Anxiety 😱 for Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

In keeping with Mental Health Awareness Week, here's a poem I wrote many years ago when I was in a less happy place...😱

Anxiety state 

Cruel uncertainty, why do you torture me?

Where is the steadfast, where is the sure?

Where is the calm reassuring security?

Where's inner peace, my sanity sanctuary?

All have escaped me

I’m losing my mind.

I am riding a not-so-merry

merry-go-round

and round. 

Racing thoughts career wildly,

Wide-eyed, driven; like blood-thirsty greyhounds round the track;

Meaningless laps, exhausting, exasperating, excruciating.

No sooner executed, than resurrected to groundhog torment once more.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming 💭💬

Neuro-Linguistic Programming - New Little Poem 💭💬

I recently certified as a NLP Practitioner and I am still feeling inspired and enthusiastic from the course. I am really enjoying putting the new skills into practice, hence a little poem to sum it all up in a few lines.

Neuro-linguistic

Super holistic

Potential unlimited here

Positive focus

Now is the locus

Get rid of unwanted fear

Phobias ended

Old hurts are mended

Anchor for peace, love and cheer

Presuppositions

Perceptual positions

Moving things round til they’re clear

Reframe the image

Feelings diminish

Negative thoughts disappear

Neurones all linking

New ways of thinking

Honing things right through the year

I’m optimistic

With neuro-linguistics

Our NLP future’s bright here!

Twitter: RachelMcCoubrie@McCoubrieRachel

Blog: rachelmccoubrie.blogspot.co.uk

Brother's day 24th May 2018 💝

For my little brother on Brother’s day 24.5.18 💙

My brother is funny

My brother is kind

He’s sometimes annoying

I don’t really mind

Mon frère, il est giving

A generous soul

When others might need him

He’s there on the whole

Mein bruder ist feisty

He’s picked a few fights

I wish that he didn’t

He’s only quite sleight

Mi hermano es playful

He can be a tease

In childhood he used to

Wind Mum up with ease

Mio fratello ѐ clever

Especially with art

A creative genius

That flows from the heart

My brother is funny

My brother is kind

He’s sometimes annoying

I don’t really mind.

Dying Matters

National Dying Matters week comes around every May. It is a time for us all to stop and think about our futures. Death will come to us all one day. Talking about it will not make it happen sooner; it will just mean that we and our loved ones are more prepared for it. We can legally appoint people to speak for us and make decisions on our finances and health if at any point we are unable to do this for ourselves. Planning our funerals can give comfort to our families, knowing our favourite readings or music is included. Writing our wills makes life much easier for those left behind. Dying matters. Let's get it right. 

Dying matters…

It’s got to happen one day;

Let’s hope it won’t be soon. 

It’s good to talk about it,

That elephant in the room.

Let’s make the most of living

Enjoy it while we can;

Let’s run and jump, dance around,

But also start to plan. 

Then when our bodies weaken

And can’t run any more,

Slow it to a walk or stroll,

Consider what’s in store. 

Then when time’s getting shorter,

We’re bound to beds or chairs,

Let’s read and write, paint and draw,

And sort out our affairs. 

There’s Powers of Attorney,

For finances or health, 

There’s funerals, and written wills

To say who gets our wealth. 

For once our time is over, 

If we’ve talked it  through,

It’s better for our loved ones;

They’ll know just what to do. 

Rachel McCoubrie 2018

#dyingmatters

Food and places 🥘🌆

How many food items can you find in here? 

Food and places

Take delight in Turkey

Go nuts in Brazil,

But stewing the Irish

Can make them quite ill.

The Cornish turn nasty 

Unless they’re fed pasty.

The Danish get flaky

When short of their pastry.

It can be cold in Lancashire

Without a nice hot pot.

But Chile isn’t chilly -

It’s actually quite hot!

The Scotch like their eggs

While French prefer toast,

And people from Yorkshire 

Like puddings the most. 

