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Welcome to The Literary Pig's blog - a safe haven for all those afflicted with
the unbearable urge to write.

Tuesday, 9 July 2013

A good year for the poppies

It's a good year for the poppies. I keep driving past a field peppered with red and finally stopped to take these photos. At 10am it was a popular spot with 5 other people already in the field. I'm guessing the Countryfile photography competition is going to get a handsome crop of poppy pics.

The Indoor Writer has been taking advantage of the summer outburst and as you can see (below) may
have to be renamed to the Outdoor Writer. Yes, she did get some writing done - a one act comedy play was polished off in no time.

And sunshine and showers is definitely making it a terrific year for the roses. These are devouring the sun like greedy felines.

On Friday I'll be back on writing topics and am "expecting" a very special guest to drop by. She originally trained as a nurse in Sheffield and then went on to work as a medical representative for nearly 20 years, specialising in mental health. Starting to write over 8 years ago she has had around 140 short stories published, mostly in national magazines and various anthologies and most recently a 3-part detective serial in Woman's Weekly. Can you guess who it is yet? Pop back on Friday 12 July to hear all about my special guest's new novel: Expected.
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16 comments:

  1. Patsy9 July 2013 at 09:58

    I'm guessing your mystery guest isn't Ms Ireland, Mrs Wales or Miss Scotland.

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    1. TracyFells10 July 2013 at 01:35

      Er alright you guessed her Patsy! Sorry, no prizes...

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  2. Wendy's Writing9 July 2013 at 10:47

    Hey Tracy - I think I saw you in that field! Is it the one just past the tunnel on the A27? I drove past and there were loads of people there and I nearly stopped to take a photo myself... that would have been funny if we had met in the poppy field!

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    1. TracyFells10 July 2013 at 01:37

      Oh that is spooky Wendy - are you following me??
      Yep, it's the field by the lay-by, which is probably why so popular. I keep driving past and seeing people walking back to their cars with cameras so on my way to Sainsburys I took the opportunity. Hope the farmer doesn't mind as the field is getting pretty trampled.

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  3. Anonymous10 July 2013 at 07:43

    The poppies look great and so do your roses. Finally after 25 years of wanting them, my husband bought me a white rose bush. Next on the list is a red one. Wonder if you can guess why........ ! Hint: it was one of my favourite fairy tales!!Edith :)

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    1. TracyFells10 July 2013 at 07:54

      What a lovely story Edith. I just inherited my roses when we moved here. Though recently planted a lovely yellow rose, still quite petite compared to the older inhabitants of the garden.

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  4. Hamilton Residents Association10 May 2014 at 06:23

    Oops - I did not mean to send that - but must have pressed return. I've just written a short article about poppies for a community newsletter published by Hamilton Residents' Association in Leicester (www.hamiltonresidents.org.uk) and I'd very much like to use a poppy photo from this blog - do you mind if I do? Yours, with many thanks, Nick Henwood

    "A swathe of blood-red poppies on Sandhills’ bank

    In 1914, the green fields of northern France were ripped open as World War One raged through Europe's heart. When the conflict was over, the poppy was one of the only plants to grow on the otherwise barren battlefields. 100 years on we remember 1914-18. Since then hardly a week has passed without warfare somewhere around the globe - so it seems that humankind will not learn. But each of us can play a part in resolving local and distant conflicts.

    On April 13th ten Hamilton residents of different backgrounds and ages paced slowly up and down the re-landscaped bank between the Humber Stone and Bellflower Road roundabout. City Parks’ officers guided us as we broadcasted millions of tiny black poppy seeds from polystyrene cups.

    There will be a splendid scarlet display in August. As we drive by we’ll enjoy the vibrant colour. And let’s remember, and find stillness, and seek to promote peace in the spheres of our lives today."

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    1. TracyFells10 May 2014 at 08:35

      Hi Nick, please go ahead. These are my own photographs so if you do use then please can you ensure they are credited back to me: Tracy Fells.
      Thank you for stopping by the blog.

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  5. mundy ellis18 June 2014 at 01:28

    Hello Tracy, I spotted your lovely close-up poppy picture when looking for a cover picture for the Norfolk village magazine that I edit, The Marshland Mardler. It's a tiny publication (it goes to less that 500 households) and we only print in black-and-white. The poppy is Norfolk's county flower, and this issue of the magazine covers the World War 1 centenary, so I was looking for poppy pictures - but of course it's very hard to capture the flower without the colour!! Your photograph does this better than any other I tried, so I hope I can go ahead - I see your comment to Nick on 10 May, and will take it that you are OK with it - with a credit, of course - unless I hear from you. Many thanks, Mundy Ellis

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    1. TracyFells18 June 2014 at 05:49

      Hi Mundy, happy to help if this is a non-profit publication (which it sounds). As before a credit to me is all I ask. I'm hoping the same field will be out in bloom shortly.

      Best wishes,
      Tracy

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  6. Mundy Ellis18 June 2014 at 23:54

    Hi Tracy, yes it's a community, non-profit monthly magazine, so thanks. Credited to you, and the caption reads: "Flanders poppy, Norfolk's County Flower" (Who knew?) Mundy

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  7. Anonymous28 July 2014 at 11:14

    Hello Tracy. The second image of poppies on this page is especially beautiful. Would you have any objection to our using it on the front cover of an order of service for a special WW1 Commemoration Service on 3 August? The booklets (which will only be black and white) are for one-off use only and there is no commercial gain. Kind regards, Anthony Moore, Lichfield Cathedral

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    1. TracyFells28 July 2014 at 11:24

      Hi Anthony, I am so pleased that this image has been so popular. This image appears to work very well for black and white - or so I've been told. Yes I am happy for you to use the image if there is no commercial gain. All I ask is that you credit the photo to me. Best wishes, Tracy

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  8. Anonymous29 July 2014 at 01:53

    Hi Tracy - thanks so much for your positive and swift response. It's a great image and we will, of course, attribute it to you. If you'd like a copy of the order of service, please e-mail enquiries@lichfield-cathedral.org with a contact address and I'll send one to you. Thanks again! Anthony

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  9. Kate Pankhurst30 July 2014 at 04:09

    Hi Tracy
    Hope it's ok to contact you here as I couldn't see an email address. May I have permission to reproduce one of your poppy pix on our website (with credit and link of course) The article is called "Crossfitters are more like Tomatoes than Poppies" and is a little thinkpiece to encourage our beginners. I'll happily send you the words - and you'll realise why I need a poppy pic :) Many thanks, Kate

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    1. TracyFells30 July 2014 at 06:38

      Hi Kate, I'm happy for you to use an image as long as the website is a not-for-profit site. Please go ahead - a credit and link to this blog would be most appreciated. Can you send a link to me for the article: tracy@magnetic.eclipse.co.uk
      Thanks, Tracy

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