2018-01-01T21:12:05+00:00

#JusJotJan 2018. January 1st Drama

January 1, 2018February 12, 2019/Judy E Martin/14 Comments

I love that Linda has the Just Jot it January Challenge to start off the year. This is the 3rd year that I have taken part and it is one of those challenges that I actually look forward to. It is not only because it gives us all to kick-start our writing, but because it is something of a community effort, with regards to all of us being given the opportunity of suggesting the prompt words. Poor old Linda still does the hard work though of posting the prompts daily and keeping us in order!

Anyway without further ado, here is today’s prompt word.

Your prompt for January 1st, 2018, brought to you by the lovely Ritu, is “Drama.” Use it any way you’d like in your post. And make sure you visit Ritu at her blog, “But I Smile Anyway…” to read her post and say hi! Here’s her link: https://butismileanyway.com/

I would say that drama features pretty heavily in my life, in one way or the other. Being one of six children, there is always something going on with at least one of us. Throw in nephews, nieces, partners, parents, step-relatives, and in-laws and you have one hell of a drama waiting to happen!

I suppose that it is no surprise then that my chosen career is in nursing! There is definitely plenty of drama going on, even if it is not always of the running around trying to get everything done in not enough time, variety. Sometimes the drama is the slow unfolding of a situation that can suddenly escalate unexpectedly.

I always considered myself to be the type of woman who just wanted a quiet life.

Who am I kidding?

Just Jot It January 31st – Clumsy

January 31, 2016/Judy E Martin/48 Comments

Today’s prompt for Linda’s Just Jot it January is ‘clumsy’ which, as you might have guessed, I suggested! It really was the first thing that came to mind.

Being clumsy ever since I can remember, doesn’t make it any easier to deal with, although I now just try and laugh it off. The more nervous I get, though, the clumsier I become, so meeting people for the first time or being in stressful situations can make me worse.

I remember years ago, staying at a boyfriend’s house for the weekend and meeting his family. The mother was very house proud and welcoming, so of course, I ended up knocking my coffee all over the carpet! His sisters rallied around, cleaning it up before I had chance to move, probably limiting any more damage that I might do. I was mortified.

Another time I remember was when I was being watched carrying out an aseptic procedure to be signed off by a senior nurse. That in itself made me nervous, but I had set everything out on the trolley, created my sterile field, and as I popped a bandage out of the wrapper, careful not to touch it, I squirmed when it caught the edge of the trolley and rolled onto the dirty floor! The stern glare from the Sister didn’t help my nerves either!

I could go on and on giving examples as there are so many, unfortunately, but I am sure you get the picture. Still, it has in the past, got me out of drying up the dishes!

Just Jot It January 29th – Ghost

January 29, 2016/Judy E Martin/32 Comments

We have ‘ghost’ for Linda’s Just Jot it January post. I was not really sure what to write about for this as I have never seen one, nor would I ever want to!

I have decided instead to write about the film ‘Ghost.’ You know the one with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. I have to say that I am a dreadful softie when it comes to soppy films, and I bawled my eyes out when he came back to visit her from the dead! I would like to think that when we die that it isn’t the end. I hope that I will get to meet up with my dad and grandparents. It would also be wonderful if we were able to still keep an eye on those that are still living, although it would be frustrating not being able to help them in any way.

I would like to think that when we die that it isn’t the end. I hope that I will get to meet up with my dad and grandparents. It would also be wonderful if we were able to still keep an eye on those that are still living, although it would be frustrating not being able to help them in any way, or even contact them.

What would be awful, though, is if I were doomed to roam around haunting some old, spooky building or something, rattling chains or howling, or something! That is not my idea of fun at all!

Just Jot It January 28th – Serendipity

January 28, 2016/Judy E Martin/33 Comments

Today’s word for Linda’s Just Jot it January is ‘serendipity.’ It is a pleasant sounding word that means happy accident or coincidence.

Trying to think of an example of this, was not as easy as I thought, but here is one I think fits the bill.

As some of you may know, I met Mr Grump for the first time when I was eighteen years old. We were both in the Army, serving in Essex, and ended up in a volatile relationship (we were both too young) that finished with a broken engagement.

Anyway, life goes on, and I moved back home not long afterwards, and after a while married. Throughout this time, I kept in touch with my Army friend Karen. We had joined up on the same day and became close friends. She lived quite a long way from me but we kept in contact and visited each other occasionally.

