Going Gently

Pride

Royal recognition for the LBGT + community of the armed forces was gratefully received at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today as the king gave his respect to the fallen, non serving and serving members of army, navy and airforce.

The memorial is designed in the shape of a bronze crumpled letter, featuring words drawn from the testimonies of former service personnel affected for the ban of gays in the military which was only revoked in the year 2000

Someone In The Room

I’m sat with a patient,

In their room. It’s 12.55

The orientating clock says that clearly

The patient knows I’m there

Medication has been given and the bed is comfortably made.

The patient is fighting sleep but desperately needs it .

Strange shapes hide behind the television and the wardrobe

And I sit between them and the bed

The patient knows I am there

Silently I read the news on my tablet.

I reply to an email and a message or two

And try to sound fatherly when I say

It’s time to sleep.

The patient knows I am there.

I watch a silent video about a blind horse

And a chubby gay New Yorker dances in the street

I read news on Gaza

And the reviews of a film I want to see

The patient approaches sleep but knows I am there

Someone is in the room.

FAIRYTALE - ALEXANDER RYBAK - TALÍA GROUP

I was in the audience for this performance …a tour de force for the violin section.

It’s optimistic and bright and mirrors today’s mood.

Yesterday I reached out to an old friend who I had fallen out with and didn’t get a rejected response .

Most things can be repaired if the willing is there x

And that’s lovely

Frivolity and death

A shabby chic piece of Danish pottery. Not bought from Ikea but from a nearby store, it pleases me greatly.

Recently, I’ve been looking into organising my funeral details and am in the process of sorting out a payment plan so I do question the buying of frivolous items such as this little jug, when I’m being made more aware of you can’t take things with you ……

Buying this 13£ piece of pottery is a bit like listening to Miranda Elloway, or Talia Grupo.

Its similar to going to London to see Nu or my trip to Sheffield next week to see Jane and John H

And is the same as seeing that film at the Storyhouse or enjoying a pad Thai at the Chester Market.

It’s all about self care

It’s about respecting yourself enough to acknowledge you are worth caring about, you are worth the effort in buying a cheap pretty jug for yourself if the mood takes you.

And even if I die tomorrow, I have enjoyed my pretty Danish jug for those 24 hours of ownership