KIRSTY STRAIN

The Tree of Life

2012-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

As the seedling grows

Sprouting roots into the earth

It plants itself with great strength

Right from the moment of birth

Growing tall and full of command

Stretching branches far and wide

Becoming wise to the seasons

The tree never hides

Grow your own roots

Speak your own words

Never dull your voice

Let yourself be heard

Lift yourself above the ground

Take yourself to the highest hills

Be forever true to you

The tree sways whilst standing still

- For Alfie

With Love Always,

Aunt K

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

ROCKY ALWAYS GIVES THE BEST ADVICE...

2012-01-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

On Loop....

2011-11-22T16:54:00.001-08:00

Loves Ghost

2011-11-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

The floor creaks beneath my bare feet
As I dig my heels in and catch my breath
All the rooms are empty and I fear there's nothing left
This place is cold and the corridors are long
Yet I cannot leave; this is where I belong

I think I hear your laughter

So I run from room to room, trying to catch it

Then I see that solitary chair where we used to sit

No comfort in it now, there is no peace

All the windows are broken but there is no release

My heart is a house that's haunted

I am confined to this barren place

I look in every mirror and only see your face

No other visitors welcome and I'm left to play host

To very distant memories and the linger of loves' ghost

I feel your fingertips against my skin

Yet there is no trace of you

I taste your kisses in my mouth but it's only residue

And as I sleep, your arms wrap firmly around me

Only for me to wake and feel forever lonely

This is where I live now

Running through each doorway, trying to chase you down

But this isn't hide and seek and your never coming round

It's only the vapour and my mind that is lost

Haunted by madness and colder than frost

The floor creaks beneath my bare feet

As I dig my heels in and I catch my breath

All the rooms are empty and I fear there's nothing left

This place is cold and the corridors are long

Yet I cannot leave; this is where I belong

When the Heart Attacks...

2011-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Delicate heart why do you fret?
You toss and turn

And seem to forget

What is meant to be

You’ve lost your sight

Become blind

And cannot find

What is right there for you to see

A sightless, feckless, vision of a half truth

That sees you squeezing every last drop of goodness

Flushing it out and leaving no room for anything

But the poison you spill

Gets used to fill

The void

And I can’t avoid

The wreckage you leave in your path

Full of only destruction

With a great force of suction

You remove all lightness of being

Writhing in Pain

It all starts again

And the process leaves me seething

I want to forgive

I want you to live

But the nightmare keeps on creeping

You’ve no sense at all

And you make me feel small

As there’s nothing in my power to do

I should let you go

But I must let you know

You have destroyed my faith in you

I’ll leave you alone

To continue your moan

As that’s as much as I’m able to do

This must be the end

As I have no way to defend

What little there is left to save

There’s nothing to fight

Even though I’m right

And the world may see me as brave

You have lost your senses

And I have become defenceless

So I’ll leave you alone with your ill

I won’t ask again

I refuse to pretend

Because yours is a very bitter pill

Tis the season to be glad....

2010-12-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

I recently watched ‘Pollyanna’ and was reminded of how much this story and its principles mean to me. I have adored this positive tale since I was very young and have often been labelled as a somewhat ‘Pollyanna’ type thinker. It’s such a sweet and simple tale about Pollyanna Whittier, a young orphan who goes to live with her wealthy but stern Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The Glad Game", an optimistic attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation. It originated in an incident one Christmas when Pollyanna, who was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel, found only a pair of crutches inside. Making the game up on the spot, Pollyanna's father taught her to look at the good side of things—in this case, to be glad about the crutches because "we don't need 'em!"

Soon, Pollyanna teaches some of Beldingsville's most troubled inhabitants to 'play the game' as well and leaves a lasting impact on each of them. Eventually, however, even Pollyanna's robust optimism is put to the test when she is struck down by a motorcar while crossing a street and loses the use of her legs. At first she doesn't realize the seriousness of her situation, but her spirits plummet when she accidentally overhears an eminent specialist say that she'll never walk again. After that, she lies in bed, unable to find anything to be glad about. Then the townspeople begin calling at Aunt Polly's house, eager to let Pollyanna know how much her encouragement has improved their lives; and Pollyanna decides she can still be glad that she had legs. The story ends with Pollyanna being sent to a hospital where she learns to walk again and is able to appreciate the use of her legs far more as a result of being temporarily disabled.

My favourite version is the one with Hayley Mills but there is also a more recent 2003 TV version that is quite teriffic.

Every time I see it, I am reminded of all the possibilities there are to be ‘glad’ and all the things there are to be thankful for. I think everyone should play ‘The Glad Game’ and bring a little bit of Pollyanna into their lives.

"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will."

The same can be said if you look for the good and it’s this premise that Pollyanna is based on…

Go forth and be GLAD!!

