RETIRED
I have now retired from Step-In gift shop my new life as a retired lady is so difficult to define my roll in life at present is helping with the renovating of our new home. I have been stripping wall paper, painting/papering, and repairing the walls. A building as old as ours about 200 years does have some very uneven walls, I suppose I would be rather bent after 200 years.

I have tried to get round to picture painting, but with with all the decorating I have found it difficult I still have my web site www.judychasartefacts.com which keeps me going. 

The painting above was painted in oils and it is 24" x 18" on stretched canvas I am selling it for £300. High Force is England's largest water fall and it is visited by people all over the world. My next painting I will paint in oils to match this one on stretched canvas size 24" x 18"

The Stockings

The Shopkeeper has annex a framing business along side her gift shop incorporating the poor long suffering husband to do the actual framing The Shopkeeper does assist in the framing, husband measures and makes all the parts such as frames, mounts, cut’s glass, or anything else that’s needed, The Shopkeeper cleans the glass, assembles, inserts points to hold together, and seals up with tape and stretches embroidery to be framed. 

 A customer who has had many of her favourite prints and pictures framed at The Shopkeepers emporium came to collect her latest pieces of artwork. The Framing Customer fetch an Elderly Friend with her, before collecting the framed pictures the two browsed, rummaging through the shop looking for that must have necessity as women do. Women are so gifted at shopping, men on the other hand are useless, they look either bored or bemused when shopping with these expertly knowledgeable shoppers, the men usually shop when they realise there’s no food in the house, or the beer stocks are low. The Shopkeeper pondering on these thought as she observed the two ladies, was suddenly jolted out of her reverie by The Elderly Friend complaining her legs were tired. The Shopkeeper quickly produced her chair which parks at the end of the ice cream counter. A chair is a very useful piece of furniture to have in a shop, certainly the sort of shop The Shopkeeper owns. The Shopkeeper tentatively inquired about her legs

The Elderly Friend sat down with some relief and immediately remonstrated about the state of her swollen and aching lower limbs at some length. She leaned down and pulled up her trousers and exposed her legs, revealing crinkly thick, slipping down, knee stockings on skinny legs with ankles wider than her calves  

“These are meant to be those elastic stockings from the doctors, them that hold ye legs in and look at them” they did appear to be rather slack The Shopkeeper thought.

The Shopkeeper likewise to the surprise of all the shoppers exhibited her legs and said “mm’ mine look to be a different make, they seem to be finer and tighter” then looking at the Elderly Friend “ask the doctor if you can have the make by ‘Dr Scholl they are better and tighter”

 This advice the Elderly Friend took on board with much candour. Displaying a determined expression across her face; sort of serious with lips pursed an expression which told the onlooker she meant business.

 “Right I am, as this is no good” she announced to all around.

The Framing Customer face had a smile on as she perused round the shop listening to the interjection between the two.

The Shopkeeper parcelled up the framed prints for the Framing Customer who was delighted with the results. A little smile broke across The Shopkeeper’s face enjoying the praise of a satisfied customer.

 Eventually done with all their purchases they left the shop both happy and deep in thought; The Elderly Friend appearing taller, a woman with a mission. The Framing Customer planning her décor carried a faraway expression on her face. Both satisfied customers with different needs.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

A week or two later; The Shopkeeper doing her usual early morning walk with her dog before work,  on the home ward stretch spied a group of people waiting at the bus stop. Thinking her dog would be jumping up and down to say hello as dogs do she crossed the road. A voice called “hello” The Shopkeeper looked round to find one of the people by the bus stop crossing the road to way lay her. The rather breathless Elderly Friend accosted her “I went to the doctors and I got those stockings you advised I didn’t land you in it, I just said my sister-in-law has different ones and they are better, hers are called Dr Scholl so can I have them, and they said yes, I’ve got them on they stay up better” pulling up her trousers to reveal her leg to all and sundries in the street “but look at the colour they are awful and that is suppose to be sand”

“Yes but they do go lighter when you wash them” The Shopkeeper said with a smile on her face

…………………………………………………………………………………………

A few weeks later The Framing customer came in went straight to the chair at the end of her ice cream counter crashing her heavy bulk down on the chair. She smiled at The Shopkeeper “I have decorated my bedroom and hung up the pictures” rummaging in her bag she displayed the pillow case “this is what the new bed covers are like” the pillow case was satin in pale blue design. Rather elegant and posh The Shopkeeper thinking as she thought of her own ordinary bedcover’s, then she had another more sensible thought running through her head, “not very practicable”.

“So you are pleased with your new décor” The Shopkeeper interjected with a wise comment

“Oh yes its lovely” The Framing Customer replied beaming a satisfied smile on her face.

A long Day

A Long Day

Today I have been checking out new stock for my shop Step-In. I think there is a rumour that Christmas is about 4 to 5 weeks away much easier if I say just over a month. So the shop will be packed up to the roof with all those tempting little items, if I ever get this lot priced up and out. The buying in I think is hard, deciding whether I should buy this, will it sell. Till I start to unpack and then my mind whirls, why on earth did I buy that, mmmm’ I can’t remember ordering in this, but it does look rather nice. Eventually my head is spinning, my neck is stiff with bending over, I must be mad doing this job I think. Then I look round, every where looks so crowded, where on earth will I put it all. When buying in, I must say the size of one’s shop does not register, I just buy because those little £ signs seem to hang in front of my eyes and I see things people have asked me to get, (then of course they never come back).

Though not obvious to the eye when the customers comes, there is a sort of semblance of order to my shop even though the whole place looks chaotic. I have my soft toys all displayed together, mugs on a mug shelf, a small art room for all those budding artists, my chutneys, jams, and other confectionery assembled together. The jars of sweets behind the counter, ready to hand, for weighing out to customers, with the ice cream counter next, I put my paintings on higher shelves all around the shop. Yes it does have an order.

Then what happens, Christmas comes along with all its glitter, adding that extra bit which upsets the applecart, where do I put all these extra bits, but it has to be done and everything does look nice when all re-arranged.

I find my self wondering why do we put ourselves through all this chaos, is it in memory of Jesus birth? I somehow think he is not in our minds when we are buying those sort-after presents. Or do we just all get sucked into the bright lights welcoming us to join the swing of a good spending spree. Funny it is the one time in the year we do think about our loved one’s, even though they may not really want the present we have taken ages to choose pondering over at great lengths. It is the thought that counts my mother would tell me as I looked at the hand knitted jumper given by some Aunt which only seem to fit where it touched. So yes it is the thought that counts and people do put a lot of thought when buying the sort after gift. I know as I am at the other side of the counter.

So back to the start a long day sorting through stock and I have still a lot more to do, tomorrow is another day when I will be fresher and ready to go.  

Step-In: The Shopkeeper: The Snow

Step-In: The Shopkeeper: The Snow
I have a web site of pictures I sell in my shop http://www.judychasartefacts.com/  I am the artist Judith Owston

Step-In: Mixed up Quotation by me

Step-In: Mixed up Quotation by me

Mixed up Quotation by me

So the roots of your hair are white
Does it matter, as long as the hair is the colour you like.


Some people put a foot in it
I think it's preferable, to putting your face in it


Hand on my heart I'm telling you the truth
It's when my hand's not on my heart you have a problem

They say a Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
I say, you can always dream of the two in the bush

Aching legs are telling you it's time to stop
But how do you stop your legs from aching?

A black cat crossing your path is LUCKY
Until you trip over it and break your neck

Judith Owston

Our World

The Green House Effect.

How radical have we to be,
For the world to sit up and see,
What we are doing to our Earth’s land,
the ocean and the sea
We bury our heads in the sand, and do our selfish plans,
Forgetting about the ozone hole, and the dried up desert land.

How long have we to wait,
For the world to sit up and see,
As rising oceans buries our shores,
and cliffs fall into the seas,
The river beds exposed and cracked, plants all withered and dead,
The light force of our unfiltered sun, with her damaging rays of dread

How mad have we to be,
For the world to sit up and see
Retreating rain forests long lasting plea,
for the death of their magnificent trees,
Deserts stretching out along the land as it, devours all life with it’s dried up sand
The melting of the Arctic’s vast tundra, how long do we have......., on this land ?
©Judith Owston


The world we live in is so over crowded with humans which has leached out resources that was established over millions of years and consequently the Earth has become so vulnerable.We have used and burned up these ancient fossil minerals in such a short pace of time causing the atmosphere to become so burden with the gasses and pollution that possibly now it is irreversible.

I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, I WISH I DID

The Stony Faced Woman

The Stony Faced Woman

Winter is The Shopkeeper’s worse months once Christmas is over, trade just seems to collapse. The big shops in towns have their January sales; to have sales in January in a touristy area with tourists thin on the ground just does not work, so the poor shopkeeper finds it on the whole quite a depressing time. Spring cleaning looms its burly head only the enthusiasm does not, in a gift shop cleaning is not the easiest task as knocking over small ornaments and smashing them is easily done.

So The Shopkeeper doggedly gets out all her cleaning utensils and unhappily goes to work; of course just as she is about to clear a shelf of a set of six cut lead crystal brandy glasses, in flies a young boy not seeing the ladder crashes into it The Shopkeeper balanced on one of the rung’s of the ladder holding a brandy glass of cut glass lead crystal wobbled grabbed the side of ladder the crystal glass flew up in the air and landed on the boy’s head then rolled down the back of the youngsters head as the boy fell over to the floor the glass then rolled gently onto the ground, miraculously after its untimely adventure the glass was still in one piece.

