Category: Well, I Never!

Birds Cats Feel GOOD! Nature Real Life Well, I Never!

Magpie Magic

By Tom Merriman on

Nature is amazing, isn’t she?

In the corner of the Garden is a little grave where Simba lies sleeping, since she took her soul up to the Great Cattery Heaven.

When she first departed, we marked where she lay with a simple but artificial red rose. We always say ‘hello’ to her, when we see her little place, but over time the rose became weathered and battered. It was replaced by another rose, but in time the same happened to that, and they vanished from the plot.

Recently, the corner of the Garden has just been bare, lawn-covered and bathed only in glorious sunshine.

Earlier today, two magpies were in the Garden, a mother and her baby. The baby was  lying on the grass, watching her mother busying herself doing what magpie mothers do. She hopped in the sunshine, and walked in the shade. Back and to to the dry tub where we normally leave water for the birds and other creatures to drink.

I went out to fill the tub, and the magpies flew just a little further away to a safe distance. I watched them for a while, as they watched me, and then I returned back inside.

A short time later, I looked out of the window, and saw the baby magpie lying on the lawn in the corner, seemingly pecking on something on the ground above where Simba lay. What the baby was pecking at was red.

I waited for the birds to fly away again before I went out to investigate what was going on.

Can you imagine my surprise when I saw a red rose on the place where Simba is sleeping? It was one of the red artificial ones, which have been misled for quite a while. But for it to be in the very spot where it lay originally, apparently placed there by a baby magpie – well, that makes you think.

I don’t know if you remember Simba, there are a few photos of her dotted about throughout the blog… she was a gorgeous black and white cat with the friendliest of personalities. Black and white. The colour of magpies.

Like I say… Nature is amazing isn’t she? Full of Fabulous surprises.

(The picture that accompanies this post is a quick and wobbly digital doodah of a magpie. Or that’s what it’s meant to be anyway! I can’t recreate the beauty of the real thing.)

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Feel GOOD! Legends Super Heroes Well, I Never!

The Superhero Diaries 5.2: Sia Klath

By Tom Merriman on

Hi… Lycralad here again from the Elite Force of Britain. Do you remember, last week, when I told you about one of our documents being unceremoniously leaked? You do? Good, I have another to share this week… although, this one is more of a news report that appeared in one of our local newspapers here. I think we found it wrapped around a portion of chips. Still, nothing too revealing appeared at face value:

The Mid Festival and Parade was thrown into disarray yesterday, Friday, when some space debris crashed into the top floor of the disused Midtown Building. Worried festival goers fled swiftly for cover, but with Mid being home to the Elite Force of Britain they didn’t need to worry for long.

In almost an instant, seven members of the super-powered group appeared on the scene. Monika Grave, aged 42, said they seemed to appear out of thin air.

Firetop and the Stealth Gentleman were carried by Lycralad to the rooftop, the Crimson Songbird flew herself and Psychic Sue to the top, and Muriel Magnificent carried the Diver. Invisible Charlie was also there, but nobody saw him, making the actual number of superheroes on the scene eight.

They made sure the debris was safe, with Firetop welding it securely into place into the side of the building.

Albert Bloo, 22, complained that it was now an eye-sore, but with Mid being an eye-sore in itself it didn’t matter. Mr Bloo quickly departed as the local residents began to boo.

They didn’t boo for long, however, as the nine superheroes (another one appeared on the rooftop, who Muriel Magnificent, 504, named as Sia Klath, one of the EFB’s friends and twentieth member of the group).

With the crowd cheering once again and the scene secure once more, the Mid Festival and Parade continued without further incident. Photos of the day will appear in next week’s Wednesday edition, unless the threatened industrial action closes the printing presses, in which case they will appear in the next edition of the Reporter, whenever that may be.

Shawn Rogers-Hammerstein, aged 50, took a few photos of the scene as it developed.

