Goodbye and Good Riddance to 2017 – And farewell some beloved Faces

20,000 views

I have been quiet for the past week or so – enjoying time with the family and Christmas!

Looking back at the end of the year and the title says it all. It is a year we hope not to repeat.

But there have been some good bits. I have a far better job.

And I achieved my small target for stats. Hit the 20,000 views for this year. While this is small fry compared to others – it was good for me.

Anyway – I have already posted about my future plans for the blog.

Farewell Frank Delaney

The end of the year brings about other reflections. I remember that 2016 was pretty brutal for taking our celebrities. (Ours? Are they ours? Wonder what made me type that?).

Looking at the list for this year it seems little better – though many of them did not get as much publicity.

One, in particular, caught my eye. I only found this out yesterday though it happened earlier in the year. This was Frank Delaney.

Frank Delaney
Frank Delaney

It was Frank Delaney who really fired up an interest I already had in ancient Celts – with his series “The Celts” and his book “The Legends of the Celts.” It led to a lifelong passion for the subject.

The Celts - Frank Delaney

 

The Legend of the Celts
The version of the book I have.

 

I can highly recommend both of these works – especially if first delving into the subject. They are very accessible, the first of what has become “popular history” books.

The series also introduced me to the work of Enya – who composed and performed the soundtrack to the series.

The Celts - Enya
The original cover of the Album that was the soundtrack to Frank Delaney’s series. Before Enya hit the really big time and it got a makeover. Somewhere (probably in the loft) I still own this version. On cassette!

 

It’s a shame his passing didn’t get more recognition – it is a great loss.

Happy New Year

So looking forward – here’s to a better new year for everyone. Happy New Year!

 

A Spring of Dreams – Distant Clattering

Distant Clattering

By Scott Bailey © 2014

A white wedge
Spotted in the corner
Of a run-down shop
Off the track
Joyful memories swell
And from the past
I hear the clattering
Of a metal bowl
Filling with a quarter pound
Of sherbet lemons

IMG_2054
Photo by Scott Bailey

 

A_Spring_of_Dreams_Cover_for_KindleAvailable as

Kindle

or hardback

from Amazon

or CreateSpace

 

 

 

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Last Minute Presents

If you are stuck for ideas – here are a few. They are original and different – plus being ebooks they have the advantage of not being hindered by delivery issues 🙂

Mankind Limited

Mankind Limited

Marc trudged on with life, marching in line with his fellow workers. Weighed down by the everyday burdens of life, the pressure to conform, to succeed or face destitution.

Yet he knew, in his heart that it was all wrong, the questions squirmed like fiery dragons in the pit of his heart, beneath his deepest darkest doubts.

Until they grew and burst his sanity, set him on a path of defiance and rebellion. A path that would cross three others – all like him seeking answers.

A path of danger and adventure that would see him marked as a terrorist and fleeing for his life. It would see him find love and heartbreak, hope and despair, Most of all, it would open his eye to the possibility of an ancient and powerful secret that might answer all his doubts and fears.

If he survived.

 

Buy Now


Thirteen Tales

As the title says – thirteen tales about ghosts. Yet, while ghosts feature in them all – not all are traditional ghost stories.

You will find the vengeful spirit but also the plaintiff one. The haunting message from the past and the playful spirits capturing the joy of their past lives.

Some of these visitors from beyond lead the haunted to peace and joy – others take them on much darker paths to places with no return.

Enjoy them – just don’t get too comfortable.

 

Buy Now


A Spring of Dreams

Three hundred and sixty-five poems in all shapes and sizes, sprung from dreams and emotion. Published day after day for a year. There are haiku, sonnets, katauta, lanturnes and many other forms – including free form. The moods are as varied as the forms and often reflect my mood on the day. There is sadness and grief, joy and love.

If nothing else – these can provide a small moment in everyone’s stressful lives to stop and contemplate the world in a different way.

 

Buy Now

 

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Shroud

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Silk
Like mist
Flows
Over mounds
And into dells
Following the ebbs
And flows
Shrouding warmth
Falling away
To heaven

#amwriting, #postaday

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

The Theory Of Learning

William had a theory. It was to do with the way people learned. That was why he never told anyone The Secret. That was why he had to lead them to their own discovery.

But was that right?

Mankind Limited

 

Find out more. Follow four people who society could not break as they explore the very idea of rebellion – with action!

In response to the daily prompt Theory

#DailyPrompt #iamwriting, #postaday

End of Year Nosedive

Well, this has not been the best of years. If stress were a commodity I would be rich. Think it finally caught up with me this week. Felled by a virus I succumbed to fever and panic and have been in bed for a lot of it.

Thus – I haven’t written any new blogs this week. While I will attempt to catch up it has somewhat scuppered my attempts to reach a target I was aiming for.

This year has been my best for views by far – I have already doubled the last best year. So looking for a new target I was aimimg for 20,000 by the end of the year. I am 800 short. Not likely to make that in the last 15 days of the year. Especially with the holidays coming up.

That said, I am still going to try! So prepare for an onslaught 🙂

Degrees

By Scott Bailey © 2017

By Degree-Radian_Conversion.svg: Inductiveload derivative work: F l a n k e r (Degree-Radian_Conversion.svg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Third-degree burns
First-degree murder
How we like to measure things
That hurt

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

In response to the daily prompt Degree

#DailyPrompt #iamwriting, #postaday

The Gorge

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Cheddar Gorge
By Diliff (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
Cheddar Gorge
Deep
With memories
Camping with friends
Caving
Rich smell of loam
Aroma of cheese
The chill of the cave
Holidays with family
Children eyes
Reliving the wonder
Of my youth
Deep runs the gorge

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

In response to the daily prompt Gorge

#DailyPrompt #iamwriting, #postaday

Saintly

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Through saintly blue hues
The predator emerges
Teeth all pearly white

In response to the daily prompt Saintly

Shark

#DailyPrompt #iamwriting, #postaday

Going South

By Scott Bailey © 2017

It’s all going south
So let’s all relocate there
It’s hotter at least

In response to the daily prompt Relocate

#DailyPrompt #iamwriting, #postaday