I'm sorry, but my computer always has glitches and I can't call a technician because there are about 50 daily cases of Covid in the nearest town, Bariloche. I live in a quiet neighborhood and can go out in my wheelchair along the smooth earth roads. I miss the good old days when I could go by car with a companion, do some shopping, have a coffee with brownies or sandwiches. I miss these outings very much and wonder whether scientists will ever get the vaccine 100% effective. Anybody hopeful?
Take care and all the best to Eileen and you, Jerry. Hope you're better soon and can enjoy working your land. Best wishes, Sylvia

Hi Silvia and hope your computer troubles do not worsen. Like unexpected health woes, computer woes can be just as troublesome and annoying! Frustrating at any time, when they happen at the same time when we rely upon the infernal machine to remain in contact with reality, it can prove frustrating and daunting. With Covid 19 rampaging throughout the globe, living in rural areas has many benefit, but it also comes with unexpected annoyances. I'm hoping some of my computer woes might be sorted later today as I have a very knowledgeable friend coming to help me with mine. Will know later. Only wish I could effect a like remedy for you, but a tad too far! Lol.

We've returned to a more Seasonal and Reasonable weather pattern - although our brief period of Indian Summer, was most welcome. Doubt we'll be lucky enough to get another spell opf 20C weather this side of Christmas.

Take care and keep smiling. It confuses the neighbours. Lol. Denis aka Rhymer.

I'm butting in again as no one has posted for days. Trying my best to keep it going. Using my own words. Rhymer.

Veterans
Frugality
Extremities
Swan
Duplication

I’m fast approaching another Milestone in my life which, after having watched the Veterans Parade this past week, reminded me, I too am a Veteran - long in Retirement, but not ready to sing my Swan Song yet! My eligibility was due to the time when I was posted to a Combined Services Secretariat - FEDSec - billetted in Tanglin Barracks, Singapore. Its purpose was twofold. Firstly, as a Unit, we were part of the anti-communist offensive taking place in Malaya, under the command of General Templar, but we were also part of the Viet Namh planning team too. Difficult at times, to separate one from the other, for the two conflicts had many commonalities between them. Many Extremities of all possibilites were considered, but fortunately, the enemy surrendered. It was then I was posted to Japan and The Korean Conflict region. Here I encountered Duplication of many happenings that stirred memories within me. Ones I had hoped to forget. Systematic repetition of ideas and possible solution, were seemingly systemic to the Allied Ground Forces, manner of thinking, but it was a far different foe faced in that conflict to that met in Malaya. The North Koreans showed no Frugality of dispensing manpower - often unarmed - when facing armed opposition. Furthermore, innocents were rounded up and forced to precede soldiers. By so doing they would shield fighting men, from any bullets coming their way! A fiendish Blueprint revived by the enemy as beimg contribution to winning the conflict. Unfortunately this was also the Architecture of earlier conflicts, as history has noted. Rhymer.

milestone
blueprint
retirement
architecture
systematic
Fiendish
Conflict
Ground work
Tamils
Apparation.

Despite the Conflict raging in my mind, accompanied by an Apparition of Tamils being assigned a task of cleaning an edifice of famed Architecture that had been hewn from solid rock. I decided it would be best to return to reality and take a logical and Systematic approach to lay out the Blueprint for my much anticipated Retirement. I had reached another Milestone in my life that required serious thought as to how I would proceed? The Groundwork upcoming was a Fiendish task to say the least, for I had many varied plans for the future. Fate permitting! Rhymer.