News was emerging last night that the debris that crashed into the building was actually a spaceship, with Sia Klath being the craft’s pilot. Nobody seems to know anything about this mysterious person, she hasn’t appeared anywhere else in the country, and doesn’t have a social media account.

We will be following this story in the aim of finding out a little more about this mysterious Sia Klath.

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Direction Feel GOOD! Waffle Well, I Never!

The Weeks, They Are A Changin’!

By Tom Merriman on

When I was younger, so much more younger than I am today, I used to love the TV schedules. I’d know instantly what day it was by what was on the TV at that time. In the evenings, of course, because the rest of the day was spent either at school or doing whatever homework was issued. I remember Charlie’s Angels being on on a Monday, The Bionic Woman on Tuesdays, I don’t think anything was on on Wednesdays, but it must’ve been. Probably a documentary or something, which I wasn’t interested in back then. The Six Million Dollar Man was on Thursdays and Mind Your Language and Space:1999 on Fridays. And then it was the weekend.

Obviously, that schedule I mentioned up there is how I remember it now. Some of those shows may have been years apart from each other, but in my mind’s eye that is how the schedules ran.

I’m making a few changes as to how this blog works. Yes, I’m always making changes, I know, but I’m making some more now. Well, I have to, now that I’ve incorporated Friday into the weekend.

I’m having (drum roll, please!) a schedule! (Not entirely a surprise, I suppose, all things considered!)

This schedule begins on Monday. So, as they say on TV, ‘Coming Up, on Beyond the Sphere’…

Monday – Short Poetry. Quick glances of life, written in a quirky and totally confusing way.

Tuesday – Creative Paradise. Yes, I’m getting creative once again. Watercolours may be involved. ATCs. Digital art. And possibly some clay modelling. I nearly fainted typing that, but there – it’s done now. Whether I get around to it is another thing. We shall see.

Wednesday – Anything Goes! Wednesday is the day that replaces what the rest of the blog has done since the very beginning. Anything and everything will appear on Wednesday… which may also include nothing, but hopefully not. Having a schedule should reduce the nothings!

Thursday – The Superhero Diaries. Yes, our old friends in the Elite Force of Britain, and their friends and enemies, return for their biggest and most action packed series to date! We need some action and adventure in the week, and this is an excellent way to launch into the weekend!

Friday – The Letters To The Universe. Yes, the Letters have been extended! Originally they were the launch for the weekend, now they are well and truly part of it!

Saturday – Six Word Saturday. Yes, this feature continues. Saturdays wouldn’t be the same without it.

Sunday – One Word Sunday. A photo challenge based on a word for the day. Also on Sunday, an extra post may appear for the Sunday Whirl, a weekly Wordle challenge where a piece is written including twelve pre-determined words. This feature will run on Monday if not Sunday.

As usual around these here parts (and very much like the Mansion!) nothing is set in stone. This is a very fluid blog, as I am a very fluid person. Things may run into each other, special challenges may crop up hither and thither, I may need to share an urgent photo on a Tuesday. As and when is what I always say, only now it’s as and when with an added schedule. There may be extra posts. There may be cliffhangers. And I’m even toying with the idea of introducing Guest Posts!

See? Things are a changin’.

I’m looking forward to them.

Have a fabulous Saturday and rest of the weekend! And don’t have nightmares…

…hehehe!

A scheduled Six Word Saturday post.

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Feel GOOD! Well, I Never!

The Twenty-Five Hundred

By Tom Merriman on

The Date: Saturday 24th March 2018.

The Time: All Day. And Beyond…

You may or may not be aware that I am fast approaching my 2,500th post here on Beyond the Sphere. I think I’ve passed that figure with the posts on my other blogs, but this is my main one, so it feels right to be celebrating the milestone post here with a little party.

I’ve designed a trio of badges, should you feel in the mood to advertise the fact that you will be calling by on the day:

If you notice, there is no mention of my blog on these badges, so they can be used for any celebration for anything that reaches 2,500 in the future. See – green and recyclable! I’m always forward thinking, I am!

