Happy #SistersDay! 💛
There is no better friend than a sister.
And there is no better sister than you!
Miss you! 💛
Aug 8, 2025
THE TIES OF FRIENDSHIP
I awoke with a feeling things were not going to go quite right today. There was no need to feel that way, as going to bed held no hint of trouble at all. This was no time to linger, just time to get up and dress to prepare for what lay ahead. The house awoke in good order, yet this feeling I could not shake.
Suddenly, it began: feelings linked to a conversation from the day before, when I was challenged about the value and quality of my friendships. Should friends be perfect or flawed? Should we build a tolerance to stay friends at all?
A friend had asked me, “Do you have any normal friends?” It shocked me. My friends are my friends; if cruelty or lack of kindness crept in, a review would be needed for sure. If severe enough, they would be politely shown the door.
I looked up and said, “If you are an example, take a look in the mirror, because your life is certainly not normal. Yet you are one of my best and most valued friends, warts and all.”
A moment of stunned silence, as the words swung between us. With a twitch of the lips, grins, giggles, and laughter expanded, before she said, “You have made a good point there. In parts, I am a bit of a mess and, thinking about it, some of my other friends are, too. Yet we share the bad and good; we muddle along and still, our friendships hold.”
I said, “If our friendships were all perfect, how boring it would be, as there would be very little to say or do. The strength of friendship is shown in troubled and complicated times when we help one another. It is also there to join in and celebrate the joyous times because that is what good friends do.”
Time and distance do not break the ties; even in death, we remain true, retaining the memories of the wonderful times we shared, and telling others of them, too. I will always be glad for the friendship we shared through thick and thin, where perfection or normality rarely crept in.
With that conversation settled in my mind, a good mood arrived.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Lily just wandered into my life from next door.
We quickly became friends and companions when we met on the lawn.
She moved into my garden to sit with me in the summer.
She did not need a key she just climbed the walls.
After a while, it was plain she wished to my cat...
Happy Cat Day from Wobbly and Lily
Aug 7, 2025
BEACH TRIP
My Dad took me to the beach, for the first time and I saw the sea, it went on and on.
A man was walking along the beach I thought at first it was Wobbly’s husband, my other dad.
I was not brave enough to rush across the sand to look.
However, a breeze hit me from that direction and I knew the scent was not his. I was sad!
For a while, then the pesky seagulls starting bombarding me.
Why can’t they leave me alone?
Dad chased them off and picked me up until they were tired and left.
I was quite pleased to go home, but I now know what the sea looks like.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay
LEFT ALONE
Once again I am left alone at home, it is that time again.
All the children have packed their school bags, shouted goodbye and walked out the door.
Mum and Dad have snatched a breakfast, gathered belongings, calling back as they shut the door, be a good dog it won’t be for long.
Silence falls, as I do a checking run to see if anyone has stayed home with me.
No such luck I am alone!
I look at my dishes to see what I can drink or eat, nothing there in my loneliness appeals to me.
I check all the chairs to find one that will be a comfort for me to jump up and sink into, without a voice saying get down!
Down! Stay off! Off!
Settling for a long wait, as from experience I know, I have to wait and wait.
Chasing indoors any occasional person who hovers near our gate.
We have no way to manage time, only with our noses, sniffing, sniffing.
Or our ears on high alert, for footsteps approaching familiar to us over time.
Is that them! Is it!
My tail goes in rapid motion, a whine starts in my throat, faster faster.
It is time to bark my head off, welcome home, welcome home everybody!
As they have all come home together.
Now the fun begins, time to eat when it is ready, then off for a walk and a good ball game.
This is the time of day that I love.
When we are all settled down, to watch their I-pads and TV, I lay my head on my favourite persons lap.
It is certainly the best time of day for me.
With all my family safely home in our house, ready to start another day tomorrow.
Oh how I wish there was another way and I could go to school too.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
SOOTHING SOUNDS
Oh, to be at the beach today, very early when no one is about.
To walk along the water's edge with feet being chilled and caressed by saltwater drenching and movement of sand.
Releasing trapped problems to be in the moment to privately be in touch with your inner self.
With a breeze strong enough to caress thought changes, seagulls' challenging voices encourage you on.
Oh, there is nothing quite like a sea-edge stroll, to make you feel invigorated and to strengthen the soul.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Aug 6, 2025
We invited some guests and four young people to our first Storytelling in the Garden.
The young people amazed me, as they did not fidget or play about in boredom.
