My name is Penny Wobbly and I am a writer from London. Do you like reading or listening to stories and poems? If so, you are in the right place!
Jun 5, 2022
Jun 4, 2022
Jun 2, 2022
SITTING QUIETLY
Sitting quietly,
Allowing my brain to roam.
I woke to find,
To sleep I had gone.
Can´t remember now,
What I was pondering on.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 26, 2022
HAPPINESS
Happiness is:
When you cover...
Yourself in smiles,
To share...
With everyone else.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo © Pixabay
May 23, 2022
EMERGING
Emerging from the long pandemic locked home.
Into the light full of expectations of the right to roam.
To expand your horizons, expose yourself to the sun, sea,
freedom and lots of fresh air.
To taste unfamiliar menus and drinks to share.
To realise all the sacrifices were worth it in the end.
As you set off determined to make up for lost time and seek lots of new friends.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo © Pixabay
May 22, 2022
MY SPIRIT
My spirit never ages
Though at times when battered
It takes a moment to gather strength.
It enjoys itself, urging me firmly on.
Instructing me on what to do and what to think.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
May 21, 2022
STEAMING
When a steaming cup I did down place.
To complete a task long forgot.
On return, my cup now steamest not.
What a waste.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
WHISKED AWAY
Sitting comfortably a story complete,
Placed nice and neat, on the desk.
When a wind blew up and carried it off at speed.
On rushing I watched it whisked away outside,
Dancing on currents it flew around the buildings
Where I could not follow.
‘Oh exasperation, stop come back to me.’
It slipped through a door, I ran on in too.
Thankfully it flopped onto the floor,
It was then I noticed and giggled and laughed out loud.
It had obviously decided to cut out the publishers
And present itself to the right place,
In the Library, but not on the library floor.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 13, 2022
A NEW DAY
A lovely start to a new day.
Good morning to everyone!
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
MY WRITING
My writing will never be perfect,
But will always be observed by my eyes
And written with the understanding of my heart.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 11, 2022
MY GARDEN
Do you ever sit quietly looking over a garden or a field by yourself, it is amazing the things you might see.
This happened in my garden yesterday when I had time to look.
It was a beautiful day, blue sky, sunshine, a light breeze and no need to cover my arms.
The garden is a bit ragged at the moment, as we have reached the age where we now need help to keep it tidy.
We have found a gardener who is coming this week to restore it to the garden we love.
As I settled comfortably into my chair looking around, a bee appeared and buzzed me before settling into a bunch of open flowers. I could hear it working away,,a pleasant sound.
Then to my amazement, a yawning fox appeared and settled in a patch of sunshine down by the wild pond.
He looked as if he had had a busy night and just needed to relax and warm up before going to bed.
He paid no attention to me, as I quietly watched.
Where is Lily I wondered, hoping she was not on her way over for a visit or she would get a fright?
A loud honking noise made me look up as a lone goose, flew by. I wonder why he is on his own?
Perhaps he has lost his way, as geese are flying in for the summer, to fill up with good food, mate and have a family.
Just as well he did not decide to drop in here, or Mr fox might have been glad for a meal to have before bedtime.
A couple of beautiful butterflies floated by and a pair of pigeons started their morning conversation. After a while of real relaxation, I thought I ought to move.
On turning around, towards the house I saw the big next-door cat, sitting in our walled garden peering intently into the fish pond at our one remaining goldfish.
Thankfully she could look but not touch, as we had netted it, to protect our fish from cats, herons and birds.
This fish was the last survivor of twenty-four, the others had died over time of old age, as we had had them for years.
There is nothing quite like sitting with a cup of tea by a pond, watching fish swim past, or sleeping tucked under a lily pad, staying there with the odd switch of a tail.
I was thankful that Lily had still not appeared, as a cat-fight would have ended my quiet time, as Lily would have needed rescuing.
I wonder what you might see in your garden during a quiet time if you looked.
Take care, stay safe and have fun.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
May 9, 2022
FOR YOU I AM HERE
I am here for you when you are sad,
To cuddle up close
Wipe a tear from your eye,
As you share your distress.
I listen for the clue,
That means I can help you.
I quietly caress to sooth
Your heaving chest.
Murmuring gentle words,
For you to process
To learn you did your best,
And you always will be loved by me.
2022 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 4, 2022
THE CHOICE IS YOURS
If men and women wish to be good examples and support change, they have to be firm, honest, trustworthy, kind and caring so their heritage lives on with love and pride long after they are gone.
Those that turn a blind eye remain caught till they shed their signs of rage, intimidation, dishonesty, money laundering and criminal deadly behaviour.
Without change, there will be no kin left to sing their praises or when imprisoned in their graves to visit them.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 3, 2022
HAPPY DAYS
I want to be happy
Do things I’ve never done.
Make some new friends along the way.
I want to work hard,
Earn what I am worth.
I want to be happy enough
To give some away.
Watching smiles spread,
Pushing sadness into the background.
What an ambition!
I want to be happy,
Is that too much to ask.
To promote emotionally
Sunshine and music
Back into this World.
I want us to be happy.
So if you see me smiling,
Please don’t turn away.
Take a smile with you,
Spread it around today.
Happy Days!
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
May 2, 2022
A WISH FULFILLED
I shut my eyes and wish you to be closer.
To send a breath upon the wind to draw you in.
To make me believe my wish is true.
To finally celebrate you are home again.
It is true, it is true, thank you.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 24, 2022
WHAT AM I?
Where do they come from?
Who knows, not I!
The subjects vastly differ: from home and away,
Words people use day by day.
I am just the Pen that places them on the page.
To be read from age to age.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 21, 2022
The Penny Took A Long Time Dropping
There are times when ordinary conversations turn from sensible to hysterical in a moment.
Last night was one of those times. Anna and I started a perfectly ordinary conversation on the subject of adapting a house, to make some room changes.
I explained what I planned to do, when Anna said, “and the TV could go in the hall, people have it there these days.”
I thought for a moment then asked, “Why on earth should I have to stand up in the hall to watch the television, when we have two perfectly suitable rooms to watch it in already.”
There was a pause, followed by frantic banging on the wall before the penny dropped.
Her lovely Portuguese accent had got in the way she meant wall not hall.
We could not stop laughing for ages.
As I drew the picture of us standing in the hall watching the television.
Anna said, my face was a picture of puzzlement, as I tried to work out why she thought we needed to do such a thing.
We thought we would share this classic bit of Wobbly humour with you, to lighten your day.
Another recent classic, was when Anna chose to post a story I wrote about a dog called Blackie. When I looked at the post the next day there was a picture of a beautiful golden Labrador, not a flea-bitten tripe hound called Blackie.
Laughter was the order of the day then as well.
We have decided to share more Wobbly humour with you, as it occurs, as life is far too serious at the moment.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
FEELING ALONE YET NOT ALONE
Oh, I am on my own.
I long for a touch, someone to love.
I am here in a crowded place, yet few see my face.
They talk over my head to others instead, avoiding me and moving on.
I stick it as long as I am able, before turning and leaving as quickly as I can.
They part like a wave, with no move to encourage me to stay.
No one knows me here. I refuse to remain.
I cannot go out on a bus, train or plane, without someone to help me embark.
I am confined in my chair. No one knows I am here.
Yet, in my head, I am dancing around, having a ball by myself instead.
2022 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 13, 2022
SNAIL RESCUE
We set off in the car loaded with recyclables for the Recycling Station. On pulling up alongside the clearly marked containers, we started unloading.
When I reached the cardboard container and just as I was about to throw our boxes in, I caught sight of a snail, trying to climb up a corner of a box. It did not look very well, I had to help it.
I gently prised it from the corner and moved it over to a large patch of ground, with a selection of different types of weeds and what looked like a trickle of water meandering through.
I gently placed the snail down on a plant and said,
“I do not know where you have come from, but you will find some new friends here. It has everything you might need so please stay safe and be happy.”
With that, we carried on recycling and at the container marked tins, there were clouds of wasps, it took an act of courage to place our tins in it without being stung.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 12, 2022
The Cat Who Wishes To Be Mine
"The Cat Who Wishes To Be Mine"
She waited patiently for my return,
Then what a welcome!
What cries and rubs around my ankles.
She almost turned herself Inside out.
I was so delighted to see her,
We could not stop hugging one another.
Finally, our hearts calmed down
And she sat on my lap and fell asleep.
Such love is hard to describe!
With Love, Wobbly
2022 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Apr 9, 2022
AT A STROKE
How comforting to chatter,
Over everyday events and topics of great seriousness and sadness.
Followed by laughter and jokes,
To wipe wisps of lingering sorrow away.
It’s a stunner when in mid-stride, or waking at dawn,
You find your speech has mysteriously gone.
Your brain races as does your breath and heart,
Trying to trigger your speech to restart.
Eyes frantically scan each face,
To see if they understand the garbled mixed messages you now make.
They can’t! They are trying! So are you.
Frustration, tears and despair are immediately shared.
As you wait controlling fear, for help to arrive.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 8, 2022
THE SPLIT
The split when it came was devastating.
The audiences vanished, hard to replace them.
My music burned and raged in me, with no release.
No one to give appreciation.
Loneliness descended, finance too, yet you never left.
Just increased the desire to write and write.
When will this virus take it’s leave,
So I can share the music trapped within me.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Apr 6, 2022
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Saying goodbye is never easy,
Last-minute hugs, tears, love whispered uneasily.
Saying goodbye when leaving forever,
Losing a country and heritage built up through generations.
Trying to tuck every scrap of remembrance in our hearts.
To console us on sad or terrifying days.
Wishing and praying for the kindness of strangers to ease our path,
Through unfamiliar new customs and regulations not like our own.
Praying to return one day to the land of our birth,
Or to take root in this land, now our new home.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 31, 2022
MEMORY STEPS
When purposefully stepping forward to do something, forgetting on the way. Standing still, hoping the memory returns. Oh, blow it has gone!
Turn and return, thinking hard on the way. Almost back where I started, when with an exclamation of triumph, the memory suddenly comes flooding back.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 26, 2022
I BELIEVE IN OUR WORLD
I believe in miracles, that birds can fly and so can I, in Aircraft in the sky.
I can believe in miracles, that food appears from the ground, in shops and fancy supermarkets, it can be found.
Flown in by aircraft from countries all around.
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.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 24, 2022
UNDER INSPECTION
Sitting facing the sea, writing at the beginning of the slowly cooling and vanishing day. Watching shadows lengthening casting their last caresses on the sand.
Slowly raising my eyes, I was being inspected by a mother duck and her two developing and inquisitive ducklings.
She let them come close enough to almost nibble my toes, yet ready to protect them at any hint of danger from me. One thought it was safe enough to sit snugly in front of me. Mum was still on watch.
Suddenly they rose as one and headed for the sea, mum taking up the rear. I gently raised my eyes to see what had alarmed them.
There on the sand standing proudly was the Drake, the boss of the family. I wonder if he said, “Watch it she’s a human, not all humans are kind.”
Sadly animals have to teach their young to be wary of humans. We also have to teach our young to be kind and protective of them, so we can live together in harmony.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Mar 23, 2022
THE LAST SEAGULL
The beach emptied, as visitors caught their ferries back home, or went to tidy up for dinner.
Three seagulls were left, determined to wait for the last available bird tasty nibble, as the tourist seaside tables were cleared.
A battle started, "it is mine, not yours, fly off."
Screeching broke out till only one seagull remained.
"The beach is mine" it declared, but it was a hollow victory, as no more scraps of food were available.
Finally with a last look around. He took off seawards skimming the water and soaring upwards to nest in the trees in the surrounding hills.
To await good fishing, or another scavenging day, when the tourists come back again to play.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Mar 21, 2022
World Poetry Day
Round the World a tapping sound
Plays catch-up as night turns into day
As this twenty-four hours
Swirls round to it’s end.
Words crafted emerge in a wave.
Poets produce their special work,
To showcase to their friends.
Subjects diverse from birth to death,
Love declared or lost recorded
With joy or soul searching despair.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 20, 2022
SINGING UP A RAINBOW
A friend invited me to a Carol Concert on the edge of a river, at a place known as ‘The Landing’ at Kerikeri, New Zealand. We went along totally unprepared was the arrangement was for us to meet and sit with some friends and their young family. The next time, the word picnic is mentioned, the car will be full of comfort goodies, the two main items being folding chairs.
It was a most wonderful experience, in spite of having to make an ungainly descent onto the blanket, assisted by several caring helping hands easing me earthwards. There were reassuring offers of help, to repeat the process of rising again when we wished to leave. I turned my feet to face the river, to hopefully promote health and safety, and keep tripping accidents to a minimum.
Once settled, I glanced around. It was a beautiful sunny evening; whole families sat together on the grass facing the stage, erected at one end of the ground. Quite a few people brought chairs, picnic baskets, and sun umbrellas. Everyone in the audience was prepared with song sheets to sing their hearts out when the time came. There was a choir, with soloists, musicians, a compare, and a conductor, all bustling about preparing their music and tuning up. What a din!
While we sat waiting for the concert to begin, I watched the activities going on around us. Several children ran about waving balloons and before long, some escaped and were blown into the river. Off they bobbed on their journey following the air thermals and the water currents. Screaming children ran alongside hoping to grasp them again if they happened to reach a bank.
A beautiful kingfisher sat on a branch, searching intently for a supper snack in the water below him, oblivious to the commotion in his otherwise tranquil surrounds. Ducks swam up and down begging for bread, and diving bottoms up for underwater goodies. There was quite a bit of duck procreation going on; no embarrassment there. One very ardent male nearly drowned his mate in the process.
Well-behaved trim seagulls did an occasional food-seeking flypast. However, with the ducks in possession of the riverbank, the gulls had to wait till the humans had gone, to do their rewarding work of clearing up any leftover food. Unless they were very cheeky, chaps who snatched food out of the hands of unwary eaters.
Just before the performance, a large striped, canary yellow and blue sun umbrella, was lifted by the wind and rolled along the ground. It was chased by several people, desperately trying to capture it before it escaped. It evaded capture and landed upside down in the river. There it provided great hilarity as it sailed majestically along, every now and then disappearing under the water, handle and all. Slowly, the umbrella appeared again from the depths, to repeat its performance at times during quite moving moments, in the carol singing.
The carols were a bit different from the familiar English ones, which was quite refreshing. It delighted me to hear Maori carols sung, and I followed the wording very carefully. The choir sang with gusto and the young soloists gave touching performances much applauded by one and all, especially loudly by their listening families.
The only discordant note was my almost numb bottom and fidgety legs. Just as I was about to give in, and ask for help to arise, a spit of rain fell from a lonely grey cloud. It stopped as soon as it began and suddenly a wonderful thing happened.
A magnificent rainbow appeared, hanging over the river with its beautiful colours sharply defined. I for one will not forget that enchanting evening. I hope to be back next year God willing, fully prepared for a comfortable seat and some companionable singing with friends and nature.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: The Landing NZ
Mar 19, 2022
THE FLUTE FARM
Friends invited us to an Opera Picnic, the first in the far north of New Zealand.
Our drought was broken a couple of days ago. We had a welcome burst of heavy rain followed by some light tantalising showers, a few of which landed on the morning of the event. With frequent glances skywards, our pleas turned to no rain please this evening.
We arrived at a beautiful large garden called The Flute Farm, the wife of the owner is a flute player, hence the interesting name.
We made our way laden with our picnic delights to a gazebo, joining others similarly engaged. Introductions were exchanged, new friendships made, as we settled down amongst friends to eat our picnic, tastily chosen and prepared by our hostess Marie.
We had an extra guest a cat, who attached itself to us using it’s nose to good effect, establishing the fact we had something tasty and might be a soft touch. It was correct on both counts.
We settled back to enjoy the feast and the company, keeping a wary glance skywards as the occasional black cloud lumbered it’s way overhead. As the feast ended the cat left for where it’s forever home was, well-fed and patted.
We sat back to enjoy the evening of Opera. It was wonderful, we were not disappointed at all. There was a variety of music to suit all listeners. The singers never lost us for a moment and at the end encouraged us to join in. Something several of us was longing to do, so ended a grand evening, to be repeated next year I was delighted to hear. Even the weather answered our request and stayed away, just hope it comes back tomorrow as we do need more rain.
Home to bed and moments before sleep, to relive some of the music, before sleep claimed me. Thank you for a wonderfully magical evening, everyone.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: The Flute Farm
Mar 18, 2022
BAY OF ISLANDS
Mar 17, 2022
PRICELESS RAINBOW
The sun shone out brightly shaking off a morning's storm. Displaying the brightest rainbow we have ever seen born.
Now is the time to see if the legend is true and a pot of gold is waiting there for you.
Oh, how you do deserve it of that there is no doubt. So let’s get there quickly before it’s visibility fades out.
Each time we nearly touched it, it disappeared it is true. Yet it was not disappointed that we felt.
It was the beauty and value of the rainbow and the feelings that it gave, of wonder and delight at nature, sharing such a spectacular sight before it finally moved.
The memory of the rainbow, money certainly will not buy. Priceless it will remain with you, in your mind's eye, till the day you climb the rainbow into the sky.
2022 © Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 12, 2022
Mar 8, 2022
CANADIAN ARRIVAL
We safely crossed the Canadian border and after arranging things for the night went straight into a night thunderstorm. At first, it was just dramatic thunder and lightning, dashing about in all directions. Both catch our fear, exhilaration and imagination with the drama.
The deluge followed crashing on our new mobile home's roof, I lay in my bed at the back, snuggly tucked in watching the performance. Suddenly a drop of water hit my face off the window ledge, then another, and another, quickly becoming a flow.
I called out to my friends at the other end of the mobile, “I am being flooded bring a bucket and some towels please.” With the lights on it was plain to see the flood was coming out of a metal-studded seam in the roof's connection to the wall.
I said, “I will take a look outside and see what is going on, my raincoat is nearer and I am the tallest of us, to be able to reach the roof and see if we can do anything.” They agreed, then out into the tempest torch in hand, I carried out my inspection. The cause was plain to see a roof drain stopped short of the seam down my bedroom wall, sending a cascade of water directly into it.
What to do was the next problem? A flash of inspiration chewing gum, which my friends seem to have in copious amounts. My next instruction was for us all to start chewing, till I had enough to block the seam and construct a longer drain. Then out into the tempest once more, two of us this time, one to hold the torch, the other to be chewing gum plasterer applicator untrained. The third member of the team had to report from my bedroom if our efforts were effective and to keep chewing gum for more supplies.
After hard, wet, arm and Jaw aching work, a shout of triumph, it is stopping. Thank goodness for that, as we cast off soaking clothing and went to inspect the bedroom wall. The flood had dwindled to a slight ooze, enough to be handled by folded towels till morning.
Needless to say, sleep was in short supply and at the first light of dawn, cups of tea were in order, to ease aching jaws after the chewing gum marathon. To add insult to injury the sun rose brilliantly, not a storm cloud in sight. Just soaking wet towels and clothing as evidence of the Shenanigans in the night.
Our next stop was a mobile home repair shop to see what could be done as a temporary fix till the end of our journey and before having to make our way home.
One of many unforgettable trips I made with my friends Audrey and Collin Wallace. They have taken their final journal, one of which I have yet to travel. Sleep well and thank you for your wonderful hospitality and friendship.
Every two years over a six year period I went to them for a months holiday and was shown large swathes of America, a bit of Canada, and a bit of Mexico. It was extremely generous of them and I retain the memories forever.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 7, 2022
LOVE DECLARED
Love is declared!
In every possible way!
In hope,
For this message of love
To ignite or blossom
Into an all-consuming flame.
In the loss of a love
Once shared,
Yet in anger thrown away.
In sorrow,
As on the final journey,
Your love makes its solitary way.
In new life’s arrival,
That you both made with love,
A constant reminder.
Celebrates,
All these feelings,
Good or bad.
Take courage if you are faint-hearted,
By a card or word let your loved one know.
You are tender-hearted and love them so.
By this act,
You might start a lifetime's journey
Of caring and sharing love between you.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 4, 2022
UNWELCOME VISITOR
A big green and brown grasshopper, flew in when the door was open a few days ago. We did not see it arrive, once spotted it placed itself up too high for us to catch it for release outside.
It is not welcome in our home as it manages to stay hidden for days and moves and hides in all sorts of places. That means we have to be aware of our visitor at all times of the day or night.
We have to make sure the bathroom and bedroom doors are shut at all times. Or else we might have a scary embarrassing encounter.
We have to check before sitting down otherwise it hops up your trouser or shorts legs. Starts us shouting and jumping about trying to shake it out again.
Sometimes it sits on a door handle or hand rail when you are about to open a door or to climb a stair. That shocks all of us grasshopper as well.
If we see it resting somewhere low down, we grab a plastic container and a piece of cardboard and trap it. Before gently lifting it up and rapidly putting it down the garden on a bunch of weeds, before retreating back indoors and shutting the door.
It is only then that we can relax in our own home, without being on the lookout for our elusive unwelcome visitor.
© Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
Mar 2, 2022
LOVE OVERFLOWING
While the world in torment fly,
You and I cling together
With kindness and love overflowing.
Trying to shut out all that is sad.
With endearments and caresses,
And hopes that things will get better.
Reluctant to untangle and become one,
To face the world to see what can be done.
Take care darling till we are again together.
© 2022 Penny Wobbly of WobblingPen
Photo: Pixabay License
