Still the years passed, and twenty-five years later when I was a divorced mum of a five-year-old, Karen got in touch to let me know she had heard from Mr Grump, and that he wanted me to contact him. Apparently, she had been on Forces Reunited looking up some old Army friends to see what they were up to and came across Mr Grump.

Needless to say, I got in touch, we met up a month or so later, and have been together ever since! Karen was, of course, a witness at our wedding.

Just Jot it January 27th-Mendaciloquent

January 27, 2016/Judy E Martin/23 Comments

Well. what a word we have today for Linda’s Just Jot it January! ‘mendaciloquent.’ Needless to say, it is not a word that I am familiar with, so I have had to look it up! According to Encyclo.co.uk, it is ‘telling artful lies.’

I suppose it means the kind of lies, kids like to tell to get themselves out of trouble. “I left my homework on the bus, Miss” type of thing, or perhaps, “Oh, no, it wasn’t me that ate all the biscuits, the dog must have got into the biscuit tin.”

Or maybe it is the tactful husband who values his life, who tells you, “that dress looks lovely on you. Of course it doesn’t make your bum look big!”

I am not sure what an ‘artful’ lie is, but it sounds pretty smarmy and contrived. The kind of cheesy chat-up line a bloke might chance his arm with, or the fake sincerity that a politician employs at election time!

Whatever it means, I am a pretty rubbish liar at the best of times, so think I will give this one a miss!

Just Jot It January 26th – Oneness

January 26, 2016/Judy E Martin/25 Comments

Quite an interesting word for Linda’s Just Jot it January prompt today, ‘oneness.’ This speaks to me of being united in something, or being of the same mind. I wonder though if it is possible to be totally ‘at one’ with someone.

As you may know, I am one of six children, Despite most of us having the same upbringing, we are all completely different in our views and outlooks. We vote for different political parties, each having our own thoughts on how the country should be run. We all think differently about religion, out of the four that are christened, only two make the odd appearance at church, the third goes at weddings and funerals, and the fourth is an atheist! The two that are not christened, do go to church occasionally but feel a little uncomfortable, as they can’t accept communion with everyone else.

We have all chosen different career paths, to match our personalities! Three enjoy the cut and thrust of sales, two work in health and social care, and one is an electrician. We even speak differently from each other! One has a very pronounced west country accent, one a northern accent and the rest of us a pretty standard southern accent.

As far as my siblings are concerned, there are definitely major differences. What about my husband? Well, we are pretty different characters as well as far as our personalities go. He is definitely more outgoing and sociable than I am. He is grumpy, I am not (well, not always), he is a real bargain hunter and canny shopper, whereas I just chuck stuff in the trolley that takes my fancy!

However, we do have many similarities, being very routine oriented, and having a similar political and religious outlook. He loves to cook, and I love to eat, and we both arrive everywhere twenty minutes early as we hate to be late!!

It’s funny really, as, although my siblings, husband and friends have very different personalities, views and beliefs, I have found something that we all have in common, and that is a very similar sense of humour!

I don’t think it matters if two people are totally at one with each other. In fact, for some, it is their differences that attract them together in the first place.

Just Jot It January 25th – Prestidigitation

January 25, 2016/Judy E Martin/29 Comments

I had never come across today’s prompt word for Linda’s Just Jot it January before. According to Dictionary.com, it means ‘sleight of hand’ the kind of thing a magician uses to perform tricks.

I have always been fascinated by magic, and would sit spellbound as a child when someone would perform even the most simple of tricks. I was thrilled when I was shown how to do a simple card trick, and would drive people mad wanting to try it out!

Magic has come a long way now, with magicians finding more and more outrageous tricks and illusions to impress us with. One of my best friends had a magician at her wedding breakfast and we wouldn’t let him get away from our table, wanting to see more tricks and trying to work out how he did them (we couldn’t)!

My ex-brother-in-law was very good at ‘magic’ and would amaze the children by pulling coins out of their hair, or ‘reading their minds’ with his card tricks. They loved it.

As much as I love magic, I still like to know how they do it. There was a programme on a few years ago that had a masked magician going through some of his tricks, showing how he did them. I was shocked at just how much work went into them, with split second timing, hidden props, and covert communication with their ‘glamorous assistant.’ However, they are masters of their craft and constantly strive to amaze and astound us.

However, they are masters of their craft and constantly strive to amaze and astound us, and I am glad that they do. We all need a bit of magic in our lives!

