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M.C. Newberry

Mon 15th Mar 2021 11:21

I agree. The circumstances were profoundly dispiriting. The main
stream media has its own responsibility in this sorry episode, its
obsession with "the story" encouraging what occurred, with no
reference to or apparent thought for those most intimately affected
by this tragedy - whose own absence and lack of endorsement got
no mention in the reports of what occurred on Clapham Common..

Comment is about Sarah Everard RIP (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

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Mike Bartram

Mon 15th Mar 2021 09:48

Thank you for reading and the nice comment!

Comment is about Happy Mother's Day (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

<Deleted User> (13740)

Mon 15th Mar 2021 06:42

In our dreams we are free

Comment is about PIPE DREAMS (blog)

Original item by d.knape

<Deleted User> (13740)

Mon 15th Mar 2021 06:40

It's called heaven. Only there we are not judged.

Comment is about I WONDER (blog)

Original item by d.knape

<Deleted User> (13740)

Mon 15th Mar 2021 06:33

I know the feeling, sometimes its difficult to let go of objects even associated with a person and memories get cluttered to. I wish you new beginnings xx

Comment is about Spring Clean (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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Stephen Atkinson

Sun 14th Mar 2021 22:36

Thanks A.G. it's just a photo of the daughter pre make-up ?
And, Julie, have you checked under the bed lately...??
And thanks ?

Comment is about Evelyn! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

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C Richard Miles

Sun 14th Mar 2021 20:41

Haven't posted much (or written much) recently but here's an old one appropriate for today (although I lost Mum in 2016 at the good age of 91!)

Going through & sorting some of my past poems as there's still not a lot to doo during lockdown & have recorded (not very good quality) Audio versions of most of them now so updating some of the old blog posts where they were lacking.

Comment is about Mothers' Day Wishes (blog)

Original item by C Richard Miles

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 18:37

Terrifyingly brilliant the photo is enough to give me the shivers, I think I will have trouble sleeping tonight.? glad I don’t have any old leather suitcases stored under my bed.

Comment is about Evelyn! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

A Girl

Sun 14th Mar 2021 17:10

OMG! ???

I love it! Really scary photo as well.


Comment is about Evelyn! (blog)

Original item by Stephen W Atkinson

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Stephen Gospage

Sun 14th Mar 2021 17:01

My thanks to everyone who liked this poem and for all the interesting comments.

It is intended mainly as entertainment but I suppose that its political standpoint is fairly clear. There are many contradictions concerning fee-paying schools. On the one hand, a system in which a large part of the ruling class and the professions come from schools which are only accessible to a small number of people (7% of the population) whose parents can afford to pay the fees is obviously unfair and socially regressive. On the other, it is extraordinary how many 'ordinary' folk seem to fall under the spell of these types, the 2019 election being an example.

In addition, I don't deny that, as Leon says, many people make sacrifices and choose to send their children to public school by going without holidays, new cars etc. (Not sure about takeaways!). Of course, millions of people are excluded from making this choice, sacrifices or not.

Perhaps this is envy, as M.C. suggests (I'll watch out for the status police), but my real objection to these schools is that they turn out many people who exude an assumed superiority over everyone else. Again, one cannot generalise and I had several ex-public school colleagues who were not at all like this. But I have also met many who are, unfortunately.

Yes, Greg, what do we do? This is where it gets difficult. Restrictions on people's freedom to choose schools are problematic (even if, as we said, the choice is only available to some). In the end, we have to tax fee-paying schools properly and put resources into state education to reduce the incentive to choose the private route, as well as making society less unequal in general. This is where writing a poem is so much more fun than having to make policy!

Aviva - an ex-public school pupil once said that to me when I parked his Rolls for him. Ok, that's not true, but I wish it had been. Or perhaps I don't.

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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raypool

Sun 14th Mar 2021 16:50

Thanks Keith, Julie, Stephen, Aviva and Holden for the likes.

Glad that you enjoyed this Stephen. A bit of light relief shall we say?!

Ray

Comment is about ROYAL VISIT (blog)

Original item by ray pool

A Girl

Sun 14th Mar 2021 16:01

Hi Branwell,

Did you know that there is an actual job called professional gamer? According to esportsearning.com there are five gaming millionaires in the world. An average monthly salary varies from a 1 000 to 5 000 dollars per month. Blimey!

