#SeasonalSonnets: 31st Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

As tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry brings both my series and the year to a close, I felt I ought to refer to that in my piece, so it is essentially a whistlestop tour of my resolutions for next year. 2016 has been a tumultuous year both personally and politically - I've certainly learnt a lot about myself but also about humanity. Mostly I've learnt about the vital importance of compassion, on micro and macro scales, and I hope to imbue my next year with a lot more of this quality in all of my relationships, including the one I have with myself.

Hopefully that comes through in the three resolutions I've featured in my sonnet (which I've labelled 'first', 'second' and 'third' but aren't necessarily in that order in reality). My top priorities over the next 365 days are to become more physically independent (I'll elaborate on that in a post soon), to push myself outside of my comfort zone (academically and emotionally as well as physically) and to do as much justice as possible to my thesis topic.

With those in mind, having spent all day working academically, I'm now going to put my body first and, instead of staying up, go to bed early. So, before I leave you with my final sonnet, I want to thank you - for reading them, of course, but mostly for all the other means of support you offer, both online and offline. I am so very grateful to have you all in my life. Whatever you're doing, and wherever you are in the world, I wish you the best for 2017 - and I'm sending strength and solidarity your way.

We can do it (whatever 'it' is for each of us - including being proud that we've made it through another year) - and we can hold each other up!

Until Wednesday, when I'll be back to weekly posting,

Love Jx

31^st December

This sonnet brings my series to conclusion,

and also marks the ending of the year,

so I’m gonna try and fit in my resolutions –

the first of which is conquering more fears.

The second is to do my very best

to keep this PhD of mine on track,

since this year I must write most of the rest

whilst also keeping tabs upon my back.

In line with that, I have goal number three

(which is really at the forefront of my mind) –

to test how independent I can be

and how much of my own way I can find.

With those three things, p’raps 2017

will be better than t’last few years have been.

 

Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016

#SeasonalSonnets: 30th Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry (and the penultimate one!) is in honour of - and gratitude for - my beloved maternal grandparents, who have been here visiting us for nearly two weeks and are soon on their way to the rest of our family in South Africa.

In part because of that, but also as an early celebration of Gramma's eighty-third birthday on 1st January, today we went to watch English National Ballet's production of The Nutcracker at the Coliseum. Thanks to the fact that both Grandi (a name given to him because I couldn't say 'Granddad' when I was little) were using chairs, we had a box, and it was such a joy to watch Gramma's delight at every aspect of the afternoon - the venue, the set, the costumes, and, of course, the dancing.

I shall be immensely sad to say goodbye when they fly off (as I always am), but we still have nearly five days together, and I'll treasure each of them as I have all of the others we've been blessed with over the twenty-five years of my being their grandchild. I just wanted to write about them before my little sonnets series comes to an end - so now, if you don't mind, I'll leave you with tonight's entry to spend some more time with them.

Until tomorrow (for the last time this round!)

Jx

30^th December

Tonight I write this poem for my grandparents,

with whom I’ve had the luck to spend two weeks,

and of the matinée which was a present –

just part of Gramma’s eighty-third birthday treat.

This afternoon we went to watch The Nutcracker,

put on by t’English National Ballet

and, from the box my chair gave for our bunker,

we let the score (and dance) lift us away.

I feel so grateful we can have such times

and to have been allowed so many years

to spend with them whilst they are in their prime

and to build up my store of memories.

Yet, still, on Wednesday, to SA they fly

and so I must, ‘til March, wave them goodbye. 

Photo credit Bev Chambers

   

#SeasonalSonnets: 29th Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry hails my beloved Hampstead Heath, which has not yet been graced with a sonnet in this series. It was specifically inspired by a video of my two dear dogs on a walk this morning, which I've included below. I wasn't actually with them on the walk (it was rather chilly due to the frost) but it's such a joy to watch them and I was immediately transported to the greenery that we're lucky enough to have just across the road.

I hope you enjoy both the poem and the video.

29^th December

Tonight my topic’s dear old Hampstead Heath

and the joy I get through living opposite –

for I can count on it to give relief

when feeling my ‘fresh air reserve’s in deficit.

For even if I cannot get outside

(whether because of work or of my body)

I can gaze across the road and, in thought, glide

o’er its great expanse so very boldly.

It’s best, of course, when I am with my dogs

as then I can observe them whilst they race

(through bushes, briars and over fallen logs)

and feel the winter wind upon my face.

Then I can better picture in my mind

myself doing things of just such a kind.

#SeasonalSonnets: 28th Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry is a further homage to my dogs, in gratitude for the positive impact they have on my life (and also on others', if the photo of Georgi with my Gramma is anything to go by!). I hope you like it!

Jx

28^th December

Tonight I write once more of my dear dogs

and how I try to live by their example.

For them, this life’s anything but a slog –

they only ask that food and hugs are ample!

So, when my work is getting a tad stressful,

or I’m worried ‘bout appointments coming up,

I watch them, and recall that they are blissful,

so pull them up to snuggle on my lap.

Of course, I don’t need stress as an excuse

(or any other reason for that matter!),

for there’s no nicer way my time to use

than to listen to their paws go pitter-patter.

I’m sorry if this sonnet is a ramble –

I must go and take my dogs out for an amble.

Photo Credit Bev Chambers

#SeasonalSonnets: 27th Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry was inspired by the hard work I've been doing on my thesis all day - and that fact that none of it would be possible for me without my trusty laptop. I feel very lucky to have grown up in the digital era (and in fact I'm almost the same age as the WorldWide Web!) because it's made things accessible for me that otherwise would not be. However, through some of the reading I've been doing recently, I've discovered that the majority of people with disabilities in the UK have little or no access to the internet, due to a combination of a lack of facilities and of education. I was really struck by this, because I know how much I have gained through technology, and it is concerning to me that others aren't able to take advantage of that.

I was particularly reminded of this concern today, as I've worked for some solid hours (with sensible breaks for health) - and none of my work would have been feasible (certainly not the speed of it) had I used more analogue methods. So, one of my goals for next year is to find a way to make something technological more accessible to others.

For now, here's my sonnet.

Jx

27^th December

Tonight I’m going to type about computers

and my thanks for all the freedom that they offer –

by ‘lowing me to dream of being a tutor

and t’undergraduates my thoughts to proffer.

For surely I would not be where I sit

without the vast resources of the ‘net

(I might, perhaps, have had wistful thoughts of it –

but never held’t something I could get).

And yet, I find, I’m a minority

(and not just in the fact that I’m a scholar) –

‘cause, for most UK citizens with disabilities,

th’internet is something unfamiliar.

This lack of access really makes me sad –

it means there’s a whole world they’ve never had.

 

Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016