Saturday 4 November 2017

Bran Tub # 16: A seaside scene: a lollygagged, vibrissae pinniped …



These three words inspired me to write a short story … as our Autumn grabs hold … I have to say I prefer Spring time – but enjoy each season for its variety … but my tale:


Pinnipeds - various


The Pinniped was chill-axed flapping the occasional fin as the waves rocked him gently …








… he was resting his brain – one half shuts down, the other ‘works his bobbing in the waters’ … 




Not his father! but good vibrissae

... and lets him think about his father’s vibrissae and how he needed to become more skilled interpreting the vibrations he’d been told were in the water …




A lollygagging pinniped

… but for now he was a typical youngster lollygagging around enjoying the midday sun in the lustrous sea …





That is my tale of the whacked, whiskered marine mammal ...



Godrevy Beach in St Ives Bay


This was the beach we came to when the wind direction necessitated us to find a more sheltered spot for the family day out ... we played amongst the waters and off the rocks - glorious fun times.



I meant to mention Karen and her blog - where I'd come across Lollygagging ...
Write Now: the Value of "Pockets" of Time ... so belatedly added in - sorry Karen!

Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

68 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Love your tale - smiling broadly. Thank you.

Nilanjana Bose said...

That made me chuckle. And I learnt a new word too. Thanks! St Ives is beyond charming.

Have a glorious weekend.




Fil said...

This made me smile Hilary - I love the photos - lollygagging is such an underrated pastime :) Have a great weekend. Fil x

Out on the prairie said...

Always fun to watch them, I like your story

Patsy said...

That was fun! What lovely creatures they all are.

Chatty Crone said...

I loved that - I didn't know all that. They are so cute but they stink. Didn't know they could use half a brain and rest the other. I enjoyed this. Sandie

Bob Scotney said...

Lollygagging sounds an ideal pastime for a weekend.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ EC - thank you ... it amused me to write it up ...

@ Nila - St Ives is wonderful and has brought back happy memories ... I don't think I knew any of these words ... so I'm three times more knowledgeable! Glad it amused you ...

@ Fil - I'm happy - thank you ... isn't lollygagging a great word - at the moment I need some ... but that will have to wait ...

@ Steve - they are fun aren't they lolling around in the sea ... and thank you ...

@ Patsy - great you enjoyed it ... they are amazing creatures aren't they ...

@ Sandie - a bit different ... I learnt writing it up ... do they stink - that I didn't know ... they can carry on lollygagging in the waves then!

@Bob - yes I think I need some lollygagging weekends - perhaps they lie ahead?!

Cheers to you all ... so glad this tale lightly amused you - thank you - Hilary

Joanne said...

any story involving lollygagging locks me in. Delightful words and playful prose. This was a Saturday treat

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Seals do know how to lollygag!

Inger said...

What a lvoely story, I could picture it all without having the slightest idea what those three words mean. Well, lollygagging, I guess, is doing it just like it sounds.

Sandra Cox said...

I loved your 'tail' and Godrevy Beach looks wondrous.
Have a great one. x

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

Oh - that's great, Hilary! Made me smile. Though I confess that I thought Good Vibrissae was a song by the Beach Boys. Appropriate, maybe, for St Ives.

Karen Lange said...

Excellent, Hilary! Love this. Thanks for the shout out. And no apologies necessary at all. :) The seamless use of lollygagging is probably the best I've ever seen. You're a genius. :) Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Charming! If you could just float along like a sea otter, wouldn't you?

Rhodesia said...

Love it and it made me laugh as well. Take care and have a good Sunday. Cheers Diane

Andrea Ostapovitch said...

I absolutely love the lollygagging pinniped. Looks like a great way to spend a day!

Have a lovely day,
Andrea

klahanie said...

Hi Hilary,

Yes, it really is me! I conjured up all sorts of thoughts in regards to "lollygagging"! Although my thoughts sucked because I'd rather just spend time being aimlessly idle. Still, your crazy post meets with my seal of approval.

Enjoy your Sunday, my kind friend.

Gary

Janie Junebug said...

That lollygagging pinniped looks so very happy. I'm not a youngster, but perhaps I'll lollygag a bit tomorrow.

Love,
Janie

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Joanne – that’s great ... thank you

@ Alex – seals certainly on a sunny windless day know how to lollygag …

@ Inger – thank you … it’s great you could ‘see’ the picture I was drawing … lollygagging is, I think, a great word …

@ Sandra – many thanks … Godrevy is a stunning area to have family time out …

@ Mike – I think I had Good Vibrissae rolling around in my head too … but delighted I made you smile …

@ Karen – thanks … your introduction of lollygagging to me just seemed to keep resonating, and when I found vibrissae tickles too … which pinnipeds use after lollygagging … a good tale could be brought to life …

@ Diane – oh yes absolutely … I would float around lollygagging often if I had the ability to – as the sea otter does …

@ Diane – glad you got a laugh … and yes a busy Sunday coming up … but it will be a good one …

@ Andrea – thanks so much – he was fun to write up … and a lovely way to spend a summer’s day …

@ Gary – gosh ... how lovely to see you … and I enjoyed the extra play on words … your extra thoughts not wanting to co-operate … so the brain was completely switched off made me smile …

@ Janie – I think we all lollygag a bit at times – we need to regroup our brains … even as the pinniped does – one half at a time!

