Tag: Writing

Cat in a box on its side…

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My cat tipped his box up today and seemed to enjoy sitting in it like that. Each end of the box has a hole in it and he could see his sister through the hole. He pounced on her a few times, with that bottom waggle that cats do.

I know it makes a mess of the house, but the cats love boxes and how could you say no to this?

Cat jumps into box …

Cat jumps onto chair …

Cat jumps up to windowsill….

Box tips up

Chair is now occupied by cat.

Plant falls off window ledge.

Cause and effect?

Cat thinks it’s just normal.

Human tidies up box,

Human picks cat off chair, cat sits on humans lap.

Human replaces plant, cat knocks it off again, and again, and again.

Humans never learn!

Old green lampost

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Like Poseidons trident, copper, turquoise green,

You stand gaunt against the sky.

A foregone, forgotten, street light or gaslamp?

Still holding your shape,

like an ancient but modern sculpture,

battling the elements, salt spray, sea mists. ..

Atop a castle keep? No arch of stone,

barrier to tide.

To light the lonely home after one too many?

Find their mackerel way back from the fishmongers?

Spent a day out at sea and you, lighthouse, cast a gentle glow?

Find solace for the bereaved,

a tristing place away from the town?

Seafront, sentinel, what did you Sea?

Seaside

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This is a new footbridge at Rhyl. The bridge can lift up on both sides of the footpath so that boats can navigate the lower area of the river. The footbridge is at the west end of Rhyl just near the blue road bridge and next to Rhyl’s bike hub where you can hire bicycles.

On our visit the sun was shining, but it was quite windy. The river below looked quite muddy and because the river is tidal the water was rushing out towards the sea.

The structure is interesting, the footpath seperates around a central mast and you can see down to the hydraulic rams that can lift up the two halves of the bridge. I haven’t seen in operation but I imagine it looks spectacular.

 

Familiars

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Cats are said to be Familiars, aloof but linked to their owners, and disdainful of fuss from anyone else. My experience is that I can make friends with most of them, if I can work out what sort of sound they like.

Years of being owned by cats teaches you that they respond to different noises or looks from the person trying to befriend them.

Noises: churring, purring, chuch-chuch sounds seem popular with cats, I’ve practiced making purring noises since we first had a cat. Then miaow, or prrup sounds, with kittens or shy cats I try and sound like a little cat crying, it’s sometimes difficult to get high pitched enough. But hit the right note (quietly) and a shy kitten may become more friendly.

Looks: If the cat stares at you don’t stare back. slow eye blinks are the thing, close your eyes and keep them shut for a second. Cats do the same thing and it makes them feel less threatend.

Gestures: If you want to stroke a cat just offer it the back of your hand or a finger to sniff, dont try and stroke it unless it starts to rub its head against your hand. Don’t lunge at it or try and pick it up. Cats are small animals and can feel intimidated.

Also try not to make loud noises which will startle the cat.

If you see your cats tail wagging/waving it might be getting annoyed or excited and wanting to play, just be careful, a paw may take a swipe at you and cats have sharp claws! Also be wary of the tooth and claw situation…..ow!

Cats like fusses, being stroked, if they are enjoying it they may start kneading you with their front paws, but beware a cat having its stomach stroked or tickled might kick out with its back legs while grabbing you with its front paws and biting ….

I’ve learnt from experience that you have to move your hand away carefully, pull I away and you can end up badly scratched.

Do: treat a cat with respect, try and make friends, enjoy the love a cat can share with you.

Don’t: shout at it, pull its tail, insist on picking it up if it doesn’t want you to.

Storm

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The sky was clear earlier, just a few clouds skudding past as the sun set, the sky deepening in azure blue as the night arrived. But now, less than two hours later, the wind has picked up the leaves that had fallen early because of the drought. The storm is blowing around the house like an old steam engine, puffing and panting, whistling and roaring. I could imagine gouts of flame shooting out its boiler.

One minute all is quiet, then gusts blow down the chimney, the air in the room cools and stirs. The cats have come in to seek shelter, yet they are restless, torn between comfort and agitation. Nose to the glass looking out at the chaotic movement of the air…

The traffic noise is amplified by the wind. Unseen cars blur past in a loud buzz, like bees scattering from a hive seeking food at breakneck speed.

Still no rain in this gale, tiles rattle but not from raindrops, this storm is selfish and does not want to share its water. Jealous of allowing the land to drink. Will it rain? Perhaps, maybe wet the feet of the trees.

I think of the poor and destitute. Wrapped in an old duvet or plastic bag for shelter. How will they cope with no roof to protect them? This storm is the first of the season, big bulky winds rattling plastic sheeting, tearing it from cold bodies.  Why are they unhomed, unheeded, unheated, uncared for?

In a land due to celebrate the centenary of the end of the first world war, in a land that was fit for hero’s, we have gone back to the maelstrom of survival of the fittest and devil take the hind most.

My safety from the wild wind is their loss. I grieve for them.

When insomnia strikes

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My ears whistling that high pitched whistle again, last night it was sussing like a weathered shell held to my ear. Plus it’s gone cold  all of a sudden, the chill has reached my ankles, my knees, got up to get the duvet to snuggle in, then I was too hot…

Snoring from my partner doesn’t help, it builds up gradually, not too loud, but when you are trying to lie quietly it creeps up on you, can you sleep before it reaches peak snore?

So I go back to bed, snuggle under the duvet, elbow my partner in the ribs so he turns over, blow my nose to relieve the whistle…5 minutes, 10 minutes….no, pick up my book, turn to page 44 and start reading. It’s a science book, Richard Feynmann QED, trying to understand light waves or particles, quanta…..dozed offf…….zzzzx…CAT decides to jump up to get warm next to my back,,uh….drsf ,,gnnnh…she wakes me up running over my face!…..awake again I seek solace in my computer, check emails…write this…..no midnight trumpish tweeting where’s the coveeffee,,,,Gnnn, coffee,,decaff,,hot…….

Sisters cat

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Sisters cat is so neat,

sisters cat is so sweet,

 

Sisters cat has cheerful purrs,

Sisters cat has kneading paws,

 

Sisters cat is still a kitten,

sister’s cat chases a mitten….

 

Sisters cat is all black,

Sisters cat is called Jack.

 

Sisters cat chases his tail,

Sisters cat, he likes gales.

 

When purring, pawing, kitten plays

You see him running through the days,

 

Now sisters cat is getting older,

And as the year will soon get colder,

On sister’s chair Jack cat will sleep,

Warm and snug, then wake and leap,

Down to the hearth to drink and eat.

Then off outside his friends will meet.

 

Hmm I didn’t know how to finish that…Sisters cat is actually female, but Jack sounds better. Anyway she is sweet and neat and purrs !

Being me….

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I’m writing this because I haven’t really explored who I am. What my beliefs are and how I fit into the world of WordPress.

If you do follow me on the book of Face, or the instant telegram, you know I love posting original art, and I’m also quite opinionated when it comes to what’s going on in the world.

I am quite left wing. I don’t believe in the death penalty, I think all races should be equal (although they are not) yet! I think that people should have the right to use birth control, there are too many people and not enough resources. I do not think that 80 men should have as much money as the poorest half of the Earth’s population.  I try to be kind and polite and do not appreciate people trying to get the better of each other.

I am stubborn, and can be obstinate, I do try and listen to the other side of the argument though. However I sometimes push an argument hard and I know that can irritate people!

What else? Well you know I love art and all sorts of creativity. I’m trying to set up as an art business, but that’s not really what I am. I want to paint even if it doesn’t make money.

It’s your choice whether you follow me or not. I’m exploring poetry but I don’t pretend it’s good, and I don’t normally write prose. I’m surprising myself with how many ideas I have!

Spode site progress?

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Spode site in Stoke is continuing to change,  the area up by the new hotel and visitor centre remain the same and work is almost completed on the hotel itself which is housed in one of the old Spode buildings.

Half of the site has been sold to a developer, this is the side closest to the A500 road. You can see the civic centre in Stoke across the cleared land.

The other half which is nearest stoke town centre will soon have more (larger) units for artists and creative’s to rent from Acava and the City council. The China halls that have been used for putting on the British Ceramic Biennial and also performances of plays, is still there but some of the more modern ancillary buildings have been demolished. As a studio holder its a strange experience walking through the site. It’s a bit of an excuse not to go in. But I must!

The visitor centre and the hotel both have cafes you can visit, and the visitor centre has recently been refurbished with a new exhibition space called centre space . I need to get organised and try and get an exhibition there.

I think the changes to the Spode site will be documented. It is go I to see it is not just being left to become derelict.

Howl

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Howling against the wind,

The wolf sits atop the mountain.

Moon shines down on glistening snow.

Quelling fear I walk on,

In darkness amid the trees.

 

Wolves leap along the track,

Their green eyed glow, reflected by my torch,

Stay to one side of me

Fearful of the stranger in their realm.

 

Howl back at the moon,

Step quiet in the dark,

Leave fear behind in the old town,

Come out and see the shining stars

And howl against the dark.

 

I dont live in a country with wolves, but a lot of the stories about them attacking are apparently mythical. However I would not want to be bitten by one, they could carry diseases like rabies. Wolves are powerful predators, they are pack animals and follow a dominant male and female pair. I would love to see a real one in the wild, but not in captivity. I saw the pelt of one at the weekend at a Saxon reinactment. I hope it was old and historic and not a recent purchase.

Howling against the dark and wind feels like how it would be, icy cold, your breath turning into ice crystals. The feeling of wide spaces and high hills. Freedom, Beauty, life.