Helen writes beautifully about places so familiar. Enjoy!

Tanka Trio

It’s now been 23 years since but Paudie never misses – always finds the most beautiful card and flowers for our special anniversary and I know just how lucky I am. I hope you are surrounded by love today, too.
‘Have I told you lately…’ is today’s poem to my gorgeous husband because that’s when he finally made his move after re-connecting (28 years later) on the Great North Road website in 2002. 💝

Have I told you lately…

Our morning ritual to say
thank you for my cup of tea
lovingly prepared, just strong
enough, just milky enough 
no sugar.  So much attention
carefully carried, negotiating
boxes – piled high memories,
mementos I can’t let go of...

When I hug, sinking into 
your arms, welding my body 
to your frame, wrapping 
my arms around you, your
shoulders, sliding my hands up 
and down your back as you 
wait for my morning yawn... 
I know you feel my love.

Just like you did that 1st day 
at the airport, I had been hiding 
behind a large plant, too shy 
to let you see me before I was 
ready, aching to know if you 
were the same man I knew 
28 years before. Could I trust 
again? Hazel pushing me… 

As I approach, too shy to meet 
your eyes, hear your voice.. I 
feel your arms holding, wrap 
mine around your chest. After
9 months of web-chat, photos,
reminders of Africa, who we 
used to be and sinking, sinking 
so deeply, completely into love.  

We settled in 20 years ago,
your yellow ‘leather’ 2-seater
we brought over from Ireland.
Our snuggle spot, every night 
watching Irish TV together
our courtship away from my 
world, effortlessly it seemed
melting, merging into yours.

All these years later, sitting 
on Jess’ blue couch between 
broken beams, cushions cradling 
our bums best they can, my 
fingers find yours, quietly hold,
my thumb moving gently
up and down, secretly telling
how much I still need you.

Trying to get up after sitting
knees and thighs not ready
your hand pushes me gently
from behind, giving a lift
just enough to get me going
able to stand on my own two
feet again, giggling.  These 
moments show you need me too. 

Letting me walk ahead when
I wanted to be next to you, holding 
your hand… now I understand 
because you told me you prefer 
a full view, watching my stride
my purpose, my approach to life.
Getting the full picture, in spite 
of a view limited by your stroke.

How we survived it all, bought 
a new lime green 4-seater to fit 
the whole family on. That photo -
your heart, wide open with plenty 
of room to embrace us all, the 
perfect fit. My so gentle man who 
chased, caught and I know won’t 
ever let go... My forever lover.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2025

#FrancesMacaulayForde #POEM:HaveIToldYou #LovePoems #Romance #Memories

G’day from the Sunset Coast of Western Australia, hope this finds you healthy, happy and productive.

Well, I’ve been poetically inspired by the amazing Fried Egg Paintings posted on Instagram by Daniel Halksworth. This is the painting which set me off on a poetic journey and I am grateful. I hope you are enjoy this and take a moment to check out his art and the story of the egg paintings by clicking on the photo.

Here’s your giggle for the day:

ODE TO A FRIED EGG

Oh, Sunny Side Up, I love you.!

Those bubbles, like hair surround

your golden face, sunlight smiling.

Perfectly placed, prepared with oil

by loving hands, carefully brushed

each egg unique – eulogised forever.

With or without salt, your peppered self

tantalises my taste-buds, makes me want

more of those creamy strokes on canvas.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2024

@francesmacaulayforde @daniel.halksworth #POEMOdeToAFriedEgg #Poetry #ArtIsTheSpark #FrancesMacaulayForde #ARTISTDanielHalksworth #PoemAboutEggs #SunnySideUp #FunnyPoetry #FriedEggArt #PopArt #FriedEggPoem #PopArtPoem

How was your Mother’s Day – lovely I hope! I have to confess I was spoilt by my children but also my husband who takes any excuse to buy beautiful flowers for me. So it all started on Friday and ended on Sunday.