Cheers to you all – thanks … so glad you had a gentle chuckle – have peaceful Sundays … Hilary

Sue Bursztynski said...

Charming! And those photos go beautifully with it.

It IS Spring here, though it still feels like winter.

To Rewrite Or Not To Rewrite - That Is The Question

Unknown said...

Hi Hilary. Lovely post. They are all gorgeous. Have a lovely week. Kim x

Keith's Ramblings said...

Delightfully written Hilary, and like others before me, I've learned a new word!

DMS said...

Beautiful words and images. Godrevy Beach in St. Ives Bay looks like a wonderful place to visit!
~Jess

Computer Tutor said...

What a fun story. Anthropomorphizing (well, kinda--yours are animate objects of course) these fun-loving creatures. I see a cute children's book.

Stephen Tremp said...

Hi Hilary fun post. i love animals and their ways of life. We can learn so much from them.

H.R. Bennett said...

Such a cute little story. And those pictures! I absolutely love otters and seals (although the later are asshole who like to climb in my kayak with me), so this was a treat. :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sue - thanks so much ... the photos do work don't they. It's got cold here finally ... and will be for a while now ...

@ Kim - thank you ... it was fun to write up ...

@ Keith - I just loved all the words - I hate to say I knew none of them! so glad you appreciated the tale ...

@ Jess - thank you ... I'm glad the images fit. Oh I get so taken back in time to our Cornwall holidays ...

@ Jacqui - that's a long word for a Sunday! and you're probably right ... there's a book there somewhere ...

@ Stephen - good to see you ... I too love animals and how they've adapted to their worlds - we can learn so much from them ... and we need to!

@ Robert - oh great ... you enjoyed the short story so much ... wonderful to read - thank you ... I guess they want to be a part of human life: fun to think of them joining you in the kayak!

Cheers to you all - thanks for visiting and enjoying 'said tale' ... have good weeks - Hilary

bazza said...

I was just getting into that story when it stopped! Do you write much fiction Hilary?
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s capricious Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

Betsy Brock said...

Lollygagging....such a great word!

I love those whiskers on those cute creatures!

Claudia Bookwright said...

Lollygagging is familiar to me as a word and an avocation. But your home of Eastbourne is not familiar to me so I googled it. It seems you live in a vacation destination like I do. You by the sea and I at the foot of the mountains. We are a lucky pair, you and I!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Bazza - oh thank you ... and the answer is never - well the odd thing on the blog, but essentially I've never thought about it - or wanted to do it ... but could see short stories coming along sometime ...

@ Betsy - that's what I thought when I read lollygagging on Karen's blog - so just wanted to use it ... and whiskers ... vibrissae in my lingo!!

@ Claudia - I had never come across 'lollygagging' before - but loved the word ...

Eastbourne is a comfortable town to live in ... and I've yet to write the history up ... so glad you enjoy your home by the mountains ... ours in England are not so high! I've posted quite a few general posts on Eastbourne ... but I should do the back story sometime ...

Cheers to you - and so good to see you and get your comments interest ... Hilary

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Thanks for another amazing post

Nick Wilford said...

I'm glad to know what to properly call those walrus tusks now! Amazing creatures.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Jo-Anne - glad you enjoyed it ...

@ Nick - vibrissae are the whiskers! I think Mr Walrus would prefer his whiskers to be vibrissae ... while his tusks can be tusks! But you've given me an idea .. if I ever start writing short stories ...

Cheers and enjoy your weeks - Hilary

mail4rosey said...

I believe youngsters are made ridiculously cute so as we don't get upset at their lollygagging about. ;)

Jo said...

I had to Google Vibrissae but knew the other two words although pinniped is not one that comes to mind at once. Cute little story and nice pictures. Always love sea otters.

Pat Hatt said...

Lollygagging about they sure know how to do. Not a bad way to be. Fun one indeed.

cleemckenzie said...

I love lollygagging anytime! A lovely tale about some charming denizens of the sea.

Sandra Cox said...

You broadened my horizons. I blush to admit, I had never heard the term pinniped.
YOU, have a great one.

Paula said...

I would love to lolly-gag on that beach too!

H. R. Sinclair said...

Aw, lovely!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Rosey - you're probably right ... kids are cute - then they can lollygag around! Hadn't thought about that idea ...

@ Jo - I'm surprised that you had to google vibrissae - as it's fairly clearly set out in the post ... still you've reconfirmed it. Glad you like the story et al ...

