The Fall Finale.

Phil was made to stand up and was immediately handcuffed and led to the front desk where the duty sergeant read out the full charges yet again and Phil was led to a cell.
The door slammed on the cell and Phil looked around at the walls, he found himself wondering who had been in the cell previously strangely enough, his ordeal just didn't seem real at the moment and his position had not sunk in.
A tap at the door brought a friendly face, it was his old mate from boarding school Anthony Sandhurst, he was Phil's lawyer,
"hell Anthony" said Phil in a matter of fact voice
"Bad news sure travels bloody fast around these parts" Phil quipped,
Anthony smiled and shook Phil's hand briskly as he sat beside him on the cell bed,
"You have a damned good wife who knows how to use a telephone more like Phil" was his reply,
"Look old chap" he continued "you are in a bit of a fix here as far as i can see and i would like to help you get out of this damned place if possible"
"Well, i have to admit The Ritz it isn't" said Phil jokingly trying to stay positive
"Well this is nothing to joke about Phil, the Police have some pretty damning evidence and they intend to take this all the way trust me, they are not looking for anyone else at the moment"
"That's crazy !" Phil screamed,
"Bloody crazy, I wouldn't kill my mother in a million years i would die first, someone has set me up, what about that body upstairs in the wardrobe?, what the hell is going on here?"
"Look Phil, I know there are a lot of questions to answer but leave it to me i will make a few enquiries in certain places and see if i can find out just what is going on, meantime you behave yourself and don't let this situation get to you if you can help it, I will get you out of here"
"Well for my sake Anthony I hope you bloody do," said Phil in a voice now resigned to his plight
"because i can't stay locked up, it will drive me bloody crazy!"
"Ok Phil, look leave it with me for a day or two and i will get back to you, chin up old chap"
And with that Anthony left the cell, Phil lay across the bed and put his arms up behind his head and stared at the ceiling..

It was 7 a.m the next morning when Phil's cell door opened, it was DI Selby,
"Sleep well Carnaby?" he sneered.
"As well as can be expected and its Mr Carnaby to you Selby"  Phil said in a straight Yorkshire droll,
"Aye well be that as it may we are taking you to the local magistrates court for a hearing whereupon your case will be sent for trial at the Crown court so get your breakfast and get on with it we are off at 8 a.m."

Phil was dressed and ate cereal for his breakfast, at 8 the door opened and he was led to a waiting van still in handcuffs. Two officers flanked him as he walked towards the van at the back of the Police Station, he was ushered into it and it sped off in to the town towards the magistrates court.
It was a very short hearing, Phil acknowledged his name to the magistrate and he was remanded in custody until a Crown court trial could take place. The words rang around Phil's ears, he could scarcely believe what he was hearing. As he was led outside the court there was a huge bang to his right, he looked around and a car had mounted the pavement and crashed through a shop window, there were screams and shouting everywhere, the car was still revving hard and the driver was slumped over the wheel. The two officers escorting Phil, sat him on the step of the courts still handcuffed and said,
"wait here we have to sort this out"  they moved his handcuffs on to the hand rail of the steps so he wasn't going anywhere fast.
 Phil watched as the commotion went on and on, he stood up as his knees were hurting and as he did he noticed that although he was handcuffed to the hand-rail the officers in their rush had not handcuffed him past the wall mounting....Phil just had to slide his arms to the end of the rail and he was free!.
In an impulse born from frustration and the need for answers Phil slid the cuffs down the rail and was off like a shot, the two Pc's were still attending the wounded and taking details so they never gave Phil another thought. Phil was running through the streets of his home town in handcuffs, he needed to get them off and damned quick, this was Phil's patch, he knew everyone and he knew who he could and couldn't trust.
Darting in to the local garage workshops he made a b-line for the office of Andy Carter, Andy owned the garage and Phil had known him for years.
"Andy!" Phil blurted out as he went in to the office
"Phil ! how are you mate?" said Andy, " you look like you have run 20 miles in to town, has the Land Rover broken down?"
"Andy i need your help, you can tell me to piss off if you like but i need you to do something for me"
"Christ Phil you have bloody handcuffs on! I never knew you and Jan were in to that hahahaha"
"For fucks sake Andy this is for real, the Police found mum dead and the bastards think i did it, i have just escaped from the County Court! ..i need you to cut these handcuffs of me"
Andy looked stunned "are you for real Phil?.. is this some kind of a joke?"
"It is a bloody joke!" Phil snorted " and i am in the middle of it, can you help me Andy ....Please!"
Andy looked at his old mate and immediately guided him round the back of the workshops,
"Look Phil, I don't know whats going on but one thing I do know and that is you are not a bloody murderer, that DC Selby is a total idiot and will just go for the easy collar, I hate the guy he is always hassling us about DVLA stuff, so I will do all i can to help you, wait here a moment.
Phil sat in the back room of the garage for about half an hour, he could hear Police sirens going off all over town, he knew there would be Police everywhere looking for him. Andy came back in with a grinder, he put a coat over Phil's head to save him being hit by the sparks and cut Phil free.
"Andy, I owe you big time" Phil said as he shook his arms like only a freed man could,
"You owe me nothing Phil, just get yourself out of this mess and pronto, look, here is £500 in notes and there is a silver Mazda outback we just took as a part exchange a few hours ago, DVLA will still have it registered to the owners for a day or two and we will put it on our traders insurance on-line, this will buy you some time, if you are caught though mate i shall have to say you stole it OK?."
"Andy if you weren't so bloody ugly i would kiss you" Phil replied smiling for the first time in days.
"Very funny!.." Andy replied, "now go find the bastards that killed your mum"
"You can bet on it" Phil replied and with that he was gone.
 Phil drove out of town unnoticed as the Police were out in force, they were everywhere, but Phil just kept his cool and headed out on to the common, he intended to head for home the back way so that the Police would not know he was there.

Across the common there were several old barns, Phil knew this area so very well, he headed for the old barn at Crossings Gate where there was easy access off the road and less chance of leaving tracks. He opened the doors of the barn and hid the car inside. No one ever used the barn it was too old and too small for modern farming so was left derelict, it was however only half a mile from Phil's home.
Phil sat in the car for a few moments, trying to figure out his next move when in the distance he heard a low hum, he had heard that noise many times and never given it a moments thought, but now it meant something very different to him, it was the hum of a helicopter!.. Phil took a sharp breath and jumped out of the car, he climbed the old ladder to the top of the barn and looked out of the old opening where the hay was fed through so many years ago, he could see the helicopters bright lights hovering all around the farm house where he lived, he could hear dogs barking and voices in the far off distance carried by the wind.
 Phil was at a loss, he knew the Police would come searching through every barn and building in the area, he pondered for a moment, quick as a flash he got in the car and drove it further into the barn, he covered it in hay and trampled all the tracks the car had left outside and in, he threw fresh hay all over the tracks in the barn and then lay in the corner and covered himself in hay, it was the best he could do.
Hours went by, then Phil heard voices, they were outside the barn, Phil's heart was racing like an Express train at full speed, at that moment Phil heard the barn door open and saw the flicks of light from a flashlight scouring the whole barn,
"Christ this is a right old shit hole" he heard a voice say, "It's a wonder some Southerner hasn't snapped this up and built a house here" he said in a sarcastic tone while both of them laughed at his comment and with that he heard the door slam.
Phil let out a huge sigh of relief, at least for the moment he was safe.

News of Phil's escape had reached Jan at the farm and was on the local radio and even made National news, his picture was circulated everywhere and he was certainly the talk of the town.
Phil knew if he was to make good his escape he must get to the farm house, so the following evening cold and very hungry Phil took the risk and headed out across country in a bid to get to the farm house.
Following the hedgerows and keeping low and as out of sight as possible Phil crawled and crept painfully slowly towards the home he had known all his life, it seemed so strange that he was scurrying about outside in the cold and damp when his normal place was by the warm open fire in the farm house, instead of a welcome sight it was almost like a fortress that Phil knew he had to get in to.
Phil made it to the back barn where all the cattle were lying down chewing their cud and bedded down for the night. Phil knew if he disturbed the cattle in any way they would make a hell of a racket so he had to crawl on his belly through all the mud and muck where the tractors usually drove, not only was he cold and hungry but now he also smelled awful with it, but Phil couldn't risk stirring the cattle up.
Getting to the huge barn door Phil peered underneath it, he looked all round the open farm yard, the tractor was just where he had left it days ago and his beloved Land Rover too, but next to his Land Rover was a car he didn't recognise, it was a very posh silver Audi, it seemed very much out of place in such a messy farm yard, but Phil automatically thought, "Selby...the bastard".
Sliding on his belly across the dark of the farm yard Phil reached the outside wall of the farmhouse, it was part of the walkway to the front door with plastic sheeted roof to let the light in, Phil scaled the wall and clambered on to the roof of the lower gable end of the old house, he trod carefully as the tiles were all moss and dirt that had built up over many years, Phil looked down as he was climbing and almost chuckled to himself as he saw the roof trough was full of moss "must get that cleaned out" he whispered to himself, Phil reached his goal, the old store room window just below the loft, he knew it would be on one catch as it always was, he slid his finger under the catch and slowly opened the window and slid like a snake into the empty cold room with scarcely a noise. Phil removed his shoes and stood up and closed the window to where it was before, he sat down for a moment or two and then took his now stinking jacket and trousers off and looked through a few draws to see if he could find something to wear, the farm house was huge and he knew as he was at the far end of the living room he would not be heard, but he did not want to take any chances, he found an old duffel coat and a pair of jeans that had seen better days but they were still welcome, Phil felt warmer almost immediately.
Opening the door quietly, Phil slid on his belly across the landing, very quietly edging his way to the top of the huge staircase, he could hear muffled voices downstairs and it was all he could do to stop himself from just getting up and running to confront that bloody Selby for putting him through all this but he knew that would be instant arrest and imprisonment and Phil needed answers and to get those he needed his freedom.

