Australian Tradition: Thursdays Special

Australia is  a multicultural country and our traditions have in the past tended to come from the country of our origin. We used to celebrate with our Swedish friends on Christmas Eve feasting on gravlax and Swedish meatballs. We drank a lot of schnapps washed down with a beer chaser after singing Swedish drinking songs such as Helan Gar. For me this is an English/Scottish heritage and a tradition is a family gathering for a huge feast of turkey at lunch time on Christmas Day.

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© irene waters 2017

For my family which has an English/Scottish heritage we traditionally had a family gathering with a huge feast of turkey, ham and Christmas Pudding at lunch time on Christmas Day.

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Santa of course always has found us in Australia.

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In the last ten years Australia has developed its own identity and although there are many who still follow the traditions of the country of their forebears there are increasingly more people joining the throngs of people what is quickly becoming an Aussie tradition.

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This includes prawns for lunch on Christmas Day either chilled or thrown on the barbie.

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Because it is summer many people spend the day at the beach

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or where that is not possible towels cooled in the freezer are draped around necks in the effort to cool down. We now even have our own Christmas carols and Christmas Songs.

In response to Paula’s prompt

Posted in Australia, photography, Thursday's Special | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Tune: Six Sentence Stories

The pain in Mirrabella’s chest intensified and her fear matched it. Softly she hummed “Whenever I feel afraid,” but on this occasion it didn’t stop her panic rising so she sat to see if it would go away when she stopped walking. The dog, in perfect harmony with her, sat and waited patiently.

The pain eased and she set off, only to have it return almost immediately so she walked into the doctors surgery she was passing and told them she suspected she was having a heart attack.  After blood tests, ECGs, auscultation and interview the doctor pronounced her a well-oiled machine with no evidence of any heart problem. ‘The pain may be eased,” the doctor said “if you stop your dog from pulling on the lead as this is causing the tendons in the shoulder and chest to tear, giving you the chest pain.”

In response to Zoe’s six sentence story prompt

Posted in creative writing, fiction, flash fiction | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Q: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

Pont du Gard - roman aqueduct

© irene waters 2017

Aquaduct

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© irene waters 2017

banquet fit for a queen

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plaque

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disused quarry

In response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

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Dog Paddle? : Wordless Wednesday

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Posted in Australia, Noosa, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Winner of Flash Fiction Contest #6

Congratulations to Kerry Black and all those mentioned.

Posted in photography | 2 Comments

Meat textures: Tuesday’s of Texture

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The Performance: 99 Word Flash Fiction

Fatigued, Jessica lent on the counter yet still she smiled as though they were the centre of her world. She had the same conversations with different people all day, every day; their families, their hopes and dreams, the weather. The weather loomed large but it was so boring. Everything was boring. They didn’t suspect. They talked at her, thinking she cared. Her genuine, eye crinkling smiles made them think they’d made her day.

She’d had an authentic smile this morning when she overheard, “When we drop into the shop it brightens Jessica up.” Yes her performance was very good.

In response to Charli’s prompt where she asks:

December 7, 2017 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write that features a performance. You can interpret what is a performance any way the prompt leads you.

Respond by December 12, 2017 to be included in the compilation (published December 13). Rules are here. All writers are welcome!

Posted in Carrot Ranch, creative writing, fiction, flash fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

On the Edge of a Raindrop: A Book Review

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From the title to the last page this is a book of words skilfully put together to create  powerful images from the darker side of the mind. This has similarities to the raindrop that has a outer surface tension which shows both  its strength and fragility whilst knowing at any moment it can burst. Sarah Brentyn writes in describing her book “when you’re on the Edge, It’s Easy to Fall.”

Like her first book Hinting at Shadows this book is a collection of flash fiction and I think should be read slowly (it could be read in one sitting) and savoured. The book is divided into three parts which follow a beautiful introduction which looks at the form of flash fiction and her inspiration. As she so beautifully puts “There is a world inside a drop of fiction.” The next two parts,  Mindscapes and Lifelines are both pieces of around 100 words and this is followed by the third part which are microbursts – fiction under 50 words.

