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 (first edition) copy of the graphic novel 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

Today marks my 49th trip around the sun, so with my fiftieth trip starting, I’d like to announce that I’m going to take this time and use it to create one last book.

I have been working on a lot of ideas for, or parts of, scribbles since iHuman came out. They’re apparently better than my last book, so I’m going to finish them off. Then Mrs Bob, who (unfortunately due to my dyslexia & ASD) happens to be my proofreader, will turn my ideas into something beautiful. 

So between us, we’re going to be working hard to make this book the very best it can be. I want to know that my last book is something to be proud of, and something that you’ll really enjoy reading. 

While you wait, please enjoy a complimentary scribble to while away the time. 

Laps

In a trip around the sun, a year unfolds,

A journey of time where stories are told.

365 days, a number so grand,

A mathematical marvel, you should understand.

Minutes in a year, let’s calculate:

60 minutes in an hour, we contemplate.

Multiply by 24, for each passing day

Equals 1,440, in this numerical array.

Now let’s dive deeper, into the math,

Leap years, a twist in the annual path.

Every four years, an extra day is gained

To keep the calendar synced and maintained.

But wait, there’s more, a leap second too!

To account for Earth’s rotation, it’s true.

Inserted sporadically to keep time in sync,

This intricate dance is a fascinating link.

A year, a journey, through seasons and tides,

From spring’s renewal to winter’s icy slides.

Birthdays celebrated, memories made,

A year’s worth of moments, in this time cascade.

So let us cherish each passing day

In this trip around the sun, come what may.

365 days, a mathematical feat,

A year’s worth of wonders for us to meet.

This is an open letter to someone who was a great friend to me. They gave me the confidence to pursue my sporting hobby, and coached me to the point that I was really starting to make progress in leaps and bounds.

Dear ***

First, thank you for the love, friendship and help you’ve given me over the years. You were like a younger brother to me; you never judged me for my eccentric behaviour, or my last minute cancellation of plans due to my autism getting the better of me. We shared some great banter and jokes on and offline. You were someone I felt I could almost be myself around, which is very rare, and this is the thing I miss the most about our relationship. I miss your lovely mum too.

I know that you’re upset with me because I wasn’t honest with you, both with things about me, and about certain events in my private life. I didn’t mean to cause you any upset. The first stems from not believing I’m good enough. The second… I realise now that I wasn’t in a good place mentally, and shouldn’t have continued down the path I was hell bent on traveling down at that time. I didn’t listen to anyone or even my own inner voice. I really regret the whole awful debacle and the pain I caused to many people. It was a stupid and damaging mistake.

I tried to message you once I came to my senses, to apologise for that, and for disrespecting so many things about my relationships at the time, including our friendship. However, I think you’ve either blocked me or just ignored it. That’s your prerogative and I respect that, but please know that I’m still hurting over the loss of your friendship.

I hope that in time you’ll be able to forgive, forget and move forward with our friendship again. Until then, thank you for the friendship we had and all you did for me. Please know that I’m always around if you ever want to grab a hammer and nails to rebuild this bridge… I wish you so much happiness in your future with your wonderful lady.

Stay Safe Brother x

I’d like to take the time to wish you all a very Happy New Year, this year has been a tough one physically, emotionally & spiritually. After all that, comes a time to reflect on the last 12 months, but rather than dwell on those mistakes & failings, I want to use them as a valuable lesson, as I regroup and rebuild.

I’d like to thank my truly amazing wife, co-pilot, and co-author of my life, Mrs Bob. You have had faith in me every step of the way, even when I didn’t myself. You are a truly beautiful soul and my twin flame. Thank you for loving me so much, as we look forward to building a wonderful year together.

Happy New Year & Stay Safe x

Mr & Mrs Bob

This is an open letter to my family, friends and to anyone who knew him. Those of you who know me personally, will know just how much I loved, adored and respected my late grandfather, Walter S Christian. He was, and still is, a role model and the benchmark of what a gentleman should be. He has had a huge hand in creating the man I am today. I’ve got lots of lovely memories of our time together, and just writing this makes me very emotional because…

The last time I saw him, was during a visit to see him in hospital on my way to Nottingham with a mate on our motorcycles, to spend another Saturday afternoon being Mallrats. I got my grandad a paper, and spent some quality time with him. When I left, he turned and said (unbeknownst to me) his final words to me. “You will come and see me again, won’t you son?” To which I replied “I promise.”  Little did I know I’d never get to tell him how much I loved him. This is a burden  that I’ve carried for a number of years. Fortunately when his wife, my grandma, passed away I was able to tell her.

As I said, I’ve lots of lovely memories of the man who’s the inspiration behind my whole brand. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me using the family name for my brand of poetry, and creativity. As he was a very talented artist, I have a few of his works in my home. He used to spend time with me at the kitchen table, helping me to paint my latest Warhammer figure from Games Workshop. He spent a lot of time in the shed and greenhouse. I digress down Memory Lane… but although I have all these lovely memories of my grandad, I’d like to ask   you – my family, friends and those reading this who knew Walter, to share any memories, or  information – anything you might know about Walter S Christian with me. 

Email them to me at 

BobChristianpoetry@gmail.com

Thank you so much. It will mean the world to me. 

Bob-Christian.com

Instagram @BChristianpoet

Twitter @BChristianpoet

Facebook @BobChristian

It’s been a while since I’ve shared my ramblings on life, so I thought we could sit down, grab a coffee or whatever hot beverage you find socially appropriate, (sorry Mrs Bob – lol) and have a chat. Please do pull up a chair and join me …

I’ve just passed my probationary period at my new job, sorry, did I not tell you? My bad. So, in June I was looking to move jobs to be closer to home. Petrol prices at the time meant my job of nearly two years was becoming ridiculously cost prohibitive. So I had a couple of interviews – one at a bakery, with a commute of about 20 minutes each way, which was at least half of my regular commute time to Exeter, and a lot fewer miles. (Incidentally, my work experience, first Saturday & full time job were all at a local bakery in Ashbourne called, Ashbourne Gingerbread owned by a nice gentleman called Robin). It felt like a fairly good omen, to me.

The other job was a warehouse manager position, less than two miles from home. I wasn’t sure about going for the second interview,, as it was well-paid in comparison to my previous job, and I have massive imposter syndrome. I had a chat with Mrs Bob, explaining it was a serious role with a lot of responsibility, etc. But she told me I needed to believe in my abilities and she knew I could do it, and I really did love the sound of the job. I had done a similar job for many years before, I might add. However, some years ago I had a work-stress-related breakdown when supervising an R&D engineering team, caused by working ridiculous hours. I’d said from that point forward that mental health is more important than money and fast bikes.

So, I had a think about it and, as per usual I got out my favourite deck of tarot cards and pondered what to do, if I was offered either of the jobs or just one job. I thought that the warehouse job would be my dream job. It was a small family business that provide equipment to various NHS, private individuals, and charities involved in ophthalmic care. It had a five-minute commute, with a much better financial package than the bakery, and only a few people worked there which I prefer. If the worst came to the worst, I’d take the job in the bakery, and continue looking for something else.

The bakery offered me the job and as I’d heard nothing about the warehouse job, I went down for my first shift. I instantly really didn’t like it, but it’s money and you do what’s needed. At lunchtime, I got my phone out of my locker to call Mrs Bob – it’s like a dinner date via iPhone. To my surprise I had a missed call from a number I didn’t know, and dun dun duuuh… there was a voicemail!

I’m really not big on phone or video calls, in general. It’s mainly my social anxiety mixed with a splash of autism served in a tall frosty glass. I tentatively called my voicemail, it was the director from the warehouse job, offering me the position! I was speechless, which as you know is quite something – my friends don’t call me “Not so Silent Bob” for nothing. I rang Mrs Bob and she was so happy for me. She told me that I need to be happy in my work … that money is secondary no matter what. So I should just go with what made me happy.

I called the Director of the warehouse job back, and told him I’d accept the position starting the next day. I was worried about speaking to the bakery, but Mrs Bob helped me by texting me a form of words to help me. To my surprise, the bakery said they were sad to lose me but they understood my position. So, I got in the Bobmobile and had lunch at the local Abbey as Mrs Bob works from home doing some really complicated stuff. I went home to a massive hug from Mrs Bob, and sorted out my outfit for the next day, as the job requires smart casual office attire.

I started work the following morning under the supervision of the existing Warehouse Manager, who is looking to retire. He showed me to my office, which has a beautiful view of the river on one side, and the car park on the other. I worked alongside him for just over a week then at a weekly staff meeting it was announced he was going to reduce his work to three days a week, which gives me two days where I unlock the building and I was effectively left to do things my way.

I’ve now been at this job for three months and I have just had my probationary meeting with the Director. This meeting went very well and I passed my probationary period. So I guess I should have put spoiler alert!

I’m very settled and it’s such a nice atmosphere. I’m pretty much on my own, it’s an interesting job and a much more mature role than previous jobs I’ve had. I’ve just got to slowly get used to not having a 15-year veteran there as a safety net, although I’ve a very good feeling that I’m where I’m meant to be in life, as it’s meant Mrs Bob and I are in such a wonderful place right now. We’ve been given the gift of time, waking up naturally, although I always still have a late alarm on… my autistic side HAS to know there’s an alarm on…

It’s meant we get time to go to beach with a coffee, watch the sea, chat and listen to a podcast. Breakfast on the beach, and in summer it was swimming at the beach. There’s a recurring theme here other than spending quality time with the lovely Mrs Bob. We like the beach, it’s a very special and grounding place for both of us. It’s also meant date-nights at village pubs, playing Lego Star Wars, Harry Potter or LOTR (badly I might add). But most importantly for me, it’s meant time to turn off the TV, and catch up on each other’s week to the sound of ocean waves.

So there you are, my friends, that’s kinda where I’m at right now. Oh, apart from co-writing a book with the lovely author, Daisy Burton, entitled “Spells and Scribbles, A Poet’s Guide to Witchcraft”, which I’ve mentioned in previous blogs. So, thank you for listening to this old fool’s ramblings. Stay safe x