Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Challenge

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Today, I thought I’d join in with Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka poetry prompt. I’ve never written a Tanka before. I have had some experience of writing haiku so hopefully, it shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, it’s just a case of adding two extra lines at the end of a haiku format, so instead of 5,7,5 we have 5,7,5,7,7…. in the first section you put forward the image in the reader’s mind that you want to convey and the final two lines should express the poet’s ideas about that image.

Colleen’s prompt words are:

Bloom and Late

So here goes… Be gentle on me it is my first Tanka!!

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Ahem, I’m not quite sure where that last line came from…. LOL!!!

Do pop over to Colleen’s blog and join in the challenge too…

Colleen Chesebro’s #Tanka challenge

Bye for now,

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Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge: Prompt Words – Gold and Sing

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For the 1st of December I thought it would be a lovely idea to join in with Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge.

The prompt words this week are gold and sing : Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge, Gold and Sing

To understand a little of what the following haiku is about I urge you to read a piece of writing that I enjoyed doing some time ago, when my bubble bath took on a bit of an extraordinary form that grew and grew into a swirling mass of monster imagination….

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Serena’s Bubble Monster

My theme for the following haiku….. is to continue this preposterous fun.

Thereafter, I will be writing a piece of flash fiction about the Bubbly Snowman for Solveig Werner’s Advent Calendar on the 24th of December so keep a look out for that on Solveig Werner blog. I’m hoping that the snowman might just melt your heart…

As well as this I am joining in with Ronovan’s suggestion to add photos to this post. This is in conjunction with the 52 day Photo Challenge – Extra – The Aran Artisan Photo Challenge– I’ve been baking my Christmas cake – which I’ll be adding extra sherry to!!! and lots of nuts, fruit, glace cherries,….. yum! The recipe is via Natalie at There She Goes. Thanks Natalie for the awesome recipe, it looks like it’s turned out well…

The mix …

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The cake… turned out heavenly, in fact I could still smell the wonderful Christmassy aroma well into the evening.

So on to those 1st of December promised haiku Snowman kisses…

Bubbly Snowman Kisses

The Bubble Monster,

Appears in all disguises,

Often he may sing.

A hearty Snowman song.

On Snowy Christmas days,

He greets you.

Singing golden verse,

He’s always chillingly sweet,

Jewelled admirer.

This Christmas Cracker,

Bubbly terror of the tub,

So hot, he’s soon gone.

Grab him while you can…

Watch out for his sweet kisses,

They might leave a mark.

Like all cool, chic guys,

He’s bound to rush away fast,

Swirling down the plug.

Before he is caught.

By much loved, bearded, guess who?

Prize bubble catcher.

Santa’s no nonsense,

He’ll get the reindeer on him,

Send him on his way.

***************

Trying not to cry,

Teardrops from frosty Lapland,

I sigh, once, twice, thrice.

Farewell, Adieu,

Poor Snowman – you melt my heart,

Santa’s cute rival.

Ha ha!!! Yes I did say it was going to be preposterous and I wasn’t joking. Well why not? Life is too short to be too serious!

Hope you enjoyed my silly haiku. I enjoyed writing it.

Stay tuned…… Kyrosmagica is planning on inviting you all to my Christmas party on this blog on Sunday 18th of December when you can pop by for a bit of virtual ice skating, and to share your news and your lovely links.

Bye for now.

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Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge: Magic And Stars

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It has been an age since I have written any haiku. Sigh!

Recently Denis at haiku hound commented on one of my posts, but added – where are your haiku? Good point Denis – his comment prompted me to write this post! Thanks so much for the encouragement. 🙂

Denis is a keen haiku poet, photographer and also has some stunning afghan hounds – do check out his blog: Haiku Hound – Afghan Hounds

I have really missed joining in with Ronovan’s weekly challenge. Unfortunately I have just been so busy job hunting, editing my manuscript, etc, etc.

Good news – I now have a new job… More about that soon. It’s a bit of a secret. Kyrosmagica likes secrets but all will be revealed soon. But one things for certain I doubt that you will guess what my new job is, as it is quite unusual.

