May 2025 – Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
10 posts published by Cathy Cade during May 2025| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
10 posts published by Cathy Cade during May 2025| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Pelted by nuts on our morning walk… Walking between trees this morning, I was aware of the thuds of missiles dropping around us. Some were falling worryingly close to us. In the same way that trees are sacrificing whole branches to improve survival rates for what’s left, they are now shedding nuts and leaves early … Continue reading Squirrels getting their own back?| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
A rhyme in answer to this week’s writing prompt from Esther Chilton, which was window. My window into yesterdayopens when I close my eyesto listen, while my music playsand memories arise.Teenage tunes, years raising children…memories that last.They fill the air. They fill my head:my window to the past.Looking back, I know my viewis softened by … Continue reading Nostalgia| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Unexpected plants in my garden At the start of the growing season, I sprinkled tomato seeds from a packet over my seed tray, positioned it in the conservatory and watered. All that appeared – eventually – were two unrecognised plants which are nothing like any tomatoes I’ve ever seen (and – needless to say – … Continue reading Random Seedlings| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
A poem He lurks with his acolytes by the school gateand when I’m at Chess Club, he’ll sometimes still wait.I’ve tried sneaking out, but he knows where I live.He’ll hurt me if I don’t have money to …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
The above photo is of a recent breakage that hadn’t happened last week, so I’m guessing it’s an example of that ‘summer branch drop’ that TV news bulletins have been warning the UK about. We’re told to beware of apparently healthy trees dropping apparently health boughs due to the lack of rain. One theory is … Continue reading Branch Drop?| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
A short story Beginning Again He is woken by pressure around him. He being pushed along some kind of tunnel. He remembers an explosion. The Presidential plane tipped, and staff rushed to his side. …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
10 posts published by Cathy Cade during April 2025| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
What’s the difference between a flower and a weed? I don’t know if there’s a definitive test, but I have some criteria of my own. When I break the stalk off a flower in my garden, it will refuse to flower again, and probably die.When I pull all the visible leaves and stalks off a … Continue reading Flower or Weed?| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
I was prompted to post this by a recent post from Stevie Turner, Let’s go Astral Planing. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Something dragged Mo out of darkness toward the striplights, away from…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
I am currently recovering at home from a total replacement of my right hip, which has been getting more painful since December 2022. (Not sure why, as they are apparently both arthritic but the left hip, so far, feels okay.) My operation was last Saturday; I came home on Monday. Today, Thursday, was day five … Continue reading Getting my life back| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
I hope these idiots had fire extinguishers with them… but I doubt it. During our recent ‘heatwave,’ I’ve passed a few scorched remains of fires, or attempts at bonfires whil…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
A verse, written to a title prompt It’s been so long since last we spoke so many moons ago.I knew then I should say goodbye, but still I can’t let go.So many thoughts I left unshared, so many words…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
As promised (or threatened…?) here’s one I made earlier. She ran for her life. Sanctuary was in sight – she had a clear run along the woodland path. So did he. He had appeared from nowh…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
10 posts published by Cathy Cade during March 2025| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Finding things to blog about Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I confess that serialising Jay and Robin saved me much guilt when I couldn’t think of anything to blog about in what has been a cha…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
The female swan was out swimming with the male earlier this week, with no sign of cygnets, despite the earlier nesting. I wondered if their eggs had filed to hatch – or been stolen by wildlif…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Moving On Robin No regrets. It’s good to be back in Tarfen. In Fendle, I appreciated being the one to set the pace for a change, while Jay floundered. Now I have made that mental break from my fixa…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Buying Time Jay I lay in bed and surveyed my room. For tonight, it was still my room. The mutt lay curled at the end of the bed on a heap of my clothes. How did he get in? Fin had turned up at the …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Retaliation Jay In my room, I found garments that would fit Fin, loosely speaking, and we changed out of our travelling clothes. The stray dog followed me whenever I emerged into the yard. By the t…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Back Home Jay We settled the bill and left the tavern together. Outside, I stopped and checked that my pack was securely fastened. “Um… my family doesn’t know everything… about the breakup with Sto…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
I don’t often enter poetry competitions, but Writing Magazine wanted a sonnet this time, which has to rhyme, so a level playing field. Although mine didn’t win, I was mentioned in the s…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Friends in Need Robin Eden had been quiet after work yesterday, even offhand. Ro seemed puzzled by the silence, so I made reassuring noises about work being busy. Eden was still uneasy at the prosp…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
The swan is still sitting on her nest, but other birds are already multiplying. The geese and the moorhens are ahead of the ducks and swans. Sadly, my phone isn’t up to the challenge. I shoul…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day One Ira Fern had barked at the youngster climbing through the window, but she was used to tarlings coming to admire her litter and had no expectation of harm. Her nest smelled of milk and warm …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
“A close and long-term biological interaction, between two organisms of different species.” I’ve been watching pigeons in my garden spilling seed for other pig…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
A New Day Jay The sky outside lightened, and I despaired. It was tomorrow already. The other rooms were at last silent, but the chance of sleep had passed. My throat was dry, and my head ached. I d…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
The Mucky Duck Jay I had walked to the Assembly buildings from the Mucky Duck. It was further than I’d realised, but the walk back seemed longer still. I told myself I had taken Rob by surprise, bu…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Meeting Up Robin Eden said, “You and Jay will want to go and catch up. Perhaps we’ll see you tomorrow.” Tomorrow? I thought. Surely, you’ll see me tonight? I held the office door open a…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
New Friends and Old Robin I never yearned to travel, as Jay did. People are the same everywhere, and Fendle was challenge enough. Scenery is earth and sky. But I enjoyed Tarfen’s busyness and diffe…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
