April meeting.

A nice sunny morning for our meeting at John & Sheila's. Rosemarie wrote the sequel to last months story about the gay misunderstanding. Ann, trip to Salisbury and a belch. My story about writing the story. Joan a walk in Spring. Sheila a boy dreaming of being pilot . Sue a creepy story. Joan Read walking the dogs and the story. Brian a haunting tale.
Two winners John and Pat, John's first

"For what remains" is next month's

THAT WAS A RELIEF.

WE USED TO SEE THIS MAN AROUND QUITE A LOT. HE SEEMED DIFFERENT TO US KIDS. THERE WAS NOTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT WE COULD SAY IN A NEGATIVE WAY, ABOUT HIM, BUT WITH TYPICAL CHILDISHNESS HE DIDN'T SEEM TO US, LIKE OUR PARENTS. THIS WAS AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND WITH ALL THE UPHEAVALS SURROUNDING FAMILIES, MUM AND DAD WOULD ALWAYS WARN US ABOUT ANYONE DIFFERENT, NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY AT ALL, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE CAREFUL WHEN CONFRONTED BY A NEW FACE THAT WE HAD LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF. THIS MAN TURNED OUT TO BE OUR NEW MILKMAN AND OF COURSE WE DID BECOME MORE RELAXED TOWARDS HIM AFTER HE STARTED DELIVERING TO US. HE HAD BEEN COMING FOR A WHILE AND WE EVEN FOUND OUT WHERE HE LIVED. AFTER BEING SO VERY WARY OF HIM, WE DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS QUITE A PLEASANT PERSON AFTER ALL. HIS NAME WAS BILL BROWN, AND IT TRANSPIRED THAT HE HAD BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY IN SOUTHAMPTON, AT THE END OF THE WAR, AND DECIDED TO STAY IN THE AREA. HE SAID THAT HE'D ORIGINALLY COME FROM COVENTRY, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK THERE. IT DIDN'T REGISTER TOO MUCH WITH US KIDS, BUT THE RUMOURS STARTED TO CIRCULATE THAT BILL WAS A BIT OF A LADIES MAN, THE LADY NEXT DOOR APPEARED TO BE GETTING MORE THAN 2 PINTS OF MILK A DAY, OR SO IT WAS SUGGESTED, BUT AGAIN WE WEREN'T TOO INTERESTED UNTIL THE DAY WHEN MATTERS CAME TO A HEAD. WE WERE PLAYING OUT IN THE STREET, WHEN BILL APPEARED IN THE MILK FLOAT, AND ONCE HE'D PUT THE HAY BAG ONTO THE HORSE, WHICH HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO DO WHEN DELIVERING TO NEXT DOOR, HE DISAPPEARED INTO MRS JONES HOUSE. WE KIDS ALWAYS WONDERED WHY HE TOOK SO LONG TO SERVE MRS JONES. WE THOUGHT HE JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIS HORSE A LONG REST. WELL, UNBEKNOWN TO US ALL HELL WAS ABOUT TO BE LET LOOSE, WHEN MR. JONES SUDDENLY ARRIVED OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. AS HE WENT IN I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A RELIEF, BILL THE MILKMAN, WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ON HIS WAY, AND IN SOME RESPECTS HE WAS. ONLY HE MADE A RATHER UNDIGNIFIED EXIT WHEN HE WAS SUDDENLY PUNCHED OUT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR BY A VERY IRATE MR JONES. WE KIDS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE WORDS BEING EXCHANGED, BUT FOR SOME REASON MRS. JONES ALSO SEEMED QUITE UPSET, AND SHE SEEMED TO US TO BE RATHER UNTIDELY DRESSED. WELL THE HORSE WAS DRIVEN OFF AT QUITE A PACE BY BILL AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE PACKED UP BEING OUR MILKMAN ALMOST STRAIGHT AWAY, AND FOR SOME STRANGE REASON MRS JONES ALSO DISAPPEARED AS WELL. OF COURSE WE MISSED BILL FOR A WHILE, AND MORE TO THE POINT OUR DAD'S ROSES WERE NEVER THE SAME WITHOUT THE BUCKET OF MANURE FROM THE HORSES WAIT OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE, THE NEW MILKMAN WAS ALWAYS MUCH QUICKER THAN BILL.

