Category: Daily Prompt On Word Press - Writers cramp! ©

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~9TH JANUARY 2016

11/1/2016

The Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 9th January 2016
Worst Case Scenario
Of all the awful possibilities, what’s the worst possible thing that could happen to you today? Now, what about the best?

Sunrise Sunset

WORST/BEST CASE SCENARIO
by John Yeo

The worst possible scenario today, would be the sad loss of someone very close to me. A phone call to say that a member of our widespread family had been taken ill and suddenly died, would be a heartbreaking blow that would be extremely difficult to endure. I don’t know how I could handle a scenario of this tragic nature. After the initial shock of this unthinkable scenario has left my imagination, the second part of this prompt should be very easy, much easier to respond to. “Now, what about the best?”
The best possible scenario I can dream up for today, a Saturday, would be for certain magical numbers to be announced, that would change all of our widespread families lives forever.
A substantial amount of winnings from these magical lottery numbers would settle several mortgages for several members of the family, and buy homes for several others. In other words we would be able to change the future lives of our family dramatically. We would have money left to favour our personal charities and enough left to enable us to be comfortable for the rest of our lives.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~8TH JANUARY 2016

10/1/2016

The Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 8th January 2016
Keeping up with the Jones ~ Tell us about the one luxury item you wish you could afford, in as much detail as you can. Paint a picture for us.

OUR LUXURY DREAM
by John Yeo

Luxury meandering for every winter, money is no problem to lead our dream lifestyle. We expect the best of everything, following the sun aboard our personal yacht. With a competent Captain and a reliable crew, Island hopping in the Caribbean Sea. Yes, this would be a dream lifestyle for us, sailing the world aboard our luxury vessel. Following the sun, seeking the warmth, our personal dreams coming together. No stress, no interruptions, nothing to fear, visiting the Greek Islands, India, the Sunshine Coast. Wherever we drop our anchor is our home eating the finest foods, prepared on board ship. Candlelit dinners for two under the stars, dancing, romancing, travelling the seas. Our luxury yacht is a magical key that opens the door to our dreamworlds.

Copyright. © Written by John Yeo ~all rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~4th JANUARY 2016

6/1/2016

THE DAILY PROMPT on WordPress 4th January 2015

Happy Endings
Tell us about something you’ve tried to quit. Did you go cold turkey, or for gradual change? Did it stick?

Image from the Net

SMOKE-FREE ZONE
by John Yeo

I think this post is a delve into how people have handled their New Year resolutions in the past. For me the most memorable resolution was made some forty years ago when I suddenly decided to give up smoking. I was brought up during an era when almost everyone around you, smoked, even your parents. There was a culture of smoking and smoke-related adverts everywhere you looked. Advertising hoardings, the television and newspapers were full of adverts for different brands of cigarettes and everybody you came into contact with, smoked.
I smoked behind the cycle shed with my friends, in other words I was subjected to peer pressure in my early days to go along with the crowd. I didn’t smoke much in those days, just the occasional drag or a small packet of five cigarettes when I could afford it. Cigarettes were considerably cheaper then and pocket money seemed to stretch further.
I continued to smoke for many years,
I was subjected to even more temptation to smoke, when I took up employment as the manager of a newsagents shop that also sold cigarettes. The cigarette company representatives would aggressively push certain brands of cigarettes, and I would receive many free samples of the current brand that they were marketing. The upshot was that I was smoking about 40 cigarettes a day, and I would agree that I was hooked on smoking. I did not have to go without cigarettes at any time as they were always available, I was able to walk downstairs at any time and purchase a packet of cigarettes. I did not even have to go out in the rain to the local shops to purchase cigarettes at that time, they were always available.
Then one memorable day, I decided to kick the habit. I am sure this decision was the result of a continuing advertising campaign that drew attention to the hidden dangers of smoking. My quitting smoking was certainly not the instant switching off and stopping, it was a gradual process that involved many failures, then stopping once again after finishing that very last, cigarette. First I switched to a low tar brand and I smoked on for a while, until one day I realised that the only way to stop smoking, was to stop smoking.
I then had the bright idea to chew sugar-free gum every time I felt like a cigarette. I was continually chewing gum, as I worked my way through the interminable craving for a cigarette. Sometimes I would accidentally chew the inside of my cheeks, actually drawing blood. Slowly but surely the craving for cigarettes disappeared and I continued chewing the gum for a while. I then stopped this rebound habit and I have never smoked again in the last forty years.
My reaction to the stopping of cigarettes were incredible, I found I could savour the taste of food, as my taste-buds began to come back to life again. My breathing became a lot easier as I was no longer continually choking up cigarette smoke, and I have saved a lot of money that would just have gone up in smoke over the years.
Stopping smoking forty years ago was a very good call for me.
Forty years after, I see the many restrictions on buying cigarettes and tobacco, brought in by the government having some effect on the young. Advertising is banned by law, cigarettes are no longer allowed to be displayed on the retailers shelves. Above all the most impact has been made by increasing the price of cigarettes and tobacco way out of the affordable price range of most young people.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo All rights reserved

