The Twelve Days of Spring

 The Twelve Days of Spring

On the first day of Spring time my garden gave to me.

One happy hellebore and a robin in a fig tree.

On the second day of Spring time my garden gave to me 

Two droopy snowdrops and robin in a fig tree.

On the third day of spring time my garden gave to me,

Three purple pansies and a robin in a fig tree

On the fourth day of Spring time my garden gave to me,

Four furry catkins and a robin in a fig tree.

On  the fifth day of spring time my garden gave to me,

Five  gold bees -----------------------------

On the sixth day of springtime my garden gave to me,

Six silver squirrels and a robin in a fig tree.

On the seventh day of springtime my garden gave to me,

Seven slimy snails and a robin in a fig tree.

On the eight day of spring time my garden gave to me ,

Eight  wriggly earthworms  and a robin in a fig tree.

On the ninth day of springtime my garden gave to me

Nine caterpillars and a robin in a fig tree.

On the tenth day of springtime my garden gave to me,

Ten tiny tadpoles  and a robin in a fig tree.

On the eleventh day of springtime my garden gave to me,

Eleven  bright blue eggs. 

On the twelfth day of springtime my garden gave to me

Twelve blue-tits tweeting and a robin in a fig tree.

And someting ate the fucking figs.

Fig Tree

   My   Fig Tree

I have a great big fig tree,

Nothing does it bear,

Not a golden apple,

Or a silver pear.

I have a great big fig tree,

In Spring the buds appear.

Still no golden apple 

Or a silver pear.

I have a great big fig tree,

In Summer leaves occur,

Still no golden apple,

Or a silver pear

I have a great big fig tree

Autumn hues bring cheer,

Still no golden apple,

Or a silver pear.

Now it's Winter- time,

Robins, blue tits, sparrows, come to visit me,

And all because of my great big fig tree.

Still no golden apple,

Or a silver pear.

And no fricking figs either. 

Latest news on my great big fig tree.

It's six years old, and very tall'

It leans against the wall

Up to the roof it reaches,

No sign of fluffy peaches,

Golden apple or silver pear,

but two tiny little figs.

Yes two fucking figs it does bare.

Powerful Poem

 Powerful.. Joshua Dyer (aged 14) was tasked at school to write a poem for Remembrance Day. An hour later (without any help) he produced this..

ONE THOUSAND MEN ARE WALKING

One thousand men are walking

Walking side by side

Singing songs from home

The spirit as their guide

They walk toward the light milord,

they walk towards the sun

they smoke and laugh and smile together

no foes to outrun.

These men live on forever

in the hearts of those they saved

a nation truly grateful

for the path of peace they paved.

They march as friends and comrades

but they do not march for war

step closer to salvation

a tranquil steady corps

the meadows lit with golden beams

a beacon for the brave

the emerald grass untrampled

a reward for what they gave.

They dream of those they left behind

and know they dream of them

forever in those poppy fields

there walks one thousand men

Joshua Dyer 2019 (aged 14)

Lest we forget

This has to be shared. An incredible poem from 14 year old Joshua Dyer.

Credits: vitória Jane

Dream Holiday

My Dream Holiday

I have been fortunate in my life. I have visited many countries and holidayed in cities and seaside towns. When I was bored with lying on the beach and too afraid of cold water to swim in the sea I went on courses. I always planned to go travelling when I retired but after I moved to Brittany my plans changed. I was happy to explore Brittany which is a beautiful and interesting place.

Now back in the UK I do not drive so even outings are limited to public transport.

I am quite happy staying at home, reading, writing and painting. My Grandson provided me with a large screen TV with Amazon Prime so that I could watch tennis. I am passionate about tennis. Well to be more precise I am passionate about Rafael Nadal.

When I was in Brittany I used to watch tennis at the house of a very good friend Claudie. Now I am here in the Uk and she has moved to Pau near Biarritz.

So my dream holiday begins there.

I will take a plane to Biarritz and Claudie will meet me there. We will spend a week in a luxury hotel. Claudie will show me the best and most exciting places to see and enjoy in Biaritz. Next we will fly together to Paris after spending a few days exploring, my friend Sylvaine who lives near Paris will meet us to take us to her house which is in an amazing location on the edge of a forest.

Next, the three of us will return to Paris for the Roland Garros tennis Grand Slam. Both Sylvaine and Claudie are tennis fans. We will have tickets for every day of the two weeks duration of the tournament and of course we will be staying in a luxury hotel.

After the final we will visit the Eiffel tower and take the lift to the restaurant at the top for dinner. Then we will visit my favourite museums and art galleries in Paris. The Musee d'Orsay is my favourite so that will be on the top of the list. Next will be Rodin's Museum and Gallery. We will also spend a day in Monmartre.

Of course every day we will eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the best restaurants and drink the finest wine and perhaps champagne.

Moving on from Paris our next destination will be to London and Wimbledon. We can either fly to Gatwick and spend a day with my son and his wife. He lives seven miles from Gatwick or we could take to the Eurostar to St Pancras. We will spend a few days in London in a luxury hotel. We will visit the National Gallery , Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Then sated with art it will be off to Wimbledon for two weeks. After the final we will spend at least two days in a spa because I think we will need a rest.

I will take the train back to Stoke, Claudie will fly back to Biaritz and Sylvaine to Paris.

The Door

 

The Door

I am going to be late for my Dr's appointment. I did want to go to the Travel Agent's too. I'll ring the Doctor to apologise. There's a phone box. This door is heavy. I push harder, it opens, I fall in. Gosh it's dark in here.

"Who are you?" says a voice from the shadows.

Victoria Richards. I am in a terrible rush. The train was late. I want to make a phone call. I was going to book a holiday and I have an appointment for a blood test. Are you a doctor--

"Yes, I am The Doctor."

Yes, but doctor who.

"That is correct. I am Doctor Who."

Don't joke. I need to make a phone call.

"Of course, I can help you with your phone call and travel needs. Would you like interplanetary travel or time travel. I can arrange everything for you."

Travel? So, it's not a phone box or the Dr's.

I walk forward towards a light, -- no it can't be. It looks like the control panel of a plane so many flashing lights and screens.

The Doctor says, "You are my dear on the Star Ship Enterprise."

"That's OK then." I say to myself. "Where else would I be on a Monday morning on the way to the doctors."

I must have said the last bit out loud because The Doctor speaks again.

"That's correct my dear. The Doctor is here. I think you mentioned a blood test."

What? No. Let me get out of here. I want to open the door.

The door opens automatically. I run out into blinding sunlight and bump into a passer-by.

"Sorry, sorry, so sorry."

"No harm done. Now look where you are going in the future."

Pacifique

 

Que pensez-vous lorsque vous entendez "le Pacifique"?

Dans les années quatre-vingt, j'étais membre du mouvement anti-nucléaire. J'étais membre de plusieurs groupes, mais le plus important était le groupe intitulé «Femmes travaillant pour un Pacifique indépendant et pacifique». Une des choses que le groupe a fait était d'amener 9 femmes des îles du Pacifique en Angleterre.

Il y a eu une grande réunion à la mairie de Manchester où les 9 femmes nous ont raconté des histoires, des histoires horribles. Ils ont parlé des résultats que les essais nucléaires et l'immersion avaient faits sur les peuples. Ils ont tous posé la même question. Pourquoi vous, en Europe, ne saviez pas ce qui se passait? Cela faisait 40 ans

Le groupe a produit une vidéo et un diaporama intitulé "Nightmare in Paradise". J'avais un diaporama et je donnais des conférences et montrais les diapositives. C'était toujours difficile de le faire car je l'ai trouvé très émotif et j'ai dû essayer de ne pas pleurer parce que les effets du test étaient si horribles.

Vous verrez sur la carte qu'il y a des centaines d'îles. Cela semble autant que des étoiles dans le ciel. Mais la population comparée au reste du monde est petite.

Le pire et le plus triste, c'est que je crois que cela continue aujourd'hui. Près de 40 ans plus tard.

Rio

 

As I walk past an Italian Supermarket I wonder where I am. Yesterday in a supermarket I heard Robbie Williams singing angels. I spent the morning in an internet cafe. Surrounded by skyscraper flats and hotels it could be anywhere in the world. The noise of the traffic is deafening and fatiguing. A barefooted youth passes me carrying a surf board. I follow the youth. Is he going to the beach? No he's not so I change direction hoping to reach the beach and a more peaceful space. I glimpse the sea and quicken my steps. I wait 5 mins to cross the road. When I reach the beach the noise of the traffic beats the sound of the crashing waves. I wish I was a surfer at least I could escape the thundering traffic.

From hunger I almost enter a McDonald's but I opt instead for a restaurant. I take a table outside. Whilst eating my meal I watch a shoeless old man pass amidst the heavy traffic. He is pushing a handcart laden with rubbish. In the opposite direction a horse and cart driven by two young men whom I suspect would have been in school in many other parts of the world pass by. The cart is also full of rubbish.  

I back inside and order hot Amarillo, delicious. I look outside. It is raining again. It has rained for two weeks-since I arrived. I was told to bring warm weather clothes, beach clothes. I have spent one afternoon on the beach. The waves are too big to risk swimming and the under current grazes and bruises ones body as it drags one over the coarse sand.

I have bought lots of traditional rubbish but never expected that I would have to buy an umbrella.