ENE of Oahu, 140nm north of the Tropic of Cancer.
“Hmm, ‘Fellatio’, the big blow" mused the First Officer aloud.




KB's 55


His mind is full of the memory of her. The pounding of her heart as he rests his head on her breast, her intoxicating scent beneath sweet perfume and silky skin welcoming his fingertips.

"I'll return at nightfall my love," she whispers.

His restlessness increases as he awaits sunset.

Being a vampire in love sucks!



Flash Fiction - Each Friday, I (and sometimes hubby) compose a short story of 55 words - no more, no less. If you would like to join in the fun and games... post your story and report to the boss -
G-MAN
If you're not interested in contributing a story, feel free to read the other entries. I'm sure any comments you have would be appreciated.
Happy reading and writing!
Love KB
XXXX

CARRY ON TUESDAY #14

WHEN A JOURNEY BEGINS BADLY,
IT RARELY ENDS WELL.
Is it time to start over
or get back in your shell?

If you return to the beginning,
With all you have learned,
Will the journey end better,
Or will more stones be left unturned?

Remember life is in the journey.
Not the endings we dread.
Best to continue onwards, never looking back,
Don't leave it too late...you'll be dead.

FLASH 55 - THREE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

I was struggling with a topic for my 55 this week so I asked if my friends would mind supplying a few prompts. G-Man and Missy were kind enough to oblige. I decided to write one 55 for each of them. I'm happy to report that I used all of G's prompts but Missy supplied enough for a short novel. Thanks so much you two...I had alot of fun doing this.


Real football players don't wear pads
G's really in denial
I'm never going to show my feet
That would just be juvenile

I'm a Blonde full of Kraziness
This certainly is true
Short shorts I'll wear in summer time
But you'll never see a tattoo

Hope you likey G
A gift for you from me






Missy is my dearest friend
I've known her for years
We met upon the Helium deck
Perving at rugby men and slugging beers

She introduced me to G-man's world
He's the coolest on the block
Foot fetishes I don't understand
But as G would say...you rock

Prompts were alot
Gave it my best shot


Maritime Mayhem

The sickle moon crested the horizon, its pale opalescence obscured by scudding stratiform clouds. On the deck of the eighty foot trawler “Marie Rose”, the deck-hands looked on with mounting trepidation, as the first swells from the approaching storm buffeted the ship. With the engine seized, it was going to be a long, terrifying night.

-Hubby


Flash Fiction - Each Friday, I compose a short story of 55 words - no more, no less. If you would like to join in the fun and games... post your story and report to the boss -
G-MAN
If you're not interested in contributing a story, feel free to read the other entries. I'm sure any comments you have would be appreciated.
Happy reading and writing!
Love KB
XXX

KIWIS REALLY DO FLY

KIWI HAS BEEN ON HIS TRAVELS AGAIN. CHECK OUT WHAT HE GOT UP TO IN LA BY CLICKING ON THE LINK.

Site no longer active

P.S. I'm really struggling with a topic for my 55 this week. If anyone fancys leaving a prompt...I'll give it my best shot.

DOGGIE STUFF

QUOTE OF THE DAY

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.

-Josh Billings

TOM THUMB

Check out this little darling. A cross between a Jack Rusell and a chihuahua. He's all of 10cm from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail.

I couldn't own a dog so small - I'd be afraid I'd sit on it.

Later gators

xxxx

CARRY ON TUESDAY #13

WE THINK WE KNOW THE ONES WE LOVE
But is this really true
I barely even know myself
How can I begin to understand you

We give advice to ones we love
But cannot take our own
We want everyone else to be OK
But leave ourselves alone

To know another as oneself
Keeps our minds from guessing
Not having to explain every thought
Truly is a blessing

There's a link to Carry On Tuesday on my sidebar. Feel free to visit.

I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS

Finally finished the bastard, LOL!

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS

The prompt for this week is NEW.


What's NEW in my life? Hmmm.

I've done many things this past year I swore I would never do. Some good, some bad. When I look around, I notice my surroundings haven't changed much but I see everything in a different light. What's new in my life is me.