They listened intently to all the pieces I read. It confirmed my thoughts that, as writers, we need to read more frequently to young people of all ages.
They are avid listeners, they love being read to, and they have a taste for reading.
We need to provide them with more exciting, fun, educational, and new material.
There is so much to write about in our world at the moment.
Good, truthful writers have much work to do now, to provide the stability of honest accounts of our lives and the times we live in.
Everyone enjoyed their Storytelling in the Garden afternoon, along with cold drinks, tea and cakes.
I was pleased with the response from them and hope to do something similar again, with the help of my wonderful team of Wobblers, without whom nothing will happen. It was a wonderful team effort and I am most grateful to them.
Take care, stay safe, and help spread a great deal of kindness around.
Penny Wobbly
I SAT
I sat on the beach, with the warming blush of pink from the sunset, changing the colour of my skin.
As my mind ranged in wonder at the change within.
I reduced my breathing slowly, allowing anxiety to slip away.
I did not want to retain it. I had had quite enough for one day.
The beauty parading before me released feelings, I had kept desperately hidden inside.
Now, cleansed by the ocean’s whispering ebb and flow, diminishing and whisking them into the approaching night sky.
The brush of a breeze, soft and gentle, lifted damp strands of hair.
As the sounds of life, all about me inched their way in.
How glad I am to have sat bathed in the sunset of the dying day.
Making me more human before stepping confidently away.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Aug 5, 2025
SQUIRREL & CROW
Early one morning, a grey squirrel found something tasty to eat on the lawn.
A black crow flew down to a meal; He too had his beady eyes on.
As the squirrel ate, the crow made a quick grab with his beak for the squirrel’s tail.
The squirrel turned quickly shrieked, frightening the crow.
The crow, hopped off, to wait and try again.
He was determined not to fail.
The squirrel’s tail, curled upright into a nice shape to help keep his balance, while gripping and nibbling his tasty snack.
However, every time the squirrel bent his head to eat the food on the lawn, his tail lay out flat behind him flat upon the lawn.
It was then the crow made sneaky attacks to grab the squirrel’s tail and failed every time he made a pass.
Round and round both would turn, neither willing to give in, for twenty minutes to and fro the battle lasted.
Then the crow stalked off, as he knew the squirrel’s speed on the ground, he just could not master.
Once the crow was out of the way, the squirrel finished his meal and ran swiftly for safety up the nearest bushy tree.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
HIDDEN TALENT
My mother sat down, when pressured by family members at a party, to play the piano.
After grumblings and hesitation, she asked, “What would you like me to play?”
The request was for a modern popular tune of the time. To my amazement, the melody rang out in perfection, with no sheet music. Several other requests followed.
In all my sixteen years, at that time, I had no knowledge or experience of my mother playing the piano. I knew she used to play the violin and ukulele, though I had never heard her play them either.
She never gave us an explanation for not sharing such a gift with us. A shame, as my sister and I loved music, and we loved her dearly. As far as I know, she never touched a piano again.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo by Michael Effendy on Unsplash
ON MY LAP
On my lap, over time, have lain in mutual contentment babies, three,
Gurgling and playing games with me.
Cats in distress, five, have sought long, safe moments of rest, ’til safely rehomed.
The cat who wishes to be mine still climbs aboard to be patted and praised,
With rolls of purrs my comforting reward.
Dogs, three, have fidgeted and wriggled ’til able to curl there, too.
Not to be outdone, our lovely bird, when chattering at the TV,
Used to perch on the top of my knee and peck my skirt’s hem.
Those moments, so precious, recently came flooding back,
When I sat with an empty lap and no one sitting on me.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Aug 4, 2025
AIRY LAUGH
A mother and her little boy went for a walk to see some horses with their foals.
After watching for a while, the little boy bent down, pulled up a tuft of grass, offered it to the horses calling
‘Horsey, darling, come and eat, din, din!’
One of the older horses looked up, snorted and ambled over for the grass offered. The mother, held the child firmly, just out of reach of the horses full neck stretch as he offered his gift.
The horse gently searched for the grass with its warm velvety lips, puffed out tickly breath as it grasped the grass and began chewing.
The child brushed his hands together, raising his shoulders in delight, glancing up at his mother in triumph.
All of a sudden the horse let rip a blast of wind from its rear end. There was a stunned silence.
The child shouted ‘The horse farted Mummy, he farted, he farted, pooh!’
He began laughing till he cried. He continued laughing all the way home and raced in to tell his father:
‘The horse farted, Daddy he farted.’