Comment is about A Grown Up? (blog)

Original item by branwell kent

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Graham Sherwood

Sun 14th Mar 2021 15:29

The sad thing about this sorry event is that it is a conundrum, vis-a-vis respect for a poor murdered young woman versus a current law about people gathering because of Covid.

Two things I think are relevant from the merest snippet that I heard on BBC R4 this morning.

1. The official request for a vigil was denied and the refusal was grudgingly accepted. Ergo would not have taken place.

2. Whoever takes a megaphone to a vigil?

I really wanted to write a piece about this but in the end, couldn't think of a sensitive way to do it, so I just wrote a piece called 'vigilia' (not a punt for my own work) which encapsulated the idea of a vigil.

Sorry for this long-winded comment but it is a contentious event and for my money, both of you are right and wrong.

Comment is about SHEEP ON CLAPHAM COMMON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sun 14th Mar 2021 15:19

M.C I didn't say that you were condoning murder, but you did seem to be belittling those who wanted to show some solidarity and attempting to diminish their intelligence and even their right to have a reaction 'if they didn't know the lady personally'.

Those that chose to break 2m distance or 1m+ (face-covered distance) did deserve to have a proportionate response - I don't know the percentages but there's plenty of people who think it got too physical and wasn't a proportionate reaction.

I wasn't there so I'm not going to presume whether those picked away from the rest had done anything in particular worse than the rest, but to my mind either everyone should be fined etc or nobody not some arbitrary sub-set, that's not any sort of system to be proud of if it were.

Comment is about SHEEP ON CLAPHAM COMMON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 14th Mar 2021 14:56

ARB - who is condoning murder here? The point remains that we
are in an age when almost any situation brings about some public
display of an agenda-driven sort. We are becoming slaves to
another form of "mob" mentality that, in this instance, presents a
very real danger to others. Grief IS a personal thing and should be
respected as such, not used as some organised "call to arms"
that is always easier said than done. In short....tragic to relate:
Those who fall prey to murder's awful advances
Are poor victims of cruel chance and circumstances.
GF - sheep need sheepdogs.

Comment is about SHEEP ON CLAPHAM COMMON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Greg Freeman

Sun 14th Mar 2021 14:45

As many of his slaves did. Belated justice.

Comment is about BRISTOL FASHION (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Greg Freeman

Sun 14th Mar 2021 14:43

Thank you, MC, our regular Write Out Loud spokesman for the Met. To describe the people who went to Clapham Common to express their outrage, anger and despair as 'sheep' is dismissive and contemptuous.

Comment is about SHEEP ON CLAPHAM COMMON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sun 14th Mar 2021 14:03

Are you hearing bells ringing in your ear
For any women you know and hold dear
Who could be molested or murdered wherever they go
Are you hearing bells? Didn't think so.

Comment is about SHEEP ON CLAPHAM COMMON (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 13:25

Thank you Stephen A and Nigel for the likes.

Comment is about Happy Mother’s Day (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 13:24

Thanks for the likes folks and for the great comment Nigel.

Comment is about Colours In Every Flavour (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sun 14th Mar 2021 13:11

Perhaps it is about wearing face-masks preventing children from having to grieve for passed away parents and grand-parents?

Comment is about Nocturne Of Choice (blog)

Original item by Adam Whitworth

<Deleted User> (29585)

Sun 14th Mar 2021 12:47

This is an ultimate EPIC poetry?

Comment is about Snollygaster (blog)

Original item by David Lindsay

<Deleted User> (29585)

Sun 14th Mar 2021 12:45

Sounds funny?

Comment is about A hardened criminal's good deed from prison on Mother's Day (blog)

Original item by hugh

<Deleted User> (29585)

Sun 14th Mar 2021 12:44

Well said. Dreading going to see a dentist these covidful days...?

Comment is about Dentist, Doctor and getting to The Hospital (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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Nigel Astell

Sun 14th Mar 2021 11:13

I found butterflies
I found roses
what mattered most
words left inside
I never stopped
loving you Mum x

Comment is about One Pink Rose equals another Day Without You (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 10:00

Thank you Hugh? for the comment and like. Thanks also Nazia and A Girl for the likes.

Comment is about Happy Mother’s Day (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

<Deleted User> (30611)

Sun 14th Mar 2021 09:47

I know a few people who have made sacrifices to be able to send their children to fee paying schools. So they don't drive the latest cars or go on holiday to far flung places. They don't smoke, drink, or buy takeaways.

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Hugh

Sun 14th Mar 2021 09:44

"Mum, what's it like to have the best daughter ever?"
"I don't know , you'll have to ask your nan she's very clever."

Comment is about Happy Mother’s Day (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

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Greg Freeman

Sun 14th Mar 2021 09:14

Just to put you right, MC, it isn't envy ... it's contempt.

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 08:57

?

Comment is about A Grown Up? (blog)

Original item by branwell kent

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julie callaghan

Sun 14th Mar 2021 08:53

Thank you

Comment is about Happy Mother's Day (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

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M.C. Newberry

Sun 14th Mar 2021 01:30

Pungent stuff - with some good rhyming. Be careful or "they" may make class envy a hate crime and have the newly formed Status Police come knocking. ?

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Greg Freeman

Sat 13th Mar 2021 20:36

Cripes, Stephen, you've given the game away! Question is, what do we do about it? Where do we start?

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sat 13th Mar 2021 20:23

Thank you Nigel and Stephen for your comments. Originally it was supposed to be a premise rather than a premises however I think did those products exist they could be sold on market stalls, door to door, in quaint little shops, supermarkets, and on-line, why not! You could probably buy gift-packs too.

Thanks also to everyone who has clicked 'Like' for this poem. ?

Comment is about Take Stock (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sat 13th Mar 2021 19:44

Good show old chap!

Comment is about Public Schools (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

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clyde McCulley

Sat 13th Mar 2021 18:54

Brian,
Thanks for reading and your comment about the old kitchen tin box .
Glad it brought back memories.

Clyde

Comment is about the old kitchen tin box (blog)

Original item by Clyde McCulley

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Your Royal Poetess

Sat 13th Mar 2021 18:01

Artwork by: Denny OW ?

Comment is about Missa Pro Defunctis (blog)

Original item by Your Royal Poetess

Holden Moncrieff

Sat 13th Mar 2021 17:25

Agreed! ?

Comment is about What-If Analysis (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

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Stephen Gospage

Sat 13th Mar 2021 17:21

An exhausting journey, Keith, but a fine poem. Thanks for the explanations.

Comment is about Desolation (blog)

Original item by keith jeffries

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Stephen Gospage

Sat 13th Mar 2021 17:00

Thanks for this interesting poem, Aviva. I suppose the shop is an online supermarket, where you can order the emotion to suit your need, whatever it may be.

Comment is about Take Stock (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

A Girl

Sat 13th Mar 2021 15:58

Barefoot and naked.

Comment is about LIFE (blog)

Original item by M.C. Newberry

A Girl

Sat 13th Mar 2021 14:07

Thank you Hugh.

AG

Comment is about hugh (poet profile)

Original item by hugh

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Nigel Astell

Sat 13th Mar 2021 13:15

Weaving needles
in and out
when finished
multi-coloured sweater
check it out!

Comment is about Colours In Every Flavour (blog)

Original item by julie callaghan

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Nigel Astell

Sat 13th Mar 2021 13:01

Thanks for your likes
Aviva
Julie
Stephen G
and
Holden.

Comment is about Dentist, Doctor and getting to The Hospital (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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Nigel Astell

Sat 13th Mar 2021 12:57

I think we keep
the ones we like
someone nasty then
steals them away
we buy the others
to get our own back.

Comment is about Take Stock (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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Nigel Astell

Sat 13th Mar 2021 12:24

Absolute relief all round
head no longer spinning.

Thanks Aviva

Comment is about Dentist, Doctor and getting to The Hospital (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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Bindu Trigunayak

Sat 13th Mar 2021 11:27

Thanks @Aviva?

Comment is about I am high on your Love! (blog)

Original item by Bindu Trigunayak

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sat 13th Mar 2021 11:03

Thank you for commenting Julie, and an interesting question. I spent quite a while pondering it, in the end I felt that various emotions probably come in a range of colours rather than an exact one-to-one arrangement, the potential is there for a given colour to be met in more than one emotion?

Comment is about Take Stock (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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julie callaghan

Sat 13th Mar 2021 09:34

I see one of my favourite shops in this poem which sells beautiful threads and wools in an amazing range of colour. I wonder which colour each emotion would be. Over to you.

Comment is about Take Stock (blog)

Original item by Aviva Rifka Bhandari

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Aviva Rifka Bhandari

Sat 13th Mar 2021 03:49

A weight off your shoulders
Without losing your head.

Comment is about Dentist, Doctor and getting to The Hospital (blog)

Original item by Nigel Astell

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