Well, I had lists of things to do over the weekend; none of which I achieved.   My health had other plans you see.   Today, I also had plans to catch-up, but the weather conspired against me.   The weatherman said it was going to rain a little, but I was caught in a snow storm with the wonderful spectacle of blue and white lightening crossing horizontal falls of the white crystals.

As beautiful as it looked, I only wish that people who don’t normally drive motor vehicles during peak hour, but who ventured out today to the malls had had the common sense to stay at home.  Alas, it was not all their fault that Kent and London ground to a standstill, particularly around malls and large shopping districts, as the weathermen did difficulty predicting the weather, as the temperatures hovered at the level where rain or snow are possible.

Either way, I spent three times as long trying to get to work, with residual health issues, which required the occasional “break”, I was dismayed to find out I had racked up yet more hours I have to “give back” come the New Year.   The worst of it is, that if the abysmal weather conditions continue throughout the evening, I won’t be able to make it home.  The car won’t make it and the taxi firms are taking bookings two hours in advance at this stage.  

Woe is me.  What a solstice this has turned out to be.

Still, the snow does look pretty!

By the time I left for home this morning, the snow was blowing horizontally, and people were driving at 10 m.p.h. or less.   I had fun, but I don’t think many other drivers did.

It was disappointing to find the roads clear this afternoon, when I was due to leave for work.  I was so hoping for a “snow day”, in order to start my shopping for the holidays.  I have a guest this year, for whom I am supposed to be cooking (that’s a laugh), so I have to plan what I purchase this time, rather than taking whatever is leftover on the last midnight supermarket shop before Christmas Day.

I will be working until midnight on Christmas Eve again, which means I have to have everything in the house by Wednesday night, or it will have to wait until Boxing Day.  

It’s been a bit of a rubbish season this year, as I’ve not had the time, nor money, to distribute cards, let alone gifts.  I feel kind of bad, because people have sent me gifts.   Ah well, Christmas 2010 will be here soon enough and I can repay the kindness then.

I listen to the Coast and Country podcast and on last week’s episode “Ripples of the Ballinderry River“, Helen Marks explored the Ballinderry River in Northern Ireland.

For me, the most interesting report related to a sound engineer, Professor Paul Moore, who has recorded the sound of Ballinderry River, using sensors floating on top of the water, and converted these recordings to a song, or music, in order to give the river a voice – “a soundscape, as well as a landscape”. It is startling: the usual gurgling sounds, but with a haunting backdrop, almost like whale song, which Professor Moore referred to as the Ban Sidhe of the river. It certainly got my attention; I was in awe.

I wish I could get a copy of some of the recordings, but, alas, I have to make do with the snippet broadcast on the podcast. They are endeavouring to expand their recordings to other rivers, and recording the individual songs.

Competition

A fountain pen?
Now there’s a thing to win.

What to write?
If only I wasn’t so dim.

Some inspiration?
Now that’s what I need.

And ideas?
But my mind has gone to seed.

© 2009

I have been perusing the weather channels on the net, and have seen a forecast at Metcheck, which shows snow for Christmas Eve and snow for Boxing Day. Could it be that the forecast may change, and I might finally get my White Christmas?

Thanks to Transport for London and their shoddy repair work on the Blackwall Tunnel, I spent over six hours yesterday travelling to and from work. The fact that I had an even longer journey, because of the Tunnel’s closure only a week earlier, was even more upsetting.

Though, that was not the worst thing. On the way home, whilst stationary at a set of lights, a mini cab driver, in a Silver Mercedes Benz, rear-ended me. I got out, got his details and then attempted to call him today to absolutely no response. So, tomorrow I am off to report the incident to the police and have him tracked down.

Yet, this is not the worst thing. I called my insurer to check on my excess, which I believed to be £150, only to find that was my voluntary excess (whatever that means). My actual excess is £400. I don’t have that much money in the bank and I have a friend coming to stay at Christmas. Where I am supposed to rustle up £400 from? I don’t know. How am I supposed to get my car repaired? I don’t know.

What I do know is that I will be changing my insurer quick smart. And, the registration plate of the mini cab driver is emblazoned on my brain and, should I see him agan, I will be sure to give him a piece of my mind.

The PPP is delighted to announce that thanks to the success of the Poetry Anthology we have an excellent prize fund for our Yule Competition and thus some great prizes to be won.

First Prize will be this beautiful Fountain Pen:

(if not available at time of winning, we will get a fountain pen of similar value and style) PLUS a £20 Amazon Gift Voucher!

Second and third prize consist of £10 gift Amazon vouchers.

The competition is open to everyone. The closing date for entries is December 24th and the winners will be announced in January.

You may submit as many entries as you like. All entries will be considered for the Competition Edition in January as well as for the Competition itself.

RULES: View the following images:

Using either as your inspiration write a poem. Submit the poem, clearly indicating to which image your work refers. You can submit by either emailing the editors (at) paganpoetrypages (dot) com or, if you are a member of the PPPages by submitting a private message to to Beirn.

For further information, see the Pagan Poetry Pages.

It’s been very quiet for me these past few weeks and I really have nothing on which to post.

Sorry for anyone waiting for updates.

To my father, who turned 70 this week:

I hope you a wish comes true for every year you have trod this earth.   I did so want to celebrate with you, because I miss you.  I love you.

Happy birthday Dad.

Author:  Michael Scott
ISBN:       0722177755 / 9780722177754 

I started reading this book on the flight to Australia a few months ago, and finally finished it last weekend, having read it piecemeal. 

The book tells the tale of Paedur, who has risen to the status of legend, through the ages and his work to restore the “Old Faith” against an incomer which has grown in size rapidly.   Mannam, the Lord of the Dead, assigns Paedur the task of keeping the Old Faith alive through his work as a bard, telling the myths and expanding the knowledge of the old gods.   As they are want to do, the gods assign Paedur a further task … a dangerous undertaking.

The author borrows from the myths of a few cultures, though the Irish seems most apparent, and creates his own world, peoples, cultures, myths, legends and religions.  On reading the pantheon at the front of the book, the reader might feel overwhelmed, but as the tales unfold the names slip easily into place.  

The book was written such that, although I picked it up and put it down often, the characters and the tale stuck in my mind.   The action builds relatively quickly and there are several peaks, arriving at the last sequence with relative ease.   You can feel yourself drift into the action and these other worlds.   There was only one small quibble and that was my imagination was stifled (a smidge) by some overly descriptive passages, especially in the last few sequences, when it made the story feel a little stilted instead of racing (on a smooth track) to the end.   I suspect, however, this won’t bother most readers.

I hope to read the sequels, “Demon’s Law” and “Death’s Law” before the end of the year, that is if I can obtain them through one of the book swapping sites.

Rating:  4/5.