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How very fascinating

Joey Jones10 Comments

List your top 5 grocery store items.

Congratulations, WordPress! You have certainly excelled yourself! The mother of all assignments for us today.

‘Write your shopping list ‘

Yikes, this is surely going to be a post to draw the crowds.

OK, let’s do it. Coffee, number one every time. I would surely panic without this in the cupboard.

Then there is the oat milk to join said coffee. I’ve *kissed a lot of frogs to find my prince amongst the selection on the shelf of alternatives to milk. Some are absolutely rank, some not very nice, others at a push, a couple passable and my favourite. It was trial and error, but I got there.

Bread, prefably sourdough, but with not many slices in the bag, it can become costly to keep replacing every five minutes. Nice though!

Halloumi and/Feta. The culprits prevent me from being easily vegan. In fact it may have reached addiction level.

Chestnut mushrooms or Avocado’s.

And there you have it! Job done. Til the next time…

* For the uninitiated The Princess and the Frog is a children’s story book from way back when

So last year

Joey Jones17 Comments

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?

No picture had been painted in my mind’s eye for 2025 a year ago today.

I hadn’t begun blogging again, and I can’t pinpoint the moment the lights went back on. The first day of a new year seemed to be the obvious choice, but it took until February 1st.

It began quite tentatively, whilst I found my feet and then the Pneumonia train came hurtling down the track. I clearly hadn’t seen that coming, and it all but killed me, but I’ve lived to tell the tale.

Years in the past, when I had blogged, I hadn’t stumbled across the Daily Prompt. This time, it has helped a lot to begin unravelling reams of data/thoughts/ideas/observations/experiences that were stored in my head and clearly needed a sort out.

I certainly hadn’t planned to be where I am today on what WP tell me is a 320 day streak.

This photo decided on its own it wished to featured in today’s blog post, so I’ll let it be.

Patch n me have survived another year, and putting aside a chunky lottery win, I imagine we’ll just carry on into next year as we’re are. Inshallah, a friend would hastliy add.

Yes, all being well, we’ll both stay fit and well and in good spirits..as I hope you who’ve read this far will also do. Happy New 2026 to you all.💚

Living and learning

Joey Jones5 Comments

What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

‘Every day is a school day‘ is pretty much a mantra for me.

I’ve this lifelong learning thing going on, where I just want to keep soaking up information. And there is so much out there to absorb.

Currently, I am keen to replace some taps in the bathroom and will soon be heading to YouTube for a tutorial. I’m prepared for it to take a while, and I may mess up initially, but I’ll get there.

This ongoing curiosity I hold probably explains why I am fascinated by screen time, which depicts in-depth exploration of true crime or medical procedures and the processes they go through to get results with the likes of CSI, the forensics, the technologies available to the professionals.

It goes far beyond voyeurism I’m totally captivated by every second, by everything they do.

There is a tv show. ‘ Show’ is totally the wrong word. It’s sounds flip. Programme, is better. Dr James Adeley a senior coroner for Lancashire with Cause of Death. Another is Inside the Ambulance and for tonight 2 new episodes of 24 Hours in Police Custody.

It could sound morbid if you didn’t know me and that I watch it like a student.

A student of eternal learning, the University of Life thing folk sometimes mention. But that’s where I am WP.

R & R

Joey Jones5 Comments

What cities do you want to visit?

Hey, WP. Whilst I am sharing a life with Patch, I won’t be visiting any cities overseas anytime soon. Simple as. But London, yes, it will always sparkle for me.

If I could go back in time to Downtown  Amman, Jordan 20+ years ago, that would be good. I think these days I’d feel a tad vulnerable, though, with folk travelling through to hostile environments.

But the fact is, after a transient life, there is nothing better right now than to continue decompressing. It’s taking a remarkably long time to ‘ get over’ a lifetime of staying resilient.

To be still (for now) is kinda special

Joseph

Joey Jones5 Comments

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

Tim Rice was only 20 years old and Andrew Lloyd Webber 17, when the seeds were sown for what was to become a blockbuster of a musical.

On the stage of a little primary school in Birmingham, UK, along with class mates, we performed a short fifteen minute oratorio of Joseph and The Amazing Coloured Dreamcoat.

I get taken straight back there to this day when I hear the opening line 🎶 ” I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain…” Beautiful.

The world premiere of their latest collaboration, Sherlock Holmes and the 12 days of Christmas was held at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre ( The Rep) on November 14th this year. Initially, for a short festive season only the show has been extended due to popular demand.

Oh, to be a Creative of such magnitude. One can only dream.

Judge thee not

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What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

Folk wisdom suggests you don’t know someone until you live with them. This I understand as people can be pretty clever at hiding their true selves.

I’ve never been a good judge of character, often someone turning out quite differently than I had initially/momentarily  thought/decided ( a lesson there for me about not being judgemental in the first place)

Having said that, there are things people do that sparks my admiration. In fact, there are lots of things, but to be generous of spirit, that is a truly fine quality to be admired and totally respected.

*Myself and Other Animals

Joey Jones12 Comments

Do you ever see wild animals?

For such a huge animal lover, I’m pretty much starved of seeing them in the wild.

I’ll get a whiff of fox or hear about ‘those wretched badgers’ ( that gets my hackles up, of course!), and  I’ll get an occasional glimpse of a Muntjac, It’s all very sad, really.

We were out just before sun up this morning and crossed paths with an escapee pheasant, wandering lost and alone without his family ( they would have all be slaughtered at the hands/guns of nobs, yesterday)

We didn’t see today, but sometimes a rabbit, sitting close to the road, oblivious to the traffic-clearly in the throes of Mixymotosis- another horror cooked up by Man. The cruelty/abuse of animals will never end.

I’m presently trying to befriend a crow that hangs around here sometimes, but they are remarkably skittish for such a large bird. Oh, talking of birds, there was a Red Kite out and about early this morning, too.

Squirrels, how can I forget those. They’re always around much to the annoyance of Patch.

*I’ve taken the title for today’s DP from an autobiography by Gerald Durrell. ( 1925~1995)

Gerald Durrell

And now I shall go and read what the others have to say about wildlife they get to see. I’m sure bloggers from other countries are going to have more interesting sightings -ooh. I wonder if anyone will mention brown bears? I love those!

Cornwall/Kernow

Joey Jones14 Comments

Do you have a favourite place you have visited? Where is it?

Having written about it several times this year, I’ll just share some holiday snaps. Cornwall on the far SW coast of England. 

433 miles of coastline and over 300 beaches ⛱️

Are you positive?

Joey Jones1 Comment

Share five things you’re good at.


I guess there are going to be some spectacular achievements and abilities revealed today in response to this DP. I look forward to reading those and being suitably impressed.

Mine? Well, there won’t be any loud applause coming my way as I reveal five things I’m  fairly good at, but that’s fine.

What’s the best thing? Knowing I am giving Patch his best life. Without any conditions. Yes, if I had a squeak, he’d gut me like a fish, but hey ho.

I’m definitely good at never getting/ being bored. I can always find something to do if that’s what is called for. Also, I’ve got chilling off to an art.

Next? Umm, I enjoy a good sense of humour. I like funny. I love funny people and/or folk who make some effort to be upbeat. I had given up the Socials, but I have been lured back into TikTok recently. There are things there-animal antics, mostly, that do make me laugh out loud.

I guess this one sort of continues from the last. I’m good at not taking my life too seriously. What’s the point?

And lastly, but not leastly. Gratitude. I’m properly good at that. No, I’m I’m not an angel, and I do lust after ‘things’ or a lifestyle I’m unlikely to achieve. But importantly, I recognise  I have what I need