Tuesday 23 October 2012

100 words ...returning...


I haven't done one of these for ages. Have been exceptionally busy since term started. (Goodness, how I hate that excuse! But I really have!) 
I have been working with my (92 year old) Grandfather to help him write his memoirs. Each week I visit him (he's in a nursing home) and download the next lot from the dictaphone. I then type it up before visiting him the following week and sorting out parts which I couldn't quite make out.
So far we have covered his war years and his working life as well as what he could remember from his childhood. It has been absolutely fascinating.
As we draw near present time I will have to embark on the editing process; so far I have been pretty much typing up verbatim. The aim is to eventually make it into an e-book for all the family to read and maybe to get a copy professionally bound for him (Thanks to the lovely SJ for that suggestion)
I am going to go through his photos and scan those in to be inserted at appropriate places and have also been adding links to elaborate on various things that he has mentioned.
Oh yes, been teaching my (enormous) mixed age class of 35 year 4 and 5's too!
And been starting to look through my nanowrimo I did in June to edit that.
Parents evenings are looming and I STILL haven't got the decorating done. 
But I am NOT bored which is always a good thing (in fact I don't think I can remember the last time i was bored to be honest. Sometime before becoming a parent perhaps?)
Anyway enough of that. I will endeavour to do some more of these as it is a great way to practise my writing. Still no luck with any competitions...


Here is this week's piece.
Link to Julia's place is http://jfb57.wordpress.com/tag/100wcgu/



Mists of time



As the steam rose from her mug, June stared through the once clean windows . The pain would pass, they told her, we’ll keep in touch.
That had been in Spring.
Words spoken after her darling Doug had finally lost his battle.
Summer had been and gone, the pain remained sharp as ever.  Promised visits not made. “Call soon. Must dash. X ” the text had read.
 Autumn brought its muted hues, lace cobwebs jewelled with crane flies. A golden anniversary remembered alone.
A buzz from a drawer: “Plane booked. All 2gether 4 Christmas x”
And winter will bring them home.  


Thank you for reading. I will be on half term next week so will visit the rest then. I am hoping to put some sections of my nanowrimo on here; comments, as always, welcomed.

20 comments:

  1. What a lovely last line. I thought it was going to be so sad but now she has her family to look forward to.

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    1. Thank you...not sure if it quite fits...had to use the prompt. I think "The onset of winter's chills would be warmed by her children's presence." Or words to that effect...

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  2. That was so bitter sweet - sad yet hopeful, that she will see some family soon. That sounds like a very big job writing the memoirs of your Granddad!

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting, I'll visit the others during half term if not before.

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  3. I really enjoyed this Anna - it's very understated. My favourite bit is "the once clean windows" - you tell so much of the story in those few words. I like the short sentences too - they really add to the mood of the piece.

    I think I would have left out "Words spoken" to make it read "That had been in Spring after her darling Doug had finally lost his battle."

    I'd also leave out "the text had said" as that's implied by the words before. That gives you an extra 6 words to use elsewhere.

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    1. Thank you...that all makes perfect sense. Classic error to hit publish too soon. Must spend more time re reading!!

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  4. Moving. The visits not made and promises not kept are almost sadder than the battle lost.

    I like the choice of name "June". It somehow balances the complete desolation of the story a little bit.

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    1. thank you so much for reading and commenting; I thought June lightened the tone a little too :)

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  5. Nicely done. The sadness of bereavement but the promise of families reuniting.

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    1. Thank you- I didnt want to make it too cliched though...

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  6. Wow, you do sound busy, but it also sounds like really interesting projects.

    I love your approach to the challenge. I'm glad that winter will bring some comfort.

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    1. I love to be busy :)
      Thanks for reading and commenting. Looking forward to reading through all the others properly at the weekend if not before...

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  7. and winter will bring them home. :) after a crazy summer, she needs that; hopefully, your life is whirling in control with all you have to do!

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    1. Not sure about the control! Trying to keep head afloat more like.Thanks for reading :-)

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  8. G Sussex
    I enjoyed the imagery and the twist at the end. Think it's great what you are doing with your grandfather and the ebook to come for all the family - all the best with the project!

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    1. Thank you. I'm loving the project..feel privileged to have the chance :-)

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  9. I understood it at the beginning (her sense of loss felt deep) then I got confused with the sentence fragment after spring. Absolutely loved this line: "Autumn brought its muted hues, lace cobwebs jewelled with crane flies."

    Then with, "A buzz from a drawer," I was lost again.

    I just read the other comments before pressing publish, so now I realize it's her children who are coming home. I hadn't gotten that at all. I thought she'd been thinking about friends who had abandoned her in her grief.

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment; it is interesting how something which seems so clear to the writer can so easily be misunderstood; I will endeavour to be less cryptic :)

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  10. Very sad, but touching at the same time. Even at the end, there is love.
    Great work!

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting. Love conquers all :)

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