2018-01-13T08:00:58+00:00

#JusJoJan and #SoCS 2018. January 13th When it Comes…

January 13, 2018February 12, 2019/Judy E Martin/19 Comments

Linda’s Just Jot it January and Stream of Consciousness post for today is a little different as you will see from the rules below. I always enjoy a challenge and look forward to seeing where this post goes.

Without further ado, here is today’s prompt.

Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is as follows: read closely. When you’re ready to sit down and write your post, look to the publication (book, newspaper, permission slip from your kid’s teacher, whatever you find) closest to you, and base your post on the sixth, seventh, and eighth word from the beginning of the page. Enjoy!

The book that was closest to me ‘Critical Thinking Skills’ by Stella Cottrell and I chose the sixth, seventh and eighth words from the introduction, which are…’when it comes.’

When it comes to writing Stream of Consciousness posts, I think I have got the technique pretty much off pat. I put this down to the fact that I write nearly all of my posts in this manner.

I like to write pretty much as I speak because I feel that it is friendlier and also gives you a little insight into my personality. As you can see from the choice of book that was closest to me, at Uni this style of writing certainly will not do, and I have to stop myself from being ‘too chatty’ and instead be more formal and professional. I need all the help I can get on that front, hence the reason for that book and several others being stashed in my desk, ready to be pored over when needed.

Stream of Consciousness writing gives me the freedom to let my thoughts flow and just go with them. However, there might be a downside to this as my thoughts may be a little jumbled or jumpy at times, which is, unfortunately, the way that I am, so there might be a bit of weaving around before I get to the point. I might not even get to the point if I go off on a tangent and think about something else which is often the way with these types of posts. As there is no editing allowed other than fixing typos, this may be a little confusing.

The fact that there is a prompt word with our Stream of Consciousness posts makes it more interesting, as I get to see how others have interpreted the same word in their posts. It is surprising when it comes to Stream of Consciousness just how many perspectives there are, and how diverse we are as writers and/or bloggers. That’s why I love them!

#SoCS Resolution

December 30, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/39 Comments

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

This year I am not sure that I am going to make any New Year resolutions. The thing is, they start off well and then get left behind. This leads to guilt and deprivation, then more doing what I have resolved to give up, then more guilt and deprivation until we get to the end of the year and I am in worse shape than when I started the year!

Of course, I am mainly referring to my weight, and my struggle to lose it. I don’t know what is the matter with me but I just can’t seem to do it and it is getting me down, big time! My blood sugars are all over the place as well at the moment, which just adds to the mess! I haven’t been to the gym or healthy lifestyle appointments either, as I did quite a bit of comfort eating lately, which has led to me not wanting to know how much I weigh, and I feel guiltier than ever that my earlier enthusiasm has gone off on holiday!

Anyway, this post has got a bit depressing and is rapidly going downhill, which was not my intention at all! It does not mean that I am giving up completely on my healthy living quest, just that I am going to take a new approach to it, without putting too much pressure on myself, therefore dooming myself to failure. That is my resolution.

Any ideas?

#SoCS Yule, You’ll, Yul

December 23, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/20 Comments

This week Linda has given us Yule, you’ll or Yul to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used any way we choose. Bonus points though if we manage to start the post with one of them.

You’ll be expecting a Christmas post no doubt as we are now only a couple of days away from the big day.

Well, the presents are wrapped, the turkey purchased as well as the Yule log, and the decorations are up. Now all that is left to do is another huge tidy round, oh, and a nice bath for Roxy! Now, she is not going to get dressed up this year as she doesn’t seem to like it for some reason as you will see on Ani’s post here, but I wanted her to look (and more to the point smell) her best.

She was not exactly keen to get in the bath, and tried to escape, but the mission was accomplished and she looks all clean and pretty.

That leaves one less job to do tomorrow so maybe we will get time to chill a bit and watch some Christmas telly. They always drag out the old favourites, I particularly love ‘White Christmas’ with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. I wonder if they will put ‘The King and I’ on with Yul Brynner? Another classic that gets trotted out during holidays!

#SoCS Contrast

December 16, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/18 Comments

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

The last couple of weeks have been quite a contrast for me, especially when it comes to Uni. The first exam we had a few weeks ago was drug calculations. I had practised this quite a bit beforehand and had finished in 15 minutes! Luckily for me, when we got the results back, I got 100%. That gave me a bit of a boost, to say the least.

However, it all came crashing down on Monday, the day before we had our dreaded Human Anatomy & Physiology exam. The results were in from one of the first assignments that we had submitted, and I failed it, miserably! I had to look at the result again as I could not believe it. When I was at Uni before, I had never failed any of my essays. That took the wind out of my sails and I spent that night crying and stressing about the exam I WAS worried about the next day.

I thought that my academic writing skills were ok, but it seemed that I had been too descriptive rather than critical. Luckily I do have a chance to resubmit the consignment, but I need to have a good think about how to sort out my critical thinking before I do so. The worst thing is that I have also written all of the other three essays and submitted two of them. Hopefully, I haven’t buggered them up as well! I have lost all confidence now, despite the essay writing being something I was not as worried about when I started. That certainly is a contrast I could have done without!

As for the A & P exam, well… I think I did ok, but am rather wary now as I don’t want to jinx it. I have to wait until 15th January before I am put out of my misery with that one!

We have started our placements too so have been working 12-hour shifts with not a huge amount of time to study. However, we break up for 2 weeks on the 18th December. I actually broke up today which is a bit of a mixed blessing for me. Although I am earlier in breaking up, I have had loads of dental work done which is extremely painful plus (due to vanity), I won’t be going out or seeing anyone for a week when I hope I will be fit enough to be viewed!

Added to that, my blood sugars are playing up for some reason, and are quite a bit higher than they normally are, which has made me feel a bit under the weather.

Still, at least I have got that time to sort out those bloody essays, and with not being to eat properly for a while, I might even lose a bit of weight!

#SoCS Liquid

December 9, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/9 Comments

This week Linda has given us liqu to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used either as a start of a word or as part of a word. I choose to use it as part of the word liquid.

When I saw the prompt this week, I was originally going to write about liquor, but that wouldn’t be much good seeing as I haven’t drunk alcohol for years. When my daughter was very young I brought her up on my own so I never wanted to drink too much if she stayed the night with my mum. Young children and hangovers do not go well together at all, and I don’t believe in being drunk in charge of a child either, so never drank in her presence.

My liquids of choice are tea and coffee, pretty boring of course, but I do go mad and have the odd glass of sugar-free fizzy pop on special occasions. After all, drinking coffee at some social occasions seems a little out-of-place, unless of course, it is at a family member’s house where I can just go and put the kettle on.

Despite my huge liquid intake, when I went to the gym, I was surprised to find that I was dehydrated, well at least, according to their special scales which measures body fat other goodies.You just can’t beat good old water of course for keeping the body hydrated amongst the other benefits that it has. Funnily enough, it doesn’t count in large amounts of tea and coffee!

#SoCS Cramp

December 2, 2017February 17, 2019/Judy E Martin/Leave a comment

This week Linda has given us cramp to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used any way we like.

I suffer terribly with cramp. It is not just in my feet or at night, it can be anywhere at any time. I have even got it when I have laughed and the muscles in my ribcage have cramped. So I going for laughing hysterically to grimacing and rubbing my side because it hurts!

I have suddenly shot up in a room because my calf has cramped, or if I am trying to be discreet, I rock my leg back and forth trying to ease the pain or straighten it out trying to see if that helps.

Of course, it can be embarrassing as well. I have had cramp whilst having the nurse doing the intimate examinations we women need to have, and at other times when cramp has been rather a passion killer!

I don’t understand where it came from as it started probably about 8 years ago or so. Sometimes if I get cold I might get it, but other times I can just turn around or brush my hair and I get it then too!

It really does cramp my style!

#SoCS -Ink

November 25, 2017/Judy E Martin/7 Comments

This week Linda has given us ink to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be either as a noun or a verb.

Funnily enough, I was just saying to Ritu recently that I thought writing with a fountain pen and ink seems to improve the look of my handwriting.

At school, my handwriting was once described as resembling ‘a drunken spider’ wandering over the page and that as kind of stuck with me ever since. I have always admired beautiful penmanship and have tried several times to improve my scrawl. I do think that having a decent pen helps.

My history teacher was very strict about what pen we used in his class. If we forgot to bring a fountain pen then we would have to write in pencil then go over it in fountain pen later. ‘Biro’ was a dirty word to him and nobody dared use one in his presence!

