Catch 2022 Ebook and Print (Final) 1/8/22 by Nick Andrews

Catch 2022 ? Lyrics, rants, raps, essays, diaries, stories and articles from part of the 21/22 Buckinghamshire Adult Learning ‘Study of English' cohort..

Acknowledgements and thanks What an extraordinary year - I think I have been saying that for as many as I can remember now ! It has been my pleasure and privilege to teach GCSE English and Functional Skills English for another year at Buckinghamshire Adult Learning and I am proud to present this fascinating collection of the students’ writing. The pieces range from speeches, articles, short stories, blog posts through to poetry and prose. I hope you will be impressed. The classes have been on line and we have to established effective working relationships without sharing physical classrooms. I would like to pay tribute to the students; so many of whom have to juggle the competing demands of family, employment , running the house and having some kind of life on top of all that - plus the studying! It should also be acknowledged that Buckinghamshire Adult Learning continues to offer opportunities to all those who need learning / qualifications later on in life and we, the tutors and students, all owe a debt of gratitude to those that work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep it going. Please enjoy this varied mix of creative writing at your leisure and ‘thank you’ for your support and ‘thank you’ to the writers for their excellent contributions.

Nick Andrews English Tutor

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning

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The Writers Alix Murphy Angel Thornton Armalinda Nerizon Arula Naranthanan Cara Underwood Catherine Horrocks Charles Ihons Elizabeth Richards Emem Iniaghi Farheen Naz * Fatima Afane Francesca Stratford Hyacinth Brown Jack Dutton Janine Sinclair Jas Khurana Joan Poole Laura Bargent Maggie James Mandy Westfield * Marcy Hawkins Natalie Moffatt Neeraj Vadia Osei Gyamfi Ross Flanagan Ryan Stephenson Sadaf Abbas * Sakine Bromhead Sam McCabe Sarah Alcindor Sheika Salim Sophie Pearson Sumaiya Rahman Swechchha Pathak ●

Tutor - Sarah Oliver

Reflections on the Year 2021/2022 "Now I can write with more confidence, I can think with more confidence and … I am more confident!"

Carnival by Emem Iniaghi The carnival is held in December of every year just before Christmas. Calabar city is in the south eastern part of Nigeria. Calabar is actually the capital city of Cross River State.African cultures have had an impact on carnival celebrations around the world! They have contributed to the many different types of carnival music that grew from drum beats.The traditional ruler of the state is usually the host and he is known as OBONG in Efik language and their cabinets will also participate in the carnival. Traditional rulers and all indigenes of the state always partake in the carnival that attracts millions of people from various parts of the world who come to watch the great cultural display. The Obong and all his cabinet are dressed in their traditional regalia to reflect it is a cultural carnival. The carnival is not only for Calabar indigenes; it is for all who love the cultural carnival. This carnival started in 2004 by the then Governor of Cross River state called Mr. Donald Duke. It was brought into the state because of the vision he had, which was making the state to be the number one tourist place in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The festival includes music performances from both national and international artists. During the festival, there are music performances from both national and international artists. It also features a fashion show, beauty pageant, boat regatta, Christmas village, traditional dances and masquerade festival. Calabar carnival has attracted foreigners to Nigeria. It is the pride of African heritage and has become Africa's highest tourism hub and promotes the preservation of our culture and belief. The last two years the carnival celebration has been suspended due to the pandemic. I look forward to attending the carnival this year - 2022.

London by Arula Naranthanan You’ve asked me to write about my favourite place, a place that matters to me, in your recent mail. Thank God for that; regardless, I always wanted to write about it, thank you for asking me. Since my move to England, I have a habit of visiting London, the capital city of the UK, to spend my free time in between my busy work schedule. A visit to London for sightseeing, a vibrant, stunning looking, tall city, is a dream come true for me. As someone who already knows that I have loved London ever since I was a boy, it must be crystal clear to you. In Central London you’ll be able to see and meet people from every part of the wide world. You can easily observe the way the UK government operates its parliament, you’ll see MPs and ministers working near Big Ben, which has been under renovation for many months. There, if you’re gracefully lucky, blessed and fortunate, you may even get to see the PM, The Queen, and the other high level royals. The world famous, ‘must see’, attraction, the symbol of London,The London Eye is also located in Central London. You can cruise in The Thame River on a lovely looking, cosy, and affordable river cruise. There are sightseeing open top buses on the run all the time with enthusiastic travellers from around the world. London’s many other attractions include: Buckingham Palace, Art Galleries and Museums. You can even see a World War 2 warship in the River Themes. London is supported by a well equipped public transport network, serving the city 24/7. So, I hope you can see why The City of London is the place that most matters to me now. Please take a look at the website WWW. THE LONDON CITY TOUR.CO.UK. Looking forward to welcoming you to my loving city soon.

Patience Is a Virtue by Armalinda Nerizon Having patience (patients!) means being able to wait calmly in the face of frustration or adversity, so anywhere there is a frustration or adversity (i:e nearly everywhere) we have the opportunity to practice it. Every medical department has its own issues, longer waiting, staff shortages and theatre slots. Because of the Covid pandemic all medical treatments were put on hold and lots of cancellations and rescheduling of procedures took place. Sometimes patients take out their frustration on us, the booking coordinators. However there is nothing we can do, we do get frustrated as we don’t have the authority to book anybody as they please. We need to prioritise patients by categories. We sometimes have a cancer patient patient with a two week wait who gets treated urgently, however this depends on the patient's medical fitness. As a booking coordinator we have to follow protocols. As well as booking patients we have to deal with all the theatre slots and consultants consultants’ availability. We are unable to book patients with just any consultants, it’s by speciality; so we have to match the patients with a particular consultant. Theatre is fully booked with different departments with their patients, so they only have a 4 hour slot each day, so we make sure that we utilise each slot for the consultants - making sure that they operate and finish on time to avoid overrun and cancellation of procedure. Many patients are worried about their health, and we fully understand that, however we have no control over the things happening within the hospital. We have to endure all the shouting and frustrations, but we have to be patient when dealing with those patients' problems. When we offer procedures it means you should be ready to be called once pre’ op is done, but some patients push their luck, they might be away on holiday or too much going on with their lives, or work related issues. We cannot be very flexible with dates that are given, a minimum of two weeks notice must be given so patients can be prepared. But some patients think that we are a private hospital that they can pick and choose dates for of their procedure. It is a hard desk hard job but we manage; the personal test of endurance from the patients’ frustrations, but we can only apologise for the delay with a clear explanation on how things work within our department. The job can be quite stressful but we endure most of the stress by working with the team and helping each other. Patience, compassion, empathy, understanding and respect is our way to pass the personal endurance test of my job. 11

Art, for Art’s sake! by Neeraj Vadia

I was inspired to create this art piece as I grew up in India and I have seen people,especially women, tolerating abuse as if it’s normal. My art piece expresses an emotion through the red tears as the colour red represents anger and blood. It shows that women suffer from abuse but have been quiet about it so I wanted to spread ‘the word’ through this art piece that “It's not okay to abuse someone or to tolerate abuse.”

