Month: December 2022

Scribblings by Sarah

Year in Review

Sarah W

As 2022 draws to a close,
It’s time for a reflection…and some prose.
It’s “been a year”, this much is true
But here are some highlights, from each month for you…

The Hunter Valley, was oh, so fun!
Delicious beer and wine…so yum.
Blue Mountains walks, too many to amble 
And stunning scenery for leisurely rambles.
Enlighten Festival did delight,
With gorgeous displays illuminating night.
Dragonboat Nationals were a blast.
Never did we ever, paddle so fast!
We picked up bronze in the Masters section.
All that training for…(almost) perfection.
For Mother’s Day, we had breakfast at the zoo.
We petted a dingo, lizard, and ‘roo.
Then came Moulin Rouge and “that” Sydney trip.
We really should’ve stopped at our first sip!
Random new friends met at the bar,
And a tattoo "close-call", a step too far.
Queensland holidays are always bliss!
Brisbane and Gold Coast are too good to miss.
Cocktails, shopping, and plenty of snacks.
Glorious beaches, a time to relax!
Boogie boarding, paddling and swimming all day.
Leisurely moments, whiled away.
My birthday this year, was super sweet
The surprise from my students, a real treat.
A girls’ trip to Tumut was very informing…
Those country folk sure aren’t boring.
Adventures in Adelaide with my gal Claire 
Our Giant German Hotdog, a serious affair
I’ve also enjoyed my African drumming, 
Playing with a group is really something.
Plenty of kayaking and time on the water
Helped clear the mind (like a good paddle oughta).
But December’s been a real special month 
We’ve gathered, connected, and shared the love.

Yep…2022 had lots of good things
but I’m excited for what the New Year brings!
Cheers to all, let’s celebrate the occasion…
(Of course) with a beverage of alcoholic persuasion.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥂🍾

Scribblings by Sarah

(Homo)phone a Friend

Sarah W

Linda’s prompt for this week’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “new/knew.’”

My initial thoughts about this word, are: “Arghhh! Homophones – a teacher’s spelling nightmare!”

Imagine if you will, young learners grappling with the complex and nuanced beast that is the English language. As if reading isn’t hard enough, let’s throw in the grammar, punctuation and spelling elements of writing, just to keep things interesting.

As someone who’s always found spelling relatively easy (it’s largely a memory thing, right?!), teaching spelling has presented a level of challenge for me. Thankfully, most schools I’ve worked at, use a phonemic approach, which makes spelling more accessible to students. In a nutshell, the English language has 44 sounds (phonemes) and if you can isolate each sound within a word and explore the “choices” available, you can make a pretty reasonable, (and readable) spelling attempt.

But the real problems begin when you add in the homophone factor! Not only have you just taught a student, Yes! “n” + “-ew” which makes the y/oo sound, spells “new”! We then go and stick a silent letter at the start, completely changing both the meaning and spelling of the word.

The regular confusion around homophones, experienced by children (and adults!) is real, and can often result in the miscommunication of ideas (sometimes humorous😂). I try to offer little mnemonics, visuals, or “tricks” to help wherever I can, and always encourage peer conferencing (phone a friend!) to help check they’ve got the right one. In my classroom experience, I’ve found some of the worst “demons” to be:

  • to/too/two
  • there/their/there
  • where/we’re/wear (and throw in “were” here too)
  • by/bye/buy
  • hear/here
  • break/brake

And don’t even get me started on homonyms and homographs …

Now, a terrible joke to end with…

Q. What should you say to comfort an upset homophone?
A. There, their, they’re
Poetry by Sarah, Sijo

New Endings?

Sarah W

New beginnings can only come
from another beginning’s end.

The year is wrapping up,
and it’s time to celebrate with friends

– just don’t let the recovery
be a reason to make amends!

By Sarah ©2022
Photo by Chunfeng FENG on Unsplash

Author’s note: Ronovan Writes has implemented a new challenge, “Sijo Wednesday Poetry.” Sijo is a Korean poetry form which has three lines with 14-16 syllables in each (a total of 44-46 syllables for the poem). The first line of the Sijo usually sets the scene. The second line elaborates on the first line. The third line brings the poem matter to a close. This is my third attempt at Sijo, with the challenge theme of “recover.” My natural interpretation for this word, given the time of year, was having a tipple on NYE and the imminent “day after.”

Haibun, Poetry by Sarah

Moonshine

Sarah W

As he stumbled, and crashed through the bushes in his back garden, he realised he had awakened a goddess. He could see, she truly was made of stars and that nobody ever found her so beautiful. Under her spell, he knew he would follow her wherever she may go. She was his inhale and exhale; giving sustenance to his body and soul. His heart-song grew stronger in her presence. She did not speak to him – simply returned his gaze, bewitching him further. But then, a stony silence grew between them until finally, she had entirely slipped away. He scanned the earth before him, rubbed his eyes and thought to himself, I really need to lay off the moonshine!

boozed brush strokes create
a vision of make-believe
returned to the dust

By Sarah ©2022

Author’s Note: My take on the Wordle this week …just a bit of silliness and fun involving “beer goggles.” I was going to do a love story but found this wanted to be written instead. Credit to Tamara Baechtel (www.artworks.net) for the image of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Sunday Whirl, Wordle #584

Free Verse, Poetry by Sarah

Christmas Day

Sarah W

Christmas Day, so bountiful
No gesture too small
No acrimony here tonight
Just blessings for all

Silent night
So they say
Embrace the quiet
Come what may

Don’t be scared
Love will reign
Let it go
Despite the pain

Christmas Day, so bountiful
No gesture too small
No acrimony here tonight
Just blessings for all

By Sarah ©2022

Author’s Note: Merry Christmas one and all, from my family to yours!

Sammi Scribbles, Weekend Writing Prompt – #291

Scribblings by Sarah

Question Time Over Coffee – 24.12.22

Sarah W

Once a week, Rory invites us to answer 10 – 15 questions across a range of subjects – inspired by life, conversations, observations, writing, gardening, television, entertainment and human curiosity.

Here goes…actually with coffee in hand this week (well, espresso martini, but that counts right?!)

1. Are you more socially or community-minded regarding people, or do you not think there is a difference between the two? Community-minded…which I think then leads to the other.

2. Do you think tattoos make people more confident or less? [If you are inked, have you ever regretted any of your tattoos?] I personally, have no ink and have no regrets about that! But…people I know who have tattoos, really love them! I believe when you feel good in your skin, by default, it makes you more confident. I think many tattoos are beautifully done… I just can’t commit to the permanency!

3. What enrichment do you personally receive from being social? Connection and joy!

4. Have you become noticeably more socially isolated or socially interactive after the pandemic and the lockdowns? Being a social creature, I really struggled with the lockdowns, so my social life is now safely back in full swing!

5. What would be your top sustainability tip? Be an informed and environmentally aware consumer.

6. We live in a world that treats being open and vulnerable as a taboo and something to be frowned upon, so – Do you find it easy or hard to talk to your friends and family about your health? I am quite a private person so I don’t really talk about it.

7. What will you be doing this weekend?

  • Christmas Eve – dinner with friends at our local pub.
  • Christmas Day – fine dining luncheon with family.
  • Boxing Day – going for a big bush walk to work off all the indulgences!

8. As the writer and author of your blog, how connected do you feel to your audience? Does your blog reveal too much, too little or just the right balance of you to your readers? This year my writing has taken a bit of a hit and I am working hard to rebuild my routine and connection to my readers. I am thankful to have space during the school holidays to find that precious time to write…the challenge will be keeping it up once school resumes. I aim to strike a balance of creative writing, random musings and photography, to reveal just enough of “me.”

9. If you were granted a day at being one of your favourite book characters, who would you choose to be and why? Wow! Tough question – so many options. I absolutely fell in love with Elizabeth Zott from “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. I admire her gritty determination and quirky approach and think I could achieve a lot in one day, being in her shoes!

10. What do you believe is the greatest threat to our planet today? Complacency.

Question Time Over Coffee – 24 December 2022

Scribblings by Sarah

Cosy?