Apart from dinner and spending time with my grandson Bodhi, my very talented daughter gifted my portrait which was a total surprise – and I absolutely love it! Also because we had an early Mother’s Day celebration on Friday, after work, she didn’t have time to buy flowers so made me some purple ones to match my card and portrait! She and Wayne also gave me a beautiful hand-made notebook which has become a sort of tradition – I always need a new one. This time Jess found one with watercolour paper so I get to sketch and write…

Saturday my son took his beautiful family to visit his Nanna Leigh who is still going strong at 94. I am so proud that he does. She was thrilled. Aparently the other residents were a tad jealous but Nan said she’ll share her gifted bottle of Bailey’s with them later… Although the girls have grown so tall now, fitting them all into her tiny room at the Aged Care home gave them an excuse to take a wander out into the Autumn sunshine.

Sunday my son James, his gorgeous wife Sa and beautiful daughters Sonja & Bella met us at Lamonts Winery in the Swan Valley for a late lunch (the place was very popular) at 2.45pm. It meant we had lots of time to find it along wind-ey backroads on the outskits of Perth, just below the hills. On our way home we saw much more of the hills because we’d taken a wrong turn but the view of the City laid out below, was breath-taking. They arrived with beautiful white roses and a lovely gift. Their card make me shed a tear because each writes a little something heart-felt which always hits the spot. The food was divine too – loads of it came really quickly. Apparently quite resonable according to Sa who knows all the best places to get an excellent meal. It’s a favourite spot for their family.

So, did you celebrate Mother’s Day on May the 12th, where you are? Are you near to your children? My whole family live in and around Perth, Western Australia which is a rather spread out city. When visiting my children who live South of the city and over the river, it’s a 50km trip. We live North of the city – a 17min train ride down the freeway. Do your trains run down the middle of your freeways? It take us half an hour to the city with good traffic and another half an hour to their houses… The city is very spread out and none of us live on the outskirts.

So as I said, I am lucky to have my family close by. I hope you and yours found a way to enjoy and celebrate being or having a mum every day of the year, not just Mother’s Day.

My wish for you

May your lips be bruised from kisses
and your ribs be sore from hugs…
May you spend some time with your children,
but if not, still know – you are loved.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2010

#MothersDay #PerthCityWA #WestAustralia #LamontsWinery #LunchAtLamonts #CelebrateMums

Making gravy: Why Australians are producing so many Christmas films

By Garry Maddox

December 2, 2023 — 5.00am – Sydney Morning Herald

KEY POINTS

• Since the start of the pandemic, Australia has become such a prolific producer of Christmas films that it could be called the new tinsel town.
• Ten examples include two that have been released in cinemas in the past fortnight … A Savage Christmas and Christmess.
• Queensland producer Steve Jaggi, who specialises in uplifting female-driven films set in idyllic locations in North America, has made three Christmas films this year and plans another four next year.
• Streaming services have largely driven this new boom, with Stan leading the way with A Sunburnt Christmas, Christmas on the Farm, Christmas Ransom and Jones Family Christmas.
• A film version of Paul Kelly’s celebrated How To Make Gravy recently finished shooting in Queensland.

On a warm May afternoon in the far south-western suburbs, Heath Davis is directing a low-key Christmas scene in a rundown house that has been donated for the shoot.

The resourceful DIY filmmaker, best known for the rugby league drama Broke and the wry high school comedy Book Week, has Steve Le Marquand playing a famous actor, Chris Flint, who gets a job just out of rehab as a shopping centre Santa in the comic drama Christmess.

Flint tries on his red suit for his two amused halfway housemates: his cheerful sobriety sponsor (Darren Gilshenan) and a free-spirited musician (Hannah Joy). “This is going to be the best character you’ve ever played,” the sponsor says. READ WHOLE ARTICLE

#SydneyMornHerald #SMH:GarryMaddox #Christmess #HeathDavis #SteveJaggi #AustralianFilms #FilmInAustralia #AussieXmasFilms #AussieChristmas

#WASCA #ScreenWest #WAFilmakers #WAScreen #WACulture #LunaCinemas #PerthWA #PACScreenWorkshops #AnnieMurtaghMonk #DavidVincentSmith