@ Pat - seals and otters seem to know their way round lollygagging and choose the right weather too ...

@ Lee - I too love lollygagging ... and thanks re the note on denizens of the sea ...

@ Sandra - I hadn't heard all three words earlier in the year - but the words beguiled me to draft a brief story-post ... so glad you enjoyed it ...

@ Paula - we didn't do much lollygagging on the beach - we played! But it's a great beach ...

@ Holly - thank you!

Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed the seaside lollygagging around ... cheers Hilary

Vallypee said...

What a wonderful word and pastime - lollygagging, that is! I love watching seals...a really lovely post, Hilary!

Lynn said...

Love this, Hilary - thank you for the morning smile!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Val - I just loved the word, while the pastime I could happily do!! It is a delight watching seals bob around ...

@ Lynn - that's great if I gave you your morning smile!

Cheers to you both - thank you ... I could do with more lollygagging just now?! Hilary

Sherry Ellis said...

I'd like to be lollygagging like a sea otter-in warm water! Sounds like a relaxing thing to do!

Chrys Fey said...

I love otters, and I want to lollygag in water like one. lol

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sherry - oh so would I ... just to switch off and bob about ... lollygag describes it so well ...

@ Chrys - they are delightful creatures and I'd like to follow their lead ..

Cheers to you both - Hilary

Anonymous said...

Such a wonderful tale! They are so adorable! I have to admit, I use that word with my kids, "Would you guys quit lollygagging around! We need to get out here!" *smiles*

Have a beachy week!
Elsie

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Cute story! I love the photographs. So sweet. I love sea creatures. :)

Sandra Cox said...

Hope you've had a great Thursday, Hilary, and a pleasant evening.

troutbirder said...

My mom used that word to me a lot when I was a teenager. Apparently I was inflicted with the dread disease when attempting to avoid helping around the house...:(

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Elsie - lollygagging is obviously more common in the States - it's not something I've come across over here .. love your saying though - cheers Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sharon - it's not exactly a sea-gem of a story ... but amused me to write ... and I could write about the Cornish seas ...

@ Sandra - thanks for your thoughts -

@ Troutbirder - yes I now realise it's a word quite commonly used in the States. We were just encouraged to not be lazy! Which I'm sure we were as kids - enjoying doing what we were happy doing ... probably not helping much.

Thanks everyone ...

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

A lollygagging pinniped ... I love your story and your way with words!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Cute! Both the critters and your story about them. Here's wishing us both a lovely weekend of splendid lollygagging... :) Cheers!

RO said...

You shared a cool brand new word and a great story with wonderful pics that I enjoyed! Hugs...RO

KL Allendoerfer said...

Just wondering what the tag "Bran Tub" is. I don't think I've seen that before!

Marja said...

Wow what a fine wonderful story and gorgeous photos of these cute animals. I so love the sea and these creatures and the beach of course. That beach is beautiful and nothing better than having a family outing on the beach

M Pax said...

They are such fun animals, and what a lovely story.

I was at a beach in Washington, sitting on a log, and an otter came up beside me, sat for awhile then lumbered into the sea. It was awesome.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Elizabeth - thanks so much ... appreciate your thought ... I enjoy words ...

@ Susan - lovely to see you - no lollygagging this weekend, nor next weekend come to think about it! - but enjoy yours ...

@ RO - so glad you enjoyed the post with the new word ...

@ KL - bran tub is: "a lucky dip in which the hidden items are buried in bran" - or sawdust ... used in early days for small kids at garden fetes etc ...

@ Marja - delighted you enjoyed my little tale ... your NZ beaches look so delightful too ... the seaside is special ... and my memories of our young holidays on various beaches - always wonderful ...

@ Mary - I love your mini episode of sitting quietly on a rock or log when the otter came up to you and sat down ... joining you in ocean thoughts - before as you say lumbering off into his world - leaving you to wonder.

Thanks so much - lovely to have your visits and comments - cheers Hilary

Sandra Cox said...

What a moving post. Thank you.
Emily's words should be read from podiums across the world on a regular basis.

Linda said...

Oh, I just love that little lollygagger! :)

M. Denise C. said...

These pinnipeds look so sweet . . .

Juliet said...

That was fun! - creative and inventive, with words I've never heard before.

Deniz Bevan said...

Aww, so sweet! These pinnipeds are so cute! Wish I could pet one :-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sandra - I see you're referring to my Remembrance Day post - I'll comment over there ...

@ Linda - it was fun to write up - how many lollygaggers are around now ... so near the Christmas season ...

@ Denise - they do look lovely and cuddly don't they ...

@ Juliet - thanks so much, it was something I enjoyed writing up ...

@ Deniz - I'm not sure if they're cuddly ... but a damp cuddle maybe!

Thanks so much for visiting and enjoying my little foray with 3 words ... cheers Hilary