You might be out walking in the woods near Aconbury in Herefordshire, and find yourself wandering off the path because you want to try and get closer to the bird that’s making that unusual call that you can’t place. The more you pick your way through the undergrowth the less certain you are which direction the bird is in. First it seems to come from the left, then in front, then even behind you.
Perhaps there is more than one, you think.
You realise that you have no idea which way to go back to the path, so you just walk on. A few steps later you find yourself in a clearing the size of a car, surrounded by twisting trees whose leaves whisper and shuffle. The air feels so clean and fresh here you pause to breath it in, and it is like a refreshing drink of cold water on a hot day. The grass in the clearing is soft like a carpet, and so inviting you consider lying down so the trees can whisper you to sleep. Don’t though. Keep going and find your way back to the car. If you sleep here, you will sleep a long, long time.
This is the last of the Old Forest. You may have seen on TV that in pre-medieval times a man might ride for days without leaving a forest, or read articles about Britain’s original rainforest, surprising though that phrase sounds, but this is much, much older than any of those.
It is much, much older than almost anything.
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Saturday, 29 April 2023
FORBIDDEN PLANET
31 year ago today, when I was nearly 18 yrs old, I started my job as the Assistant Manager of Forbidden Planet (Milton Keynes).
Damn I feel really ancient now.
Damn I feel really ancient now.
YOUR MULTIDIMENSIONAL SELF!
If You could have the mind blowing Experience to Exist on many Levels/Dimensions, You could fulfill all Your Soul wishes. The Greatest state of Mindfulness which You can Experience is to Exist in endless Dimensions, which are Worlds within Worlds within Worlds. If You Exist in a Sacred state of Multidimensionality, You shall multiply Yourself into endless You's. From that moment Your Existence has no limitations anymore. This is the Essence of the mystical creed of a True MMM: Multiply Thouselves!
NATIONAL SUPERHERO DAY!
My favourite Marvel character is Hawkeye, the purple costumed former leader of the West Coast Avengers and the Thunderbolts.
Jeremy Renner did a good job in the MCU Avengers movie but he was not my Hawkeye.
My second favourite superhero will have to be Peter Parker aka Spider-Man.
My second favourite superhero will have to be Peter Parker aka Spider-Man.
Friday, 28 April 2023
MY BANE
Mine would be to fall in love, because it hurts.
To be in love with someone, and for them not to love you back after being together since 2004.
To be in love with someone, and for them not to love you back after being together since 2004.
Thursday, 27 April 2023
I AM ME!
I have seen penguins fly through the sky. I have witnessed cucumbers do the fandango. I have felt the touch of the colour blue on my skin. and my heartbeat has danced with a falling star. I am ... Jason.
UNIVERSAL SECRETS
There are parts of myself even I don't know, corners dark and dusty, cracks that spill into the void. I am an intrepid explorer though. I keep some secrets in my pocket, and some I have shouted from the rooftops. Don't claim to know me, just because we've chatted in passing
THE HEIR OF CHEKOV
The crew of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" hear a message from Anton Chekov, The President of the United Federation of Planets, warning all ships to stay away from Earth because of the fleet-wide Borg assimilation. Anton is voiced by Waler Koenig, the original Star Trek actor who played Pavel Chekov.
When "Star Trek: Picard" recruited Walter Koenig for the voice cameo, it achieved a tribute with so many layers it’s dizzying. By casting Koenig it’s a tip of the hat to "Star Trek: The Original Series" and the films chronicling that crew’s future adventures. By naming Pavel’s son Anton, the scene also acts as a tribute to the late Anton Yelchin who plays Pavel Chekov in the Kelvin 'Trek' films
When "Star Trek: Picard" recruited Walter Koenig for the voice cameo, it achieved a tribute with so many layers it’s dizzying. By casting Koenig it’s a tip of the hat to "Star Trek: The Original Series" and the films chronicling that crew’s future adventures. By naming Pavel’s son Anton, the scene also acts as a tribute to the late Anton Yelchin who plays Pavel Chekov in the Kelvin 'Trek' films
Wednesday, 26 April 2023
BATGRANDMA!
