Tag Drink

Drink – SoCS June 25/16

freyathewriter 9 Comments

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“I need a drink!”

How often does that thought pass through our minds, I wonder? Does ‘need’ really reflect our thoughts most of the time, or is it more of a ‘want’? Of course, that thought tends to bring a picture to our minds of a nice glass of red, or a gin & tonic, or a pint of lager (yes, I’m British!). It’s definitely a want.

Real need encompasses water. We cannot live without it, we really do need it. It makes me angry, it scares me, when I hear about water privatisation. But then, water is already treated as a commodity here in the UK. All water supplies are controlled by private industry, it’s been this way here since 1989, and it’s accepted as being, well, acceptable. I’m not sure that I agree. I’ve been lucky, have always had access to clean water without having to worry about paying for its supply, and for the disposal of waste water.

People in the third world slums pay more for the supply of water than people in New York and London. Women in parts of Africa where privatised water is beyond their reach walk miles to collect water from often-polluted rivers, and they and their families suffer the devastating health consequences as a result.

Deaths from water-borne diseases are killing more people worldwide than all the wars, conflicts and general violence combined.

The United Nations has declared that access to clean drinking water is a universal human right.

Something to remember when you think “I need a drink!”

 

Here’s my latest offering for the lovely Linda’s Stream of Consciousness SaturdayLinda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday, where this week she invites to write inspired by ‘drink’ (verb or noun). This was completely stream of consciousness… I started off with one idea i mind and ended up at a real tangent!

Please do head on over to Linda’s blog, read, enjoy, and why not be inspired to take part?

TJ’s Household Haiku Challenge – Dry

freyathewriter 11 Comments

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My sandpaper throat

was only eased with liquid

gold – pure firewater.

 

For twenty five years

I have not touched a single

drop – teetotaller.

 

Here are my two entries to our favourite Francophile’s Household Haiku Challenge, where this week TJ invites us to write a haiku (or two, or three, or more) inspired by the word ‘dry’ and/or his spiky photograph – a cactus.

This is the reboot of TJ’s original theme of items from around the house. A change is as good as a rest, no?

This is a fun and short prompt – so why not take part? And in case you’re wondering – no, I’m not an alcoholic!

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!

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– 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.