GROWING UP

I do not remember the first few years, but everyone remembers me.

They remember each stage of my development and now, with delight and laughter, share them with me.

So I know how often I kept them awake with colic,or an uncomfortably delayed poo; first tooth breaking through was a really big event.

How their reward was my smile, and on-demand giggles without tickles grabbed them every time.

The first steps were treated like an Olympic win, until I grew a bit bigger.

Then they were not so keen on my inquisitive nature, as I was speedily into everything.

They had to watch like hawks, as anything at eye level went straight onto the floor or into my mouth for a bite or a taste.

The nasty things were spat out or thrown in any direction.

With a screwed-up face, and hand-brushing to show I would not do that any more.

As time moved on, I became quite strong, even though I was a reluctant eater.

Antics were designed to tempt me: faces appeared on the plate.

With mashed potatoes as a base, cabbage as hair, carrots as eyes, sliced tomato as lips.

Then spoons full of food went up in the air, as they encouraged me to open my mouth for the landing of an aeroplane.

When that failed, desperation: “Darling, please take one more for mummy.”

The thing I remember most of that time was of being cuddled close to Mum as, using special voices, she read bedtime stories.

It does not matter that I did not remember them word for word. It does matter that now they can tell me they actually happened.

Reciting the titles that were my favourites, to my delight; some I now read with such pleasure to my grandchildren.

They say memories linger on.

©️2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Pixabay

 

IS IT TIME TO WAKE UP?

No. It is only four in the morning.

I lay, trying to work out what had woken me.

I felt a gentle tug at my hair, which I ignored.

Determined to slip back into sleep, but it happened again and again.

I knew then it was Lily, the cat who has always wished to be mine.

Now she well and truly has achieved her aim and has been adopted.

A visit to the vets for vaccinations and an all-over health check occurred last afternoon, and she passed with flying colours.

She sometimes awakens me in the early hours for a quick run around the garden.

She used to be a cat flap cat, and we have no facility to have one.

We have provided a well-sanitised and renewable poo tray.

She sometimes, weather permitting, requests a night-time memory stroll.

I think it is a small price to pay, to love and be loved by such a lovely cat.

©️2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

Happy World Poetry Day

🩷🧡💙🩷🧡💙🩷🧡💙🩷🧡💙🩷🧡💙

© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

Happy International Day of Forests! 

TREES

The trees having lost all their summer floral dressing, stand shivering in winter's cold and violent shaking.

Standing exposed for birds and squirrels to chase and dive through.

To curl protected in cosy hollows deep in their warm wooden insides.

Bark peels and splits to show new and sweet-smelling wood.

Trees as they cast off their leaves, show autumn dressing becoming objects of wonder to behold.

We owe them our admiration and vigilant protection; 

So that they may continue to grow and multiply, for other generations to admire!

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

Photo: Anna Almeida 

 

AWAKENING THE SILENCE

My eyes flutter open as sleep seeps away.

I start a body check to see if it is ready for a busy day.

Chest: no wheezing as I start deep breathing, oxygen flowing to kick start a sleepy brain and heart.

A gentle stretch to test spinal structures needed for my activity today.

Leg bending, arm stretching over head to check they are uncomplaining.

Lying quietly, listening to the slow awakening of the inside of the house.

Using these last moments of me time to write today’s to-do list.

Last selfish moments to give thanks for what we have, and a plea for strength to deal with whatever we have to face today.

A peek out the window to see, with the rising warming sun, the waxy Camellia bush has burst into a soul stirring pink.

Nothing to worry about this daybreak, just lots to celebrate.

Good morning, everyone.

©️2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

PEACEFUL CONTEMPLATION

 

A peaceful walk I stumbled on by a canal.

Occasional walkers pass by wordless, others exchanging a moment of friendly conversation.

Dogs race past, returning to check their owners are still with them.

Some were locals familiar with this towpath since childhood, eager to share its history with me.

A few came from across the world, others our European neighbours.

The occasional plop of a fish, bird cries when flying by, and squirrels overhead, moving at fantastic pace from tree to tree.

A quiet chug, chug brought into view a canal boat, making its way gently by.

Painted dark green with brass trims; cheerful floral curtains with a cat cosily sunbathing.

A moment to admire the colourful plant pots firmly attached, enlivening the scene.

The owner giving a greeting and cheery wave as they slid past to a destination unknown to us.

A sight many of us hoped to see on a canal walk.

Generations past have taken this same walk to see a few commercial, hard-working canal boats chugging past.

Times were tough and essential goods would have been moved by water to earn a family's crust.

Thankfully, I am here now to enjoy and share the peaceful contemplation of a canal-side walk.

As I sit still, watching, listening, drinking, and eating outside an ancient canal-side pub.

©️2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

SWANNING ALONG

Swanning along on the river with my cygnets sunning on my back.

My partner glides close beside us to ward off any sneaky attack.

This is the time I look forward to, quietly floating along.

Cries from the embankment: Look! Look at those beautiful swans.

Cameras clicking, pieces of bread flinging (I try to avoid those).

I prefer the natural riverside and bottom: green, delicious grazing.

My feathers seem to feel and look fresher when I stick to nature's food.

My partner and I are so proud of the young we have been able to produce.

Our job is to keep on vigilantly protecting them, night and day.

Until the time they are strong enough to float off and manage life in their own way.

2025 ©️Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Anna Almeida

 

USE YOUR IMAGINATION

Use your imagination to relieve a difficult situation. 

Don’t just look ahead; rotate your head and look around. 

Circumnavigate your imagination to create new occupations, not just for you.

Gather friends in your neighbourhood and others in Zoom room consultations, far and wide. 

You will be amazed at the sparking of the fusion of ideas being bounced around,

creating excitement right across the oceans and into many rooms. 

There are amazing ways new jobs can be created if we act together, thinking outside the box.

In each part of our populations, the Aged and Able/Dis barrier can at times be reduced, allowing minds and hands to be active and proud to add their efforts to help many community situations. 

Old people, no matter what age, can tap into minds full of imagination and historical recollections, many so useful but long unused.

We need to utilise knowledge and imagination creatively to move us forward, attracting the funding or willing, caring hands to activate the sparks created into slowly gathering flames, ready to warm hearts and homes, and help money to sit a little longer in the bank.

Imagination is a powerful thing. 

Let us try using it to reach our exciting potential.

©️2025 Penny Wobbly Storyteller of WobblingPen

 

Happy #ButterfliesDay

THE LIGHTEST OF TOUCHES

When lying on the grass under a shady tree, my eyelids drooped and soon I was asleep, to be awoken with the lightest of touches tickling my nose.

Gently, oh so gently, I opened my eyes to see a beautiful butterfly standing on four legs and staring into my eyes.

I am not sure who was the most surprised.

It opened its wings in case danger I might be, allowing me to see the underside of its wings up close.

I gazed at its tiny face and its eyes with its multiple sight sensors, as it rapidly uncurled its proboscis, gently touching my nose and quickly retracting.

I was obviously not the flavour it was seeking.

My nose started to feel a sneeze approaching. The need to suppress it became overpowering.

I did not want to propel my delicate visitor into orbit with an explosion.

Thankfully, it took off in time, allowing me to admire its beautiful flight.

How could something so beautiful come from something so ugly, yet so interesting, as a caterpillar?

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License 

 

#SaveASpiderDay  

MR. SPIDER

Spider, Spider, spin your web!

Dainty, delicate gossamer,

Beaded dew-drop dressed.

All your glorious work,

Layer upon layer displayed.

On days like these,

I can see and admire where you are.

I can avoid stumbling through

Your perimeter wire,

Miss its clinging, obstructive embrace.

All around my hair,

Neck and over my face.

Oh, I am sure while it’s wet

You'll miss a tasty meal/

Once dry, you'll remain hidden,

Well protected from many an eye.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

Photo: Pixabay License

 

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 garden 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 as we prepare 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 by Harli Marten on Unsplash

 

CRAFTY THIEF

My husband was grumbling, "Do you remember those blueberries I planted?" I nodded in reply.

"Well they have masses of berries and some are blue, but every time I go to pick them, none are ripe enough. What a waste of space they are!"

I noticed a while ago that he had netted them to protect them from the birds.

With my interest alerted, I began to take a closer look at the blueberry bushes.

Suddenly a flurry of black feathers landed on the net, it was a blackbird.

I sat quietly watching and caught the thief at work.

He looked around to see if it was safe to start his robbery.

He pecked at the blueberries through the net, as it was a tight mesh net he could not pull the berries through.

That did not stop him from picking the fruit.

How silly is that, I thought to myself, to just destroy the fruit?

Then he flew down to the ground and there laid out before him was a carpet of juicy blueberries.

He quickly crushed and swallowed them, staining his yellow beak blue in the process.

My husband decided, he would have to be up very early to beat the blackbird to his Blueberry breakfast.

🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝 🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝

© 2025 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

Hello Wobblers,

What windy weather we have been having. 

Have you found it hard to stand up straight without being blown along? 

No use using umbrellas or they may be snatched away, blown inside out. 

Or end up being an odd decoration in a tree.

Oops! I have just seen a cat being blown round the corner, he looked a bit scared. 

I thought it was a black plastic bag. 

We are in a tall building and the wind can catch you unexpectedly in a strong down draught.

Poor cat, that must have been what happened to him.

The birds are having a hard time too. 

Hiding in the bushes and under the roof eaves waiting for a lull in the weather to find insects and big juicy worms for a meal. 

Even the seagulls, are struggling in the wind and have had to flock into sheltered fields for a rest. 

You can place some seed and water under the bushes to help the birds. 

They would be very grateful.

Take care Wobblers to hope to see you soon.

Help where you can.

Penny Wobbly

 

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

The unimaginable loss of war has no cut-off point.

You young men have been nurtured to be the best of the best, here at home and at Eton, with a plethora of connections around the world.

Yet one bullet or bomb fired indiscriminately, in haste, hate or anger, ends it all for many.

Or does it? The lucky march home, heroes, to the bosom of family and friends. 

The wounded are slipped into hospitals, with PTSD and long-term disability care needs.

The unlucky, on many occasions, never see home again.They are buried in bloodied, mass, unmarked graves. 

Families are left with no ending of grief or closure, for generations to come. For some, wars never end.

Why is this necessary? 

Why are we, as human beings, incapable of learning, time after time, generation after generation, to turn our ambitions and feelings into good deeds for one another? 

We give prizes for designing this, that or the other. 

The potential is certainly there. I sometimes wonder if as humans we have never tamed the animal inside us; it just bursts out from time to time, causing mayhem and terror.

Wars are recorded, warped in the telling by the victors and marched into history with no change.

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Pixabay

 

Happy Reading Month 

BOOK WORM

I'm a book, a very good book, but my cover is as plain and dowdy as can be, so much so, that people browsing through the shelves fail to discover me.

I've had a few near misses when they have almost prised me out, then forced me back in again, with derision.

It's a job to coax me back into my slot, as I need to be pushed and shoved quite a lot.

To make me fit in, amongst the big, coloured glossy books that are my neighbours.

I'm waiting here, with patience, for the day when someone pulls me out and says: "I have been looking for you for simply ages!"

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

YOU AND ME

You are the one. I am the two.

We grasp our pens and write for you.

Stories collected and told, before we are far too old.

It might be one a day, or a cascade rushing into print.

Or on a back burner with a steady drip of text, a day, a year or two.

Then, one day, our amazing stories, collected from real life and you, will burst into view.

A truthful social history it will be, for generations to come, long after we have all drifted on.

Grab a book, read and read. 

Never let anyone anywhere bamboozle you.

You are the one. I am the two. 

We write as truthfully as we can, for history and for you.

©️2025 Anne Watts and Penny Wobbly

 

Happy World Book Day 

Libraries give time for empty minds to expand their capacity to absorb information from multiple genres.

Tempted by a perusal along their shelves, you gather books you never even realised you needed.

Once read, they may prove useful in the future.

 

2025 ©️ Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Ying Ge on Unsplash

 

Happy World Book Day 

 📕📗📘📙📒📕📗📘📙📒📕📗📘📙📒📕

 2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

 

Happy World Book Day 

A whole Day to look at, talk about, share and enjoy books; By yourself, with your parents, with a friend or in school. How wonderful! 

I wonder if you will find a fantastic new author with an amazing new story. Or will you find on the bottom shelf of the library, an old book you will be delighted to read and never forget? 

Perhaps you will write a story yourself, with words filling page after page, ready to be printed into a book. 

How wonderful might that be? 

Do not waste this week; read as much as you can. 

Share your favourite new-found books with your friends. Have fun! I am going to! 

 2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

 Photos: Pixabay License 

 

A SNOWMAN

Have you seen a snowman?

They are becoming hard to find.

So when the north wind does blow, we might be able to see snow.

The first flurries of snow with swirls and cold brushes descend to tickle your nose and to prance on your eyelashes.

Bringing roses to your cheeks allows laughter to burst free.

Wrap up and roll the snow as fast as you can, to build a super-duper lovely snowman.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

Happy World Wildlife Day! 

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

 

Happy World Book Day