Batgrandma!
Scourge of all the Rude Boyz!
Let her team up with Super Gran!
I want an action figure of her!
Scourge of all the Rude Boyz!
Let her team up with Super Gran!
I want an action figure of her!
GOBLIN PARADISE
The evil goblin Blix and the servant of the Lord of Darkness, from the movie "Legend."
CURSED RING
The cursed ring Andvaranaut, which went on to inspire a certain famous One, was stolen from the (understandably bitter) dwarf Andvari by Loki in order to pay off a debt to another dwarf whose son (whom they mistook for an otter) him and Odin accidentally killed.
Monday, 24 April 2023
THE ELDER
The word ‘elder’ can mean many things.
The Elder may be fierce, eccentric, wild; she may be the Trickster energy that sets about disrupting the status quo.
She may also (or later) represent the deep, restful dark: the slow sinking back into the quietness within that is arguably one of the greatest gifts of extreme old age.
To a woman of the Celtic nations, to become Elder is above all to become Cailleach: to represent the integrity and health of the wild places and creatures of this world.
To become Elder is to become strong – strong as the white old bones of the earth, strong enough to endure the long, lonely vigil to the end of the world.
To become Elder is to hold the power, stay the course.
Above all, to become Elder is to become the bean feasa, the Wise Woman: the one who knows the secrets and speaks the languages of the land, who speaks with the moral authority of the Otherworld, who weaves the dreaming of the world.
The Elder may be fierce, eccentric, wild; she may be the Trickster energy that sets about disrupting the status quo.
She may also (or later) represent the deep, restful dark: the slow sinking back into the quietness within that is arguably one of the greatest gifts of extreme old age.
To a woman of the Celtic nations, to become Elder is above all to become Cailleach: to represent the integrity and health of the wild places and creatures of this world.
To become Elder is to become strong – strong as the white old bones of the earth, strong enough to endure the long, lonely vigil to the end of the world.
To become Elder is to hold the power, stay the course.
Above all, to become Elder is to become the bean feasa, the Wise Woman: the one who knows the secrets and speaks the languages of the land, who speaks with the moral authority of the Otherworld, who weaves the dreaming of the world.
Sunday, 23 April 2023
Saturday, 22 April 2023
THE SHAMBLES
I miss visiting this place in York, I always felt at home here.
"The Shambles is an old street in York, England, and one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. With its cobbled streets and overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century.
As recently as 1885, thirty-one butchers' shops were located along the street, but now none remain. Although the butchers have now vanished, a number of the shops on the street still have meat-hooks hanging outside and, below them, shelves on which meat was displayed.
The street was made narrow by design to keep the meat out of direct sunlight.
Today, the beautiful old buildings have been restored and now house cheerful cafés, quirky boutiques and even a coin & stamp dealer and the smells are rather more pleasant with aromas from the chocolate, fudge and sweet shops, clothes and accessories and gift shops."
"The Shambles is an old street in York, England, and one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. With its cobbled streets and overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century.
As recently as 1885, thirty-one butchers' shops were located along the street, but now none remain. Although the butchers have now vanished, a number of the shops on the street still have meat-hooks hanging outside and, below them, shelves on which meat was displayed.
The street was made narrow by design to keep the meat out of direct sunlight.
Today, the beautiful old buildings have been restored and now house cheerful cafés, quirky boutiques and even a coin & stamp dealer and the smells are rather more pleasant with aromas from the chocolate, fudge and sweet shops, clothes and accessories and gift shops."
CAN YOU IMAGINE?
You’re standing on a station in the South London sprawl out into Kent, there for the earliest train on a Sunday morning. It’s cold, and its drizzling and given it’s a Sunday the trains probably won’t run to time this early, so you’re the only one on the station. You can’t be bothered to get your phone out from underneath your waterproof jacket, so you stand and stare across to the opposite platform, at the old-fashioned clock still hanging from the canopy. Its second hand jerks round, and you find yourself almost hypnotised by it.
