EXAMS, EXAMS, EXAMS,

A word to make quite a few households shudder.

It used to be the prerogative of the young.

Now you could be any age, expanding your qualifications to change careers.

Immediately the word exam is uttered, a rise in tension takes place.

“Have you done your homework? Have you? You will regret it if you haven’t.”

Have I done enough study and preparation?

Cries of, “I should have stayed in more often, nose to the grindstone. Too late now.”

The thirst for knowledge, the need for great grades to stand out somehow from the crowd. 

So many we know have no job now. It used to be said, working for the government or council was a job for life.

No longer true, other opportunities are working their way through, it is said.

New technology is providing new career pathways.

Not fast enough for me, I need work now to pay the bills.

Part-time work, while studying and sitting exams, is what is ahead of me.

I am determined, I have to be, all my family’s future rests on me.

It may not be the career I would have chosen, just one not capable of being taken over by a robot.  

EXAMS, EXAMS, EXAMS, BRING THEM ON.

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Image by Pexels

I WALKED

I walked my way to happiness. It was painful, it is true. Each step brought back a tender memory of you.

I have to confess, I had let things go; I was not at my best, keeping myself to myself, staying in bed longer each day, dragging myself up for a drink, to watch the TV display.

’Til one day, an invitation to take a walk in a beautiful nearby place burst from the screen. It was a favourite of ours; you would remember it well. Somehow I found the strength, I know not from where, to wash, dress, and activate myself, to join the walk.

I hovered at the edge of a small group, ’til beckoned in. We each walked at a slow, steady pace, in dribs and drabs, quiet murmurs exchanged when comfortable; an hour was spent walking, taking in the view.

Exercising muscles, shaky at best, a halt was called for: a hot brew and a crunchy biscuit, exchanging information and invitations to join other walks if I wanted to. I remembered times you walked with me, talking, loving, trying to put the world to rights.

We were called to order to walk our way back. I took a deep breath, a last look around at the sky and the ground, before following the group. I felt tired but different, hard to explain, determined to go at least once again.

Now I am a new man, qualified to take groups of adults and children, at weekends and holiday times, on happiness walks.

Walks saved me, and new ones top up my happiness feelings from time to time.

© 2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen 

Image by Pixeles

​GIVE ME A KISS

Give me a kiss, give me a cuddle, whisper sweet nothings in my ear.

Ones I have longed for so long, for you to say again here.

 I need your closeness to bring me the familiar smell and softness of your skin.

For a while, we’ve lived in an emotional desert, slipping further and further apart.

Words were bantered painfully between us! Yet love held on fast.

There was no other for me but you; we still love each other.

You were never far away from the centre of my sadly beating heart.

There is no blame, just calmly letting conversations and love share the path ahead.

Oh, do not forget the power of a hug and a cuddle given with real love.

To heal two damaged, recovering, but truly loving beating hearts.

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Image by Unsplash

​GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

The circle of life seems to be moving faster and faster this year, with almost equal measure. Sorrow, fear, anger, horror, excitement, and pure delight, rolling along back to back at an astonishing pace. All over the world, it seems, or is it?

The speed of change due to the Internet and AI. Spreads News fake, and true, at times extremely difficult to decipher.

Drawing our family and friends closer. Exchanging information about rising  household costs and government taxes. Are there any cuts we can personally make, any ideas? The Citizens’ Advice Bureau is quite a good place to start. They are extremely helpful and have well-researched support.

“Which Magazine” is helpful, giving comparison prices between items you are going to buy. A bargain is not always a bargain, check things out.

It is useful to check the tax you are paying, it is not always bad news; if it is, the sooner you know, the better. 

HMRC. His Majesty’s Register of Customs produces  a form to help with OVERPAYMENT AND UNDERPAYMENT, which will help you to find out, quickly and safely.

If you are waiting rather a long time for an NHS or GP appointment, or report from a Consultant, remind  them to make sure you have not accidentally been knocked off; it happens occasionally.

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen.

Image by Pixabay

​UNBELIEVABLE COMPASSION AND HATE IN WAR

Two young nurses walking into town for a break came across a pile of putrefying, discarded dead bodies. A fact of life in all wars. They quietly discussed the futility of it all and how the abnormal quickly becomes the normal as they hurried by as others were doing, again a normality in war.

When a young boy pedalled towards the pile of rat-infested humanity, got off his bike, took a crucifix from his neck, and gently draped it onto one of the bodies.

As he stood up as if in prayer, a shot rang out, he crumbled and fell dead, to join the deadly pile.

The shocked young nurses hurried on by to join the throng, on their way to work.

Making their way sorrowfully back to the hospital to repair and dispense compassion and love to their patients, with the unanswered question of why? Oh why?

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Image by HistoryNet

​FOCUS

Focus is the word of today.

Encouraged by business and entrepreneurs, there is no other way.

Do not deviate from the path; supress loud laughs, concentrate, concentrate.

Work your socks off on your way to success.

At the beginning, it is exciting and delivers.

Time, however, with focus, grinds you down as you have less and less me time.

Balance should be the order of the day to encourage new businesses to last, not fizzle away.  

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Photos by Dreamtime

​OH TO BE OUT IN THE WILD WEATHER

Oh to be out in the wild weather and the wilderness,

Where roughened, damaged feelings can break free.

To be grounded, before returning refreshed once more to me.

2023 © Penny Wobbly Storyteller of WobblingPen

Iamge by StockCake 

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me. There are many good, caring people around; we just do not hear of them very often in life. Try spreading acts of kindness and thank-yous around if you can.

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Image by Momma Law

​SAFELY BACK HOME

The house is waiting with no lights on, no fire lit.

Gripped in the approaching darkness gathering fast

Homeward bound hurries the owner, feeling as cold as can be.

Fumbling the key impatiently into the icy lock, brushing off snow, before stepping into the sheltered porch. 

Lights on, slipping off and hanging up coat. 

Stepping out of boots, and into slippers and jacket still cold to touch.

You make your way to the fireplace, to ignite the fire allowing warmth and comfort to seep slowly everywhere.

The waiting kettle starts singing its merry song, and you are once again safely back home.

©️2026 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen

Image by image by AI generated

​GIVE ME A MOMENT

Give me a moment and I’ll get over it!

I had a lovely sleepover and woke up in the dark.

Till Wobbly appeared; I knew just what she would say:

Out into the garden, darling, and do what you have to do. Quick now, on your way.

I thought she was joking, as it was pouring with rain.

I had three goes at it, before staying out long enough not to have to do it again.

In relief and delight that that was it for a while, I raced around the furniture, 

Charging around the back of the couch, dragging myself, though causing no pain.

Missing Wobbly’s arms clutching a big quick-drying-me-up cloth; I avoided again.

It’s much more fun rolling on the carpet and giving the curtains a quick dry-me run.

I stopped at the food dish long enough to pick up a snack.

Before relaxing flat out on my back.

I told you I would get over it, as I am a very adaptable cat.

© 2023 Penny Wobbly of WobbingPen