Autumn's arrival.

 

J.L. has set us another challenge:

Today's Prompt is Crapsey cinquains (Reverse+butterfly+mirror)

We love the Crapsey cinquains ... Today we ask that you follow along and do the reverse with a butterfly and a mirror...

Reverse is a form with one 5-line stanza in a syllabic pattern of two, eight, six, four, two. (2,8,6,4,2)

Butterfly is a nine-line syllabic form with the pattern two, four, six, eight, two, eight, six, four, two. (2,4,6,8,2,8,6,4,2)

Mirror is a form with two 5-line stanzas consisting of a cinquain followed by a reverse cinquain. ( 2,4,6,8,2, 2,8,6,4,2 )

Thanks J.L.

Autumn Is Announced

Leaden
Gravid clouds cluster overhead
Pregnant with Autumn's storms
Blocking Summer's
Sunshine

Heralds

Trumpet thunder

Flash out lightning banners

Announcing Autumn has arrived

Cloudburst

The wind lashes the falling rain

Whips the trees to frenzy

Soaking the earth

Cooling.

One ray

Splitting the clouds

Lights the silver lining

Then splinters on the falling rain

Bleeding

Rainbows

Painting colours across the sky

Staining the sullen clouds

Making the day

Brighter

Fish Toes

Some of you will know what I mean when I talk about fish fingers.  I have a new love, fish toes! Or to more precise, fish feet.
Still confused?  Well, today, for the second time, I have stuck my feet into a tank of fish.  

 

The fish are called Garra Rufa.  They give an amazing pedicure but for me the benefits are more than cosmetic.  I have suffered from problems with my feet since I was 6 years old.  My ankles swell and the balls of my feet become so painful I can hardly walk.  It is totally random; sometimes I can walk for miles with no pain, another day I am in pain from the first 100 yards.  
So, where do the fish come into this.  Well, they seem to stimulate my circulation.  The first time I went my feet were hurting before I got there.  After one 15 minute session, the swelling in my ankles had gone down and my feet had stopped hurting.  Despite it being a chilly day, I walked round in sandals for 6 hours without and pain and my feet stayed warm!  Given that my toes can turn blue and cold on a hot day, this was amazing.  They stayed this way for two days.  This is more than just the effects of 15 minutes with my feet in cold water (believe me, I have tried everything!).
My second treatment today came after a hard weekend at work when I had been on my feet a lot. Again, the swelling has gone from my ankles and my feet don't hurt.  I have had no cramp this evening and that is a miracle too.
So from now on I am a convert.  I was a complete cynic but now I will be sticking my feet in the fish tank every week.
I used a company called Appy Feet in the UK and I found them very helpful and friendly.  At £10 for a fifteen minute treatment, I get a month of visits for the cost of one trip to the chiropodist, who this treatment replaces as it works for longer and doesn't involve the use of a scalpel.  Now if I can only convince the health insurance it is a valid alternative therapy.....