Sarah W

Linda’s prompt for this week’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “cozy.’”

My initial thoughts about this word, are two-pronged:

First,

  • Ah….this is another one of those words that Australians/English spell differently to our friends in the US.

And then,

  • Cosy is perhaps, the antithesis of words I would use right now, as we are heading for a top temperature today of 30oC.

I have only ever experienced one “white Christmas,” way back in 1993. I was on exchange in America, and yes, it was indeed cosy! There was something delicious about being all toasty inside the house and then looking out through the windows to see flurries of white, and a blanket of snow. It is not a sight one usually sees in Australia outside of the Aussie alps and ski fields. I recall feeling cosy in its truest sense: comfortable, warm, and relaxed.

But here? Well, it’s Summer right now and we are not so much about being cosy, but all about our cozzie!

Colloquially, “cozzie” is short for swimming costume. (E.g. “Don’t forget to pack your cozzies in case we go for a swim.”) Interestingly, we use other words too…such as togs (the origin of this is possibly worthy of further investigation 🤔?), Speedos, budgie smugglers, swimmers, and boardies. There are even differences in the words used between states. For example, when I lived in rural Victoria, I had to conform and start referring to them as “bathers” because when I said swimmers or cozzie, I got some confused looks!

I have many memories of long Summer days spent in sweltering heat, made bearable only by the (much anticipated) relief promised by an afternoon dip! Cozzie or not! 😝

And now, a terrible joke to end with…

Q. What’s smaller than an ant’s pants?
A. A mozzie’s cozzie!
Other, Poetry by Sarah

Change

Sarah W

I have been inspired by Jane at Jane Dougherty Writes and dabbled with the Golden Shovel poetry form (see the rules in the author note below). Although technically, song lyrics and not lines from a poem, I have used the following words and kept with the same theme/message of the song. I have been wrangling with this piece on and off over the past 3 days, and finally think it’s done. I really enjoyed this form, although next time, I will try and choose lines that don’t create awkward end words!

“So I’m gonna write my words on the face of today.
And then they’ll paint it.”

– Blind Melon, “Change”

How can this be so?
Change is upon me and I’m
not sure I’m gonna
like what I write.
My dreams, oh my,
there are so many words.
Yet, not one I can decide on.
Don’t feel bad for me; the
challenge I will face.
For it is strength that I am made of
– just maybe not today.
As we move on and
ifs become reality, then
new experiences, they’ll
cover me in brighter paint.
Because living? This is it.

By Sarah ©2022

Author’s Note: The Golden Shovel Poetic Form was created by Terrance Hayes and inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks. Here are the rules:

  • Take a line (or lines) from a poem you admire.
  • Use each word in the line (or lines) as an end word in your poem.
  • Keep the end words in order.
  • Give credit to the poet who originally wrote the line (or lines).
  • The new poem does not have to be about the same subject as the poem that offers the end words.
Challenges by Sarah, Summer Series

Summer Series – Christmas, Ahoy!

Sarah W

Like the song says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

And I’ve really started to get that inkling too. It began last week after the Gin Palooza, when we found ourselves in the midst of a performance by Christmas carolers whilst in the city. It was clearly an impromptu affair (think flash mob but vocal version), but they sure were a talented bunch!

Then yesterday, I enjoyed the last paddle for 2022 with my dragon boat club, as we break for the holidays. This was a super fun, 6am session, where we donned Christmas gear and blared Christmas songs from a portable speaker. Obviously, this provided some additional motivation as we cranked out 6.5km in 40mins! Although, I did rue the fact I chose to wear bells, as every time I entered the water I jingled!

Lastly tonight, we upheld a family tradition of exploring the Canberra Christmas lights. After the (usual) siblings’ discussion about whether we go Northside or Southside, we visited the amazing Huddy St display in Forde. The Christmas spirit was seriously impressive 🙌🏻

I have included this photo from our lights excursion because Santa is being a bit “cheeky” – I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like this before!

But if we’re talking favourite photo, this miniature scene is just darling and really captured my attention…

Not long to go now! 3 more sleeps…