Adventures of me, Lisa Southard: writer, gardener, forager, care worker, Tae Kwon-Do Instructor, Granma, and co-owner of 5 acres of pasture. Dreams take work!
There is weather today, I do note it: take a few moments to reckon the size of a cloud (big) and the frequency of rain (sporadic.) Centre of my interest though is a stack of magazines. Not the fashion kind. This is martial arts research. I'm not even sure what it is I'm looking for, but intuition calls loud. A range of old adverts skew some amusement. Contact pants, for example. Pants are not trousers where I come from. They are underwear. Professional contact pants: improved smirk value. But why would a person be likely to purchase a grappling hook and a lock pick set? For specialists and hobbyists only, the blurb assures. Guidance on the pheromone spray that attracts women against their better judgement? I doubt it works any more proficiently than the mysterious potion that defines your muscles while you sleep. But, then: I wonder is some sprayed on this paper? What was my intuition thinking, making this ghastly shout… Tea break time. There's a lot of words...
Holidays for us are usually little days here and there; a few nights of camping, a walk around a historical garden, a stopover with grandchildren. This year Mr began to receive his pension, so we saved up the money and launched into a full week in Tromso, Northern Norway. We last went abroad in 2009: luckily we had help with organising the trip because the choice was overwhelming (should you be based in the UK, Adventure With Me Abbey Lee is a fledgling small business; please support). We picked Tromso because Mr has always wished to see the Aurora Borealis, somewhere snowy. There is no guarantee to see it, of course, wherever you go. Nature is under no obligation. Still, we would be gathering memories, we would know that we tried. Also, back in March, we lost someone precious to us- so this quest of ours was powered by honouring a commitment to the joyfulness of life. Here is how our Northern Lights Chase went: ‘Tuesday December 3rd As I type this, we are on a minibus heading out on ...
The A-Z segmented story: Part I (as in the letter not the Roman numeral.) In which some further sandwiches and mess occur. In the house, Claire lowers her little guest to the sofa. ‘Half a sandwich wasn’t quite enough lunch for me: more cheese for you?’ She walks through to the kitchen, opens the fridge; hears an enthusiastic ‘Ah!’ ‘More cheese it is.’ Four slices of wholewheat make a square of squares on the wooden chopping board. Slices of cheese are pressed onto dots of butter. ‘We’ll eat in now. Don’t share yours with the cat this time, or the floor. I’ll put some water in a cup. Can you use a cup? I have seen things like cups, I think, for little ones, with lids and spouts.’ The child resumes its original solemn faced stare. ‘Well, we’ll soon find out, eh?’ Claire brings the slender feast to the front room on a tin tray. The cup of water is taken in two chubby hands. Most of it seems to be washing the child’s neck. ‘Ahh!’ Lips are smacked. Clai...
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