THE IRONY OF FELINE DYSPRAXIA

I am now convinced that Esme, my beautiful black tortoiseshell cat, is dyspraxic. Sometimes, she misjudges distances and almost falls – she walks along a ledge and wobbles; she jumps into the sink quite regularly and then stalks off as if she meant to do that all along!

We have never had a cat quite like this before; in the past, they have always had the usual feline coordination and perfect sense of balance. Esme, on the other hand … doesn’t. Issues with paw-eye coordination reduce her kill rate so that has to be better for the local bird life.

In all other aspects of character and temperament, she is a typical ‘tortie’ – super-affectionate, playful, outgoing and inquisitive. This is a cat that came to us as a half-grown, semi-feral stray in August 2015. We fed her outside for weeks and then we got her a kennel in the woodshed. By Christmas Eve, she moved into the utility room and was here to stay; she rescued herself.

Dyspraxia doesn’t detract from her quality of life in any way: it’s not a weakness or a fault, and should never be viewed as such. In Esme’s case, it gave her an advantage: it helped her find a forever home.

Micro-fiction: 12-02-19

DESTINY’S CHILD

On the night before the Meister came to mark her, my strange little daughter asked if it would hurt and I did not know what to say. So young but Elidh already had a poise and stillness, gifted with the calm centre that had always eluded me. Her father’s eyes stared back at me, a reminder of what we lost when he left us, and I knew then that she was not afraid.

The old man was kindness itself, carving the sign of the Hidden Goddess on her forehead as gently as he could, but it had to be done – for the good of all. Elidh’s destiny written in the stars on the day of her birth: to be a seer and a priestess; my own destiny would always be as her mother and protector.

The journey to the temple is a long and dangerous one and there are many along the way that might wish my sweet child dead. If they get in my way, I will show them no mercy – in fact, I am looking forward to it.

Written in response to the prompt (07/02/19) on : https://creativewritingink.co.uk/resources/writing-prompts/

 

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WWI SHORT STORIES – ANTHOLOGY TITLE TBC

The idea of this anthology is simple – each writer dedicates their work to a relative killed in WW1 or one of the millions of other soldiers who died in the conflict.

Your story should be set in 1918 and feature a returning serviceman. Please note that he does not have to be the protagonist or British. Many non-Europeans fought in WWI and I would like the anthology to reflect this.

LENGTH: 2,000 – 3,500 words

 

DEADLINE: 1^st June 2018.

RESPONSE TIME: I will acknowledge all submissions and contact authors with a final decision by 1st July 2018. 

NO: reprints or simultaneous submissions.

NO: erotica or excessive gore.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

• Subject Line should be formatted as follows – WWI Submission: Title of Story/word count e.g. WWI Submission: Poppies/2,700.
• Please paste your story (in the body of an email) to: rspyne[AT]btinternet[DOT]com
• If you would like to commemorate a fallen relative or relatives in the anthology, please include names and any other detail (dates, regiment etc) in your brief cover letter (optional).

PAYMENT:

 All stories published in the anthology will generate royalties for a period of two years from date of publication, with monthly statements sent to authors and automatic payment whenever outstanding royalties exceed £10.

I look forward to reading all submissions!

 

Icicle Garden II

Icicles in a Trefeurig quarry – March 2nd 2018 – picture credit © J. C. Pyne

Cut off again – can’t get out of the village at all but still managed to take the dog for a walk and play snowballs. The icicles in the quarry have grown and are even more spectacular today. With the sunshine glittering off the frozen crystal needles, it was a magical sight.

Icicles in a Trefeurig quarry – 2nd March 2018 – picture credit © J. C. Pyne

 

Icicle Garden

This picture shows icicles on a local quarry. I haven’t seen it like this in five years – one of the plus points about sub-zero temperatures.

Icicles in Trefeurig, 28/02/18 – Picture credit © J. C. Pyne

DARWIN DAY

On this day on the 12th February 1809, one of my greatest scientific heroes came into the world. There is no getting away from it – his inclusion on the Beagle voyage would not have happened if he had been a labourer’s son from Machynlleth or Talybont. His family name and money admitted him to the fellowship of gentlemen scientists – a conveniently open door that would have been slammed firmly shut for anyone with fewer connections.

Many people now think he may also have been on the autistic spectrum; some of his well- documented character quirks fit Asperger’s profiles. It doesn’t really matter. If it is true, it only confirms that people with ASD can make a monumental contribution to science and our understanding of the natural world.

Let’s hear it for the earthworm-botherer extraordinaire and barnacle obsessive hypochondriac Charles Darwin!

Veganuary 2018

I had been thinking about going vegan for a while after being a strict vegetarian for well over twenty years. This seemed like the next logical step.

Within a week of cutting out all dairy, my chronic asthma had dramatically improved and my sinuses cleared for the first time in years. My peak flow measurements are much higher with use of the reliever inhaler (salbutamol) cut by eighty-five to ninety percent, despite having the dreaded lurgy.

In conclusion, I decided to continue Veganuary for another month = VEGRUARY!!! It will be interesting to see what happens in the hay fever season.

Tortitude

This photograph was taken in August 2016 and shows my black tortoiseshell cat in relaxed mode. Black Torties are commonly viewed as lucky or ‘Money Cats’ in the folklore of several different countries. She was originally a stray but rescued herself, appearing one cold winter evening two years ago and moved in shortly afterwards. She inspired a short story called ‘The Canticle of Grimalkin,” published in the In a Cat’s Eye anthology (2016 Pole to Pole Publishing).

Esme – how to demonstrate the concept of Tortitude without even trying!

 

FOLK MAGIC – HIDDEN SHOES

The object is small and made of leather: a single child’s shoe with a flat heel, rounded toe and a single strap fastened with a round button. Bent out of shape but still relatively well preserved; the worn sole has been mended more than once with a leather patch. Another small hole had been left before being sealed in the chimney to ward off witches and evil spirits, and guard against ill fortune.

It now lives in a clear plastic box close to where it was uncovered, found by the builders during renovation work to my old cottage in rural West Wales about twelve years ago. There it will stay … just in case.

My shoe is unlikely to be later than 1900 in date, based on an almost identical one pictured on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-41507752 (December 2017).  Most finds date to the 18^th and 19^th centuries; they are everyday objects that carry a lot of history with them, a fascinating window on past superstitions and customs.

Snowed In?

December 10th and it snowed all day, with a big freeze forecast overnight. The cat is not impressed. The hills next to my cottage are completely white and eight long tailed tits on the snow covered Christmas tree were a bonus. They are regular visitors to the feeding station but today they looked like tiny hyperactive carol singers. Just over a week to Epona’s Day (18th December) with the Midwinter Solstice fast approaching.