2018-03-31T05:00:00+01:00

Author: Judy E Martin

Hello, and thanks for stopping by. I am Judy, in my (very) early fifties and decided that life definitely gets more interesting as it goes on! I am a wife and a mum and have just finished University as a Registered Nurse, after having worked as an Associate Practitioner in the NHS. I am also a poet and the author of my debut book, 'Rhymes of the Times.' I love to laugh, and I love rhyming words too, so I joined the two together, and my book was born. I am currently working on another book in the series also. I am a prolific blogger and enjoy writing funny stories, anecdotes, and anything really that takes my fancy.

#SoCS Hot Cross Bun

March 31, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/33 Comments

This week Linda has given us, bun for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used any way we choose.

Seeing as it is Easter weekend I just have to mention the good old hot cross bun, which in case you are not familiar with, you can read about them here.

The fact that they are so soft and squidgy and doughy and delicious plus carb laden goes without saying that I love them. They taste absolutely gorgeous with a generous dollop of butter slathered on them, and, of course, me being me, who doesn’t know when to stop, a sizeable chunk of cheddar really adds to the experience!

Hot Cross Buns!
Hot Cross Buns!
One a penny, two a penny
Hot Cross Buns!
If you have no daughters, give them to your sons,
One a penny, two a penny
Hot Cross Buns!

A little nursery rhyme to finish up with, enjoy! [social_warfare]

My Favourite Fashions

March 29, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/33 Comments

[social_warfare buttons=” “]This post is one from the archives of my now defunct blog Edwina’s Episodes.

I came across the Daily Posts Prompt for today which was to write about fashions that you love, and what era they come from.

I am sure most of you know by now that I love the 80’s! Now, I actually like the music from that era, but at the time, I embraced the whole lot. The clothes, and the hairstyles, I even tried the make-up too, but I have never been skilled in that department, and the 80s makeup called for a lot of colour and a few hours to spare!!

The one thing I have always loved (and still do) is a bit of sparkle. If it has glitter and/or sequins then I am going to love it. At Christmas in particular, I would probably end up looking more garish than the Christmas tree fairy! As you can see from the photo, I was decked out in top to toe gold! The long, pleated skirt and vest top was made of this kind of smooth, slippery material. My hair was the result of a failed ‘spiral perm’ that was popular in the day, and the colour seemed to match perfectly with my outfit!

I seem to remember wearing a lot of shiny dresses in the 80s of bright, vivid colours, banana yellow being a particular favourite. There was a lot of variety around at the time, as I also used to love my frilly shirts, jeans and pixie boots. The jeans had red piping down the side, and we used to have these canvas belts of all colours that we would wear too.

Of course, there were ‘ra-ra’ skirts too. although I did have one of these I was not too keen as they didn’t seem to flatter anyone, and certainly made me look pretty dumpy.

Although my school was pretty strict, especially with regards to uniform, I did manage to get away with wearing a pair of grey corduroy trousers that I had taken in to make them even more of a ‘drainpipe’ style than they already were. Other than that I wore a pencil skirt, but me being me, got told off for ripping the split that was in the back of it even higher. I never was ladylike, always running up stairs two at a time, with no thought for the confines of the skirt! This led to more sewing when the teachers noticed and I got told off.

Looking back, some of the fashions seem so ridiculous now, but at the time I was in my element!

Don’t You Just Hate it When?….13 Niggles That Wind Me Up!

March 27, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/45 Comments

We all have those moments in life. You know, the little niggles that serve no purpose other than to make your day just that little more frustrating. Here are some of the things that really wind me up……

You have taken ages styling and straightening your hair (or have just been to the hairdressers) then get caught in a rainstorm (with no brolly)!
You get an unexpected cash windfall – then your car breaks down and is going to cost a fortune to repair. Those shoes will have to wait.
It’s taken ages to get off to sleep, but just as you feel yourself slipping off, you have a desperate urge to go to the loo.
You have spent ages cleaning the bathroom, and someone wants to have a bath.
You’re excited about the perfect gift you have bought for someone’s birthday – and find out someone else has bought it as well.
You save up for ages to buy something expensive, only to find it is in the sale a few days later!
You are invited to a friend’s house, and knock coffee all over her pristine carpet.
Your other half has mixed the loads in the washing machine again. Grey bras are not attractive!
You are desperate to go to the loo when you get to work, then realise there is no loo roll AFTER you have already been!
You realise you can’t walk in those gorgeous high heels that you just bought.
You go to use your best mascara only to find your daughter has been ‘practicing her make-up skills’ with it, and there is none left,
You go to read an old favourite book, only to remember you loaned it to someone ages ago!
You start to write a blog post and run out of ideas half-way through!!

