The river flows on

I posted my final small stone for July this morning, as I forgot yesterday. How annoying not to have fitted them all into the calendar month, but at least I did create a small stone for each day.

If you want to see how I got on you can find all my small stones here and I intend to carry on posting small stones there as and when, so do check back from time to time.

Just a reminder, you can find all my original small stones from the January river of stones here, on this blog, under the aros label

And many thanks to Fiona and Kaspa for creating the river of stones. Why don't you take a look at what else they have to offer?

Small stones in July

Do you remember the river of stones project in January?

I enjoyed it very much, but I have to admit I've not found the discipline to continue writing small stones on a daily basis. So I was pleased to hear that Fiona and Kaspa are running a new project through July and I've signed up again.

This time I've set up a new blog for my small stones, you will find it here. And if you would like to join me, the full details are to be found on the river of stones blog.

The river of stones book

I've just realised that I neglected to tell you that the river of stones book, pay attention: a river of stones has been published (sorry, Fiona and Kaspa).

The book is available here in both paper and pdf ebook formats. I've been enjoying dipping into it and spotting the contributions of online friends, as well as my own stone. There's going to be a new river project in July, all details can be found on the blog or the Writing Our Way Home forum.

Adieu to the river of stones

Yesterday, along with many other participants, I posted my final small stone for the river of stones project.

For me it was a hugely enjoyable experience. It made me stop and focus briefly, to concentrate on writing a daily posting. (I admit that two were posted on the subsequent day, but this was just the result of me liking to write my stone then leave it as a draft blog post for an hour or two, ready to edit. A couple of times I simply forgot to finalise the posting before midnight.)

I started off, and ended, by writing stones in haiku format and in between I slipped happily into the easier prose format. Some fragments I felt were very successful, others more mundane. But whatever style I wrote in, the posts became addictive.

So, although I won't be continuing to post a daily small stone, I don't think I'll be giving up completely. Watch this space and the 'aros' subject heading in the side bar. And huge thanks to Fiona and Kaspa for creating such an inspiring project to kick off a new year.

Small stone - 31st January

Restorative sleep eases
the mind for hours
lifting constant imbalance.

Small stone - 30th January

Laptop sighs at my request,
like an angry child
it throws another tantrum.

Small stone - 29th January

As the bitter cold descends in the depth of night, the strangulated howl of an urban fox echoes in the empty street.

Small stone - 28th January

For the first time ever he has learnt how to express his feelings appropriately, in language. We are proud of this achievement, though we don't want him to be feeling 'sad' and 'scared'.

Small stone - 26th January

In the early hours of the morning he thunders down the stairs like a rampaging elephant, the whole house shaking in his wake. I send him back to bed.

Small stone - 25th January

Savouring a few hours alone, I realise how much I miss the peace of solitude.

Small stone - 24th January

The day starts in a fog of fatigue but ends in a glow of productive satisfaction.

Small stone - 23rd January

The green woodpecker blends seamlessly into our uncultivated grass. Only the flash of red, as it bends its head to dig a long beak in amongst the blades, gives away its existence.

Small stone - 22nd January

The bookshop, its windows plastered with 'closing down' posters, looks sadly different. It takes me a few minutes to realise that the racks of colourful magazines have disappeared, replaced by random discounted stationery items.

Small stone - 21st January

The middle-aged man pushing a woman down the almost-empty street in a wheelchair swears loudly. I can't hear exactly what he says and she averts her eyes as they pass me.

Small stone - 20th January

The commuters crowd the platform so tightly that my eyes, already blurred from cold drops, cannot make out the exit signs. I go the wrong way.

Small stone - 19th January

The thoughtless loud words cut, like a sharpened blade, right to the bone.

Small stone - 18th January

A battered house clearance van stands in the driveway of a house across the road. We worry about the fate of the elderly, wild-haired resident and are relieved when we finally learn she is still alive and being cared for elsewhere.

Small stone - 17th January

I push the tiny white tablet from the foil wrapping and, for the first time, swallow it with my toast. The day is spent in anticipation, hoping that the drug will make a difference but worrying about the clumsiness of my hands. Is it all in my mind?

Small stone - 16th January

Despite cough and temperature he uses every remaining ounce of energy on the trampoline. A sound of dull thudding, punctuated with laughter, fills the room.

Small stone - 15th January

The spiral crazing of the vandalised shop window reminds me of an ammonite. Two empty shells separated by an eternity.