This weekend I was honoured to be asked to perform a piece of poetry at my little sisters wedding, I’d got a piece written and ready to go, as I was planning on surprising my sister with it, at the reception.

I’ve not performed publicly since before covid, but I figured what the hell, how hard can it be, apart from the stage fright, which it turns out I still have. It wasn’t that bad, all things considered. So anyway without further ado I give you the scribble dedicated to my little sis.

Andi & Adam

On your wedding day, dear sister of mine,

May love and joy forever entwine.

May your heart be filled with endless delight,

As the two of you embark on this beautiful flight.

May your bond grow stronger day by day,

As you travel through life’s unpredictable way

May laughter and happiness be your guide,

As you navigate your journey, side by side.

May your love shine bright, like the morning sun.

May your union be as eternally strong.

May your dreams come true, both big and small,

And may love be the anchor that won’t let you fall.

As you say “I do” and you start this new chapter,

Know that I will be there, your forever supporter.

I wish you a lifetime of love and of bliss,

On this day and every day. Love you, little sis.

Bob Christian 2024

Recently I shared an old memory to one of my personal social media platforms. This included a picture of me not long after starting high school. It’s not a great photo and it’s before I had corrective surgery on my ears, as I couldn’t hear behind me as my ears stuck out.

I wasn’t diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder until I was forty years old and school wasn’t a place I really enjoyed as a result of those unknown issues, this topped with daily beatings, physical and emotional abuse from my so called peers. Made my teenage years a misery, that I’ve long since moved on from and made peace with things.

Over thirty years later some of the comments on my post were from kids I went to school with. Reminding me about some of the stupid mistakes and trouble I got up to from age 11-16. There’s two things that these people seem to conveniently forget.

The fact that after leaving high school, I’ve had a long and successful career in engineering, including science based, R&D & aerospace. Whilst also finding time to pen 5 anthologies of poetry and a well received book on witchcraft with my co author Daisy Burton. Means nothing to these guys.

I’m not the same shy, awkward little hobbit sized little bastard I was back then. Life changes, evolves & moves forward. I’ve risen from the ashes of my past to become, a respectable member of society & a member of the gentlemen’s brotherhood or Freemasons. While those who we’re supposed to go on to big things in life seem to have rested on their laurels so to speak.

The moral of this tale is that we ALL make mistakes as children, we all do stupid things while we’re growing up, you show me someone who claims they didn’t & I’ll show them a liar. The true test of a person’s character is whether or not 20-30 years down the line they’ve learnt a lesson from these incidents. If not we’re doomed to repeat them until we do.

I guess even after 30 years high school never ends..!

Stay Safe X

As many of you know, I’m a huge comic book fan and I used to run a geek website. Well, many years ago, I found a strange looking comic book, on a popular auction website, it was called Twisted Dark, well. Long story short, I’ve been hooked on the comics by its creator Neil Gibson ever since.

Neil has a (twisted) challenge…

“read the first two stories in either Twisted Dark or The Theory, and then try to put the book down. That’s it.”

I’ve failed miserably and as such own the entire run of “Twisted Dark” So the other night, it was a nice evening, and some blokes kicking a ball thingy was on, I retired to the garden. While I was there, i decided to try to scribble a little something fitting of the above challenge, so I give you

Twisted (Challenge edition)

A challenge dared, a tale to tell,

One chapter read, in darkness dwelt.

Brave souls are you to take the dare,

But Twisted Dark caught us in its snare.

With every page the mysteries grew,

And one by one, our hearts it drew.

If you’d like to check out what I describe as the “Black mirror of Comic books”, visit https://www.twistedcomics.co.uk/twisted-challenge/

I decided to go wandering in the shires today, as I like to do on a Saturday. I needed to visit the tip, so I figured I’d pop into Narnia, have a coffee and a walk, so o like any good elf, I popped into Stacked. It’s a lovely local shop that sells pastry goods, coffee, ice creams, smoothies and the like. I went in to catch up with the lovely couple that own it, have a coffee and to try their amazing ice cream.

This is a place I found completely by chance sometime last year. I’d been for my council of elders meeting, which is coffee on the local market square with other middle-aged men, to grumble about the world in general. When I walked down the High Street to visit some charity shops, and maybe nip into a jumble sale at the church, as these places are a goldmine of strange things, not limited to, but including: a copy of On the Origin of Species, and The Voyage of the Beagle by Darwin, a rarely-seen bullet that had been made safe, and a rare copy of the film V for Vendetta…

You get the drift. So, after catching up with my friends, I decided to head to Vire island, which is just outside my mother-in-law’s window. I’ve looked out of her living room window at it many times, but I’ve rarely been on the island in the twelve years I’ve lived here.

In winter, when the trees are bare, you can see over the island to the other side of the river. It’s teeming with birds and very friendly squirrels, and there are great photo opportunities . It’s nice to also try my bird identification app. As I’m sure you’re aware, I love all animals; at work, I have a family of squirrels, and various birds, including a pheasant over the river, who shouts at me in the morning. So, I throw nuts into the wooded area behind my office, to help them out. Hopefully one day they’ll pull some Disney crap and help sweep up at work or something.

I’m sorry, I’m rambling again. Anyway, after a lovely walk, I decided to put the good vibes and sunshine to good use, and work on some scribbles while relaxing in the garden. Which, by the way, is coming on nicely, we’ve just replaced our garden table parasol after ten years, and the apple and pear trees we bought for the patio are all doing really well. We’ve had several bees on our Hebe plants too, which we love to watch. Enjoy your outside space if you can this weekend.

Stay Safe, B.W.C

“Barefoot”

“Walking on Vire Island, hand in hand,
Nature’s beauty, a mesmerizing blend.”

Words, and images (c)BobChristian

Spell of Gratitude for Another Year

By the light of the moon so bright,
I honour this year with pure delight.
Blessings received, lessons learned,
Gratitude for each moment earned.

Elements four, hear my plea,
Earth, Air, Fire, and Sea.
Guide me through this year anew,
With love, light, and wisdom true.

SMIB

Words and images (c)BobChristian