Tuesday 26 November 2013

Sarah Teelow - In Memoriam

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Sarah Teelow, The F2 Water-ski World Champion, came off her ski during the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic on the Hawkesbury River in Australia on Sunday.

She sustained serious spinal and head injuries and was airlifted to hospital. Sadly she died on Monday evening.

My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Sarah Teelow - In Memoriam
Women's Waterski (Formula Two) World Champion


Wind in her face.
Plume from her ski.
Pure power.
Pure speed.
Pure, beauty.

No place she'd rather be
than out on the water, on a ski.
Pure power.
Pure speed.
Pure, beauty.

Wind in her face.
Plume from her ski.
Eternal still waters,
Australian beauty.

John Carré Buchanan
26 November 2013

Sunday 24 November 2013

Flare Up


The poem below describes what it is like to experience and overcome a flare up in pain. When a flare up lasts for more than two days it is known as a set back. This week has been dominated by a set back. Flare up or set back, neither are pleasant and I thought I would re-post this to help raise awareness of Chronic pain.

If you are a sufferer my thoughts are with you.

Flare Up

The tormenting ache is obscured
replaced by searing agony.
I feel the flesh melt,
Imagine the blisters as they bubble,
blacken and crisp over.
The edges split and retract
to reveal red tissue below.
It blackens and the cycle starts again.

My mind tells me it’s not true,
burnt nerves can’t feel.
but this is no ordinary fire
no water can quench these flames.
Born deep within neural pathways
they burn as intense as
the a charcoal maker’s kiln
consuming all reason and sanity.

Bed covers lie thrown back
the soft linen had burnt;
as its folds crept like molten lava,
and scorched everything in their path.
The mind fights for control
looking to stem the flow
as if closing the sluice on a stream
but the gate valve is stuck

Thoughts are marshalled,
challenged and found wanting.
Well-rehearsed counter points are delivered.
Slowly control is regained.
Unhelpful thoughts rally for a final push
but once again the mind delivers a ‘coup de grace’,
another battle is won
and the leg will bare weight today.

John Carré Buchanan
19th August 2011

Thursday 14 November 2013

Wipe Out

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I loved water-skiing and it is one of the biggest frustrations about my new life that I will not be able to do it again. It was the one activity I could spend a whole day doing and not have a single memory of what I had thought of during the whole day. In short it was my favourite way to switch off and enjoy for the sake of enjoying,

Wipe Out

Reflections dance on the glassy surface.
Autumnal colours of lake side trees
set against a perfect dawn sky
all held in my mind's eye, a memory.
I glide, wind rushes, hair flies,
a trail of diamonds glints in the sky.
My empty mind, lives for the sheer joy of that moment
every move an instinct, no thought dares intrude,
just pure, perfect, unlimited joy.
A screech of breaks shattered that reality.
Now all that's left is a memory of what was,
of what will be no more.
That dreadful moment when all joy was crushed;
when my spirit was wiped out.

John Carré Buchanan
12 November 2013

Saturday 9 November 2013

Remembrance

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Remembrance

Bugle sounds ‘Last Post’
A hushed nation remembers
Reveille, sleep on.

John Carré Buchanan
08 November 2013