to speak words of what we feel; storytelling turns knowledge from inside to outside speak to what of words we feel; turns storytelling from knowledge outside to inside

The frost has melted, the air feels new, A hush of promise drifts softly through. The world exhales - cautious, slow, Unfolding petals where grief used to grow. The rules have faded, the masks laid down, And whispers of colour return to town. I gather the pieces winter unmade, And stitch new dreams where the shadows fade. Pinks of promise, and blues that recall, Cherry blossoms and forget-me-nots tall. Each tiny bloom, a memory's thread, Sewn for the living, not just the dead

The sky hangs heavy with silence and frost, The world counts the rules, and the warmth feels lost. Where safety once spoke in the language of care, Now fear wears a mask and linger in air. Each morning I wake to a colder refrain, The hum of the headlines etched into my brain. The circle of trust has narrowed and thinned, Even the sunlight now feels disciplined. I sing the forms, I nod, I comply, While something within me learns how to die. They call it protection; I call it s

My aunt brought me here, But is now walking away; I feel abandoned. A woman takes my hand, Leads me inside; To stand on a section of carpet. I am frightened, Nothing is familiar; So much I do not understand. I am surrounded by noise, SO much noise; I want it to stop. Girls have formed a circle around me; What are they saying? I do not understand. Boys in. the background, Boisterously playing; I am scared they will hurt me. I want to run, But my body is frozen; trapped and una

The sun shines brighter as the days grow long, A gentle breeze summons my name in a song. I pack up my dreams, my hopes, and my things, Into brown packages, tied up with strings. Leaving behind the familiar sky, Chasing the dawn as I say goodbye. Farewell the sand and the salt in the air, Following whispers of a life elsewhere. As the long and winding road unfolds, I dream and wonder what the future holds. Away from busyness and stress running rife, I yearn for a quieter pace

The following is taken from the Preface of my Master's thesis: "Who's Health Matters? An Autoethnographic Study of Aotearoa New Zealand's Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates" Read me like a country you cannot pronounce but whose soil grows under your tongue anyway. Read me like a story whispered across three continents and four decades, buried in the folds of a mother's sewing machine, between stitches that kept our lives from falling apart. I belonged to no country, just the back sea

39th Tree Planted I have been unwell ever since my abdominal MRI on Monday afternoon so have done NO exercise whatsoever the past three...

Following the tourist path to the Trevi Fountain, the lucky traveller may stumble upon the opulent Galleria Sciarra. Though actually the...

I found myself in a park on a narrow path bordered by tall shrubs and felt like I was in the countryside. But no sooner, the park...

38th Tree Planted Yesterday was a complete rest day. The first one in over a week. Today's exercise comprised of housework.

I left Castel Sant'Angelo via its eastern exit and walked around its star-shaped perimeter, heading north into the pretty neighbourhood...

37th Tree Planted Nothing to add except that I am LOVING the Low Impact Dance release #4. That is all.

Lined by plane trees and broken marble columns, ancient tombs and winding aqueducts, this vital highway once connected the city of Rome...

36th Tree Planted Have I mentioned recently how much I'm enjoying Low Impact Dance 04? Yes? No?? Yes?!? Minutes into the class today I...

Romans love strong, salty cheeses; and they love rich, silky creamy past sauces. They love olives and artichokes, and tomatoes and...

A walk through Rome, the Italian capital, is like going back in time to when the city was the centre of the Roman Empire and gladiators...

The 9th arrondissement is well known for its theatres, notably the Palais Garnier, an Italian-style opera house. But a delightful little...

35th Tree Planted My word I finished this challenge in record time. Helps that I recently added a new "workout" to the regime that earns...

The Pompidou Centre is an incredible temple to the arts. It features the largest modern art gallery in Europe, a centre for research into...

34th Tree Planted Wow! I'm flying through this challenge. Yesterday's visit with my GP went better than I expected. Much to my...