Fiendish
Conflict
Ground work
Tamils
Apparition
Wraith
Vermin
Idols
Psychopath
Candelabra

fiendish
psychopath
candelabra
apparition
wraith
Tamils
groundwork
conflict
idol
vermin

A FIENDISH PSYCHOPATH with a CANDELABRA suddenly broke into the room like an APPARITION WRAITH, threatening to kill anyone in his way. He appeared to be one of those TAMILS from India. He seemed to be laying the GROUNDWORK of resolving some idolatry CONFLICT, as he knocked down and destroyed every IDOL in the home and he hovered from room to room, scaring away even the VERMIN.

wraith
vermin
idols
psychopath
candelabra
pantry
monkey wrench
bowl games
turkey dinner
jacuzzi

There I was, standing dripping wet, having emerged from the Jacuzzi. A dip I’d taken after the competitive Bowl Games in which I had partaken. This was an annual event, that was followed by a Turkey Dinner. The local resident Pantry staff had excelled themselves with this year’s repast. Later, sitting next to a Psychopath nursing a battered old Candelabra and a Monkey Wrench, he had found alongside several dead Vermin outside the storage shed close by. When I asked him if he had any Bowls Idols, and if so, who they might be? He vehemently snarled that when he played Bowls Games, he always visualized the inspiring Wraith like figure of his old Skip who had led the team to victory many times, before he passed over the great divide. A figure he so often saw, and hoped to meet when the time arrived for him to move on. Rhymer.

pantry
monkey wrench
bowl games
turkey dinner
jacuzzi
Skip
Snarling
Soccer
Cricket
Hamlet

hamlet
bowl games
soccer
cricket
pantry
turkey dinner
skip
snarling
jacuzzi
monkey wrench

In our little HAMLET, of course, the only BOWL GAMES we knew about were those we watched on American TV. Here in England, we are more likely to be playing SOCCER or CRICKET, depending on the season. Back in America around this time, there's hardly a household PANTRY that does not have the makin's of a traditional Thanksgiving TURKEY DINNER. No one's gonna SKIP that occasion, or there will be some mother SNARLING at you. Also, you're likely to want to get into the JACUZZI afterward, just to get your body settled down so you can have dessert. Otherwise, you're throwing a MONKEY WRENCH into the whole works, 'cause everyone has pumpkin pie, and you need to have room for it!

skip
snarling
soccer
cricket
hamlet
Othello
Margaret Mead
Emily Dickinson
Robert Frost
Jack Frost

Having been born and raised in a small Hamlet until I joined the Navy, I was unable to know of such delightful Authors, Poets and Playwrights, such as Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and Margaret Mead - a most prolific scientific author. Not to forget Shakespeare and a host of others, for whom I have great regard. We sure could do with their ilk today! However, I did participate in several sports, such as Soccer, Rugby and Cricket, and spent many hours at cross country running. Both for my Grammar School, and later the RN. The latter in various parts of the Globe from Malta, Aden and Japan.

However to mention Othello without referring to Shakespeare, is tantamount to trying to eat an ice cream without the cream! It just ain’t on! But let’s Skip any suggestion of Snarling rhetoric, regarding the imminent anticipated arrival of Jack Frost! Never an author but certainly a common subject for discussion, this time of the year! We must accept that each of us has, and is entitled to enjoy whatever they choose. Thus said, mine does not include Turkey served up in any shape or form, as a celebration feast? Not my forte! So Thanks, but no Thanks. Rhymer.

Othello
Margaret Mead
Emily Dickinson
Robert Frost
Jack Frost
J. Dowling
Decoding
Scald
Silas Mariner
Peking

Othello
Margaret Mead
Robert Frost
Emily Dickinson
J Dowling
Jack Frost
scald
Silas Mariner
Peking
decoding

OTHELLO would definitely not have been a match for MARGARET MEAD, nor would ROBERT FROST have been turned on by anything but EMILY DICKINSON's poetry -- not her body. I'm told that after J DOWLING came in contact with JACK FROST she became frigid. Who'd have thought! I'm sure she wanted to just SCALD him for it, but then SILAS MARINER took her on a voyage over the ocean, where she introduced him to his namesake, Silas Marner, and they were able to sail all the way to China to visit PEKING after DECODING a naval blockade.

