Category Archives: Postcards 2023

Unknown's avatar

A round robin to sign off for the year

by

As I sit typing I can hear the wind gusting outside. It is dark, and even the robins are quiet now, leaving the storm to hold the stage.

It’s a big storm, called Henk, and it’s sweeping over the southern half of the UK. Trees are down, water is spreading, trains are disrupted, and many of us are beginning to wonder whether it’s worth trying to get to work tomorrow. Bizarrely, it is also warm – 12 degrees at midnight last night according to my mobile, and not much colder now unless you’re standing in the wind. So far the power is still on.

So is the evening news. One story was of lives saved by the courage of aircrew in Japan as they helped 379 passengers exit a burning plane. The next was of deliberate killing and destruction.

Makes me wonder what the news is in the world of robins. They were out and about today, chests puffed, singing into the wind, full of the excitement of life. Hope that’s how you’re feeling where you are – bold and ready for the year ahead.

I’m hoping it will be a good one, and that I might have a little more time now I’m signing off on my daily blogging. I’ve enjoyed the writing, but it’s taken a chunk out of each day. By far the best of it, has been your company. Thanks so much. I hope to be back occasionally.

Meanwhile … here’s to you, and to 2024!

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2024

Unknown's avatar

It is nearly done – one more blog to go

by

“We are travellers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

My year of daily blogging is nearly complete! I began on the 3rd of January 2023, so I plan to end on the 2nd of January 2024.

The whole process has been far more testing than I appreciated when I started. And not just for me. Often the writing has had to happen in the early hours, which has slipped the blogs into a new day, although I’ve still counted them as in, ticking them off one by one.

Now the journey – this little stage – is ending. It’s given me deadlines, and it’s given me courage. I’ve learned that there is time, and how to insist on it, even though finding it has often disrupted the daily patterns of others. To them I owe huge thanks for their patience, and likewise to those who kept on reading. I’ve so appreciated and needed the generosity of both groups, especially as all I can offer in return is a project that has felt not quite real, like painting on water. Perhaps 2024 will be the year I can turn my writing into something with a little more substance.

One more blog to go …

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2024

Unknown's avatar

Happy New Year! May 2024 be filled with hope

by

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” John Lennon

I’ve been thinking about each letter in the little word ‘hope’ and finally decided to attach the words below to them. There are so many alternatives it took a little while.

H – health
O – opportunity
P – peace
E – encouragement

I wish you all of them. Thanks for your company.

Georgie

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023