Category Life

Time for Tea! – dVerse Open Link Week 117

freyathewriter 33 Comments

Here’s my latest entry into the dVerse Open Link – why not take a look at everyone else’s wonderful responses?

This piece is about a great British tradition, inspired by an overheard snatch of conversation and a memory of growing up that gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling. I hope you enjoy it!

*****

– Time for Tea! –

A cup of tea, it cures all ills
Here in England, the land of Wills
& Kate, and Good Queen Bess
Forgive me now, I must confess

To being rather a fussy type
You know the sort, it must be right,
First you have to warm the pot
Then add the leaves, use a lot

There’s not much worse than a feeble brew
Unless of course you let it stew –
Under-steeped or left too long
Third-rate tea, well that’s just wrong!

A china cup is just the thing
From which to let the flavours sing
And lift you after a long, hard day
You know, we won the war that way

Or so my grandma used to claim
When I was young, the old refrain
Of ‘Shall we have another pot?’
Was something she would say, a lot

I drank it, though I wasn’t fond
Because she made it very strong
The way my grandad liked it, see
It was his perfect cup of tea.

The Pigeon Fancier – Alastair’s Photo Fiction

freyathewriter 7 Comments

Here is my offering for Alastair’s Photo Fiction this week, inspired by the photo below.  Why not take part? And why not visit his photography and writing blog to take a look at his other photos…?

Copyright - A Mixed Bag

Copyright – A Mixed Bag

– The Pigeon Fancier –

“Hey, George! Psst! Are you in there?”

“Don’t be silly, Jim. He ain’t in there! Why would he be in there?”

“Look, Sally’s convinced that’s where she saw him last, before they put the air brick back. Why d’you think she’s been standing here like a lovelorn loon, billing and cooing like it’s going out of fashion?”

“Boys! Shush! I can hear him! He’s definitely in there…”

“Come on, Sally love, you know you’re wasting your time. He’s done a runner, same as always…”

“No he hasn’t! You always want to talk him down – listen!”

“Come on, Jim, let’s leave her to it. She won’t listen – stupid girl!”

“Salleeeeee, Salleeeee, pride of our alley, you’re more than the whole world toooo me…”

“See! I told you boys! He’s singing to me! George! George! Here I am!”

“Jim – it’s that film on TV again, she’s got it all wrong, poor love.”

“Bless her. Let’s leave her to it, like you said. The blighter doesn’t deserve her…”

Here’s a bit of background, for those of you that don’t know the film Sally in Our Alley, or the song by Gracie Fields.

Frack Off! – dVerse Poetics

freyathewriter 31 Comments

Please excuse the poor formatting and whatnot – I am posting this using my phone, so goodness knows what it will look like! Suffice to say that this week’s dVerse Poetics prompt was too good to miss. The issue about which I feel strongly was also very close to my dad’s heart, and since I have spent a strangely enjoyable evening talking about him, it feels like the right thing to do. I don’t have my laptop with me (I am away from home), hence the phone post.

I hope you enjoy this – it was written very quickly, but the pumpkins were calling! I will come back and comment on others’ poems and tidy this up, next week.

 

– Frack Off! –

What the frack are you all doing,

stomping through our field?

 

Shaking up the ground boys,

to extract what shale will yield.

 

But can’t you see we’re ripening,

until we’ve reached our best?

 

Sorry guys, the future’s ours,

there is no time to rest.

 

You’ve got to wait, the season’s here,

the farmer needs his crop.

 

Shut your mouth, behave yourselves!

There’s no way we will stop.

 

Pumpkins, squash and turnips too,

for decades we’ve grown here.

 

Times they change, that’s how it is,

the law is very clear.

 

Power and might are on your side,

for now at least, it’s true.

 

But Mother Nature will fight back,

and first, she’ll come for you.

You’re going too far, you’ve lost the plot –

money has turned your head.

Filthy lucre’s not all that.

 

Especially

when

you’re

dead.