IMAGE OF THE WEEK

The suns shining brightly

While we have our breakfast of biscuits and tea

The early birds are out to catch the early worms

And the early worms out just to be caught by the birds

Sleepy heads struggle to get out of their beds

Yawning and moaning

While the other just let their alaram bells ring

The skool kids forced to go to the place they hate

And their parents out to earn the bread but they know they are going to be late

The fitness freaks are out to burn their calories so that they would get their perfect date

And the fortune teller setting out his cards,  trying to decide whats written in everyones fate

I watch the people trying to get the time in their hands

While the others are still sleeping in their comfortable beds.

Her eyes stare into the distance, not straight at the camera; she’s seemingly oblivious that this moment in time has been captured. An unsettling stare; piercing my thoughts; my attention totally engrossed by it. Dark eyes under dark brows – no sparkle, no wrinkles of happiness surrounding them; lips pursed tightly together above a shapely chin. A look of resignation clouds her finely boned face. Her long hair is swept up in the fashion of the day but tendrils have escaped and the unseen wind has blown them across her cheeks. She wears a dress which has a large, lacy collar, an oval broach clasped at the ‘v’ neckline; she’s dressed for afternoon tea in the drawing room not an afternoon out in the cold wind with no coat to keep her warm

Who is she, I wonder as I stare at the black and white creased photograph? There are more photos in the box but this one has caught my attention.

There’s a figure in the background behind a farm gate; a tall man, standing quite a distance behind and to the left of her, shoulders hunched as he rests an elbow on the gate and gazes towards her. He’s holding something in his hand. A momentary ray of sunshine casts light through the dark, menacing clouds onto his shadowy form. I peer more closely at the man; he is wearing belt-less baggy trousers held up with string; the legs bunching shapelessly out at the knees from constant wear. A collarless shirt buttoned at the neck is topped by a buttoned up waistcoat in which a scarf is tucked around his neck; a pocket watch and chain drape across the waistcoat. A jacket completes his dress, both it and the waistcoat shiny with age and wear. A flat cap pulled over dark hair tops a commonplace face.

What is he holding? I squint hard into the gloomy greyness of the photo.

I found the black and white photograph when sorting out great grandma’s things after she died. She was the last of her generation and my parents having passed away before her; there is no-one left to ask. The late evening shadows spread into the room where I’m sitting on the couch, feet tucked up underneath me. The smouldering wood fire casts its warmth and light, enveloping me in an orange glow. Uncurling my legs I reach across and switch on the table lamp and peer once more into the picture. It’s no good, I need the magnifying glass.

Looking intently at the now enlarged image before me, I see him more clearly. Two lifeless rabbits held in his left hand by their back legs, hang over the gate, and resting against the gate is a shotgun.

Leaning back against the cushions, photograph and magnifying glass still held but resting in my lap; I gaze into the spluttering flames of the fire and wonder who the young woman is. Is it great-grandma? What is she doing outside in such weather and looking so unhappy?  Who took the photo and why? And who is the man in the background? My gaze returns to the photo; I turn it over and stare at the blank back.

I suppose I will never know.

Ever heard the phrase 'Busmans Holiday'?

It referes to a vacation during which one engages in an activity that is similar to one's usual work. Free time spent in much the same pursuit as one's work. For example, Weather permitting, the lifeguard spent all her days off at the beach--a real busman's holiday. The term alludes to a bus driver spending his day off taking a long bus ride.

What do you think a juggler might do on his day off?

However much he tried, this juggler just couldn't switch off.

Watch the video, you'll soon see what I mean

The Jugglers Day Off

What is a Carbon Footprint?

Definitions...

A representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (measured in units ...

A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels. A carbon footprint is often expressed as tons of carbon dioxide or tons of carbon emitted, usually on an annual basis.

A measure in units of carbon dioxide of the amount of greenhouse gases we emit directly and indirectly through our daily actions.

The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) each person produces or uses.

A carbon footprint is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced ...

Freedom is what imprisons us.

We hear a lot about freedom.
I believe it does not exist, at least, on this side of the pond and this is why?