Monday 29 October 2012

Zombie Run





Zombie Games
Jason stood, waiting, watching and planning; planning which one to take out first. He tightened his grip around the handle of his chosen weapon; a sword he had spend hours sharpening and cleaning that it shone like a diamond. Standing alone, he blocked out all sounds and focused.

He heard them first. The rasping, gurgling and moaning. The dragging of heavy feet across the fine sand. Then he saw them.  Slowly, a group of about fifteen headed his way on the prowl for food. A rotting stench filled Jason’s nostrils but he knew that would pass once you got used to it and he was. He edged closer towards the group of moving rags.  And then they smelt him; the thin layer of sweat covering his body, the pure blood pumping through his body, the meaty flesh of a young active brain.

Filled with a burning hunger, each zombie now moved with purpose towards the food. They were fast but Jason was ready. Instead of holding back, he moved forwards, his sword raised and he swiped. One Zombie was down; a fallen heap as the head rolled. The only way to kill a zombie was either blowing its head off or decapitation; Jason preferred the latter as he was trained to fight hand to hand combat. Another zombie fell, another and another. It was just too easy. But zombies were stupid; walking dead driven by hunger with no sense of anything other than smell for food.  As long as Jason knew where they all were, there would be no surprises. And he knew exactly where they were as his sword danced through dead flesh, fountains of blood covered him but still he marched forward. Blood soaked sand covered his boots as he stepped over limbs, heads and torsos. Only three left. With a single wipe, he felled two. Now it was one on one. Taking time to clean his sword, Jason surveyed the carnage as the final zombie stumbled blindly towards him.  Time to toy. Jason stood, his sword by his side. Closer the zombie came, snarling, spitting blood and staring with dead, unseeing eyes. A bloodied hand reached out, so close as it tried to grasp at the living flesh. With a flash of metal, the zombie head was on the floor as the body fell in a puddle of blood. Lifting the head up high by the scalp, Jason held it up for all to see.

The stadium erupted into loud cheers and flag waving. Flowers were falling at his feet. It was never ending as the sound vibrated right through him.  But he was used to this celebrity status; Britain’s top sportsman, the world’s best in the new sport of Gladiators verses Zombies.

The Zombie Apocalypse hadn’t turned out to be as apocalyptic as feared.  Thanks to Super Soldiers and the tenacity of the human race, it fizzled out before the Zombies could take control.  And a new sport and hero was born.    

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Written for the Zombie run over at Jezri's Nightmares  with Lisa McCourt Hollar

Friday 26 October 2012

End of An Era





I can't quite believe it is here. Tomorrow (Friday 26 Oct 2012) is the last day for my Hubby in his job with Harrods after 20 years! Yes 20 years!!! We knew it was coming; despite the redundancy being voluntary he didn't really have any other choice. But since handing in his 60 day notice, the time has just flown and when he gets up at 4am tomorrow, it will be for the last time! Obviously to celebrate this, he will wake me up to share this momentous occasion with him . . . . . Cheers. I look forward to it.



  No doubt falling back to sleep will be impossible after getting up to feed the cat who, on hearing the alarm will think it's breakfast time. It's like Bagpuss in this house; when Hubby wakes up so does everyone else . . . Except No 1 Son who would sleep through the Zombie apocalypse and then get the hump at missing it!





 Anyway, back to Hubby. 20 years. Wow! When he first turned up at 'The Corner Shop' in 1992 as a greasy, long haired 20 something he had no idea it would be such a huge part of his life. . . . .


In January 1993 a bomb exploded from a litter bin on the Brompton Road outside Harrods. Hubby was on duty on the door where the litter bin stood. The bomb smashed and blew in the windows. No one was hurt. Hubby saw out the rest of his shift  and then went to the pub where the world and his wife bought beers all night for him.




And then in 1996, his life changed forever . . . . . . .  for the better (of course) . . . . . . . I had arrived like a breath of fresh air, like the Tazmanian Devil, like a whirlwind (take your pick) and Hubby didn’t know what hit him! I love this store! I indeed was a kid in a sweetshop/toyshop/bookshop/bakery and the handbags!!!!! (But that could be another story if I convince Hubby to part with some of his money for a Chloe or Burberry or Chanel . . . . . the list is endless). He went from the 'I don't want a relationship eternal bachelor' to being a couple. (Hee, hee).


Then in the summer of 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales began dating Dodi, the son of 'The Boss' of  'The Corner Shop'and then August 31st happened. Amazing scenes along the Brompton Front with a sea flowers never ending. The amount of people in the dead of night was just as many as during the busiest part of the day. And then after finishing the night shift, we walked over to Kensington Palace to view the flowers and sign the books. To this day I have no idea what Hubby wrote in the book.


In 1998, I left Harrods to have No 1 Son. Harrods was the place where No 1 son had his first haircut which was a painless experience and where we bought his first pair of shoes.

 Obviously since I left, life for Hubby at work has been rather quiet. Well, apart from winning a couple of golfing trophies. But it has been an important part of our lives. Without it, we would not have met or met some wonderful lifelong friends.