The Shopkeeper feeling rather shaken after her experience, to her distress found her self facing a very Stony Faced Woman “what is going on” a loud booming voice spat into the face of the shaken shopkeeper. The Stony Faced Woman then looked down at the clumsy boy and yelled “you get up” grabbing him by the collar and as she moved her feet she trod on the lead crystal brandy glass, THE miraculous glass from the set of six “what was that” she loudly exclaimed as she looked down at her feet. Turning to the Shopkeeper “you are very careless leaving glassware lying about on the floor” The Shopkeeper opened her mouth to explain but The Stony Face Woman continued in her very loud ranting voice. “My boy could have cut himself on that glass when he fell” still speaking very loudly as she pushed her offspring out of the door “I don’t know the standard of service is falling by the minute”.
This episode angered The Shopkeeper who muttered to herself “ha’, the standard of politeness has disappeared with some people”. She then busily cleared up the mess of glass and sadly thought to her self “that has spoiled the set of six brandy glasses I suppose I will have to reduce considerably to clear”. When to her amazement The Stony Faced Woman strode back into the shop “by the way have you got a set of brandy glasses, I would like a good set 'hand cut lead crystal” The Shopkeeper smiled and said "I have a set of four on special offer and the manufactures are giving away an extra one free in case you break one", lifting down the brandy glass with the price tag tied round the stem from the incomplete set of six. The Shopkeeper calmly showed The Stony Faced woman the glass “this one is from the set of four with the extra one thrown in, please forgive my pun” The Smiling Shopkeeper handed The Stony Faced Woman the brandy glass whose face was set in a cold curt unforgiving expression she looked at the glass with a critical eye “is this the price” she said examining the price tag The Shopkeeper replied “yes and it is a very good price considering you get the extra one free” The Stony Faced Woman sensing a bargain off handedly said “parcel the brandy glass set up, my husband will put them in the car” just then a small quiet Apology of a Man came into view
“Yes dear”
“take the parcel to the car and don’t let the boy near it” the stony face woman give out her orders in her brusque manner The Shopkeeper nicely finished the wrapping of the Brandy glasses and handed the parcel over to the Apology of a Man who timidly smiled back at her.
Then she graciously asked “are you paying by card or cash”

“Cash” The Stony Faced Woman announced counting the notes out on the counter the Smiling Shopkeeper tilled up the money and thanked the couple the Apology of a Man smiled a weak smile back as he carried the parcel clutched tightly under his arm.

The Stony Faced Woman strode out in front with her nose up in the air while the Apology of a Man trotted meekly behind. The Shopkeeper watched the couple with a broad smile on her face still smiling she turned to the ladder and thought “that’s enough spring cleaning for today” and gathered up her utensils, ladder and put them away.
© Judith Owston

The Battle of the Waist and Waste

On her day off The Shopkeeper, enjoys being at home and one of her favourite occupations is baking. Oh how she loves baking and how she loves eating what she has baked The Shopkeeper prefers to say samples. Another little draw back to the widening waist line is her shop, the shop has lots of those old fashioned jars of sweets and they too, beg to be sampled and oh how frequent this little chore is repeated.

Below you will find the tormented shopkeeper trying to come to terms with the results of this pleasant and enjoyable pastime, in a very logical way.

The Battle of the Waist and Waste

I looked in the mirror my reflection showed an image I did not like, rather too rounded round the waist and other parts that hang out in front and behind. I like food and the thought of a diet of salads and more salad did not thrill. Switching on the radio just in time for the news, the news reader’s pristine voice declared that Britain was the most obese nation in Europe and if we continued in this vein we would soon catch up and overtake the USA the world’s most obese nation. I wondered to myself how on earth do they come up with these amazing facts, are we all watched and documented. After hearing the news about Britain being the most obese nation in Europe I prodded my rounded bottom and felt rather guilty, ‘this is all I want to hear, drat it, I was about to eat a piece of coffee and walnut cake’. I love baking and this coffee and walnut cake excelled my culinary skills. It had turned out very light and spongy, I had produced the perfect appetising dessert with the combination of coffee and walnuts, to finish off I had covered the cake with coffee flavoured butter icing decorating the top with pieces of walnuts. The thought of not tasting my culinary expertise I found a bit depressing, standing side way’s looking in the mirror I did not look quite so fat, now the taste buds were working overtime at the thought of the cake I really felt I should not disappoint them. Then the radio started to pontificate on how much food we wasted, all ending up in land fill sites, this throw away food was contributing to the greenhouse effect due to all the methane gas released.
So for the sake of the planet it appeared I had no other choice but to eat the cake.
‘Oh how delicious it tasted’ as I licked my lips looking at the cake I thought ‘why not’ and I cut another generous helping, this time I made a pot of tea to enjoy along with my delicious desert, I ate and licked lips drank tea to wash down the light spongy coffee cream cake, I now thought as I looked at the remnants of my cake I may as well eat the rest.
I leaned back in my chair feeling very full and satisfied, ‘that was delicious’ then a thought struck me ‘why oh why do we have these thoughts’ enjoying the cake and saving the planet, all at the same time had been very assuring, but what about my waist line and the first announcement on the news ‘we are the most obese nation in Europe’ I could have left the cake for husband, he’s as thin as a beanpole. My husband loves my home baking and absolutely loves my sponge cakes this sponge was of my most excellence and I’m sure he would have enjoyed every crumb. The radio was still chattering on , they now said we were a nation of couch potatoes, we watched television, played on computers, travelled about in cars, the only exercise was our fingers as we pressed the TV remote, or the key board on the computer, or our mouths as we talked on the very popular mobile phones, they also remonstrated about the fast foods we all consumed leading to a high cholesterol intake, they continued with the news that if we carried on like this we would all die prematurely of a heart attack.
My conclusion of all this information these very clever people were getting excited about, was to overeat do no exercise and then if we die young the planet would be saved from all the human activity that is destroying it.
As for my waist line, I needn’t bother.

