NE63 Haiku

Confused sky, wet, dry Ground soft underfoot, grass slick journey comes to end

Sea waves catch sunlight Sand golden and stretching wide Childhood memories I had a bit of time to spare, so I pulled up at Church Point, looking out over the bay. The sky was mostly clear, just the odd white cloud drifting by. There was a light sea breeze coming in — not cold, just enough to remind you where you are. It’s a place I’ve been to more times than I could count growing up. Days spent on the beach with my brothers, parents, aunties, uncles, and cousins. The kind of days that felt like they went on forever. Building sandcastles. Digging holes deep enough to bury each other in. Picnics on the sand. Ice cream never lasted long enough. Standing by the water, trying our luck with a fishing line, more for the moment than the catch. Sitting there now, watching the water move in and out, it all started to come back. Not all at once, just little pieces drifting in, the same way the clouds were overhead. There wasn’t much else to do in that moment. Just sit, wait for the time to pass ...

Cherry blossoms bloom Old church waits in silence still I linger between There wasn’t much of a plan for the walk. Just time to fill while Cooper was getting groomed, a chance to get some steps in and move a little. Walking through Morpeth, I passed St George's URC Church and slowed without really thinking about it. A cherry blossom tree stood outside, fully in bloom. Bright, soft, new. It caught the eye straight away. The church beside it felt the opposite. Still. Weathered. Waiting. It wasn’t cold, not really. That in-between kind of air — warm enough for a hoodie, but not quite ready for a t-shirt. That same in-between feeling seemed to settle in my thoughts, too. Standing there, I found myself drifting a little. Where am I at the minute? Am I actually healing? Am I moving forward, or just staying busy? Where was I six months ago compared to now? No clear answers came, but it didn’t feel urgent to find them. Just standing there, between something old and something new, felt enou...

Early morning sun Gentle breeze across the pitch Joining celebrations The Long Wait is Over: Sun, Sunday League, and a 5-0 Win Since the 21st of December, the weekends have felt a little quieter, a little more shadowed. But this morning, the long wait finally ended. Max’s Sunday team took to the pitch for their first game in two months, and the atmosphere couldn't have been more different from the artificial lights of the indoor camp. The world felt like it was finally waking up: Early morning sun Gentle breeze across the pitch Joining celebrations There’s something about a crisp February morning when the sun actually decides to show up. It wasn't just about the weather, though; it was the energy. Watching the boys work so hard for one another after such a long break was incredible. They weren't just playing as individuals; they were a unit, a team in every sense of the word. Max played his heart out. As a dad, you feel every moment with them. He’s been chasing a goal for a...

The wind howls near Restless limbs fuel racing thoughts  Sleep eluded for hours Sleep didn’t come easily last night. After the family party, the house finally went quiet, but my body hadn’t caught up. I’d spent most of the evening behind the bar, serving drinks, staying switched on, being sociable — all while staying sober as the designated driver. It’s a strange kind of tiredness, the one where you’re present for everyone else but holding yourself slightly apart. We got to bed much later than usual. I could feel it straight away — restless limbs, a mind that wouldn’t slow. The energy drink I’d had earlier to get through the night was still hanging around longer than I’d hoped, buzzing beneath the surface. Outside, the wind howled close to the house. Inside, sleep slipped just out of reach. Hours passed in fragments rather than rest. This haiku came from that space between exhaustion and wakefulness — when the night won’t let go, and the body keeps the score even after the noise ha...

Rain licks windows Dawn has yet to break morning Ringing in my ear Early morning before the school run has its own kind of calm. The house still, the day not yet asking anything. Rain tapped at the windows while winter held on outside. I’m still fighting off a cold — that low, constant hum in the background — but this morning felt different. Not better exactly, just steadier. Yesterday was a stressful one. Too much noise, too many thoughts. Today feels like a pause after that — a reset before the rhythm of the day begins again. This haiku came from that quiet space. Rain, waiting light, and the small reminders that the body carries even when the world feels momentarily at rest.

First try.... Wish me luck Cold winter morning Birrds still sleep in bare branches How I long for home