This weeks prompt really caught my attention… Magic and stars. Kyrosmagica is all about the magical moments in life whether it’s simply reading a book, walking and observing the beauty all around us or engaging in creative endeavours. Kyrosmagica also tries to reflect on the deeper aspects of life – you can’t have light without a touch of darkness… But today, I’m feeling lighthearted so let’s celebrate love with Ronovan’s beautiful prompt words magic and stars!

My haiku is inspired by my recent visit to Tavira, in the Portugese Algarve. To find out more about Tavira do visit this excellent website: Tavira Uncovered. In this quaint town there is a bridge dedicated to love! All along the bridge padlocks are attached, with the names of partners, husbands, wives, and lovers!

This particularly bright pink padlock caught my eye. I do hope that Stefan and Claudia are still together!

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Magical Fireworks Explode

Stars twinkle brightly,

Magical fireworks explode,

When I’m near to you.

Stars padlocked our love,

In magical Tavira,

Love you forever.

The key’s ours alone,

No one else can break the bond,

Magic star of love.

This bridge links our love,

A magical star glistens,

On this pink full heart.

Tavira is such a lovely quaint place to visit, with an oldie world charm, so with that in mind here are some of my photos to tempt you:

Two views from either side of the lovers!!! bridge ….

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My daughter looking tiny amongst the quaint old buildings!
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There are some lovely churches in Tavira:

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Of course when love hits the mark it’s truly magical, and so is Tavira. If you’d like to see my other Portugal post do visit here: Portugal Missing You

I hope you liked my haiku. Do join in with Ronovan’s challenge.

Here’s the link to find out more: Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge – Magic and Stars

Oh and see if you can guess what my new job is…

Bye for now, much love. Happy Sunday!

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Poets For Peace: Promise People Peace

This is my submission for #PoetsForPeace.

To join in please refer to this post by Neha: Forgotten Meadows: Poets For Peace Submission Details for Praxis Magazine

Promise People Peace

I long for it to return,
The word I can no longer say,
But in my throat. It chokes:

-‘The bomb blast silenced me.’

This word, rich companion,
To Happiness, Joy, Love, and Hope,
Is lost, discarded. It whispers:

-‘I’m buried under hatred’s rubble.’

Now my words fragment,
Syllables of death and destruction.
Scatter, scare. I scream:

– ‘So the suffering grows.’

In a poultice of grime,
Black smoke, battered skin, broken lives,
Unspeakable, incomprehensible. My…

-‘Tragedy lives on.’

I am numb, that’s my new word.
The one that claims,
Whispers and holds me. Together ….

– ‘Binding my sadness.’

I need that unspoken word,
Wrap it tenderly,
In layers of bubble wrap. Pop ….

– ‘Break its bonds with an explosion of joy.’

Let’s find that sweet word again.
A simple expression of the human race,
Unite us in love. I say,

-‘Make me whole again.’

This wondrous word – our go to home,
Haven to our blessed children,
Let them know love. I pray,

-‘Nurture this gentle word.’

Please

Promise

People

Peace.

A subject that is very dear to my heart, please do feel free to comment below.

Bye for now. Hope you have a purrfectly peaceful day.

Ronovan Write’s Haiku Challenge: Rein and Quest

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I have to say I was struggling with Ron’s prompt words this week: rein and quest… until I began cooking the dinner. I asked my daughters what they’d like to have with their chicken and they said skinny chips. So I thought no problem, just bought them today, they’ll be in the freezer. WRONG!! Could I find those skinny chips anywhere …. no I couldn’t, somehow I’d misplaced them, they were so skinny that they’d vanished, evaporated into thin air. Along with my evidence – my grocery receipt- had I bought them at all or had it just been a wicked figment of my imagination? Who knows. Anyway, to cut a long story short I had to find an alternative. Of course there were big fat chips, potato croquettes, and two healthier options: new and sweet potatoes in the fridge. In other words every combination of potato known to man was present and correct apart from the much desired skinny fries! I suppose I could have made some triple fried chips… what on earth, maybe not. So as a consolation, I chopped up the sweet potatoes and added some herbs and a touch of olive oil. Much more healthy! So our quest for skinny chips became a quest for healthy eating, with the added bonus of a salad too!! Luckily no one complained, everyone loves sweet potato chips.

