Living Life Twice

I deas exist in things are words  frequently resounding in my head...  It's a constant reminder to look carefully at the things that surround my daily existence, for they possess much potential for writing stimulation. A conversation with a long time friend has given rise to things we collect and tend to hang onto. He told me he had several suitcases filled with old t-shirts he had acquired across the years. His wife regularly implores him to throw them out, but sentimental attachments has made this an unpalatable thing to contemplate. She has suggested he take photos of them and then throw them out. Heaven forbid, he replies. This has given me the spark of an idea. I have suggested he write a book of t-shirt stories, or set up a photographic exhibition using his favourite fifty tees. It is obvious there is some potential in these archived garments. However, my suggestions have failed to garner much support or indeed action. On the other hand, I found mysel...

  So, yesterday I spent my writing time in our small garden. It was the perfect morning for writing outdoors. Quiet, balmy air, sunshine, no traffic humming in the distance, no machine noise, solitude in the garden. I also took time to wander about and take photos. If my illustrating skills were better, maybe I could have indulged in some drawing as well. I had an idea... Maybe the photographs could spark some short little poetry pieces.  That way I could share with others how the place we find ourselves located, can be quite an inspiration -if we sit still and observe closely. If we make a mindful effort to look around at what's in our immediate view. Ideas are all around us waiting to be discovered. ‘Sometimes the easiest way to start writing is not to try to think something up, but simply to write something down- and what better place to begin than with what’s is right in front of your eyes.’ Andy Griffiths, 'Once Upon A Slime' So, po...