Trouble is, I don't feel brand new, I often feel old and tired. This new me requires much maintenance and attention or she could slip back into her old ways. At times I want to turn back the clock and return to the safety of the girl I used to know but every action we take changes us and we can never go back. All I can do is move forward and accept the things I have done and the person I have become. Is this a good or a bad thing? Only time will tell.

FLASH 55 - GHOSTS #3

My story this week is a continuation of a wee tale I began last year.

PREVIOUS 55's

From the darkened room he watches her sleep. He knows every curve of her body, every story behind her many scars.

Finally, his time has come to be a man again, to embrace her, to feel the warmth of her soft lips. Earlier the time traveller had warned him he has but a single day...


She reaches out for him, as she sighs in her dreams. Her beautiful face appears peaceful in sleep. It's difficult to comprehend that this innocent looking woman before him, is the bravest soul he's ever met. She fights the demons willingly at his side but he longs to give her the normal life she deserves.

This weeks continuation...

He's been watching her for hours as he contemplates the day ahead. Should he tell her how it will end? His temples pound from the strain of this difficult decision. He will ensure she enjoys the day, he owes her that. He and a select few will carry the burden of what is to come.





I'LL READ IT TO YOU IF YOU PREFER








Flash Fiction - Each Friday, I compose a short story of 55 words - no more, no less. If you would like to join in the fun and games... post your story and report to the boss -

G-MAN

If you're not interested in contributing a story, feel free to read the other entries. I'm sure any comments you have would be appreciated.
Happy reading and writing!
Love KB
XXX

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

There's a link to Skywatch on my sidebar. Feel free to visit.

GOODBYE IS NEVER EASY

She turned away from him. Willing her heart to be as empty as the tequila bottle on the floor beside her. She slowed her breathing and pretended to sleep. It would be easier for him this way. He would not see her tears. He leaned in towards her, kissing her softly on the cheek.
'Goodbye sweet heart.'
They knew this would be the last moment they shared. Her tears began to fall freely.

The slam of his car door was deafening in the stillness of the night. She silently prayed the engine wouldn't start. Fate had decided it was not to be. The engine fired and so began his journey into the unknown. She sat up, took a deep breath and smiled. They had shared so much together, he would always have a place in her heart but it was time for her to move on with her new life.

COCO LOOOVVVVVVVVEEEES HER BED

SUCH AN ANGEL









COCO I TOLD YOU GET ON YOUR BED NOT GET IT ON WITH YOUR BED






AH THAT FEELS MUCH BETTER




IN OTHER NEWS

I watched the movie - The Pursuit of Happyness, last night. Yes, I realise happiness is spelt incorrectly. the movie explains why. I cried buckets and Will Smith did a good job but my favourite part was something he said...

Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. If you want something...go get it.

Wise words indeed.

I'll love and leave you now. It's reality TV night and there's a bottle of wine with my name on it waiting for me.

Love KB
xxxx

CARRY ON TUESDAY #12

All of us have goals in life, some big, some small. Many people make a goal, reach it and move straight on to the next one without stopping to enjoy their success . Is it any wonder they remain unfulfilled?

An important lesson I have learned is to be grateful for what I have now. Even the little things...having hot running water for my shower (you probably know by now that I do some of my best writing in there, hehe), going to bed on 'clean sheet day', the taste of chocolate, having a roof over my head, hubby's cooking, family and friends who love me, sharing a banana with my dog.

One of my favourite sayings is 'life's not a dress rehearsal' but many of us act as if it were. Like an actress going through the motions, holding back for opening night. We only have one life, let's make the most of it. Take that extra few seconds to put on lipstick, (I'm talking to the girls here) light the candles and set the table with the good china for dinner, wear perfume you love (girls again), phone that friend you've been meaning to catch up with, spend an evening reading in bed, indulge yourself with a wicked treat (whatever that may be).

Life is not about setting goals and reaching them, although this is important, life is in the little details. THE STORY IS IN THE JOURNEY NOT THE DESTINATION. Make yours a best seller.

