Roberta Writes – d’Verse Quadrille Monday, Esther Chilton’s writing challenge and CFFC #poetry #photography #brussels

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d’Verse has reopened after a two-week summer break and the first challenge, hosted by Lisa, is to write a 44-word quadrille using the word turn. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/07/14/dverse-q227-welcome-as-we-return-after-the-break-happy-14th-poet-pub-anniversary/

No place like home

Bustling crowds

self absorbed

intent on achieving

their own objectives

I stand to the side

a mirage

an illustion created

by the heatwaves

bouncing off

the ornate buildings

The loneliness

is intense

My thoughts turn to home

people disbursed like seeds

yet so welcoming

Esther Chilton’s writing challenge

Esther’s prompt word is bird. This poem and oil pastel artwork appear in my book, Square Peg in a Round Hole. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/07/09/writing-prompts-73/

Picture caption: Lone bird at dawn – original oil pastel artwork by Robbie Cheadle.

Lone Bird at Dawn (shadorma)

Fisherman

Forages alone

Spindly legs

Planted deep

Resisting strong morning tide’s

Attempts to sweep clean

CFFC

Dan’s photography prompt is ‘up close’. Here are few pictures from my recent trip to Brussels. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/07/14/up-close-cffc/

Picture caption: Jeanneke Pis statue in Brussels
Picture caption: Black Tower in Brussels. I could see this historical landmark from my hotel room.
Picture caption: Giant meringues in a shop window.

The next three pictures are all smurfs made of chocolate that featured in the window of Neuhaus Chocolatier in Brussels.

Picture caption: The famous Mannekin Pis in Brussels
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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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98 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse Quadrille Monday, Esther Chilton’s writing challenge and CFFC #poetry #photography #brussels”

      1. Great Idea – up against the glass.
        I found in galleries, not always but often, If you stand far away from a panting, you might not get the light reflecting. It moves as you do. Then, when you find a sweet spot, you can zoom in.

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  20. Dear Roberta
    We were quite often in Brussels. Thanks for reminding us of this city with your fine pictures. Great that you mention Jeanneke Pis because it’s quite often overlooked. But everyone knows Mannekin Pis.
    Thanks and cheers
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    2. HI Jan, this was one of the first artworks I created – ever and in oil pastels. I am drawn to bright and vibrant colours so they do fit the bill for me. I agree about the peeing but these statues are famous so we visited them.

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          1. I hate airports. Too noisy and too many people. The one I try to fly out of is Manchester, New Hampshire. It’s quite small and reasonably low-key. We go to great lengths to avoid flying out of Logan in Boston.

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          2. HI Liz, I have not been to the USA. European airports have ridiculous security measures and you have to unpack everything you possess even if its allowed and has gone through the scanning. Brussels airport is small and far to busy for its size. It took 3 hours and 15 minutes to get our bag (one) checked and through security and customs. My view is: maybe Belgium but never Brussels airport – haha!

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          5. If you’d like to see the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is the place to go. At low tide, there are very interesting rock formations that appear, which have been shaped by the movement of the tides.

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  28. I love your painting. The colors are so vivid. There is no place like home, but you sure have been to a lot of places recently. May these memories will become more and more dear as time goes on. 🙂 xxx

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      1. Today is Emoji Day in the USA. Our little E-Moji is very glad we stay home more than we used to. She has our routine laid out for us every day.

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      1. Our kids were huge Smurf fans. You’re welcome, Robbie; both the colors and the brush strokes immediately screamed (pun intended) The Scream.

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  32. I resonate with your first poem especially our travel was so recent, Robbie! I loved being in Italy but also looked forward to coming home. We only passed through Belgium when we went to Amsterdam! I wanted to have a Belgium waffle but we just had a big lunch. I might have bought some Belgium chocolate. It’s very popular in our stores here in the US. I love your painting and the poem Lone bird at dawn.

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    1. Hi Miriam, traveling is fun, but it is a lonely business unless you are on a tour. You do make friends on a tour and it is more companionable than as a family or a couple. We went on four tours during our 10 days abroad and those were the best days for me.

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  33. Hi Robbie, good to hear you had four tours. Did you go by yourself when your husband was working?

    My husband didn’t want to drive when we traveled, so we joined travel tours. They made all the arrangements for hotels and transportation. We had more free time during the Italy trip but our Travel Director advised us to take a taxi instead of public transportation.

    We talked with people in the group but it was a social conversation. I did make one friend who was a teacher but stopped working after her cancer. She’s only 52 but has other health issues after the cancer. We stay in touch on Facebook so far.

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    1. It’s nice you made a friend. I try not to use taxis. We used the London Underground and trains or walked. We averaged 15,000 steps a day. My son, Michael came with so I had him to help navigate with Google maps in London. TC was on holiday in Belgium.

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      2. ooooh my fave vacays involve lots of walking amid wonderful sights & good food – 15k steps a a day is about same as our average. great post!

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          2. Dangerous due to the high levels of crime. There are 65 murders, 75 attempted murders, 475assaults with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and 116 rapes every day in South Africa. Our area is patrolled by private security companies, and we have alarms, beams in the garden, electric fences and prison styled protective bars on every window and door. We live here because our families are here and we love the African bush and animals.

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  34. The quad speaks of that liminal sense of suspension when away from home and the contrast of alienation and welcome so poignantly made. The Shadorma – beautiful painting beautiful words that speak of the daily tasks. Those giant meringues speak of a giant toothache 🙂

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