Nonfiction – Page 18 – neilhayeswrites

Childhood Memories

March 5, 2017 neilhayeswritesLeave a comment

Some memories from your childhood seem to remain with you forever. Especially the colours, sounds and smells. And at times they are intrinsically linked.

Some foods constantly remind me of a time, a place or an event. This is perhaps helped by the fact that food, when I was a child, was a regular cycle. We had our routine, fish on Fridays was a classic, of course. But pie and chips on Saturday was what I really looked forward to. And when I think of the smell of that pie I think of football, simply because the afternoon of sport on television would always be starting as we sat down to my favourite lunch.

Then, as a child of the seventies, there were the colours. A magnificent blend of browns and oranges. Oh what a time, some of the pictures of me are truly horrifying to behold. Brown trousers, with a brown jumper and a slightly different shade of shirt, perhaps cream? But if a splash of colour was needed, subtle it was not.

And the sounds? I still remember the albums my older sister would be listening to, as well as their covers. Joan Armatrading and Roxy Music are always the first to come to mind. Classics now and fixed in my mind as part of my childhood.

As we get older, what happened in your twenties seems more like a fog, but those childhood memories remain vivid indeed.

Daily Prompt: Vivid

Graffiti, slur on society?

February 23, 2017 neilhayeswritesLeave a comment

A blemish on our cities, or an artistic addition to our world? Graffiti, art form or hooliganism? It’s a difficult and divisive topic, especially between generations. But it is something I have warmed to recently, having in the past had quite negative feelings towards it.

Graffiti art can be beautiful, thought provoking and empowering. I am not talking about people tagging their names on walls of buildings, I believe that is simply vandalism. But if you have something to say, and it’s in the right place, it could be considered a legitimate form of public demonstration; or simply something to brighten up an otherwise grey, blank wall.

With everything going on in the world today, with even leaders of nations constantly slurring anyone who disagrees with them, maybe some public art to promote intelligent thought is no bad thing. LIke all art there is good and bad, and I guess that just comes with the territiory.

Daily Post: Slur

Hideout

February 21, 2017 neilhayeswritesLeave a comment

We all need some personal space sometimes. Somewhere to escape. Whether it be a room in our homes, men love their mancaves. Or somewhere outside, in nature. Be it next to the river with a rod in hand, or up a mountain with the view as your only companion.

If you have a busy family life, it is easy to spend your time wishing for peace and quiet. And if you get a chance to hide, take advantage of it. But not for too long, or you just might miss out on something far more important.

Daily Post: Hideout

Concrete Jungle? Don’t be deceived.

February 21, 2017 neilhayeswritesLeave a comment

Grey, faceless block of flats. On the edge of town, as far as the eye can see. Not the most attractive and they certainly have negative connotations for a lot of British people.

In Britain, these types of buildings are normally in poorer, run down areas and as such can also feel unsafe. But in the Czech Republic, this is normally not the case. These blocks, constructed from panels in the ’80s, were erected so that normal, everyday people would have somewhere affordable to live, close to the city.

These are family areas, almost every block has a well-maintained playground, or three, just around the corner. And living here is quiet, neighbours behave with respect towards each other. Of course, the smaller the block the better, any block with forty flats is going to get some noise passing between the walls.

You would also think that with all these people the streets would be noisy, but sometimes I wonder where everyone is. It’s more peaceful than many Czech villages, which are sometimes used as major traffic routes.

So, all in all, I am happy living in my Concrete Jungle. It’s close to town, with excellent shopping, sports and natural opportunities within an easy walk. My kids can play, in safety. And crime? It doesn’t seem to exist, or maybe I’m just lucky?

I can’t keep up

February 17, 2017 neilhayeswritesLeave a comment

A walk with my family and yet again my unsportsmanlike British upbringing is exposed. And the differences between me and my Czech wife and children are shown.

It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and it’s finally above zero. There is still plenty of snow around for a bit of fun, but the paths are clear and it is easy to walk again.

Until one stretch of path which doesn’t get the sun. It’s covered in slick, glistening ice and immediately I tense. If I can find some earth and walk along the edge then it is OK. But most of the time I am just looking for something to cling on to. My wife has no problems, it’s just like skating. My kids are having a great time, slipping, sliding and actually enjoying falling over. Oh to be young again!

But they don’t abandon me, my son often comes back to hold my hand and help. So cute, but the last thing I want is to fall and take him down with me. Slowly, but surely I make it to the end and can relax. And tell myself again, I have to do something to improve my balance, somehow.