The Tree of Equality and Unity

I created this art piece for my exhibition at University, where I have been studying at tthe same time as doing my Level 2 English with BAL. I was inspired to do this as I noticed how there are a lot of people from different cultures and countries would like to be united and do something together. I got a mixed group pf people together. This was a great opportunity for them as they enjoyed experiencing the feeling of being equal. This tree shows that even though the colours of the hands are different, all the hands still look similar. This spreads the message that we all look different but we are all more equal and more similar than we are different.

Looking After a Puppy by Maggie James A blog I am going to write about when you should get your puppy vaccinated and toilet training a puppy. If your puppy is not already vaccinated then they need to have their first vaccine between 8-12 weeks old and have their booster vaccine from 6-12 months old. So it is best to ask the previous owner if your puppy has had any of its vaccines. If not then book your puppy in with the vet as soon as possible. Check with the previous owner if they have started to toilet train your puppy as this will need to start as soon as you get your puppy home. If you are going to start toilet training your puppy indoors then I advise you buy puppy training pads and pick one area in your home for the puppy’s toilet training area. If you are going to take the puppy outside then this needs to be done regularly throughout the day. The main sign to look out for when toilet training your puppy is that they will start sniffing around and begin to circle before squatting. You will need to take your puppy to their toilet training area or outside. Once they have been to the toilet then reward them with lots of praise, a treat or play. Come back next week where we will be looking into the best place for your puppy to sleep and rest so please let me know where your puppy sleeps and if it suits you and any tips to share Leave a comment below telling us all about your toilet training successes and failures. . 14

The Reality of Being a Carer by Marcy Hawkins In the UK there are currently around 6.5 million carers, according to Carers UK. That is 1 in 8 people, and I am one of them. I look after a family member who suffers from multiple disabilities. I have been a carer for most of my life and this has come with many endurance challenges along the way. Exhaustion, responsibility, and lack of support are some of the concerns that come with being a carer. However, the most prominent is the worry and empathy you feel for your sick family member. One carer said, "I am completely exhausted and running on empty." Another saying, “We have to put a brave face on for the people we care for, we don’t want them to worry.” Although being a carer can have its challenges, for me, it has made me the person I am today and reminds me how important ‘family’ is. With Children in Need coming up this Friday many carers and charities are highlighted during this time. One place is CarersBucks. This charity has had a significant impact on my life, growing up. They support carers of all ages with one-to-one support, group activities, and advice. CarersBucks helped me find peers that I could relate to as well as take time away from caring to do activities I may not have been able to do otherwise. Sadly, many charities are running out of funding, and lack of support from the government is making things worse. Lucina Rolewicz, a research analyst from The Nuffield Trust said,''For too long the government has relied on the kindness of unpaid carers. It must now deliver on its policy promises to support informal care - and show more of the compassion and commitment so readily shown by carers.`` 15

For more support or information on this subject please go to www.carersuk.org

Visiting a Care Home by Fatima Afane I am writing this email to share with you my first visit to a care home. Yesterday I volunteered as a carer in an old people’s care home. Although the care is good and the staff are lovely, I was shocked by the reality of daily life there. The old people suffer from loneliness, depression and low levels of life satisfaction. Additionally, they feel abandoned, because they are far from their families living in a completely different environment. As a volunteer I tried to make them feel happy by being friendly with them and making them feel that they are important in our lives. Moreover, I shared with them my personal stories. Actually, from my experience yesterday, I found out that old people need truly us. They need us to talk to them, to understand them.They are often really smiley, innocent and kind people. Personally, I think that for most elderly people, care homes are a negative place to live because they think that they have been discarded by their families when they needed the care and the affection the most. However, on the other hand some eldery people view it positively as they consider it as a new step in their life where they are provided with the opportunity of living independently. Visiting a care home was an unforgettable experience for me, and I was emotionally impacted by how they suffer from loneliness

A Place That Matters To Me by Charles Ihons

A letter to Frank I hope you are doing well since we last met? I wanted to apologise for ending the phone conversation with you the last time we spoke, but I realised while we were chatting that I was running late for mid-week service. You know church is very important to me and my family; it has been our rock in both good and challenging times. I found out that no matter what the situation or challenge that presented itself to us was, we have always found church to be a place of rest and comfort. Whenever I enter the church, especially during praise or worship time, I have always felt like “I belong here and this is my home”. As I sit to hear the word of God, it always seems new and fresh, almost as if the preacher thought about me as he was preparing the message for the day. Over the past few years, I have been on a growth journey, and I discovered that studying my Bible early in the morning (without any distractions), fills me with the mindset that I can do all things, as well as that nothing can be impossible for me to achieve or attain. Sometimes, words cannot describe how I feel about being in church. In the past, I have been called “church boy” or even worse names, but it hasn't prevented me from telling others about the love of Christ and encouraging them to come to church with me to share in this peace and comfort I have found in the place of worship. Frank, I know I have gone on and on about how the Church is very important to me, but I hope you can understand and see why this is so. I would be happy, if you put this into consideration and make the right decision to be attending Church services as well.

For Sale by Ryan Stephenson

For the cheap price of £125,000, you can live in this spacious house with lots of potential. It is a great investment for individuals who have a great imagination. The downstairs of this property contains a large living room, fireplace included, and a comfortable kitchen. Going upstairs, a bathroom, and two large bedrooms.It is well ventilated and has windows and doors in the classic style. On a very big plot of land, and a great view of the ocean and nearby power stations, someone with the time, money and skills would fit right in; to give this house the life it deserves and needs once more.

My Nan’s - a special place Marcy to Anna An Email To: Anna@email.co.uk From : Marcy@email.co.uk

Subject: Important place

Hi Anna, Thanks for your message. Your previous email reminded me of a really important place to me - my Nan’s house. As you know, she passed away over 10 years ago, although I still think about her home all the time. It was a place of great comfort and memories for me. I haven’t been back there since I was a kid but maybe it’s best to keep the memories I had as they were. Now and then a particular smell or noise will suddenly take me back to that time. It's funny how that can happen, isn't it? Even though she lived in an old, run-down council house, we were really lucky to have a large garden and a green area at the front of the house. I really took for granted how fortunate I was to have that much space to run around and be free. But most of all, it was the life that she brought into the home that made it what it was. It was where I first learned how to ride my bike but also where I broke my nose running into a pole... Ouch! The smell of freshly cut grass and late summer nights always remind me of the fun times I had. The distant sound of a train horn, which many people might find annoying, I found strangely comforting. And the next door’s grandfather clock that would chime through the walls at the strike of dawn. After a while, those sounds faded into the background. Now when I hear them, it always echoes distant memories in my mind. My favourite moment was at the end of the summer, the swallows would put on an acrobatic show in the sky before migrating for winter. I will never forget the last day before she moved out, the biggest display of swallows flew around her house. It was almost like an epilogue to the final chapter of a story. I once heard someone call it 'sky ballet' and I couldn't describe it better myself. Do you have a place that mattered to you? Let me know when you're free next. We will have to catch up asap so we can exchange stories! Speak soon,

Marcy Hawkins

Ghana is My Home by Osei Gyamfi Ghana is my home in West Africa. A country of natural resources and unique culture. We live in a very large and extended family from different villages and clans. Mum,dad,brothers, sisters aunties,uncles,grandfathers and grandmothers all live together in the same village. What a lovely and cherished atmosphere surrounded by our ‘animal farm’. The weather is amazing ! Sunshine throughout the year and periodic rainfall; this is why the vegetation is always green. In the morning as a child I did house chores and walked to school with no sandals yet I was still happy. During weekends I went to the farm with my family to cultivate food stuff and bring back some harvested food home. During the night we gathered outside the compound house, a time we called by the fire side for a story telling time by our elders of the village. Indeed a time to learn about our history . We love and care for each other even though we live in poverty, poverty created by our own leaders. When I completed my school and moved to the city for jobs, life taught me great lessons.There were no jobs. I struggled on the street to get money to take care of myself and my family in the village. I never gave up! Now is the beginning of my life story, ‘An African Alien.’ I got the opportunity to come to London as an economic migrant .London is a city I had no clue about, all I knew about this city is the nursery rhythm “Llondon Bridge falling down’’ . The day I landed at the airport I realised I’m in a different world, through the windows all I saw was icing everywhere . It was white and beautiful. I asked what it was and I was told that it was SNOW! In my mind I remembered the Queen’s English I was taught in my little village, ‘’as white as a snow’’. Time to get home from the airport to my London flat. I was directed to take a train, my first experience boarding a train, all I heard was,”Mind the Gap!” Wow ! the door of the train opened automatically and I got inside. In fact I cried silently but my heart remembered to, “Be yourself no matter what you see or hear”. People in the train were busy reading and doing their own things .No one cares about anyone. Now I know I’m an ‘African Alien’ in London. The food,the people were very different to me .I was rejected since the Londoners did not understand me, and vice versa . Now I decided to learn and be like one of them but I kept one thing in my mind: “Do not forget your identity but learn to live with the English and yet keep your own culture at all costs”.

Britannia Waives the Rules by Laura Bargent On the 9th November 2021,Colin Bryer attended our GCSE English lesson, courtesy of Nick Andrews, to tell his story about his journey in journalism. Leading up to the lesson I felt excited in anticipation, preparing multiple questions I could ask, never having this opportunity before and how I could relate this to my own journey. Colin Bryer has worked within journalism since the late 1970s, he said “journalism is extremely different to what it was back then. Having to use a notebook and pencils and now using an iPhone to record interviews.” He went into publishing over 40 years ago by building his own business, now creating staff newsletters, customer relation newsletters for large corporations and magazine articles. Thinking about how I could link the questions to my personal journey I asked Colin how he kept his articles short but exciting, he replied with “Making sure to be creative, adding unusual words or phrases and quoting what people have said.” Soaking in all Colin had to say about the differences between styles needed for different types of articles I wanted to know what his favourite article that he had written, Colin said, “My favourite headline was about The Queen, I had to write an article on her visit to Plymouth. The Queen had given orders for everyone to have a ‘tot of rum’ which was unheard of as drinking while around The Queen was not permitted. I used the headline ‘Britannia waives the rules’ - this was my favourite.” Overall, I really enjoyed meeting Colin Bryer. It was very interesting to be able to ask him a variety of questions, which I would have not had the chance any other way. He made me realise that we are all human, no matter our job or passion, this opportunity has changed my opinion on journalists. Thank you Colin!

The Lure by Francesca Stratford Heavy rain,wipers - not equipped to keep up with the deluge. Condensation steaming up the interior of the windows,obscuring the view. A streak of lightning suddenly illuminates the woodland lined road ahead.Tsunamis of leaves tumble tumultuously over the car. Chloe flinched,gripping her steering wheel a little tighter. So tight in fact, that her well manicured nails had pierced her palms. Being buffeted by wind ,Chloe thought ,’Turn up the radio.Try to stay awake’. Lightning - behaving as strobe lighting now on this winding,dark,dismal road. She glanced in her rearview mirror.There,on the verge, a dark silhouette. Chloe let off the accelerator.She squinted at the mirror and pulled over,slowly bringing the car to a halt, just a small distance from the object.’ She sighed heavily, ”Probably wasting my time” she muttered under her breath. Grabbing her jacket and beret off the backseat, she flung the door open. “Jesus!,” she exclaimed as a gust of wind almost wrenched the door off . She pulled her red soft ,kid leather driving gloves out of her pocket and slipped them on her slender hands.With her beret pulled down low on one side ,she set off. Holding her jacket tight around her chest and struggling against the wind Chloe wiped her dripping mascara from under her false,lashed,eyes. Standing over the item,a child's baby seat. Blankets intact. A bottle, half filled. Suddenly a sharp cracking noise breaks her attention. Her blue eyes narrowed,scanning in the direction of the sounds - more rustling. Human?...Animal?...Chloe's brain scanned through all possibilities. Looking up to the night sky, ink blue with clouds moving fast above the maelstrom of tree tops below,the wind roaring like a lion, as if issuing a warning from the wilderness. Another crack, up close now. Suddenly a hooded figure.with twisted,harassed features appeared crashing through the thick undergrowth… eyeball to wild eyeball.

A minute to think. A minute to react. A minute was all it took ... The last minute he spent, was staring into her malevolent mask,black eyed; focused on some distant abyss - no redemption - ransfixed by her crude brutality. Acceptance of certain death embraced him. Fears and worries slipped away. He gently slumped to the ground. He was home. Chloe, enraptured, gently eased the mother of pearl inlaid handled blade from in between his ribs. A long exhalation of breath. Her heart beating so loud that even the dead may hear panting,cheetah-like after felling a gazelle.The white breath from her mouth rising into the night air. Wiping the blade on her sweater she placed it back down the side of her boot. Wiping rain and sweat from her face, she clicked back to reality. Studying her surroundings, the necessity of moving fast was upon her.She backed her car up.Her small frame concealed her strength,she opened the boot, hauling with all her might, the body fell into the boot. The baby seat and bottle neatly packed away alongside the covered cadaver, Chloe would continue her drive home … home to her cat, who’s feline ferocity Chloe seemed to mirror. This man's car, now in view further down from where she had parked. Chloe pondered,”How long he had been searching for? How long had this one been waiting to be a saviour for ? One day the game would end. One day ... But for now, the Lure had worked again.

The Abandoned Room by Alix Murphy and Sumaiya Rahman The rafters stand exposed, like soldiers standing guard over a long empty room. Paint peels like skin on an old scab, the colour worn away by rain snaking through the broken brick and trickling through the rafters. A single window shines dull light on the grey abandoned room; an eye watching, looking in from the outside. A small single bed with a filthy mattress and musky torn bed sheets lies silent in the corner, a chest stands opposite, drawers hastily opened, telling a tale of the manner in which its occupant left. The floor is covered in layers of old paper, decomposing and unreadable, the stories lost to time. The dank, dark, draughty room brings a chill to the soul of anyone who enters this time capsule.(AM)

This is the picture of a typical single room. The room is well furnished with a bed, radiator,wardrobe etc. There are some nice cabinets to keep the room tidy. There is also a window which is wide and perfectly positioned. There will be an abundance of sunlight and air to make the occupier feel happy. The size of the room is designed to give enough space for a single person. However, in the presence of everything, something is missing in the picture of the room. What is missing? It seems there is absence of life in the room. Does a room really have a life? However, the room is whispering of some neglected past. It seems that all the plaster came off from the wall and fell on the floors and bed. It did not happen in a day. It took quite a long time. The colour of the radiator has changed due to rusting. The floor and wall is covered with moss like a green velvet blanket. The air must smell musty. The steel bars on the rooftop are looking like someone gazing from an empty eye socket. A careless, greedy, asset-gathering landlord might be behind this haunted space.(SR) 24

A Palindromic Day to Forget by Janine Sinclair Well today may have had a palindrome date, 2.2.22, but for me today was a nightmare. Unusual? Yes. One of a kind? Yes. One I would like to forget? A big fat YES!. Today my father was the victim of a scam. A scam that cost him thousands of pounds of his hard earned cash.. I never thought my Dad would be such a sucker. I’ve always warned him of dodgy text messages and emails. But this was a good one, it even made me question how they did it. Yet it was incredibly simple. They played on him being a doting Dad, which he is; of course he is, he’s got me for his one and only child. And so it began… ‘Hi Dad, my other phone crashed. But this is my temporary number. You can save this one, message me if you’ve seen this.’ He was used to me being bossy so he did as he was told and dutifully saved the message to my contact ﬁle. Now it was saved and showed up as ‘Janine’ including a gorgeous photo of me and my daughter. No need to question it now, it looked totally genuine, it looked like me! So let the scam commence… ‘Dad, are you busy now?’ ‘Do you have a quick moment?’ ‘I need to pay an urgent invoice, I don’t have online banking on this new phone, could you pay it for me? I’ll pay it back tomorrow morning xx’...and so it continued. My Daddio, being the kind generous man he is, jumped at the chance of helping his only child out. He’d do anything for me. The scammer kindly and slowly, step by step, talked him through how to authorise the payment on his banking app. What a thoughtful soul this darling scammer is.

Fast forward 20 minutes and boom, nearly four grand gone in the blink of an eye ! Quicker than it took me to notify Santander of the crime! 1 hour 46 minutes they kept me on that fraud line, I think I only spoke to a human-being for about 30 minutes of that time. The rest of the time was spent listening to the monotone, voice-recorded message, telling me my call was important to them. While I'm on hold the bastard scammer is making contact with Dad again, requesting more money. ‘Ring the police!’ I shout to Dad, ‘He’s at it again!’ But guess what? 101 is also very busy, put on bloody hold there too. Is it only me and this damn scammer doing any work today? Arghhhhh. As I sat scrolling through the messages between my duped Dad and the scammer, waiting for my GCSE English online lesson to start, I noticed a comment in the thread saying ‘As expected, needs excision.’ What does that mean? I message Dad quickly while waiting to be let on the video call lesson. It turns out he was told today he has skin cancer. Bless him. That’s why he was so distracted. The scammer picked the perfect day; perfect timing for the perfect crime. Utter Bastard.

Local LSA Wants Revenge by Sarah Alcindor

THE LOCAL RAG. Reporting Local News, as it happens, where it happens.

Local LSA Wants Revenge. By Sarah Alcindor. Local LSA has had enough of rude students and wants her revenge. A local LSA, who wishes to remain anonymous, states that she has had enough of students being rude to herself and fellow staff members and calls for there to be one day in the school year when school staff members can say what they want to students without any repercussions. “Imagine what it is like,” she says,“you go to work, wanting to help teenagers to better themselves,but instead they are rude and swear at you.How many people have to face that in their working day?” She goes on to say “Because of the position I am in, I have to remain calm and polite, when, in all honesty, I am absolutely raging!” She adds “It is fair to say that there are not many people who would tolerate being spoken to in such a manner.If the situation was different, these students would see a very different side of me.” This is when she had an idea. An idea that could change students' attitude in schools forever. Her idea is to have one day, every school year, when staff members can respond to these students how they wish,without any repercussions. “I may sound harsh and unprofessional,” she states, “but I would imagine it would make the students think twice before they are rude to school staff again. It will give them a taste of what life is like outside of school. For example, if they told their boss to ‘shut the f*** up!’ depending on their line of work, their boss will probably fire them. She adds, “it would be a good life lesson for them.”

This Girl Can! by Cara Underwood A letter to my 16 year old - younger self Dear younger me, There are so many things I want to tell you. It’s hard to know where to start. Life can be so beautiful, and at the same time, so hard. But you are strong enough to get through it all. Breathe in 2,3,4 and hold 2,3,4 and breath out 2,3,4. Again; breathe in 2,3,4 and hold 2, 3,4 and breathe out 2,3,4... get comfortable so I can tell you what our life has to offer. I’ll begin with this one simple plea: Love, Laugh and Live; three little words with a power punch, although this has taken a few years to learn, life is about living and enjoying the years on this planet, have fun and don’t tie yourself down; there’s a big world out there. And before I share our life with you; I just want to tell you that I am very proud of you, you have overcome so many challenging situations, you are stronger then ever and still smiling and helping others. They say school is the best years of your life, a little late to say knuckle down as you’ve just completed your GCSE’s but hey ho, you will be happy with the grades we received, it will be later in life you will need to resit a couple of subjects to progress in your chosen career. (Don’t worry about it, you and I love studying). Ha-ha I remember how you don’t like walking even if it was to the shop, always jumping into your car... Well, guess what? by the time you hit your late thirties you will have walked three marathons and will have the walking bug, to be honest you still love cars and be looking forward to purchasing BMW Z4! Just saying. Time for some advice from your older self! And don’t worry I won’t go on like dad but in all seriousness the economy isn’t great right now so if you haven’t saved your money or invested it in anything- Do it now! A few things I have learnt through the years are: 1. Overthinking kills happiness. 2. Random acts of kindness make everyone feel better. 3. Failure is when you don’t try. 4. People come and go, but the right ones stay. And best one saved for last – Words are powerful, use them wisely. Our life has been full of ups and downs but we are a strong independent women, We have had a lot negatives and instead of dwelling on them, you will stand tall and turn them into positives. You have got this!! This Girl Can!! 28

The Forgotten and Lonely Generation by Sam McCabe

In the UK more than 2 million people over the age of 75 live alone and can go months without any interaction with another person, leaving them feeling isolated and vulnerable. A shocking 60 people a week sadly pass away whilst lonely in the UK and a large number of these are people are over the age of 70. Although there are a number of groups set up for the over 70’s in the UK, is there enough being done to help make it easier for them to access them? These groups are great fun and the people that attend always enjoy themselves and are glad for the opportunity to interact with others, but these groups don't come free. With Poverty at an all time high in the UK, many over 70’s are trying to make the pension they have last, some having to choose between heating and food, so paying for groups or the travel to one is not an option for most. Many other countries have created programs in which to help protect the eldely from loneliness and poverty in a number of ways. In the USA Seattle opened a residential home, which was also a nursery, in order to give the residents something to look forward to and the children to have a better relationship with people of age. Also, Dutch University students are and living in nursing homes in which to have a lower cost of living while spending time with their resident room mate for company and friendship. There are also senior programs in a number of countries, to pair a lonely senior to a family for companionship and a family bond. It would be of great benefit to our ever growing eldely population to have more programs like this implemented in the UK. To help combat the issues of loneliness, depression and the impact on the decline of physical and mental health. In the meantime there are simple things that we can do to support our elderly and make their day with a smile, reaching out, taking time to talk to them and seek help for them if you feel they would benefit. Give a better life back to the ones responsible for ours.

Jamaica Inn - by Natalie Moffatt (an analysis) The writer uses the following phrase to describe the weather: “Granite sky and mizzling rain,” this implies that the weather is dark and wet. The metaphor “granite sky” alludes to the dark harsh feel of granite in relation to the colour of the sky. This is reinforced by the use of the adjective “mizzling” to describe the rain, explaining that the rain is not hard but not soft. The sentence structure makes us think that the weather is not unpleasant and not what the writer had expected. To describe the movement of the coaches the writer uses the sentence “Rocking between the high wheels like a drunken man.” The verb “rocking” suggests that the coach is moving in a side to side movement followed by the use of the factual adjective “high” explains that the wheels are high up and that the rocking is to be attributed to this fact. Following this the simile “like a drunken man” alludes to the idea that when a person is drunk they stumble and sway whilst walking, just as the train cart is. The phrase helps us to imagine just how much movement is felt whilst riding on the train. The phrase “They had no breath left in their bodies as it was” is hyperbole. Due to the fact that if they had “no breath left” as described in the phrase a person would not be able to survive. Though the writer uses this phrase to exaggerate the fact that the speed of the train has whipped the air out of them leaving the passengers longing to be able to breath without worry. The sentence used next “she remarked for at least the twentieth time that it was the dirtiest night she ever remembered” could be described as both hyperbole and fact. “For at least the twentieth time” the “least” shows a statistical amount of times and suggests that is a fact and has been quoted saying the same words many times in a repetitive fashion. The use of the adjective “dirtiest” makes us think that not only is the cart unclean but in fact filthy and above a standard most would feel adequate. On the same note this could be used as hyperbole as in general person’s state facts where it is really an opinion usually exaggerated. This gives the character an air of being better than others.

The phrase “She brushed away with impatient fingers” is a personification used to describe how her fingers were acting. “Fingers” are non-human and the use of the word “impatient” is a human characteristic. The writer used this personification to explain the frustration the character is feeling at that moment in time and the fact that the character wanted the action taken quickly. The adjective “brushed” describes the way in which she used the “impatient fingers” to move away the droplets of water. The sentence combined implies that she quickly, with a level of aggression, wiped away the water droplets whilst letting the reader know that she is not happy with the situation. The writer uses the phrase “break the heavy blanket of sky” to describe the current weather but also explain what the character would like to happen. The use of the adjective “heavy” implies that the sky is thick with clouds that pull the height of the sky down further to the ground. The writer then goes on to cement this fact by using the simile “blanket” which is normally associated with thick, fluffy and heavy textures. Adding these two words together allows the reader to imagine how the sky would look and how close the clouds feel.

The Station Platform by Jas Khurana

A journey of a passenger starts from a station and ends with a station.

Not the hustle and bustle of rush hour but eagerly waiting passengers at the platform, a handful of people possibly waiting for the first train to get to work or the last to get home. A man sitting on the bench with a bright orange reflective jacket reflecting on his day. A circling shadow of a bright light at the end of the platform like Earth orbiting the Sun. The gold and red iron arches,beautifully crafted,show the station's history. The bright foot bridge overlooking the station….and?... Yellow warning lines to keep passengers away from fast travelling trains is a warning that reminds passengers of train stations announcements. A journey of a passenger starts from a station and ends with a station. Hardly anyone waiting at the adjacent side meaning the people waiting possibly missed the last train. The sense of peace and calm of open empty space before you can hear the vibrations in the track warning you of trains reaching the platform creating a sense of rush and panic. The colour red represents danger but on a red light on the platform asking the train approaching to stop creates a still and calm environment. The lights at the station represent a path taking you to your destination like hope at the end of the tunnel.

Late by Sheika Salim It was a warm morning and she stood in front of the mirror doubting what to keep on. She was smartly dressed in a navy skirt and a matching scarf that hung round her long neck. Her long black hair looked like it had been combed by the fingers of the wind that blew through the open windows in her room. It was a day like no other for her, she knew today would be the day for her to change her life. It was the reason she had sacrificed a lot and worked very hard all her life for. All she could think about was how she wanted it so bad and she would do anything to get it. She had arranged everything the night before to ensure everything was in its place and looked perfect. As she left her room, she thought to herself “Why is it so quiet ? Where has everyone gone?” but the thought vanished as quickly as it had crossed her mind. She knew she did not have time for anything else today. As she dug in her cereal bowl she could not stop but think of how today could be the best day in her life. She ate as fast as she could, picked her bag and off she went. The streets were quiet and the only voices she could hear were birds singing and for a moment she stood and enjoyed the sound. Yet again she thought to herself “Why is it very quiet ?” but she kept moving on because she knew she had no time to waste. She had been picked for the job interview among thousands of candidates and deep down she was proud of herself for making it this far.The thought of working in her dream company sent chills down her spine but was quickly replaced by a grin from ear to ear. This is what she has worked for all her life and today would be the day her dreams came true. She kept checking her watch at every minute so as to reassure herself she was not late for the important meeting. As she parked her car, she took a mirror out and smiled at herself. “Everything looks good”, she thought out loud. She checked her briefcase and went through the papers again and when she was satisfied she left the car and walked confidently towards the building where her interview was taking place. She kept mummering to herself as she walked,maybe as a way of calming her nerves. As she got close to the building, a security guard caught her eye and they exchanged brief smiles. She walked towards the glass door and…….. that's when she noticed a sign “CLOSED FOR BANK HOLIDAY”. ‘How could this be?’, she thought to herself, she didn't know whether to burst out crying or just laugh. She was a day early for her interview. 33

Memories of a Self-Confessed Dinosaur by Sakine Bromhead When did you touch a piece of black carbon paper or a non-electronic typewriter last? Indeed, some of you might ask, ‘’What is a carbon paper?’’ Ironically, we met Colin Bryer, publisher and journalist, via a digital Zoom meeting. He was very enthusiastic, full of energy, very well presented despite our rather late scheduled meeting. Colin took us on a journey of the publishing industry, from the beginning of his career to today. From a manual world to a computerised world. It felt like Colin witnessed the whole fast paced, very tight deadline driven publishing industry from the beginning to present day. Colin’s career experience started with black carbon paper, a typewriter, proofreaders, dictionaries, reference books, visiting libraries… Carbon paper, for instance, was used for making one or more copies simultaneously with the creation of an original document when using a typewriter or a ballpoint pen. Imagine not having a reprint button in your laptop, you can only print once, maybe twice if you have something like black carbon paper. Shocking! Having said that, he is now also very well integrated in the modern world, using his mobile phone dictation application is the proof. Colin enjoyed visiting many countries in Europe, America, Africa during his job as a reporter. I imagine this is one of the main benefits of having such a demanding job. I have seen sparkles in Colin’s teal blue eyes when he told us about his interview with legendary George Best. His excitement was also visible while telling us about his article ‘Britannia Waives the Rules’ regarding The Queen’s visit to the south coast. All I could say now, watch out for Colin’s book! he is certainly not ready to retire yet. Work in progress.

The Digital Age by Ross Flanagan The Digital Age - Information, Security and the apocalypse We have outsourced thinking to the internet. Ancient We, as a species, have entered a new age, a terrifying, wonderful, vast new age. An age where all of human history can be summoned in seconds via the medium of Google and Wikipedia. An age where; to an all too eager crowd of hundreds or thousands, any willing individual has the potential to broadcast what they had for breakfast that morning. An age where your personal information floats in the ether being passed from server to ‘secure’ server as companies like Twitter, Facebook or Instagram all compete to sell your data to advertising companies under the guise of tailored user experience just to make money from you in the quickest way possible. For all of human history, since the discovery of fire; we have endeavoured to advance. However, I would argue that the age in which we are now; ushered in by smartphones and the internet, that we have in fact advanced too far.For it is all too easy nowadays to pull up on any smart device the most personal information of anyone you know. Anyone with the inclination to do so could access documents such as the ‘Anarchist’s Cookbook’, ‘Make Napalm in my kitchen’ or, through the medium of a 3D printer, could print the genome for the ebola virus. We live in an age where this is possible and that terrifies me! Post-Classical Only for a few years now has the technology that is now a staple of many people’s lifestyle been around, and yet without this many of us would be lost. Without the safety net of being able to use on demand services like Google Maps for navigation, many people would struggle to navigate with a classic AA road map. Without the use of on demand services like YouTube and Google, people today know nothing, learn nothing and experience nothing. Acts that before would carry weight in their importance such as relationship milestones or personal achievements are now meaningless unless filmed and filtered through the silicon lens we keep in our pockets, for without the ability to post and gain validation through our peers, they mean nothing as popularity is the only metric that society values. 35

Modern In the vein of security,it is clear to see that we as individuals are more susceptible to attack and more vulnerable than ever before. Reading this article right now, you as a reader are probably viewing this on a mobile or PC. The device on which this is being read currently stores records of your purchases, records of your transactions, card details, personal details, if you have a calendar it has your itinerary stored. These devices know everything about you because we as a species now offload everything onto them in the name of convenience but it has now made our brains redundant, we have outsourced thinking to the internet and still proudly espouse the importance of individuality like we aren’t already a hive mind.

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The Clock is Tik Toking by Hyacinth Brown

THE GCSE WEEKLY TIMES TIKTOK THE LATEST WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW IT’S HAPPENING Calling all adult humans, from the millennials to the boomers. If you haven't already heard of TIKTOK, the chances are your teen kids have. Some of you may already have an account, maybe your friend or colleague has. And there’s a reason for that… TIKTOK is fun! F.O.M.O Fear of missing out is a common way to describe how social media makes people feel like everyone else is a part of something - which you either are not or you are, but you’ve not heard what they are up to. Non-users will fear they are missing out on an experience. THE BASIC HUMAN EXPLANATION OF TIKTOK TIKTOK is an app for the making,viewing and sharing of short videos. Complete filters and sounds and even duetting of videos. # hashtags are important to the role searches and for reaching the audience of viewers with the algorithm.TIKTOK is doing the things TWITTER tried to do to get people to engage. Apparently the key is you just ‘show people things’ and let a powerful artificial intelligence take over and take notes. You’ll be liking, commenting, sharing and filming your own content in no time! With TIKTOK you can really ‘Fake it ‘til you make it!’, algorithmically speaking of course.

Late by Jack Dutton John knew he had missed the train again. Being late going home did not matter as much as being late for work or an appointment but it caused a bigger inward sigh because it happened nearly every day. He saw the clock outside the station, ‘one minute late maybe? Sometimes it’s delayed…’ ‘no.’ He did not bother to run, he would have to sprint with his briefcase and what if his hat came off? He would look like a madman, he thought. He also did not want to slip on the icy platform and compound the indignity of running for a train that is already leaving. Instead he walked as coolly as possible onto the platform but could not prevent himself glancing plaintively down the track. Toward home and warmth. Taking in the familiar scene. The station and the platform are like another strange world. John sensed in some way he now stood in a no man’s land of his journey. It was lit by gold, yellow lamps all along its length that gave off a bright warmth that felt welcoming and safe but only magnified the liminal feeling of the platform, where you could not see what was beyond in the night. Several other people stood or sat here or there barely moving or paying attention to one another so as to appear like statues without their own meaning or purpose. John ignored them likewise and still looked. Towards the wind that blew up the channel of the station into his eyes, stinging them and blurring his sight. He blinked and could see the contrasting colours still. The platform stretched for what could be a quarter of a mile before stopping and there beyond was only the frigid darkness. He could see in the very distance the window and light of his train creeping away into space, a tiny speck before finally vanishing into the uncanny darkness. He turned and sat down on the bench, close to the middle with his briefcase next to him hoping to deter anybody from sitting down directly next to him and trying to strike up a conversation. It should work, Londoners know better than that. Not that John was not sociable when he wanted to be but ‘there is a time and a place’. As an extra precaution he took the old newspaper from his old briefcase and opened it. He had already read the thin rag front to back but he looked for something to pique his interest again. A sudden tinny crackle broke the calm; ‘’The six ‘o’ four to Willeston will be arriving shortly, we apologies for any inconvenience caused by the delay.’’ Had that train only been waiting for it’s turn to pass through to the station? Just held up by the one I saw departing a little while ago? It didn’t matter.

Here it comes. Oh well …

The Station Platform by Sophie Pearson

A station platform is usually the most busy place you can find. However, not this one. It's dark outside with the odd twinkle in the sky above the people sitting at the station. It shows life is still moving at the station platform after dark. People sitting or standing waiting for the train ride home from their long exhausting day at work. You can just imagine their thoughts at this moment, “What a long day” one would be thinking. The other side of the station platform has barely got anybody on it. Just a few people standing patiently waiting for their train to go home and relax. The colours of the platform are bright. You can see the bright yellow long line that reminds the passengers not to cross. You can see the bright lights that shine above them, like the sun even though it's night time. The train tracks are bare with no trains on, just waiting to be used. The bridge above the platform is empty, with only white lights inside it shining through the bridge . The lonely bench across the platform is empty with no one sitting on it or even about to.

Too Easy?, Really? by Swechchha Pathak Life is too easy for young people today. They never have to work for anything’ I disagree with this idea. Yes, they don't have to run miles for food and clothing but they have to do a lot to prove themselves in each and every point of their life; today's world has become more and more competitive. Many old people find today's ‘youngster lifestyle’ easy. They see how we don't even have to go out to work, we can do most of it remotely from home, youngsters might have to thank the cruel Coronavirus for this situation unless. They see how we can pay through our phone as we don't have to go to the bank to cash out money every time but we do have to earn and money earning is as hard as before. I would say it is harder now as we have more competition now. It's hard to get the job you want and you might have to wait or be satisfied with other jobs. My great grandfather used to say “You youngsters don't have to go through war for another cup of tea”, Well, if he was still alive I would tell him how bad the situation is in Syria and Ukraine. One reason I have to agree with the above statement is that adults do most of the hard work and they do it correctly and effectively, most of which seems hard for young people at the same time some young kids leave tasks incomplete. Society nowadays is a lot more strict than before, there is a judgement in every step now. Today's youngsters are seen as troublemakers when they want to move ahead and break the stereotype. If they are too friendly, party kids and live life without much worries of academic life, then they are called futile., At the same time if they don't enjoy social life and gathering then they are called antisocial and introverted. There is a lot of pressure of being the top in the class at the same time young kids find it a lot harder to make friends. They have to fight to fit in., I believe the pressure of impressing is a lifetime task, especially in the world of social media which shows that young people have lots of challenges and lots to prove. 40

Late in a Blue Light by Elizabeth Richards Screaming down the road; sirens wailing, blue lights flashing. Why don’t car drivers realise I’m late? Why don’t they get out of my way? I hate being late! It's not always delays at hospitals, it can be due to delays on the roads, oh and don’t get me started on roadworks!, it could even be down to vehicle breakdowns or even staff sickness for the reasons we can be late to our patients. Today was a usual late day ! The poor elderly female patient had been stuck on the floor for 6 hours waiting for an ambulance to turn up. My crewmate and I saw the original call time come through, both of us were seriously angry about it. Why had this poor lady been stuck on the floor for so long? This is not right and is very unfair. While we were on route the call had been upgraded to a Priority 1 call, meaning we had 8 minutes to get there. We were the closest resource and were still over 20 minutes away. I rapidly made my way through the busy traffic, parting the waves as I continued to change the tones on my sirens and kept all my audio and visual warnings going. This was now a matter of life and death, we had to get to this lady. On arrival the patient's elderly husband had commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while the 999 call handler was on the phone talking him through the process. My colleague and I took over, put our machine on to read her heart. To our dismay she was in asystole, a rhythm of the heart which has no electrical activity. My colleague and I continued to try and resuscitate the patient for 20 minutes but saw no change in the heart rhythm. I was absolutely fuming, was this our fault because of delays? Was this due to the fact she was on the floor for such a long time which caused her heart to fail? Yes, it probably was. I was more than angry. My anger then turned into sadness, especially for the lady’s husband who was, as you can imagine, in absolute bits. I comforted him as best as I could, whilst trying to hold back my own tears. I left feeling a sense of shame and frustration. I love my job, I love helping people….. But…..I…..hate…..being…..late.

Don’t Fly Me! by Catherine Horrocks Aeroplane travel is bad for the environment and unnecessarily dangerous. Although flying takes a lot of energy, there are many positives to travelling by aeroplane, such as being able to see the world, experiencing different cultures and becoming more educated. People also use aeroplanes to take them away on much-needed holidays; an opportunity to relax and unwind from the pressures and stresses of daily life.There are also people whose relatives live in different countries, so they rely on aeroplane travel to be able to see them and reconnect. Aeroplane travel provides jobs and contributes to economic growth. Some people also rely on flying for business, and by reducing their flights, or even stopping them, this could have a significant impact on jobs, and livelihoods. Aeroplane travel can be dangerous. However, you are 500 times more likely to be hit by a bus than you are to be involved in an aeroplane crash. So surely the pros outweigh the cons? Studies have shown that only around 20% of the population fly somewhere every year. However, although the numbers seem small, the impact on the environment is great. Around 5% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation, with the industry being responsible for roughly 10% of global emissions. We have all seen the effects of global warming and climate change, with rising temperatures and extremely severe ferocious flooding across the UK, and most recently down under, in Australia. The world has watched in horror as rain indiscriminately poured copiously, and completely submerged parts of the country underwater, causing devastation, loss of life and loss of livelihoods. The world is also seeing a rise in temperatures and glaciers are beginning to melt, which in turn causes seaseal levels to rise. Some scientists believe that over the next 50 years, we will see all of the world’s glaciers disappear. Many people still question whether global warming is real, but the answer is Yes! When we look closely at the evidence, it is clear that only human habits can explain the rapid and relatively recent rise in temperatures.What can we all do to try and reduce the impact on the environment? Perhaps we can look at other ways to reduce our carbon footprint, such as car sharing, using public transport, and walking more, which will also have a positive effect on our health. We can insulate our homes, use less energy by lowering our heating and use energy-efficient lightbulbs. Everyone can do more to reduce waste, reuse packaging and recycle more. We can even swap our chunky chipotle chicken for a vegan Mac & Cheese!

Respect Where You Live by Joan Poole A SPEECH TO RESIDENTS OF THE NEWEST ESTATE IN AYLESBURY BY AN AYLESBURY RESIDENT SINCE 1969 Sadly, Aylesbury has been listed as the worst town in the country. I do not believe this to be true. That is based on having lived here from 1969 to 2007 following which we moved to a village just 8 miles outside Aylesbury. We moved back to Aylesbury 2017. Village life was not for us. Too far from mixed cultures, supermarkets, theatre and cinema, choices of eating and drinking out, walks through the town, canal and parks, plus an amazing choice of places to visit including the churches and museum. Since returning to Aylesbury I will explain how “ perfectly possible” it is to live in this wonderful town, Aylesbury without seeking whatever it is that the countryside offers. Aylesbury is set in the middle of Buckinghamshire. It is surrounded by countryside. There is an eclectic mix of small towns and villages to the south and many small villages to the north reaching as far as Milton Keynes. We have many affluent areas in Buckinghamshire, the choice of many leaving the cities. We also have stately homes, some will visit Waddesdon Manor, and Boris frequently parties at Chequers! When we arrived, Aylesbury was a small market town, with a cattle market. It was a main attraction for all of us from London. However, it was closed for redevelopment. Our 40+ years in Aylesbury. We have both worked locally and raised a family, and have achieved a great deal. Our children are now following in our footsteps. We have many open spaces and are fortunate to have a garden for our children to play outside. We have always enjoyed gardening, grown our own fruit and vegetables , and over the years attended allotments. They are always well stocked for families. All our children now grow all their own vegetables and, yes, some fruit. The countryside bores me, it is difficult to visit, park , or reach by public transport, and so much nicer to visit local parks on foot. Our parks are well kept, regularly updated, made safe and enjoyed by many. Our local park holds regular events especially throughout the summer. Music festivals are free,well attended and great fun.