© Judith Owston

The Stockings (Some of the problems some customers have)

The Stockings
by Judith Owston

The Shopkeeper has annex a framing business along side her gift shop incorporating the poor long suffering husband to do the actual framing The Shopkeeper does assist in the framing, husband measures and makes all the parts such as frames, mounts, cut’s glass, or anything else that’s needed, The Shopkeeper cleans the glass, assembles, inserts points to hold together, and seals up with tape and stretches embroidery to be framed.
A customer who has had many of her favourite prints and pictures framed at The Shopkeepers emporium came to collect her latest pieces of artwork. The Framing Customer fetch an Elderly Friend with her, before collecting the framed pictures the two browsed, rummaging through the shop looking for that must have necessity as women do. Women are so gifted at shopping, men on the other hand are useless, they look either bored or bemused when shopping with these expertly knowledgeable shoppers, they usually shop when they realise there’s no food in the house, or the beer stocks are low. The Shopkeeper pondering on these thought as she observed the two ladies, was suddenly jolted out of her reverie by The Elderly Friend complaining her legs were tired. The Shopkeeper quickly produced her chair which parks at the end of the ice cream counter. A chair is a very useful piece of furniture to have in a shop, certainly the sort of shop The Shopkeeper owns. The Shopkeeper tentatively inquired about her legs
The Elderly Friend sat down with some relief and immediately remonstrated about the state of her swollen and aching lower limbs at some length. She leaned down and pulled up her trousers and exposed her legs, revealing crinkly thick, slipping down, knee stockings on skinny legs with ankles wider than her calves
“These are meant to be those elastic stockings from the doctors, them that hold ye legs in and look at them” they did appear to be rather slack The Shopkeeper thought.
The Shopkeeper likewise to the surprise of all the shoppers exhibited her legs and said “mm’ mine look to be a different make, they seem to be finer and tighter” then looking at the Elderly Friend “ask the doctor if you can have the make by ‘Dr Scholl they are better and tighter”
This advice the Elderly Friend took on board with much candour. A determined expression crossed her face; sort of serious with lips pursed an expression which told the onlooker she meant business.
“Right I am, as this is no good” she announced to all around.
The Framing Customer face had a smile on as she perused round the shop listening to the interjection between the two.
The Shopkeeper parcelled up the framed prints for the Framing Customer who was delighted with the results. A little smile broke across The Shopkeeper’s face enjoying the praise of a satisfied customer.
Eventually done with all their purchases they left the shop both happy and deep in thought; The Elderly Friend appearing taller, a woman with a mission. The Framing Customer planning her décor carried a faraway expression on her face. Both satisfied customers with different needs.
……………………………………………………………………………………….

A week or two later; The Shopkeeper doing her usual early morning walk with her dog before work, on the home ward stretch spied a group of people waiting at the bus stop. Thinking her dog would be jumping up and down to say hello as dogs do she crossed the road. A voice called “hello” The Shopkeeper looked round to find one of the people by the bus stop crossing the road to way lay her. The rather breathless Elderly Friend accosted her “I went to the doctors and I got those stockings you advised I didn’t land you in it I just said my sister-in-law has different ones and they are better, hers are called Dr Scholl so can I have them and they said yes, I’ve got them on they stay up better” pulling up her trousers to reveal her leg to all and sundries in the street “but look at the colour they are awful and that is suppose to be sand”
“Yes but they do go lighter when you wash them” The Shopkeeper said with a smile on her face
…………………………………………………………………………………………

A few weeks later The Framing customer came in went straight to the chair at the end of the ice cream counter crashing her heavy bulk down on the chair. She smiled at The Shopkeeper “I have decorated my bedroom and hung up the pictures” rummaging in her bag she displayed the pillow case “this is what the new bed covers are like” the pillow case was satin in pale blue design. Rather elegant and posh The Shopkeeper thought, then thinking of her own ordinary bed cover’s, had another more sensible thought running through her head, “not very practicable”.
“So you are pleased with your new decor'” The Shopkeeper interjected with a wise comment
“Oh yes its lovely” The Framing Customer replied beaming a satisfied smile on her face.

TEA. The Shopkeeper's favourite drink

Tea
How tea the simple beverage
Has shaped our very lives
The tea-break so essential
A break to helps us thrive
The steaming beverage waits,
As workers to the canteens rush,
The workers grab their steaming mugs
The canteen soon fills with hush

Afternoon tea a delicacy,
Toasted tea cakes, scones, jam and bread
Table-cloths, pretty china tea-sets
Help’s to make this lovely spread
A gathering of gentle ladies
Refined, polite and very posh
Stretch delicately out their little fingers,
Sipping from their china cup

Along some tiny street it hides
The little tea shop we long to find
So we can rest our weary legs
And then at last we see the tea pot sign
To sit down for that longed for rest
By tables, with white cloths so starched
No better joy can we impart
To quench a thirst that’s now so parched

©Judith Owston

The Shopkeeper: The Snow

The Shopkeeper: The Snow

The Snow

Snow

So much snow, to run a gift shop in a remote village in the winter does have its problems and one of the problems for our shopkeeper this year, is travelling to her small emporium. But stoically The Shopkeeper valiantly makes the journey on the unaccustomed snowy roads, recent winters have been very mild so mild the media have dwelt much on global warming but this winter a complete contrast developed in December with snow falling carpeting the countryside glistening white. When the first snow arrived it took everyone by surprise The Shopkeeper bravely set out on roads that were very snowy and icy; the snow plough had not been round the conditions were quite arctic she gingerly travelled at 20mph. Her heart pounding she arrived in the village of Middleton-in-Teesdale very relieved to be in one piece.
The first job was to clear a pathway through the snow from her car to the back door of the shop. Then out in the front of her shop the same problem arose snow everywhere, out came her strong brush and she set to work clearing the whole pavement in front of the shop. This is not technically her job but she knew if she left it would travel into her shop making a fine old mess.
Each day running up to Christmas snow everywhere The Shopkeeper did find people were more in the Christmas spirit of things and were purchasing for Christmas as she cleared the pavement outside her shop of snow and slush she mused on these thoughts Christmas shopping had been slow to start; but with the white powder falling everywhere people had certainly got into the Christmassy spirit. So busy with the snow clearing The Shopkeeper was neglecting her shop glancing in she could see people waiting at the counter, she called “sorry I’m just clearing the snow” as she headed to her counter, “that’s not your job” the customer said her hands full of various items soft toys, Christmas paper, and many other goodies, she plonked them down on the small area of The Shopkeepers reserved piece of counter. The rest of her counter full of things various, as her sales reps’ ever increasing demands must be ‘at point of sale’ consequently the counter resembling a picturesque flower bed of plants tumbling over encroaching ever more of the trading area.

After the Christmas break the snow continued building up higher the countryside resembling more the traditional Christmas card. Snow ploughs valiantly keeping the roads open, The Shopkeeper cautiously journeying to her shop. Trade very much slumped due to the inclement conditions people were very cautious only making necessary journeys to the village and tourist who ventured out to the dale were also fewer. So The Shopkeeper had little to do except clear snow as it piled up in front of her small emporium. Lots of days she found herself keeping an eagle eye on the weather making a quick retreat up to the hill village of her home. On one particular day The Shopkeeper seeing the snow falling some what heavier with bigger flakes decided it was time to flee. The harrowing journey home wards through the blizzard conditions was quite hair-raising with the howling wind blowing from the snow clad moor forming drifts on the road fortunately a tractor loomed up in front. The Shopkeeper tense behind the wheel of her car felt somewhat relieved to see through the fog of drifting snow the sign of life if rather remote as her car skidded along. Not daring to stop as she knew her two wheeled drive car would skid and stick as she tried to resume. Then through the car mirror she spied another tractor behind, now feeling much more secure she plunge on keeping the momentum going driving from one side of the road to the other as she manoeuvred her car round the forming drifts. The journey seemed to take an age her hands sweating on the steering wheel while her body aching with tension as she peered through the windscreen, the wipers valiantly moving from side to side clearing snow with their steady reliable motion. At last her village then to The Shopkeeper’s relief her home, pulling in to the deep, piling up snow in the house gateway The Shopkeeper slumped down in her car seat only to be aware of the pounding of her heart, as relief washed over her, to be home at last.
Yes winter trading in her small gift shop does have problems most town shops could never envisage. The hazards of keeping a small country shop going are far removed from the imaginations of the masses.

Another Poem

Cat and Molly

The Cat tugged, chewed, pulled at the string
Molly playfully dangling, the string in the air
Rolling on his back, he clutched the string tightly
Pulling tight to his chest, with all his might and care
Molly pulled back tautly, then back with a snap
Cat bounded on all fours, as string freed from his grasp




























Molly now high, dangling string to the ground
Cat pounced and chased, as the string dangled around
Molly trailed the string, ‘snake like’ slithering round the floor
Cat watched eagle-eyed, while hiding behind the door
Crouching, tense, alert, Cat darted out, then pounced
Loud laugh from Molly as she circled in gleeful dance

©Judith Owston

Snowdrop Poem

Snowdrops
©Judith Owston

The cold winter, begins to soften,
As fresh blooms bow to greet the year.
Delicate, nodding, in the sharp winter wind,
Their short lives, for us to share,

Pure, Virgin white to our delight,
On earth’s barren ground they grow
Crowding together, with a splash of white,
While spring spreads her moist green glow.


Sad and tired, ignored by all
Their crowing glory now surpassed
More colourful blooms grace our land
As they weep petals in the grass

Spring brings warmth, her glory spreads
As more blooms dare to dance so free.
These mud splattered blooms, now in shreds
Their beauty gone for all to see



Their task nearly done, they turn to seed,
Swollen with their bounteous fare,
Pods burst, seeds scattering far
Seeds, to give life in future years.

Christmas Poem,

The Guest

©Judith Owston



Taking her evening walk, on this cold and wintry night
Glittering in the sky above, a new star shinning bright
Must this be a sign she mused, walking through the wintry gloom
Still much in thought, she returned to her cosy sitting room

Now on her own, husband gone, her children flown the nest
Sometimes lonely she could be, as she clutched her heaving breast
The Christmas tree brought memories, and how they made her smile
As she reflected long on a time, time when she was but a child

A tinsel star on her tree she placed it well up high
Reminded her of the star she saw glittering in the sky
Tomorrow all her family, had promised they would come
Celebrating Christmas day, in her cosy sitting room

Peacefully, on her own, the hearth embers glowing red
Memories sad and happy churned around in her head
Waken, sudden from her reverie, a scratching at the door
Slowly she opened, peeped and saw a tiny muddy paw