THAT WAS A RELIEF

Does the weather bother you? Do you let it interfere with your plans for the day? As a child I don't remember it stopping us playing outside unless it was raining cats and dogs as they used to say.

The winter weather certainly divided the nation. If the roof didn't leak and your local roads drained well it barely affected you. Then there’s the unlucky minority, many of whom are still waiting for their homes to dry out. The wood from fallen trees was put to good use. Fences repaired, tiles replaced, telephone and electricity lines reconnected. Jobs for all! Then there are the potholes...why can't we have a super emergency team? Its a long story.

The unusually stormy weather produced the most wonderful cloud formations for anyone who cared to look up.

Also, thanks to the floods in Cornwall, Britain’s only tea plantation is having a record harvest. Who would have thought!

Has the so called 'man made' rise in temperature has caused all this? If so, what caused the end of the Ice Age, when the seas rose causing England to separate from Europe and then divide from the Isle of Wight? Did Man cause that? No? That’s a relief then, we can all carry on polluting.

March meeting

Just eight of us meeting at Jack & Joan's Sue started with a bucolic tale of the countryside. Ann analysed the words of the title I was happy. Rosemary's story is one of the winners. John's about pirates today and ransoms. Sheila with the special Bluebell vase. Joan Read looking back at the changing time. Joan E another country scene. My story about misery Joe.
Next month That was a relief.
Two chosen with 3 votes each Sue and Rosemary.

Rosemary's story









































































Sue's story

I WAS HAPPY
I was happy - I am happy, so happy. I nod in agreement with myself and feel completely content with the world. Well, why not? It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and at last the air feels balmy and very spring-like. I look around me and feel totally at peace in this moment.

I turn my gaze from the field towards the wood on whose edge I am standing. It looks so inviting, with a meandering path winding through it, just beckoning carefree walkers to wander along it in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The sky, glimpsed far above, is a brilliant blue, as only spring skies can be after rain, and provides a Technicolor contrast to the bare branches reaching for it. Some branches are not so bare, though, I think, as I glimpse catkins gently swaying in the breeze and, dotted around, great splashes of reds, whites, lilacs, purples and pinks of every shade. Of course, the camellias and rhododendrons are bursting into bloom to greet the new season.

Alongside the enticing path are less showy carpets of flowers, but no less welcome for that. I can see crocus and late snowdrops, the latter so graceful as they nod in the light breeze. They are joined by patches of celandine and – is that the first of my favourite friend, the wood anemone – yes it is – just one so far and so delicate, but soon to be joined by many more.

As I gaze at the scene, I also spot more signs of life – a thrush bustling about in last autumn’s leaves, soon to be joined by a blackbird. There are robins going about their business too and there’s a tree creeper on the trunk of the tree nearest to me. At its base is another of my favourites, a hedgehog, who has survived the winter and come out to find food. My senses identify the different noises, the songs of the birds and the soft rustlings they make as they hunt for food on the ground or in the undergrowth.

As I lift my head and gaze into the distance, I can see the first of the more formal flower beds, with great clumps of hellebores in every shade from white to deepest purple, together with pulmonaria and drifts of stately daffodils, nodding their bonnets as if they are having a good gossip with each other.

Dropping down towards the river, the field I am in is green and lush after all the rain through the winter and now there are daisies littering it in patches of sparkling white, nodding their heads and promising they will soon be joined by lush yellow buttercups. These are almost overwhelmed by the wild daffodils spreading out in every direction and a great favourite with visitors, who can wander amongst them and absorb their delicate perfume.

It’s still early morning and there is no-one on the path yet, but I know the visitors will soon come, to wander the woodland paths and lakeside walks, drinking in all Exbury has to offer. In the meantime, I gaze once more across the field towards the river. There are one or two intrepid early sailors gently motoring downriver towards the estuary, before filling their sails and enjoying another day on the Solent.

Yes, I sigh contentedly, lapped by the freshening breeze, I am looking forward to seeing the pleasure our visitors will get and watching the children running freely over my field. I just hope one of them doesn’t decide to pick me or treads on me by mistake. I’d like to see another spring day dawn before I fade away ‘till next year!

