Articles written by M.E Ashdown

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About me - M.E Ashdown

I live in Country Victoria, Australia and have been involved in writing for many years. I have taught creative writing for adults, run workshops, literary competitions and writer's groups. As a writer I have had many poems, short stories and articles published

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Relationships & Family > Male / Female Communication Styles Is chivalry dead?: 4 of 27
Chivalry - the bold, gallant and courteous behavior associated with knights and knighthood.Many, many years ago, long before Barbie and Bratz pushed them into the adult world of models and makeup, little girls lived in the world of fairy tales. They dreamed of the day a gallant knight would rescue them from a tall tower guard... More..
Health & Fitness > General Health (Other) Headaches: Causes and treatment options: 5 of 27
Any pain in the head or neck region can be broadly classed as a 'headache' and the easiest option is to reach for the pain killers for a quick fix. Often the easiest option is the best and within 20 minutes we've forgotten we even had a headache but what if the pain returns as they wear off, or alternatively doesn't respond a... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Thoughts on God Contemplating the existence of God: 56 of 175
You cannot contemplate the existence of God until you have contemplated who, or what, God is.My mother was raised to believe and trust in God. It didn't matter which religion it was, Mum embraced them all.Her ancestors were leaders in the Wesleyan Methodists, her grandmother was a Baptist, her mother an Anglican.As a child, I... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: True dog hero stories: 32 of 89
Ben was supposed to have been a cocker spaniel. As a puppy, he had floppy ears, a black, fluffy coat and white chest. He looked really cute but then he began to grow and grow and kept on growing.It didn't really matter, we loved him anyway. He still had his floppy ears and he'd sit in front of us and talk away as if he was ha... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Ahead of his time: 21 of 57
Too Perfect For This WorldPrecious angel, longed for child,We watched you grow whilst still inside.From just a dot to prove you're thereEach month we could but sit and stareIn abject wonderment and joy,As you became our little boy.From faintest movements to a kickWe laughed and cried and felt for it.Together we designed your ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Society & Lifestyle (Other) Capturing the moment: 15 of 27
Capturing the waveThe winter evenings creep in early, so it was already quite dark as we headed home from Bendigo and hit the esses just out of Marong. The open spaces gave us a good view of the evening sky and my first glimpse of a cloud formation I had never seen before.A long, low cloud with a flat base hung in the sky. It... More..
Relationships & Family > Grief & Loss Living with regrets after losing a loved one: 20 of 28
There will always be regrets when you lose a loved one. The simple fact is, you can never talk to them again to resolve it, ask their forgiveness, seek their approval.Death is so final.When a loved one dies, the memories you have are all you have and so they become extremely important. You live the memories over and over agai... More..
Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues Homophobia: My views: 22 of 28
My husband and I are both heterosexual but with very different views on homosexuality.I have worked with many gay men and several woman and enjoyed their company. The thought of what they do in their private lives has never been an issue because, like many women, it simply does not matter to me. The fun, almost theatrical per... More..
Relationships & Family > Grief & Loss Should a dying person choose his own funeral rituals?: 45 of 54
Just six months after burying her husband of 50 years, mum was diagnosed with leukemia and told she had only three months to live. With memories of trying to arrange dad's funeral still fresh in our minds, we tentatively broached the subject with mum and were surprised to find she had very firm ideas about what she wanted.Whe... More..
Politics, News & Issues > International News Thinking the unthinkable: Did Madeleine McCann's parents kill her?: 16 of 18
It's not only unthinkable that the McCann's killed Madeleine, it is also totally unreasonable. Whilst their actions on the night of her disappearance may seem irresponsible to some, anyone who has a child knows that you cannot sit outside their door maintaining a constant vigil 'just in case'. Many houses these days are so la... More..