The merriment continued as other family members arrived for a visit and the tale was retold.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
TAKE ME
Take me down the garden, out through the gate.
Where the foal is staggering about on wobbly legs.
With her mum trying to steady her for her first milk drink.
We lean on the gate, taking in the scene of new life and first cry.
Thinking how fortunate we are to live where we do.
Watching nature and wild life arrive and survive.
Knowing generations before us nurtured and toiled in this place.
When we are long gone, others will plan, with sweat and toil,
The best way to keep nourishing and caretaking this blessed land.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Aug 3, 2025
COSMO THE DOG WITH UNUSUAL TASTE
Cosmo the dog sat waiting, staring, at the cooker, as the sounds coming from it meant his favorite snack was being boiled.
Somehow, he knew he only had to wait four or five minutes once the steam started to rise from the pot. He started whining softly, fidgeted and licked his lips. Not long to wait now.
The moment the pot was picked up and taken to be cooled under the cold tap, louder whines came from Cosmo.
The final bashing sound was the signal! Bash! Bash! Bash. It was nearly ready, time for him to dribble and bark his head off. What was he getting so excited about?
It was a hard-boiled egg, his favorite! Not the shell though, that had to be carefully removed, especially for him.
After all, he was an A-La-Carte Dog.
2025 © by Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
SWING, SWING!
Swing, swing!
Can you hear the birds up in the trees?
Making me swing with their melodies.
My body moves with a rhythm all it’s own.
Swing, swing!
Come on, join in this joyful song.
Fingers click, feet flick,
Small jump in celebration.
The ducks in the pond
Quack along in delight.
Swing, swing!
The horse in the meadow kicks up his heels.
Encouraging the cows
To join in the dance and melody.
Moo, neigh! Neigh moo,
Another two will do.
Swing, swing!
Keep it going Mr Owl has woken.
He has just added his wit to woo
The best he can do.
Mr frog has croaked loudly
Three times in tune.
Swing, swing!
Sing to this wonderful chorus.
Those who hear us
Will always remember.
When they first heard
A real dawn chorus.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
"Dialogue with Delightful People"
Anna Almeida
A friend of a friend that became a friend
Nothing seems too much trouble
Not one to be lazy when has a day off
Always giving best and then does double
Attitude always positive
Life is something she does live
Makes a difference to more than me
Everyone who knows her they then see
Inspiration and dedication
Doubtless blushing when does read
A humble tribute to her creed
Anna Almeida my dear and valued friend
I tried my best to say
Exactly how much you mean to so many
Each and every single day
Come to a different place to give
The support needed for one to live
A life so full of dedication
To someone of different nation
You are a heroine – superstar
You are really as good as gets
You are so very humble
You are WobblyPen on the internet
To know a person just like you
Is something rare but I found two
You and Penny are amazing
Both a warmer than double glazing
Ian Wilcox
The Penny Anna Playground:
The other day I was led astray
To a better place, I will admit
Joined the engrossed audience
Stopped and then did sit
In my head, I went to places
Not visited for so long
Yet here and now with this singing cow
Felt again I do belong
The Penny Anna playground
Where everything is fun
Boys with toys and girls with curls
Dance under smiling Sun
The animals have their stories
The good in each shines through
Sometimes it has guest tellers
Maybe more than two
It has no fixed location
In fact, has more than one
It is wherever has a reader
As each chapter has begun
A playground that's a classroom
A classroom that's a hope
A hope for encouraging young ones
In wisdom and how to cope
Penny Anna is, in fact, two ladies
Of equal importance in my story
Both deserve the recognition
Both deserve the glory
Two outstanding figures in real life
Weaving it with make believe
Inspiring others to do something
Seeing what they could achieve
Ian Wilcox
Aug 2, 2025
SEASHORE
Walking along the seashore, dodging the waves that rush in.
Snatching a piece of seaweed, I have been told it tastes divine.
Peering into pools of entrapment, looking to see who is waiting for the next tide, to rescue them with a swish and a splash.
Pebbles when wet, can be revealed as real beauties, till they are exposed and dried by the air.
They need frequent seawashing to keep, the colours that won’t cloud or fade.
When throwing stones to skim the water, the angle you use has to be just right.
If you have an eye for decoration, driftwood and shells are there.
Providing a temptation to make something colourful and bright, to cheer up a dark, cold, stormy night.
Walking the seashore is a delight!
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Aug 1, 2025
THE THIRST
The thirst for knowledge, the hunt for beautiful inspiring words.