Then, it stops. You blink, because you know about that optical illusion where when you glance at a clock it can seem not to move for longer than a second, but you didn’t just look at the clock and anyway, it is now much longer than a second.
“This is the moment,” a voice says behind you, and you turn. There’s a man standing behind you, with bright red hair and an engaging grin. You look up and down the platform as if that will tell you something, because you don’t understand how you didn’t hear him approaching.
“This is the moment to walk off the platform,” he said. “While the clock is stopped. When it’s stopped on here, it’s stopped out there. Can you imagine?”
You look at him, trying to understand what he’s saying, what is going on. He smiles again, and turns and walks off the platform. There’s a clunk, and you look back at the clock and see the second hand in jerky motion again. You rush to the platform entrance, and look up and down the street but there is nobody there, because the man who spoke to you has had all the time in the world to walk away.
“This is the moment,” a voice says behind you, and you turn. There’s a man standing behind you, with bright red hair and an engaging grin. You look up and down the platform as if that will tell you something, because you don’t understand how you didn’t hear him approaching.
“This is the moment to walk off the platform,” he said. “While the clock is stopped. When it’s stopped on here, it’s stopped out there. Can you imagine?”
You look at him, trying to understand what he’s saying, what is going on. He smiles again, and turns and walks off the platform. There’s a clunk, and you look back at the clock and see the second hand in jerky motion again. You rush to the platform entrance, and look up and down the street but there is nobody there, because the man who spoke to you has had all the time in the world to walk away.
Friday, 21 April 2023
CANDY HAS GONE INTO HOSPITAL
Okay folks, Candy is on her way to James Cook Hospital to have her Gallbladder surgery. She should be staying overnight and be back tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed and may all the ancient spirits and gods protect her during her operation.
GOBLIN FIRE
This is not my work but it does speak to me a great deal.
I hope you like it as I have.
"In the forest deep, where the goblins sleep,
The flames did rise, and the smoke did creep.
Poor Gruk did weep, for his home to keep,
But the fire did rage, and the flames did leap.
He wandered far, and he wandered wide,
Looking for hope, but nothing he spied.
In his despair, he lay down and sighed,
Ready to let go, to let death abide.
But a sapling grew, a sign of new,
A symbol of life, that shone on through.
Gruk tended it with tears and rue,
And life returned, with a hope anew.
He led the way, with a heart so strong,
Guiding the creatures, all day long.
Rebuilding the homes, where they belong,
With a spirit fierce, that nothing could wrong.
And so, dear friends, let us remember,
That even in darkness, there's a chance to render,
A world anew, with love and tender,
And hope will flourish, as we surrender."
I hope you like it as I have.
"In the forest deep, where the goblins sleep,
The flames did rise, and the smoke did creep.
Poor Gruk did weep, for his home to keep,
But the fire did rage, and the flames did leap.
He wandered far, and he wandered wide,
Looking for hope, but nothing he spied.
In his despair, he lay down and sighed,
Ready to let go, to let death abide.
But a sapling grew, a sign of new,
A symbol of life, that shone on through.
Gruk tended it with tears and rue,
And life returned, with a hope anew.
He led the way, with a heart so strong,
Guiding the creatures, all day long.
Rebuilding the homes, where they belong,
With a spirit fierce, that nothing could wrong.
And so, dear friends, let us remember,
That even in darkness, there's a chance to render,
A world anew, with love and tender,
And hope will flourish, as we surrender."
Thursday, 20 April 2023
MISTRESS?
It is the 12th Anniversary of the sad passing of the wonderful actress Elisabeth Sladen aka Sarah Jane Smith of Doctor Who.
She was the ultimate companion of the 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th Doctors.
Still sadly missed by her fanbase.
Still sadly missed by her fanbase.
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 3
I've just finished watching season 3 of The Mandalorian on Disney+. and it has been a huge hit and miss season.
Some very good episodes and some very boring ones as well.
I do like the character of Grogu, but they really pushed the cuteness too far this series and the action scenes were reduced.
The last couple of episodes were really good and the final big battle between the Stormtroopers and the Mandalorians was spectacular.
I am hoping that the fourth and final season next year will be much better, as this season could have been much better.