What little niggles wind you up?

#SoCS Picture

March 24, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/17 Comments

This week Linda has given us, picture for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used as follows: Write about, or theme your post on the first picture you see when you sit down to start writing. You don’t need to describe the picture necessarily–you can even put yourself in it if you’re not already there. Enjoy!

Well, the first picture or rather pictures that I saw when I sat down to write were the ones that are in my images folder that I use for my blog. A couple of weeks ago my blog was reset to an earlier date due to some running problems. After spending nearly two full days in contact with technical support to get the blog to this point, I was so happy to see that it returned, that I didn’t realise there was a fatal flaw – no images were showing up on the posts or in my media!

The very first ones on my blog and also the homepage images were there so that is why I didn’t realise there was anything amiss. Last night though, the penny dropped! Where were all the images hiding? The only ones in my media were those that I had recently uploaded. I did a bit of poking around, to see if I could figure out where they had gone, then eventually turned to my ever faithful friend Mr Google, for some answers.

I was not impressed with the complicated procedures regarding file permissions and other stuff that I didn’t understand, but despite, messing up my blog before by tinkering with stuff I have no clue about, I managed to change them but still no difference. Another suggestion by my helpful friend was to re-upload the entire lot as they could have got ‘lost’ during the reset. Bugger, that is going to take time. Luckily this blog is not that old, but I still have loads of posts to sort out.

Not only do I have to re-upload them but of course, I need to re-assign them to the particular post they were meant for! I have started on this mammoth task, but it is going to take ages. Please bear with my rather naked blog if you find it imageless, I am working on it!

I just wanted to put you in the picture!

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge March 22nd. Follow Your Dreams

March 23, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/31 Comments

I have been away from blogging for a while and have missed taking part in Charli’s Flash Fiction Challenge, over at the Carrot Ranch. Go and check out her website as there are lots of challenges that you can take part in and also a whole load of badges to be won.

This is the image that we were given to use, and the topic is ‘follow your dreams. ‘ These are the rules: Oh, and I have used the ‘poet’ badge in my post.

March 22, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the theme “follow your dreams.” Bonus points for throwing a badge into the tale. Go where the prompt leads.

Respond by March 27, 2018, by leaving a link, pingback or story in the comments.
If you want your story published in the weekly collection, also post it at Carrot Ranch on Facebook in the post newsfeed (this is the second posting of your story).
Follow the style of the flash fiction that follows.
Leave a short link on FB with your story if you want one included in the title.
Rules are here.

The applause carried her right through the week. She recalled the cheeks flushed with pleasure, and eyes although bright with tears in some faces, shone with delight. Tears appeared in her own eyes now, bittersweet. She had followed her dreams and studied hard to become the dedicated nurse she aspired to be. Yet, she ached to fulfil another need. Playing with words had always been a favourite pastime, and the poem she had written to cheer up her cancer patients brought the house down. Laughter certainly is the best medicine!

Spring is Coming

March 21, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/24 Comments

Longer days are coming

Bright and sunny early dawns

Nature shrugs off winter

As it stretches and it yawns

Waking from a slumber

Dusting off the gloom

Time to come alive now,

To blossom and to bloom

Spring has brought new outfits

For all the naked trees

Flowers are making pollen

To please the busy bees

Birds are coming home now

It time to meet a mate

It looks like spring is coming

And I for one, can’t wait!

Blogger’s Bash Blog Post Competition A Royal Party.

March 19, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/32 Comments

I have just about managed to get my entry in on time for the Blogger’s Bash Competition with the theme of ‘Royalty.’ I hope you enjoy this bit of silliness.

Charlie was hosting a party for the wedding of Harry, his son

“To hell with stuffy formalities, I want this party to be fun!

A rollicking frolicking, knees up, chance to let down one’s heir for a while

I will show that young Meghan Markle, we royals can party with style.

Now, what about the guest list? I’d better invite Mum and Dad

Anne and Eddie and of course Randy Andy, he still thinks that he’s Jack the Lad

And who can forget Camilla? My beloved trouble and strife

She loves a bop and a booze up, and a sneaky cig does my wife.