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~28th DECEMBER 2015

30/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 28th December 2015 ~ Fearless Fantasies

FEARLESS FANTASIES
by John Yeo

“Tell me about the fearless Peter Strong, the man the victim copied.” asked the investigating officer abruptly.
“Oh Yes! I tell you the man is trouble! Last week he strolled into a den full of hungry lions! Yes really, lions! He walked out unscathed too. The lions took one look and yawned, as if he was one of them.”
“Hmm!” Murmured the police officer, “You say he is a character who is afraid of nothing, and he will do anything for a dare, to make money!”
“That’s right officer, the man is a total nutcase, capable of any trick in the book. Until that lion stunt. we were all sure he used a lot of trickery to fool the audience. No-one would ever suspect that a fool would try to copy the stunt.”
“How did the victim get into the cage?” Asked the policeman curiously.
“We don’t know! He must have got hold of a duplicate key from somewhere. They say he was bragging to his friends that the lions were toothless. He actually invited them to watch as he entered the cage, then the lions tore him to pieces. So much for fearlessness. The two witnesses are in total shock, incapable of answering any questions right now.”
“Where can I find this Strong fellow?”
“Certainly in the White Horse pub at this time, Peter Strong is a man of regular habits, he always drinks there.”

The pub was empty as the policeman arrived,
“Where is everybody?” he asked the barman curiously.
“Down at the mere! Watching that fearless fool Peter Strong, trying to walk on water! That's a broiling tumultuous whirlpool, he has no chance of coming out of this alive!”
Just at that second a crowd of people entered the bar, following a tall enigmatic looking man, who was grinning from ear-to-ear.
“The drinks are on me everyone! I’ll collect your losing bets later!”
There was a stunned silence at first, then everyone crowded around the bar ordering various drinks.
The officer grinned in recognition. “Ah! Harry the hypnotist, as I live and breathe. I know you well! Our paths have crossed before. I guessed mass hypnosis was the only answer. I am sure the man who knows no fear has no fear of going to prison, for fraud and causing death by false pretences.”

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~21st DECEMBER 2015

23/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 21st December 2015 ~
Safety First
Share the story of a time you felt unsafe.

ROUGH SEAS
by John Yeo

The most memorable time that I felt unsafe and insecure was a time when we were in the middle of the ocean, aboard a relatively small ship. We had experienced some quite strong winds, and there was a rough swell, that was rocking the ship a little. We were quite used to this traversing the Bay of Biscay.
On that memorable day we were eating a leisurely meal in the ship's dining-room, I was sitting opposite Margaret with a view of the open sea through the windows on the side of the ship. The dining-room was quite high up, on the fourth level of eight, or nine if you include the open Verandah deck.
As I looked up, the windows in front of my viewpoint were underwater, literally underwater! Then within a millisecond or less, there was an huge shocking bang, as an enormous freak wave hit the side of the ship. The shock reverberated through the dining room, tables were thrown over and large metal serving stations were upended. There was the sound of crockery smashing everywhere and food and broken glass was scattered. Several passengers were injured as the tables trapped people beneath them and the room was an area of total devastation.
All of the public rooms were affected and the damage to the fixtures and fittings was substantial. The passengers were ordered to return to their cabins as the clear-up began, we returned to find our television set had been ripped from the brackets that secured it to the wall. The maintenance department were obviously attending to the urgent areas of dangerously damaged fixtures and fittings.
We were confined to our cabins until further notice, and informed that our meals would be delivered to our cabins by the room-service staff. The Captain kept everyone well informed, of the ongoing situation over the internal tannoy system. The weather was still pretty rough and the seas were high but nothing to compare with the original freak wave that had caused such devastation. That was totally unexpected by the officers on the bridge and came literally out of nowhere.
We were confined to our cabins for almost two days, and for us that was the safest place to be. I certainly felt unsafe during those two days of high seas, and I was quite relieved when things were back to normal and our ship was sailing on calm waters into the sunshine.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~19TH DECEMBER 2015

21/12/2015

Image from the Net

The Artist’s Eye Is there a painting or sculpture you’re drawn to? What does it say to you? Describe the experience. (Or, if art doesn’t speak to you, tell us why.)

Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker"
by John Yeo

Wherever or whenever, I have ever seen a reproduction of this incredible work of art, I am entranced. I am sure this is a very allegorical piece of work, full of hidden alternatives. My thoughts are with the mind of the sculptor.
What was in the mind of the sculptor as he constructed this work of art? What was he trying to reveal through the deep concentrated reflection of thought revealed in the face of the subject?
When I ponder on the ponderer and think about the mind that is reflected in the depiction of a mind, set deep in thought. It is difficult not to equate the creative process, reflecting the mind of the creator with the creator of this work of art. Was the sculptor in a creative trance that guided his mind and his hands to portray such an intense reality. The figure of the man has his head bowed resting on his right hand in a position that can only be viewed as deep concentrated thought. One wonders what was actually in the mind of a man who could produce such an incredible piece of work.
In the mundane world of most people's reality, survival and the normal processes of day-to-day living, fill the crevices of an average mind to the exclusion of almost everything else. The dedication required to simply create something as intense and perfect as this amazing work of art must be phenomenal.
To me this represents the complete dedication and incredible mind power that is required to start, build, and complete any complex project or creative accomplishment.
Auguste Rodin's depiction of a thinker always sets my thinking processes off on a wild stream of thought. I can only begin to guess how other minds are affected by this incredible work of art, that would be like trying to read the mind of a bronze statue that is obviously deep in thought.
According to historical legend Auguste Rodin originally created this statue as part of a much larger piece of work. Apparently the figure was supposed to represent the Italian poet Dante Alighieri thinking about his incredible epical story of Paradise and Inferno.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~17TH DECEMBER 2015

19/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~ 17th December 2015 ~

"BECAUSE THE NIGHT"

