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Athelstone posted an update 9 months, 2 weeks ago
It’s that time again. If anybody feels inclined, please take a glance at the Donations Group. If you aren’t a member of the group, you’ll need to join to see the forum, but that doesn’t commit you to anything.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 2 weeks ago
As you know, Sandra, this prompt came about following the loss of one of our cardiologists and my subsequent inability to write anything meaningful in his Book of Condolences. Faced with Imposter Syndrome because I didn’t know him as well as some of the other nurses, I simply invalidated my feelings and wrote a stiff little sentence that had n…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 2 weeks ago
On another personal note regarding positivity, (forgive me) my consultant had
good news this week as a scan had shown that the treatment is doing its job. He and we are delighted and he agreed that positivity helps the body help itself so to speak. Thank you for the previous good wishes from Denizens. Jill x
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 2 weeks ago
<p style=”text-align: right;”>Sorry Sea, I’ve been racking my brain (while fighting off Ken Dodd and attempting to pack for some days in the Hebrides) but am totally bereft of words about tears.</p>
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 2 weeks ago
The Last Sense
Curse my tears, dissolving my bold exterior to expose the raw feeling beneath. How dare they come at a time when I needed to show courage? To offer a united support when Mum’s strength had finally crumbled?
And see how the foundations of mine gave way, leaving the sturdier ones to put on the brave faces; carry the weak link of…[Read more]
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RichardB posted an update 9 months, 2 weeks ago
Finest line of dialogue I’ve encountered for some time. From The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, by Natasha Pulley:
‘What does a clockwork octopus in an elevator shaft sound like?’ -
Jill replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
I began this blog by citing how Positivity is helping me at the present time and now I would like to explain why I believe and sincerely hope that it is helping my immune system be as strong as it can be in the light of the fact that chemo does temporarily compromise the immune system.
The physiology of positivity is interesting. I quote from…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Yes, Athelstone I read all about him on Wikipedia and he was a very interesting and talented, intelligent man. Also related to the Henry James’s.
Hope your day and writing going well. Jill 😊
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Athelstone replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
William James seems like an interesting man. He’s an example of something less common these days, a polymath. He studied widely across medicine and philosophy, developing expertise in both fields so that he taught physiology, psychology and philosophy (at different times) at Harvard, whilest finding time for an apprenticeship as a painter, and…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Looked up William James and found he was an American Philosopher and Psychologist.
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Jill replied to the topic Positivity in the forum Blogs 9 months, 3 weeks ago
Happened upon a little book of quotes on my heaving bookshelf 😊
William James (? Do not know of him) considers that “There is but one cause of human failure and that is man’s lack of faith in his true Self.”
Eileen Caddy in The Dawn of Change says “A soul without a high aim is like a ship withouna rudder.”
This I think mirrors one of Athelston…[Read more]
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Jill posted an update 9 months, 3 weeks ago
What is new for me is that participating here amongst previous writing friends has opened up a veritable well of ideas and words! They are gushing forth: just popping into my head! This surely must slow down soon?!! Meanwhile, this creativity is helping with my positivity as I approach 3rd chemo cycle and feel in fine fettle. So thanks to fate…[Read more]
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Jill replied to the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 9 months, 3 weeks ago
THE VESTAL VIRGIN
Background History
(Some data courtesy of Wikipedia)
This is the story of Lucia and her parents who lived in Ancient Rome. Lucia was prepubescent and had been chosen to be enrolled in The Virgin Goddess Vespa’s College of Six Priestesses.
This is the story of a young girl chosen to help protect Rome’s Sacred Hearth…[Read more]
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Seagreen started the topic Monthly Comp – July 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months ago
For July, I’d like to be enthralled by your creative endeavours inspired by the following quote:
‘There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.’ Washington Irving…[Read more]
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition June 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months ago
I won’t lie, I logged in last night to find out what the prompt for this month’s comp was going to be, little expecting – in the face of the other entries – that I would be setting it 😂
So thanks, Ath, for the comp and for that WTH!? moment when I got home from work 😃 and thanks to everyone else for inspiring me to try in the first place. I’l…[Read more]
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Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Competition June 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months ago
Thanks, Ath, for this months competition theme, what a great crop of entries it garnered.
Congratulations ,everyone, for the interesting and well crafted reads and well done Sea for being the one taking the lead into the July challenge.
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Jill posted an update 10 months ago
I found it interesting, if sad that Athelstone was reminded of a Cypriot student friend by my comp. entry. What suffering that friend endured like so many Cypriots. My husband was working in Cyprus at the time of the coup and invasion and we were caught up in the mayhem, but we did not lose our own home and were eventually safely back in England…[Read more]
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Gosh. Small world. My father was working there at the time and my younger sister was born earlier in the year. I was 5. Luckily for us we were able to leave sharp-ish shortly before the coup. I’m sorry you got caught up in it but glad you got out.
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Good to hear from you, Bella – small world indeed! Wishing you and your writing well. 🌈🌞🌈
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition June 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months ago
Well, that’s an unexpected turn of events!
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Janette posted an update 10 months ago
Thank you, Ath, for an excellent prompt and for the kind feedback. I loved everyone’s stories, and congratulations to Seagreen – a worthy winner.
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Jill replied to the topic Monthly Competition June 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 10 months ago
Thank you, Athelstone for setting the thought provoking theme and now for your considered and kind comments in judgement. I enjoyed each of my fellow writers’ entries and it is a good feeling to be amongst such talented people once more.
Last but not least (sorry!) I extend huge congratulations to the worthy winner, Seagreen.
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Will do.