To flow constantly in thoughts gathered together,
Bound into books handled with love, and bursting with knowledge
Releasing stories to inspire caring, courage, hope, enterprise, mentor-following and amusement-sharing.
Books: the nurseries of amazing thoughts and calculations.
Capable of moving the poorest and richest in many nations.
Books to read and re-read, held together with glue as age and use tug at their bound pages.
Anger, fury, pain, disbelief and death are released chapter after chapter.
As the search for relief, music, comedy and laughter is shared line by line, page by page.
To ease the book to a feel-good factor, and love true, on a quest for a happy ending.
As it is returned onto a shelf for someone else to find.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
DANGEROUS GAME
Looking out of my window a stealthy movement caught my eye along the edge of the trellis marking the boundary of our home.
It looked too secretive to be a squirrel.
It was Jake, a small cat I was friendly with.
What's he up to?
Watching patiently, I spotted a lovely little Robin red breast sitting on the top of a section of the fence.
Jake with his eyes firmly fixed on the robin and his paws gripping hard to maintain his balance on the narrow fence top-edged towards him.
The Robin sat waiting, with one eye on the cat.
Once Jake got too close for comfort, he flew to the next section of the fence and awaited the arrival of the stalking cat.
When it finally looked as though disaster would strike, the Robin flew onto a revolving clothesline he alighted on the arm farthest away from Jake.
There the little bird fluffed up all his feathers, to make himself look as large as possible.
Jake the cat, eyed the distance between them and realized he couldn’t make it without jumping to ground level.
He was a small cat and the thought of the long drop to the ground scared him.
He started retreating along the fence, with several scathing backward looks at the triumphant Robin.
Score: Bird one, Cat nil.
Quite a change!
🐦 🐈 🐦 🐈 🐦 🐈 🐦 🐈 🐦 🐈 🐦 🐈 🐦
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 31, 2025
FLIGHTY NIGHT
May fairy dust coat your pillow to slip you off to sleep for the night.
So new adventures you can enjoy with fairies, as they gently fly you to amazing and wonderful sights.
You can meet the man on the moon and praise him for the brilliant man he is.
As he is able to change the sea, from deep dark black, to silvery reflecting grey.
Lighting up the contours of the land with a hint of the light of day.
They’ll introduce you to water voles and beavers, making their homes in the river banks.
They’ll call Mr Eel to come up and put on a show, so you can see how acrobatic he can be.
He’ll keep you guessing how old he is and splash around in delight, when your guess is so very wrong.
Not many manage to be correct, as eels can live a long time if left alone.
Fairies will take you to a pond to see a dragonfly, struggling up a reed, to wait for it’s wings to expand at the touch of the rising sun.
As night is ending, they’ll show you the opening of a rosebud and ask you to breathe deeply.
When you do you’ll wake with a start, to find you have slept the whole night through and it is almost breakfast time.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 30, 2025
NEW NOTE
Sat at the piano in a depressed mood.
My hands lingered on the lower keys.
A song I attempted to sing was too low for me.
Moving my fingers to a higher key,
The mood struggled along to follow me.
I went an octave higher and suddenly,
They snuggly managed to fit and a song I did produce.
Bravely, I moved yet once more,
And a delicious change took place.
The sweetest sound did at last emerge,
To chase away my dour lament.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 29, 2025
LET ME SING
Let me sing, let me breathe,
Let me offload the pain of the day.
Let me wrap a blanket around me,
Chasing grief away.
Let me speak in pride, as when you were at my side.
Let me tell the world of the wrench of your suicide.
Let me sing, let me breathe,
Let music seep through every part of me.
Let the companionship of singing sweep us along.
Let us share the great love and pride
We had with you here at our side.
Let us hold onto with pride the time we had,
Not the time you sadly let go.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 27, 2025
YAWN, YAWN, YAWN
Yawn, yawn, yawn!
Snore, snore, snore!
I am happily sleeping!
Someone is calling, “Time to get up. It's morning.”
I do not want to leave my bed just yet.
So I am ignoring it, starting my pretend snoring.
Someone has opened the door, firmly calling,
“Up now. I know you’re not asleep. If you don’t, I will say I’ve made your breakfast,
when I have not!”
Come on now.
Struggle up. It’s a beautiful day!
I have made lots of plans for us to do and enjoy.
A walk in a meadow with lots of wildflowers.
A carrot for a horse, or a donkey or two.
Into a café where you can choose what to eat.
Chatting with friends who might already be there.
A play on a swing or a slide, giving you a laugh and giggle inside.