I shall rate this season a poor score of only 5/10.
Some very good episodes and some very boring ones as well.
I do like the character of Grogu, but they really pushed the cuteness too far this series and the action scenes were reduced.
The last couple of episodes were really good and the final big battle between the Stormtroopers and the Mandalorians was spectacular.
I am hoping that the fourth and final season next year will be much better, as this season could have been much better.
I shall rate this season a poor score of only 5/10.
KA-ZAM!
The World's Mightiest Marsupial!
When Billy Bouncer says the word "KA-ZAM!", a bolt of magic lighting comes flashing down with a resounding "THUNDEROO!", and transforms him into Captain Marsupial!
An orphan named Joey is his pint-sized sidekick Captain Marsupial Jr! ("C.J." for short).
When Billy Bouncer says the word "KA-ZAM!", a bolt of magic lighting comes flashing down with a resounding "THUNDEROO!", and transforms him into Captain Marsupial!
An orphan named Joey is his pint-sized sidekick Captain Marsupial Jr! ("C.J." for short).
STABLES!
Scotsman William Gordon Stables (right, 1840-1910), a born wanderer and thrill-seeker, found himself in a plethora of roles including surgeon for the Royal Navy, journeys to remote and inhospitable lands both as a tradesman and as an ardent adventurer. His abundant and thrilling overseas expeditions became a natural inspiration for his many children's novels, mainly geared towards younger boys with their maritime and historical fantasy settings and backdrops of ships, guns and dramatic land and sea capers.
Stables, toward the late Victorian era, became very much taken with the idea of creating his own 'travelling home', after observing local Roma camps and, with their permission, obtaining an inside view of their living quarters. Stables hastily sketched out his plans and in partnership with the Bristol Wagon Company, his nomadic ambitions were realized. He bestowed the name 'The Wanderer' on his travelling horse-drawn home, with its exceptional and well-appointed interior, and was hitting the roads by the 1880's in what is generally accepted to be one of the first 'leisure caravans'.
Stables employed his own coachman, made his first major trip in The Wanderer to Scotland accompanied by his dog, a cockatoo, a cutlass and a fine revolver, and from there he head out for the open roads and invigorating British countryside.
Ever proud of his Scottish heritage, Stables was often seen traversing the landscape in traditional Scottish dress, and in the depths of winter took respite from his itinerant ways to publish books on the natural world and his fictional children's tales.
Stables is seen here in front of 'The Wanderer' in the 1890's. And this glorious rig is indeed still of this world, for it now resides, after staying with the Stables family into the 1960's, as the property of the Caravan and Motorhome Club of the UK.
Stables, toward the late Victorian era, became very much taken with the idea of creating his own 'travelling home', after observing local Roma camps and, with their permission, obtaining an inside view of their living quarters. Stables hastily sketched out his plans and in partnership with the Bristol Wagon Company, his nomadic ambitions were realized. He bestowed the name 'The Wanderer' on his travelling horse-drawn home, with its exceptional and well-appointed interior, and was hitting the roads by the 1880's in what is generally accepted to be one of the first 'leisure caravans'.
Stables employed his own coachman, made his first major trip in The Wanderer to Scotland accompanied by his dog, a cockatoo, a cutlass and a fine revolver, and from there he head out for the open roads and invigorating British countryside.
Ever proud of his Scottish heritage, Stables was often seen traversing the landscape in traditional Scottish dress, and in the depths of winter took respite from his itinerant ways to publish books on the natural world and his fictional children's tales.
Stables is seen here in front of 'The Wanderer' in the 1890's. And this glorious rig is indeed still of this world, for it now resides, after staying with the Stables family into the 1960's, as the property of the Caravan and Motorhome Club of the UK.
Tuesday, 18 April 2023
11 YEARS AGO AND FEELING THANKFUL!
Eleven years ago today on the 18th April of 2012, I came very close to kicking the bucket and making my final journey to Valhalla, but unfortunately, there was no room for me, not just yet anyway.
I collapsed at the kitchen table, I had just been vomiting and I felt lightheaded and dizzy. and then everything went all funky. I lost all control of my limbs, my neck went droopy, and I could not lift my head up, my speech was very sluggish, and I had trouble keeping my eyes open.
My wife Candy quickly phoned the paramedics and when they arrived, they discovered that my heart rate had dropped so much it was below 20. they strapped me up to their carrier board and carried me downstairs to the ambulance. It was raining and all I could do was mutter the words of 'Don't forget my Candy'.
On the way to the hospital my heart rate was dropping even more, so much so that it needed defibrillating, All my organs including my kidneys were shutting down, everything was failing on me and Candy was told to expect the worse just in case, I was knocking on Mister Death’s door to see if he wanted a roommate, and I scared the shit out of my Candy because of it.
She would not leave my side in the Hospital which I was grateful for. She even volunteered her kidney as mine was shutting down. We both share the same blood type so it would be easy for her to donate blood and organs. It was touch and go for 24 hours and I was pumped with a lot of drugs to bring me round and fix me up again. I was hooked up to so many wires and machines including a Dialysis machine. It was very scary and for the first few days I had no memory of what happened to me, all I could remember was when the ambulance crew arrived and they had to strap me to a board to carry me downstairs, all I was doing was apologising for being heavy. It turns out I had a massive infection from my lymphedema on my legs plus the medications I was taking was not doing my body any good and I had to have it all flushed out of my system. I was in Hospital for just 9 days, and I made an amazing recovery which was noted by the Doctors and the Physiotherapist. I got better but I will always remember the date that I almost died.
And then the following year in 2013, I ended up back in hospital again when I had both my legs amputated above the knees due to the infection of the lymphedema in my skin and in my femurs which were rotting away from the inside. I was in hospital for 7 months that time.
And a year later in 2014, I ended up back into hospital yet again after suffering from several seizures and heart attacks. One seizure I experienced caused my vertebrae to break and I had to have a back brace to heal it up and have my back reset in place. I suffered from black outs as well and I lost my memory for a short time, and I could not remember anything about April or May of 2014. I was in hospital for a couple of weeks that time.
So, all in all, it has been an interesting experience, and don’t get me started on what happened to me from 2020 to recently!
Now that is another story!
I collapsed at the kitchen table, I had just been vomiting and I felt lightheaded and dizzy. and then everything went all funky. I lost all control of my limbs, my neck went droopy, and I could not lift my head up, my speech was very sluggish, and I had trouble keeping my eyes open.
My wife Candy quickly phoned the paramedics and when they arrived, they discovered that my heart rate had dropped so much it was below 20. they strapped me up to their carrier board and carried me downstairs to the ambulance. It was raining and all I could do was mutter the words of 'Don't forget my Candy'.
On the way to the hospital my heart rate was dropping even more, so much so that it needed defibrillating, All my organs including my kidneys were shutting down, everything was failing on me and Candy was told to expect the worse just in case, I was knocking on Mister Death’s door to see if he wanted a roommate, and I scared the shit out of my Candy because of it.
She would not leave my side in the Hospital which I was grateful for. She even volunteered her kidney as mine was shutting down. We both share the same blood type so it would be easy for her to donate blood and organs. It was touch and go for 24 hours and I was pumped with a lot of drugs to bring me round and fix me up again. I was hooked up to so many wires and machines including a Dialysis machine. It was very scary and for the first few days I had no memory of what happened to me, all I could remember was when the ambulance crew arrived and they had to strap me to a board to carry me downstairs, all I was doing was apologising for being heavy. It turns out I had a massive infection from my lymphedema on my legs plus the medications I was taking was not doing my body any good and I had to have it all flushed out of my system. I was in Hospital for just 9 days, and I made an amazing recovery which was noted by the Doctors and the Physiotherapist. I got better but I will always remember the date that I almost died.
And then the following year in 2013, I ended up back in hospital again when I had both my legs amputated above the knees due to the infection of the lymphedema in my skin and in my femurs which were rotting away from the inside. I was in hospital for 7 months that time.
And a year later in 2014, I ended up back into hospital yet again after suffering from several seizures and heart attacks. One seizure I experienced caused my vertebrae to break and I had to have a back brace to heal it up and have my back reset in place. I suffered from black outs as well and I lost my memory for a short time, and I could not remember anything about April or May of 2014. I was in hospital for a couple of weeks that time.
So, all in all, it has been an interesting experience, and don’t get me started on what happened to me from 2020 to recently!
Now that is another story!
THE BRECON BEACONS NO MORE!
The Brecon Beacons National Park is to change its name so that it is officially known only by its Welsh name 🏴 From today - the 66th anniversary of the area being designated a national park - it will instead be known as Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, or 'the Bannau' for short.
Monday, 17 April 2023
MAJOR NEWS
The Iranian Embassy Siege, When I was 5 years old in 1980..
Followed by The Falklands War in 1982.
Followed by The Falklands War in 1982.
Sunday, 16 April 2023
THE CASTLE OF ELVAS
The Castle of Elvas in Eastern Portugal has an interesting history.
It was never a royal residence, but was a frontier garrison which witnessed battles and sieges over its long history. There was once a Roman garrison here and later the Muslim forces who occupied the region until the 12th century built a fortress on the site of the present day fortifications. They left in 1230 and from then onwards, this strategically important fortress, close to the Spanish border, was fought over heavily during the 12th and 13th centuries and subject to significant rebuilding and fighting in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.
In 1658-1659, Elvas was besieged by the Spanish and the inhabitants also suffered an outbreak of the Black Death. Until the start of the 19th century the fortress was on the frontline during the wars between Spain and Portugal. In 1807 Napoleonic troops took the fortress, although a year later, a combined effort by Portuguese and English troops won Elvas back from the French. A few years later, in 1811, Wellington used the fortifications here as a base for his attack on the Spanish in Badajoz.
The castle and star-shaped fortifications surrounding the town that we see today were mainly built during the 17th century War of Restoration (against Spain). These are one of the best-preserved fortifications in Europe and visitors exploring the towers, halls and breath-taking battlements, can easily imagine what life must have been like for inhabitants during the fortress's tumultuous past. The castle is at the highest point of the town and the battlements offer splendid views of the surrounding plains.
It was never a royal residence, but was a frontier garrison which witnessed battles and sieges over its long history. There was once a Roman garrison here and later the Muslim forces who occupied the region until the 12th century built a fortress on the site of the present day fortifications. They left in 1230 and from then onwards, this strategically important fortress, close to the Spanish border, was fought over heavily during the 12th and 13th centuries and subject to significant rebuilding and fighting in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.
In 1658-1659, Elvas was besieged by the Spanish and the inhabitants also suffered an outbreak of the Black Death. Until the start of the 19th century the fortress was on the frontline during the wars between Spain and Portugal. In 1807 Napoleonic troops took the fortress, although a year later, a combined effort by Portuguese and English troops won Elvas back from the French. A few years later, in 1811, Wellington used the fortifications here as a base for his attack on the Spanish in Badajoz.
The castle and star-shaped fortifications surrounding the town that we see today were mainly built during the 17th century War of Restoration (against Spain). These are one of the best-preserved fortifications in Europe and visitors exploring the towers, halls and breath-taking battlements, can easily imagine what life must have been like for inhabitants during the fortress's tumultuous past. The castle is at the highest point of the town and the battlements offer splendid views of the surrounding plains.
HORTEN FLYING WING
Germany’s Jet Powered UFO.
The Ho 229 was a notable example of the Luftwaffe’s adoption of advanced technology in World War Two. It was the first turbojet-powered flying wing ever created and the few test flights completed seemed to suggest that it would have had a satisfactory performance.
The Ho 229 was a notable example of the Luftwaffe’s adoption of advanced technology in World War Two. It was the first turbojet-powered flying wing ever created and the few test flights completed seemed to suggest that it would have had a satisfactory performance.
FACHAN
One of the more bizarre mythological creatures. Hailing from Scotland, he's an evil giant who has one eye, one hand protruding from his chest, and a single leg. (artist: Brian Froud)
Friday, 14 April 2023
THE LONG ROAD!
