Pohutukawa Trees: Floral Friday

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters2017

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

Posted in Floral Friday, photography | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #1

Source: Flash Fiction Rodeo Contest #1

Posted in photography | 1 Comment

Pedestrian: Weekly Photo challenge

Pedestrian is often used to describe something slow, ordinary and dull but I thoroughly enjoy my pedestrian life. When walking, you see so much more than when you pass by at speed in a vehicle. You just have to open your eyes.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

In Asia, as a pedestrian you just walk at a constant speed trusting that all vehicles will avoid you. Beware however, should your speed falter you could be a walking duck.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

In some laneways, with produce laid out there are more pedestrians than motorcyclists.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

IMG_0013 (1)

© irene waters 2017

In some parts of the world being a pedestrian means walking across ice flows to get where you want to go. We had a choice in Greenland with the weather wild and windy – either walk into the town or stay at the airport. No boat is going to put to sea today to take you.

IMG_0020 (4)

© irene waters 2017

In Vanuatu pedestrain was a way of life for most. Cars and trucks were few and far between and jungle tracks the only way to get to some places you might want to go.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

In Europe coblestone courtyards, cement pathways let the pedestrian walk in ease. Mind you I’d personally avoid the high heels on the paving.

78 Gruyeres4

© irene waters 2017

In Gruyere, apart from residents of the village, cars are not allowed. Walking is the only way to go.

IMG_0655

© irene waters 2017

In a city streetscape you never know what you might come across when you walk the streets.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

Sometimes you may just want to get from A to B and not stop to admire the architecture you are passing.

IMG_1656 (1)

© irene waters 2017

Another closed street to traffic  – walk or perhaps stop awhile for coffee.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

If I had not walked this alley way between two major streets would I have noticed the umbrellas giving a shady ambience to the arcade.

In response to Weekly Photo Challenge

Posted in photography, Weekend photo challenge | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Words containing the letter G: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

IMG_0101

© irene waters 2013

Girls with German Shepherd and Golden retriever

IMG_0027

© irene waters 2014

A gaggle of geese

IMG_0058

© irene waters 2014

Grandmother

IMG_0026

© irene waters 2014

Gate

IMG_1203

© irene waters 2014

Garbage bin

IMG_0022

© irene waters 2014

Goose and Gander

IMG_0072

© irene waters 2014

Dancing

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

© irene waters 2017

Protesting

IMG

©irenewaters 2013

Bougainvillea

In response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

Posted in Cee's Fun Foto Challenge, photography | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Cascades: Wordless Wednesday

Scan_20170923 (34)

© irene waters 2017

Posted in photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Food Textures: Tuesday’s of Texture

IMG_1228 (3)

© irene waters 2017

I have few food dislikes. I am the perfect person to ask to dinner as I will almost eat anything. I know many people however, that cannot eat anything with the texture of custard. They don’t know what they are missing when they refuse that creme bruleé.

IMG_1220

© irene waters 2017

Others I know refuse to eat anything with green leafy vegetables – not for the texture but because of medication they are on.

IMG_1241

© irene waters 2017

The texture of whole fish can be good or bad. My husband couldn’t be bothered scaling the fish because he doesn’t like the skin. Sadly it is my favourite part, but not with the scales left on.

IMG_1276

© irene waters 2017

Some foods are smooth and slippery

IMG_1287

© irene waters 2017

others grainy

IMG_1219

© irene waters 2017

while others require a hammmer to extract that which slides intact down the tract.

IMG_1216

© irene waters 2017

The textures of food are many and varied.

IMG_1214

© irene waters 2017

IMG_1213 (1)

© irene waters 2017

IMG_1211 (1)

© irene waters 2017

Posted in photography | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Let the party begin: Month of Celebrations for Carrot Ranch and the Rough Writers

harvest-fest1

Finally October has arrived and it is kicking off with a party. The Rodeo Fest  will have live readings at 10am, 2pm and 6pm NY time on October 3rd. For us Aussies this is a trifle difficult as these times correspond to 12mn Oct 3rd, 4am and 8am Oct 4th for Queenslanders and 1am, 5am and 9am for the other eastern states. We may miss the party but we will hopefully still be able to access the cover reveal, meet the new rough writers and get the tips for the contests which will run all of October on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you are a night owl join in the party spirit and converse either at the ranch or on FB. There are live readings on Carrot Ranch facebook page from the anthology which is being launched in November and prizes will be awarded – books, chocolates and rocks.

