Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt: Best Moments of 2024 and Final Tanka Tuesday #poetry

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Happy New Year everyone. I have finally returned home and am more than ready to resume my normal life. I told my family I am ‘holidayed out now’ after the unexpected trip to Japan in December plus our planned family vacation to Babanango Game Reserve and the Drakensberg. It was all wonderful and I have lots of amazing photographs to share but I’m ready for some routine and work.

Esther’s writing prompt for this week is Favourite 2024 Moments. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/01/01/writing-prompts-46/

Favourite 2024 Moments

New Year

fresh beginning

January bush trip

wild painted dogs a special treat

rare sight

Picture caption: African painted wild dog

***

birthday

twenty one years

of life with Gregory

February celebration

unreal

***

autumn

orange and red

visit to Pilanesberg

an amazing leopard sighting

great luck

Picture caption: Leopard coming down from a tree

***

April

uninspired month

high school catastrophe

change brings a new curriculum

good choice

***

Norway

beckons brightly

I’m expensive luggage

TC works while I enjoy life

smashing

Picture caption: Oslo Harbour in Norway

***

finished

book launch ready

for And the Grave Awaits

culmination of six year’s work

success

***

freezing

dead of winter

lovely fires every day

dryness makes eyes red and itchy

passes

***

bush trip

cold, dry mornings

small cheetah cubs sighting

wearing honey badger disguise

worthwhile

Picture caption: Cheetah cubs feeding an an impala

***

aunt sick

third time this year

sons decide on action

removal to retirement home

drama

***

long month

worst time of year

examinations start

house seeped in great anxiety

works out

***

surprise

trip to Japan

opportunity grabbed

exciting snow monkey sighting

special

Picture caption: Snow monkeys in the thermal spring in Japan

Tanka Tuesday final challenge

Colleen’s final Tanka Tuesday Challenge is to write a poem using your Native American Zodiac for inspiration. Mine is the Bear and my poem takes the imayo syllabic form.

No bears here in Africa; also no tigers

West was home to Atlas bear, alas now extinct

There are African ant bears – ant eating aardvarks

Alternatively, there are, teddy bears galore

You can read other poets’ contributions here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/12/31/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-new-beginnings-12-31-24/

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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119 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt: Best Moments of 2024 and Final Tanka Tuesday #poetry”

  1. Hi, Robbie! What a great year you had. But busy like the complete staff of a firm. 😉 A happy new year to you, your familiy and all around you! These animal fotos are so wonderful. I love the snow monkeys. They have found the best way enjoying life. 🙂 Best wishes, and may the new year bring only best experiences! xx Michael

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    1. Hi Michael, Happy New Year to you. I am sure it is very cold in your part of the world. You also need to sit in a thermal spa all day – smile. It has been very rainy here in South Africa. I do like rain and I’m grateful for it. There is nothing worse than drought.

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    1. HI Darlene, yes, it is very economical for me to go abroad with TC as the hotel is paid for and his airfare. We will see what opportunities come along this year. He has London in May and I’m hoping for Ireland or Spain. My mom’s oldest sister in the UK has had two mild strokes in the past week so there may be some more anxieties ahead this year. That is life.

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      1. Happy travels wherever they take you. Sorry to hear about your aunt but as you say, that’s life. I just spoke to my 86 year old aunt in Canada last night. Thankfully she is doing OK. ❤️

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  8. That’s a creative way to give a year’s summary, and your year was busy! I can see why you’d want to get back to a regular schedule. And those photos, as always, are amazing. 🌞

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          1. Daughter has hers, but safely put away to keep him (always him, not it) away from the dogs.
            We threw away some old stuffed animals, but never would have done so with the special ones.

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          3. We had years of family dinners where Humpty and Ahh Bear told us about their days. Poor Egg and Bear–they got bullied at school. 😉 My husband and I still talk about the stuffed animals songs and stories, separate from our kids!

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  15. Lots to like in this post. I remember when I was first surprised that predators ate from the rear first (like the Cheetah cubs in the picture). I know what you mean–“ready for some routine”

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    1. Hi Wayne, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. I was lucky to get so many great photograph opportunities last year. This year so far I’ve had a wonderful black-backed jackal sighting and we saw a secretary bird and a brown snake eagle.

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  21. I’ve seen some of the pictures you’ve been sharing and it looks amazing, although I understand you must be ready for some normality. I don’t think I have the stamina for such long holidays anymore, especially when you’re so busy all the time! Happy New Year, Robbie!

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    1. Hi Olga, thanks for visiting and for your lovely comment. It has been a long time of holidaying. I am a creature of routines, so it gets a bit much for me. I’m happy to be home and back at work although it’s still very quiet and will be quiet until next week.

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    1. HI Martina, it’s so nice to see you. My blogging has been reduced for a whole month, and I am glad to be back to my normality now. 2024 was definitely a year of opportunities for me. I hope 2025 will be a good year for us all. Hugs.

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  23. Ha! This “Native American” zodiac sign is new to me, but I’m all for whimsy. So… I’m a woodpecker… that explains why I always feel like I’m banging my head against the wall.

    Robbie, this post is all around delightful. You recapped your 2024 brilliantly. Hugs.

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  26. Wow, Robbie. You’ve had a busy vacation. Now that I know you’re home, I’ll connect with you this week. I enjoyed your photos and your poems. No bears in Africa… that makes sense to me. I did chuckle when you were the bear and Michael the salmon. In America, grizzly bears eat salmon!

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    1. HI Colleen, it was amazing and very busy. I am catching up now as work is quiet this week. I want to get the strawman template for Poetry Treasures 5 done. The poems are starting to come in and I’ve written mine. I know that bears eat salmon (curtesy the amazing Wayne) so I thought that was quite funny. Greg is a bear like me. I look forward to hearing from you. I need to post a review of Sunflower Tanka and an amazing immersive art video I took in Tokyo featuring sunflowers.

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    1. HI Jo, thank you. There will be more trials and tribulations with my mom’s siblings this year. Her oldest sister is now unwell. They are all in their 80s and 90s so it is expected but difficult. It is very hard when you start losing your family members. Quite heartbreaking.

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  32. A fabulous way to sum up a busy year with your stunning images and poem..I too am a bear and have a small collection which aare looking at me now as I type…smile- I understand after your whirlpool of travelling that you require some peace and structure in your life…I wish you and your family a wonderful 2025 and beyond to be filled with good health, love and kindness(to) oneself and others…Hugs xoxo

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  33. what a wonderful recap of the year. sounds like some great trips, and I’m glad it all worked out with the exams. I also hope your Aunt is doing OK. Here’s to a great 2025!

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  34. 2024 had its ups and downs for us all, but as you say, Robbie… that’s life. Wonderful photos, wonderful poetic thoughts. Happy travels in 2025 – don’t forget us in Wales! 💜

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  36. It was fun browsing through your year, Robbie. I remember so many of your family events and your trips. You’re vacationed out! Lol. Your photos are amazing as always. Like National Geographic amazing. That one of the leopard is gorgeous. So beautifully framed by the tree. I hope you get to enjoy a little normalcy and routine for a while. 🙂

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  37. Superb, Robbie.

    Love how you did up your year in poetry and pics.

    The Snow Monkeys are adorable, so is the wild dog, love the cheetahs and the tiger wow!

    Thank you!

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