So here’s my haiku with that in mind:

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Photo courtesy of Freepik: Freepik.com

Sweet Tatty Fries!!

Rein it in darlings,

Quit that quest for skinny chips,

A ‘Triple fried’ please!

Mum’s lost the chip plot,

Rein in your greedy tummies,

Quest: sweet tatty fries!

Do pop over to Ronovan’s blog to join in the haiku fun:

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge-98- Rein and Quest

I’m currently reading – Amber Wake Gabriel Falling, oh I do love a pirate adventure… how exciting, more about that soon …. review to follow…. perhaps it might have been our pirate captain who stole my skinny fries… maybe Ronovan will have an angle on that? I hope I won’t have to make him walk the Kyrosmagica plank for his misdoings!
Amber Wake

Hope you enjoyed my haiku.. keep on smiling pirates!! It’s Friday tomorrow, doesn’t that sound good? Oh dear do take care watch you don’t succumb to too many glasses of vino…. or you might hear man overboard!

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My fun (totally not serious but nevertheless 90% true,) author bio on Wattpad – Link below.

Marjorie Mallon was born in Lion City: Singapore. She grew up in a mountainous court in Hong Kong. Her crazy parents dragged her spotty soul away from her exotic childhood and her much loved dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. There she mastered Scottish country dancing, haggis bashing, bagpipe playing and a whole new Och Aye lingo.
As a teenager she travelled to many far flung destinations to visit her abacus wielding wayfarer dad. On one such occasion a barracuda swam by. It stopped to view her bikini clad body, longing to take a big bite. With dogs' fangs replacing barracudas' teeth, she returned to her mother's birthplace: Kuching, Cat City. There, Blackie, a black-hearted dog sniffed her frightened butt, whimpered and ran away! Shortly after this extraordinary event an angry female Orang-Utan chased her unfit ass out of the Malaysian jungle believing that she was a threat to her babies! She still monkeys about, would love to own a cat, or a replacement Topsy but refuses to entertain murderous dogs, or over-protective monkeys.
It's rumoured that she lives in the Venice of Cambridge, with her six foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and her two enchanted daughters.
After such an upbringing her author's mind has taken total leave of its senses. When she's not writing, she eats exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surfs to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out she practises Tai Chi and Yoga on the crest of a wave. If the mood takes her she goes snorkelling with mermaids, or signs up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

She is a child of the light and the dark. Her motto is simply this: Do what you love, stay true to your heart's desires, remain young at heart, and inspire others to do so, even if it appears that the odds are stacked like black hearted shadows against you...

My Links:

#SoCS: Stream of Consciousness Saturday: Break/Brake

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Today I’m joining in a new link up for me – Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday. In her words: ‘Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “brake/break.” Use one, use them both, but whatever you do, enjoy!’ Here’s the link to join in: Linda Hill

Ritu from But I Smile Anyway and I were having a blogging chat about our kids exam nerves so that got me thinking that I’d like to write a post and a poem about that…The prompt words sounded pretty relevant to how I’m feeling at the moment. My youngest is going through her GCSE’s and this is such a trying time for her (and me!) as she suffers from exam anxiety. This dates back to her doing her SAT’s. She works so hard, and often I have to tell her to have a break! Well the upshot of this is she is well and truly exhausted and been pretty ill this morning at 6 am. So she needs to press on the brake a bit, slow down, focus less on the exam emotions regarding the exam she has just sat, and concentrate on getting ready and rested for the next one.

So with her in mind and all students taking exams at the moment here is a little GOOD LUCK poem with a crazy touch of humour to cheer you all up:

The Poor Invigilator Needs A Defibrilator

Factor in a break, a well-earned rest,

Press that brake pedal,

Breathe….. It helps to..

Fill your lungs as you count,

Whatever you do don’t vomit it out!

Can you imagine the mess you’d make?

The half-filled exam paper covered in puke,

Poor invigilator’s face turning stony,

Pulse weak, he’s having a bald-headed fit,

‘At least no one’s died,’ whispers some bright git.

Press that brake pedal,

Take a big breath in,

And let it all out,

Don’t rip the exam paper to shreds,

Heads turning as you run out for meds.