The longest road in the world to walk, is from Cape Town (South Africa) to Magadan (Russia). No need for planes or boats, there are bridges. It's a 22,387 kilometers (13911 miles) and it takes 4,492 hours to travel. It would be 187 days walking nonstop, or 561 days walking 8 hours a day. Along the route, you pass through 17 countries, six time zones and all seasons of the year.
Thursday, 13 April 2023
A VERY SAD BUT SWEET FINAL CALVIN AND HOBBS STORY
"Calvin? Calvin, sweetheart?"
In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, "Did... did you.... find him?"
"Yes dear," Susie said smiling sadly, "He was in the attic."
Susie reached into her big purse and brought out a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.
"I washed him for you," Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger next to her husband.
"Thank you, Susie." Calvin said.
A few moments passed as Calvin just laid on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.
"Dear," Calvin said finally. "Would you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him."
"All right," Susie said. "I'll get something to eat in the cafeteria. I'll be back soon."
Susie kissed her huband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength Calvin stopped her. Lovingly he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. "I love you," he said.
"And I love you," said Susie.
Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.
Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. "Hello Hobbes. It's been a long time hasn't it old pal?"
Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. "It sure has, Calvin." said Hobbes.
"You... haven't changed a bit." Calvin smiled.
"You've changed a lot." Hobbes said sadly.
Calvin laughed, "Really? I haven't noticed at all."
There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.
"So... you married Susie Derkins." Hobbes said, finally smiling. "I knew you always like her."
"Shut up!" Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.
"Tell me everything I missed. I'd love to hear what you've been up to!" Hobbes said, excited.
And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grandkids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this there was another pregnant pause.
"You know... I visited you in the attic a bunch of times." Calvin said.
"I know."
"But I couldn't see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal." Calvin voice was breaking and tears of regret started welling up in his eyes.
"You grew up old buddy." said Hobbes.
Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldn't grow up and that we'd be together forever!!"
Hobbes stroke the Calvin's hair, or what little was left of it. "But you didn't."
"What do you mean?"
"We were always together... in our dreams."
"We were?"
"We were."
"Hobbes?"
"Yeah, old buddy?"
"I'm so glad I got to see you like this... one last time..."
"Me too, Calvin. Me too."
"Sweetheart?" Susie voice came from outside the door.
"Yes dear?" Calvin replied.
"Can I come in?" Susie asked.
"Just a minute."
Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time. "Goodbye Hobbes. Thanks... for everything..."
"No, thank you Calvin." Hobbes said.
Calvin turned back to the door and said, "You can come in now."
Susie came in and said, "Look who's come to visit you."
Calvin's children and grandchildren followed Susie into Calvin's room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged
Calvin in a hard, excited hug. "Grandpa!!" screamed the child in delight.
"Francis!" cried Calvin's daughter, "Be gentle with your grandfather."
Calvin's daughter turned to her dad. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories."
Calvin laughed and said, "Well now! That sound just like me when I was his age."
Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, "Sorry, but visiting hours are almost up."
Calvin's beloved family said good bye and promised to visit tommorrow. As they turned to leave Calvin said, "Francis. Come here for a second."
Francis came over to his grandfather's side, "What is it Gramps?"
Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago. "This is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him."
"He's just a stuffed tiger." Francis said, eyebrows raised.
Calvin laughed, "Well, let me tell you a secret."
Francis leaned closer to Clavin. Calvin whispered, "If you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait he will turn into a real tiger."
Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, "Not only that he will be your best friend forever."
"Wow! Thanks grandpa!" Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.
"Francis! We need to go now!" Calvin's daughter called.
"Okay!" Francis shouted back.
"Take good care of him." Calvin said.
"I will." Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.
Calvin laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. He eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep he heard Hobbes, as if he was right next to him at his bedside. "I'll take care of him, Calvin..."
Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face.
Credits: samuraitiger19 - from reddit
Note from the author - on reddit: "Wow... just wow... I am speechless here guys. I did not expect such a reaction to my story or prompt. I am not worthy of your praise or your gold. I am truly humbled. Thanks so much! I'm truly glad so my story touched so many people".