Picking up the bundle of fluff, all unkempt and in a dirty mess
She felt its heart beat fast as she clutched it to her breast
A saucer of warmed milk she placed by the dying embers
Lapping greedily the little mite, seemed so frail and tender

The glittering star was it a sign that someone was to come
A little friend to share this eve, in her cosy sitting room
Christmas day tomorrow and her family would be there
Now an extra guest to share in all the festive fare

Christmas Bustle
©Judith Owston

Tinsel, twinkling lights, bustling people,
In the glittering rain
Rushing here, rushing there,
Tempers fraught with the strain,
Yes, Christmas is here again

So much to choose, where to start
On the move, no time to pause
Music loud, the same old tunes,
Rushing shoppers and many stores,
Yes, Christmas is the cause

You think you’ll win, panic set in
Not much time, what can I buy!
Crowds push you round, face in a frown,
Is it worth while, ask your self why,
Yes, Christmas is nearly nigh

Church, singing carols, turkey,
Christmas pudding, Christmas day,
Family, children, friends and parties
All talking, chattering, much to say
Yes, Christmas is here to stay.

The Secret
By
©Judith Owston

Mary wore a radiant glow
Only Dr. Gabriel was in the know
A secret Mary found so hard to bear.
Many were his exciting plans
Thought out by Joseph her young man
First plan was taking Mary to his tender care.
How Mary loved this handsome man
Hoping to share in all his plans,

But!
Poor Mary anxious to impart
This news held deep with in her heart
With Joseph her most handsome beau
In the front room of Mary’s home
At last the young couple now all alone
Poor Mary can tell the news to Joseph
The one whom aught to know

This news left Joseph quite aghast
To think that Mary had a past
And Dr. Gabriel was the only one to know
To the house of Dr. Gabriel Joseph did not hesitate
He met the doctor in full glare outside his garden gate
Is this true of the news, that you and Mary share is so,

That she did not grow those breast her self
They are implants of gel, from your shelf.

Santa and the Climate Change

Santa and the Climate Change.

© By Judith Owston

Santa was in a dilemma the cause of the dilemma was all to do with the Climate Change, Christmas was approaching he knew he must do something. The credit crunch its big head looming everywhere only made matters worse. The presents to buy or make was his main concern this he had solved. He still had a major task to deal with and that was his Sleigh, the sleigh had served him well for more years than he could remember. Now with the warming up of the planet and the snow disappearing, looking at his sleigh the problem was quite obvious he needed wheels, to ask someone to design the new mode of transport was out of the question. The credit crunch had put the kibosh on that, so into his workshop he laboured turning metal, screwing bolts, doing all the things that were necessary. Yes Santa can be quite ingenious when he gets going, how do you think you get all those unusual toys, (I know a lot don’t work, does that matter he still is pretty good). So the way we humans are making a pigs ear of everything meant by the look of things, these wheels were to last a very long time. At last the job was finished, his sweat, labour and toil, had accomplished a very strong looking machine.

Now Rudolph can be a bit touchy, he had been with Santa quite some years and he knew Santa could get a bit carried away with himself. He took one look at the sleigh and though

“Yes, wheels were needed but making them out of cast iron, what was the man thinking about, you can tell he’s not pulling the sleigh”.

Rudolph decided he had had enough, he was going on strike, years ago at Christmas the presents were an apple, orange, a few nuts and sweets if you were lucky. The Electric Train Sets, Scalextric Car Sets, were now out of fashion to Rudolph’s relief because a lot of those sets could weigh a ton.

“Now its computer games and with those you needed computers as well, and a pile of them can have the sweat running races down me nose making my nose a much brighter red than it already was. No at times Santa doesn’t think, he just doesn’t think. He gets these badly thought out wild cat schemes and this time he has gone over the top. How was he expecting me to get airborne pulling the sleigh with those cast iron wheels when we have to take flight, no Santa doesn’t think and anyway the sleigh is not really the most ideal kind of transport but I’m not letting on as I might lose my job”

Rudolph muttered all these thought to himself as he chewed on his cud.

Santa a bit upset at Rudolph’s response, he had worked long and hard on the modification to the sleigh.

“What does the animal expect after all he was very lucky to get the job as nobody wanted him with that red nose of his, he always looked as though he was recovering from a cold, or he had had to many sessions putting away to much of the hard stuff”.

He thought he probably did have a point, when he said he couldn't make his legs go faster enough to get momentum for take off.

“Perhaps I could put a rocket booster on the back that should solve all the problems”.

So back to his workshop a pile of unused fireworks he thought would be ideal, along with some blue touch paper, and somewhere in the back of his workshop he had some dynamite lying about. Now health and safety would have a field day if they visited Santa’s workshop. Fortunately Santa was not on their itinerary. He worked away whistling a happy tune to himself
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the one’s we used to have
Why, he was whistling that particular song I do not know, I think it should have been Rudolph singing it. Santa was so happy when he was making things, the computer business he could not get his head round. So these expensive digital toys he had to buy in amounting to rather a large outlay for Santa and not as much fun, to be back inventing suited him down to ground. He was aware he mustn’t go into orbit only the airway lanes. At Christmas the airline pilots always knew to be aware of Santa and gave him a wide birth as a collision with Santa and all those toys could be quite devastating not only for Santa and all the children waiting for the toys, but also for the crew and passengers. It was a bit dodgy for the airline pilots as Santa could be a bit unpredictably as he was inclined to switch lanes at the last minute.
When Rudolph heard about the Rocket Booster he was rather concerned, he really did think things were getting out of hand.