Although I do like the look of my writing with a fountain pen, I have found it can be very messy. Well, it is if you are clumsy at least. I have ended up with huge splodges of ink on my work, as well as over my hands, the desk and occasionally down the front of my school shirt!

I tend to write with a fine liner pen now as I like how it looks, plus some of them have ink that dries quickly so doesn’t smudge. Perfect!

#SoCS – Psst

November 18, 2017/Judy E Martin/4 Comments

This week Linda has given us psst or another word that grabs reader’s attention, to use for our Stream of Consciousness posts. I will stick with good old psst as I like the sound of it.

Psst….you know that Christmas is just around the corner? Well, if you are stuck for ideas for ideas and want to give a little bit of sunshine as a stocking filler, then why not consider my book? It is a book of poems, rhymes and limericks that find humour or beauty in everyday life.

Here is the blurb:

Are you one of those people who barge through life, trying to get through it as best as you can, swimming against the everyday worries and stresses of life? Well, I have found a way to make it much more enjoyable.
Don’t you think everything sounds better when it rhymes? I certainly do. In fact, I have found that everything from doing the housework to growing older, can sound more positive and less daunting when made into a little ditty.
This book is about finding the humour, or raising a smile from the everyday things that we can all relate to in life, and looking at them from a different perspective. Nothing escapes versification; there is even a subject on sex! After all, that is one subject where there is plenty of room for laughter, even if it may not be the right moment!

and here is the link that will take you to Amazon where you can purchase it. Author.to/RhymesoftheTimes

#SoCS Armistice

November 11, 2017October 28, 2019/Judy E Martin/8 Comments

This week Linda has given us arm to use either as a word or as part of a word for our Stream of Consciousness posts. I have chosen to use it as part of the word, Armistice.

Ninety-Nine years ago today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month an Armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies, which went on to signal the end of the First World War or Great War as it was also known.

Despite the terrible stories that emerged, young boys signing up, never to return home to their parents; the appalling conditions in the trenches, atrocities seen that we would never want to experience in our worst nightmares; men shot for being ‘deserters,’ or if they didn’t enlist to go to war, being given a white feather which was a symbol of cowardice, trying to shame them into enlisting, just over twenty years later, there was another World War and many other conflicts followed after that.

So many lives lost and others changed forever. The flashbacks, missing limbs, mental illness and damaged lungs, just some of the horrendous legacies many were left with. The bereaved parents, widowed women and fatherless children left trying to cope not only with their losses but in some cases struggling to survive with no emotional or financial support.

Sadly, it seems in this volatile world that we are living in that life is becoming expendable. We have seen so many instances of gunmen opening fire randomly, killing innocent people, in some cases children. Others have no regard even for their own lives and blow themselves up, often resulting in others being maimed, injured or even killed in the process. Again, lives ruined, families broken irreparably, heartache, pain and suffering.

There has to be another way…..

#SoCS Shortcut Cut Short

November 4, 2017/Judy E Martin/10 Comments

This week Linda has given us a choice for our Stream of Consciousness posts, we can either use shortcut or cut short.

I like a shortcut when I am working at my job in the community. The problem is that, as I do not have a very good sense of direction, I end up getting lost and taking longer to get there. One village road looks similar to the next for me, and even when given very precise directions, I still manage to mess up and end up in the wrong place. Having said that, I do make sure that the patients’ visits are not cut short if it has taken me a while to get there.

There are some occasions when a shortcut can be an advantage though. I remember our Home Economics lessons at school, when making a cake, creaming the butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon, then adding the egg, making sure not to curdle the mixture, and finally, folding in the flour,with a metal spoon, carefully, and then producing a cake that was more like a biscuit than a light and fluffy sponge! Years later, I was introduced to the ‘all-in-one method’, bung everything in together (which seemed like sacrilege), mix it all up and something that resembles a sponge appears. Sometimes it feels good to use a shortcut!

I am going to have to cut short this post now as I have yet another essay to write for one of my Uni assignments. I wish there was a shortcut I could use for that!

Rhyme and No Reason!

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

Category: #SoCS

#JusJoJan and #SoCS 2018. January 13th When it Comes…

#SoCS Resolution

#SoCS Yule, You’ll, Yul

#SoCS Contrast

#SoCS Liquid

#SoCS Cramp

#SoCS -Ink

#SoCS – Psst

#SoCS Armistice

#SoCS Shortcut Cut Short

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

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