24th February 2014

I never said that, was the basis of this month's story. Brian volunteered to start. His story was about the charge of the Light Brigade. Joan Read a scary story about the crime of murder. Sue was a thoughtful attempt to overcome the problem of misunderstanding amongst friends. I confessed my sins only two minor ones. Joan promising a toy to a child and its repercussions.  Rosemary and a promise to marry made over the phone. Ann a weird play and falling asleep.

I was happy - next months sentence.

Pat got the most votes

I NEVER SAID THAT

Ellen and George had been married many years and both loved their house and garden...well, Ellen loved the garden more than George. He did dig, mow and

grow the usual veges.

Each morning they strolled around the pretty garden, weather permitting of course, Ellen with the secateurs at the ready and George whistling away. She always had to point out anything new and wondered if he really didn't see or didn't want to.

This particular morning they were discussing what they would do when they could no longer garden. Put it back to lawn Ellen said. That was how they first saw it years ago. Hmmm said George thoughtfully.

The next day Ellen and a friend had arranged to take a coach trip to Wisley. It was a wonderful day, the weather played along and they were inspired by the fantastic ideas. Ellen didn't know which way to look, there were so many new varieties and colours. Tired but happy they boarded the coach for home dozing most of the way.

It was dusk when they eventually arrived, George was waiting patiently. Ellen took a lovely relaxing bath after dinner and went to bed to dream of her garden...so much to do, so many ideas whirling around in her head.

The next morning they put on their garden shoes as it had rained overnight. Ellen stared...where was her carefully cultivated border! George took her by the arm, look, he said, “I saved most of the plants by potting them up, then had the border turfed over”. It looked perfect to him.

“But...but...lost for words...why did you do that”? “ Why, you said put it back the way it was he exclaimed”. “ I never said that she cried. I meant when we were old”! Then George handed her a card. Happy 90^th it read.

27 Jan Meeting at Sue's

Low in numbers today just eight of us all with good stories perhaps because we had two months to dream one up. But only 7 stories.
Joan E's compared old times with new, missing final part of films to catch the bus. Joan R's sibling's interest in butterflies. Rosemary no room in the Inns and safe passage through estate. Ann Letter that brings U3A interest. Sue, James Bond remembers after coma.
My story a ramble of thoughts.

Next month "I never said that"

The winning story is John's

BECAME INTRIGUED.

WHENEVER I SAW THE WOMAN IN BLACK I BECAME INTRIGUED BY HER APPEARANCE, BECAUSE SHE LOOKED QUITE UNLIKE ANYONE ELSE IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD. SHE WAS NOT OF OUR NATIONALITY AS SHE HAD SERENE FAINTLY ORIENTAL FEATURES. I FOUND MYSELF ALMOST ADOPTING A SLIGHTLY STALKING ATTITUDE, WHICH I SCOLDED MYSELF ABOUT. NEVERTHELESS SHE EXERTED A HOLD ON MY IMAGINATION WHICH I FELT WOULD ONLY BE ASSUAGED BY MY EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES WITH HER. I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT, I CAME ACROSS HER WHEN I CAUGHT THE BUS INTO WORK EACH MORNING, AND SHE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE AT THE SAME STOP. THERE WERE THE USUAL COMMUTERS WHO VERY RARELY SPOKE AND SO WE ALL TENDED TO BE IN OUR OWN LITTLE WORLDS. WELL I DECIDED I WANTED TO TALK TO THE SUBJECT OF MY INTEREST, AND EVENTUALLY I FOUND MYSELF SAT NEXT TO HER AND WAS QUITE LOST FOR WORDS. WHAT WOULD I SAY TO HER, AND WOULD SHE BE INSULTED BY MY MAKING CONTACT WITH HER? WELL THE CHANCE WENT AND I STOOD UP TO GIVE MY SEAT TO A LITTLE OLD LADY. I DIDN'T REALLY SEE TOO MUCH OF HER AGAIN FOR SOME TIME, BUT I STILL WAS HOPING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER. FINALLY, I DID GET TO SIT NEXT TO HER, AND I MADE SOME COMMENT ABOUT THE WEATHER, BUT TO MY SURPRISE SHE REPLIED IN WHAT I ASSUMED WAS MANDARIN CHINESE, WHICH TOOK ME QUITE BY SURPRISE. SHE SEEMED A BIT SHY OF ANY ATTENTION FROM ME SO I LEFT IT AT THAT. I CONTINUED SEEING HER ON THE BUS BUT DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO SPEAK APART FROM A NODDED "GOOD MORNING", BUT I WAS STILL INTRIGUED WITH HER.

ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER I CHANGED MY JOB, WHICH DIDN'T INVOLVE USING THE LOCAL BUS, SO I LOST ANY CHANCE OF MEETING OR SEEING THE CHINESE LADY AGAIN. LIFE WENT ON WELL, ALTHOUGH I DID HOPE THAT ONE DAY LIFE WOULD IMPROVE, AND I WOULD MEET AND MARRY A LOVELY LADY. I DECIDED TO GET MYSELF A TAKEAWAY ONE EVENING AND WENT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ONE THAT I'D NOT USED BEFORE, AND WAS STUNNED TO SEE THE SUBJECT OF MY PREVIOUS FASCINATION SERVING BEHIND THE COUNTER. AND YES, SHE SPOKE PERFECT ENGLISH. I MENTIONED THAT I USED TO SEE HER ON THE BUS, AND SHE DID AGREE THAT SHE REMEMBERED ME. I SAID THAT I ASSUMED THAT SHE COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS SHY AND NERVOUS WHEN I SPOKE TO HER, WHICH WAS WHY SHE SPOKE IN HER NATIVE TONGUE. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE WASN'T AVERSE TO OUR SPEAKING, SHE HELPED IN HER PARENTS BUSINESS AFTER WORKING IN A CITY BANK, AND BEFORE LONG I WAS HELPING HER AS WELL,

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THAT I ATE MORE CHINESE TAKEAWAYS THAN WAS GOOD FOR ME OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, BUT THE HAPPY OUTCOME IS THAT WE ARE ENGAGED TO MARRY AND IM BUSY LEARNING MANDARIN AND WRITING ORDERS OUT IN THAT LANGUAGE AS WELL.

November meeting

A full compliment today at John's on a cold morning. Pat started with a full report on the misuse of a 3D printer to produce counterfeit coins.  Joan Read all about the IRA and ending in a firing squad.  Brian about the Chinese storming the Gloucester's regiment in Korea. Ann stuck in the forest. Sally a new home for poor farm workers. Sheila on the way to pick up a school uniform. My story about a marriage heading for the rocks. Joan a walk around the block. Sue an amputee determined to walk.

Joint win Rosemary and John 3 votes each.

Rosemary's story

John's story
NOWHERE TO WALK. JAKE BROWN WAS A TYPICAL SMALL TOWN CROOK WHO MADE A LIVING, STEALING OPPORTUNISTICALLY WHENEVER HE COULD, AND WHILST, LIKE LOTS OF HIS FELLOW CRIMINALS, HE HAD A DRUG DEPENDENCY, HE WAS IN SOME WAYS, QUITE A LIKEABLE CHAP. HE WAS WELL KNOWN TO THE LOCAL BOBBIES WHO HAD A TIRED ACCEPTANCE OF HIS WAY OF LIFE, AND THEY KNEW THAT IF JAKE WAS BANG TO RIGHTS, HE WOULD RESIGNEDLY ACCEPT HIS LOT, WHICH WAS USUALLY ANOTHER STRETCH INSIDE. THIS PATTERN HAD BEEN THE CASE FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS, AND SO LIFE FOR JAKE BECAME QUITE PREDICTABLE. HE HAD A FEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN, WHO INEVITABLY USED TO GET TIRED OF HIS ACTIVITIES, BUT THEN ONE DAY A LADY CAME INTO HIS LIFE, WHO WAS DETERMINED TO CHANGE HIM. YES, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THESE WOMEN, WHO FEEL SURE THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR MAN FOR THE BETTER, BUT GLORIA SEEMED DETERMINED, AND JAKE CERTAINLY GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO GIVE IT A GO. SO, FOR A WHILE HE EVEN GOT A JOB, AS A ROADSWEEPER, AND GLORIA WAS HAPPY. WHY, HE EVEN GOT HIMSELF SOME PETS. A LITTLE KITTEN, A TATTY OLD MONGREL OF DOG CALLED WAYNE, AND A PARROT. WELL, THIS WENT ON WELL FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL WITH THE ICY ROADS JAKE FELL WHILST SWEEPING AND WAS SUDDENLY LAID UP WITH A BROKEN LEG. HE THEN HAD NOWHERE TO WALK IN THIS CONDITION, AND SPENT HOURS WITH HIS PETS AND SOON HAD THE PARROT SPEAKING QUITE WELL. HE SPENT MANY A DAY WITH HIS PETS, ALTHOUGH GLORIA HAD TO TAKE THE DOG OUT FOR WALKS. UNFORTUNATELY, ALL OF THIS SPARE TIME COULD NOT BE TAKEN UP COMPLETELY WITH HIS PETS AND JAKES MIND TURNED ONCE MORE TO HIS CRIMINAL THOUGHTS. ONE DAY AFTER HE HAD HIS PLASTERCAST REMOVED, JAKE DID A LITTLE TRIP AROUND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, AND MANAGED TO GET INTO A HOUSE AND GOT AWAY WITH A GOOD SELECTION OF JEWELRY AND WATCHES, GOT HOME AND QUICKLY PUT IT AWAY IN HIS SECRET CUPBOARD. LET THINGS SETTLE DOWN HE THOUGHT AND THEN HE WOULD CONTACT HIS FENCE AND SELL IT ALL OFF. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE LOCAL BOBBIES DIDN'T TAKE TOO KINDLY TO A ROBBERY ON THEIR PATCH, AND AFTER A BIT OF DIGGING JAKE'S NAME CAME INTO THE FRAME. HE HADN'T GOT RID OF THE ILL GOTTEN GAINS EITHER WHEN THEY PAID HIM A VISIT. GLORIA WAS SHOCKED TOO. SHE'D FELT THAT JAKE HAD BECOME A BETTER FELLOW UNDER HER WATCHFUL EYE, BUT OF COURSE HE COULDN'T RESIST THE CHANCE TO GET BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS. JAKE PLEADED HIS INNOCENCE TO THE LAW, AND ALL WAS LOOKING GOOD UNTIL HIS BELOVED PARROT SUDDENLY CHIRPED UP IN ANSWER TO THE POLICEMAN ASKING WHERE THE SWAG WAS, BY SQUAKING "ITS IN THE CUPBOARD". BLAST IT THOUGHT JAKE AS HE WAS LED AWAY LOOKING AT ANOTHER STRETCH INSIDE. GLORIA WAS DISTRAUGHT, BUT THE PARROT SEEMED TO HAVE A SORT OF GLOW ABOUT HIM AS JAKE WAS LED OUT OF THE DOOR.

No meeting December
January Became intrigued

28th Oct

The morning after the storm we met at Jack & Joan's, eleven of us. Brian jumped in to start with a Goose fair past and present. Joan E house removal. My story of my love of motor bikes when young. Sally 80 mph gales. Sue two old codgers and a bomb. Rosemary Ship Street nostalgia. Sheila throwing apple cores in gardens. John's sad tale. Joan R SAS men.
Next month "nowhere to walk" at John's.

Pat got top votes.

THE ROAD WAS CLOSED

During one of my contemplative moments I was thinking about the 3^rd age. Actually I believe there are 5 ages...if you are lucky.
Being totally dependent on others at during the 1^stmini age.
Hopefully you make it unscathed to the 2nd age, the teenage years, when your brain and eyes slowly open to the world around you. The adults don't seem to know whats going on, finding it hard to understand you. Why do they seem cross all the time.

To my mind the 3^rd age is those middle years. Time to ditch the long

hair and short skirts, concentrate on work and family and finally feeling like a grown up.

As the 4^th age dawns we all look forward to retirement. We still have plenty of energy to garden and do up the house, take lots of holidays. Time to meet new friends and try something different. Learning is more fun these days. No exams to take. Families reshape over time, with marriages, divorces, new babies and departure, sometimes much to early. Christmas is to be endured these days, after all its basically for the young unless you are a churchgoer.

Now the 5^th age is really old age. The teeth are not what they were which makes you very careful. There are many decisions, for instance to carry on colouring the hair , keep on driving as long as possible, bother to renew the passport? At 3am all is black with the world. What to do with my favourite books, jewelry and carefully dusted little treasures? Will it all end up in the tip? Make a mental note to leave all paperwork in order and drawers tidy, you never know do you!

Waking up is a great start to the day, that means my number isn't up yet...that road is still closed. Keep taking the pills and try not to fall over.

If only I knew how long I had left I would know how much I could spend!

23 September at Pat & Brian's

Just nine of us with ten stories one from absent Sue read by Sheila all about two runaway children lost in the Australian desert. Joan wrote about a small coastal town. John RAF and a depressed young lady who commits suicide. Ann unfortunate youngster breaks leg in an orchard. Sally all about dogs. Pat a visit to Hurst castle. Sheila first prize for flower display. Rosemary, Brian and myself all got two votes each so here are all three. Rosemary still hasn't got the computer working.

Next month "the road was closed"


 Brian's first

 LARGE SPRING. In A small village in North Wales, they tell of an old legend.. That there was a beautiful young girl named Winifred. It is said that she was no older than Nineteen, of sweet face unmarked by disease, hair, dark as the feathers of a ravens wing, hung long and straight to her slender waist, her eyes were of the lightest blue. Her family was not of the peasant class, nor were they very wealthy. Winifred was in love with a tall handsome young man, Thomas, who's family was the richest and most powerful family in the whole of North Wales. Winifred and Thomas would met in secret, near a charcoal burners cottage in the woods near the village.
 One day Winifred went to met Thomas, wearing her favourite red dress, over this a light woollen hooded cloak. She was a little late arriving at the spot to met Thomas, a bird shrieked in the tree top, as if to warn her. There standing in the spot where she and Thomas met was a dark cloaked figure, he grinned at her. He was a stocky man, grey haired and a square plaited beard in two thick ropes fastened with silver clasps. His forearms were scare, on his belt, around his waist hung a thick-bladed sword. The man was Thomas' father, 

“ Listen to me girl, I told Thomas you will never see each other again. I have made a match for him with Lord Owen's daughter, I know that he can disobedient, headstrong, and foolish . So I have sent him to his uncles house, until the marriage.” With this Winifred fell to her knees and told him that she would pray that he would always remember her, and she would wait for him. With that the fathers face turned red with anger, he draw his sword and with swift slice of the blade he decapitated her. Her head rolled down a slight slope and from the spot where it came to rest a LARGE SPRING gushed forth. The murderer was immediately dispatched by a heaven-sent thunderbolt. Over time the spring became famous for it healing powers. Its waters it is said can cure a broken heart, if you wash you hands and face with the water you will never have any face scaring diseases. Is that why, to this day ALL the people in that village have beautiful clear, unmarked skin.??? Even in old age.

Rosemary's



L



Bill's

A large spring
I feel that my life is controlled by two clockwork springs, a large spring, that runs once only for my whole life and another small one that runs for a whole day. My imagination brings to mind a large brass mechanism with cogs and levers working harmoniously, ticking away away to power my self. My first day measured by the smaller spring was my birthday. My first actual day of birth when the spring was already tightly wound and concealed a huge amount of energy.

So that early in the day was the time to throw the body around and make noises that belied the size of the body that it emanated from. It was set to run fast and lasted only for a short period before suddenly stopping but as time flowed on it slowed so that it lasted a whole day before requiring a night's sleep to rewind. But now many years later it no longer has the energy of the past glory days but still serves me well only partially slowing after lunch when sleep beckons.

The large spring is fully wound on birth and slowly unwinds during a lifetime. In my case reaching the end of its life it slips occasionally, the attached pendulum momentarily falters and I find myself in a situation surrounded by people or places that I don't recall leading up to. But knowing that we live in such a mysterious unknowable reality I find it is best to accept it and continue to react to whatever presents itself.   If anyone notices the sudden jolt of recognition as you struggle to make sense of where you are or who you are with, you have to smile at them reassuringly to stop them from running away in panic.

The main thing is that there is still enough of the spring's length to unwind to last a few more years before it finally stops for good. Scientists do say we have biological rhythms for measuring time so it is not far from the truth. These rhythms are driven by what they call a circadian clock, and rhythms have been widely observed in plants, animals and  fungi but of course we all know that. Oh Dear I've just had another one of those jolts that accompany the spring jerking forward. It feels that it was only a moment ago I was sitting in front of my computer typing this out but now here I am reading out this daft story to the creative writing group. Never mind I'll just make the best of it and continue reading then they won't notice anything amiss.