Day 128
Prompt: If your life was a book, what is the title of the current chapter?

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! I think it will have to be a fun answer to this one’

Why is that?

‘’Oh, Bollocks!’ just isn’t a good starting point, is it?’

Uh-oh, what’s the matter?

‘It’s only 6am and already the day is going wrong’

We all have days when simply getting out of bed is a disaster, mate.

‘Should we just go back to bed on those days?’

Yeah, but you can guarantee it is a day when you have got to do something so can’t get back in bed

‘So even if that goes wrong, that just sucks’

The chances are the day will get better

‘Or it will get even worse’

You really have got the blues, haven’t you?

‘I just feel like I have been taken for a twat again’

Ahh, the date didn’t work out

‘That’s putting it mildly’

That bad

‘How am I supposed to get to know a person if they are fiddling with their phone instead of talking?’

Honestly, mate, I think that tells you what you need to know about him.

‘Yeah, he’s an ignorant ass’

And be honest with yourself, do you want to develop a relationship with someone like that?

‘Hell, no’

Then it may have been a bad date, but it was a useful one

‘Yeah, and I’m on my own again’

I know it hurts, mate, but better that than with the wrong person

‘I know. Knowing it doesn’t make you feel better about it though’

No, indeed it doesn’t

‘Will I ever find it?’

What, love?

‘Yeah’

Of course, you will, but I can’t tell you when

‘Meanwhile, I’ll have another cup of coffee and a bit more fruit cake’

Help yourself, you know that

‘I have thought of a better title for the chapter’

Okay, what is it?

‘There’s Always Coffee’

That works. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 127
Prompt: If you won a trip to Antarctica, would you go?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Hell, yeah, try stopping me’

I figured this would get a fast answer

‘Like you wouldn’t go?’

Oh, I would

‘Would you go as far as the Pole itself?’

Probably not, I’d get to pengwings and be enchanted, but then to go to the Pole and walk around the earth in 2 seconds has its appeal too

‘And whatever way you go is North’

That too.

‘And then back to the penguins?’

Naturally

‘So spending time in the science research station doesn’t attract you?’

No

‘But you like science?’

Ahh, I need a trip to NASA for that

‘Does that mean I could be an astronaut?’

Nige, you can be anything you want to be, mate. Not sure astronaut fits in with the current storyline though

‘So I can have another story, can’t I?’

I suppose so

‘Nigel In Space’

As if it isn’t chaotic enough out there but okay

‘But… but I could discover new animal life on different planets – a Martian Cat, maybe’

Implying the feline god-types get everywhere

‘Who knows they might be an intelligent species’

That goes without saying, cats are intelligent

‘Unless they are being a dumbass’

Well, yeah, Shadow can be a dumbass, but it is probably on purpose to get the ‘ahh, baby’ reaction

‘And ham’

Haha! Yes, and ham. So my guess is she isn’t a dumbass as she gets her ham

‘I’d say that’s being rather clever really’

Exactly. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 126
Prompt: Coffee, tea, or coke?

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! You need to ask?’

No, I don’t, but the prompt clearly did

‘Coffee every time. I have to say I don’t get why you drink tea’

I’m a tea head, simple as that.

‘So I’m a coffee head?’

The way you drink coffee would indicate that.

‘But it has to be good coffee, but you know that’

More like I have spoiled you as I only drink filter, and it has to be a French blend

‘There is that. I am beginning to see why you drink tea when out and about. Some coffee shops are misnamed, to say the least.’

Haha! The teas are never that good either but better than bad coffee. There is always hot chocolate

‘I don’t suppose they can get hot chocolate wrong’

Oh, some can and do

‘And then it is hit the coke’

As long as its Coke Zero, personally I prefer Pepsi Max

‘They are both colas so do they really taste that different?’

Hell, yeah

‘I suppose it depends on what you put in it’

If I am mixing it is Diet Pepsi or Pepsi Max

‘Why not regular Pepsi’

I don’t want to kill the taste of what I am mixing with a sugar overload

‘Good point. I do like the kick your whiskey and coke has; it doesn’t need sugar’

That didn’t come from me, Nige. I drink whiskey on rocks, no coke

‘What was it then?’

‘Spiced rum and coke maybe’

‘Yeah, it had a spicy kick. I will have to try whiskey on rocks’

Right, so you going to get on my good side then

‘Why?’

I figure you will like it, and if we are killing a bottle of whiskey, single malt whiskey at that, you are on my good side – enough said

‘Is that in the Walker gene too?’

No, that comes from Daddy, who blew his head when he found out I drink scotch.

‘Did the sweet angelic you melt away?’

What sweet angelic me? It never existed

‘Haha! That’s true’

See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 125
Prompt: What is your signature dish?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! And you can take that smirk off your face?’

All I know is you don’t bake cakes, but you love eating them

‘I can make spaghetti’

I hope you don’t mean out of a can on toast

‘No, I do not. I make proper spaghetti, the sauce as well’

Cool.

‘And I don’t use any packets or jars’

I am glad about that; I might just come to yours for dinner

‘I’ll be honest I did use jars then I watched you doing it – and it was just as easy and tastes better. So there are bonuses of hanging around in your head’

I will take that as a compliment

‘Now I just need to time it right for when you are making a curry’

You want to play with spices, huh?

‘I figure, going by your Bolognese, it’s going to taste better than a jar sauce’

So you will be about on a Saturday

‘Why a Saturday?’

Curries take time and really are not a fast fix on a working day

‘Ahh! This could be complicated’

Not really. Just takes prep, and making sure you have all the ingredients

‘Like spices’

Especially the right spices. That will be cool I know my curry spices are there.

‘What curry are we making?’

What curry do you want to make?

‘Chicken’

Chicken what?

‘Does that affect what you need?’

Umm, yeah.

‘I get chicken jalfrezi from the take-out. Can we make that?’

I don’t see why not.

‘Can we make a side too?’

Such as?

‘Onion bhaji’

Not a problem, and some naan if you like

‘Cool, I can’t wait’

Yeah, I can see you drooling. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 124
Prompt: If your life were a TV show, what would be the theme song?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Is there a song for artists?’

Off the top of my head while half awake the only one, I can think of is ‘Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs’ which is Lowry. You are not just an artist so could use something else.

‘Is that even a song?’

‘That’s a yes, wow!!’

1978 – now I feel well old

‘No comment’

Thank you so much, kid

‘This prompt isn’t as easy as it looks’

I wouldn’t take it too seriously

‘I’m not. I’d want some animals in there’

Oh hell, I feel an earworm coming on

‘Show me’

You asked for it

Nige?

‘I can’t unhear that!’

Haha! That’s why I called it an earworm. It will fade out

‘How long will it play in my head’

Haha! Until I max out some Metallica

‘Do it’

Haha! Yeah, at 530am I don’t think so

‘There has to be better than that, even for fun’

Shall we try some classics, that might be, umm, safer

‘That makes it tough, but I like that one that has penguins’

What? Happy Feet?

‘No, it’s not a movie. Have I got you stuck?’

Possibly, is it on my playlist?

‘Yeah’

Then if it’s not Happy Feet it has to be Oxygene

‘Show me’

‘Yes, that one. And the grin on your face is worth it’

Pengwings, but of course. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 123
Prompt: Do you have a mental filter?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Do I have a what?’

That might mean no, I’ll try putting it another way – do you engage the brain before your gob.

‘Ahh! Now I am with you. That really is a not always’

Yeah, I know what you mean

‘Sometimes I just can’t stop myself’

Sometimes, I’d say you shouldn’t stop yourself, just say it

‘Even when it’s not nice’

Depending on the circumstances that can be especially when it’s not nice

‘True, sometimes it is the only way’

If there is no way out or no way of backing out and staying away then it has to be said

‘Is that not cruel, though?’

Sometimes, Nige, we have to be cruel to be kind. We can hope the individual takes it on board

‘Little chance of that, by the time it has got to that point you know they are a twat’

Haha! Or we are for not backing away earlier

‘Are you calling me a twat?’

Mate, you are sometimes

‘Well, so are you’

I know

‘How do we know to stop and switch the filter on?’

No, point asking me, mine broke years ago and does its own thing

‘Did you ever have one?’

That worked properly, no. It’s a Walker family trait

‘So we have no fucking chance of being nice when we want to say it as it is’

Instead, we learn to spot escape routes

‘Yes, I have learned to spot the get out of here point in most cases’

Silently disappearing is the best option, I think

‘Before it is too late, preferably’

Hell yeah. See the red flag warning signs and take notice

‘They can be very well hidden;

Too well hidden. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 122
Prompt: No Prompt

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Yayyyyyy! There’s no prompt’

Haha! I figured that would please you

‘Damn right’

So what do you want to talk about?

‘You said a while back you are now a character in this project?’

Yeah

‘Does that mean you are not telling the truth at times?’

I tell you the truth

‘That sounds like a but’

Sometimes things get edited out so I am happy for others to read it

‘Why?’

These conversations get posted on the web, Nige, and some things are private

‘But it’s okay to share my stuff’

Not always, I have edited you too

‘I think I should be glad about that’

I use my judgment if it is something I wouldn’t be happy sharing, then I think you might feel the same

‘So as characters, we are friends and have our secrets?’

That’s a good way of seeing it

‘I really like that’

I’m glad about that

‘Okay! Does it really bother you that I’m not really in the genres you write?’

No, Nige, it doesn’t bother me.

‘Are you sure?’

Absolutely. It is not you that challenges me, the story that is building up on the other hand, that is a challenge

‘Ahhh! So if I had turned out to be a hobbit the actual story might be easier to work? I think that is what you mean’

That’s a definite yes

‘I’m reading ‘The Hobbit’ and I think it must be tough to keep it all going. It’s not just fantasy characters but locations too, and how different types of characters interact’

That’s what notes are for mate

‘That’s a lot of notes’

And all of them are essential. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 121
Prompt: If you were the writer, what genre would you write in?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I’m not a writer, so I am going to have to say whatever I am reading at the time’

So what are you reading?