In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, "Did... did you.... find him?"
"Yes dear," Susie said smiling sadly, "He was in the attic."
Susie reached into her big purse and brought out a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.
"I washed him for you," Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger next to her husband.
"Thank you, Susie." Calvin said.
A few moments passed as Calvin just laid on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.
"Dear," Calvin said finally. "Would you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him."
"All right," Susie said. "I'll get something to eat in the cafeteria. I'll be back soon."
Susie kissed her huband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength Calvin stopped her. Lovingly he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. "I love you," he said.
"And I love you," said Susie.
Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.
Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. "Hello Hobbes. It's been a long time hasn't it old pal?"
Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. "It sure has, Calvin." said Hobbes.
"You... haven't changed a bit." Calvin smiled.
"You've changed a lot." Hobbes said sadly.
Calvin laughed, "Really? I haven't noticed at all."
There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.
"So... you married Susie Derkins." Hobbes said, finally smiling. "I knew you always like her."
"Shut up!" Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.
"Tell me everything I missed. I'd love to hear what you've been up to!" Hobbes said, excited.
And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grandkids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this there was another pregnant pause.
"You know... I visited you in the attic a bunch of times." Calvin said.
"I know."
"But I couldn't see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal." Calvin voice was breaking and tears of regret started welling up in his eyes.
"You grew up old buddy." said Hobbes.
Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldn't grow up and that we'd be together forever!!"
Hobbes stroke the Calvin's hair, or what little was left of it. "But you didn't."
"What do you mean?"
"We were always together... in our dreams."
"We were?"
"We were."
"Hobbes?"
"Yeah, old buddy?"
"I'm so glad I got to see you like this... one last time..."
"Me too, Calvin. Me too."
"Sweetheart?" Susie voice came from outside the door.
"Yes dear?" Calvin replied.
"Can I come in?" Susie asked.
"Just a minute."
Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time. "Goodbye Hobbes. Thanks... for everything..."
"No, thank you Calvin." Hobbes said.
Calvin turned back to the door and said, "You can come in now."
Susie came in and said, "Look who's come to visit you."
Calvin's children and grandchildren followed Susie into Calvin's room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged
Calvin in a hard, excited hug. "Grandpa!!" screamed the child in delight.
"Francis!" cried Calvin's daughter, "Be gentle with your grandfather."
Calvin's daughter turned to her dad. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories."
Calvin laughed and said, "Well now! That sound just like me when I was his age."
Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, "Sorry, but visiting hours are almost up."
Calvin's beloved family said good bye and promised to visit tommorrow. As they turned to leave Calvin said, "Francis. Come here for a second."
Francis came over to his grandfather's side, "What is it Gramps?"
Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago. "This is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him."
"He's just a stuffed tiger." Francis said, eyebrows raised.
Calvin laughed, "Well, let me tell you a secret."
Francis leaned closer to Clavin. Calvin whispered, "If you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait he will turn into a real tiger."
Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, "Not only that he will be your best friend forever."
"Wow! Thanks grandpa!" Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.
"Francis! We need to go now!" Calvin's daughter called.
"Okay!" Francis shouted back.
"Take good care of him." Calvin said.
"I will." Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.
Calvin laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. He eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep he heard Hobbes, as if he was right next to him at his bedside. "I'll take care of him, Calvin..."
Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face.
Credits: samuraitiger19 - from reddit
Note from the author - on reddit: "Wow... just wow... I am speechless here guys. I did not expect such a reaction to my story or prompt. I am not worthy of your praise or your gold. I am truly humbled. Thanks so much! I'm truly glad so my story touched so many people".
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
HAPPY COSMOS DAY
Happy Cosmonautics Day, comrades!
On this day in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
A true real hero!
On this day in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
A true real hero!
Tuesday, 11 April 2023
DON'T PISS OFF COMMANDER DATA
"Greetings, USS Titan. This is your friendly, positronic, p!$$*d off security system, back on line. Unwanted guests and monologuing protoplasms, I am initiating an immediate shift change."
Monday, 10 April 2023
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)