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 captured.

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

 

I LOVE TO WRITE

It is hard to believe I have dared to write on this page because, for half of my life, I lived in terror of the written word. With the use of technology, that has all changed. 

Unbelievably, I now love writing; I really do. Hardly a day goes by without my pen being on the move. 

It takes me into all kinds of situations and emotions, triggered by a conversation, a picture, music, the news, and animal and bird interactions. Not to mention the weather, a trigger and beginning for conversations with strangers.

Now it is a strange day if I have no time to write. I love writing and my hope is it will encourage others to write, too.

2024 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

PEN TO PAPER

Thoughts about putting pen to paper and it’s long-term effects.

Thinking about it, I was reminded of my terror of writing for half my life. Yet I did write, not knowing how important what I wrote would be.

Each year I have a diary, some filled with lots of excitement, and others have big empty patches. I look at wondering what happened there, trying hard to remember.

If you are anything like me you put little notes in as well, they make very interesting reading, producing quite several laughs.

If this has stirred your interest in looking at the past and writing new stories, from your old books it will have been worth my putting my pen to paper.

2024 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

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.

🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞

2024 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

TIGA

The day arrived when my sister was going to see her new dog. She wanted a Jack Russell.

A neighbour told us of a kennel near her friend which had Jack Russell and Patter-dale cross puppies, ready now for a new home.

We agreed to go and see them, Margaret was so excited.

When we arrived at the kennels we were taken to the puppies

There were five all black and white, at once one rushed towards us and would not leave my sister alone. 

It was a female dog and kept rolling onto her back for a tummy rub.

She was almost laughing releasing little whimpers of delight.

My sister was wrapped up with the little one. I want this puppy, she said hugging the dog in her arms, she loves me.

There was no doubt about it, they were made for each other and were keen to start their lives together.

So the process of buying a dog and all the things it would need to establish it’s placed in our household began.

The name was no problem it would Tiga Malay for three, as she was the third dog in the litter.

Tiga very quickly wriggled her way into our lives for good.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

A RIVER

A river like shimmering glass, as it silently flows, cluttered by boats that provide pleasure, and relaxation brings.

With birds passing overhead to land, in the trees so green and sing.

This is a day we dream of and hope summer will bring. 

Cuddled by a sky so blue, with white clouds passing by.

Clutching a good book, a glass with the content of choice, knowing all is well in your world.

2025  © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Elmer Cañas on Unsplash

 

Happy #ArborDay 🌳

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 

 

BIRDS 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 revelers cautious view.

🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝 🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

PINKS

Beneath the blue sky arms entwined swaying in long borders hundreds side by side. 

Blooms of pink on stalks, some upright as soldiers others leaning weakly on the path heads blown in all directions by the wind.

Pinks in stiff, flared, ragged skirts, dancing, scattering their hypnotic scent to be picked up and whipped away by the breeze with faces open all revealing and inviting a visit from the busy buzzing bees.

Hundreds of buds, peeping out at angles, waiting their turn to burst into action, to keep the show going for months and months.

As I travelled the world at unexpected moments the scent trapped in my subconscious would pop out drawing with it a memory. 

Taking me, back, to my first sight of pinks in action, long ago on a beautiful Scottish highland day.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

THERE ARE CREATURES IN MY GARDEN

There are creatures in my garden, yet rarely are they seen at all.

Hidden in the walls are spiders, the odd lizard, leather jackets, ants in battalions patrol, as magic cleaning up insect and debris machines.

Weeds scatter seeds for their plants to keep on growing, for snails to slimily keep on their contented munching and gnawing. Sadly your cherished plants are on their menu, as they have a hankering for them too.

Tiny frogs seek shelter in the dampened cracks, hiding from aerial birds and ground, fox, cat and dog attacks.

A mole surfaces to leave a hill in the middle of the lawn, blindly, burying, furiously underneath, hunting juicy worms from dusk to dawn, leaving the molehills for you to pat down.

Butterflies and ladybirds, gavotting about giving amazing colourful displays.

The foxes lay against the wall, enjoying the warmth of the sun and dappled shade after a night on the essential food hunting run.

Squirrels, furiously battling in the trees, as nuts rain down to be lost in the ground. To start new tree growth in this fascinatingly active garden of mine.

Where all I have to do is sit, quietly, relax, whiling away some precious me time.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

SISTERS

Sisters, three are we, sitting here near the sea.

Laughing, having so much fun, we barely make it home for tea.

Memories running wild from times lived as a child.

Dresses that did not quite fit the next one in the line.

As for shoes: look at your feet compared to mine; preferred bare ones at times.

Wild flowers in our hair, bouquets to give with love.

Pets: we were country girls who had many; hated it when they had to go.

Part of life they say, as we all have to go that way, a lesson early learnt.

Now grown up, time together is rarer to negotiate.

Doctor visits and hospital runs keep us fully occupied at times.

Flights of mercy to and fro; one of us has to go, while we anxiously wait for her spectacular letters.

On return, babies have been born, grown and gone; she has lots to catch up on.

When sorrow comes along, they unite and are there for one another.

Not all secrets are shared; quiet might be all that is needed.

Knowing one or other is there, with a shoulder to lean on.

Providing that so important human touch.

Years have flown; adjustments made.

Cooking rivalry in the kitchen, with new recipes shared, delicious cakes made.

Time to sit again and celebrate another day of memories gathered, while we are still together.

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 

 

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

 

EASTER GREETINGS

We wish all who celebrate today, a very Happy Peaceful Easter, and that the feelings raised continue on into the year ahead.

Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

 

 EASTER TIME

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.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

EASTER ROLL UP

Walking along, nosing pebbles out the way to find bugs for breakfast at the start of the day.

The sun is heating me as my spines are in the way.

Someone is coming I must tuck myself out of sight under this bush will do.

Something big is making a loud munching noise, above me, and heavy breathing too.

A voice spoke just above my head, “I know you are in there, come out for a chat. I am a donkey and hedgehogs are not part of my diet. This is a special day Easter Sunday, last week many many years ago my ancestor played a big part. He carried a man called Jesus on his back, to the temple but he never brought him back.”

“Why not,” I asked quite puzzled.

“The story has been told year after year that he died upon a cross, to save all creatures great and small. We are all going to meet up in a place called heaven. I am looking forward to that as my body is ageing and creaking with the onset of pain. It is going to be great as there are some lovely people I would love to see again.”

“Thank you mister Donkey, that is quite a relief to me, as as a hedgehog I am not always treated kindly down here. It is nice to know that it will all come right one day.”

The donkey ended by saying “A Happy Easter Day to you and your family.”

I returned the greeting to him, as I rushed downhill in a ball, to spread the good news to one and all.

🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photos by Pixabay

 

RUN RABBIT

What’s that? A rabbit in the back garden?

We have never seen one there before, it looks quite young.

The Rabbit stiffens and sits upright, fully alert, nose twitching, sensing me watching.

Where has the Rabbit come from? Where is its burrow?

Our garden has been home to litters of foxes for years.

He will be in danger. Oh, run Rabbit, please run!

Mr. Fox is due home at any moment!

He will not allow you to play in his garden, or to sit and enjoy the sun.

Run home to your Mum and Dad as quickly as you can!

The rabbit suddenly saw me and quickly shot off through a hole in the fence.

I waited a while to make sure he didn't return fortunately he stayed away.

No one would know he had ever been there, except for the two holes in the lawn!

Run Rabbit, please run, as this is not a safe place for you to come and have fun.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

HOPITY HIGH, HOPITY HO!

It is the Easter Day parade,

I will let you know.

It is when bunnies like me,

Are held in high regard.

We are in the shop windows peering out.

Either as cuddly toys covered in fur, 

Or as chocolate bunnies covered in silver or gold 

With ribbons tied around the neck bright and bold.

Others are painted on mugs, 

To hold small coloured Easter eggs, 

Tightly contained and covered securely in cellophane.

To stop the curious mice from having a nibble,

When passing through on a hunt.

Some of us are dressed up in ridiculous clothes, 

I find that hard to explain, 

Just accept it as part of a human game.

Everywhere you look there is an image of one of us.

As a family of real rabbits, 

We live on the hill, 

Watching unconcerned.

Knowing this odd behaviour,

Will soon fade away, 

Until the approach of the next Easter Parade day.

So Hopity High, Hopity Ho!

It is time now for us to go into our burrows,

And puzzle what all the goings-on had been about.

🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay 

 

EASTER EGG SURPRISE

Easter Egg where are you?

I am told you are hiding, I have to search for you.

In the house behind a chair under the table.

Are you quietly there?

Or out in the garden, rolled up under a bush.

Easter Egg where are you?

If I am out there, you had better be quick, or I will melt away and you won’t see, how beautiful I was.

As I will become a sticky mess for your fingers and lips, to taste and enjoy. Covering your best clothes in sticky brown.

🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰 🐥 🐰

2024 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

EASTER HOLIDAYS

Another holiday time is here, with spring struggling through.

Whether you are here or abroad, the fun can be had by one and all.

The strident sound of seagulls, was my wake-up call, as I am staying three streets away from the beach retaining wall.

Opening reluctant eyelids to look skywards, to be rewarded with blue sky.

Stretching to move to start the new day looking downwards at, beautiful flowers bursting out to bask in the sunshine.

It is the Easter Holiday time and it looks sublime.

I am ready to enjoy this special family holiday time.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo by Pixabay 

 

WATCH AND BEWARE

We have a pair of pigeons nesting in a bush in the garden.

Constantly being viewed, when passing through, by three foxes, always on the lookout for an opportunity for a quick meal.

I love listening in on their conversations and wish I understood pigeon talk.

Lily the cat has to be a spectator to all the goings-on outside in the garden, as she has to be wary of the growing size of the foxes.

If they are hungry enough, she too could be added to the menu.

The pigeons have all the mod cons: drinking and bathing facilities, including dust mite cleaning service, as well as insects galore, and just planted runner beans, the crop we love growing the most for fresh tasty greens.

We have to keep going out to move the birds away from the bean patch.

I just hope we have saved enough for plates full of runner beans later.

We shall just have to wait a while.

🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝 🦋 🐞 🦅 🐦 🦆 🐝

2024 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photo: Pixabay License

 

School Librarian Day and National Library Week 📚

LIBRARIES A JEWEL VITAL TO PROTECT

The quote, ‘Use it or lose it,’ not mine, should be taken seriously by every one of us. 

Libraries are a precious asset!

They are the places we can go to immerse ourselves in the world of imagination and serious facts. 

Amazing stories take us through a wide range of emotions, research, education, community information and support. 

A place to meet like-minded people in arranged topics of interest to them. 

It is a place to research false news for yourself rather than being fed one version.

It is a place we can safely take children, for their first experience of the marvels of the written word and choice of books and sometimes listening to real-life storytelling. 

It is a level playing field free to all.

Such a jewel needs us to use it well, to unhook ourselves from the isolation of our computers, or give those trapped in loneliness somewhere to go.

Through the use of libraries, the possibility of new friendships can be extended into our communities.

Please use your libraries, do not let us lose any more. They are vital to our community well-being.

2025 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

Photo: Pixabay License