A Plumber In The Trenches

I received this interesting post from Janebasilblog today. Starting this week, Calen, at Impromptu Promptlings, invites us to revisit the Sandbox Challenge. She begins with a loosening up exercise, asking us four questions about ourselves. Here are the questions and my answers:

If you were asked to choose seven words to describe yourself, what would they be?

* Happy

* Empathetic

* Trusting

* Loyal

* Romantic

* Determined

* Emotional
`
If you were asked to choose seven objects that have meaning for you, what objects would you choose?

* My photo albums and picture gallery

* My Music collection

* Dad’s orchids that I care for

* Carole’s memorabilia

* A poetry book Melpomene, in which a poem of mine, was my first published works

* The bookcase my grandpop made for me

* Mum’s round brass antique coffee table.
`
If you were asked to choose seven colors that have meaning for you, what colors would you choose ?

* White – like a dove, the sign of peace

* Red – the colour of Carole’s hair

* Blue – like the sky above

* Ocean Blue – the origin of life

* Green – the colour of Mother Nature

* Orange – my colour of happiness

* Neutral Gray – wouldn’t it be nice for the whole world to be neutral
~
If you were asked to choose seven places that have meaning for you, what places would you choose?

* “Tullawalla” our old family home in Ocean Grove

* Port Fairy, south west coast of Victoria, “Our” favourite camping holiday destination, special glorious times, and the friends we camped with are still my besties

* My home, probably my final abode, now proudly called “Tullawalla”

* The Ocean Grove surf beach, the sands of time here, soothes my soul.

* My sporting/football Club “Bell Park”, my lifelong community involvement group, and where “our” wedding reception was held 42 years ago, and where I still socialize.

* 27 Logan St, North Geelong, the family home for the first 20 years of my life, my childhood was blissful and it’s where all my dreams were born and fostered.

* The gorgeous site where Carole’s ashes lay…… It’s the old Geelong West Cemetery, for me the most beautiful place in the universe.

 

For Jane, Thank You for the inspiration to write this article…..

Featured Image:  Ivor and Carole on the beach at Port Fairy, 1978.

 

Ivor Steven (c)

Published by

ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

59 thoughts on “A Plumber In The Trenches”

  3. Pingback: Loosening-up exercises (from The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself) 2018 | Impromptu Promptlings

  5. It’s a lovely picture of your wife with that gorgeous hunk :D. You’ve got some interesting replies there, espececially the list of memories – like me, you’ve held onto something from each eara of your life.
    I’m pleased that you’ve made friends with Calen. She’s special to me.

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  6. I saw this challenge on Face Book a few years ago, I attempted to do it back then, but changed my mind so often that I gave up on it. For instance What’s your favourite place? Home, no wait, it’s work, no no, it’s the wine bar! Actually no it’s always Home! 🙂

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    1. Thank you Soiba, that was a long time ago, and I’m glad you you liked the email I sent you, My week has been a very pleasant one, full of lots of joy and happiness, I’m so grateful that I was able to share my gladness xx

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      1. I saw it early this morning but kept it till last as I knew it would be filled with beautiful yet touching words. I am glad I did. its made my rubbish day a lot better. thank you for sharing especially about lovely Carole. my second daughter has culry hair just like her!

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      2. That’s nice I’ve improved your “ruddish” day. I’m not sure I got all my answers right, but on reading my post tonight, I think it’s fairly accurate. 😊 😊. Overall I think I was trying to convey that “true love conquers all” 💖

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      4. You’re so sweet Gina, I always try to stay positive and happy 😊, because Carole taught me no matter how bad things are for yourself, you can still smile and be kind to your to those around you. 😊 😊 ❤️

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      5. I can relate to that. whenever I feel like giving up I think that my Joshua loved my smile and I smile for some one. he had the best smile though. I try to keep positive, I won’t lie its tough amd a lot of work. oh “rudfish” snd “culry” hair!

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      6. I know it’s hard to stay strong, but our angels are to help us through. And please don’t worry or stress about the bad days, they shall continue, it’s just that over time we’re able to cope betterer, with hiding away crying by ourselves 😋😊😂. The main thing is that we’re not alone, and keep loving life 😊😚

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      7. awww….thank you so much for this Ivor and sorry I did not reply earlier, got carried away with blogging I had to rush off to get to the other end of the city to support a friend at a poetry reading. A little crying helps, and I think I have to go this alone, for a time anyway. You give much light, thank you!

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      8. Don’t be sorry about replies and comments, I myself get so far behind on my reader, sometimes I feel embarrassed. I do like to chat and comment on what I read, I suppose it’s me seeking the comfort of others soothing words….. and I sometimes think I take on too much, but then again it all stops me from sinking back into empty times and spaces

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      9. Thank you for understanding. Words and connection comfort me very much and I am sometimes guilty of leaning too much on the strength others give me here (you are now part of my merry bunch of awesome light bearers!) and we need that to stop falling back into a place of gloom. So chat away I am happy to read all your thoughts, and as for replying I always will, though like you it can be a little or very late in coming! But I appreciate every comment. We need to fill those lonely gaps with lots of life.

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  11. Hey Ivor! So glad you took the “plunge” (seeing as how you’re sitting by the sea there! 😉 ) Yes! Carole is beautiful! Look at that curly head of hair. How long ago did you lose her? I can really relate to your story as I was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder Myasthenia Gravis in June. What a trial. My heart goes out to you.

    I had a V-8 moment and hit myself in the forehead when I read your comment about the white dove. That’s such a well-known reference, but it never crossed my mind. I wonder if that means I’ve given up on having peace in the world???

    Oh! And thanks so much for the follow. I look forward to reading your blog!

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    1. Thank you Calen for your articulate reading of my “Trenches”, and Carole’s been gone for over 5 years. I hope you’re coping with your Myasthenia Gravis and that your condition is reasonably stable. 😊 Dear Carole’s MS, was bad to start with and progressive over the 30 years. Please never give up on peace ✌, one of our purposes as writers is to maintain awareness about our world’s situation. 😊

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    2. Oh I’ve just noticed, and thank you for following my blog/website, muchly appreciated, hope you enjoy reading my humble writings, and I’m from Geelong, Australia. Cheers. Ivor 🌏

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  12. It is so amazing to see you and Carole! Forty years ago it feels like time travel. The seven adjectives are so you ❤ It is amazing when you know yourself so well that you are able to pick just the right words to fit your description. Just like in every one of your poem your soulful self shines through in your answer to this very intimate challenge.

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