Anatomy of Longing

I’ve just started to follow Tom, and have read only 2 of his poems so far.
If this one is typical of his talent then I am really going to enjoy his words, and his voice. He has tremendous expression and, I’m sure, he is going to gain a tremendous following.
Listen to “Anatomy of Longing” and then try “Ellipsis”. I’m sure you will love them!

One of These Years...

Cutting to the heart of all this longing
is it the vicious tongue you wag at me
or the perpetual mystery hanging from your actions
the contradictions of your possible state of mind

I see the hurt, I feel the pain you carry
and sense your urge to be desired by men
the flirt of all you do rings loudly before you
and against my better judgement
I can’t help but come swimming back to your shores

With every scar you try to inflict
or accidentally leave on my skin
I drift away for a moment only
then find myself battling the waves
I can’t help but come swimming back to your shores

I know you didn’t ask for this
I know you didn’t choose me or this adventure
and yet I brought it to you anyway
and you didn’t quite turn me away

And you’re cute, there’s no denying

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On reflection #1

I talk to the trees………..

This popped up in my Facebook “memories” today. I thought it may be of interest, even though it is rather a long read.

Peter's pondering

Not only do I talk to the trees, I talk to all manner of things.

Each morning I go for a walk.

I have various routes, but all take in fields, woodland, the River Erewash, the Erewash canal, bridges, a main road, and suburban streets.

Some days I hardly see a living soul, others I see far too many!

My normal route takes me down my road, which has only some 9 houses. At the bottom of the road I have my first conversation, with a brazen hussy who rolls on the ground and will not let me pass before she is satisfied. Somewhere close by her brother will be watching. He is more timid and undemanding. Their Mummy lives at the end house and thinks they are both boys!

I explain that I have to get on, and continue on my way. She follows, then runs ahead. It is…

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The People of a Place — The Chatter Blog

For Paddy, and all those unsung heroes who are the salt of the earth, thanks to Colleen for introducing some of them to us.

We approached an Irish monument. I’m always excited to see the world as it used to be, or relics of it and use my imagination to create how I think it was. It was late in the day and only stragglers wandered about. As I stepped through the gates I could see an elderly man […]

via The People of a Place — The Chatter Blog

RIP Doris Day

RIP Doris Day

Quotes

Any girl can look glamorous… just stand there and look stupid.

If it’s true that men are such beasts, this must account for the fact that most women are animal lovers.

Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.

Who Paints The Sky? — Gloria Smud

Over at Gloria Smud, Debbie’s Dad has been busy, as usual, helping to paint some really glorious skies. Pop over and hear all about it. You will not be disappointed.

Who Paints The Sky? Who has the job of painting the sky, Who owns the ladders to reach up so high, Who knows which colourful palletes delight, Perpetual artwork designed to excite! A fracture appears at the breaking of dawn, A slither of pink cracks; the new day is born. A blank canvas waits for…

via Who Paints The Sky? — Gloria Smud

Lundi limerick #32

I befriended an umbrella bird

a beast that is somewhat absurd

it has a strange wattle

with multi-hued mottle

and dances divinely when stirred

 

 

Actually it is the bird of paradise that dances divinely and you can see the dance here.

Introducing — Gloria Smud

Debbie Jones lives in llangullno, in Wales, and has this lovely blog under the fantastically clever title of Gloria Smud. You’ll see why, and how, it got to be named thus if you have a wander round her blog. You will not be disappointed.

Debbie has been writing for quite some time, but blogging for only a short time. She will, I’m sure, become very successful with lots of avid readers. Here is your chance to read her fantastic poetry and see, and hear about her little bit of paradise.

A Magical Palace Lay me down on a blanket of white, Where tears are frozen and eyes shut tight. Feeling the tingle from cool, crisp sheets, Drifting down, silently, piece by piece. A magical palace, where earth blends with sky, And freezing stars glisten, remotely, on high. A calming, clear bitterness, fashioned from ice, Where…

via A Magical Palace — Gloria Smud

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 24/02/2019 – Melody Fair

Jim Adams continues to look after Song Lyric Sunday, giving us the chance to share lots of favourites, and some not so familiar songs.

The theme for this week is Harmony/Melody/Music and you can find all the great entries here.

Some will have not heard this one before. It is a song by the Bee Gees, written in 1968 and released in 1969 on their album Odessa. It  was never released as a single but appeared on many compilation albums and was a hit in Japan (which probably explains the video footage). The album was not a great success when released, and the group’s fortunes declined soon after, although later the album received positive critical reviews and came to be regarded as their most significant release in the 60’s.

Andy Gibb‘s 1974 group, was named Melody Fayre after this song, which is, of course, called Melody Fair.

LULU, who was married to Maurice Gibb from 1969, until their divorce in 1973, also recorded this song. Here she is singing it, to my mind, not quite as effectively!

Melody Fair

Bee Gees

Who is the girl with the crying face looking at millions of signs? 
She knows that life is a running race, 
Her face shouldn’t show any line. 

Melody Fair won’t you comb your hair? 
You can be beautiful too. 
Melody Fair, remember you’re only a woman. 
Melody Fair, remember you’re only a girl. 

Who is the girl at the window pane, 
Watching the rain falling down? 
Melody, life isn’t like the rain 
Its just like a merry go round. 

Melody Fair won’t you comb your hair? 
You can be beautiful too. 
Melody Fair, 
Remember you’re only a woman. 
Melody Fair, 
Remember you’re only a girl.

Who is the girl with the crying face, 
Looking at millions of signs? 
She knows that life is a running race. 
Her face shouldn’t show any lines. 

Melody Fair won’t you comb your hair? 
You can be beautiful too. 
Melody Fair, 
Remember you’re only a woman. 
Melody Fair, 
Remember you’re only a girl.

Songwriters: Barry Gibb / Maurice Gibb / Robin Gibb

Melody Fair lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

St Kilda – Island on the edge of the world.

Anyone who saunters through my blog will very soon find that I was, for over 28 years, an Army man, a soldier, a squaddie!

This involved living in all sorts of weird places, in peculiar circumstances, and doing all sorts of things that the average joe doesn’t get to experience.

One of the places I lived was on the remote island of Hirta, in the archipelago of St Kilda. In all I spent over 8 months there, normally on a rotational basis of 6 weeks on, 12 weeks off. You can read a little about it here, and here.

During my time there I don’t think that I ever experienced the superb 4 day block of good weather that Angus Mackie and his group of kayakers did for their trip that is shown here.

This post is not about me but it does show a place that is dear to my heart, and to anyone who has ever been lucky enough to experience it.

Just as anyone who has experienced a true desert will know  what “desert fever” feels like, those who’ve been to Kilda will be forever drawn back there, even if it is only in memories!

This expedition report is rather lengthy, and will be hastily skipped through by some, but for a few it will be of great interest. The link at the bottom will take you to a marvellous set of photos and videos. It takes a while to load as they are high resolution, and lots of interactive 360˚ shots. I hope you have time to enjoy them.

A link to a newly updated blog post of “A Superlative St Kilda Sea Kayaking Expedition with Skyak Adventures.”

St Kilda is a place of superlatives!

The remote island archipelago of St Kilda lies some 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides and not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site but it has the highest sea cliffs in the UK, the largest seabird colony in northern Europe and a quarter of the world’s gannet population.

It’s also an amazing place for sea kayaking…!!

 

I’m Angus Mackie, a professional forester and photographer, based just north of Inverness on the beautiful Black Isle.  I’m on the North Coast 500 and am well placed to discover most of the Highlands.  The iconic scenery of Glen Affric and the Cairngorms are close by whilst many of the wild and dramatic locations on the west coast are within easy reach.

Mountains, landscapes, coastlines….  As a landscape and panoramic photographer who specialises in 360° photography, I enjoy exploring Scotland and its wild and remote places and have discovered some of the best photography locations in the Highlands over the last 35 years of living up here.  With a broad and wide ranging knowledge of the Highlands, I still enjoy finding new locations and fresh perspectives for my photography.  The use of natural light to capture stunning scenery at spectacular locations is very much a key factor for my photography.

I’m a qualified Summer Mountain Leader, a Sea Kayak Leader and a UKCC Level 2 Sea Kayaking coach, with many years experience of leading and guiding.  I am also a longstanding member of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team.

Copyright © 2018 Scotland360° and Angus Mackie.

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