tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92128645862845538282024-03-05T12:40:26.578+00:00The Life of LittleInsectThis is who I am, take me as I am, or leave me - I really don't careLittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-25219815273364467622023-12-31T20:33:00.002+00:002023-12-31T20:33:55.730+00:00On the occasion of New Years' Eve<p> Donna Ashworth gives good advice. I don't expect my friends to change. Indeed, I don't want them to. How they are is why I love them as they are. So, I want all my friends to make a New Year's resolution to just carry on being them, and living their best lives</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjil3tHxkbRKPoBoYbyFEMo-O1Q_lENnu6Mj24pH_POGNBlYPks6MWlEvCkZ6l5QEEM43aBq3xVkiuH2S_Gf1DeiWqpUikGdYNqYjGrMlFgExT0UMIC8PK9NXVTjCnLyAuE0mw9XfCgwWIeTf708kAJfaaGdXmGj2x-WFMzIf81vCqe08eLKCmKSgpRzzU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="586" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjil3tHxkbRKPoBoYbyFEMo-O1Q_lENnu6Mj24pH_POGNBlYPks6MWlEvCkZ6l5QEEM43aBq3xVkiuH2S_Gf1DeiWqpUikGdYNqYjGrMlFgExT0UMIC8PK9NXVTjCnLyAuE0mw9XfCgwWIeTf708kAJfaaGdXmGj2x-WFMzIf81vCqe08eLKCmKSgpRzzU=w390-h601" width="390" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-55411427643588685352023-12-07T12:03:00.001+00:002023-12-07T12:08:07.587+00:00A moment of sadness, and of joy<p> Today British Culture lost the great writer and poet, Benjamin Zephaniah.</p><p>He wrote so much, both serious and fun, and I don't believe he'd want the seriousness or sadness, especially this close to Christmas. So here is one of his poems to bring a little lightness into a dark day...........</p><p>Copied as he wrote it, from his own web-site, hence the colour change. Can't be a*sed to edit the html at the moment.</p><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-1946fbbc elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading" data-element_type="widget" data-id="1946fbbc" data-widget_type="theme-post-title.default" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e2e2e; display: var(--page-title-display); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; position: relative; width: 870px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><h1 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var( --e-global-color-e641c56 ); font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 40px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Talking Turkeys</h1></div></div><section class="elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d03cb6d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default" data-element_type="section" data-id="d03cb6d" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 20px; position: relative; width: 870px;"><div class="elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 890px; position: relative;"><div class="elementor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; width: 870px;"><div class="elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-857ecc2" data-element_type="column" data-id="857ecc2" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; min-height: 1px; position: relative; width: 435px;"><div class="elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; padding: 0px 15px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 435px;"><div class="elementor-widget-wrap" style="align-content: flex-start; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; position: relative; width: 420px;"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-3b890d35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content" data-element_type="widget" data-id="3b890d35" data-widget_type="theme-post-content.default" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; width: 420px;"><div class="elementor-widget-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s, border 0.3s ease 0s, border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-border-radius 0.3s ease 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.3s ease 0s;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An every turkey has a Mum.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Don’t eat it, keep it alive,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It could be yu mate, an not on your plate<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I got lots of friends who are turkeys<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An all of dem fear christmas time,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An humans are out of dere mind,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Dey all hav a right to a life,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Not to be caged up an genetically made up<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />By any farmer an his wife.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Turkeys just wanna play reggae<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turkeys just wanna hip-hop<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />‘I cannot wait for de chop’,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In many ways like yu an me.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">I once knew a turkey called…Turkey<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He said “Benji explain to me please,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Who put de turkey in christmas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An what happens to christmas trees?”,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I said “I am not too sure turkey<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But it's nothing to do wid Christ Mass<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An business men mek loadsa cash’.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0px;">Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Invite dem indoors fe sum greens<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Let dem eat cake an let dem partake<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In a plate of organic grown beans,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An spare dem de cut of de knife,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />An yu will mek new friends ‘FOR LIFE’.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-47152573162166688522023-08-27T12:18:00.001+01:002023-08-27T12:18:52.620+01:00Will It Be So Again?<p> Seem to be on a bit of a poetry kick at the moment. Yesterday, wandering around a local town, I spotted the name of the local pharmacy - Day Lewis, and it reminded me that I haven't featured any of his works here. This is one of his most meaningful for me, and with it being only a couple of months until Remembrance Day looms large, and the probability of a general election next year, now may be the time to beg people to really think hard before casting their votes.</p><p>So anyway, here it is: Will It Be So Again? , written by Sir Cecil Day Lewis </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Will it be so again</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">that the brave, the gifted are lost from view,</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">and empty, scheming men</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">are left in peace their lunatic age to renew?</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Will it be so again?</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Must it be always so</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">that the best are chosen to fall and sleep</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">like seeds, and we too slow</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">in claiming the earth they quicken, and the old usurpers reap</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">what they could not sow?</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Will it be so again -</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">the jungle code and the hypocrite gesture?</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">A poppy wreath for the slain</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">and a cut-throat world for the living? That stale imposture</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">played on us once again</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Will it be as before -</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">peace, with no heart or mind to ensue it,</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">guttering down to war</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">like a libertine to his grave? We should not be surprised: we knew it</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">happen before.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"> </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Shall it be so again?</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Call not upon the glorious dead</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">to be your witness then.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">The living alone can nail their promise to the ones who said</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">it shall not be so again.</span></span></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-70277258053008302112023-07-29T21:42:00.005+01:002023-07-30T10:50:53.348+01:00I am lost - a poem<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyfZKbf8mwKpTHZRrDYDMp5OT2b0YwF5iFVNoLfycdqYAo3wUJUiTYtc3weg5LfsbUwP1ESGMFNTijx0oy5DGX7tSBWvGGuW7wk-oIPGM7Q0D__JOwfUZ1aO5yd_nB1KjKWDUlMIPqAe1x9bbl4Irb7RmDaFI4fFxipfEq0mcfDNUW__77GD2QVJR-kY/s1920/abstract-sad-beauty-woman-crying-line-art-drawing-vector.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyfZKbf8mwKpTHZRrDYDMp5OT2b0YwF5iFVNoLfycdqYAo3wUJUiTYtc3weg5LfsbUwP1ESGMFNTijx0oy5DGX7tSBWvGGuW7wk-oIPGM7Q0D__JOwfUZ1aO5yd_nB1KjKWDUlMIPqAe1x9bbl4Irb7RmDaFI4fFxipfEq0mcfDNUW__77GD2QVJR-kY/s320/abstract-sad-beauty-woman-crying-line-art-drawing-vector.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Verbal abuse is bullying.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No matter who does it or to who.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It's getting worse, it's worrying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can’t prevent it, can you?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Verbal abuse is a real thing,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just as hurtful as blows can be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your head aches, your tears sting<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your eyes, till you can’t see.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No, I know you don’t believe it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He’d never let you see<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That when he’s angry or upset,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He takes it out on me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know I’m not the only one,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s plenty more like me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who feel their life is done<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And they just don’t want to be………………….<o:p></o:p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-46225660329477221222022-12-14T08:43:00.001+00:002022-12-14T08:43:23.751+00:00Watling Street by John Higgs<p> Been quite a while since I last wrote a book review, but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Quite the opposite, in fact. It's just that I have continued to read a lot of Hilary Mantel's output, and so far, every one has been worthy of 5 stars. Other books have been less worthy of any sort of recommendation.</p><p>However, I took a chance on a book that I'd never heard of, from a firm that handles end of runs and limited appeal books. This is <a href="https://www.psbooks.co.uk/?utm_source=google&gclid=CjwKCAiAheacBhB8EiwAItVO2-SabK9WzNp18U7kRpcQ4dke2z31xhaP-z4JYHTNr_q_Vl7WAM-5_hoC8PEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Postscript</a> and the description in their catalogue intrigued me,</p><p>Watling Street is known historically as the road from Dover to Chester, built during Roman times. However, Mr. Higgs sets out to prove that the road actually pre-dates that, and may indeed have continued on to Anglesey in Wales.</p><p>He travels the length of it, exploring notable places (like Milton Keynes!) within 5 miles either side of the road, and covers both well-known and lesser known historical details.</p><p>His writing style is warm and engaging, and I'm very inclined to purchase his other books on the strength of it.</p><p>This is a book that covers both historical facts, and the historical basis of the myths that these islands abound with.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlkVC7PN2xTGR6zjIDs_B19gRDetRvx49Sj-EJF9WOVqy1xEn7NrRS_IVEOBiMhgiRznO_6aXCI1TMRAt7auyg2zPs2_wmJ9GlGSDDeh1BPB76rPcyfBzfdhTbVX8NmQhHHHgczxxwVBf0buNf8WPHnurPp2qLXuLomJZPGHujl-Jt1CPAMvhLwSGL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlkVC7PN2xTGR6zjIDs_B19gRDetRvx49Sj-EJF9WOVqy1xEn7NrRS_IVEOBiMhgiRznO_6aXCI1TMRAt7auyg2zPs2_wmJ9GlGSDDeh1BPB76rPcyfBzfdhTbVX8NmQhHHHgczxxwVBf0buNf8WPHnurPp2qLXuLomJZPGHujl-Jt1CPAMvhLwSGL" width="156" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-41791035183140626442022-11-24T16:50:00.006+00:002022-11-24T17:10:51.693+00:00A poem? well, not quite. More a monologue<p> Is there anyone here in the UK, as old as me, who remembers Alice's Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie? It was a Big Thing with us, back in 1967. If you've never heard it, I suggest you try to find a copy. It sounds much better the way Arlo Guthrie tell it.</p><p>If you can't find it, here's the transcript..........</p><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">This song is called Alice's Restaurant, and it's about Alice, and the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Restaurant, but Alice's Restaurant is not the name of the restaurant,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">That's just the name of the song, and that's why I called the song Alice's</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Restaurant.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Walk right in it's around the back</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just a half a mile from the railroad track</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Now it all started two Thanksgivings ago, was on - two years ago on</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Thanksgiving, when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Restaurant, but Alice doesn't live in the restaurant, she lives in the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Church nearby the restaurant, in the bell-tower, with her husband Ray and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Fasha the dog. And livin' in the bell tower like that, they got a lot of</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Room downstairs where the pews used to be in. Havin' all that room,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Seein' as how they took out all the pews, they decided that they didn't</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Have to take out their garbage for a long time.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">We got up there, we found all the garbage in there, and we decided it'd be</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">A friendly gesture for us to take the garbage down to the city dump. So</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We took the half a ton of garbage, put it in the back of a red VW</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Microbus, took shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">On toward the city dump.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Well we got there and there was a big sign and a chain across across the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Dump saying, "Closed on Thanksgiving." And we had never heard of a dump</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Closed on Thanksgiving before, and with tears in our eyes we drove off</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Into the sunset looking for another place to put the garbage.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">We didn't find one. Until we came to a side road, and off the side of the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Side road there was another fifteen foot cliff and at the bottom of the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Cliff there was another pile of garbage. And we decided that one big pile</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Is better than two little piles, and rather than bring that one up we</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Decided to throw our's down.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">That's what we did, and drove back to the church, had a thanksgiving</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Dinner that couldn't be beat, went to sleep and didn't get up until the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Next morning, when we got a phone call from officer Obie. He said, "Kid,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a half a ton of</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie, I put that envelope</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Under that garbage."</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">After speaking to Obie for about fourty-five minutes on the telephone we</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Finally arrived at the truth of the matter and said that we had to go down</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And pick up the garbage, and also had to go down and speak to him at the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Police officer's station. So we got in the red VW microbus with the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Police officer's station.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Now friends, there was only one or two things that Obie coulda done at</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The police station, and the first was he could have given us a medal for</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Being so brave and honest on the telephone, which wasn't very likely, and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We didn't expect it, and the other thing was he could have bawled us out</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And told us never to be see driving garbage around the vicinity again,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Which is what we expected, but when we got to the police officer's station</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon, and we was</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Both immediately arrested. Handcuffed. And I said "Obie, I don't think I</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on." He said, "Shut up, kid.</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Get in the back of the patrol car."</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And that's what we did, sat in the back of the patrol car and drove to the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Quote Scene of the Crime unquote. I want tell you about the town of</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Stockbridge, Massachusets, where this happened here, they got three stop</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Signs, two police officers, and one police car, but when we got to the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Scene of the Crime there was five police officers and three police cars,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Being the biggest crime of the last fifty years, and everybody wanted to</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Get in the newspaper story about it. And they was using up all kinds of</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Cop equipment that they had hanging around the police officer's station.</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">They was taking plaster tire tracks, foot prints, dog smelling prints, and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">They took twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">One was to be used as evidence against us. Took pictures of the approach,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The getaway, the northwest corner the southwest corner and that's not to</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Mention the aerial photography.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obie said he was going to put</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Us in the cell. Said, "Kid, I'm going to put you in the cell, I want your</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Wallet and your belt." And I said, "Obie, I can understand you wanting my</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Wallet so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Want my belt for?" And he said, "Kid, we don't want any hangings." I</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Said, "Obie, did you think I was going to hang myself for littering?"</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obie was, cause he took out the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown, and he took</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars roll out the - roll the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obie</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">(Remember Alice? It's a song about Alice), Alice came by and with a few</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Nasty words to Obie on the side, bailed us out of jail, and we went back</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">To the church, had a another thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And didn't get up until the next morning, when we all had to go to court.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">We walked in, sat down, Obie came in with the twenty seven eight-by-ten</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Of each one, sat down. Man came in said, "All rise." We all stood up,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And Obie stood up with the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Pictures, and the judge walked in sat down with a seeing eye dog, and he</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sat down, we sat down. Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog.</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And then at twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">'Cause Obie came to the realization that it was a typical case of American</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it, and the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Judge wasn't going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">One explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. And</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">We was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage in the snow, but thats not</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">What I came to tell you about.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Came to talk about the draft.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">They got a building down New York City, it's called Whitehall Street,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Where you walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Neglected and selected. I went down to get my physical examination one</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Day, and I walked in, I sat down, got good and drunk the night before, so</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I looked and felt my best when I went in that morning. 'Cause I wanted to</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Look like the all-American kid from New York City, man I wanted, I wanted</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">To feel like the all-, I wanted to be the all American kid from New York,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I walked in, sat down, I was hung down, brung down, hung up, and all</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Kinds o' mean nasty ugly things. And I waked in and sat down and they gave</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Me a piece of paper, said, "Kid, see the phsychiatrist, room 604."</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I went up there, I said, "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL, " and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">He started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Didn't feel too good about it.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Proceeded on down the hall gettin more injections, inspections,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Detections, neglections and all kinds of stuff that they was doin' to me</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">At the thing there, and I was there for two hours, three hours, four</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Hours, I was there for a long time going through all kinds of mean nasty</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Ugly things and I was just having a tough time there, and they was</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Inspecting, injecting every single part of me, and they was leaving no</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Part untouched. Proceeded through, and when I finally came to the see the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Last man, I walked in, walked in sat down after a whole big thing there,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I walked up and said, "What do you want?" He said, "Kid, we only got</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">One question. Have you ever been arrested?"</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I proceeded to tell him the story of the Alice's Restaurant Massacre,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">With full orchestration and five part harmony and stuff like that and all</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The phenome... - and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, did you ever</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Go to court?"</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I proceeded to tell him the story of the twenty seven eight-by-ten</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Colour glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and the paragraph on</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The back of each one, and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, I want</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You to go and sit down on that bench that says Group W ... NOW kid!!"</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I, I walked over to the, to the bench there, and there is, Group W's</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the army after</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me! And</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">They was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible crime-type guys sitting on the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Bench next to me. And the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean 'n' ugly</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">'N' nasty 'n' horrible and all kind of things and he sat down next to me</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And said, "Kid, whad'ya get?" I said, "I didn't get nothing, I had to pay</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">$50 and pick up the garbage." He said, "What were you arrested for, kid?"</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I said, "Littering." And they all moved away from me on the bench</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">There, and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things, till I</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Said, "And creating a nuisance." And they all came back, shook my hand,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And we had a great time on the bench, talkin about crime, mother stabbing,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Father raping, all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Bench. And everything was fine, we was smoking cigarettes and all kinds of</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Things, until the Sargeant came over, had some paper in his hand, held it</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Up and said.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">"Kids, this-piece-of-paper's-got-47-words-37-sentences-58-words-we-wanna-</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Know-details-of-the-crime-time-of-the-crime-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You-gotta-say-pertaining-to-and-about-the-crime-I-want-to-know-arresting-</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Officer's-name-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-you-gotta-say", and talked for</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Forty-five minutes and nobody understood a word that he said, but we had</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Fun filling out the forms and playing with the pencils on the bench there,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I filled out the massacre with the four part harmony, and wrote it</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Down there, just like it was, and everything was fine and I put down the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Pencil, and I turned over the piece of paper, and there, there on the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Following words:</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">I went over to the sargent, said, "Sargeant, you got a lot a damn gall to</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Ask me if I've rehabilitated myself, I mean, I mean, I mean that just, I'm</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sittin' here on the bench, I mean I'm sittin here on the Group W bench</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">'Cause you want to know if I'm moral enough join the army, burn women,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug." He looked at me and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Said, "Kid, we don't like your kind, and we're gonna send you fingerprints</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Off to Washington."</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And friends, somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder, is a</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Study in black and white of my fingerprints. And the only reason I'm</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Situation like that there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">The shrink wherever you are, just walk in say "Shrink, You can get</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Anything you want, at Alice's restaurant.". And walk out. You know, if</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">One person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">They won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">They may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And that's what it is, the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">All you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Guitar.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">With feeling. So we'll wait for it to come around on the guitar, here and</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Sing it when it does. Here it comes.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Walk right in it's around the back</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just a half a mile from the railroad track</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">That was horrible. If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">I've been singing this song now for twenty five minutes. I could sing it</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">For another twenty five minutes. I'm not proud... or tired.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">So we'll wait till it comes around again, and this time with four part</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Harmony and feeling.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">We're just waitin' for it to come around is what we're doing.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">All right now.