Press that brake pedal,

Take a big breath in,

And let it all out,

Don’t turn as white as a sheet,

Tip over your chair, and fall at the invigi’s feet.

Press that brake pedal,

Take a big breath in,

And let it all out,

Don’t pick that juicy zit,

Splattering blood all over your exam script.

Press that brake pedal,

Take a big breath in,

And let it all out,

Whatever you do don’t run out the door.

The poor invigilator might need a defibrillator.

Press that brake pedal,

Take a big breath in,

And let it all out,

Pray for the invigilator!! It’s time to believe,

Breathe, Break, Brake, Blast that paper….ACHIEVE!

Show those teachers at school,

Your mum and your dad,

That pesky invigilator,

Your kitty, your dog, the stuffed bear,

Those wonky exam tables and chairs.

Show ‘em a thing or two…

Shuffle those D’s to C’s, C’s to B’s,

B’s to A’s A’s to A* s, shuffle them all.

The good and the bad and the ugly too!

Breathe, break, brake… you can do it! ATISHOO!!

GOOD LUCK in your exams.

Do feel free to comment in the link below. Do you suffer with exam anxiety? If you do are there any things you find helpful to cope? I’d love to hear your tips..

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Links:

Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge

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I really feel in the mood for a Haiku Challenge this week. It’s been ages since I’ve joined in Ronovan’s challenge, sigh, I seem to be struggling to keep up with all the things I want to do, such is life. Never mind I’m here now at this present moment ready to write some haiku. Yippee!!

The challenge words this week are rain and lightning. Very fitting.

On one day this week I was on playground duty in the local primary school supervising the kids at lunch time, except it started raining so we had to have wet play… no this isn’t some kind of water fight as the name would suppose … it’s when the kids have to stay inside when it’s raining. Not the most desirable outcome for us adults or the children. Children need to let off steam… Especially, when the Year 6’s have their Sats…So I was really pleased for them and for myself!!! Ha Ha ….that it stopped raining and they were able to go out and play ball and run around a bit.

The first haiku is with the kids in mind:

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Puddle Temptation

Enormous puddles

Draw kids near sweet temptation

Lightning burst they run

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The above photo is of my hubby getting very wet in Brighton – he’s very fond of thunderstorms so this haiku is for him!!

Rain Cleanses The Soul

Rain cleanses the soul

Lightning palpates heart’s desires,

Thunder struck we yield.

Hope you enjoyed my haiku.

To finish off here’s a word spiral that I discovered how to do via Vashti – Do pop over to her blog to see her fabulous word heart graphics and haiku from last week: Vashti Vega Haiku and Graphics! and also Ritu did a post too : Ritu – Creating A Spiral Word Graphic

Festisite Text Layout – Spiral

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Here’s the link to Ronovan’s Blog to join in the challenge: Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Have a lovely Saturday.

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Links:

National Limerick Day:The Old Dog From Loch Ness

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Today is National Limerick Day, and Annette has encouraged us (she does this so well!) to write a Limerick: Annette Rochelle Aben’s Blog

Now I’m a bit of a novice at Limericks but I have written one once before on my blog – Easter Eggy Limerick so this is attempt no. 2 so be kind, be gentle with me!!

There are some rules -:

Limericks, like all poetic forms, have a set of rules that you need to follow. The rules for a limerick are fairly simple:

They are five lines long – keep it short….
Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with one another …
Lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other…. More Tricky.
They have a distinctive rhythm, oh my goodness!

That goes da dum-ing along like this:

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM,

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM,’

da DUM da da DUM,

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

You get the idea….. I’m da dum da da dum …ing along here!!!!!

They are usually funny. I hope …..

The Old Dog From Loch Ness

There was an old dog from Loch Ness,

He got in to such a big mess,

He ate his big paw,

Fun-gal… ‘fec-tion an’all!

He stopped for a mo’ to digest.

No! Stop it terr-ior ! There’s no way!

I like them their paws, Ness did say!

The old dog did flop,

He said, ‘Do have a pop?’

Then Ness said yes, do let me play!

Dog tipped his cap said, ‘eat my best,’

Then old Ness protested, ‘is this a test?!’

Old Ness was no fool,

But grub made him drool,

Sly Dog he did woof,’ be my guest!’

