Settling in and Peace Night

Just as I thought I would be spending more time writing, I seemed to stop and find myself totally immersed in the whole country - baby - new friends and new business thing.  Quite frankly I've been too exhausted to bring you along on the journey so far and I sincerely apologise, but hope I can make up for it. I'm sure the new wallpaper strips will amuse you and the strange customs will enlighten you, at the very least...intrigued? Well...
It all started when I decided to go along to a 'Peace night' at what has become my favourite and indeed almost only shop I frequent in Wellington - Nurtured by Nature.  An ethical and organic shop, with an acoustic cafe and complementary therapies and really lovely staff! 

People were invited to come along and read a poem about what peace meant to them.  Not a great number of people turned up, but we all sat around a table and shared our poems and thoughts.  It was a magical evening.  A real mix of people and interesting ideas.  I did something for myself that evening, breaking away from the world of caring for my little family, I found my voice again and used it.

This is the poem I wrote - it needs to be read out aloud. It's all my own work, please contact me if you want me to come and perform it along with some other gems I've written, that can even be sung.  We sang this at the gig, but that's another post...

Peace of my Land

Agro! Agro! Agro!
I grow vegetables in my garden
Peace Peace Peace
Peas, broccoli - purple sprouting, courgettes and marrow
War! War! War!
Watering my garden every day brings such
Peace Peace Peace
Sweet peas, marigolds, forget me nots

Army
Ah me cabbages have been eaten by slugs
Sudan
Sit down and let me tell you all about it
Israel
It's really a bad year for runner beans
Iran
I ran after the rabbit that nibbled my salad leaves
Nazi
Now see the way the artichoke leans
Afghan
I've gone and re-potted all the house-plants
Religion
Really gently opened out the roots
Soldier
Sold you some of my best tomatoes
Jew
Do you remember your first fruit?

Peace Peace
Piecing together a potted history
Rioting! Rioting!
Writing about what peace means to me
War! War!
Walked across the neighbour's field
Peace Peace
Piss off my land, said he.

Tuesday's Tantrum - 3

I knew it.  Stuck already.  I mean, what have I got to grumble about really?  I have a gorgeous husband, a beauty of a baby boy, a roof over my head, a great bunch of friends, good health and I am sitting by an open fire, with a glass of ginger beer.  Pushing the boat out I know.  What can you do?  I even had a scone earlier.

Ok.  Perhaps I'm going to have to rethink Tuesday's posts in future.  Maybe it should be Tuesday's Tickle?  Maybe I'll just go back to the days rolling into one and not give a hoot about what day it is.  Maybe I'll have a tantrum about not having anything to have a bleeding tantrum about.  Actually I really ought to take a deep breath.  I'm beginning to get palpitations...

...and in fact I have got something to have a tantrum about - my shoulder, it really hurts, from lying stupidly on the bed whilst feeding.  But that's not really a tantrum.  Oh I give up.  I'm going to have a strop instead.  No, I'll write a quick off the cuff poem, that usually works.

Grrr, Brrraaaa Grrrr.
Shouted really loudly.
It's not fair cried the silly little girl inside me
The days are too short
The nights are too long
I can't even remember my favourite song!
This lack of sleep is making me weep
Oi, let me out here in this field of sheep
I'll count them forwards and backwards
And side to side
If it will only make the days seem wide
For wide days could make sense of this
Leading to a life of ignorant bliss
Where silly little girls sleep all day
And when night falls come out to play.


Slightly random, but that feels better, time for bed, good night zzz

Hmm - I had scheduled this tantrum to post automatically last Tuesday and it didn't, or did it, I'm not sure now. I can feel a technology tantrum coming on!