Sharing My World 2015 Week 17
It’s Sunday, the day I contribute to Cee’s Share Your World, just one of the fun challenges that Cee organises on a weekly basis.
What is your most favourite smell/scent?
My two favourite smells are quite opposite to each other. One is the smell of bacon cooking. Mmm, bacon. The other is the smell of nature. Not cow poo or anything like that, but the smell of the forest, cut grass and flowers.
The Higher Garden at Lanhydrock, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself?
Well, quite recently I toyed with the idea of having longer hair. I decided it would be cool. However at my age it would probably just look stupid, and when my hair gets to a certain point it tends to puff out. So short is the way to go for me. If I was going to try “going hippy” I should have done it 25 years ago.
Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)
Tricky one. I used to plan everything down to the last detail. I don’t do that any more. That’s not to say I’m a spontaneous person. There isn’t a less spontaneous person on the planet than me!
However, if I’m off somewhere I don’t know, I’ll plan the route, where I can park and if applicable I’ll book somewhere to stay. That’s the limit. I might switch the car display to “map” so I can see roughly where I am but I’ve never actually used the Sat Nav per se.
I’ve discovered that planning everything to the last detail leads to major stress. Knowing where I’m going and that I have somewhere to stay reduces stress, having exact things to do at exact times – well, life’s too short to put myself through that.
What is your favourite outdoor activity?
Walking in the woods, gardens and so on I guess. And I like taking pictures of it all. So in the spirit of that, here’s another picture of Lanhydrock, looking at the main house across the lower gardens, framed by little ornamental battlements.
Into the Fire
Temperatures have plummeted back into single figures. And it’s nearly May! So yes, I have felt the need to switch on the gas fire of an evening. And also to take a picture of it with my new camera!
A Rocky Start
It’s time once again for my contribution to Friday Fictioneers, the weekly flash fiction challenge hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was supplied by Dee Lovering.
Apparently my story last week was “a bit dark”, so this one is a bit lighter :-). So here is my idyllic honeymoon story, ably aided by the inestimable Freddy Mercury.
To read this week’s other stories, click on the little blue froggy.
Copyright Dee Lovering
“We’re here!” smiled Rex, bursting into song. “Baarrrcelo-onaaa, it was the first time that we met…”
“Quiet! People are staring!” His new wife looked embarrassed.
“Barcelo-onaaa, how can… ow! Ow!” Rex struggled to fend off Cassie’s handbag.
“Finished? Where’s this honeymoon cottage you booked, then?”
“Lisbon.”
“What? Why are we in Spain?”
“No idea,” smiled Rex. “I wondered at the time why you were booking tickets to Spain.”
“WE’RE IN THE WRONG COUNTRY!”
“Yes! Ah, Barcelona, home to… ow! Ow!”
An old couple watched them from a nearby café.
“Ouch, nasty,” commented the woman.
The man nodded sympathetically. “Must be married, love. I recognise the signs… ow! Ow!”
Nothing to Laugh About
Here is my contribution to Monday’s Finish the Story, Barbara Beacham’s weekly photo/opening sentence prompt.
I’m a bit later this week, as last night I went to see the new Avengers film at the cinema. Also, I couldn’t think of a single story. But rather than miss a week, here’s what I ended up with, for better or worse.
The opening sentence is in bold in my story, and to view this week’s other entries click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Barbara W. Beacham
“Are you laughing at me?”
“Calm down, mate.”
“Are you laughing. At. ME?” Brian repeated, more forcefully.
“No, mate. Calm down. Have you taken your meds today?”
“Are you looking at me…”
“Well, I’m looking at you because I’m talking to you.” Chad was starting to feel a little worried.
“… or are you chewing a brick?” Brian continued.
“What?”
“’Cos either way you’ll lose your teeth,” snarled Brian.
“Okay, Brian, you need to calm down,” said Chad, in as soothing a voice as he could manage. He eyed Brian’s muscular bulk warily. “Look at your happy flowers. Look at the flowers, Brian. Happy, happy flowers!”
Brian stared at the flowers. The flowers stared back. Brian snarled.
“Are you laughing at me?” Brian demanded of the flowers, bunching his fists.
“For Heaven’s sake,” muttered Chad, stomping off to find Brian’s meds.
The flowers began to tremble slightly. They saw their future in Brian’s eyes, and that future was pot-pourri.
Moon Over Houses
When I looked out the window the other evening I saw a photo op, so I grabbed my camera and had a go. I’ve tried pictures like this before but they never came out using a camera phone or point-and-click.
I set the shutter speed to 1/40 second. I didn’t want to risk going lower in case my ageing hands caused the camera to shake too much, especially as I was zoomed in a bit as well.
I’m not sure in the next one if that bright spot above and to the right of the moon is a star or planet or maybe a satellite.
I cheated a little bit in a photo editor. The originals showed a ghost image of the moon (see below). I don’t know if it was an artifact of the lens, or if it’s because I took the shots through double glazing.
Sharing My World 2015 Week 16
Here’s my post for Cee’s Share Your World. Be sure to check out all the lovely photos on her blog!
What are your favourite spices?
I’m not a big fan of spices in sweet or dessert type things, so stuff like cinnamon wouldn’t be on my list. I can’t be bothered to Google which things are spices and which are herbs so I’ll go for pepper, chilli pepper, whatever stuff goes into curry powder and paprika. The hot stuff, basically!
What object do you always have with you when travelling and why?
My phone. It’s multi-purpose – good for any emergencies so I can contact people and good for taking quick photos of cool stuff. I haven’t linked it to my bank accounts (yet) but if I did it really would be a device for all occasions!
What is one thing you love about being an adult?
Not having to go to school. School was rubbish. I’d rather have responsibilities, bills to pay and so on than have to go to school again.
What item, that you don’t have already, would you most like to own?
If we’re going down the fantasy route and it’s only one item, it would have to be something which would enable me to get everything else. So some sort of magical “bag of unending funds” would be in order.
As for “real life” (booorrring) I really don’t know. Most things I want at the moment are replacements for knackered things I already own, like a new sofa, new cooker and the like. I very recently bought a “proper” camera as some of you know, so I have that!
Cee’s Black and White Challenge – Geometric Shapes
I thought I’d have another go at Cee’s Black and White Challenge this week, so I went out and about around the neighbourhood with my camera set to “Mono”. This week’s subject is “Geometric Shapes”.
Here’s the back of my car. I washed it and everything, look at that shine! (Not specifically for the photo, it was dirty.) I don’t know what purpose that honeycomb thing serves, but it makes the car look good as it explodes down the road at high speed.
Here’s the garage I don’t park it in because it’s full of junk. At the left of the photo you can see the leaky gutter joint I haven’t bothered to fix.
I need to weld this shut so the water company can’t see how much water I’ve used. But the joke would be on me – this is actually next door’s water meter cover. Ha ha.
And finally, this is what stops nasty dirt getting into my house.
I hope you enjoyed my pictures :-).
Pioneers
It’s Friday Fictioneers time again, the weekly flash fiction challenge hosted by Rochelle over at “Addicted to Purple“. The photo this week was supplied by top fictioneerer Douglas M. MacIlroy.
To read this week’s other stories, click on the blue froggy.
Copyright Douglas M. MacIlroy
With a gust of icy wind Jared entered the shelter. His wife looked at him eagerly, anxiously, the unspoken question hanging between them. Finally Jared shook his head and looked away.
“All of them?” asked Sheera, her voice trembling. Jared looked at his wife and nodded.
“All of them.”
“So we’re the last.” It wasn’t a question. “We’re all alone.”
Little Hanna ran in and hugged her Dad. “You’re back, you’re back!” she squealed, while in the kitchenette Sheera prepared drinks, carefully mixing a generous dosage of “Martian Deathcap” into each of the three cups.
Drinking deeply, the last surviving “Red Planet Pioneers” faded quietly away.
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