There's a link to Carry On Tuesday on my sidebar. Feel free to visit.

SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS

The prompt this week is - anticipate.

Early to bed
ANTICIPATE the dawn
No thoughts of our Saviour
Or the day he was born

Tossing and turning
No sleep to be had
Excitement is growing
Driving me mad

Pear through the curtains
Searching the sky
Hoping perchance
I'll see him fly by

Squeals of delight
He surely has been
Little sis impatient
To share what she's seen

Skip through the kitchen
Crumbs left on his plate
Gifts galore surprise me
Santa was definitely worth the wait

I know I'm a few months early but I'm sure the silly season will be upon us in no time. Scary thought!

SCENIC SUNDAY - LAKE WANAKA, NZ

There's a link to Scenic Sunday on my sidebar. Please feel free to visit.

Hubby's Flash55

The moon crested the horizon, large and luminous. The two women stood naked, giggling, soft yellow light highlighting their breasts and buttocks. Their men watched with mild amusement. They knew what was about to happen. Laughing, the girls joined hands, then skipped around the house and orchard.
So began the Ritual of the Harvest Moon.

MORE KIWI

After comments such as...I thought New Zealanders were named after fruit and...is that what a Kiwi really looks like?...I've decided my readers need to know more about Kiwis.

A Kiwi is a native bird of New Zealand. They are semi-nocturnal which means few New Zealanders have seen them in the wild. They have wings but cannot fly (trust NZders to want to be named after a bird that can't fly). They grow to the size of a chicken, don't have a tail and have nostrils at the end of their bills to sniff out food. They eat worms, insects, grubs, berries and seeds. Yuk! Apparently, they can outrun a human. Wow!

The Kiwi was first used as an emblem in the late 19th century in regimental badges. The name 'Kiwi' for NZ soldiers came into general use during the Ist World War. New Zealanders carved a giant Kiwi on the chalk hill above Sling Camp in England.

Now we are referred to as 'Kiwis' in New Zealand and overseas. Here endeth the lesson.



Here's a pic of Mr Kiwi and Coco. You wouldn't see a dog and a real Kiwi together. Dogs are considered as a predator to the Kiwi and are banned in many forests and parks to protect them.




That's all folks
Bye for now
xxx

FLASH 55

Dad raised her as a normal kid, loved to rough and tumble but mother had other ideas...

'Be careful on that slide, you might fall off.'

'Get out of that tree, you'll hurt yourself.'

'The lift may break down, let's take the stairs.'

The world became a scary place. Is it any wonder she's afraid.



I wrote this one in my head while I was in the shower. It's where I do my best work. Only had to remove one word. Now, if only I could find a way to take my notebook and pencil in the shower and spend all day in there...I'd be able to finish my novel *giggles*




Flash Fiction - Each Friday, I compose a short story of 55 words - no more, no less. If you would like to join in the fun and games... post your story and report to the boss -

G-MAN

If you're not interested in contributing a story, feel free to read the other entries. I'm sure any comments you have would be appreciated.
Happy reading and writing!
Love KB
XXX

A TRAVELLING KIWI

I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Mr Kiwi.





He's going to accompany me on my future travels. Pics of where he's been so far are on his new blog.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT A TRAVELLING KIWI

Mr and Mrs Kiwi are hoping to start a family soon. I'll be looking for volunteers to adopt the babies and photograph them on their travels. My dear friend Missy has first dibs on the little Kiwis, any other takers?




P.S. My stalker has been fired and replaced by Missy. She'd found Kiwi's blog before the paint had dried, LOL.

CARDRONA, NEW ZEALAND

You'll be pleased to know these are the last of the pics, hehe. It's a bit of a relief to be up-to-date for a change. Back to my blonde ramblings...BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID!

TOYS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES

If you're ever in Wanaka, pay the Toy and Transport Museum a visit. Just $10 for hours of fun.










CRAZE BARBIE, HEHE






MY FIRST CAR WAS ONE OF THESE

FROM THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN SIGNED BY ROGER DONALDSON AND ANTHONY HOPKINS