Tag: Fandangos One Word Challenge

Belligerent

~ Ruth ~ 1 Comment

Belligerent… nice word, Fandango, whether adjective or noun! Now who comes to mind when I think of belligerent? Hmmm…

Who – up until yesterday at least – thought he could bully a world-wide deadly virus into submission just because he says so? Pretend so insistently that there was no crisis, it was all fake news, a hoax? Talk down genuine scientific concern and minimise medical advice because Covid-19 threatens to derail his re-election campaign and it doesn’t suit his personal plan? Only an arrogant narcissistic belligerent like Trump could try to wage a propaganda war with a global pandemic, claiming victory in spades before the real battle over a real life-or-death conflict has even begun in earnest…

Throughout this crisis to date Trump has presided over his White House podium like a grotesque Grim Reaper in a fancy-dress fat-suit with a candy-floss comb-over, effectively felling swathes of the American population with each ignorant remark and misleading comment about this virus he’s made. He’s beyond being a political liability, he’s been behaving like a national death-wish in the (unnaturally orange) flesh. On second thoughts, perhaps ‘belligerent’ just doesn’t quite cut it after all… 😦

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Belligerent

Confession…

~ Ruth ~ 2 Comments

I have a confession to make. Today I could not face any update on the Covid-19 pandemic, could not face hearing of more infections, more deaths. I have other things on my mind today, family concerns closer to home and no way to give the hugs that are so badly needed. Today I’m feeling the full force of social distancing and it hurts. So I picked up my camera and I went for a walk, alone, as allowed for my one daily exercise in the fresh air.

Fighting back tears I felt the warm sun on my face, smelled the salty sea air, listened to the birds above the vastly reduced traffic noise, and looked around at the beautiful landscape where I am lucky enough to live. The canal path is wide enough to pass others while maintaining a safe distance between you, and everyone I met today was also being sensible and considerate.For an hour or so I walked and photographed, and afterwards I felt a bit better.

This difficult situation will not last forever, and what matters most is that we all do what we can to get through it as best we can… ❤

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Confession

A Bit of Beethoven

~ Ruth ~ 4 Comments

Yesterday Ritu at But I Smile Anyway posted a re-worked song which she not only provided new lyrics for but actually recorded and sang herself – so I thought I might have a go at writing new lyrics for something, too. I had initally thought of ‘My Sharona’ by the Knack but a quick search online shows me someone has beaten me to it, so sadly no-go with that one.

But I know lots of people have been playing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ together-while-apart so I thought with a little bit of artistic licence I might be able to write some new lyrics to that, suitable for our current situation. To be honest no amount of pep-talk could convince me to record it myself, but its a well-known tune most people will know…

So here we are… my take on a bit of 19th Century Beethoven adapted for our 21st Century Covid-19 crisis… It helps if you sing it out loud and with passion, rather than just read it… enjoy! 🙂

Covid-19, world pandemic

Virus of corona strain

Mass infection, death toll rising

When will life feel safe again?

Watch as arrogant denials­­­

Let real symptoms spread unchecked

Keep it hidden, not forever

Truth will out to bad effect

Watch for new dry cough and fever

Wash our hands religiously

Shop with prudence and compassion

Act as one community

‘Stay at home’ our national chorus

Social distancing in place

Life in lockdown, isolation

Humbling of the human race

Learn the lesson nature brings us

Treat our planet with respect

Halt our years of selfish damage

Generations of neglect

Let the world heal unpolluted

Let us all draw precious breath

Let the joy of inspiration

Save us from the brink of death

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Amount

Suspense

~ Ruth ~ 2 Comments

There’s a surreal feeling of suspense hanging over us all right now, ominous and omnipresent, an uncomfortable undercurrent of uncertainty rippling outward as we all face an effective lockdown from now until whenever it may be. There are too many questions and not enough answers. These are undoubtedly scary times, unprecedented times, and none of us can know how things will turn out once it’s all over…

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Suspense

Wandering and Pondering

~ Ruth ~ 6 Comments

Whenever I have difficult things in life to contemplate, I always like to go for a walk, preferably in nature. Wandering and pondering is how I like to think of it, my little calming ritual I carry with me everywhere.

The rhythmic beat of walking soothes me, the solidity of the earth beneath my feet grounds me, the fresh air revives me and the seasonal continuity of trees and flowers and water and sky and the way everything blends together to create the vastness of our beautiful landscape helps keep me sane in an increasingly mad world.

And I like to take my camera with me when I walk, so usually when I see something particularly beautiful-to-me that captures my attention I like to stop and photograph it. Maybe a different perspective, or the movement of water, or the way the light catches something is all it takes…

And so I usually return from my walk refreshed in body and mind, ready to face whatever difficulties lie ahead, until the next time… 🙂

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Contemplate

So Many Browsers

~ Ruth ~ 3 Comments

When I first started browsing the internet way-back-when I used Internet Explorer as my web browser, as it was the default software on my PC and I didn’t know any different. But then I moved to Firefox, which I’ve used ever since at home. I’ve tried Chrome on occasion, but don’t really like it much. However, I’ve recently (finally!) upgraded my now defunct Windows 7 Home operating system to Windows 10, and it wants me to use the Microsoft Edge browser as my default, promising faster, better, more efficient browsing. Hmmm… I’m not sure… I might just give it a go and see how I get on… 🙂

Fandango’s One Word Challenge: Browse