“What on earth was this white bearded old man thinking of”.

In fact he seemed to get worse as he got older. So he told him straight

“I am not pulling that sleigh with that rocket thing on the back, it might go off and where would we be, in outer space. No I am going on strike, and that is final”

Santa was a bit put out by Rudolph lack of faith and enthusiasm in his inventions he had put a lot of work into the rocket booster. He thought

“That silly old reindeer was a bit of a stick in the mud and out of date. It was him that complained about the heaviness of the modification all I am doing was trying to take the weight off the poor chap’s feet. What can I do at this late stage it’s a bit short notice to train up a new reindeer to do the pulling and old Rudolph has been with me a long time. Oh well I could fix some plastic pram wheels on for this Christmas they should be light enough and to store on the sleigh for spares as I’m sure spares of those flimsy will be needed on rout”.

Santa thought again and muttered to himself

“Dam, I am not going to be preached at be a four legged wimp, I have put a lot of thought into these modifications and I am jolly well going ahead, I’m not being to be put off”

Santa decided to have a little chat with Rudolph.

“Look Rudolph old chap, we have to sort all this out we can’t go on the way we are now, I have put a safety clause into the improvements. I have made two rockets and if we do go into orbit I can use the second rocket to fetch us back. Does that make you feel any happier?”

Rudolph shook his head sadly and looked Santa in the eye and agreed. Jobs were not two a penny and at his age trying to get a new job would not be easy.

Christmas Eve they were all packed ready, Santa in his famous Red suit and Rudolph with his thick hair brushed and a woolly hat on his head. Santa lit the blue touch paper of the first rocket and then quickly jumped on to the sleigh yelling to Rudolph “three two one, take off”. The sleigh was thrust up into the air Rudolph with his head stretched out making his body as streamline as he could Santa shot off the sleigh up into the air grabbing Rudolph round the neck he clung on for dear life. They went up higher and higher climbing at the speed of light. An airline pilot said to his co’

“Was that Santa”

The co pilot gleaned the sky

“I can’t see anything boss”,

As Santa and Rudolph were going at such fast speed. Eventually Rudolph got some of his breath back

“Santa do something we are now in orbit”

They were circling the earth, Santa could see Earth

“Look Rudolph turn the sleigh for earth be prepared I am setting off the second rocket”

This was proving to be rather difficult as to reach the blue touch paper from where he was hanging round Rudolph’s neck nearly choking the poor beast. Keeping a tight hold on the reins he leaned his full length along Rudolph’s back, stretched out and grabbed the front of the sleigh, inching his way along he arrived slowly to the back of the sleigh. Poor Santa’s heart was pounding like the beat of a drummer in a pop band and as loud. His hands shaking he rummaged in his pockets found the matches teeth chattering, cupping his hands he struck the match. Success at, last the blue touch paper lit on his fourth attempt, he turned his head and yelled to Rudolph.

“Hang on”.

At last they landed in the middle of the Sahara desert a lot of nomads stared at them believing it was the second coming of Christ or Mohamed. The nomads all crouched to the ground bowing there heads.
Santa stood up shook of all the star dust and rummaged in his sleigh for the toy camels he had made.
The Nomad children lined up to receive their presents, one child said to the other

“I thought we were promised mobile phones and computers”.

Santa and Rudolph didn’t hear as they were now on their way trying out the new wheels, poor Rudolph with sweat pouring down his face making his bright red nose much redder.

Happy Christmas

The Scourge of 2001

In the Foot and Mouth Outbreak of 2001 my brothers farmed a farm that was taken out by the authorities it was quite devastating for my family. I was so emotionally disturbed by the outbreak resulting in me to be inspired to write this short story.

The Scourge of 2001

By Judith Owston ©

He looked into the loose-box the young Bull looked backed, bright eyed. After a while the farmer drew back the bolt of the door, quietly walked in, and closed the door slowly behind him. He leaned on his stick and stood looking at the young stirk, the beast ambled over to him, he patted the animal on its rump stroked the soft fur, silky to the touch.

The best bull he and his brother had ever bred and now this, foot and mouth, the scourge of farming. Their farm had not contracted the disease, but the government’s deterrent to this virulent disease is just as soul destroying, all his stock had to be killed. A tear rolled down the farmer’s cheek as he stroked the young stirk. The animal looked at him and stretched out it’s sandpaper tongue and licked his hand, then turned, slowly ambling over to the heck full of hay, pulled out a mouth full and, chewing, looked round at the farmer.

How could the people 300 miles away in Whitehall understand? This farm, his farm is only a statistic to them, only a cross on the map not even that, just a blur fused in with all the other farms affected by the disaster. A lifetime’s work of breeding these gentle giants would be beyond their imaginations, now they were all to go. A lump rose in his throat another tear trickled down his cheek; he wiped them away with the back of his gnarled hand. Heavy hearted he opened the door and let himself out into the fresh air.