Following the party are the 8 competitions. The first will be October 5th led by Norah Colvin.  Her theme is When I grow Up with a 100 word limit. Visit her site or Carrot Ranch for details on October 5th.

Remember there are cash prizes for all competitions, it is free to enter and each has a different theme so there is something for everyone. Each leader will have a different set of rules and parameters to work within.

I am leading the 4th competition on October 17.

5

I am joined for the judging by Angie Oakley and Sharon Bonin-Pratt. Last week I introduced Sharon  and this week I would like to introduce Angie.

Angie Oakley  Originally from London, Angie Oakley has moved around a great deal, and worked as an English teacher in schools as far apart as Nassau in the Bahamas and Daylesford in country Victoria. She now lives in Noosa, which she finds a lovely place in which to do the things she loves: writing, reading, thinking, talking, and walking and skyping her far-flung family. She’s written a couple of novels, lots of articles and is always interested in the work of other writers. As well she has been known to offer her thoughts in a blog at http://spryandretiring.wordpress.com 

I am the other judge and in case you don’t know me I have included my own bio:

Irene Waters has written since she was a youngster but not until an experience in Vanuatu did she write her first memoir. This experience also led to post-graduate studies where she researched the sequel memoir and wrote her second memoir gaining her Master of Arts in 2017. She has been a regular at Carrot Ranch since its inception and finds writing flash a good way of honing writing skills and trying her hand at fiction and the creative writing skills that are part of that. She is also a keen amateur photographer and this along with her writing can be found at her website Reflections and Nightmares.

I do hope you will join in. The more the merrier. Every Tuesday and Thursday at Carrot Ranch.  Follow along at twitter with the #CRRODEO hashtag.

1

Posted in Daily Post prompt and challenges, flash fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

All is not Forgotten: Book Review

51xWmHAsHNL._AC_US218_

courtesy Amazon.com

Wendy Walker spared us no mercy in her first chapter where we were privvy to the details of the rape suffered by Jenny. Not only did the description leave us feeling raw but the unknown narrator and his almost stream of conscious narrating unnerved me. Who was this person who knew such intimate detail. We weren’t to find out until chapter 7 and the psychological impact on me as reader was immense. By the time I found out I could not put down the book if I’d tried. I had to know the ending.

Following Jenny’s vicious rape her mother overruled her father and agreed to treatment that would wipe the memory of the rape from Jenny’s mind, in the hope of Jenny not suffering from PTSD as a result. The treatment was successful and Jenny carried on with life almost as though nothing had happened apart from a scar on her back where the rapist had taken his trophy of skin and flesh. Despite the treatment, Jenny’s body remembered the emotions that went with the rape but instead of being able to attach these feelings to the rape they would appear at random times, unattached to any memory and therefore it was impossible to deal with them rationally. This built up until Jenny eventually tried to kill herself.

At this point one man decides he must give Jenny back her memory. Through this journey we learn intimate details of other characters – her parents Tom and Charlotte, the man who is helping regain her memory, his son, a veteran who has also had the treatment to remove memories of an incident in Iraq, the policeman. We see the efforts made to find the rapist. We twist and turn as exquisitely  as the plot line. We squirm at the lies and the moral dilemmas. We are gobsmacked at the ending.

This book was cleverly crafted and innovative. I highly recommend it. I am definitely going to read her next book, Emma in the Night, which I believe was published in August 2017.

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

Hurricane Relief: #flash4storms

Hurricane aid arrived on the east of the island. Apart from downed trees and roofs blown off they had fared well in the storm and even better in its aftermath. 

“Chief Tom! They need that rice and water on the west.”  

“I got the aid here. My village comes first.”

In response to Sarah Brentyn’s prompt Help in aid of the victims of Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey.

Sarah has given two sites to find trusted charities that will get the aid where it needs to go:

Click here to find a list of trusted charities from Charity Navigator

Click here to find a list of trusted charities from Consumer Reports

 

Posted in creative writing, flash fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Help: #flash4storms

Horizontal unrelenting rain. Wind snapping trees like twigs and lifting roofs. It sounded like a train as the mountain slid down the hillside taking everything in its wake. Tidal surges flooded buildings. Nothing untouched, all smelling of rot. No food. No clean water. No shops. No electricity. No fuel. Help.

In response to Sarah Brentyn’s prompt Help in aid of the victims of Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey.

Posted in creative writing, flash fiction, photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments