The Institution We made it into the school band, Babs and me. The music room rocked. While our school chums ran amok in the playground, we were in class rattling up the scales, practising our crotchets and quavers. Who was best? Babs was best. Babs said I was best. Mr Cook made no differences. HeContinue reading “A Cycle Through Life – activities”
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A Cycle Through Life cont…
The Neighbours The house we lived in was wooden, like all the other houses on the street. All with open coal fires. Tinder boxes, the postman said. The neighbours were kind and friendly, mum making friends with Maggie Crowthers next door. She wore an apron all day long, and well-trod slippers. Her nose was sharp,Continue reading “A Cycle Through Life cont…”
A Cycle Through Life cont…
New Strategy of the Middle Child You may not believe everything I say. You may think I sound more like a Capricornian with my drive at such lofty goals, than a sentimental Pisces. You may think one small skinny girl could not be let loose, alone in a forest. You may even think I soundContinue reading “A Cycle Through Life cont…”
A Cycle Through Life
I Could Walk Too I was born on the 29th February 1956, but I must leap a few years. 1960. I’m four, it would seem, and granddad came to visit, his last visit. He told me, with a wiggle of his large ears, and a suck on his gums, that at birth, I’d looked likeContinue reading “A Cycle Through Life”
Life Thrives
The old rail track was deserted – eerily so. Nevertheless, I set out from my home in a Scottish town, not too far from the capital city, to explore. My footsteps, on the fallen twigs, crackled, crunched, and snapped, snapped crunched and crackled as a campfire surrounded by cubs. Boy cubs, not the big hairyContinue reading “Life Thrives”
Exercise on the back of Thomas Bernhard and Sarah Bernstein readings – illuminate
It was early spring when I travelled west for a short break. The weather treated me to a variety show of conditions such as sun, cloud, wind, rain, none of which, as an all weather man, which is just a saying, as I’m what some may call the weaker sex, which of course is untrue, didn’t botherContinue reading “Exercise on the back of Thomas Bernhard and Sarah Bernstein readings – illuminate”
Water
If someone had asked me ten years ago, my favourite place, I’d have said by the water. I love water. Any kind of water. Whether it be the sea rushing to shore, a river flowing, a pond glinting, a burn, a puddle, a shower, a hot tub, I don’t care, just allow me to beContinue reading “Water”
left unsaid
‘You’re not a rabid Tory, are you?’ he asked out the blue. Why would he think that? Why would he care? Would he take back his welcome if I replied in the affirmative. Of course, he couldn’t see my face. We were on a phone call. I was always told, from the age of eighteen,Continue reading “left unsaid”
Branching Out
It’s Sunday afternoon. The month and year January 2023. The vicinity, my daughter’s married home town, Bonnyrigg. I was minding my grandsons. Life does indeed go in circles. My paternal granddad lived in Bonnyrigg, but I’ve yet to find out if that was his birth town, and one day, I will. The large cast ironContinue reading “Branching Out”
Keep Granny Alive
I’ve lived in Penicuik most of my life, but it is only now, after sixty-six years, that I find the threads of the past unravelling. The local mill women I’ve researched in the library thrive in my imagination, now not so faceless. The vision is strong. I see them cut and de-button rags. History reelsContinue reading “Keep Granny Alive”
Jimjan's Journal 