Now, what was I saying? Ah yes. The party.

On Saturday 24th March 2018 from 00:00 until 23:59 anywhere around the world UK time, my blog will become a platform for showcasing talents. All that you, my wonderful visitor, needs to do on the day is to find a blog post that inspired, moved, uplifted, energised, or motivated you in some way and post a link to it in the comments in the party post (so please not to this post, not to the one you are reading right now, NOT THIS ONE (!!!), as that would spoil the surprise!)

Also, you may have a favourite post of your own that you’d like to share. Then do it! In the comments of the party post.

Also, you may provide a free service through your blog / site and you’d like to highlight that… well – do that too! In the comments of the party post.

Maybe you’d like feedback on something you do from other bloggers who don’t yet follow you; post a link to what it is in the comments in the party post.

Perhaps you have something else you’d like to share… then again, use the comments in the party post to do that as well.

The party is a little blogging get together with the intention of creating even more connections.

And perhaps, just perhaps, there may be the opportunity to get to close to 2,500 comments on one blog post as well. I don’t know if that’s a record, but it will be for this blog, however we will have to wait and see about that on the day.

Please pass the invitation on, everyone is welcome. We’re a friendly bunch here at the Mansion. I look forward to seeing you on the day. If not before (but please remember to keep your party comments until the party post is posted on Saturday March 24th 2018… have I mentioned that already?)

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Confusion Feel GOOD! Super Heroes Well, I Never!

The Superhero Diaries 4.9: Draft Declaration

By Tom Merriman on

The Elite Force of Britain: a group of superheroes who joined together to eradicate problems for everyday folk as and when they arise. Arch foes to groups of supervillains such as Supervillains United, they regularly thwart their despicable plans. Recently, however, the team returned from an as-yet-unknown mission which left the world pondering the possibility they had gone for good. Many celebrated the heroes’ return, but some, the supervillains in particular, were none too pleased, as this letter (found discarded in a skip) indicates.

Dear Superheroes,

Just as you made your ridiculous return into our world, to all the joy and celebrations of those who do not know any better, please let it be known that your disappearance has given us, Supervillains United, and the ever-expanding groups of supervillains in the greater world, the strength and direction to know that we can and will manage to overthrow and undermine and control and infiltrate and subvert and dissect and take over, bit by bit and piece by piece, every single strand and aspect and division of society that you seem to feel you stand to uphold and value.

Please be aware that we have the means to watch your every move, track your every motion, hear each and every heartbeat, and relish every bead of sweat that drip from your foreheads as you cower in fear and frustration at what your disappearance has called.

You will all, one by one, individually and then collectively, fall at our hands, beg for our mercy, and then, if we deem you worthy, will join our ranks. Those of you unworthy, of whom there are many, will be crushed and discarded.

We are the way forward. We are the controllers of destiny. We are united in our goal and you superheroes, even with your vast array of superpowers, gadgets and cunning, will find yourselves powerless and belittled in our mist.

And you will find your numbers diminishing once again. One by one you will vanish, disappear, or turn away. Your weakness is our strength, our food, and we are all hungry.

To start your decline, we already have one of your number. Captured as she was like a fly in a spider’s web, Parrot Girl was the first to fall foul to our advances. Simba Katiya was the victor in this battle. Parrot Girl didn’t stand a chance against the articulated lorry that she was thrown into the path of.

Keep your eyes peeled, ‘heroes’, for we know who our next target is. The world will soon be free. Well, free from your ‘protection’ as you seem to think. We can and will show the world the true meaning and cost of protection. This is our vow. You will join us or fall. We are united. Supervillains United. And we will not fail in our mission.

By Halloween it will all be over.

Kind Regards,

The Dropped Apostophe
pp. Simba Katiya
Prof-reader: Re’type – typo in parragraph for – mist should be midst – and the whle meaning of the letter seem’s too …soft

**********

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