As he lay there the voices got louder and the conversation became more heated, Phil was bursting to go and protect Jan from whatever Selby was saying and the urge to confront him was becoming unbearable, but just at that point the lounge door opened and out walked Anthony Sandhurst,  Phil's old school chum and lawyer, Phil edged himself a little further across the landing so that he could hear what was being said,
"I told you to do something with that bloody kid a million times!, now look at the fucking mess we have on our hands darling"
Phil overheard this and thought who the bloody hell is he talking to? who is he calling darling?
Just then Jan appeared holding a glass of wine,
"Oh for Christ's sake grow a pair Anthony, the Police have laid the blame square on hubby and he has even escaped, it couldn't be more perfect"
"I am glad you are so bloody calm about it Jan, what about the inevitable DNA test on the body of our child? it will lead them straight to you!"
"So what?..I can blame hubby again for taking her away from me because of her disabilities and murdering her in that spare room, then killing his mother when she threatened to tell the Police, God Anthony have you no bloody imagination?"
"You are a bloody bitch Jan, I am glad you are on my side" Anthony said with a grin,
Phil was rooted to the spot, tears started to roll down his face as he started to shake, he could not believe what he was hearing...he struggled to keep quiet as he listened,
"Look honey" said Jan, we couldn't keep a severely disabled kid with Phil's mum any longer, at some point Phil's mum would have said something to Phil and the bloody shit would have hit the fan, it was our bloody child and that story i spun his mother about Phil not wanting anything to do with it because of its deformity was never going to last forever, putting her out of her misery was the best for all but i really should have moved he out of that spare bloody room, but oh no farmer bloody Phil has to go and poke his nose in, well at least he is out of the damned picture for good now, as soon as the Police catch up with him he will be doing serious time".
"But why did you have to go and kill Phil's mum for God's sake, you only went to speak to her darling"
"She was going to have a go at Phil and say it was wrong that he didn't want anything to do with a deformed child, I couldn't let that happen, anyway darling, this way we get the farmhouse, hubby locked away and a large chunk of money as well as mother in laws inheritance once her house is sold, in my books that is not a bad day's work eh?.
Phil was lay there listening, scarcely believing what he was hearing, his face now buried in the landing carpet as the conversation went on,
"Look Anthony, like it or not, we are in this together, you didn't mind slipping into my bedroom when Phil was out and fucking my brains out so now you take some of the heat, if we stick to our stories we are home and dry and in the clear, Barbara was a dead woman the minute she said she would care for Elouise and we knew it was all only temporary, look honey we have it all to live for now, all we have to do is keep our heads..
Phil had heard enough, he stood up,
"Oh aye, is that what you reckon you bloody bitch !"
Jan screamed and put her hands to her face as she backed against the wall, Anthony spun around to see Phil rushing down the stairway towards him,
"You are a dead man walking Mr bloody clever lawyer" Phil spat,
"That would be a fine trick from a jailbird on the run for murder, call the Police Jan" Anthony said in a cool low voice,
"oh aye... call the bloody Police, it will be interesting to hear what you two have to say when they get here" Phil snarled,
"Oh contraire" Anthony said smugly, you won't be here to greet them, in fact you won't be seeing anyone in a hurry Philip.." Anthony pointed at Jan, Phil spun around and Jan had the twelve bore shotgun pointed at Phil's head,
"You bloody heartless cow" Phil snarled,
"Me?... heartless?, that's rich from you, all those bloody nights i went to bed alone, while you tended to bloody animals!, all i yearned for was our own child and you couldn't even give me that, no wonder i leapt into Anthony's bed, you selfish bastard you, it was just our luck i had a disabled kid or we would have left you years ago you bloody impotent selfish bastard".
Phil fell to his knees, he couldn't take all this in, here was the wife he loved for so long stood there with a shotgun ready to take his life, he thought they had been the perfect couple yet all the time such deceit was going on in his own home.
"You couldn't even get locked up properly!, oh no you had to fucking escape and be the hero, well it's got you right where we want you, the Police will believe there was a struggle as i told you to turn yourself in and the gun just went off, that's your trouble Phil, always wrong place wrong bloody time!"
"For God's sake Jan we can't kill him in cold blood, not here," Anthony said in an alarmed manner,
"Just shut the fuck up Anthony, I can't chance anything, you men are all the bloody same, weak!"
"You are crazy Jan, let's just make a run for it, tie him up and let's go, we can be on a plane tonight while he is tied up in the barn, they won't find him for days"
"No way, he is a dead man tonight, I have had my fill of bloody farmer Phil, I have suffered enough!"
With that Jan walked across the hall way towards Phil and put both barrels against Phil's head,
"You were born a bloody loser and you will die a bloody loser!" she shouted as she pulled both triggers.

"click,click" went the gun.... then complete silence.

"looking for these Ma'am ?" A voice said from behind where Jan was stood,
There in the doorway of the old kitchen was DI Selby, tossing two twelve bore cartridges in his hand while leaning against the doorpost,
"w-w-hat..? h-h-how? Jan bleated, " Oh you are not quite as clever as you think sweetheart, you see Barbara kept some rather excellent diaries.... quite enlightening I am sure where you two are going you will have plenty of time to read up on them !"
"Arrest these two for double murder and attempted murder officers and get them the hell out of my sight"
With that the room filled with Police and Jan and Anthony were led to the waiting Police van that had just drawn up outside.
"H-how did you manage to empty the gun? "  Phil stuttered while being helped to his feet by a constable,
"I took them out and hid the boxes of cartridges when we searched the house the first time Philip, I also took the liberty of putting two empty shells down the barrels to look as if it was loaded, i couldn't risk you getting your hands on a loaded gun and anyway i was not happy with how your wife looked and spoke to your so called bloody lawyer when we first entered the house, call it a bit of old fashioned Police work"
"Well whatever you call it I am bloody glad you did it"
"Oh we were watching from outside the whole time, we knew you would end up back here, it was just a question of time, though some of the guys are not too happy about spending so long in a shit covered barn".
"You mean..?"
"Of course, we watched you climb the roof, we had our suspicions and we thought adding you into the equation would save us hours of man power questioning people across the interview table, this way we got a confession from both and two collars, quite a good night's work!"
"She could have blown my bloody brains out!" Phil scowled,
"There were no cartridges in the house Phil, relax"
Phil walked to an old wooden box under the coat stand and lifted the lid, he took out a box and tossed it to DC Selby,
"Is that right?" Phil scowled
Selby looked down at the boxful of cartridges in his hands,
"well, even the best plans have the odd flaw!"
With that both men burst into laughter and walked across the room to each other and hugged as they patted each other on the back,
"Welcome home Phil," said Selby
"Aye thanks Detective, now then, how about we put the kettle on I am bloody dying for a cuppa and you can tell me just how the hell you managed to be in the right place at the right bloody time for once!"
"It's Detective Inspector Selby to you Carnaby!"
Both men laughed out loud,
"Aye that's as maybe" chirped Phil,
"One sugar or two " he winked.

Music be the food of love and pensions :-)

 A liitle bit of Xmas fun :-) Merry Xmas all and a Happy New Year...

 

We've seen the house of Blobby
We've seen the Smurfs so blue
We've heard the Wombles singing tunes

From Wimbledon its true

We've seen Cliff on a hilltop
We've heard him singing prayers
We've watched the cousin of a Frog
Sing halfway down the stairs

We've Felt the Noize with Holder
Sung Snowy tunes with Bing
Watched Essex sing 'A Winters Tale'
Rocked House with Mel and Kim

Greg Lake promised us the snow
Our Band Aid friends raised wonga
Mud sang that they're lonely
Mel and Kim a one hit wonder

Mariah wanted you for Christmas
S Club's dream was thwarted
George gave you his heart this month
John Lennon's dream not sorted

But raise a glass to old St Nick

He's such an inspiration,

For songs just like the ones above

Give all these stars a pension.

Rest and Be Thankful.

Would I not see if my eyes were not open?
Have I not the grace and favour of an open mind?
That I would be cursed by such is a fallacy,
To be enshrined with such perception is truly a gift.

Yet do you not see the brow so furrowed?
The golden hair now lost to powder grey?
What has this mind with all it's questions brought
If not a troubled weary self that raises such worries?.

I may tell you this and I have reason not to lie
The furrowed brow a map of life's endeavours,
The powder grey a trophy borne from each survival,
The questions sought through strong and active mind.

I am not so weary that I would turn my back on life,
For me the spoils of age hold no regrets,
Only thoughts of loved ones taken that much sooner,
As I live I see the vanity such pity would possess.

Faith.

So easily misplaced,
Or lost without a trace,
Conveniently erased,
Denied to keep a face.

Sometimes undercover,
Or shouted from on high,
Essential with your lover,
A cause for which to die.

A simple test of trust,
Belief, the strongest kind,
The enemy of lust,
A shield to stand behind,

A cause of inspiration,
The start of many wars,
Makes or breaks a Nation,
In name it levels scores.

Surely nothing is that strong?
Just what has so much power?,
It's 'Faith' for reasons right or wrong,
That guides each waking hour.

Stronger than a regiment.
Has ear of Kings and Queens,
Faith is born to tramp and gent, 
The center of our dreams.

Your Own Song.

I may be walking by but i still hear
That look is one that I have grown to know
The water's muddy but the message clear,
And i could never swim against such flow.

That life should now become a living chore
And love a feeling you choose to ignore
Betraying what's beneath my troubled mind
Should someone ever take the time to find.

A heavy heart can beat but has it's limits
The burden more than most could ever bear
The journey taken long when you begin it
And paradise not always waiting there.

The faults I have I know are one and many
Perfection lies beyond our mortal gaze
But what life I have left if there be any,
I'll dance to every tune the piper plays.



 

Suffer The Children.

The gun so mightier than the sword,
Our forefathers rights to fight with guns
A bully, simply not ignored,
Now murders all our daughters and our sons

We fight for rights that strike our core,
Chant our slogan 'protect and self defense!',
We need these guns and that's for sure,
Or modern life will make no earthly sense.

But count the broken dreams you see,
Cry not of how your rights have been impeded,
But surely tears for you and me,
A show of force where only love and learnings needed.

Keep your guns, keep your weapons all,
Keep your cult of killing for the killings sake,
Children sit beside him as you fall,
For all the pain you're feeling God will take

For at his side in heaven you will surely be
No fear of harm nor tears will know your name
Your eternal light will shine for all to see
Your shattered earthly bodies free from pain

And yet the killing still continues at a pace
No lessons learnt from children previous floored
For killing has but one true earthly face
That bully so much stronger than the sword.

No excuse, there is no reason there is less rhyme
Hide your heads in shame and seek some guidance true
Don't let me hear you whine,
The killing fields so named by me and you.

The Fall Part 2.

Phil drove to the hospital with so many questions going through his mind, his head was spinning, his gut twisting in torment at the thought of the number of times he had called in to see his mother while there was a corpse in the wardrobe upstairs, it was something that he just couldn't get his head round.
Pulling up at the hospital car park Phil headed for the A and E department and asked which room his mother had been admitted to. He was told to take a seat and wait and they would send somebody to see him as soon as they knew more,
'But i have to see her right now, its important!' Phil slammed the desk with his fist, the waiting area went dead silent and everyone looked around,
'Its important i see her!' Phil said again in a terse voice,
'I am sorry sir but we cannot allow you in to the resuscitation area while Doctors are attending your mother'
'Resuscitation area?' said Phil puzzled.
'yes sir, I am afraid your mother was taken quite ill in the ambulance and the Doctors are with her right now trying to assess the situation, we will let you know as soon as we can, would you like a side room sir?'.
Phil looked to the floor, putting his hand to his fore head then ran his hand over the top of his head as he tried to come to terms with yet more devastating news.
'If you could find somewhere for me to sit down I would appreciate it' came Phil's now subdued reply.
'Of course sir, come this way and i will show you to a private room, rest assured the Doctors are doing all they can to help your mother'
Phil followed the nurse down the corridor, he could scarcely believe how his life had changed in the past few hours, so many questions, so much heartache and yet so much of his previously well ordered life now in ruins and still no answers to any of it and there was no real chance of that with his mother now gravelly ill.

An hour or so passed and there was a slight tap on the door, Phil had been sat in gazing at the ceiling, a man walked in dressed in a white coat, he was a tall man of Asian origin with a clip board and a pencil behind his ear, he spoke to Phil,
'Hello sir, are you a relation of Mrs Carnaby?'
'U-uuh y-yes she is my mother' came Phil's frail reply, 'can I see her now?'
'Well sir I am afraid I have some very bad news for you, I am afraid we could do nothing for her after her heart attack sustained while on the journey to hospital, it was a huge attack and she was technically dead when she arrived at the hospital, we did every thing we could sir, but please believe me she would not have suffered, it was a massive heart attack sir and totally unsurvivable'.
Phil just sat there for a moment not moving. He was hearing a voice but not taking the words in any longer, he had heard 'heart attack' and 'dead' but the rest was irrelevant to him, he just stared at the wall on the other side of the room, motionless, hardly daring to breath.
'Are you alright sir?, the softly spoken Doctor enquired, 'would you like me to get you something or perhaps call someone for you?'
'M-m-my wife' Phil murmured barely audible now,
'Your wife sir? do you have her number we can get someone to call her for you if you like'
With that Phil scrolled down his mobile to Jan's number and limply passed the phone to the Doctor,
'here' he said, still facing the wall and completely still, not moving a muscle.
'I will call her now for you' the Doctor said as he walked out through the door.

20 minutes passed but it could have been 2 hours, 6 hours, Phil had lost track of time, he was still sat in the private room staring at the wall when Jan came in.
She rushed over to Phil and flung her arms around him slumping to her knees worried at the sight of her strong husband reduced to a silent staring shell of his normal self.
'Phil...! ' she screamed at him, 'what's happened, whats going on?' 'I am so sorry about Barb, she just didn't deserve this, no one could have seen this coming, she was always so fit and active' Jan said trying to engage Phil in conversation, ' have they told you anything?'
'She is dead Jan, that's all there is to it, no more to say.. dead'.
Phil's emotions suddenly rose to the surface and tears started to well up in his eyes, the past few hours started to catch up with him as did the realisation that there were so many unanswered questions, he lent his head over Jan's shoulder and cried like he hadn't done since a child, it was pure emotion and he sobbed unashamedly, Jan did what a loyal wife would do under such circumstances and comforted her man, she too was finding it hard to hold back the tears but was trying to be strong for Phil's sake.

A nurse popped her head around the door and in a soft low voice asked if she could make them both a drink, in some ways it was a very normal act and it seemed to bring Phil back to the reality of the situation,
'Would love one thank you' came his reply and Jan nodded her acceptance of the offer with a beaming teary smile.
'No problem, just give me a moment' came the reply and she slipped out through the door.
'Ok Phil?' asked Jan,
' I guess I will be when I get some answers' he said in a matter of fact way, 'I think we will all be ok when we find out just what the hell is exactly going on around here today'.

With the tea finished a nurse came in and asked if they would like to see Barbara, Phil and Jan nodded and were led through the resus room to a quiet corner where the curtains had been drawn around the bed, the nurse pulled the curtains back discretely and ushered them through, then immediately closed the curtains again, the nurse smiled,
'Take as long as you like, if you need anything I am just outside' she spoke softly.
Phil just stared for a few moments, he stayed standing as he looked down at his mothers white face on the pillow, they had removed her false teeth during resus and she looked so undignified, so vulnerable, he sat down on the wooden chair beside the bed, he reached out and put his hand on her hand, the hand he not a few hours ago had been comforting and holding while they waited for the ambulance, it was almost a surreal moment, but equally such a sad one.
'I cant do any more for her here' Phil suddenly chirped, 'come on Jan, we have some arrangements to make and there are some questions you and I need the answers to, mum is in a better place now, free from pain, let's go and sort the rest of this mess out and give her a decent send off'
Those words seemed a little cold to Jan, but being the full blooded Yorkshire man like Phil was, not exactly a surprise to her.
Phil drove back to the farm and went in to the buildings in the farmyard to feed the cattle, the job he had been meant to do a few hours before, the cattle were pushing towards the stalls as they bustled to get to the soft hay Phil was laying out in the feeding troughs, eager to get their fill of food that had been a long time coming, they almost made their disdain known to Phil at being fed so late, the world of the captive animal holding no store with matters of the human heart.
Phil was just loading the last bale in the stall when he heard the big barn door open and then close, he expected to see Jan with a smile and a cuppa, but as was the course of this day it was not to be, instead it was a man in a long plain coat and a policeman at his side.
Phil shouted, 'can I help you?'
'Phil Carnaby?' shouted the trench coated man.
'Aye, that's right, what can I do for you?'
'I think Mr Carnaby you need to accompany us to the station, we have some questions we would like to ask, nothing formal like, at the moment'
Phil paused, 'and what if i don't want to come?'
' well sir we cant make you but it wont serve your purpose well if you don't'.
'Am i under arrest or summat?' Phil stopped and looked at the two officers.
'Absolutely not sir, we just need to ask you a few questions about the discovery at your mother's house this morning'.
With that Phil finished the hay and walked towards the 2 officers,
'aye alright, I will just get me coat, shall i bring the Land Rover?, '
'No sir, that's quite alright we can give you a lift' and with that Phil went in to the farm house and told Jan what was happening and said he would call her with any news a little later.

Phil had never been in a police car before and he had certainly never been questioned by the police, he was very quiet as he was led into the interview room, it all seemed very formal and he felt a little apprehensive to say the least. Sitting at a table in a slightly darkened room he was joined by the detective and the police officer that had driven him to the station,
'My name is Detective Inspector Alan Selby and this is Officer James Duggan he said matter of factly.
 Mr Carnaby, we were in attendance at your mothers house today after we received a phone call at 9.05 a.m from we believe yourself telling us that you had found someone deceased in the wardrobe of your mothers spare room, your mother was at that very moment on her way to hospital suffering from a severe head wound sustained by a sharp blow to the back of the head, an injury that we are led to believe contributed to her heart attack and subsequent death. Now, sir, can you shed a little more light on this for us, because believe me we are all ears' said the detective in a short sharp manner.
' I was hoping you were going to tell me what was going on' came Phil's sharp reply.
'Oh, really,' the detective said raising his voice, ' and what makes you think we can shed light on this sir?'
'Well,' Phil exclaimed, 'I was the one called to my mothers house and tended her until the Ambulance arrived and I was the one who discovered the skeleton in the cupboard but what else i am supposed to tell you?, i am at a loss'
'Well', the detective sneered,
'Are you sure you have the timing right?.. I mean are you sure you go downstairs and confront your mother? and when she refused to play along with you and do as she said you had a fit of rage and hit her over the head with the nearest thing to hand, in this case a wine bottle?'
'What?!' exclaimed a baffled looking Phil,
'Wine bottle? what the hell do you mean wine bottle? I never touched her, i found her on the floor when i got in the house, she had fallen and hit her head !'
'Well sir i can tell you that is not the case from where we are sitting, it seems Mrs Carnaby was struck with the bottle first and then fell, Officer Duggan, would you like to show Mr Carnaby exhibit A?'
With that a blood stained thick bottomed wine bottle inside a clear plastic bag was placed upon the table in front of Phil,
'Is this what killed my mum then?' Phil asked in a quiet voice, 'Jesus Christ, you mean she was murdered?'
'That.. sir is what we intend to find out, I take it you have no objections to our taking your fingerprints?'
'I don't care if you take my bloody arms off!' screamed Phil,
'Instead of hassling me why aren't you out there arresting the bloody murdering bastard that killed my mum!'
'That is exactly what we are doing Mr Carnaby and if the finger prints on this bottle match yours then you will have some serious explaining to do'
'You lot are bloody crazy! this is my mum we are talking about, i wouldn't kill my own bloody mother!'
'In that case sir you wont mind following Officer Duggan through to the fingerprint room so that we can eliminate you from our inquiries'.
'You are bloody right I don't mind and you two will have some explaining to do when you find i am nowt to do with this!'  screamed Phil.

An hour passed as Phil was fingerprinted and led back to the interview room, he was told he was free to go at any time but he preferred to sit and wait hoping that he could get some answers to all the many questions that still remained unanswered from the past 24 hours.
The door opened and DI Selby walked in looking straight at Phil, he had a white piece of paper in his hand from which he read,
'Philip Anthony Carnaby, I am arresting you for the murder of your mother Barbara Jane Carnaby on the morning of the 5th November 2010, anything you say may be given in evidence but if you later rely on.....the words started to fade out of Phil's mind as he stared at the suited gent in front of him reading out the caution, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, it was like some film that he was suddenly a part of, sucked in like some leaf circling inside a whirlpool, powerless, no resistance to the force pulling it ever closer to the abyss, this just couldn't be happening, surely?.

 

The Fall. short story part. 1

Jan shouted across to Philip just as he was about to jump in the Land Rover,
"Phil ! it's your mother on the phone, I think she has had a fall, I can't make out exactly what she is saying on the phone"
Phil jumped out and slammed the door on the Land Rover as he ran across the messy farm yard,
"Mum? what's up?" said Phil in a worried voice,
"Oooh Phil" his mother groaned,
"I think I have broken my leg, I can't move and I am getting so cold"
"Hold on there mum" Phil screamed down the phone "Jan will call an ambulance and I am on my way!"
With that Phil ran at top speed towards his truck, he jumped in and set off with all wheels spinning out of the mud strewn farmyard.
Jan meanwhile set about getting an ambulance out to her mother-in-laws address, she then rang he back to try and keep her talking,
"Are you alright Barbara?" Jan asked
"I am so cold, Jan, I have been here for hours, I had to crawl across the kitchen floor and knock the phone off the work-top with the mop handle, thank God you and Phil were at home"
"Well it's ok Mum, Phil is on his way and so is the ambulance"
Jan tried not to sound too worried as she thought it may worry Barbara unduly so she kept the conversation as chirpy as the circumstances would allow,
"How did you manage to fall over?" Jan asked,
"Oh I can't remember " Barbara said rather coyly, "one minute i was walking through the hallway and the next i woke up with such a sore head and I think my leg is broken"
"You have a head injury as well Barbara?"
"Well I think so Jan, I am not sure, I am a little confused"
"Ok ok" said Jan, now a little more urgency in her voice, "Phil will be with you any minute and the ambulance will not be far behind"
"I think I hear him now" Barbara's voice sounding a little stronger at the thought of her son arriving to make things all better again,
At that moment Phil burst through the door and stood there for a few seconds at the sight that stood in front of him,
"Jesus Christ Mum how the hell did you get in such a state?"
Phil grabbed a loose cover off the settee in the lounge and put it over Barbara to help keep her warm,
"I-I-I don't remember Phil to be honest I was just walking through the hallway and the next thing I woke up with a sore head and my leg pinned under me, I must have slipped on something, I cant really remember".
Phil reached up and put the kettle on as he noticed Barbara was looking a little pale and gaunt, he remembered from many years back that warm tea with plenty of sugar was very good for shock,
"No problem mum we will sort the whys and where for's afterwards, but for now we need to get you to the hospital and that head seen to".
Phil poured the hot water on to a teabag and added 3 teaspoons of sugar and some milk to the cup, he held it to his mothers lips while supporting her head, Barbara took a welcome sip and a smile lit her face up, a sight Phil was very heartened by, just then the sound of sirens filled the air and before he knew it Phil was joined in the room by two ambulance personnel who immediately took over the situation, Phil gave them his mother's details and comforted her as the paramedics quickly assessed just how badly Barbara was injured.

It seemed like literally seconds for Barbara to be lifted on to the stretcher and wheeled out to the waiting Ambulance, Phil was almost a little teary eyed but did his best to stifle any imminent tears until he had closed the door on the ambulance and waved Barbara off to the hospital,
"I will follow on in the Land Rover mum"
he shouted as the ambulance drove out of the drive and sped on to the main road with lights and sirens all on full.
Phil walked slowly back to the house and took advantage of a warm kettle and made himself a strong coffee, he rang Jan and let her know the full story and told her he would go to the hospital and ring her from there if there was any news.
Drinking his coffee Phil was left with an almost surreal feeling at the quiet and calmness that had befell the house compared to the last few manic minutes, it was almost eerie. Grabbing his mobile off the kitchen top Phil was just about to leave but he had an uneasy feeling, he couldn't explain it but he just felt that something wasn't right, he walked out of the kitchen and slowly walked up the stairs, his hands were clammy and he felt an uneasiness he had never known before considering this was the family home, a place of normality and safety.
Opening the door to his mothers bedroom Phil peered inside feeling like some naughty boy that shouldn't dare be prying with his mother not there, he couldn't see any issues so walked across the landing towards the two spare rooms that both had their doors firmly closed, opening the first door Phil noticed a really musty smell, a smell that said the room had not been used for months, it was his old room and memories came flooding back, he stood there looking at the posters still on the wall and his old toys still boxed in the corner gathering dust, the corner of his mouth rose in a smile at the youngster looking back at him in the black and white pictures that sat on the dressing table and with that Phil closed the door.
Still feeling something was not as it should be Phil walked towards the other spare bedroom door that was firmly closed he slowly dropped the handle and at first it refused to open with a small push, so Phil rested his shoulder against the door and pushed a little harder, the door swung open and at that moment Phil was hit with a wall of the blackest flies he had ever seen, they were huge black house flies that flew into his face and stuck to every surface of the room and turned the air black such were their numbers. Phil closed the door as quickly as he could, flies had escaped the room and were flying all over the landing and walking half dazed across the carpets, Phil felt himself retching at such a disgusting sight and smell.
There was no choice for Phil but to brave the room again and run to the window to get some air into the room and the flies out, so much was running through his mind, why had is mother let this happen? did she even know? what was in there that had attracted so many flies?.
Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket Phil tied it around his face like some some cowboy in a Wild West movie, he grabbed the door handle and pushed open the door, the flies were everywhere, worse than before as they had been disturbed, they darkened the room so much it was like a cave, Phil ran to the curtains and threw them open and grabbed both window handles and tugged at them feverishly to get them to open,as the flies crawled all over his face and hands, finally after what seemed an age they opened wide and a huge wave of flies spilt out into the fresh cold air turning the pathway below instantly black.

Phil eased back into the room from the windows as the remaining flies walked or slowly buzzed around the room making their way slowly to the light of the windows, the smell was unbearable, the most disgusting gut wrenching smell Phil had ever know, everywhere he looked there were papers, clothes, drawers strewn all over the place, what on earth had happened in here?. Phil reached for the light and switched it on, the obvious signs of a struggle or burglary that had taken place were underlined by every part of the room being in total disarray.
 Hesitantly Phil walked to the built in wardrobe, slowly turning the handle he pulled the door open and peered inside, there were clothes hung in line all full of flies yet again, Phil looked down there was a pile of old clothes covered in dust and cobwebs he grabbed them to see what lay beneath and as he did a skeletal arm of a young child dropped out of the wardrobe and brushed the carpet with the edge of its now bony fingers. Phil jumped back and screamed, fixated and terrified by the sight before him, he ran downstairs and dialed Jan's mobile number, flies were now all over the house, the kitchen and the hallway were covered in them, Phil could barely get the words out when Jan answered the phone,
'c-call the police.... someone is dead...in the spare room, dead i tell you, a skeleton!'
Jan thought it was some kind of joke, 'Phil? is that you ? what ever is the matter with you, where are you?'
'I am at mothers still, there is a dead body in the wardrobe upstairs quickly, get the Police here!'
Jan immediately hung up and dialled 999 and jumped in her car and headed for her mother in laws house.

The sound of sirens again broke the peaceful silence of the little hamlet but this time for a completely different reason. Phil was waiting at the door when the police arrived, Jan pulled up just a few seconds later but was restrained from greeting Phil by a policewoman,
'Thats my husband!' she exclaimed, 'Yes miss ok but at the moment this is an official police crime scene and you cannot enter'. said the officer.
Phil led the Police upstairs to the room where the skeleton of a young child lay in the bottom of the
wardrobe, he pointed it out to the Officers who immediately called for assistance from CID.
'I need all the details you have sir and obviously this will be treated as a suspicious death until we have all the facts, leave your telephone number and contact address with the officer downstairs and we will be in touch, where is your mother now sir?' the officer asked.
'she is in hospital, just gone, she was in a fall' Phil struggled to compose himself
'what is this all about?' Phil asked as if in a daze
'well, sir that is what we aim to find out' came the officers stark reply.

Phil walked out of the house with a blank expression on his face into Jan's waiting arms,
'Phil, what is it love, what the hell has happened?' Phil just muttered, not making a lot of sense
'A damn skeleton in the spare room, how? why? who?'
Jan could see Phil was distressed, 'do you want to go and see your mother now?' she said.
Snapping out of his daze in an instant Phil exclaimed,
'I think that's a damned good idea'  and with that he jumped in to the Land Rover and sped off for the hospital, leaving Jan to make her own way.

My Own Strange Land.

A stranger in my own land
A force that holds no sway
Am I to be like shifting sand
And change so I may stay?.

What rights I had now silenced
My voice a whimper too
Now threatened with a violence
That shouts right back at you

A stranger in my own land
The emptiness I feel
My destiny in strange hands
Without the chance to heal

Stark wilderness a void as such
No place that i call home
Behind a fence devoid of touch
Forever must I roam.

Never lose the real you.

When you have managed to swim with life's dolphins it's very hard to run alongside life's Lemmings.

Hugh Grant to save UK jobs.

The debate rages on about Starbucks and Amazon etc with regards to their slightly, shall we say "creative accounting" enabling them to dodge hefty tax bills. I have to admit at first i was up in arms that such huge companies used their financial clout to pay accountants to dive through hoops that ensured they paid just 1.8m in tax as against 78m in profits, outrageous thought i and joined the swaying ranks of The Sun readers countrywide.
The thing is though, it's easy to create a monster within the media if you have the media's ear and let's face it if David Cameron asked Fleet St to jump at the moment, the chorus of "how high?" would be heard in the Valleys as far up as Merthryr Tydfil.  So, you see if you look a little deeper you find that these so called monster companies who are cheating you and I of our rightful taxes are only following the path that this and previous governments have laid down for them.
Let me explain, to attract investment you have to sweeten the milk, in other words turn a blind eye to tax loopholes or Planning regs whichever is the case in order for multi-national companies like Starbucks and Amazon to jump in to our bed and build bases in Blighty. This plan has worked for many years and very successful it was too until we found out our own MP's had been caught with their usual disingenuous snouts in the country's larder. Since then hellfire and brimstone has rightly hailed down on these dirty crooks and they want to spread a little of the flame to other sectors in order to lessen the heat under their own backsides.
This has all meant that Westminster has come out all guns blazing on previous good bed fellows and no-one, (except Fleet St at the moment.. though if Hugh Grant gets to be PM that will certainly all change) is being spared.
All this must stick in the craw of the cigar smoking, Polo watching, Aston driving elite foreigners who (on the promise of Westminster.. poor misguided darlings) have found their huge investments now under attack from the very people who encouraged them here in the first place, how i love political irony, always a dish best served cold I must say.
So, what of the future? well in the short term the companies have no option but to capitulate and be seen to hand over a tidy sum of money to the exchequer or at least promise more huge investment into the country's infrastructure to appease all red-top readers and the baying hounds of Fleet St (customers) while in the mean time working out just how they are going to dump the UK for France or Belgium in the next two years when an election will be prime time news not tax evasion, because if we chase these guys that is what will happen, this must be pennies from heaven for the rest of the 'oh so' welcoming Countries in Central Europe.

One other thing before i leave you,  just what will this mean for jobs and business if we are seen to be chasing down multi-national companies flourishing in this country?. Well you don't need to be a brain surgeon to answer that one, not even a Sun reader. Oh and when we have this new found wealth just what are they spending these extra taxes they gain on?, because I would rather Starbucks and Amazon employ thousands of people in this country that DO pay tax than see 120m go to Rwanda so they can buy more guns or indeed 10 times that on an illegal war being staged in the Middle East that we can never hope to win and getting our loyal guys killed.
I think our friends in Westminster shout 'wolf' far too often and this time I hope no-one is taking any notice of their bleating, but my guess is the press are fully behind them, in fact right along side them, even as far as being in their waistcoat pockets I dare to say..

 I do hope Hugh Grant is thinking of standing in two years.

Camera's on Cameron.

If David Cameron wants this Country to start taking him and his much maligned coalition government seriously then it is surely about time he made a decision and stuck with it.
His rejection of the Leveson enquiry findings serve only to tell us here is a man with just one goal and that is to remain in power at all costs. Why else would he risk a backlash from the whole country by ignoring the Leveson results and findings?. David is playing a very deadly game of poker and at stake is his political credibility and indeed career, he has opted for what he considers the "safe house" of the press. Unfortunately David poor soul you are over a decade too late. Has the demise of "Murdochs's Empire" taught him nothing?. The press are old hat and have as much credibility in the UK as those very selfless comrades you work alongside, this Country is not all full of readers of The Sun David and in fact (thankfully) those numbers are further declining and in any case the majority don't even bother to vote.
Having the courage of your convictions is what makes a politician a good politician and sticking by your wing man through thick and thin (Leveson) would make David a great politician, but once again we have seen a leader who dithers, pouts, then dithers again until his final decision gets as much press coverage as an add for haemorrhoid cream.  Gone are the politicians who stood their ground and fought for what they perceived to be right, even if it was'nt always, at least the sight of the leader of this fine country wading in with his opinion and sticking to it is always going to be a vote winner.
Mr Cameron your aides have given you very poor advice. Shock the hell out of all of us and make yet another U turn and follow Leveson's recommendations like the rest of this wonderful country thought you were already doing. If you choose to ignore this advice and stick by your friends in the press in the hope of re-election then think again, traditionally the tabloids are very much fair weather friends and you are starting your own weather front.

Dark Places.

Black faces dark shadows
Cold places tall gallows
Grey mornings harsh view
Start mourning lost you

Missed person sad times
Pains worsen lost rhymes
Heart slowing tears flow
Just knowing she'll go

Long evenings lone stare
Strange feelings don't care
Heart aching can't place it
Life breaking must face it

Solitary, momentary silence
Scary times akin an act of violence
Time won't heal, life won't forget
Just don't feel, avoid the regret. .







 







 

Bird's Of a Feather..

Leveson has spoken out, the nation listens hard
The press have played the joker and it seems a losing card
The government now cry and wail for freedom of the press
But wasn't it their self-policing got them in this mess?

The mix of press and government no finer line is known
For MP's need exposure and the press can bring it home
So facts are facts indeed it's so, they are too much alike
The devil can't be judge and jury, Cameron take a hike.

Now listen up to what i say it is no laughing matter
For MP's are the Alice to the Press's Maddest Hatter
For one see two and so conjoined, as if you're seeing double
They speak from different hymn sheets, but the song is always trouble.  

Ascension of thoughts

That quiet air of solitude that seeks a willing mate,
That loneliness so harsh so rude can seal a persons fate,
Belief that life has better days has yet to show it's face,
So lost inside that sullen haze that brought you to this place.

Of things that people care about and harbor to their breast
A fool would dare to scream and shout then judge you with the rest
Alas the heart has limitations weakened by a troubled mind
Making more of situations than the facts would ever find

Strength has many different guises, all that glitters isn't gold
Staying put leaves no surprises living life as if on hold
Raise the bar and make a break from ghosts you've been forever haunted
Life will give if you can live those dreams that you have always wanted.

 

Its a fact..

I have seen cloudy I have seen stormy, I have seen cloudy and stormy....but it only takes one ray of sunshine to change your day.

I.

I can smile
I can laugh out loud
I can cry
I can please the crowd
I can hear
I can dream a dream
I can talk
I can feel it seems
I can run
I can get upset
I can hurt
I can end up wet
I can dance
I can play a tune
I can shout
I can be consumed
I can do I can do
I can tell you this is true
But is it true?
Am I who you know or knew?
Or is it that the real me,
Is not there to see?
Or chooses not to be seen.
I can choose.

Recycled.

The hollow of that empty shell
Now void of life but stands to tell
A lifeless carcass hard as tusk
Devoid of heart as upturned husk

As empty as one mindless act
That lures to death in sordid pact
So cold just likened winters face
No life nor favours given grace

Such fear that haunts our waking seconds
Unknown destiny that beckons
Face the bell that rings our name
Life and times the dying game.

I understand my mortal self
My worth not judged on merely wealth
And life must have a journey's end
Embrace it as you would a friend.






  











 

It's a fact..

Thoughts are what make you who you are, the way you translate them into words make you what people think you are...

Negative thoughts.

A dance without a rhythm
A song that's left unsung
A heart that's never given
Refusing to be won

A night that never see's the dawn
A love that's not returned
The soul that wonders so forlorn
From lesson's never learned

A cry for help unheeded
That echoes through the mist
A friend when they are needed
So often dearly missed

The weight of expectation
A transient that stays
So pay them no attention
Just keep below their gaze.

























 

The End Of Time.

The old clock on the wall made an almost 'clunk like' noise as the pendulum swung side to side, the thick layer of dust across every flat surface of it's design made it look as if the mahogany had faded in the bright sunlight, the dial was a pale yellow instead of golden yellow and parts of the Roman style numbers had almost faded beyond recognition, the brass pendulum was tainted black through years of neglect, the lock on the cabinet where the key was placed to rewind this worn time piece stood out from the rest of the clock as it was the only area that received constant attention from it's daily winding, the wood around the lock had worn to the same shape as the human fingers that tended it daily as the clunk of the pendulum broke the silence in the room every second.
The room was dark, a single window about 8 feet high drew in what light there was from outside and cast a long ray of sunlight across it which hit the clock at the same time of day, day in day out. As the sun stretched  it's fingers across the room at a sharp angle from the window the dust could be seen clearly leaping and dancing in it's wake like bee's around the sweetest honey ever imagined, an old bookcase stood in the darkened corner to the right of the window, strategically placed to never see the sunlight that had so ravaged the ageing time peace, it carried leather bound books that had not had their spines exercised in 3 score years, again the dust claimed every straight edge as it's own, in some cases moths had eaten away the edges of the leather and left just a row of pages squeezed between it's neighbours rendering it all but useless for purpose. The case itself was made of Oak and as such stood firm if well weathered by the constant bombardment of dust from the array of literature it had played host to all these years. Next to the bookcase a huge fireplace stood just below the tick tocking of the old clock, the source of much of the dust over the years, the ash from the last fire to be lit in it's bowels was but the finest powder that just disintegrated at the merest movement of air in the house so long ago had it been used to fill the room with warmth.
On the mantle piece above the fire sat two framed black and white photographs of a man and a woman, clearly taken in the early 1920's judging by their hairstyles and dress, the woman looking straight at the camera over her left shoulder with a huge bun of hair tied up on her head and vertically striped dress with high lacy collar and small pursed lips highlighted and accentuated by the lipstick she wore, the man was also looking to his left but was in a more relaxed position, leaning against a stool he wore a pin striped suit with tie and waistcoat, the chain from his pocket watch could be clearly seen and his thumb was placed in a relaxed nonchalant manner in his waistcoat on the opposite side to the watch. He had a small moustache and a long drawn face with hair that was oiled back off his forehead and a distinct straight parting could be seen on the left side of his head, the two photo's had a white card surround that was now like the clock showing signs of fading and only added to the vintage look of the photos, the dust had also played it's part by obscuring much of the pictures from view.
Further into the room the settee was still draped with lap blankets and cushions, the old curved over arms belied it's age, looking out of place with the rest of the antiques in the room due to it's sought after shape in the modern world, but it too, like all the other contents was a hive of dust. Woodworm had taken it's toll on the softer wood around the arms and the legs of the settee, it stood precariously on it's legs waiting for the inevitable day it would simply fall to the carpeted floor, the betrayal of it's plight lay around each leg where a sawdust like powder sat in almost a perfect circle around the once carved support, it was but a matter of time before the inevitable. A huge hearth rug lay between the settee and the fireplace, of all the items in the room this had suffered the most, it had been ravaged by dust mites and moths and was scarcely recognisable in it's current form, yet in it's heyday it propelled the scene of the brave huntsmen and hounds traversing a huge ditch in pursuit of it's quarry the fox, the horses were captured mid jump with the huntsman clearly shouting "Tally Ho" in support of it's equine ally, though all that remained of the scene on the rug were the hooves of the horses, part of the greying moody skies and in an almost bitter irony of fate the fearful face of the fleeing fox still seen despite it's tormentors demise from the ravages of time.
From the high ceiling of the room a chandelier hung as testament to the wealth of the previous inhabitants, dirty, uncared for and in danger of joining the disintegrated settee at any moment due to the failing joints and screws keeping it suspended in it's lofty position. Behind the settee where the light had not been for close on 100 years lay an out stretched pin stripe suit and next to it a dress with lacy collar and vertical stripes, the dress still worn by it's owner as was the suit, yet they had long departed the world if not the room, the pocket watch still visible and intact in the waistcoat pocket and the neat bun of hair on the woman grotesquely parted from the skull of it's owner in one piece lay slightly to the side of her head, the two skeletal hands still bearing rings were intertwined as only death and decay could leave them, side by side untouched for 60 years. A single brown singe mark in the chest of both sets of clothes could clearly be seen even after all this time, gaping holes that told a story of the foulest of play this room had born witness to, the decaying twisted remains of hair, teeth and dried brown stained flesh a reminder of a gruesome past that was still being played out.
Just then the long brass handle of the oak door slowly descended, barely a noise was heard as two feet emerged from the other side of the door in the dim light, shuffling in old worn out slippers with barely any sole left on them, a bedraggled but suited man with a tie and waistcoat and long flowing white hair emerged through the doorway and shuffled towards the old fireplace, once there he stood looking at the old clock, after a few seconds he raised his hand to the clock and placed a key into the small door his fingers fitting exactly into the smoothed out grooves around said lock, this was indeed the clocks master. He took another small key from his waistcoat and just as he did a folded piece of paper dropped to the floor and landed on the emaciated hearth rug, the old man bent over and picked it up, his dull fingers struggled to open up the fine paper from it's fold, once opened it revealed a sorrowful note of undying love aimed solely at the reader, a statement of love yet regret that it was a love that could never be fulfilled or recognised in life. The old man stood for a few moments as if reading the letter for the first time, small but distinct tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, one tear dropping just below the signature of the letters author, he fumbled in his waistcoat pocket while the sound of muffled sobs could be heard, the most sorrowful sound imagined, he drew his hand out of his pocket and there he held a small black and white photograph, it was of a woman with her hair in a bun and a small mouth accentuated by her lipstick, this time she was wearing a flowered dress still with high lacy collar, the picture shook in the old mans hand, the sobs became that much more audible and sorrowful, he stood in the same place just below the clock for what seemed like an age, his old craggy shaky hands replaced the letter and the picture from whence they had come and again he reached up to the clock only this time he did not have the key in his hand, instead he reached down into the cabinet disturbing the swing of the pendulum as he did and stopping the clocks movement at that very moment in time, as his hand withdrew from the cabinet the setting sun was low enough to catch a glimpse of a silver revolver, it's mechanism cocked and ready, the old man raised the pistol and fired.
The room fell completely silent.

The great and the good.

Matters arising in this meeting
To whom it may concern
A story to tell ever so fleeting
Something we maybe could learn.

An African tribe is dying of thirst
The Tiger has numbers so few
Not for a minute have we seen the worst
Is there something that we all can do?

I will swear my allegience to the African tribe!
The Tigers will get my support!
A few politicians I know I can bribe
Donations can always be sought

The Whales are hurting we must put it right
And monkeys in deepest Peru?
The Amazon forest will go overnight
Oh! we must stop that happening to.

Let's hold a huge party my friends they will come
We can make it a massive crusade
Our riches and fame we will pool all as one
Together we'll call it Fame-Aid

We can raise all our profiles a wonderful thing
Have pictures of us with our friends
Showing the work our money can bring
The potential for this never ends

But, one moment folks of the jettest of sets
This meeting is far from yet over
None of you seem to be edging your bets
This side of the White Cliffs of Dover

The homeless in boxes on cold winter corners
The youngsters with holes in their shoes
The funeral of parents with children their mourners
Not worthy of such headline news.

No glamour in alleys with discarded needles
No purchase from something so seedy
No man of the moment or man of the people
To rescue the plight of such needy

So one resolution I must put across
To you all with the ear of the press
The needy are hurting with similar loss
Though glamour is short I confess.

Live it.

Break those chains kick those doors
Take back all that should be yours
Stand your ground and don't relent
Say it like they know it's meant

Be as one with who you are
Shine as bright as any star,
Reach into your inner being
Care not what the world is seeing

One more thing before I go
Something we all need to know
Don't hold back and grab each chance
Life's your first and only dance.

One good deed..

The merry-go-round that is business continues apace, the phone is ringing off the hook and customers are their usual impatient selves, (God love 'em) we have just had a lady in who had just spent over £350.00 on her front drivers side brakes with an "approved RAC" garage, nothing wrong with the fitting of the brake components but the top wishbone which connects the suspension to the chassis was in a dreadful state, almost worn out and dropping off, hence the new brakes were binding and getting hot as the whole wheel was moving, I am afraid i had to break the good news to her and said it needs doing at the earliest opportunity.  I always wonder about garages that seek affiliation to a trade body as it suggests to me that the usual word of mouth way of getting work is a closed door to them, not always admittedly but where there is smoke...
As a mechanic of all manners of vehicles, trucks, machinery etc for the last 27 years i thought i had seen most things, but rest assured you never know everything and people can still shock you. last week we had a customer call in with an immaculate BMW 3 series, he was on his way to his holiday caravan in Aberystwyth West Wales, he said his steering was vibrating really badly, this being on a Friday afternoon amid the ensuing chaos we were not that keen to inspect yet another job, but as always my conscience got the better of me and we got him in the workshops somehow. A quick inspection and a readout from the laser temperature gun showed a fault on the drivers side front brake calliper, it was reading 178 degrees so was obviously critically overheating, just a few more miles and it would have been the fire brigade needed, not our services!.
I sent the couple off for a walk around the town and and pointed them in the direction of the best cafe and said we will be a couple of hours.  Much sighing and missing skin from the hands later and the still extremely hot calliper was removed and a new one fitted, for good measure we checked both sides so that the braking on the front would be nice and even.
Our man duly returned with said wife a couple of hours later and after the bill was settled off they set for their caravan holiday in Aberystwyth, albeit later than planned.
That as they say would be that normally, but towards the end of last week an older gentleman that i kind of recognised parked a little hatchback car to the side of the yard and started to walk towards me with a box of Beck's beer in his arms, I walked towards him and said "Hi" still not completely sure who he was, he handed me the box of beer and I said err....thank you, "That's for you and the lads for saving our holiday weekend in Aberystwyth" and as he said that the penny dropped.. "oh my life " i said, "thank you so much, sorry I didn't recognise you without the BMW" "No that's OK he said i have my wife's car so its probably confusing you".
So having shaken his hand i returned to the workshops triumphantly bearing gifts...none of which could obviously be consumed on the premises but its the thought that counts and we have obviously made a new friend !.

Sam's day cont...

Danny slammed the car door shut with a loud clunk and pulled his seat belt around him, fumbling for a few seconds to click it into the holder,
"I hate these damn seats" he muttered, "never can find that seat belt holster!"
Sam just smiled as she kept her head looking forwards out of the windscreen, trying desperately not to look down and give herself more of a complex about how much of her long legs she was actually showing Danny while sat next to him in the car,
"Looks like it may rain today" she tried to make general conversation
"Well I guess if nothing else it will be good for the umbrella shops" Danny retorted, and with that they both glanced at one another across the car and simultaneously burst out laughing,
"Sorry, it's just I have seen you to talk to that often and here we are suddenly in a car together, it caught me a little off guard" Sam said through her muffled giggles.
"I know I know, I suppose it is a bit strange but if i am honest I have been dying to get to know you better for ages, in fact...from the first time I saw you, here you go Dan smiled, have a gum, they are peppermint, I always have them in a morning good for the sinuses!, he retorted trying to make light of what he had just said"
Sam stopped giggling and took the sweet and placed it in her mouth then glanced out of the car window, unsure of how to respond to Danny's last sentence, an uneasy silence immediately returned and the atmosphere grew tense,
"I-I-I'm sorry Sam, Danny stuttered, I shouldn't have said that, I had no ri...." "Don't be silly Danny, it's OK it's just a bit surreal that someone who i have only waved to over the past few years turns out to not only know where i work but also has hidden feelings for me, I am not sure how to quite deal with it, especially as I am in your car at the same time!"
"Oh Sam I am so sorry, I am doing this all wrong, I didn't want to cause you any confusion or hurt I have wanted to introduce myself and say hi since I first laid eyes on you and when i saw you at the bus stop this morning I couldn't help but walk over and ask if you wanted a lift, I thought perhaps I may not get another chance, I am leaving early tomorrow to start a new life in Saudi and I thought if I didn't say something this morning I would always live to regret it and i don't think I could live with that"
Sam looked at Danny and their eyes met for a split second, Sam's heart felt like it would jump out on to her lap at that moment, Danny's deep green eyes were gorgeous, she had never been that close to him to notice before but she suddenly felt her breathing quicken and her face start to glow,
"Oh for Christ's sake Danny, your timing is bloody dreadful !...what am I supposed to say to that?! we wave and smile at each other for 3 years and the day before you set off for a new life on the other side of the world you make a move, I am sorry Danny but it's all a bit too little too late!"
" Sam, no one is more sorry than I am, I have wanted to speak to you but i could never summon up the courage, I thought you would simply laugh or walk away and somehow, not knowing either way was easier to live with".
"Well it's certainly made it a lot harder now hasn't it Danny/" Sam snapped, losing patience at the limp excuse just handed to her.
Danny pulled the car over into a lay by,
"Look Sam, I know it was wrong of me, but I came from a very strict family and we were constantly told we were never good enough as children and..and a little of that sticks with you, no matter how confident you are on the outside," Danny clutched his hand to his chest "it's in here that matters and I couldn't go tomorrow without at least having the opportunity to speak with you, believe me no one is sorrier than I"
Sam looked again into Danny's eye's, the previous glimpse of deep green had now been tainted with red and Danny's eyes were welling up as he spoke, Sam kept eye contact with Danny as they both just sat there looking into each others eyes, outside the slow pitter patter of raindrops could be heard hitting the roof of the car, slowly at first and then quicker and quicker as the storm grew with intensity, Sam knew it was raining but she couldn't hear the noise, she was lost in Danny's eyes and he in hers, they kept eye contact for what seemed minutes but in fact it was probably just a few seconds, Danny leaned closer towards Sam, the creaking leather seats the only noise above the incessant rainstorm that they were both now oblivious to, slowly Danny moved across closer and closer to Sam until their noses were almost touching, Danny stopped for a few seconds, Sam's breathing became shallower and shallower as her heart threatened to explode with
the passion of this moment with virtually a stranger and as much as she told herself it was wrong the louder the voice in her heart said seize this moment, Danny tilted his head to one side and moved towards Sam and at that split second their lips just brushed one another, the softest lightest touch.. then again, Danny looking straight in to Sam's deep blue eyes with a passion that almost frightened Sam but at the same time overwhelmed her, the slightest touch of their lips again only this time a little longer, Sam felt almost dizzy with excitement, her worries of showing too much thigh a distant thought as she leaned towards Danny's seat, they stayed there lips softly touching, then Danny 's hand reached around slowly to the back of Sam's head, cupping her head he drew her closer to him, their lips now pressed closer together they pulled each other in like the dying swirl of a whirlpool that's has nowhere to run but earthbound with the force of gravity, both of them now locked in a passionate kiss that had them both struggling to breath, but neither willing to yield in case the moment was lost, tighter and tighter they pulled one another into their passionate embrace, forgetting the circumstances that brought them both to this place, focused only on the pure instinct that only such a moment can inspire, Danny murmured Sam's name over and over as he kissed and teased her lips and neck while holding her head in his hand, Sam's usual smart hair and make-up quickly disappearing as the raw passion continued, but she didn't care, she was locked in to this moment like it was a script for a play and she had learnt every single full stop, comma and paragraph off by heart, Sam was engulfed by this gorgeous man and all he had to offer her there and then, tomorrow was a long way away, what happened now was the only important thing in her life.
Danny drew slowly away from Sam's lips and they just sat there for a moment looking into each others eyes,
"Oh God," said Sam, "where the hell did that all come from?, for fucks sake Danny why the hell has it taken you 3 bloody years to make a move?" with that they kissed again. yet more passionately if it were possible, Danny's hand sliding down and running alongside Sam's bare thigh and round to her bottom as he pulled her closer, the frustration of all those years finally bursting to the surface as once again they became one with their thoughts and yearnings..
A sudden, familiar, yet unwelcome noise made both of them jump and part almost immediately, both jumped back upright in their seats like naughty school children caught with their hands in the cookie jar, it was a Police siren and the Police car was in the lay by with them, in fact right behind them. The blue flashing lights reflecting on the windscreen which by now was completely steamed up.
A tap at the window confirmed they were the object of the Police vehicles presence, with electric windows all around Danny fumbled for the ignition key in order to slide the window down, the rain was by now torrential and Danny slowly let the window down just a few inches to greet the by now soaking wet Officer at his door.
"Hello sir,
"Err yes ..yes hello Officer, can I help you?" Danny stuttered
" Is this your vehicle sir?"
"Ahhh yes...yes Officer it is, is there a problem?"
"Is your name Daniel Aaron Collins ?" the Police Officer said in a now more sinister tone.
"That's right Officer, that's my name"
"In that case sir would you like to get out of the car for a second?"
"Well really Officer, is that actually necessary in such foul weather?"
"I am afraid so sir, you see I am arresting you for the possible murder of your wife at 3 a.m this morning outside Christies Club in Peckham Road, You do not have to say anything sir but it may harm your defence if.........." the words were a blur to Sam, here she was, sat in a car surrounded by Police with a suspected murderer who she had just a few moments ago been locked with in the most passionate of embraces and all the time all she was actually doing in reality was trying to get to work!.
Just then a tap at Sam's door saw a WPC beckoning her to leave the car and go along with her in the back of their Police unit. Sam was at a loss for words, she could hear voices but couldn't make sense of what was going on around her, she was confused, dazed, startled, the world started spinning faster and faster....