A Dedication

2010-09-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

Warm hands, fingers entwined

Unable to tell the difference

Between yours and mine

Always with a firm grip

And a belly full of laughter

Forever making me believe

In, “Happy Ever After!”

Never any limits

No fight you could not win

Nothing you would run from

You’d take it on the chin

A hat for every day

And a handkerchief in your breast pocket

“Never mind the bloody bus

Grab yer coat, we’ll walk it!”

Stand straight, stand proud

And say it loud

Let the world know who you are

Let them know you’re comin’

Show them you’re a star

Even disguised as Santa

When I was seven years old

I was sure it was you

I didn’t have to be told

I could tell just by the shine of your shoes

The tone of your voice

I knew it was you

Not your usual style

Not a sight you’d often see

Only for my birthday

A special treat for me

You have meant so much

You’ve been a major inspiration

I always spent my time with you

In wonder and fascination

Along every road I travel through

You will be a part of every step I take

You’ll live on in every decision
In all the choices that I make

Bless you for every moment

For every memory

You will be forever loved

By all your family

FOR MY GRANDAD – ROBERT MOONEY (1924-2010)

WITH LOVE!

Birdsong

2010-06-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

As the gentle wind brushes my skin,
I feel your love...

Like fingertips caressing me,
It holds me...envelopes me
I am yours and I wait,
Wait until it carries me up and I am flying
We are flying an endless journey together
And we build our nest and live with the birds.

Our song makes a melody with theirs
And we are home....

Melanie

2010-06-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

My friend, you have left me drowning in a sea of salt water tears
As your delicate face disappears slowly out of view
My beautiful girl, you have taken a piece of my heart with you
I pray you keep it safe...

As I swallow my heart down to the pit of my stomach,
I hold my breath and resolve to put your laughter in my throat
Until the day arrives when we have more time.

When we are not running but lazing in the grass,
With the dew cooling down our bare feet
As we compare our toes and talk,
In endless and uninterrupted conversation

My darling, to have seen you so briefly
Makes me miss you all the more
And so I live for this future and the moment,
That my heart can rise again...

Picking daisies in the morning sun....

2010-05-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

A BOY'S DREAM

2010-05-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Take my breath, take my soul
Take me into all that you know
Have me and hold me and keep me clean
Livin' it up inside a boy's dream

Scratch at my surface and let yourself in
Tie me up in knots, tie me down again
Open the door and breathe in my air
Open my heart and live inside there

Take me over, make me new
Do that sweet thing that you do
Rest your bones upon my skin
Tell the world that you, "love him!"

Believe in a world unseen
Livin' it up inside a boy's dream
Stitch back together what's ripped at the seams
Livin' it up inside a boy's dream

xoxo

LOVE...LOVE...LOVE

RACE FOR LIFE

2010-05-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

My Race for Life Sponsorship is almost at the halfway point toward reaching my target. I truly appreciate all the support and am extremely grateful to those who have sponsored me so far. So many people's lives are affected by cancer...not only those who suffer but also their loved ones. I have known those who have battled and won and those who unfortunately lost or who will lose their fight for life. It means so much to me to be able to participate in this race and to raise as much as I can for Cancer Research UK. By sponsoring me now you can help more people survive cancer.

Please visit: RACE FOR LIFE to sponsor me now!!

Any and all donations are much appreciated...

Native Son

2010-05-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

The short film 'Native Son' - A Brocken Spectre production, produced by David Smith and directed by Scott Graham, with music by Sons and Daughters, in which I starred alongside Kate Dickie and Sean Harris has reached Cannes....

Please visit: Semaine de la Critique du festival de Cannes

Production Still:

Video link of presentation: Director Scott Graham Presents Native Son

Meet Me in My Dreams

2010-05-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

I am ten years old, sitting in your front room in my school uniform

One of my long white socks has managed to find its way down to my ankle

As I kick my leg back and forth in time with the music that emanates from the TV

Clickety Clack and tap tap tap it goes inside my mind

As the trumpets bellow and the boys perform in unison

And as they jump around the bandstand

I turn to watch your smiling face

And I want to make you smile like that

You are beaming

Suddenly I realise that you are right there with them in your mind

And I go there with you in mine

We all dance together

And it’s the most beautiful moment

From then on whenever I visit

We go to all kinds of places

We dance with not only the Nicholas Brothers

But with Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

And we travel through, ‘High Society’ with Frank Sinatra

And go, ‘On the Town’ with him and Gene

Oh what a time we have, what a joy

And as you sing, ‘Meet Me in My Dreams’

I smile to myself, knowing that I’ll always find you there.

For my granddad – Robert Mooney

RACE FOR LIFE - PLEASE SPONSOR ME - CANCER RESEARCH