‘Or what book is missing from your bookshelf?’

That is another way of putting it

‘The Hobbit by ummm’

JRR Tolkien

‘Yes, that’s him’

So you would write epic fantasy adventures

‘I think so. Next week it could be crime fiction though’

And why not, indeed.

‘Of course, I would make you my vic… main character, so I could bombard you with the prompts you throw at me’

Right.

‘You don’t have a problem with that?’

You tell me, you are creating the character

‘Oh!’

You look perplexed

‘Where does one begin in that creation’

In normal circs with an idea for a story

‘So this project is really a different method of doing it?

Sure is, well it is for me

‘So did you think it would make me?’

Honestly, I didn’t have a clue who or what would come from it

‘So I could have been anything?’

Yes

‘That means I could have been like Bilbo’

Or Gandalf

‘Instead, you end up with me. Are you really disappointed?’

Not at all. It may be challenging but you are worth it, aren’t you?

‘Yes, I am’

Good. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 120
Prompt: What was your favourite childhood possession?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Oh, no not another one’

What’s the matter?

‘I want a ‘no prompt’ day’

Ahh! I see. Well Mac draws the prompts so we have to go with what we get

‘Does he actually read what you write?’

He always comments so I guess so.

‘I won’t swear at him then’

Haha! I am sure he will appreciate that

‘And I best put the ‘Mr Nigel Nice Guy’ hat on and do the prompt, right?’

Yeah, Mac is a great guy and this project is really cool

‘Without it, I would not exist, so damn right it is cool, writer’

There is that

‘This question isn’t that hard to answer, really’

I guess animals will be involved

‘Well, guess what, that’s where you are wrong’

Oh, okay, enlighten me

‘I will give you a clue’

Cool, okay

‘Spectrum is green’

Captain Scarlet

‘I didn’t think you would get that’

Haha! I love Captain Scarlet. And that means you haven’t looked much further than the bookshelves

‘I’m going to now’

5… 4… 3… 2…

‘Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, you lucky swine – oh my boogers, I love this cabinet’

Leave the trains alone

‘Haha! And I know better than touch the Batman stuff too, so don’t lose your shit’

Indeed

‘You really do embrace the inner boy child, don’t you?’

More like how things should have been

‘So why the doll?’

She was Daisy May’s

‘Wow! That really brings her home, actually’

Little things do that, Nige, See you tomorrow

©JezzieG2024

Day 119
Prompt: Do you have a before-sleep routine?

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Yes, and it may surprise you to know it doesn’t involve sex’

Nigel, I have never thought of you as a bedtime wanker

‘Intimate moments with a tissue are really not conducive to sleep’

Haha! At least you use a tissue, what more can I say. Shall we at least try to answer the prompt?

‘Haha! I think we better try’

So what is this mysterious non-sexual bedtime routine of yours?

‘Apart from the basic evacuations and clean-ups, you mean’

Yes, I think we can exclude the pee in the shower

‘Haha! Bloody cheek! As if I…’

Oh behave, you have

‘So apart from that I like a good book on my bedside table’

So you read until the book banging on the floor wakes you up

‘Haha! You know about that then’

Yeah. I am quite used to that.

‘And the cold cup of Ovaltine that you forgot to drink?’

If it’s a really good book yes.

‘It’s a good sign it’s time to snuggle down and sleep until morning, or the early morning pee, that seems to be a thing for me these days’

Goes with getting older, mate

‘I guess it could be worse’

Oh, much worse

‘Yes, I’m not too keen on reaching the point of wet pyjamas’

Haha! So at which point in your bedtime routine do the pjs go on?

‘Did I miss that bit out?’

Uh-huh!

‘To be honest I’m not sure that’s part of it anyway.’

O-kay?

‘If I’m done for the day, I like getting the pjs and just chilling out’

Yeah, I get you, that’s why I have trackies

‘And save your pjs for writing’

Haha, whatever, no one can see me, and if you want to say that’s unprofessional talk to Noel Coward

‘What sort of dumbass thinks writers have professional attire’

Haha! Exactly. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Prompt: Not including an emergency, would you leave a theatre before the show has ended?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I assume that means a live performance’

I guess so

‘If it was really that bad then yes, I would leave’

I can understand that, but then, what about others in the audience you would disturb by leaving. They might be enjoying it

‘Ahh! That is a good point’

That creates a bit of a dilemma

‘It does. And it makes it irrelevant if it is a live show or not.’

Not really, at a movie, you get to choose your seat, less so at a live performance

‘I guess. If I am at the end of a row, then I would still walk out’

Fair enough

‘People do get up to go to the bathroom and that happens unnoticed pretty much’

Indeed having an end seat makes that choice relatively easy

‘The dilemma is when you are sat right in the middle of a row’

Are you really going to push past other people and probably send popcorn and drinks flying in the process

‘Haha! That image of flying popcorn is too funny’

There are worse things to endure than a bad performance

‘I can imagine for you that would be the case.’

It is

‘I think if I am middle of the row, I would at least attempt to wait it out, and hope for an interval’

If it is not the performance diving you away, you can hope to change seats at an interval

‘Seriously, have you ever done that?’

Yes, and oddly enough that date went no further

‘Oh my, you didn’t just leave someone and go sit elsewhere’

No further comment

‘Haha! Man. That is so badass’

I like Tosca and all I could bloody hear was her eating and drinking

‘And if that was in your good ear that would be a real problem’

Uh-huh!

‘Couldn’t you just switch sides?’

I suppose so. Was I going to by the interval? No

‘Haha! What are you like’

Haha! See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 117
Prompt: Has anything in your career surprised you

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Yes, a few things’

Like what?

‘The big one is just how few tubes of paint you really need’

Haha! You fell into the buy-as-many=shades=pf=colour that you can trap, huh?

‘No, worse than that’

Oh no, I think I know what’s coming

‘The buy-the=preset-kits-of-paint as it’s a bargain trap’

Got that t-shirt

‘Yeah, what they don’t tell you is half the tubes will never be used and end up in the bin’

Yeah

‘It would have been more of a bargain to buy the paints I used separately, and in artist-quality’

Haha! Artist-quality paints never come in preset kits

‘There’s a reason for that’

I assume a very good one

‘Artists know not to bother with kits, and AQ doesn’t come in nearly as many shades as artists know how to mix’

Some of us amateurs can mix

‘I know you can, you have eight tubes of paint in your box’

You’ve looked then

‘Yeahp, just being curious like’

So what else surprised you?

‘Would you believe to make flesh tones requires green’

I admit I found that a bit weird too

‘And the hideous over-green results when you first start mixing it’

Haha! Indeed, it takes a bit of practice

‘Until you get it right just call it surrealism’

Haha! Are you trying to choke me on my coffee?

‘Sorry. The fact is even with practice it is a pain’

Nige, step into the new age, mate, you can buy flesh tones in tubes now

‘Typical now I mainly paint animals and don’t bloody need them’

I only need it if I do fantasy work

‘You can make flesh any colour in fantasy though’

Yes, but if you use the flesh tones as a base you can add the fantastical to it.

‘Oh, how very Boris’

You know Boris, now I am surprised.

‘I know and enjoy his work’

That is too cool. See you tomorrow, Nige. I will leave you with some awesomeness

©JezzieG2024

Day 116
Prompt: Would you change your name for your spouse?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I don’t get the need to do that or expectation for them to do that?’

Nor do I

‘In this day and age, we are all individuals and should respect that’

I get your point.

‘No one becomes property on getting married so why tag yourself with their name or them with yours?’

It dates back to when women were considered little more than goods and chattel belonging either to their father or husband. Frankly, now it’s bullshit

‘I take it Gabbie didn’t change her name?’

Thankfully not as that is a major deal breaker for me – either way

‘Woe! I think I can understand why it would be’

If you are lucky enough to find that beautiful life balance in love, you don’t suddenly possess someone or they you. You belong with them and they are with you, but you don’t own each other

‘There are far more interesting ways of playing that game anyway’

Absolutely, and none that insist on denying individuality and identity

‘And being in love doesn’t mean changing identity – who would demand that’

I don’t know, it isn’t me

‘It is such an old-fashioned way of looking at love and marriage’

Changing your name doesn’t make you less or more someone’s spouse

‘It sounds like losing identity to me as you go from being yourself to Mr or Mrs Marriedperson’

I suppose some would want that. The reality is that changing your name doesn’t make you more committed

‘That’s what wedding rings are for, isn’t it?’

No, a ring doesn’t make you married either

‘It’s symbolic then’

Yes

‘So marriage is more about the commitment between the couple, the vows and promises they make to each other’

Absolutely, mate. No ring, no changing name, can replace that – it’s the love and commitment that matter

‘And the symbolic is just decoration’

Yes

‘And that’s why you say you are married because of the vows you made’

Yes, and it will always be that way. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 115
Prompt: Do you trust your instincts? Have they ever been wrong?

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Absolutely, and a few times they have been wrong’

We all get it wrong sometimes

‘Yes, and even the guts get it wrong’

And do you still trust them?

‘It can be difficult if they have gone wrong’

It depends on how badly they go wrong, too

‘If they are that far out, I want to know what I missed for that to be the case’

Yes, I totally get that

‘Normally if they go wrong, it is something subtle or because it involves some sort of deception’

True, even the guts can only go by what we know

‘And if someone is deceiving you – well, you can only go by what you believe to be true’

What about when your guts are saying one thing and you see things differently?