Kate and Wills will be desperate, to leave the kiddies at home

Wills can show off his ‘Dad Dancing’, so unbecoming for an heir to the throne!

Mike and Zara are bound to be up or it, Eugenie and Beatrice of course too,

Best I don’t invite Fergie, I can’t have her spoiling our do!

My Harry loves a good shindig, being a bit of a lad in his youth

Splashed all over the tabloids, drunken and acting uncouth.

Mind you, Dad is really no better, with the off-colour jokes that he makes

He dishes out plenty of insults, along with his many handshakes!

I need to choose some good music to make the party go with a swing

I hope they haven’t invited those Spice Girls, there’s only one of them that can sing!

There seems so much more to that Meghan, although she appears very nice

She is no shrinking violet, and has been around the block once or twice!

As long as they are both happy, which they seem to affirm

Then as Harry’s proud father, I will welcome her into ‘The Firm! ‘

#SoCS Green

March 17, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/11 Comments

This week Linda, in honour of St Patrick’s Day, no doubt, has given us, green for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used any way we choose

It is not looking very green around here at the moment. We have the return of the ‘Beast from the East’ or rather it’s rather smaller, but no less freezing brother, the ‘Mini Beast From the East.’ It seems that the meteorologists were so pleased with the name that they have given the Siberian weather front that visited us and caused utter chaos, that they have decided to recycle it. How very green of them!

It is starting to look rather a patchy white outside where we have had a couple of hours of light snow. It is trying to settle but is not quite robust enough, which suits me just fine. Hopefully, this time it won’t affect the folks in Ireland too much as they were rather overwhelmed with the huge amount of snow they got from the Beast, it caused no end of upheaval. However, knowing how the Irish are fond of a party, I am sure that they are not going to let a little snow get in the way of their celebrations today.

Happy St Patrick’s Day to all that celebrate it!

Getting Back in the Saddle

March 13, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/45 Comments

Having taken a break from blogging for nearly a month, I am finding it a little tricky getting back into the saddle which I wasn’t expecting. I used to post almost daily about all kinds of subjects, yet now I find myself struggling for something to say.

Don’t get me wrong, I am sure I could bore you all to tears talking about my nursing experiences, but I have already mentioned nursing lately, and I am wary of over-egging that pudding, instead, I will drip feed you slowly over a period of time. (Why does everything with me always come down to food analogies)?!

Speaking of which, I had my diabetic review (on my birthday as it turned out), and things seem to be a bit haywire there. My weight has gone up even more, as have my blood sugars (according to the Hba1c blood test), and my liver function is deranged (hopefully I will find out why when I speak to GP tomorrow although it could be to do with my weight). This is all rather ironic as I am trying to get myself into shape before (hopefully) qualifying as a nurse, (bugger, I said I wouldn’t mention nursing)!

I am going to really have to put a lot of extra effort into living a healthier lifestyle, and no doubt I will post about my trials and tribulations on the way. Well, that will certainly give me plenty to write about!

Letter to Self At the Start of my Nursing Degree

March 12, 2018February 10, 2019/Judy E Martin/46 Comments

Just under a year ago I was getting excited preparing myself for embarking on my nursing degree. This morning I had to go to Uni to discuss the past year with my tutor and get bits and pieces for the first year signed off. She gave me a letter that I had written to myself at the very start of the course. We were all asked to write them to see how our journey progresses, particularly in our first year.

Here is what I wrote, complete with typos!

Well, I am still going, and I have had a lot of support from my friends, especially those in my nursing and blogging community. I am starting to get very excited now about starting year 2 in just over a month. Sadly a few of the younger students have left the course for one reason or another but they have all gone on to do other things that suit them better. I wonder what challenges will be facing us this year?….

Rhyme and No Reason!

Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

Author: Judy E Martin

#SoCS Hot Cross Bun

My Favourite Fashions

Don’t You Just Hate it When?….13 Niggles That Wind Me Up!

#SoCS Picture

Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge March 22nd. Follow Your Dreams

Spring is Coming

Blogger’s Bash Blog Post Competition A Royal Party.

#SoCS Green

Getting Back in the Saddle

Letter to Self At the Start of my Nursing Degree

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Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

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This is me!

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Thanks for visiting

Lates Blog Posts

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