Lenny was a rising star in his field, he had started at the bottom of the organisation and had been rapidly promoted to area-manager. Ruthlessly brushing aside his rivals, he had used every trick in the book to get where he was today.
The confidence levels of the superstar, super sales-manager were at the highest levels. He was a dynamo that never seemed to slow down, or break down. Record figures on his monthly sales graph told the story of his infinitely clever abilities.
One day he was ordered to attend a very special meeting with his well known, internationally famous boss.
Ricky Ricardo, was a guitarist who had made a pile from the recording industry and was now diversifying into other areas. Lenny was both intrigued and flattered to attend this meeting, he had always been a fan of his bosses music and he couldn't contain his curiosity.
Lenny stepped into a huge outer office and was directed to a seat by a secretary.
"Please take a seat, Mr Ricardo is expecting you and he is aware you are here."
"Thank you," Lenny replied. Looking around this outer office, Lenny noticed that the walls were covered with photographs and memento's of Ricky Ricardo's long established career in the music industry.
The secretary smiled and motioned Lenny towards the main office.
"You can go in now."
Entering the office, Lenny gasped in surprise to be confronted by an aged, wizened wrinkled man, seated behind a huge desk.
"Hi! Don't look so shocked son. We all get a little older each day. I know what you are thinking and I am not surprised at your reaction. Take a seat. I am impressed with your performance since you joined the company, and I want to make you an offer that I hope you will find difficult to refuse."
"Thank you Sir!" responded Lenny.
"Call me Ricky, How are you sleeping lately? I fully understand if you are having difficulty with your sleeping patterns. We all do after a while. That last deal you made, must have cost you an awful lot of sleep the way you ruthlessly ripped off those people for the benefit of the company."
Taken aback, Lenny just murmured, "I sleep OK!"
"Do you really? That's amazing, I always toss and turn after I have screwed a few people for all they have got the world. That's how I got to look like this, because the night is always the time your conscience should be bothering you. Are you sure?"
"Well!" intoned Lenny "Now you come to mention it, I do have a few problems and the Doctor has prescribed sleeping tablets."
"I knew it son, you have a long way to go yet, I am going to give you early retirement with a month's pay in lieu of notice."
Lenny was stunned. "But why?" was all he could get out.
"Call it justice son. That last lady you conned out of her life savings was a distant relative of mine. Think about it tonight, because the night is the time things begin to catch up on you."