And a bereavement… The early hatchlings on the lake are growing but, sadly, there are now only three of them. I’m guessing that the missing one was taken by a dog or a fox. From first h…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Midwinter Robin Rowan stayed with me now whenever Eden was called away for a day or two. This meant that Ro missed school less often, but it also meant Eden’s parents saw less of their grandchild. …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
When my children were at school, I would usually know if they were somewhere they weren’t supposed to be, or doing something they shouldn’t. I would tell them I knew because I was a wit…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Fendle Jay When I returned to the shores of consciousness and found myself in my own bed, the throbbing had reduced to a dull ache and my remaining fingers didn’t hurt so much. They didn’t move muc…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Tarfen Robin The Assembly was housed in a former manor house, built mainly of stone around an open square. Before the Great Sickness, it had housed the Chief’s family, but disease has no respect fo…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Twenty-four, Jay On the last night of our journey, I had settled myself for sleep when Storm found me. Our thoughts met, and I hadn’t the energy to block the incoming regret. Having registered …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Twenty Jay I’d meant to leave a note and slip away early, but I slept for most of the day into the evening and still had to be shaken awake. Cris wanted to change my dressing. The discharge ooz…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Nineteen Jay My head hurt. My eyes wouldn’t open. Well, they might if I tried harder, but I didn’t want to risk it. I had drunk too much strong cider and barley wine. (Storm tasted of barley wi…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Eighteen, Robin It was Funday: the week’s end after six days of work. In the past, teaching hadn’t felt so much like work. I had spent too long at home. Eden arrived dressed for the occasion in…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Twitters are spreading… No – not that kind! Word is getting around. I now have two robins visiting daily. this morning, they faced each other under the peanut feeder (I wasn’t qui…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Eighteen, Jay After a full day’s rest, I felt better, and made sure to say so. Once settled in its sling, the throbbing in my hand had receded to a background ache, so long as I didn’t try to m…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
These appeared last week. The swans are only just thinking about nesting. These are a pair of Egyptian geese that were introduced to the lake. The last pair of ‘different’ ducks that we…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Seventeen Day Seventeen Jay The next two days were a blur of pain, and road, and trees, and sky, and more pain. I’d used my undershirt to fashion a sling for travelling and hoped the weather wo…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Fifteen Jay Our destination was the inn called the World’s End, on Wendale’s border at the foot of the Llannoc mountains. We didn’t plan to stay at the inn itself but to rest out of sight for a…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Fourteen, Robin Kip and Brook helped me with Ira’s grave. Redbreasts watched us dig, waiting for worms to appear. Sal and Aspen’s remains were here somewhere, but their location was unimportant…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Fourteen Jay I woke early and alone. I scrambled to my feet and must have looked as devastated as I felt, because Storm, who was already dressed, stopped saddling Blaze and hurried to where I s…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Thirteen, Robin I was a dandelion seed freed from its stem. Fern picked up my mood and skipped around my feet as I hummed at the sink. The day passed lightly with no expectation of Ira to weigh…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
my writing| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Thirteen, Jay Shamed by our lazy lakeside day, we resolved to spend the next exploring. After a leisurely breakfast we were thinking of moving when a regular beat from downriver resolved into t…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Let’s make the charitable assumption that this bag was dropped by mistake and not just left there. This is the forest. It is not a park or a pavement. Squirrels, foxes, possibly badgers depos…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Twelve Jay For two days we had only our evenings together. But I would know if Storm was on the fair’s ground or out riding the countryside, just as I knew without turning when the blue eyes we…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Before living alone, I hadn’t reaised how comforting routine can be. Especially after events that disrupt normality. I enjoy my occasional visits and meetings. Even shopping is a welcome dive…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Ten, Robin Kip went back into school for me, and I spent the morning at Cutler’s Forge. Ira’s body lay in the room that used to be our room. It would lay there now until its burning. They had f…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Ten, Jay Wow! Birds were celebrating overhead. I opened my eyes on sunlight dappling the ground. The air in the copse blew morning fresh, but we were cosy under my cover with Storm curved snug …| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Nine Robin I had eavesdropped on stronger feelings than I had believed Jay capable of… passion, yearning for someone – who wasn’t me – and, worst of all, anticipation. The shock was almost phys…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Is January your longest month? Why does January seem the longest month? In my working years, I decided this was because of the longer gap between December’s payday and January’s –…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Eight Robin Kip stopped by on the way to school to report that Cris left for Wendale that morning. I said I ought to go back to work. I must have sounded as uncertain as I felt, because Kip sug…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Seven Robin The morning after Eden Thatcher roused me from my apathy, Cris came with Kip before school to tell me about Brook’s interrogation. Eden had arrived while Kip was at school the previ…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Six, The Green Man The sky cleared, although the sun had barely time to warm the air before it sank behind the treetops. Mikki joined the locals and the older traders crowded inside the Green M…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
When I was between husbands and before my youngest came back from university, I lived alone for a while. Except for the dogs. There have always been dogs. Yes, I talk to them (who else am I going t…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Six, Meetings Jay At last, the rain had stopped. Danni and Kyl, the apprentices, helped me rig two sturdy shelters that would keep off rain and withstand the wind, which was moderate by T…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Day Five Jay We reached High Wenn later than we’d planned. The rain slowed us, and each day’s journey stretched longer to compensate. As we crossed the bridge by the Green Man, the heavens relented…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
Much as I love Smidgeon and Ruff, dogs have their downside. They expect their morning walk, rain or shine. Still, I need the exercise too and, on this particular day it wasn’t raining. Yet. W…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
(Sorry, but a metric translation just doesn’t sound right.) I am currently trying to fit belongings from two homes into one very small one. Formerly, my practice when I haven’t worn a g…| Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings
