True Colours

Imagine running a 5 km course with 7,199 others and having powder paint chucked at you from all angles every kilometre. I thought of rainbows, the Care Bears and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. My number 2167 not a burden and the colours a blessing not a curse for me, unlike the handmaids in Margaret Atwood's brilliant dystopian tale. The glittering gold HAPPY tattoo lasted a whole week on my left forearm, even after bathing. Good job I didn't stick it on my forehead. The 80's style headband held that position. Dirtbag ran with a friend so I selfie-stuck with mine. She emerged from the green powder paint explosion ahead of me, looking like Princess Fiona from Shrek.
''Hello darling!'' I shouted to her before also becoming an alter-ego ogre. It certainly was the #Happiest5k I had ever run. The photo is very amusing to me as Ellie didn't know what the sign said until after the picture had been taken. Read it and weep penitent tears beloved daughter of mine.

The green theme continues with my healthy breakfast smoothie. Feeling very virtuous, I suck it up a straw first, before gulping the rest down with my eyes closed. It's really quite pleasant, although at one point I gag thinking I am swallowing a large lump of snot until I realise it is actually a blob of unblended banana. I'm being sensible and only having this swamp juice thing twice a week depending on the availability of fresh kale in the desert.

Some colours have changed for me as I am no longer childminding and the three green-eyed, jealous monsters of mine have my full attention again (well, sometimes).
For one day only, Dirtbag flew off to Dubai for another Cross Country event as I sent my first ever tweet. I thought how appropriate it was having just published The Singing Tree poem. My head may be full of birdsong but my mental torment continues as I spend hours agonising over the editing and layout of my blog, only to find it all changes on the handheld device. The video I rotated and stressed over won't even play in my palm. How will my forthcoming sonnet fare? Shakespeare did not suffer so much with his simple parchment and quill.

'' 'You don't know what courage you possess until you are called to show it,' he had replied. 'You are the bravest of women. Wherever you are, here or in the UK, it doesn't matter; you will remain brave. You represent all the women of this island to me.' ''

Kunal speaking to Sita in Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne.

I hope you are Happy; although it is impossible to be all the time. If you are Bashful, Grumpy, Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy and need to see a Doc or two, just accept that's the way it is at the moment. Know that feelings and circumstances can and will change for you. Be brave. Live for now.

'' So don't be afraid to let them show 
  your true colours 
  true colours are beautiful
 like a rainbow ''

Sorry Cyndi, but I have to type colours the correct way otherwise I feel sick and distressed like I do when spinach gets stuck in my teeth. That is why I can't write The Color Run. Agh, multi-coloured vomit is coming your way now!

In sympathy and with respect for Bowie, Let's Dance. Continue to enjoy some spellbinding magic with Professor Snape and keep flying on eagles' wings with Frey.

Take it easy,
With Love xx



The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
True Colors by Cyndi Lauper (1986)

Reading: Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert by Georgina Howell
Writing: A sonnet
Listening, singing & dancing to: The High Road (2009), Holding On For Life (2013) and After the Disco (2014) by the brilliant Broken Bells. Their videos are really engaging, intriguing and cool in my humble opinion.
Watched: Gravity (2013) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)

               

Dead

Alive

                                                                                                     

Susie and The Singing Tree

Susie and The Singing Tree

The tree was full of twittering

as she cycled slowly past;

smiling, listening, enjoying the symphony.

It became impossible not to stop

and search for birds hiding in branches;

gathering, sheltering, rejoicing.

She herself had just been praising,

it was only natural for them to do the same.

wearehereweareherewearehereweareherewearehere,

they chirruped, chirped and chorused.

Extraordinary in the ordinary,

and it happens every day at the same time.

A free show to look forward to.

To remind her of the simple things in life;

things to cherish.

Mind Blowing and Memory Making

I did not realise how quickly my naked self could move until I dropped my Kindle in the bath at the start of the Christmas holidays. Frantically scooping it out, I gently swaddled her in a small towel and shouted, ''Get me some rice NOW!'' I can be quite assertive and in control when required. Shrouding myself in a larger towel before carefully laying my beloved companion into a casserole dish and burying her in dry rice, I muse.
Please don't die yet, you bring me so much joy. 
Thankfully, the towel, the rice, the plea have worked.

The first dilemma of the holidays arose with a difficult decision to make. As usual, our social events clashed; shall we attend a carol service or go camping? ''I have a bad feeling about this.'' Surprisingly, Romeo steers us all onto another course declaring that we were going to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Brilliant! This will be the first time in two years that I have been to the big screen. I wasn't disappointed; gasping in delight at the IMAX screen, travelling at lightspeed through the galaxy with my 3D specs on, absorbing the adventure and relationships. It was almost like being in church. We sat in a row together, listening as the stories unfolded and made some sense. The original Star Wars films are pure allegory aren't they, George?