‘More like you want things to be a different way’

Good grief, that is more like it

‘The choice is then whether to go with your gut instinct or work against it’

Is that even a choice?

‘Experience says not’

Haha! You are right there

‘Fighting against your gut instinct is almost always a guaranteed route to hitting the pavement face first’

Don’t I know it.

‘And do we learn that lesson?’

I think we have, but it may have taken half a century to sink in

‘Haha! That is so true’

Hopefully, it will stop us from doing it again

‘I doubt it, we are both prone to letting the heart rule too much’

I want to say I no longer have a heart, well only one that is colder than ice

‘I don’t believe that any more than you do’

Why not?

‘You have to keep your heart loving for her, don’t you?’

Yes, of course, but that doesn’t mean anyone else gets to benefit from that

‘You don’t think it leaves you vulnerable’

It used to, but not anymore

‘I want a love like that’

Your one is out there somewhere, mate. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 114
Prompt: What other languages can you speak or would like to learn

Hi Nigel,

‘’Hiya! Not as many as you’

I don’t comfortably speak that many languages

‘Not including English, it is at least three’

Two and a half maybe, my spoken Welsh isn’t that hot. However, this is about you, not me

‘Including English that would be two’

You learned something in your French lessons then

‘Nope, but I did learn in the German ones’

Noch etwas, das wir gemeinsam haben

‘Ja, tatsächlich’

Well, I am glad it is not Latin

‘I really don’t get the point in that being a thing’

Nor do I, and thankfully I have forgotten most of it, I would have thought you would like ‘Ars longa, vita brevis’ though

‘What the hell does that mean?’

Art is long, life is short

‘That’s kinda cool and very true.

Sure is, and tells us much more than just an image

‘I think art itself can be seen as a language;

I’d say art goes beyond language

‘In that, it doesn’t need a specific language to communicate with the viewer’

Pretty much

‘And it communicates on different levels not just words’

Now you are nailing it

‘You got to admit art that communicates breaks the restrictions of the definition of fine art’

And I hope it keeps on doing that

‘It’s easy to read the art we like looking at’

I don’t know, that can make it more difficult

‘Really?’

It can be challenging to look at a favourite piece with clear and fresh eyes

‘And if it is something you don’t like looking at you can focus on finding what the image is trying to say, I guess’

That is exactly how it is. Bis Morgen, Nige

‘Komm nicht zu spät, Schriftsteller’

Haha!

©JezzieG2024

Day 113
Prompt: What freedom do you most appreciate

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! I’m not sure it is a freedom or a basic human right’

The two can run very close in hand sometimes

‘Yes, I guessed you would understand that’

They tend to be the ones that remind us not to interfere with other people’s freedoms

‘Given it is the freedom to be myself, you might be right’

That is certainly one of those

‘Is it?’

If I want the freedom to be me then I have no right to stop you from being you

‘True enough. But… what if it Is something you fundamentally disagree with’

That’s when I would take a few steps back as in most cases it is not my circus

‘In most cases?’

Yes. If you are not harming anyone what business have I got interfering

‘Oh, I see. Yes, harming others isn’t acceptable’

However, it is not always completely avoidable

Some of our lifestyle choices, not that they really are choices, could and do upset those close to us

‘And to avoid that means denying our natural self’

Yes.

‘It’s complicated, isn’t it?’

It is when you are living in the pretense of who you are isn’t who you are’

‘Why do we do that?’

Fear of the unknown, fear of being rejected, and not wanting to hurt the ones we love the most

‘Don’t forget social and religious indoctrination’

I’m not as they feed the fear more than anything.

‘Yes, that’s true and it invites discrimination’

Of course, as humans, we are conditioned to fear and dislike what we don’t understand

‘So it is how we are raised’

Yes and no. Yes, we learn it from our parents, but they learned it from their parents who learned it from their parents and so it keeps going. In that sense it is conditioning.

‘So that is what we are up against to be ourselves’

Yes, the brick wall of human conditioning

‘Can that be changed or redirected?

Yes, but it takes some doing emotionally, physically, and mentally

‘Which is why we need those we love behind us’

Or to back off and let us get on with it. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 112
Prompt: Which non-religious book has had the most influence on your life?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Is there such a thing as a religious book?’

I think that is dependent on a person’s belief system

‘I guess. So as it is me there is no such book’

Okay

‘You are not arguing that in any way’

Umm! No, why would I?

‘The Mabinogi?’

Do you think I see that as a sacred text?

‘Isn’t it that for a Celtic Pagan, then?’

Some may see it that way I guess, but I don’t. It’s been over translated

‘Like most so-called religious books’

Exactly. Are you going to answer the actual question, or are you making yourself thinking time?

‘I don’t need thinking time, thank you very much.’

Okay

‘It has to be the David Attenborough biography – no real surprise there

Which one would that be?

‘Adventures of a Young Naturalist’

I can see why that would be a big influence on you. Have you read the follow-up?

‘What’s it called and have you got it?’

Journeys to the Other Side of the World and yes, I have. I think it will really grip your imagination

‘Leave it out for me, please’

Okay

‘Any other books like that?’

Not all my naturalist books are Attenborough, mate

‘I know but he’s the best’

In many ways, yes, but other naturalist writers have done some awesome stuff too

‘I think I have Attenborough on a pedestal’

You don’t say

‘It’s your fault you put his videos on when you were ill’

So if you now get into archaeology that’s my fault too

‘I have to say it is interesting’

It is fascinating stuff

‘But you still get people who will deny human history goes back so many millennia BCE’

That’s what happens when you rely on so-called religious books as evidence of humanity

‘Have we just gone full circle’

I think so, see you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 111
Prompt: Truth or dare – which would you choose

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Don’t you just detest that game?’

Depends on who it’s being played with

‘I guess. If it were you, I’d take a dare’

Why?

‘I trust you not to dare something totally dangerous or dumbass’

Is now a good time to say I have a rep for giving dumbass dares?

‘Why even do that?’

Simple, Nige, they are easy to do and not dangerous. Okay the one being dared might feel a twat but they won’t get hurt or have to expose truths they don’t want to

‘I can see feeling a twat as being preferable’

I do get your point about the need for trust though, but that goes for both options

‘Yes, indeed, who in their right mind tells people personal truths if they don’t trust them’

The dumbass who didn’t take the dare I guess

‘Haha! It is a dumbass game’

I know. And gets dodgy when alcohol is involved, which it normally is

‘I don’t get how it works as a drinking game’

Basically, if you don’t take a truth or dare, or screw up a dare, you have to take a shot

‘And the more shots you take the more dumbass you get’

That is the general idea of the game

‘There are better ways of getting smashed off your face’

We know that now, of course

‘Haha! Yes, good old experience talking’

Not that good experience I’d say

‘It’s a t-shirt everyone gets at some point’

That particular t-shirt can be put to good use, I suppose

‘Yeah, mopping up the aftermath’

Exactly

‘And then hope the following morning is a quiet one without a cooked breakfast’

Oh, good grief, that morning after nightmare

‘I know, you can live in the middle of nowhere and somehow it will be noisy’

The dawn chorus doesn’t understand and really doesn’t care that the idiot human had a heavy session the previous night

‘And you love birdsong’

Not when it thundered into my hungover brain I didn’t

‘Haha! Could be worse, much worse’

Yes, indeed. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 110
Prompt: 10 things you would tell your 14-year-old self

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Is that really a good idea?’

What do you mean?

‘Life is a continuous learning curve so if we give into the temptation, if it were possible, to advise our younger selves about life are we not denying them their own life experiences?’

That’s a fair point. Surely, you have things you wish you had known

‘Don’t we all.’

Well, yeah, I think we all do

‘And you say you have no regrets’

I’m not sure that is the same thing

‘So if you had known things about your life in advance you wouldn’t have done somethings different?’

I can’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. I have learned to trust life to happen at it’s right time

‘So you trust your destiny’

Yes, don’t you?

‘Yes, which is why I don’t think it makes sense to tell the 14-year-old me anything other than that’

Well, to me that’s a good bit of advice, not sure how a 14-year-old would take it

‘Probably with that look of you know nothing old man’

Haha! Indeed

‘So what is the point of telling the 14-year-old obnoxious little twat I was anything as he would take no notice anyway’

Haha! ‘Yeah, whatever’ is disconcerting as a response

‘I bet you heard that a few times with your two’

Still do now and then

‘But they listen to you now’

When they want to, but that’s not always when they need to

‘Haha! So there is no real point going back to our 30-something selves either’

No, not really.

‘It’s just not done in an obnoxious twat kind of way’

At least less so, I hope

‘Accepting that is how things are is part of the learning curve, I think’

Perhaps, self-acceptance is a good bit of advice

‘Or just bloody get on with living your life’

Haha! Do it and be damned, I like it. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 109
Prompt: What is your birthstone

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I have no idea.

It’s amethyst.

‘You would know that’

Well, yeah, crystals and stones are my thing.

‘Do you have one?’

I have a few. The cat on my altar is amethyst and the big chunky candle holder is too

‘The amethyst being the bits that sparkle in the candlelight?’

Yes.

‘That thing is so cool, now I know why I like watching it flicker’

You could also have jasper as your birthstone

‘I have two?’

Oddly, February has two stones yes.

Which one is jasper?’

On my altar, it is the red figurine by Daddy’s photo

‘Oh, now that is a gorgeous stone. Do I have to choose?’

No, you can use either or both.

‘Good, as I like both of them. I wouldn’t know how to choose?’

Haha! Choosing crystals and stones is where the magic comes in

‘Really?’

I don’t know how else to explain it, so yes

‘So you have to get all izzy whizzy and cast a spell to choose a stone?’

Not exactly. There is no spellcasting involved. The fact is I don’t choose my stones

‘Huh?’