Then indoors for a storytelling sit and listen.
Is that you I hear, cleaning your teeth and having a good wash?
I will start a real breakfast, a favourite of yours.
If you need help with dressing, give me a call.
When we are ready, we’ll set off to the Ferring Sense Centre.
Where we will join in the fun with everyone.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo by Kyle Nieber on Unsplash
Jul 26, 2025
DAPPLED WALK
In the dappled shade, a cricket sings, to entice a lady to come wandering.
Ants, moving in lines as though under orders to gather insects, to move them out of sight to their underground houses.
Waiting to provide food when work stops for the day.
A snail starts its leisurely walk, munching greenery on the way.
Spiders paragliding in a frantic effort to repair their webs, ready to capture unwary insects during the new day.
As humans, some of us see what is going on.
Others gaze towards the sky, admiring birds and tree branches high, which produce music all day long.
I draw breath and start to sing in praise of peaceful feelings, a dappled walk can bring.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photos: Pixabay License
BELIEVE IN OUR WORLD
I believe in miracles, that birds can fly,
I believe the rain will fall, in parts of the world at different times.
Sometimes, it will flood, at others, hardly a trickle is revealed.
I believe the sun will shine to warm the day and chase germs and pesky bugs away.
At times, it heats the earth to dust, water evaporates and it fails to stay.
I hope that our human presence, in this world is tempered,
By a much softer, kinder, sharing, caring, nurturing hand.
To preserve this Earth our, very precious land.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 25, 2025
THE SNEAK THIEF
I was sitting writing at my desk with Lily relaxed on her cushion.
When she sat up abruptly startling me.
I looked above my laptop lid to see what was happening.
I laughed as two young foxes were playing with an empty butter carton, fighting over it on top of each other.
Throwing it up in the air, before scrapping again. It was amusing to watch.
All of a sudden they stopped and headed for the wild pond to have a drink.
I continued to watch as one headed towards their den hidden between our neighbourhood gardens.
The other came nearer to the house.
I wondered what he was going to do.
I almost burst out laughing, which would have scared him off.
He was eating the loganberries growing on the lower branches of the bushes.
I could not believe what he did next, he stretched up to his full height and pulled the branches laden with loganberries down towards him.
He was having a wonderful feast.
I did not know foxes ate berries, now I have to inform my young man what was happening to the Loganberrys, and why he only had a few for us.
Our garden is a hive of wildlife activity, which keeps Lily and me amused!
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 24, 2025
SULTRY NIGHT
A night we fight for sleep.
Flipping bed covers to and fro fighting the heat.
As we turn left and right multiple times
Trying to slip into refreshing unconsciousness.
The brain is turning over the next day’s program,
Even as you implore, let me sleep, let me sleep.
Tomorrow I have so many appointments to keep,
Need my wits about me.
I will go for a wander, a refreshing cold drink, a scribble of bullet points.
To anchor the wild thoughts, allowing sleep to creep its way back.
Before dawn and the alarm clock’s strident annoying calling,
Just when I was enjoying my quiet snoring and real sleep.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
I AM NOT A BUG!
Hello, what a lovely bug you are.
🐞 I am not a bug! I am a bird!
No you're not; you’re a bug like me.
🐞 I am not a bug, I tell you.
You look like me, though in much brighter colours and I am a ladybug.
🐞 Well I am not! I am a ladybird!
Where did you come from to be so misinformed? I bet it was from that place called America.
Yes, I am. How did you know that?
🐞 Because some of your ancestors left here and over there changed some of our words. How they decided to change my name to bug I will never understand! Most bugs are called ugly here. I am not. I am a beautiful ladybird. You must be hungry coming all that way?
I hitched my way on a few ships, rested on some islands, never knew where I was going till I hopped off here. It looks a mighty fine place.
🐞 Why don’t you join me? I see something tasty over there. Just remember I am a ladybird and we will get on just fine. Don’t try to change any more of our words.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
SQUIRREL PARTY
We bought a metal owl-shaped bird feeder on a spindly, twisted, slippery pole.
We were assured it was completely squirrel resistant and expecting a triumph we carried it home.
On it, we hung three types of birdseed containers, dangling, to meet most seed bird's needs.
It took a while for them to feel safe enough to drop in for a feed;
Cautiously flying down to inspect it before trying a single seed.
Early one morning as I opened up my curtains, I saw to my shock and dismay.
A squirrel dangling from a container, holding on by only one toe, upside down and swaying, at the seeds, he was having a good go.
