Sad News

My father-in-law died on Saturday. Most of you know that my husband Hamid is Egyptian. Hamid was going out there to see him anyway on the Sunday, as he had been ill but this happened suddenly. It was very sad that his father-in-law died the day before he got to see him.
Hamid needed to get out to Egypt at once, to be with his family and also because the funeral would be rightaway, ( Muslim tradition).
I rang British Airways to change the flight to Cairo and was told the price to change it from the Sunday to the Saturday was £201! This seemed pretty extortionate to me. I explained the situation to the BA guy, but he said 'sorry that it was it costs'. He wasn't interested in hearing why we had to change it. I was hoping that BA might have made a reduction in the circumstances, but I suppose it was too much to ask for a little compassion at this sad time.
Hamid and I always use BA when we go to Egypt-many times over the last eight years. Surely it's not too much to expect a little loyalty back at times like this?

First prize Swanwick children's novel competition

Last week I had my free week at Swanwick in Derbyshire. This was my prize for winning first prize in the Swanwick children's novel competition with my book for teens called 'Body Trapped'.
On the Saturday night I received my trophy, which is inscribed with my name.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week at Swanwick and made lots of new friends.
I enjoyed the poetry work shop run by Gwyneth Box. I missed the 'writing for children' workshop as the two clashed, unfortunately.

We had two fascinating after dinner talks one by Ben Crystal on Shakespeare and another by Jane Wenham Jones. When I asked her to sign her book afterwards she said' I know that name you were shortlisted in my competition last year,' which was good!

On Tuesday we had a trip to Newstead Abbey, the former home of the poet Byron. It is a fantastic place with the most beautiful lakes and grounds.

I have come back from Swanwick with loads of ideas for poems and books. Now all I have to do is get on with the writing!

Afghanistan

I was so sad to see the harrowing pictures of the hearses, bearing the soldiers who had died in Afghanistan, passing through the streets of Wootton Bassett. But what a grand job the folk of this town are doing in paying them this homage. Robert Hardman's article in the Daily Mail on Saturday moved me to write this poem;

Via Dolorosa, Wootton Bassett


It's right on cue, the rain again
almost as though it was ordained
to underline with further gloom
the passing of these souls, too soon.

The tenor bell tolls its tribute,
the hearses edge along the route,
heads bowed, union flags half mast,
there’s no ceremony as they pass.

‘He was special,’ a mother says,
before her eyes he now lies dead.
They made the final sacrifice,
and leave so many shattered lives.

Tears for the unknown soldiers flow,
a baffled granddad holds a rose,
everywhere the picture bleak-
the bell will toll again next week.

Foreign fields will still bleed
such the powers have decreed.
Remember: husband, son, not ‘service man’
Our hearts are broken, Afghanistan.

Shirley Elmokadem July 2009

Swanwick win again!

Last year I was ecstatic when I won first prize in the Swanwick Poetry competition.
So you can imagine how I felt when I found out last week that this year I have won first prize again, this time in the 'Writing for Children Competition.' That means I get another free week at the Swanwick Writing School in August ( Hayes conference centre, Derbyshire).
I will receive my trophy then. I can drop off the poetry glass trophy ready for this year's recipient. I had been wondering how I would get it back. It's quite heavy and would have cost a bit to send in the post. I wonder why they don't award smaller trophies that winners could keep.
I don't want to give it back! Then next year unless I perform a hat trick and win again ( or can afford to go anyway) I shall have to send the next trophy back. I believe the one I receive this year is more of a shield so it might be easier to send back.
Anyway, I am looking forward to going to Swanwick again. I hope I meet up with friends I made last year.
Check out the web site. You can also see my winning poem last year.
http://www.wss.org.uk/competitions8.htm

What is this?

I bought this box at a boot sale. The section in the middle is retractable and fits inside the actual box. (It does not pull right out). Along this 'top' section is a narrow indentation about the size of two cigarettes lying next to each other. I wonder if this box does have anything to do with cigarettes. I have googled boxes but can't see anything like it. Ideas anyone?

So very lucky

H is away visiting his family in Egypt so yesterday I went down to the coast with my son his wife and my lovely granddaughter, who is nearly two.
This was the first time I had been with her to the seaside. It was a bit breezy, but soon warmed up. How I enjoyed the day. She is such a joy to be around so curious and into everything. We made sandcastles and hunted for shells, which my granddaughter collected in her little blue plastic bucket. Then we had a paddle in the sea. The tide was out and there was plenty of sand to walk on. It was magic walking along with my little granddaughter and I felt truly blessed.
I also remembered the times spent with my two children on the beach. We didn't go on any fancy foreign holidays, we couldn't afford it.
But we managed a week away in a caravan in Weymouth or Dorset. More often than not it was raining, but we didn't care. I treasure the memories of those holidays and as I stood there playing with my granddaughter on the beach it felt like it was just yesterday I was doing the same with her dad.
Cherish each moment folks, the tide soon comes in.