They choose me

‘What? How? It’s not like a stone will jump up and down saying me me me’

It takes practice, but I open up to the stone and try and pick up on its vibrations.

‘So you feel something if you hold it in your hand?’

Yes, and sometimes I don’t even have to handle it

‘Now you better explain that?’

If the vibrations are strong enough, I feel them as my hand nears the stone

‘That makes a weird sort of sense’

You’ll have to drop into my head next time I am at Avebury

‘I don’t need asking twice, I love Avebury’

Okay! See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 108
Prompt: Your first kiss

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Was a big mistake’

That sounds very much like having the benefit of hindsight

Well, yes.’

So at the time was it such a mistake?

‘I guess not, I was crazy in love with the guy’

Crazy in love with the guy or with being in love

‘Haha! Most definitely the latter.’

Oh the wonderous joys of young love

‘Sweet innocence is not the most helpful thing, is it?’

When it comes to love, no it is not

‘So where did this life-changing snog happen

‘The height of sweet romance you mean?’

Yes, the grand passionate kiss

On the way home from a pub, after I had agreed to meet him for a date the following weekend’

So you were crazy in love and fuelled by alcohol

‘Recipe for disaster, right?’

Yeahp

‘I wouldn’t call it a snog but more than a peck’

So a wee bit of promise offered – I have heard worse?’

Oh, yeah, what promise, he stood me up the following weekend’

Oh no

‘I was gutted – after a week of building up a nothing kiss into the promised land’

I think we all have that t-shirt, mate

‘So herself wasn’t your first then’

No, I had a few mistakes beforehand and a couple after

‘Phew! I now feel normal, well, ish’

Precious few of us end up with the first love or first kiss

‘But the whole love and romance thing is such a big deal when you are young’

Puberty at its best

‘But the mistakes we make leave us jaded and cynical’

Perhaps, or perhaps, they teach us the things that won’t work for us in a relationship

‘If only there was a better way to learn’

We can’t avoid a broken heart, mate. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 107
No Prompt

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Oh, good, I can say thank you for letting me hang around with you the other day’

No problem, I figured you would want to

‘Do you think she knew I was there?’

I guess not. Mum isn’t really a believer in spirit communication and all that

‘Does she know you are?’

Yes, we have talked about it.

‘And she thinks you are quite bonkers.’

Not at all. Daisy May was a spirit talker too, so she’d have been used to it

‘It was a fun day out’

So what do you make of Oxford?

‘Apart from too many people, it does seem a nice city and the art gallery was amazing’

You did drift off a bit at the Ashmolean

‘So did you and Mum’

I definitely think the arts are a genetic thing

‘I do believe that now. And, weirdly, we all would have bought the print of the cranes embroidery’

I think you influenced my decision there as it isn’t what I normally go for

‘Chinese embroidery is stunning though’

Yes, but not normally something I would get as a print. I did sneak in a Pre-Raph by Rossetti, too

‘As Mum said, that was a given as soon as you saw it’

Absolutely, and looks awesome with my Waterhouse prints

‘What attracts you to Pre-Raph?’

They enchant me. They have done so ever since I saw my first Waterhouse at the Walker in Liverpool and spent a couple of hours transfixed at it. I can drift into Pre-Raph paintings, especially Waterhouse

‘Oh, I get that and love it when that happens. It’s like being in a different world’

Exactly, and most of that is our own imagination inspired by the artist

‘You should write it’

I can’t and I have tried. Perhaps even us creatives need our escapism

‘Yes, I think we do. Talking of which the books you got in that lovely bookshop are itching me to read them’

Haha! You’ll have to wait for ’Granddad’s War’ as I am reading that.

‘Damn! Oh, well you got a few so I have others to choose from’

Two guarantees when I go to Oxford, the Ash and that bookshop lighten my bank account a bit

‘If you are with mum in that bookshop you can’t help it as she takes forever in the William Morris wrapping paper stuff’

That’s her thing, and to be fair she uses it in her crafts

‘Can you imagine those prints as wallpaper or curtains, though’

I’d rather not. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 106
Prompt: Is your career following in the footsteps of your parents

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! The quick answer is no’

That goes for both of us

‘I have no interest in the motor industry so was never going to follow in Daddy’s footsteps.’

One of us did, but it wasn’t you and me

‘And my maths is useless so I couldn’t have followed Mum into banking even if I had wanted to’

I didn’t want to

‘It’s not always about making a heap of money if you are miserable in a job there is no amount of money that is going to make it feel better’

I can absolutely vouch for that

‘Given you are a very compassionate person nursing and the care industry should have been all right with you’

In the beginning, you are correct but being good at the job and having experience took me into the managerial side of things and it ceased being about care and compassion and more money and time management – definitely not my happy place

‘Is it useful to be compassionate though’

Most of the time, it gets difficult when clients expect you to be their friend away from the workplace – reality check professionally you can’t do that.

‘So letting go at the end of the day is difficult’

It can be.

‘Question is are our parents appreciative and proud of what we do’

I think so

‘You are a parent, you should know’

From that perspective, I may not understand what my children do but if it is right for them then I am proud they do it, I suppose. It isn’t really their career choices that matter to me but the type of person they are.

‘Oh, don’t I know that with you. Don’t you think the type of person they have grown up to be is partly down to you’

It might be

‘I can imagine you were more than a bit harsh if they showed any sort of prejudice;

On the odd occasion. To be fair they were raised in a very open-minded environment so saw little prejudice or discrimination

‘I imagined that would be the case’

I’ll take that as a compliment

‘Indeed, you should’

Thank you, mate. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 105
Prompt: Is it ever okay to lie

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! I so want to say it is never okay to lie’

So why don’t you?

‘We all lie sometimes, that’s why’

I guess we do

‘Well, in your case, you make a career out of it and write fiction’

Haha! I suppose that is true too, but is that really falling into the definition of lying

‘Show me foxes that actually wear high fashion and talk – we both know that is not true and is, therefore, a lie’

Yes, but it is storytelling and never meant to be factual. AND who says foxes and other animals cannot communicate with each other.

‘I don’t understand what they say’

You don’t understand what a French man says so that’s hardly demonstrative of an inability to communicate, is it?

‘Yeah, okay’

Besides, if we say fiction is lying, and therefore unacceptable guess who is going to go puff into non-existence

‘Good point – I’m not going puff yet’

I think we should take fiction out of the equation

‘Yes, but still we all lie sometimes’

I think so

‘But they are lies that are not meant to hurt anyone, quite the opposite’

Little white lies, but are they really, okay?

‘They may not be okay, but sometimes they are necessary, I think’

Normally it involves answering questions such as ‘does my bum look big in this?’

‘Exactly’

Seriously, answering things like that wrong and you end up getting a hell of a slap

‘That sounds like the vocals of experience’

Yeahp

‘Ouch! So it can be white lies to protect self as well’

Yes, definitely

‘So white lies should be okay if they stop someone, including ourselves, from being hurt’

I think we have to accept they have to be allowable

‘Whereas lies that are intent on misleading and ultimately causing harm are wrong, no ifs and no buts, unless its big butts in jeans’

Haha! I think that nails it quite nicely. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 104
Prompt: What would you do if you won the lottery

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Apart from how as I don’t do it, I guess’

Well yeah, I suggest for this prompt we can assume you thought what the hell, and had a go

‘And I assume it means a big win and not peanuts’

I guess, now I am wondering what you would do if you won a whole load of peanuts

‘Haha! Make a barrel load of peanut butter, as I like peanut butter’

Nice one. I’ll bring the toast

‘If it was money, I’d buy some land to turn into a wildlife sanctuary.’

There’s a surprise

‘It really isn’t, is it’

No, mate. What about something for yourself?

‘Helping wildlife would be for me, though’

Yes, I know, but something more luxurious that you wouldn’t normally consider

‘A house in the Lakes.’

Now that’s more like it.

‘I would like to live there. Maybe a rare breed farm that is in tune with nature’

That would probably be a cattle farm then

‘I am not a beefburger maniac’

I know that. The Lakes has some interesting breeds of cattle that don’t live elsewhere’

Oh cool

‘I was thinking more sheep’

Herdwicks

‘If they are grey ones with white faces, yes’

Yes, they are Herdwick sheep

‘A Herdwick sheep farm then’

That’s cool

‘Seriously they look as if they are smiling’

I know, a sheep that is beyond cute. And their fleece goes from black to blue-grey as they grow up

‘So gorgeous. Yes, that’s what I’d do if I won a lot of money’

Nigel the shepherd. See you tomorrow

©JezzieG2024

Day 103
Prompt: What does old age mean to you

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I think as you are the old one this must be aimed at you, writer’

Haha! I’m only two years your senior, but that makes you a cheeky lil shit for that

‘Yes, but two years is still older so what is it like to hit old age?’

I’ll let you know when I get there

‘That will be never, then. You’ll hit the century and still not admit to being old’

Is old age just about the years we have lived though

‘I doubt it. I think it isn’t governed by time at all sometimes’

I think I know what you mean

‘Some people seem to old fashioned and aged before they possibly can be and others who have definitely hit seniority seem very youthful.’

That is certainly true if one believes wisdom comes with age

‘Passing years don’t always make a wise person then?’

Not always, but the experience can bring wisdom

‘And experiences don’t care when they happen so have no need to consider time’

Exactly, something can happen in childhood that teaches something about life that stays with us forever

‘And an older person may not have had the same life experiences’

Indeed.

‘But why would someone not take the opportunity to have those experiences?’

Maybe those opportunities never presented themselves to them

‘Making our lives as unique as we are as people’

Yes

‘That’s not always fair, is it?’

There is nothing fair about life, mate, and no guarantee of fairness either’

‘But there should be?’

Maybe it should, but just how do you make that possible?

‘I don’t know, but the fact is it isn’t fair some people go for harrowing life experiences so very young when if life was fair, they wouldn’t go through them until they are older’

And do you think being older makes those experiences easier to deal with?

‘I think so. Let’s face it you shouldn’t have been widowed so young and if you had been older…’

Nige, I really appreciate what you are thinking, but being in my 60s or 70s would not have made it easier

‘You think?’

I don’t need to think about that. It wouldn’t have mattered when it happened it would still have been a deep sense of having my soul ripped out. Even knowing it was going to happen didn’t stop that.

‘That’s true’

Experiences happen when they happen, good or bad, we are never really ready for them. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 102
Prompt: How will the world end

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Is a cataclysmic puff of nothingness a reasonable answer?’

It’s an answer, and most likely accurate so yes, it is reasonable. What will bring it about?

‘Humans being idiots, simple as that’

So you don’t see the planet being hit by a gigantic meteor or absorbed into a blackhole then

‘If either of those were going to happen it would have happened already’

I suppose so

‘I don’t think the world will end completely, the human world will, but the planet will go on

100% with you on that.

‘The earth is magnificent, and doesn’t need humans to be so’

It does feel like humanity is an idea that didn’t really work out

‘A good idea at the time type thing’

Yes.

‘And it really wasn’t. I do wonder what made the creative bubble think a species devoid of common sense and full of its own self-power was a good idea’

A heavy night on the divine wine, maybe

‘Haha! That really does exemplify why making decisions under the influence is a bad idea and should be avoided’

It always ends up in carnage and destruction

‘And that is the best description of humanity ever’

So humanity has no redeeming qualities then?

‘’As a species, it is difficult to think of any. Of course, some individuals have got with it and are trying to make a difference…’

But…

‘I think it is too little too late’

I hope it isn’t, but you are probably right

‘Don’t get me wrong, I hope it isn’t too. But, individuals can only do so much, it needs the species as a whole to make it work.’

We can’t negate individual contributions as meaningless as the more individuals who do their bit makes it a movement in the right direction

‘That’s true. I think the biggest problem is the structure of civilization, really. Government is the main problem’

Damn right! Few governments are going to make the unpopular decisions to make those who don’t want to work towards protecting the planet

‘There is the Green Party, I suppose’

There is, but not enough actively support them

‘You do’

Well, I am a hippie tree-hugger. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 101
Prompt: The essence of you. Ten things that make up the essence of who are

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Oh bloody hell’

The page is yours, mate

‘I’m doing this on my own?’

I think you should, but I’m not going anywhere

‘Okay’

Umm, where to start. I think a vitality for life and living things is number one. It has to be. Life isn’t just a mundane thing it is one of the big adventures of existence. Yes. I think that should be top of the list. Each life is a journey and how we live and interact with living things makes up a lot of who we are – so perhaps we should tread kindly on both us and the world around us’

‘That brings me to my second one – kindness. Now I don’t mean kindness as always being nice as sometimes that is dangerous and leaves us open to abuse and hurt. Sometimes kindness has to be towards the self. You will be checking my spelling and grammar, won’t you?

Yes, Nige.

‘Thank you. And I suppose that brings me to number three. I like getting things right. I know there can be happy little accidents, and they are cool, every artist and creative knows that happens. At the same time if something is wrong it will glare at us no matter how much we try to disguise it, so then it needs to be put right’

‘Four and five go together and they are joy and pleasure. Hearing birdsong in the morning is simply one of the most joyous things there is and it makes even a tough day so much more pleasurable. Call me selfish if you will, but I don’t always want to share the little pleasures of life. Not everyone finds what I enjoy pleasurable anyway and then the sharing tends to spoil the whole thing. With the right person, all things are pleasurable, of course’

‘That brings me to number six. Love. I don’t mean the grand passions of romance, at least I don’t think I do. I mean the gentle love that resonates from within the soul and fills us with a warm feeling in those cold moments of loneliness. It doesn’t necessarily come from someone else it is just there and best of all it is there when we least expect it.’

‘I’m glad I can see you, mate, as I am getting the eye reaction that says I am not a complete fruit loop’

‘However, number seven is a little bit of insanity, a sense of the crazy that takes us out of the humdrum and makes us unique.’

‘Number eight has to be a sense of animalism. A subtle reminder to the human self that we are just another one of nature’s creatures and are no more deserving of nature’s bounty than a gnat or flea’

‘That I suppose leads to number nine and the innate desire to be part of the wild wilderness, to live in tune with nature and let things be how nature dictates.’

‘Now ten, I suppose it contradicts number nine, but I do like the feeling of self-awareness and confidence to be myself in this world. Maybe it doesn’t contradict, maybe that is what nature intends me to be’

‘Well, writer have I done it right?’

I see nothing wrong with what you have said, Nige

‘That was nerve-wracking, is writing always that tough’

Not always, you did well. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 100
Prompt: 100 Days, Well Done

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! That’s quite an achievement and our second milestone;

Second?

‘Yes, writer. You gave us 6 weeks and here we are’

True. And this one is just over a quarter of the way through the year

‘I think that’s quite something really’

It is mate

‘And you have got a story brewing too’

I think that’s the whole point of the project

‘And I thought it as because you love me’

Haha! I have no intention to kill you off just yet

‘I won’t let you yet, there is so much I want to do’

Have you been reading the outline?

‘No, I took a glance at the intro. Is that okay?’

If I said no, would it stop you?

‘Of course… NOT!’

Haha!

‘You said I could say what I think of what you write and to do that I have to read it’

True enough. I have no objection anyway

‘I figured that or you wouldn’t leave it around for me to read’

Now, there’s a thing how the devil do I hide anything from you

‘That’s a bit of a dilemma, isn’t it?’

You are free to come and go in this creative reality, just as I am

‘Ahh, so you are a character in our story then’

I figure I will have to be

‘And are you fictional too?’

Of course, I think it will be the only way to make it work

‘We all know you are bonkers, writer, but I see your point. Random chats with a figment of imagination probably isn’t a good idea’

And random chats between two such figments are?

‘Is that not what makes dialogue in a story?’

Very true. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 99
Prompt: Describe your sense of humour

Hi Nigel,

Hiya! Warped, off-the-wall, mine

Haha! Sounds familiar

‘As far as humour goes, I don’t think you and I have a normal one’

Personally, I don’t do anything normal as that means conforming to someone else’s ideal and sacrificing my own standards – why should humour be different.

‘There’s a guy I know who gets offended if you don’t find his idea of funny, funny’

Oh, dear, you have yourself a snowflake

‘I guess I do, I can’t say I am delighted’

Don’t worry we all have a few

‘He thinks he is hilarious’

In his little world he no doubt is

‘I don’t see what is so funny about basic bodily functions that belong in the toilet’

Oh gods, one of them

‘That sort of thing was funny when you are about four after that grow the fuck up’

Dude, the magic grow-up pills were faulty that day

‘It wouldn’t be so bad if it was in an appropriate setting’

I get ya, hearing a poop story while you are eating your dinner is galling

‘Yeah, and he’s wetting himself laughing he thinks he is so funny’

Of course, he thinks he’s hilarious, somebody has to

‘Then he has the audacity to say everyone else has no sense of humour’

It makes it difficult to humour them, doesn’t it?

‘Why should we have to, and smart ass play on words there’

Not my fault English gives different meanings to the same word that really don’t match each other

‘I know and that alternative meaning says it all.’

It does take tolerance to an extreme level as to humour someone means complying with their ideals no matter how unreasonable they may be

‘That’s not even funny, that is ridiculous’

I know

‘But yeah, that guy expects everyone to fit in with his wants and if you don’t, he gets raggy’

Sounds like a lovely chap.

‘Oh you can have him’

I’d rather not. see you tomorrow, Nige.

©JezzieG2024

Day 98
No Prompt

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Oh good. So let’s get started’

Looking at my coffee – it isn’t that strong, but okay

‘Given some of our chats I think we could be devils in disguise?

Are you wearing a disguise then?

‘Haha! No, I think I am going to be brashly proud of my wicked naughtiness’

So you should be

‘I can see some people won’t like it’

And?

‘Well, you know perhaps…’

You should pretend to be someone else to make them happy. Seriously, Nige!!!!

‘You have a point’

Nigel – would you pretend to be straight to make me happy?

‘No, I would not? Do you want me to?’

No, I bloody don’t want you to. My point is why should you bury yourself to please anyone

‘It’s not the same thing, is it?’

Isn’t it?

‘It probably is actually.’

There are times to curb it to suit the environment you are in, but if you are burying to make life pleasant and to keep someone close then ask yourself the question

‘What question?’

Why are you wearing a disguise?

‘True’

An old quote to remember ‘Those that matter won’t mind, those that mind don’t matter’

‘That says it all, it really does’

And on so many levels

‘Haha! Yes. Being true to self matters’

So are you wearing a disguise?

‘Not with you, bud. Not much point, it wouldn’t fool you for a nano second’

Be proud of who you are, mate. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 97
Prompt: You shouldn’t have said it

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Too many times has that happened.’

Haha! You are human after all

‘And there are the times you really shouldn’t have said it, but it was so worth it’

Absolutely. They are indeed priceless

‘I had no doubt you would get that’

It’s no secret I have an acidic tongue and sometimes it’s pure venom when I need it to be

‘Useful it is too. You are not shocked by that about me?’

Oh Nige, you didn’t stand a chance of avoiding it – we are all blessed with the Walker tongue

‘Ahh! I think we can call that good breeding, don’t you?’