I can’t believe Hubby is leaving but am pleased he is I guess. The long days and travelling are getting harder. Although I shall miss the bonus Christmas pudding and other gifts.  But I won’t miss those white shirts or the 4am alarm . . . unless we're off on holiday!


Happy last day at Harrods Hubby!!!



xxx

Tuesday 16 October 2012

#poemwalk2012




I couldn't resist having a go at this. I'm not a poet. So this could be a carcrash. But I fancied the challenge. I have gone on an imaginary walk for this; noway would I go walking in the woods at night . . . don't you know there's Night Stalkers out there. . . . .

Hope you like despite not actaully going on a poem walk other than in my head.

Oh yes, nearly forgot. Thank you to bullishink for hosting another crazy writing opportunity!
Here goes. . . .
The Night Stalkers
Slipping silently behind a cloud, the Child’s Moon felt safe as darkness reigned.
Jagged shadows moved, creeping forward, reaching and stretching like a witch’s grasping hand.
Ever consuming but always hungry.
Never satisfied but always full.
The cloud drifted forcing the moon to cast her innocence on the stalkers of the night. Ribbons of light shimmered in the once murky mist as the Shadow Stalkers scurried. 
Life returned. Padded paws prowled. A heartfelt howl to the moon echoed through naked trees. Thankful to roam. Sniffing at the air; the scent of prey filled her nostrils. Silently she ran through the biting wind but welcomed its presence. For when it was pitch black, even the wind stopped breathing.
An owl swooped. A warning as storm clouds rolled in, thunderous in their intent, bidding the darkness to return.  Shadows loomed, patiently waiting. The air grew still. Blackness hungrily swallowed the last shining tip of light.
The Child’s Moon could do no more, smothered, suffocating in the squall, longing it to pass before the rise of her glorious sister.  But the Shadow Stalkers feasted.  For it was their night.


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Sunday 14 October 2012

3 Miles of Smiles, Chat and Tea


Surely it's worth sponsoering a quid just for wearing the wigs!
I’m not sure of the focus of this blog today as it has been a pretty awesome day for many reasons. (I'm also not too sure for a title for it either!)What started out as a fund raising event has turned into so much more and a blog seemed a fitting way to capture my thoughts of the day and those involved.

It started with a charity walk for Macmillan, a charity who cares for and supports those living with cancer. It was a walk of only 3 miles but it was the first time this event had taken place for this charity. But I’m sure not the last!

Kick off was 11am at a pub for registration and collection of our t shirts to wear on the walk. The sun was shining on this fabulous mid October morning and it was warm! Pretty good considering when I got up at 7 there was a frost covering the ground! The sea was a gorgeous blue and there was not a cloud in the sky; perfect for a coastal walk from Brighton Marina.
Not bad for Mid October!!! Brighton Marina Oct 14th 2012

14 of us took part in our group plus 2 dogs and a friend’s little girl. We chatted, took pics, laughed, met other people, chatted some more, drank tea, laughed some more and had a thoroughly good time whilst raising money.

On finishing the walk, we received a medal and a certificate as well as wearing big smiles for our sense of achievement. That smile has not disappeared. People’s generosity has seen to that.
We did it!!!!!

When I got home, I had discovered that Number 1 Son had cleaned the house from top to bottom; loaded and turned on the dishwasher, shiny kitchen and hoovered- the 8 legged beastie that has been under a book for the last 4 days has now gone.  Yay! Hubby will be pleased when he gets home from work and I’m beaming because I don’t have to do it! Thank you! I’m now cooking No 1 Son his favourite dinner! What a lovely home coming. Not that 3 miles tired me out, but I thought No 1 Son did this for me. . . . Sadly not . . . . . He wanted it nice and sparkly for his dad when he got home.  

Then, with only 3 quid to go from hitting our target, a school girl donated from her pocket money. It just blew me away.

And then, a very dear friend whom I have never met made a donation. I came across this person through blogging, well writing really and from then on she has become one of my greatest supporters when it comes to my work. It amazes me how you can create such strong friendships without actually having ever met; such is the power of the written word! And to think when I first saw 5 sentence fiction, I ummed and arred about entering. But glad I did with ‘Wicked’ as I have met some truly wonderful writers and friends.

And to top it off, our target of money raised for the charity walk has long been busted and it keeps rising!

I think doing the walk as a group has really helped; we all know the same people for a start which can make raising money tricky if doing it individually. There’s only so much to go round and being skint is part and parcel of life right now for many of us; which just makes the giving more amazing!!

So thank you to my fellow walkers who made today such fun! Thank you to all the people who have sponsored us. Thank you to all those who have pledged to sponsor us on payday. Thank you to No 1 son for cleaning!! And thank you Macmillan Nurses for doing what you do. You’re amazing!

Love Me. xx
Me and the Mad American. xxx



 http://www.justgiving.com/Angela-Manvell   Visit our page. It's open for the next few weeks. xxx