What hap-pens next you can but guess,

The dog’s a flee he is a pest,

A mag-ic mon-ster,

A beast! What a cur!

Old Ness’s skin was soon dog-gie vest!

Hope you like my limerick! Have you written one, or are planning to write one? Do let me know in the comments…

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Easter Eggy Limerick

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I’ve been having some computer problems and I’ve re-written this post twice. (I lost my first attempt!) So Mr Erase Limerick Pencil is laughing at me… how foolish can you be?

Anyway, perhaps losing the plot like this was meant to be as my first attempt was most probably worse than this one….

This is all new to me – I have never written a limerick before. As I had no idea how to write a limerick I resorted to a kids website, (thought a basic approach would help me!) :

Here’s the link:

http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-limerick/

There are some rules -:

Limericks, like all poetic forms, have a set of rules that you need to follow. The rules for a limerick are fairly simple:

They are five lines long – keep it short….
Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with one another … Tricky.
Lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other…. More Tricky.
They have a distinctive rhythm, oh my goodness!!

That goes da dum-ing along like this:

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

They are usually funny. I hope …..

Here’s my limericks with and without the word chocolate in them!

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EGGY LIMERICK No. 1

Pink egg is so big it is vast,

So vast it is such an egg blast,

I eat it in one,

Seems a lotta fun,

Oh them hiccups come kinda fast!

Esther’s challenge was to write the limerick with the word chocolate in it so here goes:

EGGY Limerick No. 2

Pink egg is so big it is vast,

Chocolate is such an egg blast,

I choc it in one,

Seems a lotta fun,

Them Choc Hiccups Come Kinda Fast!

That’s my effort, (ha, I tried!) for Esther Newton’s writing Challenge, do check out her blog to find out more.

Here’s a link to Esther’s blog : https://esthernewtonblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/my-weekly-writing-challenge-93/

Happy Easter, don’t eat too much chocolate!

Time for a bit of da dum da da dum Chillin’ Kyrosmagica Style… What you doing this Easter? Da dum da dum….. munch, munch..

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge#87 Class and Firm

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Ronovan’s prompt words this week, class and firm seem to be very appropriate judging by my new part-time role working in a primary school.

It’s been quite a week. We’ve had rain, fog, cold days, mishaps, sharing issues, arguments, little fights and then…. one day this week the fire alarm went off during the lunch break and the little ‘uns were very upset. They thought their school was about to burn down, and they wanted their mummies! So I did my best to reassure them that this was not the case and it was just the kitchens getting too hot!! Poor wee mites, when you’re little every drama ends up being a major crisis of disproportionate proportions.

It didn’t help that just before the fire alarm went off one of the little girls hurt her lip, adding even more drama to an already raging inferno!

So the Monkeying Around haiku below is with them in mind…. sometimes, I’d advocate a fair old dousing of over imaginativeitis – only in extreme cases you understand! But if all else fails a big hug from mum is always a good idea:

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MONKEYING AROUND

Raging school drama,

Classes monkeying around,

Firm, but fair dousing!

Oh and today I came across one of many little cherubs. This one with curly blond hair and the brightest blue eyes, but even little cherubs can be challenging! This little fellow only responds to the words kind hands when he’s been a bit naughty – kind hands involves putting your little hands up in the air and proposing kindness to your fingertips… miraculously it seemed to work, perhaps he is a bit theatrically inclined. I hope when I ask him to do it again his hands oblige!

I mentioned it to my youngest daughter and she laughed and admitted that she was really naughty in reception!!! In fact she was so naughty that she used to have to stay in sometimes as they wouldn’t let her out to play! And I thought she was an angel, us mothers, huh!!! She sounds like a cherub too….

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BE KIND

A little cherub,

Not naughty just challenging,

Firm words then kind hands.

Do pop over to Ronovan Writes, to join in with the haiku weekly challenge fun:

https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-87-classfirm/

Hope you liked my haiku.

Have a lovely weekend, have fun, but remember no monkeying around!

Bye for now,

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Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

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Stay tuned…… Kyrosmagica is planning on inviting you all to my Christmas party on this blog on Sunday 18th of December when you can pop by for a bit of virtual ice skating, and to share your news and your lovely links.

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