‘Haha! I don’t think we could call it anything else

‘And I hope like me, you can take it when on the receiving end’

I was married to Gabs, damn right I can take it

‘Haha! And there was me thinking you two shared only the nice traits’

No, we shared all the good ones

‘Haha! Good meaning you two were a sodding nightmare if you had to team up’

Haha! No comment

‘Oh, that laugh was sheer evil’

Haha!

‘I am utterly shocked’

Like hell you are

‘Worth a try’

What are you trying for – angel wings?

‘Oh gods no that would be so bloody boring’

Don’t fancy posing on a cloud playing a harp then

‘Nope, that would be my idea of sheer bloody hell’

Haha! And that is why we get along so well

‘I know you would use the harp as a weapon to get off the cloud’

Hmm!

‘Uh oh!’

What?

‘Something sick went through your not-innocent brain’

Well, dissecting cherubs and angels could be fun – in the name of fiction of course

‘Haha! And in the name of painting too’

Now who has a wicked laugh. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 96
Prompt: Have you ever been on television?

Hi Nigel,

Hiya! Hell, no and I would avoid it like the plague. Have you?’

Yes, twice, and you are right to avoid it like the plague

‘It is that hideous then’

Yes, and some

‘What on earth made you do it? It seems a bit out of character for you to say the least.’

The school choir and bloody Joseph

‘Come again?’

That’s enough said mate

‘Haha! Have you lived it down yet?’

Totally and there is, thankfully, zero evidence in the archives of TV

‘Didn’t you video it?’

To my eternal gratitude that wasn’t an option back then

‘Haha! Back in the dark ages of the mid-70s then’

Yes, oh they were wonderful

‘You really don’t like technology and media?’

Loathe it, but what can one do but live with it and try and avoid the world of snowflakes it has created

‘Snowflakes being the ones with opinions that get easily offended you would throw to the gladiators as lion feed?’

Haha! I wouldn’t do that

‘Huh, I don’t believe you’

Believe me, I think more of lions than to let them eat snowflakes

‘Ah, your compassion for lions would win out.’

Naturally, they are beautiful, majestic cats, why spoil their diet with retards and fuck wits. Give me some credit, I may not be as animal-orientated as you but really? Besides the gladiators would dispose of them in some delicious gory way without harming any animals

‘The ancient civilizations did have some wicked methods of execution; it has to be said.’

Indeed, they make hanging, drawing, and quartering seem relatively painless

‘Which ones did the spike through the guts and being left to die?’

That special treat was the reward for treason against the mighty Pharaohs of Egypt. I guess you have been reading my books again

‘Haha! You think?

Haha! I know

‘There aren’t many places one can jump from Peter Rabbit to methods of execution throughout history.’

Whatever inspires you, mate

‘It would make awesome but gruesome art – which would be cool’

Nige, you are one sick puppy sometimes.

‘I ain’t the one who bought the book – so woof right back at ya’

Haha! Fair enough. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 94
Prompt: How far would you carry the one you love

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! I am guessing that isn’t a literal question’

I shouldn’t think so

‘Ok, shall we assume carry means support’

That would be a better way to look at it

‘I would have limits, but pretty much as far as they need me to’

Are those limits to your own moral code?

‘Yes, exactly’

Assuming the loved one loves you as much as you love them surely, they would respect your moral code

‘But what if they don’t’

I would say in that case they don’t love you, at least not as equally as you love them

‘And then it is going to get complicated’

In most cases, it does, yes

‘In a lot of cases, it makes the love seem empty promises’

It is one of those circumstances that can be very revealing

‘I’d say so’

There will be those by putting limits, even though it is your moral code, it is you who doesn’t love enough’

‘But with regards to personal morals it cannot be limitless, can it?’

No

‘You don’t love me because you won’t do something you find offensive – what sort of deal is that?’

Nige, anyone who loves you won’t ask that of you, it is that simple?

‘But what if they do?’

Then, be honest with yourself, they don’t love you and you have to decide if knowing that you want to continue

‘And that is a shitty place to be’

It’s not a nice place to stay for sure

‘Love is so bloody complicated’

It involves two or more humans, it will never be simple

‘Ain’t that the truth. More than two? You don’t say polyamory is legit?’

If it is all consensual, I see no reason why not

‘True, that’s a good point’

It’s not for us to judge people’s choices

‘Indeed it is not. Apart from anything else that makes it okay for them to judge us’

Exactly. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 93
Prompt: What would stop you from camping out?

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Not having a tent’

Haha! That would do it

‘It may be a pain in the ass to pitch up in bad weather but that isn’t a reason not to go’

That is true, at least if I’m on my own

‘Rain and snow are a good way of getting shot of the lightweight fair weathers’

So you have not learned to say fuck off you ain’t coming yet

‘That doesn’t always work’

Oh no, what happened?

‘The individual wanted to spend time with me’

They do when you are a Mr NiceGuy

‘Well, two days of continual bitching and I wasn’t Mr NiceGuy’

I bet you weren’t.

‘He then buggered off to a hotel, and got the hump because I wouldn’t go with him’

He wanted his creature comforts

‘The next day was a beautiful day the kit dried and the rest of the week was pure bliss walking through hills to the next base. Without the whinging git’

Time to think, was it?

‘Certainly was, that relationship didn’t go no further’

Camping was a bit too up close and personal then

‘Yeah’

Don’t worry, mate we’ve all done it

‘Seriously, to share a tent with someone there needs to be something deeper than skin deep’

I’d say that for any restricted space, not just tents

‘But why did it take that to realize the guy was so into his own self that he was an ass’

It tends to rip the rose-tinted glasses off quickly and it sounds like they needed ripping off

‘Yes, attraction is not enough’

The chemistry matters too

‘So if you have a solid bond, you can share a tent?’

If the relationship is strong, you can share a cardboard box, mate

‘And if it isn’t, no matter how spacious the abode it will eventually be a bloody nightmare’

And camping will make that very obvious

‘Is it worth sacrificing a good walking holiday to find out, though’

Haha! Probably not, see you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 91
Prompt: What colour represents you

Hi Nigel’

‘Hiya! I suspect this isn’t necessarily my favourite colour’

Probably not, as personal choice and what reflects us are often different

‘I don’t think one colour reflects a person either’

I don’t suppose you are limited to one.

‘I think green would feature very highly, in the sense I am proactive with nature and its preservation’

Indeed that would have a strong influence on your personality

‘Yes, I can see that, but I am more than the green activist’

Of course, you are. Like everyone else you are multi-faceted

‘Then I think red will also be part of me as I have a passionate nature’

Passionate as in love, or as in temper, when you lose it

‘Both I would think’

Lust and anger release the same endorphins so are closely related

‘Makes you wonder if the body knows the difference’

Physically probably not, the mind will be in control of that

‘And that is probably why we are more likely to lose our temper with those we care about’

That could well be true. People we don’t care about are rarely allowed close enough to push the anger buttons so I guess it is also inevitable

‘Yes, I think so, and definitely makes red one of my colours’

So that’s red and green, are there any more in the rainbow of your persona?

‘’Haha! I’m my own little rainbow, am I?’

Aren’t we all, mate

‘I think I will add blue to my rainbow’

Why blue?

‘I find blue calming and relaxing’

I’d agree with that

‘And purple too’

You find purple relaxing?

‘No, but if you ass calming blue to the hot-headed red, it helps I think’

Thinking space before reacting in a bad temper – yes, I get that.

‘So my rainbow consists of green, red, blue, and purple. Yes, I like that’

Does that imply you like yourself?

‘Someone has to, don’t they?’

Haha! I think you are doing yourself and injustice, mate. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 90
No Prompt

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Yayy!’

Haha! Ok, Nige, what do you want to talk about today?

‘It is turning the tables, in a way’

Is it?

‘At the beginning of the project, you said you weren’t sure if this would really be developing two characters?’

Yes, and I still agree with that.

‘So who do you have in mind for my counterpart?’

There is two of us in this conversation already

‘What? Oh, I see’

Do you?

‘I think so, maybe. So it is a real person, you, and a fictional character, me.’

Sort of, yes. I would say we are both fictional now.

‘How are you fictional?’

I don’t always reveal myself and will skirt into fiction.

‘Why?’

I respect my own privacy, and some things are not for public reading.

‘Ah, yes I can see that’

Seriously, Nige, I don’t want my personal life the subject of some of the gossip-mongering out there.

‘Indeed not, but I bet there are those who think it is their business’

There are, and they can want as far as I concerned

‘Do you know who they are then’

Some of them.

‘Yuck, I am not sure I want them knowing my personal stuff either’

Don’t panic I edit before I post

‘Good, I hope they find it frustrating’

Haha! Idiot. What I hide they don’t know or miss.

‘So no tasty titbits of implication’

Not if I can avoid it.

‘That is probably for the best or best saved for the real story’

Well there is that. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 89
Prompt: What’s the 6th item on your bucket list?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Why do I have the feeling that is one of yours?’

Haha! I guess you have an inkling of how my crazy brain works

‘You’re not denying it then’

Of course not

‘Do people actually write such a list?’

Some people do I guess

‘From that, I know you are not one of them’

I have enough to-do lists without a things-to-do before I die list

‘I can guess you have already ticked the top one’

That one was a little obvious

‘So what happens then? Does one remove it?’

That would be a personal choice. Once a thing has been done it can be crossed off though. Does that help you work out your 6th item?

‘Haha! Not really as I haven’t written on but the 6th thing of things I’d like to do that I thought of is to climb Ben Nevis’

Oddly, that is on mine too

‘I would have thought you had done that already’

Not yet. I have climbed Scafell and Snowdon a few times, but not Ben Nevis

‘You need to sort that out’

Haha! Yes, I do

‘And I can come with you so we can both tick it off’

That sounds ominously like a plan forming in your head

‘It could be’

Now, is that normal for a character to plot for the writer?

‘I imagine it is not, but hey, I’m different’

You are that mate
‘And why on earth would I want to be normal, that would be incredibly boring for me, I think’

Given normality is a conceptual ideal I would have thought it is a state that is comfortable for you

‘Dream on’

Oh, hell, what have I done

‘Created me, get over it’

Don’t tempt me

‘But you are not allowed to do that?’

Am I not?

‘No’

I’ll add bossy git to your notes

‘I can live with that’

I bet you can. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 88
Prompt: What inanimate object would be the most annoying if it played loud upbeat music while being used?

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! A fun prompt, cool’

So go for it, enjoy yourself

‘It has to be the ATM’

Haha! That would be infuriating, I agree.

‘Only people who would want that are those intent on stealing what money you take out’

Exactly, nothing like making it obvious, and some hang around cash machines with bad intent

‘It seems an obvious target to be honest’

Some thieves have gotten a bit more sophisticated and actually fit scanners into the ATM itself to steal the card details.

‘Indeed. I think, however unfair it may seem, one has to be cautious. I’m not sure I would use an ATM’

Most of them are safe and in very public places but I get what you are saying

‘Another thing that would be annoying is the self-service checkouts being loud and upbeat’

Being a naggy impatient bit of tech is annoying enough with those things

‘I know they irritate you’

They do indeed. It’s bad enough dealing with a naggy human but a bloody machine

‘They must be a nightmare for the older customer’

I’m not that old, and they do my head in, and frankly, if they start playing muzak, it would just make it worse

‘I’ve noticed you head for a proper checkout’

If I have one or two things, I will use self-service but if it is a full-on shop, no, just no way

‘Oh my god, that would be a nightmare’

Add to that self-service checkouts have led to higher levels of shoplifting

‘That was obviously going to happen’

And the scan-as-you-go thing didn’t help with that.

‘It makes you wonder why the stores even thought it was a good idea’

Probably because it reduces the wage cost as they don’t need as many checkout assistants

‘Better profits for the shareholders’

Is it though if they are losing stock to increased shoplifting?

Hah! Serves them right if they are’

But it isn’t fair on decent customers who then have to absorb the cost in higher prices

‘Ow, that is just mean’

I know. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 87
Prompt: Have you got a favourite pair of shoes

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! That will always be the walking boots’

I figured that, and the same here

‘When they are new, they aren’t too good though’

Yeah, the breaking them in can be a painful task

‘I once made the mistake of trying to skip that and went hiking in new boots’

Ouch

‘Don’t you know it’

Yeahp, been there and done that

‘And go the blisters that took an age to heal’

Oh yes. And not wearing proper socks is a hard lesson too

‘Oh yes indeed. Good wool socks when walking are essential’

You can wear normal socks underneath the wool ones

‘That comes in useful when hiking and camping as wool socks take an age to dry’

Especially when pitching up at a site with no laundry facilities

‘I remember trying to dry a pair around a stove because I wanted to move on the next day. Yeah, that didn’t work.’

Eww that would have been yucky

‘I ended up staying an extra night’

That can be annoying.

‘It would have been if I had been on a tight schedule. It wasn’t so bad as I was pitched near a nature reserve so got a day spotting water birds’

So worked out just fine for you

‘Yeah, I got to sit and watch a heron for an hour. It didn’t care I was there. That was an awesome experience’

So you got to get up close and personal; with a heron

‘In a sense yes. It is a bit special when animals just get on with being an animal while you watch’

Yes, very special

‘I know you have your jackdaws and ravens who honour you by visiting every day’

Honour? Have you heard that bunch if I forget their bacon breakfast?

‘Yeah, they do like to nag for their bacon’

I had one give me hell when I was camped up and was cooking bacon for my breakfast

‘Had to share your bacon butty, did ya?’

Not that I minded, but yes. He was a gorgeous raven, though

‘I like how they hang around at places like they did when we walked around Avebury’

Of course, they hang around at Avebury, they are a sacred bird.

‘Aren’t all animals sacred in some way?’

They are indeed.

‘I like that about paganism, the respect for nature thing is awesome’

It is an earth spirituality so nature matters. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 86
Prompt: Do you like thunderstorms

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Nature’s own rock ‘n’ roll, I love storms’

So do I, but they can be destructive

‘You know very well nature isn’t always gentle, or kind’

Indeed so

‘And a good storm really clears the air, freshening things up’

I suppose so, and humans sometimes need to row to do the same

‘Exactly. If we need to let off steam, it makes sense that Mother Nature needs to do the exact same thing’

You’ll get no argument from me on that

‘I know that.’

We may complain about the weather, but we need sun, rain, even ice and snow to survive

‘Of course. All life needs that’

I must admit I do like standing at the door as a storm rages

‘Yet you hate fireworks, that’s crazy’

Manmade fireworks are not the same as nature’s own light displays

‘That’s true. I get the chills of excitement when I first hear thunder rumbling in the distance’

Then the anticipation or hope it is coming your way

‘Yes, nature may not bring it overhead and that always leaves me feeling disappointed’

She is at no one’s beck and call

‘She never will be’

When Mother Nature brings a storm close do you get the feeling, she heard you?

‘Yes, I guess you feel the same way’

Absolutely.

‘I get the feeling she isn’t angry with me personally, and wants me to enjoy it’

Haha! A treat for good behaviour, that has to be a unique way of seeing it

‘And why wouldn’t she do that?’

No reason, mate, I just hadn’t thought of it that way

‘Perhaps you should’

Perhaps. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 85
Prompt: Are you superstitious

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! I think everyone is to some degree’

Yes, but we are not talking about everyone, dude, just you

‘I know. I know this is irrational but as much as I like the greenery of life I feel the colour green is a bad omen’

The colour itself?

‘Well, no, that would be really silly. I mean things like stones with a greeny colour’

So things like jade and emeralds

‘Yes, exactly’

Well, that confirms you as a Walker, mate

‘It does?’

Yes, Daisy May wouldn’t have emeralds or jade in her possession. She went dipshit when I bought a jade tiger from an antique shop near her home.

‘Haha! I like her even more now’

I gave in and took it back to the shop and found my first piece of china instead

‘So in a sense, she got you into collecting china?’

Yes, I suppose so.

‘Good things happen when you listen to your great granny.’

Haha! The Art Deco coffee set I have got was hers

‘So she had taste as well, as that is Clarice’

I know. And I adore it.

‘And it proves my point, you got rid of the unlucky thing and you earned something wonderful’

I guess, I know emeralds are supposed to be bad luck in engagement rings

‘But you will say both emerald and jade have positive aspects as crystals’

Of course, nothing is absolutely negative or positive in crystal healing

‘I guess so, but even so if you ever use crystal healing on me can we avoid them’

Of course, there are always other options. You really don’t trust them, do you?
‘No, I don’t’

But why?

‘There is the thing, I really don’t know why, it’s just a gut thing. Maybe it is genetic’

It could well be. In that case, you will have more positive feelings about lapis

‘How the hell do you know that? Oh, it’s a Daisy May thing’

Yes, and I figure her love and belief in lapis comes from Egypt

‘Egypt?’

Think about it, Daisy May would have been a young woman when Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, and Egyptology became all the rage

‘It rubbed off on you too’

Yes, it did. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 84
Prompt: What are your thoughts on homelessness

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! This is going to get a bit political’

Unfortunately, I believe so

‘The UK is an affluent society and the fact you have a guy sleeping rough at the end of your road, not the town centre, the end of your road, is just a disgusting reflection of UK society and it is getting worse.’

It’s not even okay in the town centre to be fair

‘No, and I know you and your friends do a lot for people who are living on the streets’

It’s not enough though, is it?

‘I don’t see what more you can do. It shouldn’t be down to people like you. Why are the government not seeing what is happening?’

I think they are, but it doesn’t fit their agenda.

‘And what is that agenda, to ignore the plight of society’s most vulnerable?’

Sometimes it looks that way, mate.

‘Then they push the blame onto someone or something else’

And the public hears it on the news and absorbs it as fact, which is why a lot of discrimination is on the increase.

‘Are you saying people discriminate against the homeless?’

Yes, sadly they do

‘That is simply vile’

It makes it easier for them to look away, or worse

‘Or worse? What do you mean, or worse?’

These people are vulnerable to verbal harassment and physical attacks. It happens. To people who hate it is yet another excuse to hate.

‘That is disgusting’

I know it is.

‘Is that why you and your friends got the old man into sheltered accommodation?’

Yeah, he was being beaten up

‘I am horrified’

Homeless people are not on the political radar, a forgotten statistic. Without an address, most of the social support is not available to them.

‘And without social support, they have difficulty getting an address. It’s a vile vicious circle’

And it’s not an easy cycle to get out of, trust me on that

‘Yes, you would know, I know.’

There are charities like Shelter but they are charities and dependent on people donating to them to raise the money to help the homeless.

‘And that means people have to see it, and not ignore it’

Yes. And another vicious circle, the political climate makes it easy to look away

‘So how come people like you, don’t look away? Why are you not fooled into believing what the news tells you?’

I don’t know. I really have no answer for that. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 83
Prompt: Do you believe in alien abductions

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! I am not sure I have an exact answer for that’

Haha! It is one of those questions

‘I think aliens may have been to the earth and taken stuff to analyze and learn more about the planet.’

I agree

‘That makes sense as it is increasing understanding and knowledge’

But…

‘I think it is human vanity to assume they would choose humans’

Okay.

‘For a start what makes us think they are humanoid aliens and could communicate with us’

That is indeed true

‘I think they would take things like soil and rock samples and plant life, at least to begin with’

Yes, that makes sense

‘That way they learn about the planet itself. Maybe even work out whether it could sustain their life forms’

Fair point

‘To them, humans would just be a form of animal life upon the planet and at that point of no scientific worth’

Haha! Love it

‘If you were an alien, what would you be looking for?’