Just Jot it January 24th – Compelled

January 24, 2016/Judy E Martin/35 Comments

Today’s word for Linda’s Just Jot it January is ‘compelled.’ Hmmm! I am a person who, throughout their life, has never been good at saying no. If anyone asked me to do anything for them, I would always oblige as I liked to please and make people happy. The problem with this, though, is after a while, it becomes too much.

Sometimes I might not want to babysit, or go to the shops, or give someone a lift somewhere, or work overtime as I had my own things to do, but because I had always done it for so long, saying no didn’t seem right. I felt compelled to carry on as I had done, not wanting to disappoint anyone.

After a while, though, resentment sets in. I started feeling like a doormat, which really was of my own making. It was me that was putting the pressure on myself to do things. I would feel so guilty if I felt I had let someone down by not being able to do the favour that they asked me. I would do it then rant and rave about it to my husband, who would tell me not to do it then.

So, eventually, I did start saying no occasionally. I am still a bit of a pushover at times, but certainly nowhere near as much as I used to be!

Just Jot It January 23rd – Odd/Even #SoCS

January 23, 2016/Judy E Martin/18 Comments

Today I am going to combine two of Linda’s challenges, Just Jot it January and Stream of Consciousness. Please check out her blog if you want to participate, you will find lots of other goodies there too.

The prompt word is ‘odds/even’

I wasn’t sure where to go with this one, The first thing that springs to mind is horseracing and betting. Now, seeing as I know absolutely nothing about this apart from when you place a bet, the odds of winning (especially for me) are pretty low!

I do actually have a bet on the Grand National once a year. It is the one and only time I will bet on anything, and it is only a very small amount of money. I choose my horse like I choose my car, if it looks nice, then I will go for it. Especially if the jockey is wearing yellow or gold, two of my favourite colours. Sometimes, I might even go by the name of the horse.

I don’t usually take any notice of the odds or past form, or whatever you are supposed to consider when placing a bet. I just enjoy the process of poring over the newspaper, and choosing a couple of horses. Mr Grump and Miss Hap choose theirs too, and then we walk down to the bookies to place the bet. (Well Mr Grump goes in, for some reason, I consider them dens of iniquity, and don’t want to go in there.

So, come 4 pm we are glued to the TV, cheering on our horses. Inevitably one of mine will have fallen pretty early on, but I have had third place before. I know that my mum and sisters are also having a go. so we usually have a bit of banter as to whose horse will get it.

A couple of years ago, Miss Hap’s horse won.Obviously, she is too young to bet, and we paid the stakes (if that is the right term). She was wild when we gave her a fiver out of the takings and kept the rest! (It wasn’t a huge amount).

Well, that’s a surprise. I have managed to write a whole post on horseracing after all, even though I don’t know anything about it!

Just Jot it January 22nd – Felicity

January 22, 2016/Judy E Martin/38 Comments

I had to confess to having to look up the meaning of today’s word for Linda’s Just Jot it January. I had, of course, heard of it as a name but had no clue of its meaning. I am surprised to learn that it means a high degree of happiness or bliss according to dictionary.com

I was thinking about the last time I was in a state of such happiness, and you know, I can’t really remember. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t go around with a face like a smacked arse all of the time (although I have got one of those faces workmen love to address with “cheer up love, it may never happen,” which of course annoys me into looking even more miserable)!

On the whole, I am quite a cheerful person, I like to laugh and joke and try to make others smile too. However, being in a state of complete bliss or euphoria is for me, I think, reserved for those one-off moments. I remember the euphoria I felt when I found out I was pregnant at 37 years old, after thinking I would never have children. This was matched only by the absolute joy and delight when I actually met my daughter for the first time and held her close.

I was ecstatic when I finally passed my driving test after many attempts and many years. something I had almost given up hope of achieving. Similarly, when I graduated from university only four years ago, after going back to studies after many years.

Looking at those examples, it seems to me that to be in a state of felicity (I am not even sure how to use this word), at least in my case, it does not come easily, waiting, or working hard for the right moment to achieve it. I suppose this makes it all the more worthwhile, though.

Rhyme and No Reason!

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

Category: #JusJoJan

#JusJotJan 2018. January 1st Drama

Just Jot It January 31st – Clumsy

Just Jot It January 29th – Ghost

Just Jot It January 28th – Serendipity

Just Jot it January 27th-Mendaciloquent

Just Jot It January 26th – Oneness

Just Jot It January 25th – Prestidigitation

Just Jot it January 24th – Compelled

Just Jot It January 23rd – Odd/Even #SoCS

Just Jot it January 22nd – Felicity

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