He pulled out the seeds with his teeth and passed them to his eagerly waiting hands.
As he quickly chewed the nuts, his cheeks began to expand.
Time and time again he tirelessly repeated this movement, as fast as he possibly could.
One by one the birds started to arrive, inspecting the ground for bits of seeds that might have survived. It started with sparrows, greenfinches too,
Pigeon’s strutting in quietly for a free nibble without a coo.
Now we are quite pleased the feeder failed, as we have early morning squirrel and bird parties.
Come to think of it! Early evening rave-ups are quite commonplace too.
Though we do not partake in the menu, laughter and stifled giggles we have more than a few.
As we watched, hidden by the curtain, from the furry and feathered party reveles cautious view.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
THE BARRIER
I have had a lifelong barrier, fear of writing a word.
I am intellectually and verbally firm, but when I put it down on paper things go very wrong.
Form filling is a nightmare if there is a need for elaboration and creative wording about my career expectations.
I hunt through and choose short easy familiar words instead of expansive, creative, flowing, intellectually-shaking wonderful words.
Oh, I know them, they are very familiar to me and I long to use them with a creative flourish, if only my brain could be attached to paper without the use of a pen.
If I could think them down, see them cascading over the page in fluent picturesque abundance.
Now I have discovered a wonderful key! Spell-check, it's part of my computer package.
Now I am set free, I can't stop writing; words are pouring out from me.
Alright, sometimes I am stumped when I am given a choice and a dictionary is needed to finish the word I really mean,
On one or two occasions I still make an error but, oh gosh, it is getting better and better.
Now I will show you!
The world of words has swung open for me, I am free!!!
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Jul 23, 2025
VOLUNTEERS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY
No matter where you go, volunteers are hard to find. Organisations that have helped for years to keep the home fires burning are shutting their doors; no volunteers are applying.
Yet the numbers suffering from the damaging, brain-freezing, isolating condition called loneliness are multiplying, and multiplying around the world.
You hear the sadness and loneliness on the buses, in the doctor’s and hospital waiting areas, in schools and universities, on park benches. So many sufferers are dying of the curable disease of loneliness.
Yet the cure is there; you can afford it, and it is so satisfying. Volunteer. Give it a try; take the first step: say “May I help you?” Chatting and helping one another, combining your strengths and weaknesses, is so rewarding.
Friendships are made, many lasting whole lifetimes. You will never be turned away as not needed. You will be welcomed with open arms and gratitude, with whatever you are able or willing to offer as a VOLUNTEER.
Then you can start really living. There is never an overcapacity of volunteers. You will always be needed.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Jul 22, 2025
SWAN UPPING
Swanning along, swans on the Thames have their yearly health check today.
No idea how they manage that: they are powerful birds, always on the move.
It is a tradition going back a thousand years and is called Swan Upping.
The swans are the property of the Sovereign, now King Charles III.
Swans used to be a delicacy, but now they are carefully protected.
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Anna Almeida
PICKING UP THE POST
Yesterday was a day of inspections and results, we started on a high.
The letterbox clattered I was there in a flash, to perform my most important task at the start of the day.
Picking up the post and carrying it to a member of the family.
Some days, I play hard to get and wander around the room with the letters in my mouth, tail wagging before giving them up.
This past week the post seems to have become important and a disappointment.
Dad has been waiting with anxiety for an official letter.
As I picked the post up, Dad appeared down the stairs.
He asked me to, ‘Hand it over please Satu.’
I did as I sensed he was worried.
He sorted through the few letters in his hand, held on to one, glanced at it tore open the envelope and read anxiously.
Wobbly and I sat watching him expectantly.
A smile appeared, ‘I have my driving license back I can now drive again.’
Wobbly jumped up in delight and they both hugged one another.
I just pranced around sneezing and sneezing, trying to join in.
It was a very important letter.
‘What a relief, I have my independence back. It is not till you lose a part of or all of your sight, that you realize how vital it is. I am a very lucky happy man.
I am glad I went to seek help when those black floaters and a bit of something hanging appeared in my eyes.
Apparently, that is classed as a medical emergency and should be seen and treated urgently. So pleased I went, I was not going to you know!’
‘Oh I know,’ said Wobbly, ‘ that is why I became such a nag.’
Dad replied, ‘Now we can start planning our trip.’
I was pleased as well, not sure about their mention of the trip though.
That is a black cloud hanging over Lily and me, we don’t want them to go. I gave myself a leg shake to stay positive.
Satu 🐕
2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Jul 21, 2025
Jul 20, 2025
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