Countryside is for Farmers and those that want to walk usually from pub to pub. However not for me, on foot throughout Aylesbury is far more interesting, and if a visit further afield is needed we have an amazing public transport system. Chiltern Railways to Marylebone, takes an hour. Buses to Milton Keynes, and Oxford. All areas in between served from Aylesbury Bus Station, all excellent services. Free for me! Growing up in Aylesbury offers superb education, several choices of primary schools and secondary schools also offer choice with three excellent grammar schools. Most schools offer extended learning experiences, after school clubs and interest groups. Children have opportunities to join and participate in numerous activities. Our main interest being dance, so 40 years ferrying budding ballerinas 2 and 3 times each week. Then the shows, helping to make costumes and attending, are just wonderful. Education is never ending, available and attended by many. We now have a University as well as our well established college. A service is always there and many take advantage to catch up on missed opportunities, gaining qualifications to further their careers. Invaluable, available to all and extremely well supported . Not too many need countryside with so much going on in the towns and cities, we can live without that. Soon the air in towns and cities will be transformed, cleaner air a must, the sooner the better. But in the meantime we will continue to visit our open spaces, walks along the canal, visits to parks and those of us in flats, the beauty of plants and cut flowers. Aylesbury, what’s not to like?

I’m Ready by Angel Thornton In a dimly lit bedroom a sorrowful looking girl is sitting pen in hand and the diary in position awaiting the girl's slow and steady movements. ‘Dear Diary, Nothing interesting has happened since my last entry, I mean does anything happen to Devon Lightborn at this point? It’s a late rainy Friday evening and like every Friday I’m alone while Andrea goes out. She did invite me... this time, but I refused. I'm not fully sure why, I guess it’s all due to the strange feeling of loneliness. Although I am alone now, it's worse when you're in a room full of people and you still feel lonely, it just hits harder. Plus partying is against doctors orders.’ As the girl marked her last sentence a peculiar yet familiar feeling surrounded her, swiping it away from her attention, her gaze fell upon an aged photo in an elegant frame. Entranced with the photo, past memories flooded her mind, but a particular memory shone brighter than all the others. An 11 year old Devon and her mum in the open Portsmouth sea splashing with the biggest of smiles spread across her face, as she recalled the happiness she felt her smile fade and darkness took hold with a forceful grip as the brightness of the bulbs around her made an exit and a churning began within Devon’s stomach until her hands reached her face as if shielding her eyes. As Devon reared her head that peculiar feeling arose once again and then she remembered the feeling, it was comfort!, something she hadn’t felt since before her mum died in the horrifying accident. A small framed figure appeared in Devon's doorway. Devon couldn’t distinguish any features from the small figure but that didn’t scare her. Although Devon wasn’t scared she couldn’t help but fiddle with her hands, as she did the figure moved cautiously across the room as if trying not to startle Devon, which was strange, but at least it was a kind murderer if a murderer at all. After sitting for a few moments after the figure reached a halt Devon found the courage to outstretch her arm and grip the lonely torch on the desk but before switching it on she gestured to the figure as if to warn it what she was doing and softly the figure nodded. On. Waiting for her eyes to adjust to the brightness Devon could now make out more and more features of this figure every second that went by, until she could see who it was. “Slow breathes, Devon.” said the once featureless figure with care but Devon couldn't grasp what was happening, so breathing was her last thought at this moment. “H...How...How are you here?” Devon finally found her voice as tears welled and spilled in sadness, regret and happiness as she was laying eyes on her long passed mum. “I've always been beside you. That never changed.” Softly spoken just as Devon had always remembered her mum sounding. “But how can I see you? And why now?” “Don't you remember?“ Devon’s mum's face fell and worry appeared in her eyes where there was once joy. “You had another fit...” Trying to find the right words she continued “...and you fell.” Devon's face twisted trying to work out what was happening “I'm dead.” she said as though she was simply stating the sky was blue. She spun on her heels looking at where she once was, diary in hand “I always felt relief from my sickness when I wrote, remember?” she said realising that’s why she was brought here. Devon focused one last time at the room she once felt imprisoned in. She could still hear the tip tap of rain hitting her window and the whistling wind like the angels were singing and dancing just outside, ready to escort her home. Sighing peacefully, while smiling the most genuine of smiles, she said “I’m ready”.

Buses in Greece by Sadaf Abbas Hopping On and Off Buses - A Great source of Fun and Entertainment!

While on my trip to Greece, one of the great experiences was to hop on and hop off the bus. Friends, I will definitely recommend you to experience this. This is the bus where you will find no discrimination, no difference of rich and poor, and equality. After hopping on the bus, I had the feeling that I was the owner of this bus. At every station I was coming off, and then after some time, I was on the bus again; meeting and greeting new people. The top deck of the bus was like a boat floating on the road. I could feel myself standing on the front with open arms and hugging the cool breeze. Unlike the normal buses, there was no conductor; rather there was a beautiful lady guiding the tourists and explaining about local attractions. Her melodious voice was making me presume that I was in my home sitting on the sofa and listening to BBC News. All other passengers were also listening to the lady just like we all were in our English classroom. The bus was going through the heart of the city. Nice, big, colourful buildings were a great sight in the surroundings. The bus was roaming through the ups and downs of the road causing a tickle in my belly. Riding on this bus was a never ending happiness. The worst thing was that all the people had face coverings on due to the pandemic in the recent past. People were maintaining a distance so carefully as viruses could jump on them if they came close to each other!

I Wish by Mandy Westfield

I wish I could sit silently I wish I could overcome fears I wish I could change the challenging years I wish I could glow I wish I could stand I wish I could have hope I wish I could have dreams I wish I could change everything I wish I could give all I have I wish I could change all that I am I wish I could shout I wish I could let it all out I wish I could laugh I wish I could forget I wish I could have it all without regret

A Sunset by Farheen Naz The dull, boring and lazy day was just about to end. This had squeezed all the energy from my soul. As I entered the balcony of my house, a majestic, splendid view of the sunset caught my eyes. The sky had all the hues of life. A fiery, red, orange color was blending with the earth; it seemed like the earth was blazing with fire, and a sheet of faint blue and white colours was holding back the spread of the fire to keep itself safe. The golden yellow colour of sky was just like the beauty of an Egyptian royal lady; all clad in gold; ready to slay her admirers. The tall green trees, who were a symbol of grandeur and beauty in the daylight, were tarnished by the glow and radiance of the magnificent sunset. They were all standing still, mesmerized by the elegance of the setting sun. It seemed as if a wizard had cast a spell on them. Was the setting sun taking their lives? Would they ever get back to life to shine again? All these thoughts vanished away with a soft touch of breeze that brought me back to real life. This majestic view filled me with positive power and made my day.

Disclaimer The opinions and ideas expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the authors. The book has been privately published and does not express the views, opinions or policies of Buckinghamshie Adult Learning or Future Pillars Zambia. July 2022