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~13TH DECEMBER 2015

15/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily prompt on WordPress ~13th December 2015 ~ Hate to Love.
Tell us about a guilty pleasure that you hate to love.
~~~~~~

MY IRRATIONAL TASTE-BUDS
by John Yeo

I wish I could stop eating my friends!

Many years ago, for purely altruistic reasons I decided to give up eating red meat. I decided to forego the debatable pleasures of eating Pork, Beef, Lamb, Venison, and all the associated concoctions that are devised by clever chefs and marketing men, made from the slaughtered bodies of these animals. No more thick juicy red steaks, no more shoulder of spring lamb, joints of pork, or beef, in future, I vowed to eat a diet of just fish or fowl.
Nowadays my tastes have changed completely and I stick rigidly to my diet of Fish or Fowl. I absolutely adore the succulent taste of slices of a well-roasted Turkey or Duck or a highly flavoured Chicken, cooked in a hot peri-peri sauce. Another delight for my taste buds is the Fish element of my diet, there is nothing quite like a well cooked and well flavoured fish dish. I love the taste of a whole grilled Sea Bass, a tasty Kipper, or freshly grilled Sardines served on toast with butter drizzled all over the top.
Lately I am beginning to have many reservations and second thoughts about the Fowl element of my diet. I am a confirmed bird lover: All my life I have been fascinated with birds, of all shapes and sizes. I love birdwatching, and my garden has many bird feeders, that I keep topped up with sunflower seeds and fat-balls and I love to watch the birds as they feed. I also have several nest-boxes in the garden to encourage the wild birds to breed and produce eggs, that eventually will hatch and grow into chicks.
I am an inveterate bird-lover, I love everything about them, their beautiful plumage, their graceful flight and most of all the sound of their beautiful birdsong.
Then why, why, why, do I also love to eat my friends?
Eggs, cooked in a variety of ways are a mainstay of my daily diet. These are baby birds in a shell.
I often rationalise to myself that the quality of life for farmed chickens is not worth living and they are probably very unhappy, raised in the intolerable circumstances they endure before they reach my table. In fact we always buy free-range eggs and free-range fowl whenever we possibly can.
I hate the thought of beautiful game birds raised and shot in the thousands simply for sport, yet we think nothing of buying and consuming a brace of pheasants from our local butchers shop, during the season.
This is an indulgent pleasure that I will always be extraordinarily guilty about as it is the total opposite to my inner feelings to the point of becoming an irrational pleasure. I have come very close to stop eating fowl many times over the last few years, without success.

I really do wish I could stop eating my friends!

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~11TH DECEMBER 2015

13/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily prompt on WordPress ~11th December 2015 ~ If I Ruled the World.
You’ve been given the superpower to change one law of nature. How do you use it?

JUSTIN EQUALITY
by John Yeo

The ruler scratched his head with disbelief, as the diminutive little person stood before him with his chest raised, trying to look fierce. He knew the
awesome kingly power of his endless rule was under threat.
"You say you have the power to change one of the laws of nature! Which law may I ask, are you able to alter and how?" asked the King.

"My name is Justin Equality, I have been given the power to change the Law of Polarity. I am able to do away with the concept of positive and negative sides of an object or idea, and reveal the unique oneness of everything. There can be no more polar opposites. Good and evil, will become one entity, as will love and hate, peace and war. Each of the previous opposites will become one natural reality."
The King was very interested in this power, and his first thought was the relief that would come into effect, if there were no more wars, no more hate and a permanent absence of evil.
"I would like you to put this change into effect immediately, and I will reward you handsomely if you manage to do away with war and hate.
The wars we are fighting all the time, cost our exchequer a fortune."
The King had a secret plan to remove Justin from the kingdom, once he had changed the Law of Nature.
"Yes, this will be done immediately." Justin Equality replied and stood very still and concentrated his mind on the heavens. There was a crash of thunder as two clouds collided.
The King smiled as this signal for a new way of life sounded, and signalled to his guards to arrest Justin as planned. He was shaken to see that no one moved or took any notice of him.
"I order you to arrest this man!" He shouted loudly, but no-one took any notice, in fact one of his previously very courteous courtiers, smiled at him, very familiarly, almost as if he was his equal.
Justin then stepped forward with a friendly grin and said, "Look here my friend you are no longer any different than the man in the street now. You have authorised the change in the Law of Polarity, and there are now no Polar opposites. Light and dark, yes and no, energy and matter, and certainly no more rich and poor or King and subject."

Justin Equality has just equalised everything.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

DAILY PROMPT ON WORDPRESS ~8TH DECEMBER 2015

10/12/2015

Image © Copyright John and Margaret

Daily Prompt on WordPress ~8th December 2015 ~ Pour some Sugar on me

POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME

By John Yeo

The man in the black mask and cloak raced across the root tops and silently jumped between two close buildings. Far below, there was a distant sound of screeching sirens as the emergency services arrived at the building he had just left. The man smiled, and continued moving randomly between several more buildings, then he opened a rucksack and donned a white coat. Placing the mask and cloak with a pair of black gloves inside the bag, he calmly walked down a metal fire-escape to the hospital below.
"Good evening, Dr Airy," said a harassed looking Sister.
"Sorry I can't stop. We have an emergency on the ward."

"Good evening! Please go ahead, I am on my way to my office, if I am required, I am carrying the bleep tonight."

"Yes Doctor!"

There had been a serious incident earlier in the evening, the Doctor was informed by his colleague, Dr Jenny Fergusson.
"An intruder wearing black, has entered the canteen and mysteriously stolen a massive quantity of sugar."

"Sugar!" Dr Airy echoed. As his ears suddenly started growing and facial hair began sprouting rapidly on his cheeks.

Startled Dr Jenny, exclaimed "Dr! Your appearance is physically
changing! What is happening to you?"

"I'm afraid I am unsure, Dr. Fergusson, Please pick up that sugar bowl there, and pour it over my face. I am undergoing a physical change, since I started treating a patient with a radioactive disease. My protective clothing was pulled off by the aggressive patient. I have discovered that the only antidote is the application of sugar."

"Certainly Doctor, or whoever you are now." said the mischievous Dr. Ferguson. Pressing the alarm button.
Two orderlies dashed in and removed the now unrecognisable Doctor to the Psychiatric unit, where he remains to this day.

Copyright © Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.