So with the Kindle re-fired and the Force awakened I felt empowered to take Dirtbag for her 8.00am Christmas Eve dental appointment. Brace yourself Ellie! Another opportunity to try out my limited Spanish on the Cuban orthodontist.
''¿Buenos días cómo estás. Feliz Navidad.'' I'm trusting google translate has got it right here.
We enjoyed the freedom to celebrate in our community by singing some carols, feasting on fine food and frolicking later on in the evening. Bruce the dog was lapping up all the fuss and attention in his cute little Santa jacket.

Christmas day appeared gloomy and overcast. Perfect, just like England. I cycled down to the beach for my swim in the large waves. Another brave soul was already body boarding. The sea didn't feel too cold at all and I was soon splashing around whilst trying to keep the silver tinsel in my hair. Then the heavy rains came, pounding down all day long, creating huge puddles and preempting the terrible floods in the UK on Boxing Day. My in-laws live next to the River Irwell which flooded their garden, cellar and garage. It was sad to see it on the news as it is only 400 yards or so away from The Waterside, a pub we frequented which collapsed into the river. Nearer to home, York, Manchester, Leeds, Brighouse and Elland seemed to be sinking. I trust they will resurface and return to normal soon.

We revisit the cinema, this time, to see Spectre. Brilliant! Mini-Me is a keen Bond fan. I had to exercise the art of self-control as I was sitting next to a white thobed man and one of his wives, I presume. When The Writing's on the Wall resounded during the opening sequence I mimed the lyrics perfectly but really I wanted to sing them out at the top of my voice. It was so hard to restrain myself. It would have been much better all round if they had used Radiohead's sublime ''Spectre'' theme instead. After my initial torture, I settled down to focus on the plot. My heartbeat became erratic engaging in all the adrenaline-surging action and also in anticipation of some sex scenes. It soon regulated itself when I realised the really exciting bits were all completely cut! How frustrating for a midlife crisis comme moi. It's a good job I have a great imagination isn't it? Our kids can keep singing their songs of innocence for a while longer. OO7's drill torture scene transported me back to Dirtbag's dental appointment. Ouch! I'm sure it's harder to watch than experience.

''How do I live?
 How do I breathe?
 When you're not here I'm suffocating.'' 

Sam Smith, take my advice and buy some Olbas Oil (cf. Distracted by decongestant 14/1/15).

Wonderfully, Mini-Me finds himself wearing a brand new, white PSG football kit and standing in the tunnel waiting to walk out onto the pitch with Inter Milan player number 33, Danilo D'Ambrossio.
''Mum, I said Hi to Mancini and he said Hi back!''
''Who is Mancini?'' I replied.
''MUM!''

I enjoyed sitting in the dazzling Millennium Falcon Al Sadd Stadium with its Spider camera zipping up and down. The WOOHOO from Blur's Song 2 blasted out when the only goal of the friendly match was scored by PSG. On my way to the toilet, I found a folded QR 50 note. Hmmm, another dilemma? Picking it up I thrust it into the hand of one of the yellow T.shirt wearing Spectator Services men and get a beaming smile in return. It's only when I embark on my subsequent bathroom trip that I notice the shiny Rolex resting comfortably on his wrist. The sad looking cleaner in the toilet block should have received my bounty.

We welcomed in the New Year with good friends, hosting the party at our house. Well, the lights were still in place from the birthday party so it was no trouble. Mum had sweetly sent me a message at midnight, 9 pm UK time. After everyone had left or gone to sleep, I stayed up until 3 am with a cup of tea and some Pringles. Looking up into the night sky I silently wished my family and friends from miles away a very happy year ahead.

My Blackberry has crumbled so I now possess Dirtbag's old iPhone 4s complete with its cracked back. Beware it may take me a while to navigate this new piece of technology and reconnect on What'sApp again. Do I have to glue it onto my palm straightaway?

Gazing somewhat enviously up at Orion I am amazed that his belt is not one notch looser after this festive season. He is most certainly a lucky constellation. On a cool, starry evening stroll with Romeo, I am treated to the biggest, brightest shooting star that I have ever seen in my entire life. It was so amazing and seemed to glow across the sky in slow motion just for me and my wishful thinking. If I tell you all my wishes I will have to mind-wipe you and that could hurt. So I won't.


Reading: Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne
Listening to: Music Complete, New Order's new album
Singing: Tutti Frutti by New Order
Editing: My novel. It is in four parts, including a prologue and epilogue.
I'm currently editing Part 4.

Keep on dancing and adventuring with me. Click on the link below. xx

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtXby3twMmI


Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake