Monday 28 March 2022

Occupation – Mother

Inspired by an A-Z of occupation on the Suffolk Writers Facebook Page  and with yesterday being Mothering Sunday I decided to combine the two and come up with a list of jobs undertaken by us mothers and others – all in the name of fun and procrastination…

Advisor - Are you able to give advice on such diverse topics as which options to choose for GCSEs, how to deal with bullies and what shirt should be worn for a wedding? Don’t delay apply today.

Barber – a handy life-skill to master, keep an eye on the technique used by the professionals and you too can attempt this in an emergency with creativity and flair.

Conker collector – seasonal outdoor work in the autumn months, if you enjoy the crunch of leaves underfoot, this could be the perfect job for you, easily fitted around the school run.



Diplomat – If only you were better connected, you’d be working for United Nations – their loss is our gain as you negotiate the complexities of sibling rivalry, just who does have the biggest piece of chocolate, do you have the skills to judge by eye without resorting to using the kitchen scales? This is exactly the kind of precision we are looking for.

Elephant Impersonator – Other animals considered, join the circus and fascinate a toddler with your mediocre impressions, short term contract only until the little ones are bored or embarrassed by your behaviour.

Fire starter – Create a cosy family home by lighting as REAL fire in your home. Health and safety training is a must, use of fire guard essential. Butler will clean grate to perfection on occasion (when grandad come to stay) but must be capable of cleaning out in between visits and responsible for arranging a chimney sweep.


Guinea Pig Handler – Tasks include cleaning out cage, moving run to fresh grass and some cuddling.

Holiday Planner – Do you have what it takes to amuse the kids for six weeks over the summer holidays? Scrap book provided to create a portfolio of work completed.

Inventor – Always wanted to join Blue Peter? Test out you credentials by creating fun and mayhem from an assortment of cardboard boxes, a glue stick and pot of glitter (optional) or use recycled tin foil to save the planet instead – extra brownie points available for those who do!

Jedi Master – Are your Midi-Chlorians strong enough to accept this challenge of training a Padawan? Sith Lords and time wasters need not apply.

Knight’s Armour Maker – A very specific role but important when your son is invited to a Knights and Princesses party. Armour should be made from shiny silver fabric to facilitate movement during energetic party games.


Lego-Sorter (Apprentice position) – you must follow orders and stick to the devised system. Being able to differentiate between a oner, twoer, flat piece or wedge is highly desirable but training will be given.

Maker of Meals – includes other cakes and tasty treats. The ability to hide stealth vegetables is essential.

Nurse – Are you flexible enough to care for a sick child in the middle of the night? Make an executive decision on when said child is well enough to return to school? Are you prepared to on occasion wait in A&E, hold hands, wipe tears and generally offer support and comfort? Nursing is a vocation but don’t be put off, you WILL rise to the occasion.

Optical Facilitator – Can you spot a pair of dirty glasses at ten paces? Then this job is for you, especially for those devious enough to be able to apprehend glasses from child’s head and give them a good wipe before returning them. Stealth and distraction is a must for this rewarding position.

Photographer – Herding cats might be easier but just keep snapping to preserve those precious family times together, of course no one will remember you were there as you always have hold of the camera – selfie technique training will be part of the ongoing development of the right person.

Quest Setter – Are you motivated and do you want to motivate others? A temporary position is available for a candidate with imagination in devising a summer reading scheme, tailored to the ability of each child, can you foster a love of words? Bar charts, star charts all considered – coloured pens provided.

Record Keeper – Up to date record keeping is a must especially when filling out medical forms for school trips etc. Remembering dates of each child’s last tetanus injection is an essential quality.

Snowman/ Sandcastle builder – Can you project manage in all weathers? Come sunshine or snow showers we have the job for you.


Tennis Umpire – Can you tell in from out on a tennis court? This is not for the faint hearted – serious contenders only should apply.

Undercover Agent – This role demands ingenuity and flexibility, from hiding behind curtains to amuse the youngest child to secretly listening in on conversations to ascertain the mood of older teens, your skills as an unseen professional should never be underestimated. Eyes in the back of your head is a must for this challenging role.

Ventriloquist Trainer – this job can be outsourced when your son buys a puppet and wants to try his hand at ventriloquism for at least 5 minutes.

Washer Woman – self explanatory but remember to set up training scheme for young apprentices in good time before they fly the nest!


X-terminator – Can you deal with the removal of spiders, birds, bats and mice from you home? All in a days work for one of our skilled operatives. Join the team!

Youth Leader – Do you keep abreast of latest trends and fashions? Is your home a gathering place for the youngsters in your neighbourhood? If you can stick a pizza in the oven to feed a hungry crowd you may have found yourself a new career – at least until university.

Zucchini Grower – other vegetables may to added to the plot …


 

I kind of ran out of steam by the time I got to Z and I couldn’t put zoologist as we only ever had guinea pigs for pets. Otherwise, everything else is pretty much true and all in a day's work!

Saturday 19 March 2022

Two Queens and a Commoner

I’m a big kid at heart and there’s nothing I like better than dressing up and pretending to be someone else.

Recently I have had a plethora of opportunities to indulge my dramatic passions. I’m in the middle of rehearsing for not one but two plays – fortunately one is a murder mystery and as we have to religiously stick to the text, to ensure we deliver each clue to perfection, we are allowed to read from the script. I’m not sure I could learn two parts at once, I’m finding it enough of a struggle learning one set of lines!

But this afternoon I got the chance to play THREE different characters, not just any made up characters either but 3 angry ghosts based on real people.

My friend Mai has written and published a book of thirty poems, each one from the perspective of a famous ghost expressing their anger, often at the unfair way they have been treated in the history books. As she writes at the beginning…

Anger in its extremity produces vast amounts of energy.

Death cannot destroy energy; it merely takes on a new form.


The form of a restless spirit, venting their long-held grievances!

Mai has written poems for ghosts as varied as Neanderthal woman to Abraham Lincoln, Helen of Troy to Rasputin. 

If your historical knowledge is lacking there are short biographies of each character at the back of the book. Very informative, especially for the lesser-known figures such as Abu Bakr II, ruler of the Mali Empire in the 14th Century or Maria Quiteria “the Brazilian Joan of Arc”.

Each poem was written to be read aloud, more than that, to be "performed" thereby bringing each ghost temporarily back to life. To that end a few of us have had our arms twisted, in the nicest possible way of course, to dress up and be dead angry in local libraries and WI meetings.

It’s great fun, sourcing costumes from charity shops, dressing up and making new friends along the way.

This afternoon we filmed some lines from the poems with the aid of a white board to act as an autocue. This will be edited for promotional material. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out, we had so much fun.

You may be wondering which ghosts I became, well as the title of this blog suggests I transformed myself into two queens and a commoner. 

Cleopatra with a black beaded wig and lots of eyeliner, Margaret Catchpole, a local Suffolk lass who was sent to Australia for stealing her master's horse and Queen Victoria, in a costume I pulled together in five minutes using the bits and pieces gathered on the table.

Mai as the wild and furious Boudicca

Caesar - beware the Ides of March

not looking particularly angry!

Margaret Catchpole - longing to go home to England

Preparing to be Queen Victoria - no photos of Cleopatra today

Once the video is edited, I’m sure it will be shared as far and wide on social media as we can reach between us.

If you are interested in buying a copy of the book it is available in each of the wonderful independent bookshops of Ipswich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe, or if you are outside Suffolk try Hive.co.uk you can get the book delivered to an independent bookshop near you or delivered directly to your door.

If you enjoy both history and poetry this book combines the two to perfection and at only £7.99 it is a bargain. 

Buy it now or risk incurring the wrath of thirty historic ghosts who are really not amused!

We are NOT amused.

Tuesday 15 March 2022

Spring Clean


It may be my default answer to the question "what is your occupation?" but I don’t claim to be the best housewife in the world. Cleaning and dusting and polishing and hoovering are all jobs I happily leave until I am forced to into them by the impending arrival of visitors.

Although to be fair I’m not so house proud that I won’t invite you into my usual lived-in muddle, all I ask is that you don’t write rude messages in the dust.

Standards have inevitably slipped somewhat with Covid and generally not having as many people popping in as I used to gives me license to skip many of the daily chores.  So much socialising is now done on zoom, you only have to keep a small patch of home looking welcoming, you can keep the mess just out of shot. Please tell me it isn't just me is it????

After my big downsize a few years ago I often feel this house is not so conducive to entertaining. It certainly seems very crowded when both boys are home, too small for too many visitors. Our old house really was the hub of so many activities, still I can't claim it was always sparkling though!

All of this is #FirstWorldProblems when you consider the state of the world and the oh so many, far too many, displaced people of the world who have no roof over their head at the current time.

However, that wasn’t really what I wanted to write about today, even if it is one of the biggest things taking up space in my head. I really want to give my blog an airing, blow away the cobwebs and touch it up with a hint of sparkle.

I used to write so regularly, offering my opinions and thoughts, predominantly at first about being a widow, then stretching my writing muscles and venturing into flash fiction with a sprinkling of poetry.

My blog is now like the spare room which is rarely used and has become a bit of a dumping ground for odd thoughts I want to share and I need to put somewhere. While there is nothing wrong with that, I have decided to inject a bit of… well ummm… purpose maybe... structure? Basically just writing more regularly.

I’m certainly doing a lot more writing overall, I’m a regular contributor on the Authors Electric blog, I’ve been writing bits and pieces for church and after having a total re-think of my memoir idea I have been inspired to write over 10,000 words of a new novel, very loosely based on my experiences of widowhood at a young age.

I also have another writerly “thing” going on which I shall keep under wraps for a little while longer.

My diary is filling up with things to do and I’m going to have to get more organised to be on top of it all. Which can only be a good thing.

virtual tea and cake!
For now as I survey my words, adjust a sentence or two, put in a picture, I know that this is once more fit for purpose, presentable, with crafted thoughts waiting to be read, the perfect place for a visitor to pop by.

So grab a cuppa, stay a while, comment if you like, let’s just stay connected even if it’s only virtually. Maybe my thoughts will align with yours, perhaps I’ll challenge you or just make you smile :-) but thanks for popping in. 

Hopefully I’ll see you again soon xx