it’s almost Christmas and trees are running zigzags bark is peeling gently, buds are opening and the showy lilac and mauve are vibrant
it’s almost Christmas and the jacarandas are singing as this is the southern hemisphere and joyful music blossoms around the streets
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Image credit: Pixabay (free for use)
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a road that is surrounded on both sides by trees, the branches of which meet in a canopy over the road. Light from the sun is filtering through the branches and illuminating the road.
The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, had a spring in her step as she walked from the hotel to the museum that morning, she was delighted to find that helpful man from the train yesterday, now known as Joey, and he was working in a museum in Rocky Mount – how splendid!
Joey looked up from the counter, ‘excellent,’ he said, with his strong accent, ‘there’s a good place just here, I have already made a ticket on the stand, “Time Travelled Tomahawk”, that’s right, isn’t it?’ – ‘of course,’ said the red-headed woman as she took it out from her big bag, ‘shall I attest it’s real?’ – soon everything was in order, as they looked at it together.
She wandered around looking at exhibits but she was suddenly drawn to a particular item – a small jade camel in a glass box; she stared at it as she looked at every angle and then she turned to see Joey.
He had been standing in the shadows but then he walked next to her: ‘I found that… that jade camel, I was able to get it into the museum, and that way I got a job here, but otherwise I’d never have been there.’
‘Oh gosh, look at the time, I need to go, or I will miss my train, and I really need to get to New York by tomorrow.’
‘Well, nice to see you,’ said Joey, ‘might you come again, maybe on a plane or do you not like the altitude?’
I’m doing a few clever moves up and over the wall with my great skateboard look I’m under a tall lorry whoa, that was a cool one next I’m pacing along the road moving in uniform straight, straight, straight
but what’s going on now? this guy just gave me all these balloons but I didn’t really want them I mean, what am I going to do? I am still holding my skateboard but now I’m going up I’m flying… and I can’t drop now
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Image credit: Dylann Hendricks@ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a man holding colorful balloons sitting on a sidewalk with a skateboard between his feet.
The red-headed writer, aka the Raconteuse, was back on the long train where there were many benefits – gorgeous scenery, comfortable seats and tables, the dining car and the sleeper car; lovely coffee and a bagel (although not as nice as one of Tom’s), but there was a rather attractive man who was sitting opposite by the aisle, time to use her artful wiles.
She turned to face him: ‘do you know where this place is,’ as she smiled, ‘you see there’s an interesting museum in Rocky Mount, and of course, that’s where we will leave the train, and I’m pretty sure that I can place this in there, as she took this out from her big bag.
The man almost dropped his coffee, ‘what in the world is it?’ – he stared at it, and then to her, as she grinned.
‘It’s a tomahawk and it’s very, very old,’ as she moved to sit next to him, ‘we mustn’t be careless with this thing – you see it isn’t just a tomahawk, it’s a time travelled tomahawk, it’s handy, very handy, don’t you think? – and it actually belongs to Jenne, but it has been hanging around for years, and I’m sure it would be better in a museum.
By the way, are you from Miami originally? – you don’t sound like that… in fact, I could place that accent anywhere – you are from Liverpool, aren’t you!
She got up, beaming happily, ‘you will help me to carry all my things later, won’t you?’
she is a good girl she’s bright and intelligent but what will she be?
history, maths, English science, geography or art maybe Latin? (no)
but, of course, she’ll tell she wants to be an actress and why not? you see
she can be anything!
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Image credit: Nishaan Ahmad @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows three girls of possibly Asia heritage sitting in a classroom with books open at their desks. The girl in focus of the image is looking directly at the camera with a smile on her face.
November 20 is celebrated as international children’s day all over the world.
The four vampires, plus the red-head woman, had been looking outside from their various bedrooms as they craned up to see the chateau; then they rushed up all those stairs and over the roof, as the hot air balloon came closer and closer…
‘Drop us down, please,’ said the two gargoyles who were grinning at the captain, ‘we need to get out precisely… now,’ and they jumped – ‘that was alright, wasn’t it,’ as they each turned around to brush themselves down on the roof of the wonderful chateau – ‘how lovely to see you.’
‘Come on, let’s all go back down and meet in the salon,’ said the Old Vampire, ‘time for lunch.’
Later, Scatty and the two gargoyles declined to play inside, and instead they were back to the roof; Scatty would practise walking on the very high and narrow part, while the two gargoyles took out their phones, ‘look, that’s very good reception here.’
Meanwhile, Joan and Francis perused the library, opening long and old tomes, ‘these are so precious, aren’t they,’ said Francis, ‘look at this, its “The Concise Encyclopaedic Guide to Shakespeare” and of course we both know him, don’t we.’
‘You seemed a little bored,’ said the Old Vampire to the red-head woman, ‘but how about a film?’ as he opened a large screen – ‘this one cracks me every time: ‘Bond, James Bond’ – classic!’ – come sit down; Joan looked over – ‘not this again… oh but later we’ll all watch Casablanca – now that is a good one!
all the poppies drift again as another war breaks out more violence, more atrocities so many lives wasted…
millions are homeless trudging along with little hope will this ever change?
okay – no more war let’s ask around the world is there a new way?
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Image credit: Derek Mack @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this image shows a field of red poppies, in the middle of which two trees are growing. In the back, the sun is rising in a sky where a few scattered clouds are floating! 11-11 is celebrated as Armistice day/ Remembrance Day to celebrate the end of WW I. And red poppies are symbolic of this day.
Slowly going down it’s rather steep you’re whispering but you’re alone and no one saw you there.
Your hanging onto the rail on the right side you’re holding your stick and you’re doing well.
You sit down removing your socks and your sandals putting them neatly.
Now you’re standing up here’s the beach here’s the sea isn’t it perfect?
You’re starting to walk down and out – bracing you’re keeping going and never coming back.
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Posted for The Unicorn Challenge, a magical challenge hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, where they provide a photo and we, in turn, provide up to 250 words.
The red-head woman looked through her many postcards which she had bought from the Frida Kahlo museum last week; it had been that the Old Vampire had given her a wedge of cash so that she could use it for whatever she wanted.
‘If you have enough money you can go anywhere you want,’ said the Old Vampire, as he looked down from lounging on the very comfy chair on the exclusive plane – ‘good isn’t it, no need to have a passport either, which is just as well,’ as he winked.
Joan, Francis and Scatty came to join them as they had been chatting to the pilot in the cockpit – ‘not far now,’ said Francis, as he looked out of the plane as it started to descend, ‘back to France and civilization.’
They had expected to hear from the two gargoyles quite soon, but nothing, nothing at all; still the pilot had landed the plane in a very small airfield, and a luxury car had appeared, the red-head woman had wedged her big bag next to her as she looked out from the car, as it drove them to the great chateau.
‘Now this is luxury,’ said Joan, as they entered the reception, as a very tall man appeared: ‘I am Georges, and I will help you with any whim,’ as he bowed; – ‘how excellent,’ beamed Scatty, as they picked their rooms.
The red-head woman stepped out and sat on the wall; she looked up… a balloon? she thought.
it’s so clear and mountains stare up air breathes deep
it’s lovely row, row, row again wonderful
~ such a shame we only have an hour ~
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Image credit: Radek Skyzypczak @ Unsplash
For the visually challenged reader, this is an image of 5 wooden, empty row boats in a body of water. The water is reflecting the mountains and trees along its coast.
luna's on line 