Wed 29th Sep 2021 15:38
What country do YOU live in?
Do you get out much?
hahaha
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Wed 29th Sep 2021 15:36
"contains unpleasant scenes".
what a nice way of putting it.
?
Comment is about Stephen Gospage (poet profile)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
So true! Getting through to any real human being is quite a
result nowadays. The system really does seem designed to
deter (not to mention delay) callers.
Comment is about Wait Time (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Andy Kadir-Buxton
Wed 29th Sep 2021 13:54
It takes me day to do what I used to do all day!
Comment is about Sex, Alcohol and Sugar (blog)
Original item by Don Matthews
Thanks for the likes, the two Stephens, Holden and John. Maybe Margot would have disapproved, Stephen ... but I've always pictured her as one of those secret 70s Surbiton swingers. Maybe there was a hidden agenda to their friendship with Tom and Barbara.
Comment is about The Ritz, Surbiton (blog)
Original item by Greg Freeman
As Graham says, we have lost too many of these 60s football heroes recently. A fine tribute, Mike, to an underrated member of that World Cup winning team.
Comment is about 'Sir Roger' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Primo Levi's book on his experiences was a masterwork of internalisation. It is brave to raise the horrors of the holocaust John and to point out the acceptance of it by those in the know, and especially the commitments of those who authorized it revealed by the Nuremberg trials proves how ordinary these functionaries of the state were as people. Shades of 1984 in the thinking.
Ray
Comment is about Final Solution (blog)
Original item by John E Marks
I love reading these poetic obits. Sadly too many required in the last twelve months. I was never a Liverpool fan but one had to admire them in their heyday.
Comment is about 'Sir Roger' (blog)
Original item by Mike Bartram
Thank you all for your comments, for the kind words of encouragement and for some food for thought.
Yes Laura, absolutely - the mundanity of what is considered spectacular by the dying is what makes such a devastating situation cut deeper. But ushering with it a newfound appreciation of the small things, the little (sometimes resented) routines in life.
Thank you again.
Comment is about Something Spectacular (blog)
Original item by S Sampson
D.k.,
I moved back to England over three years ago. Just in time for Brexit.
Keith
Comment is about d.knape (poet profile)
Original item by d.knape
It's quite long Tom (Oh Matron!) but not unnecessarily. Nicely done
Comment is about Holy Terror (blog)
Original item by Tom
I'm happy to say that it brings out the worst in me, Stephen.
Fuel deliveries are only the front page news. We have just spent a week's holiday in the Cotswolds. The number of pubs and cafes offering restricted menus or times of opening or advertising staff vacancies is incredible. The owners almost always cited loss of foreign workers as the cause.
I'm happy to say that it brings out the worst in me.
And thanks for the Likes, Kevin and Stephen A.
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
It's true. 'Contains unpleasant scenes' is an almost obligatory introduction to TV dramas. 'Contains beauty': who needs that?
Comment is about UGLY (blog)
Original item by d.knape
'Plausible' is at the centre of this. Good one, Ray.
Comment is about ABUSERS - THE UNDEAD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Entertaining stuff, John. It's payback time, as you say. Another example of how Brexit brings out the worst in everyone.
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thanks to Ray, Greg, John and Trevor for all the kind comments and input. I was in Memphis in 1994 visiting a fertilizer plant (it's a long story) and managed to squeeze in a visit to Graceland. I gather it's changed a bit then, but it seems they still have to electrify the road signs to fight off souvenir hunters.
There are so many Elvis impersonators now (one used to live opposite my aunt's house near Basingstoke) that I suppose sightings are quite common, especially if there are no changing facilities at the venue. Thanks for the Kirsty McColl video, John. I thought it was the sort of thing Chas and Dave might have done. Or you know who....
To parody Spike Milligan (not a good idea):
I thought I saw Elvis riding on a tram;
I asked "Are you Elvis?" He said "I am".
Comment is about Elvis Presley Boulevard 1994 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
*applauds*
Thanks for seeing it, and us, Hugh.
Comment is about Sabina Nessa R.I.P. Our gender violence epidemic is a disgrace !! (blog)
Original item by hugh
Love this. Would question the use of capital letters on lines following commas, but I know some people just prefer it that way.
This reminds me of my current mantra - mundanity is king. It's what we all crave when life throws us sh*t storms.
Comment is about Something Spectacular (blog)
Original item by S Sampson
Certainly there are a range of causes for the crisis, MC. But in the Road Haulage Association’s survey, 60% of respondents cited Brexit. Of course, you may be right and the effects of Brexit quite benign. But not according to the RHA.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/57810729
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Impressive. The words in the poem are good - "morphine, sweat and uncertainty", for instance - but the words you leave out are equally important.
Comment is about Something Spectacular (blog)
Original item by S Sampson
Entertaining stuff from a reliable source.
More delusional associations with Brexit. Check the shortage
of drivers across Europe and the facts tend to show otherwise.
Not to mention the union activity affecting the DVLA backlog
of HGV applications currently languishing there in their thousands. Got a song about that?
How about one based on a well-known demo-ditty of yesteryear...
Hey, hey DVLA
How many forms have you filed today? ?
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Talk about "The bite of fate"
The BBC are publicising their forthcoming series based on the
activities/life of Jimmy Saville. Biting your own tongue may
not appeal when there's money to be made,.but it's almost
beyond parody.
Comment is about ABUSERS - THE UNDEAD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
The general sentiment expressed is easily understood. It's
recognisable in many modern aspects of life - and not just in
America. Coarseness of language and behaviour can be
witnessed far more often now.. Perhaps it's the "ugly relation"
of the freedom that we now enjoy? But freedom has its own
responsibilities and IMHO that includes the obligation to use
respect and common courtesy in our dealings with each other.
and what we produce in one form or another as we go through
life. Ugly doesn't need to produce "ugly". Indeed, it can spur
the emergence of astounding beauty to adorn our existence..
Comment is about UGLY (blog)
Original item by d.knape
Of course he's alive - he's still down the chip shop innit? ?
Comment is about Elvis Presley Boulevard 1994 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
'the bite of fate is much too strong'..............This a great line Ray
as is.................'while we forever condemn with the chant of another age another time'.
An interesting take on abuse. I'm minded to think however that many abusers have an altogether less frightening persona.
Comment is about ABUSERS - THE UNDEAD (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Tue 28th Sep 2021 11:33
Is there a Martin The Younger?
?
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
Ah the helplessness of expression in the face of facts, Poetry is such a vulnerable art , but it can lift us too. So sharpen up that pencil Martin.....
Ray
Comment is about But for words (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
An inspired offering Stephen. You've caught a whole scenario in a convincing way. The copyright says it all, litigation baying at the heels. Great last line especially.
Ray
Comment is about Elvis Presley Boulevard 1994 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
'My friends and family would soon fall out with me if every time a difficulty occured I blamed it on Brexit and smugly said - look, I told you so.'
Hi Telboy, just wanted to say that 'smug' is not really the right word when you're driving home a long way, and having to drive at 40mph to save petrol, because you're not sure you're going to make it. 'Extremely pissed off' better describes it. I'm sure that applies to key workers unable to get fuel, too.
Comment is about Telboy (poet profile)
Original item by Telboy
Ooo no, Telboy. You are far too magnanimous. These moments are there to be savoured.
Quite, Greg.
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I was disappointed with the Brexit vote but reluctantly admitted that the majority had won. That is democracy, sometimes it works in our favour, sometimes it doesn't. And I thought there would be difficulties but I am sure these will be overcome in time. My friends and family would soon fall out with me if every time a difficulty occured I blamed it on Brexit and smugly said - look, I told you so.
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Thank you Stephen. Sending you a big hug from the ocean and I!
Best wishes,
Rasa
Comment is about My Ocean Dream (blog)
Original item by Rasa Kabaila
Thank you Rasa. Your kind words mean so much. -Steph
Comment is about Homemade Poetry (blog)
Original item by Stephanie S
The Brexit fuels always know best, John
Comment is about TEN WHEELS ON MY WAGON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I'll watch out for this, Kev. We've got one coming tomorrow.
Comment is about How To Choose A Good Plumber (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PPMyXoH1pE
Comment is about Elvis Presley Boulevard 1994 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thanks Martin
An insomniac overthinker is one of my alter egos - I have a pretty insistent internal monologue that loves to get hooked up on the little things and run through them over and over and over…….. as I’m sure we’ve all experienced at some point in our life!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the feedback. Always appreciated.
Comment is about Stuck (blog)
Original item by Stuart Bright
Red and yellow - macedonian flag. I am Macedonian.
Comment is about Flag (blog)
Original item by Sanja Atanasovska
Lovely poem, Stephen, Love 'deodorised cheeseburgers' and 'the yellow brick road to Graceland'. I swear I saw him on an empty petrol station forecourt the other day ...
Comment is about Elvis Presley Boulevard 1994 (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Speaking from a perspective that seeks to prevent these tragic
incidents from occurring, it depresses me that there is trite
stuff about stopping it happening whilst failing to discuss
how and why it does! Sadly, there's nothing new in this sort of
activity. I recall that back in "my day" a policewoman acted
as a decoy to catch a man who preyed on women alone in
vulnerable locations. She was attacked and fought back, but
injured before the nearest "aid" could reach the scene - no
doubt carefully chosen by her assailant who was caught.
trying to escape. The mix of location. time and predator/prey situation that existed were all too recognisable. Prevention
takes various forms, not least the realisation that danger
EXISTS out there. My niece carries a device with a piercing
"shriek" to it - one step towards accepting that risk needs
to be understood and confronted. There has been talk
about the police doing more to protect women. So easy to
say, isn't it?. But don't wait for the "how" to follow! Because
it won't !
Comment is about Sabina Nessa R.I.P. Our gender violence epidemic is a disgrace !! (blog)
Original item by hugh
A clever and effective one, Trevor.
Comment is about Not A Summer’s Day (blog)
Original item by Trevor Alexander
Sorry to hear that, Julie. My condolences to you all. Take care.
Comment is about Taking a break for a while (blog)
Original item by julie callaghan
d.knape
Wed 29th Sep 2021 15:39
Moved back to England?
I must have missed that post.
How do you like it now?
Comment is about keith jeffries (poet profile)
Original item by keith jeffries