​EASTER EXCITEMENT

A promise made so long ago in a land of palms and sand.

Passed down from generation to generation into far distant lands.

The message is not always the same amongst different people.

Yet, at the core of this special time, all religions teach kindness,

love and peace, and to share what you have to eat, in God’s name.

Children delight in eggs, coloured real or chocolate, made and filled, awaiting the dawn of this special celebration.

My heartfelt wish is for peace and love to reign supreme and spread around the world at this Easter time.

A happy Easter to everyone from the WobblingPen Team.

© 2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

JUST THINKING CAT THOUGHTS

 

Hello, cat lovers. I have been thinking; it helps to do that from time to time. Easter seems to be a good time to choose.

The garden seems to be livening up, bulbs bursting into flower, leaves on trees straining to burst open to provide hiding places for nesting birds. I don’t chase birds anymore, just do lots of watching.

It is a bit early to curl up in a cosy spot outdoors as rain keeps passing over, making everything wet, wet, wet. I hate being wet: Wobbly throws a towel over me, giving me a wriggling, rapid, all-over rub. I then have the task of licking my fur back into line, when I could be resting. She does not understand that I can dry myself on the bottoms of couches and bedding, and roll all over the carpet to make sure I am really dry. Much more fun!

Another Easter: we have shared quite a few now together, growing older and, I believe, wiser, as I think back to when I chose her and moved in. Dad took longer to accept I had come to stay, not just to be a casual visitor.

We hope more of you are looking forward to a happy Easter, just as we are.

Spread kindness as much as you can, and watch smiles in thankfulness spread too. 

Happy Easter to everyone.

© 2024 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

​ENGROSSED AUDIENCE

​

A midwife was called to deliver another midwife’s case. She anxiously battled her way through miserable weather to a travellers’ site. She was welcomed and escorted to one of the caravans.

On entering, she was hit by a blast of warm air as the door opened and closed for her. 

As her eyes accustomed themselves to the bright light, she saw a woman lying on a bed, surrounded by many small faces of children of various ages looking up at her.

She knew she could not send them out into the bitter night. So, she assembled them as best she could, to have enough room to deliver their next sibling. Her training and experience kicked in, and she set about her task to deliver a baby and mother safely.

All went well with her engrossed audience, until the baby was born. Naturally, they wanted to know if they had another brother or sister. When they saw her cut the umbilical cord, they wanted to know what it was. She explained it was how their mum fed the baby when it was in her tummy, just as she did for them before they were born. The children giggled and laughed and made yuck noises. At the thought y

Another question was: why had it not opened its eyes? Was it alright? She explained it was very normal and it would open them up when it was ready.

Glancing around at the assembled family, the smiling faces, sharing the gift of life, gave her an amazing feeling and a wonderful memory to take away with her.

A Shared Tale from Anne Watts and Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen.

© 2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

​SLIPPING INTO TEENS

Slipping into teens; still don’t know what it means.

Just know that some rules have changed.

I am not kept on quite such a tight rein.

New rules are in place so I do not lose face.

Ways to stand my ground, not be bowled over by a bad crowd.

Encouraged to take a weekend or holiday job to help pay for things ahead.

I am starting to see how tight things can be, as they now share anxieties they once kept from me.

Taking responsibility for aiming as high as possible at school without constant prodding to achieve the best I can as.

To prevent anxiety of what lies ahead from overwhelming me.

No time now to be the class fool; important to be so much more caring.

My feelings are all up and down, difficult to control at times, as hormones start to change moods and thinking is scary at times.

The urge for the need to find someone safe who understands and with whom I can share worries that haunt me sometimes.

Music is the balm that brings me joy, sending me dancing, singing, imagination reeling.

In time, life will settle down and perhaps I will find someone to love and share this life of mine.

Together there might be much more ahead to share and certainly worth achieving.

For now, headphones on for music to gently send me to peaceful, restful sleeping.

© 2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

​A SAD BUT BEAUTIFUL ENDING

 

A SAD BUT BEAUTIFUL ENDING

A vase upon the window ledge

Has held a gift of tulips colourfully displayed.

Each day, on opening my eyes, a touch of pleasure surged.

Seeing each flower upright, straight and tall.

As petals opened, showing their perfection.

For days I enjoyed their presence.

Then a slow drying and aging of the petals’ tips

Warned of their decline.

Yet still they retained a certain beauty in their changed shape.

Not one petal has the bunch yet let slip.

With my camera I captured the vision that has held me captivated.

On opening the curtains tomorrow, the petals might be detached on the shelf.

A gift that has given me pleasure while living.

I hope you, too, from this tale, enjoy the flowers I was given.

© 2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen



​PERFECT VISION

When the sun is bright and sky blue,

With the sea sighing gently,  breaking on the sand.

Seagulls soaring  on thermals high.

Calling to one another with their plaintive cry’s.

The unmissable warning to sailors returning to port land is near.

As the gulls seek a share of the fisherman’s catch.

Before sweeping the beach for stolen, snacks as holiday  makers play and relax.

All taking advantage of a perfect day.

© 2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

FATHER CHRISTMAS MIGHT BE LATE

 

Father Christmas might be a little late this year,

As the elves who do all the hard work have caught the flu.

Father Christmas has a sniffle and a slight cough; he may have caught it, too.

The Tooth Fairy has been asked for help as she knows some magic spells.

She called on a wizard she knew, with a mind so bright, to combine his brews and her magic spells; together they toiled night after night

To get everything back on track, with all the presents labelled and in the right sacks for the children, to be delivered to the right countries, too. 

Some of the animals heard of the drama, and came in from the wild to see if they could help. 

The Tooth Fairy cast a spell for one night, so they could do the work that the sick elves used to do.

Together they toiled to dispense on time a flu-destroying spell to the elves, and Father Christmas too.

The reindeer were fed and harnessed, patiently waiting outside with Rudolph’s nose glowing brighter and brighter.

An odd jingle of harness bells, as the sleigh was loaded for their Christmas Eve night-time ride.

At the last minute, the cry went up: “It is working. It is working.”

Father Christmas appeared, jolly and bright. “All is well; let’s go. Let’s go. Thanks, everyone. Now no child will miss a present this Christmas Night, thanks to you. Merry Christmas.”

Bundled up in his warm coat, he slipped into his loaded sleigh, and gave the command to his trusted reindeer for extra speed tonight.

So no child would ever know that, but for the help of some magic spells, he might have arrived a night or two late this Christmas time.

Father Christmas is on his way tonight. Ho! Ho!

Merry Christmas everyone!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: pexels.com 

  IT AIN’T NO FUN BEING A CHILD TODAY

It’s no fun being a child today.

When indoors, we are told we should be out.

“Are you on that computer again? I have told you it is for homework only.

“It is not for those mind-ruining computer games, costing us a fortune.”

When we go out, we are quizzed, “Where have you been? I told you not to leave the street and to be back by six. Who were you with? Your meal is ruined.”

It ain’t no fun being a child today.
School bombards us with homework my parents don’t know how to do; even they do not have the answers. It’s miserable.
Computer games are fun at first but become a bore.
When we realise we need the vital human interaction, rough and tumble, friends to have forever more,
We have to grope our way through good and bad bullies on the way.

It ain’t no fun being a child today.
Holidays have changed. There is less and less for us to spend, as times are hard.
If the parents bend to the cries of, “Oh Mum, Dad, please can we go to a show just once? Our friends have”,
The pain is felt on the return home, when the bills come in and we all have to think thin and do without other things.

It ain’t no fun being a child today.
Bad news at school: someone died; a drug overdose.
The danger is always there; touts hanging around the school gates,
Peer pressure trying to make others join the deadly mind and life-destroying path.
Not for me. I have other plans.

It ain’t no fun being a child today.
I have a plan to change it: work hard at school, keep my family and good friends close,
Help others in my street, seek to volunteer, when Mum and Dad say I can.
Jobs are few and far between at holiday times, and volunteering gives work for idle hands and minds. Skills and friendships acquired last for a lifetime.

Things are changing, slowly it is true, but there are now more things arranged to do.
As a family, we have more to say about what we each do day by day.
Budgets are planned so we understand how they have to stretch to meet our needs.
We never used to understand, with heads buried in the sand.
Things are changing. Hope they are for you, too.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: LivH

 

WAKE UP, WAKE UP

Wake up, wake up. Do not stay asleep too long,  

Or everything you have cherished and loved will have vanished and gone. 

The saying that anything that looks too good to be true, is exactly that: not true 

Easy options often turn out to be the most difficult and protracted to retract 

Wrap yourselves in the letter of the law which has lasted the test of time.  

In time, laws need small adjustments, not their complete obliteration.  

Stand up and be counted to keep the standards most trusted and known by all.

 

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: pexels.com 

                                                                    

THUNDEROUS CHANGE

It started a glorious day, when like a herd of stampeding buffalo,

The storm hit, bellowing, wrecking, destroying all we knew.

For an hour or two it enforced its terror, nothing we could do.

Except to know life for now would never be the same.

All we had was hope, love and community spirit to rebuild the trampled land.

To remain strong and know our human family, can work to return our community to order and our homes to peace and a different tranquillity again.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: pexels.com  

 

I’M GOING TO BE HAPPY 

I’m going to be happy.

I’m going to shake off the blues.

I’m going to try smiling.

At anyone who comes into view

And wait for someone to smile back in reply.

Hoping they will be comfortable enough to pass it on and on.

With this contagion, smiles will be on their way.

So some of you may be able to smile today.

Chasing any misery and dark moods far away.

Have a Happy Day

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: pexels.com 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

Happy New Year 2026 to all our readers and friends.

My biggest wish is that world differences will be settled peacefully in this New Year, 2026.

My second wish is that TRUTH, RESPECT, KINDNESS, and HOPE spread evenly amongst us, in our families, in our local and wider communities; to continue extending them to all countries struggling at the moment; to hold on firmly to irrepressible HOPE.

The above wishes are mine, as I try to tackle my feelings of pain while vast areas of our world struggle with war, and natural environmental disasters, with too high or too low temperatures, and the almost unbelievably vast populations of displaced people and their animals, desperately seeking cover or a home, food, medical care, support, in order to survive and have a future.

GOOD NEWS

There have been some wonderful advances in the treatment of some cancers and MS. Amazing work is being done with GENE and DNA therapy, SAVING YOUNG LIVES!

Driven by food poverty, people are working to find new ways to grow more much needed food for us all. 

More people are planting fruit and nut trees and bushes. Growing trees for construction purposes is so needed. 

Coral is now being produced to renew bleached and dying coral reefs. 

Mangroves are being cultivated and replanted to protect low lying parts of the world. 

These show the strength of people fighting to survive, to assist and return their protection of the land, sea, and skies. 

We all have a responsibility for the health of our world: do not leave it to governments. Local people know what they need. 

Those of us who have enough need to share what we have. Food banks are one way; just drop in what you can spare. Assist a family or a single person caring full time, by giving some of your time and help, so they can have a rest, or a good sound sleep. 

We are capable of giving support and hope to others by sharing some of our time and good news stories.

There are some exciting times ahead, needing hard work, caring, sharing and laughter.

Remember: truth is a powerful tool and, given time, lies unravel.

Wishing everyone, wherever you live, a Happy, Healthy New Year. We hope to see you here in the days to come.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay.com 

 I AM ME. YOU ARE YOU

Sitting here together, now aged eighty-two, remembering when we first met with our mums at the explorative age of five. You offered me an orange, a gift, then quite rare from the bottom of the bungalow stair.

“Would you like to come out to play?” you asked. I was longing to say yes, but I had the most irritating spots upon my chest. 

Dad said, “Sorry, girls; not just yet,” and your face fell, mine as well. “There will be plenty of time for play and friendship when those itchy spots have faded away.”

We did not know—how could we?—that we would be sitting here, still the best of friends at the grand old age of eighty-two, with years and years of stories to tell of sad goodbyes and joyful hellos, as we followed each other around the world.

You were the quiet bookworm, well educated. I was the adventurer and very creative. 

It was a combination of talents that served us well as years slipped by. 

Marriage for a time kept us apart, until your children appeared and captured my heart. 

Now empty-nested, we sit reminiscing with tears and laughs, struggling to recall the names of people we met a long time ago.

Here we are: you are you and I am me, with limbs creaky, a few replaced, too. Contemplating the memories of the vanishing world we once loved and knew. 

Preparing for the approaching, emerging world, all brashly unfamiliar to us, it is true.

As we hug each other preparing to say farewell, thankful we lived when we did.

Time now to hand over to the young, and hope strong friendships like ours will help carry them through.

I am me and you are you, so thankful for our friendship, still not at an end.

You are and always have been a most remarkable, true and loving friend.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pexels Licence

 

GOLDEN WEDDING BAND

A golden wedding band went missing somewhere in the coral sand.

It was found by a passing mermaid and worn upon her hand.

At first, she felt the sorrow its loss must surely bring.

She knew there would have been great searching and wondering.

She'd like to tell the owner she'd wear it now with pride. It would be her connection to the world, up beyond the tide.

Her wish for the replacement would be to give it once again with love, though in a slightly smaller size.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by:  ©️ Daniela Silvia Serban

 

WALKING THROUGH

On walking through from the bright sunlight, into the cool and calming soothing dappled tree line.

To the change of noise with bird song coming to the fore, with the quiet plop of falling leaves perhaps never heard before.

A scurry overhead as squirrels chase from branch to branch and tree to tree.

The gentle music added from the slowly flowing stream, with fish some resting, others browsing in weeds trying to remain unseen.

Water bubbling louder around some rocks, forcing it’s way through.

Crossing the bridge, echoing a different sound, startling some rabbits having a chew.

How I love a walk in the country, you should try it you really should.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

MILLIE'S FOREVER HOME

One day a couple came to the Kennels enquiring about a dog. Millie was brought out for yet another inspection. 

At first, she could not be bothered to show what a lovely dog she was.

She had had her hopes raised too often. However, there was something different about this couple. 

It was how they crouched down to her, and allowed her to sniff their hands before they touched her. 

Showing her respect, talking quietly and gently, perhaps this time it would be different.

She started to wag her tail, put a collar and lead on and took her for a walk around the ground to see how she behaved on the lead and with them without other distractions. 

She began to raise her head, and walk more briskly; she liked this couple but did they like her?

On returning to the kennels, to her great disappointment, the collar and lead were removed and she was placed back in the cage. 

The couple left, oh they did smile and pat her and say kind words. 

She sadly curled up in a ball in her cage ‘What am I doing wrong, why don’t they like me.’

She did not know that the couple had agreed to have her, but had to wait for her to be sprayed. 

The operation and recovery would take about 2 weeks, then they would be back for her.

The day finally came and to her absolute delight, they arrived to collect her. 

She could hardly believe it. 

She was going to have a forever home. 

When she arrived at the house, she ran around sniffing everywhere, there had been a dog here once, but not anymore.

There was a large garden, a horse, cows and hens, there would be some adventures to be had. 

Millie knew at that moment, that she was going to have a very happy life with her new family.

There was only one problem, Millie had never learned to play ball or bring back sticks. 

Maybe in the past, she had been trained as a sheepdog, another reason why she loves long walks and runs.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

A NEW CAT IN THE GARDEN

I am in a state, I always knew there were other cats in a house near by. I just never saw them except every now and then sitting on the window sill or perched on the back of the couch. Now one of them has had the nerve to come out into my garden.

What a cheek! I rushed over to see her off, but she was not going to go easily. She settled down for a stand off. I approached with caution, as she was bigger than me. I made the most awful noise explaining this was my lawn, my house, she had no business to be there.