Sam awoke with a start, the rain had stopped and she was home, at least it was like home, she lifted her head to look around and a WPC said softly "are you OK sweetheart?, you fainted on the side of the road and we brought you in so the duty Doc could take a look at you"
D..d.duty Doc..?  am i in prison?
"No sweetie we brought you into this cell as we had nowhere else we could keep you safe from that maniac that kidnapped you in that car this morning, don't worry he is locked up safe and sound and you are free to go, we will need a statement from you but we can do that tomorrow if you like, you have been asleep almost 6 hours, didn't have the heart to wake you"
"six hours!" Sam exclaimed. How the hell could I be asleep for 6 hours, I wasn't even tired!"
"Oh maybe not but those drugs that monster gave you would be enough to put you out for days let alone hours, we pumped your stomach when you came in sweetie, you will be OK now".
"But...drugs?...how? Sam stuttered.
"Oh it's his m.o to give all his victims some peppermint gum to chew just before he assaults them"
With that comment Sam was physically sick, her stomach felt as if it had been hit by a steam roller, she intermingled the vomit with tears and howls that were from her very soul, how could she have been so stupid, how could she have let this man so easily in to her well ordered life?
"Don't beat yourself up hun the WPC comforted her, these type of men are very convincing, they prey on anyone they think may be vulnerable, it's the way they are, it's not your fault".
Sam straightened herself up, sat on the bed in the cell,
"I want to go home, I need a shower",
"I will call a taxi for you right now hun"
The taxi dropped Sam off at the bottom of her cul-de-sac, she walked soaking wet and feeling very sorry for herself towards her flat, she felt used, unclean, she just needed her shower and her own space again, the safety of her flat.
She placed the key in the door and Asterix was there to greet her almost immediately, brushing himself against Sam's leg in anticipation of food, which Sam duly obliged, the flat was eerily quiet, in the far corner of the room the telephone answering machine was flashing that a message had been left, she pressed the message button..
"Hellooo Sam, it's mummy darling, oooh there is some gossip in your street tonight, they have caught that man who killed his wife last night in Peckham road, seems he has confessed to another 12 assaults and another murder, you just never know who is living right under your nose do you sweetheart?, he was trying to fly out of the country today, he had his passport and everything in the boot of his car so it said on the news, but the Police caught him before he could get to the airport, not sure which one he was going to though because he was on the wrong road to get to any airport..."
A chill went down Sam's spine. This was indeed a day she would never forget.

Sam's Day.

Looking at her feet as she walked Sam could only think of one thing, getting home to her flat and out of her soaking wet clothes, if she had known what the day had in store when she left that morning she would have definitely dressed differently. It was 7.00 am when the alarm went off as usual, Sam reached for the snooze button and sank her head face down in the pillow pretending that it hadn't happened but was resigned to the inevitable repeat in five minutes. She had been on her own for 3 years now and was getting a little frustrated with her daily routine and constant reminders by her friends that being single was not her style, though at times like this having someone to cuddle up to would sure as hell make getting up that much easier. Sam beat the second snooze alert, she reached out for the old LED alarm clock she had owned since childhood and turned the alarm off, the pale off white clock had some of its numbers missing and had seen better days but it still kept good time, Sam had a sentimental attachment to it and for her needs it was quite fine thank you.

 She walked to the bathroom with her shoulders slumped and her long mousy brown hair partly covering her face, her pink teddy bear nightie had also seen better days but again it had sentimental value, her dad had bought it for her so many years ago now and it held such precious memories, even more so since his untimely death from cancer of the stomach just 18 months ago. Reaching for the taps Sam cupped both her hands underneath the flowing water and put her head over the sink as she splashed the soul reviving water into her face, she stood there for just a second or two taking in that wonderful feeling of freshness only cold water can manage at such an early hour, it brought her senses alive and she immediately reached for the soft towel and buried her head in that as she had done in the pillow earlier, she put the towel back on the rail and then reached up to the bathroom cupboard for her toothpaste and brush, the routine she always followed, but today was going to be a day that was anything but routine, though as yet she didn't know it.
Downstairs and dressed, make-up on and hair tied back in a pony tail Sam was ready to face the day, she fed Asterix her 5 year old cat before she sat down for her cereal as she did every morning, Asterix was her one true friend and soul mate, they doted on one another, Sam had rescued Asterix as a kitten from a cat sanctuary, he would always be playful and seemed to understand Sam when she was feeling down and knew it was enough just him being there, a friend to be counted on no matter how she felt, that was so important to Sam.
Asterix ate his breakfast then disappeared through the cat flap in the door as Sam grabbed her coat from the hallway and her car keys from the sideboard, her shoes clonked and echoed across the partly tiled, partly wood panelled floor of the flat and as she reached the front door the post slipped on to the mat in front of her, so Sam picked it up and bundled it into her handbag as she raced across the large parking area outside the flats to where her old Vauxhall Corsa was parked. Yet again Sam was a creature of habit with this relic of the motoring world, her father had bought it brand new for her on her 21st birthday and though it was showing its age and cost Sam a fortune to keep maintained, wild horses could not part her from it. She unlocked the door and jumped in putting her handbag and flat keys on the passenger seat as she pushed the key into the ignition and turned it, the car burst into life and then, without warning just stopped again, Sam wasn't unduly worried as this had happened before, so she turned the key again and again, but this time her old faithful was not responding to her gentle coaxing and slowly but surely the engine turned over slower and slower as the life oozed away from the battery... Sam was going nowhere, or at least the little Vauxhall wasn't.
"Oh great" she muttered to herself, just what i needed.
Sam jumped out of the Corsa and locked it up and grabbed her mobile as she made her way out of the car park and on to the streets of the city, it was still quite dark for that time in the morning and the streets were full of delivery vans carrying the newspapers and bread etc, everyone seemed to be totally occupied with their respective jobs, Sam walked around and past the vans and delivery drivers as she made her way down the street to the bus stop just 200 metres away. There was already quite a few people stood waiting for the bus, mostly well suited types and young students, many had their head buried in a newspaper or were busy explaining to the rest of their mates just what a "great night" last night was. Sam stood awkwardly at the side of the bus stop not mingling too closely as she had no wish to become embroiled in the "night before" conversation or have to make small talk with a suit. As she stood there looking down seemingly engrossed in her about turned clenched fist as if looking at her nails a soft deep voice behind her quipped  "has your car broken again?"  Sam spun round at the sound of a familiar voice, it was Daniel from across the street from Sam's flat, he always spoke and waved or smiled at Sam, this morning however his wonderful smile seemed a little jaded and subdued, "I am afraid so," said Sam rather croaky, "are you OK?, you look a little stressed out" Sam said without thinking.. then suddenly realised that she may have no right to even ask, "Oh well, to be fair I am a little down this morning, I have to go and identify my wife, she was killed by a hit and run driver last night" "oh i am so sorry!" Sam blurted out, "I didn't realise you were married even, what a terrible thing!",
"we were separated" Daniel said softly,
"Oh i see, I didn't think i had seen you with anyone said Sam, n-n-not that I am keeping tabs on you or anything, I -I -just see you most days so I would have noticed"
Danny chuckled and Sam saw that warm smile try and make an appearance for the first time that morning,
"That's OK we have been apart for a good 3 years, we kept in touch, but she wanted her freedom and I wanted to settle down, I guess we grew apart and then she ran off with the bouncer from "Christies Club" on the old Peckham road, "Oh I know the one" said Sam still trying to seem interested as she was not the most talkative person first thing in the mornings anyway, even more so when you are talking about your neighbours dead wife.
"where was she hit ?" Sam said still trying not to pry but finding it increasingly difficult to choose the right words,
"Just outside the night club apparently, the car never stopped, it was only a small car but she apparently she didn't stand a chance as it was speeding"
"Oh dear, sounds awful" Sam said softly, "when is this damn bus due!" she said quickly changing the subject and seemingly rather annoyed at how her day was already developing,
"It will be another 10 minutes yet" said Danny, "would you like a lift to work in my car?"
"Oh...would you mind ?" Sam said in an instant "That would be brilliant, I work at...." "you work at Delaneys the accountants, I know" Danny said once more using that wonderful smile to great effect, "But..but how did you know that? Sam exclaimed, "It's easy" said Danny " I own a company that you do the accounts for, my assistant Rachel deals with you, I am Managing director for two other companies so I don't get to see who does my paperwork but i recognised you on the company Xmas card they send over every year",
Sam seemed quite flattered and for once was lost for words that Daniel had actually taken the time to notice her even, let alone talk to her at a bus stop.
"Come on" he said, "I have to go by your place on the way to the morgue, I will drop you off as i pass through".
Sam jumped in Danny's warm car and placed her handbag on her lap, as she reached behind her for the seat belt Danny grabbed her bag and placed it on the back seat of the car as he got in, "save you nursing that all the way to work, it will be OK in the back" he quipped, Sam now felt a little uncomfortable with no bag on her bare knees, her short tight pencil skirt was not designed for sitting in cars next to hunky neighbours, her heels made her legs uncomfortably high in the seat and she was acutely aware of her knees sticking up and way too much of her thighs on view, though she had to admit to herself she felt excited at the same time as a little embarrassed.

.....Part two and the conclusion to be continued ...

Thoughts for today.

Blue sky thinking grey sky mind
Lost dimensions hard to find
Daytime dreams nightmare nights
Silent prayers and noisy fights

Outside box and inside dealing
Pure of thought or simply stealing
Fast lane sprint or slow lane creeping
Lie awake or waste time sleeping

Life see's changes death see's sorrow
Raise you daylight see's tomorrow
Thoughts surrounded mind let wander
Food for thought with time to ponder

All entrenched in thoughts of all
Strong, the weak, the short, the tall.
No escape but death can alter
From such paths should you so falter.

Timewise.

I have a mind to sit a while
let life wash over me
Sip coffee that will bring a smile
A takeaway for tea ?

Some time to watch the daylight end
And night to have its way
The thoughts to which I must attend
All swiftly blown away

For space to think and hear myself
Are seldom in the plan
This elevation into wealth
The curse of every man

So here and now as i embrace
Our world in different ways
The broadest smile upon my face
Is how I'd spend my days.

.