The green evergreen stood tall, it leaves full of life. Wrapped with rainbow lights flashing, and silver tinsel cascading.

Hidden inbetween the branches are ballerinas in pink tutus standing on tip toes, boy soldiers in red uniforms saluting the captain, golden bells that chime and golden stars that shine.

The Christmas tree coming to life in colour for the holidays.

There is a chill in the air, kept out by coat.

The mulled wine warms hands, and lips alike.

The suns setting but all around is candles, flickering.

The dog lays down at my feet, getting comfy on the blanket.

The speakers come to life with a buzz, a woman center of the band stand.

The children are stopped in their play, encouraged to go back to their adults.

The lady starts the whole thing off... with a prayer, I smile at my mother to remind myself she is the only reason I am there.

Together we find the first song in the booklet, leaning in so we can both see the words.

But she doesn't need them, she just wants to be close, so we can sway to the beat, singing loud and off key.

People in the park brought together through signing silly songs.

I'm going slightly mad, waiting for the hammer to fall. Who wants to live forever?

"Don't try Suicide."

Don't stop me now, I want to break free.

"Everybody hurts sometimes. Hang on in there"

The wildness, the dark, the night comes down. I'm scared.

"Breakthru. If only I could make you smile… Brighton Rock... Barcelona, Lazing on a Sunday afternoon... Deliha."

First glance, First kiss, flash to the rescue. The show must go on, in the lap of the gods.

Standing on top of a Cathedral, over looking a city I've never been to, pointing out the places we have yet to go to. The sun warming our bones, the music of the city playing on the cool breeze. Knowing my amigas, and a cold glass of sangria, is waiting for me at the bottom.

I felt at home.

Be careful in there, it's pretty dark, and I'm afraid I forgot where the light switches are.

and when the thinking starts, you need to stay aware of a ticking clock............

Books, movies and songs, make it spark, but live theater gives it a glow, and Musicals may make your face hurt, just a little.

When out and about on a crowded street you will find your feet picking up speed, dodging and weaving is an enjoyable sport. And if in a park don't be scared if you suddenly find yourself half way up a tree, just let it do it's thing, sitting on a branch is like being home for me.

If at night your finding it hard to sleep, I often pick a song from the built in music library. My go to is "The Devil went down to Georgia" but I'm sure you could find one that suites you better.

I was once told that hope is a terrible thing.

For a moment I believed him,

but looking back,

racking over the past,

surely hope is all we have.

We knew it was going to be a hot day. The previous day was hot.

We woke up lying on top of the duvet, both sweating, the sun fighting the curtains, and winning, compelling our eyes to open.

It woke him up just enough to turn over.

It woke my just enough to remind my sleepy head of the plan we made before sleep took us both.

I pushed at his back, "Come on, get up"

"hum" was his reply.

"Come on, get up, before it hot" It was hot already, we both knew that.

He needed reminding of the plan. Through a yawn I told him.

"We don't have to go."

But I was awake now. Too awake to just lie there.

I got my butt out of bed, which forced him to do the same.

In the car the temperature display kept creeping up, "maybe this isn't such a good idea." I started to question my actions, sleep still in my eyes and lingering in my stretches.

The radio told us to say inside, it was going to be the hottest day. "Lets just get breakfast, go back home." I stared to wonder what we would be doing if I had forgot about the sleep filled plan made in the cooling night air. We would be lulling in our bed, he would be holding me loosely, kissing on my neck, my hands drawing patterns on his skin. We would just about to start our morning routine, the one we had found our selves falling into on days we had nothing early planned.

"We are half way there now, We anit going back." He said. His eyes questioning me, are you serious. I'm always changing my mind, this time I was just bit too late.

We walked from the parked car, the sun shining down, not a cloud in the sky.

Soon the path gave way, I stopped to take my shoes off, putting my feet deep under the warming sand. We found a little shade by way off sand dooms, and set up a temporary camp; we both know we wasn't staying long, that was the plan.

We stripped, we ran, the sun beating down, sweat beading on our skin, a sea breeze caressing our bodies, the sand shifting consistencies.

The water brought a gasp to my mouth, lapping over my feet, as I waded in up to my thighs. He was doing the same, the shock on his face made me laugh. He splashed me with water in a childish way as the waves come up to my breast.

Together we embraced the cooling sea water, on the hottest day of the year.

On the twelfth day of Halloween,

my true love sent to me;

Twelve Vampire Bites,

Eleven Skeletons Skating,

Ten Wolfs A-howling,

Nine Zombies Lurching,

Eight Monsters Mashing,

Seven Ghosts A-haunting,

Six Witches Witching,

Five Skull Rings,

Four Crying Bats,

Three Freaky Frogs,

Two Slimy Slugs,

And a Potion in a Cauldron.