Following science, I think the next thing Is food to feed my species

‘Exactly! And at first, that would be vegetation as they would most likely have observed that most life on the planets consumes vegetation’

Fair point

‘Then they might hunt for prey or meat’

So humans could be prey

‘Why not?’

I see no reason why not

‘Communication would be the last thing to consider’

So humans could be abducted

‘Oh yes, but they wouldn’t come back to tell the tale, would they?’

No, I suppose not unless our flesh is that vile or poisonous to them’

‘Well…’

Indeed. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 82
No Prompt

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Yay, no prompt.’

You really like the no prompts, don’t you?

‘It does feel like liberation’

I suppose it does, but even with prompts our conversations are not limited.

‘I know, and thank you for not restricting things’

Seriously, how else do I learn you as a character but allow you to be yourself.

‘Is that why it is different?’

Yes, normally I build up a character with notes as I write a story

‘And this time it is me who has led you to the story?’

In a sense yes. The story really has to suit you and not you the story

‘That explains the idea we talked about yesterday’

Yes, I can see you in the role of an animal photographer using images to get to those who mistreat animals.

‘So can I’

Nigel Walker, Animal Detective, or something on those lines

‘Walker? Where on earth did that come from?’

You have a lot of traits of that side of the family is all I will say

‘And when did that occur to you?’

As I was typing your name out

‘Just like that’

Yes, just like that

‘I like it.’

It suits you

‘Does it?’

Yes, Daisy May would be well proud of you

‘Daisy May, yes, I know that name. Wow!’

What?

‘You adored her and her quirky ways, I know that’

I did

‘I am so honoured, thank you’

No worries, just don’t go putting sugar in the teapot’

‘She didn’t?’

She did, and nothing would convince her different

‘Sounds like both of us on some things, mate’

That is no insult. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 81
Prompt: Is a genre of story becoming apparent

Hi Nigel, I think this one is for me

‘Hiya! Yes, indeed, but I hope well you know’

What? That I don’t drag you out of your box so far you scream your nuts off

‘Is that likely?’

I hope not, but I am sure you will enlighten me as we go

‘Damn right, this character has limits and boundaries too;

Haha! I figured that much out

‘So what have you in mind, writer?’

The general idea is a crime thriller, involving the world of animals

‘How will an artist fit into that?’

You take a lot of photos, Nige. Photos are used in evidence when building a case

‘Oh, that’s cool’

And being a curious type you would be investigative too

‘Well yeah’

I can also see you getting quite activist when it comes to animals

‘So the victims won’t be human then’

No, don’t think so

‘So mindless harming of animals, do I want to face it’

I doubt you want to, but you wouldn’t let that stop you from doing something about it, I don’t think

‘You really have that part of me sussed, don’t you’

Hardly difficult on this we think the same way

‘And you don’t mind sharing that part of you with me’

Of course not

‘I like the idea, very much’

And I promise no animals will really be harmed in the name of fiction

‘Rest assured I am holding you to that’

Nigel? You should know that is the case

‘I do, but I thought you would bite on that so…’

I really don’t know where you get that from.

‘I’m calling bullshit on that’

Haha! See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 80
Prompt: Can you keep a secret

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Now that is a difficult one’

Yes, I think it is

‘If someone tells you something in confidence you should keep that confidence but…’

But what?

‘What if the secret they tell you puts them or someone else in danger.’

Indeed, that is a dilemma

‘In the main, I have no problem keeping quiet, but if that secret goes wrong and you know about it are you not in some way responsible’

I think there have to be limitations when it comes to harmful possibilities. I suggest we assume it is not a harmful secret

‘In that case yes I can keep a secret’

I thought you would, you don’t strike me as a gossip

‘I’ve never been a granny over the garden fence’

Haha! That fountain of unwanted community information is not always a granny

‘But you know what I mean’

Oh yeah.

‘So you know who your local one is then’

There are at least two, and no I don’t tell them anything I don’t want the whole world to know

‘Like they can tell the whole world’

Nige, we live in the age of the internet, yes, they do tell the whole world and it is the best reason there is to avoid the vile world of social media like Facebook

‘I’ve heard that is bad’

It is vile. I have a Facebook account but haven’t used it in years.

‘And people post other people’s business on it’

It’s a gossip factory for the opinionated worthless twatwaffle of the keyboard warrior

‘Oh fucking wonderful’

Add to that it is a breeding ground for hate

‘Yuck, so in effect it is the tech-age garden fence’

Haha! Yeah. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 79
Prompt: One for the chaps: Clean-shaven, stubble, or beard

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Well, I am glad you have made me male’

Haha! It is assuming women can’t answer that

‘Indeed, but I am sure a lady wouldn’t’

Haha! No, and a gentleman certainly wouldn’t reveal it

‘It would be impolite to even mention it’

Now, I am hoping they mean facial hair

‘Haha! I think we best assume they do’

Quite so, and your goatee says you like a beard

‘Yes, but not a full-on all-over one’

So what about the rest, clean-shaven or stubble

‘I bit of both as I don’t shave it every day, maybe once every 2 or 3 days’

Absolutely, keeping the goatee in shape is faff enough, can you imagine having to do that to the whole face

‘In your case, it would take all day with those oils and things you use’

It’s no different to conditioning hair when you wash it

‘But you can get all-in-one shampoos that do that for the hair on your head’

True, and no one has thought that for the beard.

‘I think that is because shampoos like that are aimed at women’

That’s a bit sexist, Nige

‘Yes, I know it is, but I am not the one marketing the stuff, am I?’

Ahh, I see what you are getting at

‘It’s obvious when you go to the toiletries section and most of the aisle is dedicated to products aimed at women and there is a little bit at the end with stuff aimed at men’

I can’t argue with that

‘I figure you will have noticed more than anyone’

Yeah, the sudden reduction in choice was more than a little massive

‘Did that bother you?’

No, I was already a Lynx consumer. Seriously, mate, can you really see me spending a lifetime trying to decide on a shower gel

‘So you didn’t have to change anything there then’

Not really, but I did change the flavour of Lynx

‘So some Lynx flavours would suit women better?’

Not at all. HRT changed my natural scent and I needed to switch so it worked together

‘Bet that was trial and error’

Sure was. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 78
Prompt: How do you combat loneliness

Hi Nigel

‘Hiya! Everyone needs to be alone sometimes’

Being alone, and loneliness are two different things. It is possible to feel lonely in a crowded room

‘I agree with that. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it is more likely we feel loneliness when among others’

That sounds like a personal experience thing, but yes, you are probably right.

‘I suppose it depends on who you are with, so I think this goes back to people who demand you talk things out’

Haha! Yes, those types make you feel more isolated and alone than anyone else

‘And you were right, the only way to combat that is to cut those connections’

I could have told you that

‘Well, I put it into practice with one of the people I used to hang with’

Is this a recent event because it sounds like it

‘Yeah, I was seeing someone and it really was becoming more invasive than anything’

So you called an end to it?

‘Yeah, it’s for the best’

I’m sorry it didn’t work out, mate, but well done

‘It wasn’t a grand passion; it hadn’t got that far’

You take your time falling in love then?

‘Experience has taught me to be cautious with whom I trust’

I understand that

‘I feel attraction long before I am willing to commit my heart, I think’

Physical attraction isn’t guaranteed to lead to love

‘No, but it can make for some great sex’

Nige, you are a tart, it has to be said.

‘Not all of us have found our one and only’

Ow!

‘Sorry that was unfair’

It’s okay, I don’t believe we meet the eternal soul mate in every lifetime but it doesn’t mean they are not there

‘So we spend that lifetime looking’

I don’t know, I suppose it will depend on what we have to learn in that lifetime

‘Do you ever wonder what that learning is?’

Of course, but I think there is no solving that as clearly, I haven’t learned it yet.

‘How do you know that?’

I’m still here.

‘Haha! That’s a good point’

See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024

Day 77
Prompt: Do you believe in miracles

Hi Nigel,

‘Hiya! Religion again?’

Not necessarily, miracles are not solely the jurisdiction of religion. I suspect it all depends on what the word miracle means to you.

‘Well it isn’t the impossible stuff religions make it out to be, is it?’

Not in my mind, but others won’t agree.

‘To me, the fact there is life on this planet is a miracle.’

Absolutely.

The fact there is still life on this planet despite man’s efforts to destroy it is another’

I think there will always be life here humans might not be

‘True, nature will find a way no matter what humans do.’

Oh, yes, and she isn’t shy in reminding us of that.

‘I hope you don’t mean wars’

Nooo! Wars are caused by humans; they are not natural.

‘I’ve heard some say wars are god’s will’

Not that there are gods, but if there were they wouldn’t want us to destroy ourselves or the planet, that is just hewie. It’s making excuses to force ideology on others, blaming it on a god is crap.

‘Haha! I knew you’d say something like that’

I mean natural disasters or aggressive nature. They happen, there is nothing humans can do to stop them – it is part of nature.

‘Mother Nature isn’t always kind’

It’s not nature being unkind, mate. It’s nature being nature. Since the bang this piece of space dust we call home has been evolving and growing, it is still evolving and growing.

‘And Tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes are part of that?’

They always have been, and always will be.

‘But that’s saying living things are just in the way’

We only have to look at the dinosaurs to know that nature won’t let current life stop her

‘The planet was almost dead’

Almost, but almost is not dead is it?

‘True, and new life evolved from the ashes.’

It won’t have been the first time, and I have no doubt it won’t be the last.

‘So it is a miracle humans are here at all’

And if we survive the next one that will be an even bigger miracle. See you tomorrow, Nige

©JezzieG2024