</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Excepting Alice</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Walk right in it's around the back</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Just a half a mile from the railroad track</span><br aria-hidden="true" /><span jsname="YS01Ge">You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant</span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><br /></span></div><div class="ujudUb" jsname="U8S5sf" style="background-color: black; color: #white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">And while you're searching the whole of the USA for an original copy, can you see if you can find the </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles a</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">nd arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one. Because I'd just love to see them!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTtGnxiJyz8XYoBB0_dECt1W8xzTVtlx0VfvWn5Zv_RFPMQYlqDJsaBX5I3c3PsWKzYUsLwO6ibpWVP7XKZXCwsix-Cgq77jBvu88kB-vcZXyfHM_tjsKjO8SqxU06WbWKfNFcg6HAJVWUa6te6MCSwHOgJ5FpQsu1ARI_G60gHUH9DmWoq4XGIeYb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="316" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTtGnxiJyz8XYoBB0_dECt1W8xzTVtlx0VfvWn5Zv_RFPMQYlqDJsaBX5I3c3PsWKzYUsLwO6ibpWVP7XKZXCwsix-Cgq77jBvu88kB-vcZXyfHM_tjsKjO8SqxU06WbWKfNFcg6HAJVWUa6te6MCSwHOgJ5FpQsu1ARI_G60gHUH9DmWoq4XGIeYb" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-43619054738371072322022-10-08T00:30:00.008+01:002023-07-30T10:56:27.938+01:00All that I am<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXV6nvkjOB7VMXmqX2zB9qd8EfsdM-aGr_JeM12efLbjbozie7YFQEiQzbdyDq2nsewG8F_ldTyVKG8Q35nW6qkfS5F_s-9N2cf7lWVGmV2S_toZqoOykDg7WOXl2RlPszVvH8ISocqS9aIyPD7BC0wZozRCKJErfio_dKZbHXhsGjJkKEQMaBlVR/s1440/all%20that%20I%20am.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1440" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXV6nvkjOB7VMXmqX2zB9qd8EfsdM-aGr_JeM12efLbjbozie7YFQEiQzbdyDq2nsewG8F_ldTyVKG8Q35nW6qkfS5F_s-9N2cf7lWVGmV2S_toZqoOykDg7WOXl2RlPszVvH8ISocqS9aIyPD7BC0wZozRCKJErfio_dKZbHXhsGjJkKEQMaBlVR/w391-h304/all%20that%20I%20am.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you Master Thich. Good wishes for your swift return</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">_/\_</div><br /><p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-18978295152718864372022-09-21T13:24:00.001+01:002022-09-21T13:24:03.115+01:00Strange how memories are triggered..............<p> I’ve just been reminded of a very strange conversation that
I had with a ‘well-known’ person, must be over 30 years ago now. It proved how
easy it is to get away with being cheeky, and how easy it is to upset your Other
Half.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We took our small son to Olympia in London to a computer
show. Walking between the stands, coming the other way, was an extremely
good-looking young man, dressed head to foot in shiny, expensive black leather,
with a glass of whisky in one hand, and seemingly a few more inside him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So – the conversation was very simple:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me: Are you a real biker, or just a poseur?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Warren Cann: Would you like to see my bike?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me: Is that a proposition, by the way, this is my husband<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Warren: It’s parked out back. You’ll like it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Out back………….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me: Nah. It’s a Harley<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Husband………………..bright red and embarrassed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To be fair, it was a gorgeous pearl white Electra-Glide, and
he went out back to call someone to pick him and the bike up after the show……………….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you don’t know who Warren Cann is, you can Google it<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oddly, that memory came out of a discussion Dick and I were
having about antiques experts. The only connection I can see, is that Harley…………………………..<o:p></o:p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-27343951692649250102022-09-08T20:14:00.002+01:002022-09-08T20:14:16.935+01:00A Day of sorrow .............and new beginings<p> I don't usually comment on current affairs, but hey, today is a day for remembrance and sorrow for the passing of a great lady. No idea who wrote this, but................</p><div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Phillip came to me today, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">and said it was time to go. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I looked at him and smiled,</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">as I whispered that "I know"</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>then turned and looked behind me, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">and seen I was asleep. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">All my Family were around me, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">and I could hear them weep. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I gently touched each shoulder, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">with Phillip by my side. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Then I turned away and walked, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">with My Angel guide. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Phillip held my hand, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">as he lead the way, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">to a world where King's and Queens, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">are Monarch's every day. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I was given a crown to wear</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">or a Halo known by some. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">The difference is up here, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">they are worn by everyone. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I felt a sense of peace, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">my reign had seen its end. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">70 years I had served my Country, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">as the peoples friend. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Thank you for the years, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">for all your time and love. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Now I am one of two again, </span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">in our Palace up above.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: #242526; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">Rest in peace to our Queen</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw8Y3zRAFuZEqz-qxJHs2wDosS-S5gEe288PXF1Md_9pL-FRWCJTw8-aaYK-yPqAveBjsiTTTLBg82U-BuUE3Ih3Aw_jb5NhHgrD27O86eclwcCDbXVjmJBf4c-8QNDu9Tia6Hd4DxdcbO_qvvHxn0SUn6sP1-Cm4Gv6Z3Bzo8W14oVYWP0ScYJPNz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw8Y3zRAFuZEqz-qxJHs2wDosS-S5gEe288PXF1Md_9pL-FRWCJTw8-aaYK-yPqAveBjsiTTTLBg82U-BuUE3Ih3Aw_jb5NhHgrD27O86eclwcCDbXVjmJBf4c-8QNDu9Tia6Hd4DxdcbO_qvvHxn0SUn6sP1-Cm4Gv6Z3Bzo8W14oVYWP0ScYJPNz" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-29698976490368954142022-07-05T23:33:00.001+01:002022-08-27T16:52:10.562+01:00Lifting my spirits........<p> So, there has been so much isolation and restriction on our lives over the past couple of years, that it has had quite a detrimental effect on my mental health. Between boredom, poor health, spending too much time stuck in the house with all that entails, I have decided to make some positive changes to my life style.</p><p>I love cooking, but sadly, TOH doesn't necessarily want to eat what I want to cook, or what are the healthiest foods. So I thought, why do I have to eat what he does? We eat out a lot when the weather is good for riding, which means I can generally find something suitable for me. At home, I've been exploring different cuisines, and I either cook food for me and freeze the extra for later, or I pop the surplus round to the offspring to try.</p><p>Craftwork - I found myself with two huge sacks of wool and cotton balls left over from various projects. So I set to over the winter months and made various throws for our sofas, and various items for the charity shop over the road.</p><p>We quite often use a small cafe, run by a very nice family, who between them, have 4 girls of varying ages, and several assorted Barbie dolls. So I got myself a cheap second-hand one off Ebay, and started using the remnants to make clothes for her. I finally had a collection of over 100 outfits, everything from knickers to ball gowns. I took them down to the cafe, and the girls divided them up between themselves.</p><p>Other hobbies, I've been using YouTube to explore pieces of music that were unfamiliar to me, and I've found some real crackers to add to my playlist. I also 'found' Randy Rainbow - probably the funniest musical parody maker of the American political system. I just wish he'd come over here and let loose his wit on our poor excuse for a Government. I've just started to read his first book 'Playing With Myself'. If you watch his videos, that title will make sense</p><p>Finally, I realised that I actually need some serious 'me' time. With all that has happened, accommodation prices have rocketed to the point where I really cannot justify going away by myself anymore. I also need to get more physical exercise, but I'm not one of those people who can just go for a meaningless walk for the sole purpose of fitness.</p><p>I need purpose and something to distract my mind. Then deep joy, I came across <a href="https://www.quiztrail.co.uk/" target="_blank">QuizTrails</a> These are little books, each one focused on a specific local town, which have a set route to follow and questions to find the answers to as you follow the trail. There are also lovely little explanations and enhancements. At the moment, they only cover Kent, and a couple of towns just over the border into East Sussex. So far, I've done three - all places I thought I knew well, but now realise I don't! I'm so impressed with them, I've purchased the entire range, and aim to do one every week. </p><p>I ride to the town, park up, spend 2-3 hours walking around for up to 2 miles, answering the questions and taking lots of photographs (to be found on <a href="http://mybritishisles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My British Isles</a> blog) I then find an attractive route home. For example, when I did the Sandwich one, I rode over there (about 40 miles), parked up and did the trail, plus a little extra because the weather was so lovely. I then took a different route home, around the coast. That was a round trip of just over 100 miles and a 3 mile walk</p><p>I'm going to enjoy these!</p><p><br /></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-52166651979313849432022-04-27T11:08:00.000+01:002022-04-27T11:08:19.433+01:00Garage Update - the last one?<p> So, the two main bikes have been replaced. He has the latest version of his go-to CB500X, which suits him so well. The latest version is a vast improvement over the last one, and is a gorgeous thing to look at </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN027JyfSigZrH-IWzWBIFZaFu6qpb9Z2NTildcLT5XNZU2NmWpou4olr2_0MBJEFxglEA6NJjszRQmTlx-ihFW3DqG6JSY3Fl1vRt43WQCKjWp9FrFgj-EjWvQUuzQcueUnKT7mO3i_tB4Iuobb4SP26lCgl2VOnppofWfwSXUX1DAAWUOnuInm1i/s4896/21328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN027JyfSigZrH-IWzWBIFZaFu6qpb9Z2NTildcLT5XNZU2NmWpou4olr2_0MBJEFxglEA6NJjszRQmTlx-ihFW3DqG6JSY3Fl1vRt43WQCKjWp9FrFgj-EjWvQUuzQcueUnKT7mO3i_tB4Iuobb4SP26lCgl2VOnppofWfwSXUX1DAAWUOnuInm1i/s320/21328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIpEAp_HOkd0fAjsQAUp8XuUkA08jgUOhvPISQ5nEYWf2_aM1UU-ZjY3Kb1iMSDzp3zWal2geNNvz2DgKvPsLz8_ZzRbS-XjrmMp5XoHdosSglwQf9r99yasfUyvbKWF4zoZtcJsc4GJU3IZGB3AjM9Ix67K0AoKhtN5GTPGhXuqXPL5zeTYhZ-pA/s4896/delivery4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIpEAp_HOkd0fAjsQAUp8XuUkA08jgUOhvPISQ5nEYWf2_aM1UU-ZjY3Kb1iMSDzp3zWal2geNNvz2DgKvPsLz8_ZzRbS-XjrmMp5XoHdosSglwQf9r99yasfUyvbKWF4zoZtcJsc4GJU3IZGB3AjM9Ix67K0AoKhtN5GTPGhXuqXPL5zeTYhZ-pA/s320/delivery4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Me? Well, I've finally had to admit that my beloved 650 4-pot was just getting too much for my ever-weakening muscles, and the fact that, over the past year, I've lost nearly 4 inches in height. At 74, I've changed for a CB500F, although not the latest version. The last one was still available, a little cheaper, and having had one before, I knew it was more than capable of doing what I need a bike to do. So, meet Hugo.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToBMx8A04zVJphBEd1_Osi_3gogUL9tZP-CW-HKr6tRGr68n1HYagZIwzqyjRcMQvA1T0RNvcrkbuRirZhzXmHgiR2g3biiCRUZWmrRtCD6m25X71mDieMORlzHeVIEcSk3_AMaTCFi7p2HH-snpXhg5cfJrhHIwEw4PJKMDkbnwzsVCBPRHgw6Nd/s4896/hugo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3672" data-original-width="4896" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhToBMx8A04zVJphBEd1_Osi_3gogUL9tZP-CW-HKr6tRGr68n1HYagZIwzqyjRcMQvA1T0RNvcrkbuRirZhzXmHgiR2g3biiCRUZWmrRtCD6m25X71mDieMORlzHeVIEcSk3_AMaTCFi7p2HH-snpXhg5cfJrhHIwEw4PJKMDkbnwzsVCBPRHgw6Nd/s320/hugo1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So - why possibly the last one? I've developed Wet AMD in my right eye, for which I'm being treated. So far, the treatment is going well, and every session they have cleared my vision to be OK to drive. But they have warned me, that this may not always be the case, and if necessary, they will cancel my driving licence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Add to that, one of my oldest friends (52 years a friend), is shortly retiring. Those of you who know me personally, will know who that is, and realise what a massive impact this will have on my future motorcycling habits. However, at this point in time, that is not my story to tell. Hopefully, he won't go out of my circle of friends and move away, because I would miss his friendship sooooo much</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-33248688518604594092021-11-11T18:02:00.000+00:002021-11-11T18:02:35.941+00:00New life for old<p> Over the past couple of years, I have been closely following the restoration of a little cottage in Derbyshire. Why? Well, I came across it by accident one day, and I couldn't believe that it would ever be anything other than a complete ruin.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rcOHHELO2rqHQ8En6BbHltwOex00ubGKmANRUvWgvISkZnKlMpM5H48NTAvbXAa7wmZCZvuIetRDbmGcHmgNXpOs_U_AyoLd7eVPhnMvbpjHrmXu27aOudU4DB4zF-5xtOnuq-MI2Y8/s900/aqua1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rcOHHELO2rqHQ8En6BbHltwOex00ubGKmANRUvWgvISkZnKlMpM5H48NTAvbXAa7wmZCZvuIetRDbmGcHmgNXpOs_U_AyoLd7eVPhnMvbpjHrmXu27aOudU4DB4zF-5xtOnuq-MI2Y8/s320/aqua1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">This is it. It's called Aquaduct Cottage, and it lays at the junction of the old Cromford Canal with a side arm that went out to a mill. The land around it once belonged to Florence Nightingale's family, and is now a Wildlife and nature reserve. It gets its' name from the fact that it stands at one end of the aquaduct that carries the canal over the River Derwent.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So totally ruinous, with trees growing up through the brickwork, no roof, and walls close to crumbling away, it appeared to be lost forever.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Yeah, right, I hadn't reckoned on the efforts of Mr. Ron Compton and his merry band of volunteers. Charitable donations have been sought, materials bought, and volunteers trained in the arts of stuff like old-fashioned lime mortaring.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Now? well, you wouldn't believe it. It nears completion, and the Nature Reserve will have its' own visitor centre, complete with a new staircase up into the heart of the wild wood, and gardens filled with native plants. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Who'd a-thought it?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUn1Q6h98pa9HEGKtMqNScUnRnAiVm_4YhDvzR32VM5eWk9TX9MvaEVkdvwgrj6AjxwF7lwGIiWZEvELrvSilWq0mVQ6XtXvnVK0_RcuNtJu_WjODPHcOn_vaDzBV0sTqyYpRvwYTMXo/s1368/aqua2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1368" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUn1Q6h98pa9HEGKtMqNScUnRnAiVm_4YhDvzR32VM5eWk9TX9MvaEVkdvwgrj6AjxwF7lwGIiWZEvELrvSilWq0mVQ6XtXvnVK0_RcuNtJu_WjODPHcOn_vaDzBV0sTqyYpRvwYTMXo/s320/aqua2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Hopefully, I'll be able to visit it for myself next year. Meanwhile, a round of applause for all the hard work is due! </p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-67904045165405133842021-09-28T14:41:00.001+01:002022-08-27T17:09:33.502+01:00Hilary Mantel rules!<p> 'Virgins are so rare these days, they are sending unicorns out to find them'. I'm currently working my way through Hilary Mantel's historical output, and with words like that, why wouldn't I? Miss Mantel is a superb wordsmith, and I will give a due resume when I have completed the Wolf Hall trilogy (I'm currently on book 2, and at over 600 pages each, there's a lot of reading still to do!)</p><p>UPDATE: I have now read 5 of Miss Mantel's books, and I can't praise them highly enough. The 3 volumes of the Cromwell trilogy present a massive commitment, being around 600 pages in each volume. But I doubt there has ever been such an in-depth realisation of Henry VIII's marriage tribulations.</p><p>The other 2 were of a much lighter aspect, with one being downright comical. My suggestion would be to read one of the smaller stand-alone volumes first, before tackling the enormous trilogy!</p><p>Definitely a 5/5 for all of her books</p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-46122725035859162002021-06-02T14:19:00.000+01:002021-06-02T14:19:57.524+01:00With all that has happened...........................<p> ................it's seems a lifetime crammed into the past year, when I've had neither the enthusiasm or the inclination to blog. </p><p>After all, it's been a year of almost total isolation, with only the shortest of breaks last midsummer. Sadly, the rate of infection over Christmas 2020 was so high, we were locked down again, unable to see either friends or relations. </p><p>We lost friends and family. First to pass was one of my work colleagues from overseas - dead from Covid and less than 30 years old. Then one of my friends who was Indian by birth, but who had married and become a Canadian citizen, had to return to Mumbai to deal with his father's affairs after losing him to Covid. Vijay walked out of Mumbai airport, was hit by a truck and killed.</p><p>The next was my darling Uncle Rex. He was in his 90s and suffering from dementia. He had a fall at home and was hospitalized so that they could monitor him. Sadly, in hospital, he caught Covid and died.</p><p> SO ENOUGH OF YOUR ANTI-VAX NONSENSE. AND DON'T YOU <u>DARE</u> TELL ME THIS VIRUS IS A HOAX<br /></p><p>Finally, one of our closest friends died of leukemia a few weeks ago. </p><p>Then my daughter-in-laws father - maybe best not spoken about here.............</p><p>All this, plus isolation and not going out, has taken its' toll on my mental health. I badly needed a restorative trip away on my own this year. Sadly, that won't be allowed to happen. </p><p>So forgive me if I'm not my usual positive self, and if I don't want to write or do anything much at the moment, except crawl into a dark corner somewhere, alone............................</p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-27914473413513810182021-02-04T16:22:00.002+00:002021-02-04T16:27:59.305+00:00Random jokes and amusing musings<p> <span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Legend has it that Fred Astaire opened the oven door once and his treacle sponge exploded...</span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had pudding on his top hat, pudding on his white tie and pudding on his tails.................................. and I bet you sang that in your head</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">does anyone know what it was that the knights in white sat in?</div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: black; color: #e4e6eb; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-19493370103037327742020-11-06T13:34:00.005+00:002020-11-06T14:11:59.082+00:00Future Poet Laureate.....<p> There's a 15 year old boy in Worcestershire, called Josh Dyer, and I'm a huge fan. He has a couple of poems entered in the Worcestershire Young Poet Laureate of the Year 2020 competition, and I can see him becoming a future British Poet Laureate.</p><p>This first one is for Remembrance, and is called ' One Thousand Men Are Walking'</p><p><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">One thousand men are walking</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Walking side by side</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: whit; font-size: 16px;">Singing songs from home</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">The spirit as their guide</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">they walk toward the light milord</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">they walk towards the sun</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">they smoke and laugh and smile together</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">No foes to outrun</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">these men live on forever</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">in the hearts of those they saved</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">a nation truly grateful</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">for the path of peace they paved</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">they march as friends and comrades</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">but they do not march for war</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">step closer to salvation</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">a tranquil steady corps</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">the meadows lit with golden beams</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">a beacon for the brave</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">the emerald grass untrampled</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">a reward for what they gave</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">they dream of those they left behind</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">and know they dream of them</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">forever in those poppy fields</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">there walks one thousand men</span></p><p>isn't it great? For a young man to be so thoughtful and appreciative!</p><p>This second one, for me, is even more remarkable. He seems to really understand how dementia is for people. Perhaps his Grandmother is a sufferer, I don't know. But I find this one so beautiful, and so, so moving. It's called 'An Identity For Someone Who's Forgotten Theirs'</p><p><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Her face is an ancient tapestry</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Bleached by suns now dead and old</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Her mind like a pond held stagnancy</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Now that time had taken a hold</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Her name to her was meaningless</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Though it was spoken in motherly tone</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Of course by now she was motherless</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Of course by now she’s alone</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Not alone in a sense of person for</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">She was packed in with them like mosaic</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">To sit and watch flowers forever more</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Whilst the new ones became the archaic</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">It’s funny to say she was young once</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">That once there was youth in her heart</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">She made every decision with impatience</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">She cried ‘Romeo,Romeo,Wherefore art?’</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: blak; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Of course those days are gone now</span><br style="background-color: black; color: whte; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Like the stars that once touched her face</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">But sometimes on a quiet summer sundown</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">The seams of time begin to unlace</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">As she smiles with that ageless rhapsody</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">I heard tales she should know to have told</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">I try to maintain her life like a tapestry</span><br style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">Now that time has taken a hold</span></p><p><span face=""Myriad Pro", "DejaVu Sans Condensed", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 16px;">I don't know what the future holds in store for young Josh; but whatever it is, I hope it's good. He has a lot to teach us about humility, respect and remembrance</span></p>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-895886554924182702020-08-12T20:52:00.004+01:002020-08-12T20:56:23.608+01:00Music with a meaningYou may have realised by now, that every now and then, I struggle with my feelings, and struggle with trying to explain to other people how I feel. When it gets bad, I find that other people, especially musicians, can express it better than I can. Sometimes, it's not even a singer or band I particularly like. It doesn't have to be. All they have to do is feel the way I'm feeling now<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NdYWuo9OFAw" width="459"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I'd give up forever to touch you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">'Cause I know that you feel me somehow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I don't wanna go home right now</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And all I can taste is this moment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And all I can breathe is your life</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When sooner or later it's over</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I just don't wanna miss you tonight</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I don't want the world to see me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">'Cause I don't think that they'd understand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When everything's made to be broken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I just want you to know who I am</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Or the moment of truth in your lies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When everything feels like the movies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I don't want the world to see me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">'Cause I don't think that they'd understand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When everything's made to be broken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I just want you to know who I am</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I don't want the world to see me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">'Cause I don't think that they'd understand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When everything's made to be broken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I just want you to know who I am</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #black; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">And I don't want the world to see me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">'Cause I don't think that they'd understand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">When everything's made to be broken</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I just want you to know who I am</span>LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-74141056257684378352020-07-02T14:58:00.002+01:002020-07-02T15:07:19.391+01:00Betjeman and Oscar Wilde<div class="poemHead" style="background-color: black; font-family: vag, sans-serif; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 60px 0px 0px;">
<div class="poemTitle" style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
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<h4>
Loving the works of both Wilde and Betjeman as I do, it seemed only too appropriate to add this poem to my favourites</h4>
</div>
<h2 style="color: white; font-family: vaglight; font-size: 30px; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
</h2>
<h4 style="color: white; font-family: vaglight; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel <span style="font-family: "vag" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">(1937)</span></span></h4>
<h3 style="color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
John Betjeman</h3>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "false" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400;">On 6 April 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, London, after losing a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry.</span><br />
<span class="state-switch on" style="background-color: #333333; border-radius: 20px; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 15px; position: relative; top: 7px; width: 35px;"></span></div>
<div class="post-318 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-poems" style="background-color: black; font-family: vag, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<div class="entry" style="line-height: 21px; margin: 35px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: auto !important;">
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
He sipped at a weak hock and seltzer<br />
As he gazed at the London skies<br />
Through the <span style="color: white;">Nottingham</span> lace of the curtains<br />
Or was it his bees-winged eyes?</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
To the right and before him Pont Street<br />
Did tower in her new built red,<br />
As hard as the morning gaslight<br />
That shone on his unmade bed,</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
“I want some more hock in my seltzer,<br />
And Robbie, please give me your hand —<br />
Is this the end or beginning?<br />
How can I understand?</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
“So you’ve brought me the latest <em style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Yellow Book</em>:<br />
And Buchan has got in it now:<br />
Approval of what is approved of<br />
Is as false as a well-kept vow.</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
“More hock, Robbie — where is the seltzer?<br />
Dear boy, pull again at the bell!<br />
They are all little better than <em style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">cretins</em>,<br />
Though this <em style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">is</em> the Cadogan Hotel.</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
“One astrakhan coat is at Willis’s —<br />
Another one’s at the Savoy:<br />
Do fetch my morocco portmanteau,<br />
And bring them on later, dear boy.”</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
A thump, and a murmur of voices —<br />
(”Oh why must they make such a din?”)<br />
As the door of the bedroom swung open<br />
And TWO PLAIN CLOTHES POLICEMEN came in:</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
“Mr. Woilde, we ‘ave come for tew take yew<br />
Where felons and criminals dwell:<br />
We must ask yew tew leave with us quoietly<br />
For this <em style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">is</em> the Cadogan Hotel.”</div>
<div style="font-size: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
He rose, and he put down <em style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The Yellow Book</em>.<br />
He staggered — and, terrible-eyed,<br />
He brushed past the plants on the staircase<br />
And was helped to a hansom outside.</div>
</div>
</div>
LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-76141092189741231142020-06-20T22:59:00.002+01:002020-06-20T23:02:08.766+01:00William Barnes - poetNow, you've probably gathered that I love poetry. Well, I've just been introduced for a poet totally new to me. His name is William Barnes and he wrote in the Dorset vernacular. Despite that, his poems of rural life are emminently readable. I particularly like this one, which reminds me of my father so much.
There's a statue of Barnes' Dorset Shepherd in Durngate Street in Dorchester, and very good it is too.<br />
<br />
<div class="tiInherit" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-size: 16.8px;">THE SHEPHERD O’ THE FARM.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color:black; color: white; display: table; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px auto; position: relative; width: auto;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Oh</span>! I be shepherd o’ the farm,<br />
Wi’ tinklèn bells an’ sheep-dog’s bark,<br />
An’ wi’ my crook a-thirt my eärm,<br />
Here I do rove below the lark.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ I do bide all day among<br />
The bleäten sheep, an’ pitch their vwold;<br />
An’ when the evenèn sheädes be long.<br />
Do zee em all a-penn’d an’ twold.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ I do zee the friskèn lam’s,<br />
Wi’ swingèn taïls an’ woolly lags,<br />
A-playèn roun’ their veedèn dams,<br />
An’ pullèn o’ their milky bags.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ I bezide a hawthorn tree,<br />
Do’ zit upon the zunny down.<br />
While sheädes o’ zummer clouds do vlee<br />
Wi’ silent flight along the groun’.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="pagenum ws-pagenum" data-page-number="36" id="36" title="Page:Barnes_(1879)_Poems_of_rural_life_in_the_Dorset_dialect_(combined).djvu/52"></span>An’ there, among the many cries<br />
O’ sheep an’ lambs, my dog do pass<br />
A zultry hour, wi’ blinkèn eyes,<br />
An’ nose a-stratch’d upon the grass;</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
But, in a twinklèn, at my word,<br />
He’s all awake, an’ up, an’ gone<br />
Out roun’ the sheep lik’ any bird,<br />
To do what he’s a-zent upon.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ I do goo to washèn pool,<br />
A-sousèn over head an’ ears,<br />
The shaggy sheep, to cleän their wool<br />
An’ meäke em ready vor the sheärs.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ when the shearèn time do come,<br />
Then we do work vrom dawn till dark;<br />
Where zome do shear the sheep, and zome<br />
Do mark their zides wi’ meästers mark.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
An’ when the shearèn’s all a-done,<br />
Then we do eat, an’ drink, an’ zing,<br />
In meäster’s kitchen till the tun<br />
Wi’ merry sounds do sheäke an’ ring.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Oh! I be shepherd o’ the farm,<br />
Wi’ tinklèn bells an’ sheep dog’s bark,<br />
An’ wi’ my crook a-thirt my eärm,<br />
Here I do rove below the lark.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
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<img alt="Statues: *DORCHESTER* - The Dorset Shepherd" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjYyxlIw_rc69fgOS34AHNQG5iC8cyrTzVM_smWf_b1OneshBtsVFIDLA3lpbb93ibFoRX2yS3m29C4uBUI2ilsL4lj-LP6uoQbMcFPqxJFKU8Rt_i5l974FUURQSpvVsrOvosdnLvFw/s320/DSCF0841.JPG" width="213" /></div>
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LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-70237176005049698722020-06-15T13:10:00.001+01:002020-06-15T13:18:42.562+01:00Annual Garage Update Can't quite remember when I last did an update on our garage, but I think possibly only 1 machine has changed since then. Dick eventually admitted that his days of riding heavtweight bikes like the CrossRunner have come to an end. His age, and the state of his foot means he has gone back to a CB500X. This will be the third one he's had, and the latest variant has considerable improvements over the previous versions. Only time will tell if he keeps it.............<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1edhweIkn6zwInaIU9NVkJswjGsVLC7My2Ycpsrpn6yjuzQY7I17YbaRltYYxaRKMUNWXgZZbAiYWbfuClecB1GwgJTMt3_aR5CeWykGkjZDlwCoytvkuI0M-jEwnt_3p_3f3pPN444/s1600/A259picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1510" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1edhweIkn6zwInaIU9NVkJswjGsVLC7My2Ycpsrpn6yjuzQY7I17YbaRltYYxaRKMUNWXgZZbAiYWbfuClecB1GwgJTMt3_aR5CeWykGkjZDlwCoytvkuI0M-jEwnt_3p_3f3pPN444/s320/A259picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, I'm still loving my 650. It really is the closest thing to my old Hornet that I've ridden since. It's a little heavier than I would like, but as long as it's manageable, I'll ride it. All we need now is permission to ride it further than I have been doing lately............</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZCzlU1GzrlNTZIjzQf_ja6Vo8b8mZwteyZX2R0uyMY5VbK9qpdwW1UY4mWebD49uED7C8Iy_ziS1Uro6ynuxkW90o2_VG_QrJkOVbfXZQYiMHjCevegxldtCFTPGMpQIPoYTrdzifo/s1600/DSC00860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZCzlU1GzrlNTZIjzQf_ja6Vo8b8mZwteyZX2R0uyMY5VbK9qpdwW1UY4mWebD49uED7C8Iy_ziS1Uro6ynuxkW90o2_VG_QrJkOVbfXZQYiMHjCevegxldtCFTPGMpQIPoYTrdzifo/s320/DSC00860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One thing I have had to buy for it, is a new tankbag. I've had a little Oxford one (my equivalent of a ladies' handbag) for the best part of 30 years, and it has finally given up the ghost. Dread to think how many hundreds of miles that little bag has done. I've used it everday, and it has been all over the country on countless petrol tanks. I've got a new Honda one on order. Let's hope it lasts as well. If it does, it will probably outlast me!</div>
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Back to the garage - the two little bikes remain the same. There really is no need to change either of them. Twinkle, our little CB125F, is the perfect tool for running around town, doing shopping and running errands, and is the perfect companion for Chunky Munky for those days in the sun when all you want to do is run around the country lanes and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVPR2F67lVRu3mdQa0a9v8OlYFy9zxUIIEfXq_7hzVpSGEELTlpfnKMbYjwf6fy-iE0Z_2cZm7KfUbZzIZbyt0Dk4C9aYBehDqXcFI-U6H35O6ITGybF1v-zuXx0rfLZWYozsWjObk_s/s1600/DSC00868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVPR2F67lVRu3mdQa0a9v8OlYFy9zxUIIEfXq_7hzVpSGEELTlpfnKMbYjwf6fy-iE0Z_2cZm7KfUbZzIZbyt0Dk4C9aYBehDqXcFI-U6H35O6ITGybF1v-zuXx0rfLZWYozsWjObk_s/s320/DSC00868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Incidentally, that picture was taken in the centre of Hamstreet. Just out of the picture is a cannonball. Why, I hear you ask? Well, Hamstreet is twinned with the little town of Therouanne in France. <span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Therouanne was once a city with a cathedral which was sacked by the troops of Henry V. The stone cannonball was a gift from the mayor of the twin town, presented with the words 'You can have your cannonball back! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu7fil1APGVnZyQZyBn2R4A6uZ2UkLy3ZvYY1hdcTf6SI6Gy4k2jZZ7-z4zxzVCHU9HZKhu5TdVjcLbMZXYzaCXZpfhoSW-2gJ21TE8u85moPJw-yXM8DKVeYrx-yUoFrrFJ_ta28pKk/s1600/DSC00869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu7fil1APGVnZyQZyBn2R4A6uZ2UkLy3ZvYY1hdcTf6SI6Gy4k2jZZ7-z4zxzVCHU9HZKhu5TdVjcLbMZXYzaCXZpfhoSW-2gJ21TE8u85moPJw-yXM8DKVeYrx-yUoFrrFJ_ta28pKk/s320/DSC00869.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, there you are - an update on my garage and a history lesson combined! Aren't you lucky!</span></div>
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LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-67316591063065972562020-02-27T21:47:00.001+00:002020-02-27T21:51:55.393+00:00Spike Milligan<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So, today is the anniversary of the death of the greatest comedian ever to grace these shores with his presence. Let us celebrate him with a quote from 'Puckoon', one of the funniest books ever written..........."Well, he thought, you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, which is just long enough to be President of the United States"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As one of my friends said, '</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Long may he rest in peace. It must be pure chaos where ever he is now.'</span><br />
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LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-74423936283605478452019-10-21T10:43:00.000+01:002019-10-21T10:43:58.029+01:00AberfanToday is the anniversary of the day a village in South Wales died. I'm not going to write about it here, because if you don't already know about it, you can Google it. I'm just going to post a small poem that echoes what I remember feeling at the time, and which, for me, was another nail in the coffin of faith beliefs.<br />
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written in 1966 by local poet, Ron Cook.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where was God that fateful day</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the place called Aberfan.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When the world stood still and the mountain</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moved through the folly of mortal man.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the morning hush so cold and stark</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And grey skys overhead.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When the mountain moved its awesome mass</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To leave generations of dead.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where was God the people cried</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Their features grim and bleak.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Somewhere on their knees in prayer</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And many could not speak.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The silence so still like something unreal</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hung on the morning air.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And people muttered in whisper tones</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh God this isn’t fair.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The utter waste of childhood dreams</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of hope and aspirations.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A bitter lesson to be learnt for future generations</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> But where was God the people cried.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The reason none could say</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For when the mountain moved its awesome mass.</em></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God looked the other way.</em></span></div>
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LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-13774245743654608192019-06-25T18:35:00.001+01:002019-06-25T18:40:59.952+01:00Friends. friendship, and the internetWe often take it for granted, but the internet is an amazing thing. And so is making friends for a lifetime. Just sometimes, you make a good friend over the internet, from the other side of the world. You may never ever meet, but you know that person would be there for you if you were in trouble. It started with my bike forum, and has lasted almost twenty years. I've 'watched' his three daughters grow into beautiful young women, and shared the highs and lows of his job climbing telegraph poles in the outback<br />
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Over the years, I've made many friends through my love of motorcycles - shared interest and all that. But I've made many, very good friends, through using forums and social media on the internet. Strangely though, some of the closest have been with people from my husband's forums, rather than my own.<br />
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Sure, I've made a lot of long-term friendships via the Hornet's Nest, and a lot of them, I do know personally. Some, I have never met, and are never likely to. One of the sweetest people I know, is from a forum dedicated to a bike that I don't even like! Fortunately, he doesn't live too far away, so we do get to see him on a reasonably frequent basis.<br />
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Through the same forum, we made friends with a couple from Germany, who ended up coming to stay with us last summer. Complete strangers when they arrived, they left as good friends.<br />
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Then there was the gentleman from Texas. When my husband had a bad accident, and it looked for a while as though he might lose a foot, let alone never be able to ride a motorcycle again, he naturally suffered from very bad depression. This particular friend, took time out from his busy life to phone Dick in hospital - a phone call that lasted a good half hour, and completely lifted his spirits.<br />
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Friends like these are hard to come by, and should be cherished above all things.
Yes, you may never meet, but they are every bit as precious as the person next door, or down the road<br />
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And infinitely more precious than some family
LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-18767772760509578512019-03-13T01:37:00.000+00:002019-03-13T01:39:54.605+00:00Update on the rest of my garage.Writing about my new CB650R, it occurred to me, that with the exception of Twinkle, my little CB125F, I haven't updated you on everything else.<br />
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Well, the Ole Man is currently riding a Honda VFR800X CrossRunner. Yes, after 5 years, he's finally sufficiently recovered from his injuries to ride a big bike again. Sadly though, at 72 years of age, this will probably be his last big bike, as he is finding the weight when manhandling it, is getting a bit too much, so later on, I expect him to go back to something like the CB500X. The difference this time, is that it will be his choice, not something forced on him by an inconsiderate car driver. In the meantime, this is it:<br />
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Now, I've mentioned Twinkle before - our little CB125F that we bought as a town runabout. Problem is, on sunny days, when we had nothing better to do, one or the other of us would take it out for a spin round the country lanes, and Romney Marshes. </div>
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Problem is, there are times when it would be nice if we could both go out for a lazy ride, and only one of us could at any one time. We looked at getting another CB125F, but then Honda threw a spanner in the works by introducing the Z125 Monkey. How could we resist? So, meet Chuckles:</div>
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A tiny package of bouncing energy and tremendous fun! Now the only arguments revolve around who's riding which bike!</div>
LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212864586284553828.post-72334031998088248692019-03-13T01:16:00.000+00:002019-03-13T01:16:10.673+00:00Moving on - upwards or backwards?It's been a lifetime since I lasted posted, and when I last did, it was about my disappointment with the CB650F that I had bought. I thought it would give me what I've been looking for in a middleweight, and it didn't.<br />
I wanted something that felt 'right', a bike with soul, like the Hornets, that gave me an ear-to-ear grin as soon as I wheeled it out of the garage. Instead, I ended up with a bike that has masses of performance, but which left me feeling dissatisfied and uninspired.<br />
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Well, it's gone. To be replaced with a bike from Honda's new Neo Sport Cafe range, the new CB650R. LOL, there's nothing Neo, Sport or Cafe about it. But what it is, is a complete replacement for the Hornets. It's fast, compact, and Fun. I ordered it before it was launched, having never seen one. It was a last ditch attempt to find a bike I liked, and thank Heavens, the gamble has paid off.<br />
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From the moment I sat on it, it felt right. The ergonomics are perfect for me, although I do have reservations about the handlebars. They're not quite as high and wide as I normally have, to compensate for my poorly bent wrists. But I've been resisting changing them because the bike just feels so good. The inclusion of a slipper clutch compensates a little, so for the moment, it will stay as it is.<br />
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It's fast, light, comfortable, and has soul in buckets. It pleases me.<br />
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In fact, I don't know why Honda didn't just put Hornet stickers on it, and be done.<br />
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So, meet Vincent..........................<br />
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LittleInsecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14232134356798382567noreply@blogger.com0