She just shouted back, ‘You have had it long enough to yourself, I have seen you, queening over everything.’

What does she mean? I have lived here for years, she has just arrived! What am I going to do? Suddenly she sprayed the bush near her front door, then moved towards me and crouched down again this time opening and closing her mouth with no sound.

She has changed her mind, she is trying to be friendly using her flehmen response, for those who don’t know, she is not speaking but smelling and tasting me! Slowly creeping forwards, that’s better.

Looks as though we might be starting a friendship of sorts. I can’t rush this, otherwise, she will think I am a pushover.

I am going off home and I will spray my bushes on the way.

Wow! That is quite enough excitement for one day.

Time for a relaxing snooze. I wonder what she is called?

I’ll keep my ears open and find out tomorrow.

You wait till I tell Satu, he will be amazed.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

A Lifetime’s Dedication

Skipping through our community magazine, I halted at an advertisement.

The Glen Miller Orchestra was coming to play in a nearby town.

A wave of nostalgia hit me from head to toe; a smile broke out:

Little Brown Jug, A String of Pearls, Kalamazoo, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Tuxedo Junction, Pennsylvania 6-5000, American Parade, Moonlight Serenade.

I was brought up with this fabulous music, revolutionary at the time.

I did not know it would sweep through ballrooms, changing sedate dance into hectic exciting rhythms and close encounter, romantic, smoochy beats.

It invigorated military music forever, sending young men and women, with heads held high, to foreign parts and war,

The music forever reminding them of home, and a different world.

In factories, it lifted spirits as they speeded material needed to end the war.

At home, this special music tugged at heartstrings, willing their partners back home.

I remember our household falling into shock and disbelief when Glen Miller’s plane was lost in the English Channel.

World gloom spread as the realisation sank in that there would be no more new music from this incredible man and his band.

I picked up the phone to book our seats to be once again captivated by Glen Miller’s music dedicatedly played by Ray McVay and His Orchestra.

The day arrived. We settled in our seats and a low hum of memories and laughter was passed around in the auditorium.

Glen Miller’s music always encouraged memories of those sad and happy times,

Not forgetting friendships and love engaged to last into more permanent, peaceful times.

The mainly grey-headed band strolled onto the stage, brass instruments gleaming, music sheets in hand ready to enthral us.

Clapping and cheering started as we, the grey-headed audience, retreated to our youthful times.

A blast of music called us to attention, to salute the director of music.

There was a silence as a wonderful gentleman of 95, Ray McVay, gently eased his way to the microphone to welcome us.

We broke out into loud clapping, acknowledging the lifetime’s dedication of this musician, band and singers, Mark Porter and Catherine Sykes, to keep the Glen Miller music and story alive.

Did you know Glen Miller’s music has sold more copies than The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Stones, and others?

My challenge is to ask anyone who has never heard this wonderful uplifting music to research a copy, and go for a ride to an amazing time. 

We did. It was a great musical revival more than 40 years later.

Thank you.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

NICE TO HAVE YOU MARCHING BESIDE ME CHARLIE

Nice to have you marching beside me Charlie.

Even though I know you have long been gone.

Since that day, we fought our way from building to building, to reach the planned target.

I saw you fall bloodied, then no movement at all.

I could not stop to comfort you then, as orders were orders.

We had to capture the final strategic goal to end this battle for once and all.

My first question was where is Charlie? Have the medics brought him in?

No one knew, till a medic took me aside and told me he had sadly died.

Each Remembrance Day I feel you right beside me, Charlie, marching again with pride.

Rest well my friend, it will not be long now till I too will also rest by your side.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

REMEMBER

Today we remember the lives of loved ones, each one so precious to us, snuffed out in multiple international never ending wars. 

We remember too the injured left with lasting injuries both physical and mental.

Families denied a father, a mother, a sibling or an extended family member, leaving a painful, tearful void, and in some cases, change of career, and loss of a home, and financial ruin.

We thank and admire the organisations there to help, which require our assistance to raise awareness and funds now.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen