My Birthday

The Hydrangea bush on the front

The back garden

Hi everyone, don’t we soon get back into the usual routine. Lunches out and Gym three times a week. I have missed the gym, its surprising how unfit one can get after a couple of months of relaxation, still I feel we need that too as a balance. The sales are still on and I managed to find some real bargains, that always gives me a lift. It has tried to snow on a couple of occasions but thankfully never got established. One morning when it had been snowing all night I had a dental appointment at 0915hrs and decided to walk because of the state of the roads, no gritters had been. I went out looking like an someone on an Everest Expedition. But I was warm dry and felt real secure underfoot, in my walking boots. Looked a little out of place sitting in the dentists chair though. Went to the movies to see `Avatar` a brilliant film, especially seen in 3D, it was nearly 3hours long but worth it. Valentines Day was spent in Harrogate with Stuart and Sara, Sam was working but I did get to see him. It was my birthday and Stuart cooked us a special meal. I received lots of cards, presents and phone calls, especially from Cathi Amy and Ben, Leonard and Mona in the USA and Pam in Cornwall rang. During the week I had a birthday lunch with the girls, everyone really made my birthday very special. Bought a new Dell Laptop running Windows 7 as a birthday treat and will pass the old one to someone in need of a laptop. I also have my old Desk Top Computer working on Window XP, its 7years old and still in good order. But nobody wants Windows XP, but I will not give up, eventually find some one who wants it.
Went to a lunch at the Local Technical College with 45 members of the W.I. Prepared and cooked by the Catering Students, the food and service was excellent.
Dorothy and I have booked a holiday with the PTG tours again, we will be seeing Portugal via Train and Boat, it’s our third Rail Enthusiasts Tour, we just love riding around on vintage locomotives, many with steam, in renovated antique carriages.
On Sunday we had deep snow but it had gone by evening and I was able to get to the Howcroft my first Poetry Gig there since October. I wasn`t disappointed we had a full house and a brilliant night ,so much laughter and good poetry.
Check out Darren`s, Review of the evening. he has a unique way with words and I think he is brilliant.
http://writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=9029

Spent a very enjoyable evening in the company of poets at WriteOutLoud open mic session in Middleton.We heard some excellent poems, I read three of my recent works on women. On World Book Day Thursday 6th March WriteOutLoud has organised a open mic session in conjunction with Bright Books of Rochdale and Cartwheel Arts which should bring poets from near and far. I am looking forward to that. I may have mentioned before that I am learning to "Speak in Public". It`s a ten step programme and I am at stage 6) Vocabulary and Word Pictures. Previously I have had to 1) Make a Start: 2)Speech Construction: 3) Mean What You Say: 4) Use of the Gestures: 5) Use of the Voice. So now I have to speak for 6-8 minutes using all my previous skills using extended vocabulary and word pictures. This Speech is evaluated using specific guidelines and if I pass I go on to stage 7) Use of Notes. I enjoy this challenge, looking for inspiration and then researching and writing the piece . Then rehearsal rehearsal,it is just the same for poetry. It keeps my brain active,my fingers nibble and my computer hot.
I have on occasions won competitions at local level for "Topics" a session, where by one is given a subject /theme and must talk unprepared for 3 minutes using the appropriate skills. I quite enjoy this . We have four levels within the Association of Speaking Clubs (ASC) Local : Area : District: and National. I doubt whether I will ever rise to any level other than Area, as we have some excellent speakers in our Area who would take some beating. I take great pleasures in listening and participating in Poetry and Speech. I am writing now for a speech contest next week the subject is England. So I have many books and Google to help me get to grips with this. Once I have some direction I will get busy writing I much prefer paper and pencil its such a special feel its part of the enjoyment.