He was too old to start again, what was there for him to do with his life, his children were grown up, none of them interested in farming. He didn’t blame them farming had changed so much over the last few years. It now seemed more important to fill in all the right forms, then to farm. To make a living had become harder and harder, at one time a yeoman farmer was looked upon with respect, not now. Farms were becoming bigger, people were leaving the land. To know all your cattle by name, the way he and his brother did, in time would be a thing of the past. Farmers are not against progress, but to work so hard, to produce good quality stock for such little reward is very hard to live with. It takes all the drive an incentive out of your work, leaving you degraded. Foot and Mouth is yet another hurdle to cross, down this downward slope.

He looked up at the sky full of stars he had often looked at the sky. Tonight everything felt different. All he could think about was those poor buggers, resting, stretching, farting, and chewing their cud. They were all to go. Men in suits that you hosed down with disinfectant would move in and do the deed. He saw a light fall out of the sky, was that a shooting star, you are supposed to make a wish when you see one. What should he wish for? His wish would no more come true, than turning back the clock. He thought back to his childhood, he was thirteen years old when his Dad bought the farm. Dad and Mam had struggled to make ends meet. He wondered if Dad and Mam could see the disaster. He had never really thought about that stuff, life after death, but there must be more to life than this. One of his dogs came running over bending its body sniffing round his legs. He bent down and patted the dog’s back. The dog wriggled its bendy body, ears back, wagging its tail. He thought how lucky the dog was to be a dog, as the animal rolled over onto his back, he bent down and scratched the dog’s tummy. Nobody really knows what it is liked until they go through it; the ache in your chest, holding back emotions, picturing the animals dead and bloated, the whole thing tearing you apart. Once it was all over and done with, and he could start thinking about the future. Perhaps, then he would find a turning point had come.

He opened the house door and let himself

The Shopkeepers, Love Poems

I dedicate these Poems to my young friend Danni.

Judy, The Shopkeeper

A Treasure of Love

Love is so tender

When you hold the one you adore

Love is so delicate

Leaving hurt an open door

Love is so precious

So treat like fine silken gossamer

Love is so warm

If kept kindled with loving care

Love is a treasure

No money in the world can buy

Love is to share

With the one you have by your side.

Love's Glow

The warmth of love

Will keep the cold hard world at bay

The respect gained from love

Help you hold your head high throughout the day

Closeness of love

Will give the strength of two to flow

Happiness in love

Melts all anger filling laughter in heart's to glow

Threads of Love

When threads of Love's fine silks are woven

Please never let them break

Because love can slip and fade away

Leaving tears and sadness in it's wake

Love

This tender, precious, delicate, treasure

A gift for you to cherish dear

Hold on to every part of it

Never let disappear

A Child's Love

Enjoying each day without a care

Always secure knowing you are there

Free of responsibility these children will glow
Happy in warm love they will blossom and grow

Poems By Judith Owston

The Shopkeeper was Adopted

On my day off I was visited by a Ginger cat, he sat on the wall by my house watching, intrigued I went over and stroked him he was a very friendly cat. Leaving him I returned to the kitchen filled a saucer with milk and carried it over to the ginger cat who still sat on the wall watching me. He lapped the milk greedily, he seemed to be very hungry. In cat language the saucer of milk was a invitation, I did not want any more cats we had two already and they were arched enemies, to have another cat I would need to call on the united nation to mediate in preventing world war three. My maternal instincts came to the foe as I could not see the poor creature starve, the cat followed me I closed the door in his face. Closing the door in his face made me feel heartless, yet the other two cats would not like to have another cat in their Queendom, Queendom because the other cats were females I was in quite a dilemma.

Back to work I thought long and hard about the cat my usual lunch time call to my husband I mentioned the cat, my husband said the cat was now on the window ledge trying to get in. That night my husband and I discussed the cat I liked the cat and so did he, none of the neighbours seemed to know anything about him, we decided to keep him I said he must be neutered, sorry this sounds cruel especially to all you male readers but Tom cats very deliberately produce a perfume that is not to my taste. We called the veterinaries and arranged the next night to have him done. The ginger Tom was very obliging unaware of his fate. The vet asked me his name I quickly said Thomas and told the Vet how we came to acquire him, his age I did not know He was a big cat but looked quite young, she thought about 9 months. The Veterinary said they'd do all the things vets do checked him over, worm him and of course neuter him he would have to stay in over night night.

The next day we fetched him home a very sleepy cat he lay on my sofa the other cats kept a respectful distance. Recovering from his ordeal he did not appear to be bothered or aware of their hissing and growling just glad to have a home. Thomas has very much made himself at home, the other two collectively wage war against him, tolerating each other more, in their intolerance against Thomas, Thomas ignore's them.

Thomas in the Garden                     

I have wrote a little poem about Thomas

Ginger Thomas

(one day he adopted us and decided to stay)

His plaintive cry, oh how I did sigh,
As he sat on the wall and looked in.
He licked his paw and washed his face,
Then with care he continued to preen.


He screwed up his face and gave a yawn,
Arched his long back in an angular Stretch,
Then precariously he lay on top of the wall
To languidly enjoy a very fine rest.


I opened the door with such gentle care
So not to wake him from his deep sleep
I smiled and gazed up but the cat was not there!
As this flash of bright ginger past me did streak


Now in the kitchen he looked up and stared,
A stare, that dismissed my kindness as fuss,
A stare, to remind me this cat must be fed
A stare, that demanded do not neglect puss.


Judith Owston.