J. Dowling
decoding
scald
Silas Marner
Peking
baked ham
cranberry sauce
family dinner
dreidel
music stand

My Jewish friend and I were playing a game of Dreidel - not for money I hasten to add, for he was a master and I? I mere neophyte who found Decoding the rules somewhat tricky! We had spent an evening chatting after I had eaten at the local restaurant. A meal of Baked Ham and Cranberry sauce - Special of the day - rather than partaking of a much touted milk Scald Peking Duck dish, this followed a rendering of Silas Mariner, as interpreted by J.Dowling. Very interesting to say the least! It being the time of Chanukah, I, on calling to see how he was faring, was delighted to see he, standing at his Music Stand, had been serenading his wife as part of their celebrations after the Family Dinner had ended. Rhymer.

baked ham
cranberry sauce
family dinner
dreidel
music stand
Neophyte
Dichotomy
Scalloped
Dishpan
Ocarina

family dinner
neophyte
music stand
ocarina
scalloped
cranberry sauce
baked ham
dreidel
dishpan
dichotomy

At our FAMILY DINNER, the only sweet potato that we had was the one played by our nephew, a NEOPHYTE musician playing a tune at his MUSIC STAND on his little OCARINA. We did have SCALLOPED potatoes, along with roast turkey breast with CRANBERRY SAUCE, plus BAKED HAM. One of our guests (who didn't partake of the ham), the local rabbi's son, tried to teach us how to play a game with his DREIDEL, which he brought along to show us. Afterward, as the official assistant to our hostess, my aunt, I got DISHPAN hands cleaning up behind everyone, presenting quite a DICHOTOMY between my hands and my aunt's beautiful pinkies.

neophyte
dichotomy
scalloped
dishpan
ocarina
Thumbelina
Peter Pan
mermaid
sex addict
macaroni and cheese

By conducting a survey of a family I knew, I hoped to understand the true meaning of Dichotomy. Studying the differences between two sons born to the same parents, as I discovered their upbringing and social experiences. One likes Macaroni and Cheese: the other loves Scalloped potatoes. One is passionate about Peter Pan: the other becomes emotionally unpredictable when thinking of Thumbelina as a Mermaid. The eldest of the two - experienced in many phases of Life, whilst the other a mere Neophyte, is obsessed - even a Sex Addict - given the opportunity! Whilst the eldest plays the Ocarina: the youngest, plays the fool! Two completely individualistic lads, born to the same parents. However, neither will ever suffer Dishpan hands, as both considered such chores were beneath their dignity. Rhymer.

Neophyte
dichotomy
scalloped
dishpan
ocarina
Kettle Drum
Pasture
Cosh
Manikin
Swoon

neophyte
dishpan
cosh
manikin
swoon
ocarina
kettle drum
dichotomy
pasture
scalloped

This NEOPHYTE athlete definitely does not have DISHPAN hands, by the look on his face as he wields his COSH to totally destroy that MANIKIN, causing one of the female onlookers to SWOON. In the background, someone was playing the OCARINA to the beat of a KETTLE DRUM. The setting is quite a DICHOTOMY to the previous setting of the event in a local PASTURE SCALLOPED by large bushes completely encompassing it to hide from the public.

kettle drum
pasture
cosh
manikin
swoon
apple dumplings
fire pit
telephone pole
railroad tracks
rictameter

As I sat at my computer composing a poem in the Rictameter format, I became most annoyed to hear a Kettle Drum tattoo coming from the Pasture alongside the Railroad Tracks. On looking out my small window, I saw a whiff of smoke rising out of the Fire Pit, A reminder it had been lit the night before to bake Apple Dumplings. Located some distance from a nearby Telephone Pole where I had hoped my delightful Manikin sized girlfriend, would Swoon into my arms from the aroma of my cooking. For safety reasons only, I kept a Cosh hidden close, for any attempt of my neighbour Daniel, to encroach upon what I regarded as my territorial rights! A most effective deterrent for such as he! Rhymer.

apple dumplings
fire pit
telephone pole
railroad tracks
rictameter
Consignment
Cortege
Asinine
Patisserie
Trademark

fire pit
telephone pole
railroad tracks
patisserie
trademark
cortège
rictameter
asinine
apple dumplings
consignment

FIRE PIT
TELEPHONE POLE
across the RAILROAD TRACKS
pointed to the PATISSERIE
in front of which was a TRADEMARK CORTEGE
forming like a RICTAMETER
for the dead ASININE
who fell in the
fire pit

The funeral home served APPLE DUMPLINGS on CONSIGNMENT, sold at their reception.

consignment
cortège
asinine
patisserie
trademark
When the Saints Go Marchin' In
medical records
Ghost of Christmas Past
brutal
embassy

Staff from a Patisserie watched dumbfounded as the chauffeur and his Cortege from the nearby Embassy, unloaded a Consignment of Medical Records from the rear of his Trademark vehicle. Some swore they saw The Ghost of Christmas Past watching nearby. Should they see later, a time When the Saints go Marching in, they’ll sign the Pledge! It being a Brutal reminder of the finality of life. However, their reported Asinine manifestation, was no worse than some we’ve read here on MM! Rhymer.

Are we going from Ten Words to a mix of words and sentences?

When the Saints Go Marching' In
medical records
the Ghost of Christmas Past
brutal
embassy
Pledge
Traffic
Madonna
Sledge
Efficacy

Madonna
The Ghost of Christmas Past
"When the Saints Go Marching In"
sledge
medical records
brutal
pledge
traffic
embassy
efficacy

Can you imagine seeing a clip of MADONNA portraying THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST and performing "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN" while being conveyed across the snow on a SLEDGE? If you can, perhaps you should have your doctor go over your MEDICAL RECORDS to see exactly what may be wrong with you, to be BRUTALly honest!

PLEDGE to me that you won't be found playing in the TRAFFIC in front of the French EMBASSY simply to taste the EFFICACY of French wine.

pledge
traffic
Madonna
sledge
efficacy
dilemma
psychodrama
nonchalant
mistaken
interruption

A long time ago I made a Pledge. The Efficacy of which I knew not. However at the time I was facing a Dilemma. Having gone from a Nonchalant listener of Madonna, to the more enjoyable tones of Sister Sledge, it was like savouring a calm Interruption in the roar of heavy Traffic. Somewhat akin to the embarrassing silence of a pathetic Psychodrama moment - should an inattentive Orchestra Leader, Mistaken(ly) play the wrong operatic aria. Rhymer.

dilemma
psychodrama
nonchalant
mistaken
interruption
Anchor
Summer House
Brevity
Scattering
Char

dilemma
scattering
char
summer home
anchor
interruption
mistaken
brevity
nonchalant
psychodrama

The psychologist had a DILEMMA; he could not get his clients to regather the now SCATTERING recollections of their horrific time at the now CHARred remains of their SUMMER HOME, where now only an old rusted decorative ANCHOR remains. His work with the family had suffered an INTERRUPTION because of MISTAKEN memories that had upset some of the family, who now embraced the BREVITY of the interim and had returned to the sessions with a truly NONCHALANT attitude. They welcomed the therapist's introduction of PSYCHODRAMA to help them regain their memories of what had taken place.

anchor
summer house
brevity
scattering
char
lollipop
thrift store
pawnshop
thrill-seeker
Bungie cord

If Brevity is the soul of wit? Listen up! Said the Char of the Thrift Store to customers stood outside the Pawn Shop. A mere Scattering stood watching the antics of a Thrill Seeker sucking on a Lollipop. He hoped to pawn an Anchor he’d found in a nearby Summer House that he held firmly by a Bungee Cord, tied to same. Rhymer.

lollipop
thrift store
pawnshop
thrill-seeker
Bungee cord
Happenstance
Circumspection
Tyrannical
Columnar
Enchanting