But meanwhile for breakfast,

Full English for me,

Washed down with a pot of 

Fine breakfast tea. 

Rachel McCoubrie

April 2018

🥘🌆

(Answer = 12)

National Poem in Your Pocket Day 26.4.18 😊

It’s National Poem in Your Pocket Day.....

Tentatively
I reach into my pocket.
Gingerly
My fingers explore.
Expectantly
Hoping for poetic stuff;
Surprisingly,
All I find is crumbs and fluff!
😳

National Earth Day 22.4.18

National Earth Day 🌎🌍🌏

If EARTH fell to pieces

We’d be out on our EAR,

Unable to HEAR,

Left with nothing to EAT

Except maybe a RAT 

While shedding a TEAR. 

If the WORLD was in bits

With a falling DOW,

There’d be a big ROW. 

We would grow OLD 

With a ROD for our backs

We’d all feel so LOW. 

If our PLANET was ruined,

Not a PLANT left to see

Not an APE nor a PET;

No salmon to LEAP 

Into our NET. 

Where would we be?

Let’s make a PLAN

Over an ALE or a TEA,

It’s not too LATE

To keep it NEAT...

LET’SKEEPITALLTOGETHER.

Rachel McCoubrie 22.4.18

National Garlic Day 19.4.18

Today is National Garlic day

Who knew that even exists?

But now that we know, let’s say a few words

For the herb we cannot resist. 

It comes from the genus onion,

Allium it’s proper name. 

Whether it's raw or cooked, bulb or cloves,

The flavour tastes the same. 

For garlic is a Super-herb

With powers beyond it’s size

From healing to aphrodisiac,

And warding off vampires. 

Where would we be without its taste 

In pastas, on garlic bread?

The only downside seems to be

You’re left with smelly breath! 

Rachel McCoubrie 19.4.18

Sibling Day April 10th ❤️😘

It's National Sibling Day today. I wrote this last night for my sibs and our kids.....and I'm sure other parents would echo the sentiments ❤️😘

Siblings

April the 10th is Sibling day,
A time to stop and give thanks.
No fighting, no teasing, no telling tales,
No winding them up with your pranks.

Let's have a day, just start with one day,
When nobody shouts or screams,
Filled with beautiful thoughts, and considerate words,
And a calmness that's close to serene.

I don't want to hear, "It's not my fault!"
Or "Stop it!" or "Get off!" or "MuuuuM!"
Let's all make an effort and really try hard;
Who knows, it might even be fun! 😜

Wisteria 💙

We had a wonderful 2 weeks exploring the Amalfi Coast in Italy in April 2018. There was so much stunning Wisteria growing everywhere; it was quite breathtaking and inspired this poem. 

Wisteria 

Oh glorious Wisteria,

Beautiful hysteria,
Woody vines,
Springtime signs,
Pastel hues,
Purples, blues,
Sweet perfumes,
Voluptuous blooms,
Here I stand

In awe of you.

💙

Life without Ella... 💔

Without maple, we still have syrup.

With no pea, nut butter remains.

Without raspberries, the jam goes on.

Without lemons, we’ve curds (and whey).

But without Ella, all that’s left is a Nut. 

A Play....on words 🖋 #wordplay

Today was World Poetry Day. I cobbled this together on the lead up to midnight. 🖋


A play... on words.

My word, I like to play with words

I play a round each day;
Alliterate and spoonerise,
With similes like glorious smiles.
Metaphors are handy for
When my chin is on the floor.

Cross words are often written,
Many cryptic, or black and white.
Literature is literal fun,
And everybody loves a pun;
But mortgages do not get paid 
By playing round with words this way. 

2018

Cheesy nonsense 🧀🧀🧀

My husband suggested I write a poem on cheese and cited the quote below.
I thought I'd give it a go 😊

GK Chesterton once said,

“Poets have been mysteriously quiet on the subject of cheese.”

Throughout my life, I aim to please

Hence a poem on the subject of cheese

Just for GK Chesterton.

I may be mysterious

But I am not quiet...

I am here to pay homage 

To the fromage.

What’s better than Feta,

Or Gouda than Brie?

Melted, grated, thickly spread

Smeared all over toast or bread.

Cheese puts the man in Manchego, 

But leaves the Bishop Stinking.

It puts Blue in the Danes

(Just look at their veins).

Eat Stilton with Stilts on

Drink a Double in Gloucester

Wear Red to Leicester

And Gorge on Cheddar.

How I do love Ewe!

Let’s buy a small Cottage,

Get Chutney’d and Pickled;

We’ll Fondue the Goats

And make a Baby (bel);
To the sound of French Cows Laughing. 
😂🐮🧀 🐑 🐐 🐄 😊 🧀

Size of a house 🏡

This is something silly I wrote in 2003 when I was heavily pregnant with Maddie and feeling very uncomfortable and enormous. 🤰🐄🐳🏡

Size of a house 🏡

Come on, smelly

Leave my belly.

I feel like a wobbly jelly.

Don’t ask how,

Just get out now.

I am the size of a cow.

You’ll be frail,

Small and pale.

Unlike me, I'm like a whale.

Breast milk at least

Will be your feast.

Suckling from this mummy beast.

Skin stretch allows

Elephant from mouse.

I am the size of a house...

(But you can’t live here forever).

(19 days to go…..)

Poorly Grandad 😢

This is a poem I wrote when my dad was seriously ill and our eldest was only little. 💗

“Grandad is poorly,” said Mummy one day.

“What do you mean? Can he still play?”

"He can’t play as hard as he has done before,

He can’t roll around playing rough on the floor.

If he needs sleep, or is too tired to play,

We’ll come back to visit a different day.

But he’s still your Grandad despite all this,

And loves to give you a hug and a kiss.

He can’t fit his shoes on his two puffy feet,

He’s been wearing his slippers out in the street.

His face looks quite pale, his knees are both sore;

He can’t even run around anymore.

But he’s still your Grandad despite all this,

And loves to give you a hug and a kiss.

The doctors have given him lots of pills

To try to stop him from feeling ill.

Your cute little face will do him good,

You always brighten up his mood.

He’s still your Grandad despite all this,

And loves to give you a hug and a kiss.

So go and sit on your Grandad’s knee

And tell him you love him enormously."

Key gate...the case of the missing keys!

So back in mid November, I had a little panic that Christmas was looking far too quiet... and with the knowledge that next Christmas I will be on call, and the Christmas after, Paul will be on call, I thought we better enjoy this one to the max. Both of us were lucky enough to wangle two weeks off starting on Christmas morning, with a friend's wedding lying smack bang on the middle Saturday. Undeterred, I booked a four-day trip to Berlin to do the Christmas markets, flying back for the wedding on Saturday in Somerset before heading straight off to Kent for New Year with the in-laws. Perfect! 

However, our flight back into Bristol was due to land at 22.15 on Friday night and the wedding was at 12.00 the following morning. We would only have a 10 hour turnaround at home to unpack from Berlin, repack for four days in Kent, including wedding clothes, shoes, accessories, presents for the in-laws and get some sleep prior to the next two big late nights - the wedding reception and New Years Eve. What could possibly go wrong?!

Berlin was a tale of two halves – the frivolity and sparkle of the Christmas markets in contrast to the solemnity of some of the historical sites. After an enjoyable trip, we landed back in Bristol, tired, and got a taxi home. As we unloaded our suitcases from the taxi, we started searching for the house keys. Paul had definitely locked up when we left (phew - I hadn't lost them!). The taxi driver disappeared, showing no concern whatsoever for our predicament, just keen to chase his next fare.

By now, it was 11pm, freezing cold and dark, and raining into our open suitcases. Paul searched his suitcase. Nothing. I searched mine. Nope. He re-searched his and I double-checked it. Definitely no keys.

Neighbours! Which of the neighbours might have a key? There was a bedroom light on across the road at Naomi and Nick's. I rang Naomi's number. No answer. Then Nick’s number. Voicemail. But then Nick opened their bedroom curtains, appraised the situation in 2 seconds, and acted out a quizzical 'keys' action through the window. I gave him a thumbs up. Hurrah!
"I'm sure we have a set of your keys," he said at the front door, "We seem to have a set for most of the street." Sadly, they did have many, many sets of keys; but not ours. 
"We've got Sid and Amy's keys," he said helpfully. Sid and Amy live next door to us but were away on holiday. Needs must. I rang Amy. No answer. I rang Sid. He answered, very sleepily. I explained our predicament. He thought they did indeed have a set of our keys. He proceeded to give Nick and I ‘crystal maze’ style convoluted instructions about how to turn off their burglar alarm and find their spare keys. We listened very carefully and set off on our mission.

Success!! Hallelujah! They did have a set of our keys! We hugged, we laughed, we high-fived, and finally we unlocked our front door......only to find that our cleaner had been in while we were away and had locked the inner porch door....AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!
We could see through glass in the porch door that my set of keys were on the sideboard in the hall only about a foot away. Time for Plan B. Options were:

1.    Phone the cleaner to ask her to bring a set of keys. We didn’t think she’d appreciate that at1130pm on a Friday night. There are boundaries.

2.    Smash the glass and use my keys to unlock the door

3.    Call out a locksmith

In the interests of not making a mess, or angering the cleaner, we opted for the locksmith. He took 30mins to reach us and another 40mins to break us in. Apparently “These old locks were not made to be broken”, he chirped jovially as he drilled and pushed and levered with no sense of urgency.

Eventually we were in! By then, it was about 1am, the kids were bundled into bed. I did all the unpacking and repacking and eventually flopped into bed at 2am only to wake again with a start at 7am with my head buzzing with all that needed doing before our 10am departure.

The whole saga from the night before felt slightly surreal, evidenced only by the new hole in the porch door and the missing £125 cash requested by the locksmith (which we didn’t have - thank goodness the kids had been given cash for Christmas by some relatives or that would have been the next drama).


It was about 2 hours later there was a “NOOOOOOO!!!” from upstairs as Paul found his house keys in a little pocket in his camera case that he had on him the whole time after all.......😳

Christmas with Easyjet

Our flight home from Berlin was somewhat turbulent. Storms apparently. It started out as the usual gentle bumps and jolts  - enough for the seatbelt light to be switched on. No problem. But then the plane started to really pitch about all over the place - major shaking of the plane in every direction. Looks were exchanged between passengers, eyebrows were raised and eyes were rolled. The kids started to look a little alarmed.
"It's okay, don't worry." I said.
Then the plane began to nosedive quite suddenly and dramatically and the captain's voice came over the tannoy, 
"Crew, take your seats IMMEDIATELY!"
The crew didn't waste any time in doing exactly as he said. At this point, G (11) burst into tears crying, "No, no, no!"
"It's okay," I said, cuddling her and holding her close. In my best soothing voice,  "It's just a bit bumpy tonight isn't it. It'll be alright again soon." The outward voice of calm while inwardly my mind was screaming, "OH MY GOD, WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!"
Bizarrely I found comfort in the thought that at least we would all die together (must be something to do with the palliative care doctor in me trying to make it a 'good death'). The plane then lurched upwards again and then down - I have never experienced anything quite like it except on fairground rides. After what seemed a long time, we passed through the storm and the buffeting stopped. The captain's voice came back over the tannoy,

"Sorry about that, it was a bit stormy back there. We have now dropped altitude so we are below the storm. There are other airplanes at this altitude though, so we'll have to keep an eye out." 
WHAT THE ACTUAL ?*$@