I said after reading her first book that Sarah Brentyn is a master of flash fiction and this book only cemented this belief. I have however added to that statement and say that Brentyn is a master of the first line. All her first lines make you want to read more. Some have you gasping at the images they create. Take for example the piece Strawberry Fields Forever. The first line: ” Her memory lane was potholes and busted chunks of asphalt.” How could you not want to read on.

This is  a perfect book for readers of flash fiction, for those that don’t have the time to read a novel, for those that love words and sentence construction, for those that enjoy having their emotions manipulated and pulled in all directions and  for those that want to write flash and need examples to learn from.

I guess I don’t need to ask my question “would I recommend this” as you can tell I would.

Posted in Book reviews, flash fiction | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Four Seasons

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“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” 
― Yoko Ono

Posted in Eses Weekly Shoot and Quote Challenge, photography | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Weekend Coffee Share 10th December 2017

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Welcome and come on in. Let’s get settled with a cup of tea or coffee and we’ll have a chat. Let’s sit on the porch and take advantage of the wind that is making it a perfect temperature.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that last night was our Christmas break-up party for dancing. Luckily I went with a friend for if I’d been driving I would have been terrified. We drove straight into a storm that had driving torrential rain that the windshield wipers could not cope with. That was what worried me. We couldn’t pull off as there was no verge and so we drove ever so slowly forward, not being able to see the road. Rosey on the other hand was worried about the lightning which surrounded us and the thunder which was almost continuous. In a storm a few weeks ago her next door neighbours porch had been hit and she knew first hand just how damaging a lightening strike could be. Eventually we parked under an overpass and waited half an hour before it had let up to a point where we were prepared to risk driving again. Parking puts you in such a vulnerable position from other cars that can’t see either. It was a new car and we had to get the manual out to try and work out where the hazard lights were. I was little use as I can’t read without my glasses and of course I didn’t take them with me. Sadly when we finally arrived there were no spare men and we either danced together or sat out.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that this week has been another sodden week. I just wish we could send some of our weather over to California where I have seen some footage of the severity of the fires they are currently fighting. I hope everyone is safe. Our weather has given us soggy ground and spectacular skies.

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© irene waters 2017

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If we were having coffee I’d tell you that life here is winding down for Christmas. We’ve had the art Christmas party Tuesday, the Chemist party Thursday as well as my dancing class party Friday, the social dance last night and toast masters and book club both in the coming week. Once these have occurred we will not resume until late January but most in February. I have finally put up my Christmas Tree.

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As you can see, I like birds.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I took Mum to see the film Goodbye Christopher Robin on Friday. It was very well done and I would recommend but with a warning. It reduced me to tears (and I hate being sad and miserable when I am supposed to be entertained) and I will never be able to view Winnie the Pooh books in the same fashion as I once did. Saying that it was an excellent film, well acted and a storyline (truth I believe) that really drags you in and emotionally connects you to it. It also portrays different ways that post traumatic stress can affect people as A.A. Milne, his illustrationist and I believe his wife were all suffering. If you have seen it do you think the wife was reacting also to the trauma or do you think (as my Mum does) that she was just a fibberty jibbit social butterfly?

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I’ve read a couple of books this week which I will review shortly and am currently reading East of the Mountains by David Guterson.

If we were having coffee I’d tell you that the rest of the time I have been writing, editing, reading and doing just ordinary stuff. Now it is your turn. How was your week? Has your weather been warmer/colder, wetter/drier. Have you read any good books or seen any good films?  Thank you for dropping in for coffee, it is lovely to see you. Thanks to our host eclecticali  who is our host of the weekend coffee share.

Posted in daily events, photography, Weekend Coffee Share | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments