Home Again Here we are back home again feeling pretty tired Driving back for seven hours is all that is required! One last look in Church Cove then we’re on our way  Even if we didn’t start till the middle of the day. Held up by an accident for almost half an hour It seemed we would be spending ages in the car! To be fair the journey had no more delay As we went from A roads unto the motorway. Now the hols are over one think must be said I am looking forward to sleeping on my bed!

 Balance 

Watched a guy upon the beach standing rocks on rocks 

I thought that it was easy but I was in for shocks.

He didn’t take the easy course putting flat on flat

I was to discover he wouldn’t dream of that!

He would balance point on point taking extra care

Gently trying this and that as he put it there.

He’d move it just a fraction and test if it would stand

With a lot of patience it stood at his command!

Three times I saw him do it with rocks of different shape

And never did he ever let a rock escape.

When  he had them finished he left them standing proud.

They stood in position though the wind blew loud.

I admired the skill and patience he used upon his task.

I knew I couldn’t do it however much you ask!

 

St. Michael’s Mount On the beach at Marazion what a sight to see St.Michael’s Mount magnificent in all its majesty! Though we could not visit ‘cos the tide was in The truly awesome sight’s enough to make a fellah grin. The weather might be patchy but it matters not The beauty here is just the same be it cold or hot! It may be just a copy of the French Mont-Saint Michel But it shows the British can do it just as well! A holiday in Cornwall,with the coast so grand, Is still so delightful if not just what was planned! ReplyForward

 A Rainy Day in Cornwall

We had the summer yesterday and it was really great

Now the rain runs down the road as if it was in spate!

Yesterday spent on the beach today is not the same!

If I’m stuck inside the house the weather is to blame.

The Cornish riviera is sometimes bathed in sun

But splashing in the puddles can also be great fun!

A holiday in Cornwall can have a rainy day

And in British fashion we can still have our play!

Get into your waterproofs, it won’t do any harm

After all the rain today is really rather warm.

The Caribbean has its storms and hurricanes as well

It’s best to be in England as far as I can tell!

 Busy Day

I have had a busy day sitting on the beach

making sure the sun cream was within my reach.

Looking at the breakers crashing on the shore

Eating Cornish pasties and wanting nothing more.

Playing boules upon the sand without much success.

I was pretty hopeless I feel I must confess!

Sipping on an ice cream while feeling very hot

All the storms of yesterday pretty much forgot!

Family around me snoozing in the sun 

Feeling that our holiday has finally begun!

Ah, to be in Cornwall now the sun is here

It is enough to make the grumpiest old man cheer!

 Phone Trouble

My mobile phone won’t take a charge 

and it will soon be dead.

With no communication 

what will I do instead?

I haven’t been without a phone 

since I had my brick

And I know it weighed a ton 

and was 3 inches thick!

We are all addicted 

to the mobile phone

And now I haven’t got one 

you should hear me moan!

I will have a new one

in a day or three.

And then, when I have got it,

how happy I will be!

 BBQ

We’re going to have a BBQ so of course it rains!

Mind you it’s still warm enough so just count your gains.

Maybe it will ease up or we’ll use our brolleys.

Sometimes I think we British must be off our trolleys!

BBQs were meant for countries were sun was guaranteed 

And you could count on it when”barbies” were decreed!

Still, we will just cope with it as we feel we must

That the weather will improve we can always trust!

We’ll enjoy the company and never mind the weather!

What can be the matter as long as we’re together?

 Teenage Evenings

Summer days in Belfast in my teenage years

We’re spent playing tennis with no arthritis fears!

Then there were the evenings gambling with my mates.

We played all forms of poker but just for modest rates!

I say the stakes were tiny but that is with hindsight 

Playing at the table could make or break your night!

We played all sorts of poker from stud, to draw, to brag

And it was quite rowdy. Certainly no drag!

I can remember many names from all those years ago.

Barry Todd and Adrian, whose surname I don’t know,

Johnnie  Blayney and Harry Dyer made up the happy few.

And in the winter evenings we would gamble too!

Ah, for the excitement of those happy teenage nights

The winning and the losing and gaining bragging rights!

We had no time for any drugs, though I’ll admit we smoked

In those convivial evenings when we laughed and joked

ReplyForward

 The Smile 

The smile of recognition on my grandson’s face,

When he sees me or his granny entering the place,

Is quite enough to melt my soul and set me all a-dither.

It has my heart strings strumming as if upon a zither!

That he is glad to see us simply makes our day

And we will recall it whenever we’re away!

There is no greater feeling than to know you’re held in love

And for that you’re grateful to your Father up above!

 

Wild Seas The storm has whipped the ocean into gigantic waves Driving them on shoreward like some obedient slaves. Crashing on the shoreline like a thunder clap Cutting off the beaches as if within a trap! Spray and spume just fill the air with their flecks of white Enough to fill a swimmer with a sense of fright! It is no time for swimming or walking on the beach For it seems there’s nowhere that the sea can’t reach. Rocks and sand are flung aside as if in giant’s hand All the world is driven by the storm’s command. It is a time for safely being tucked in bed No one who is sensible would be outside instead! ReplyForward

 Exam Results 

Remember the excitement when exam results were due?

You were really worried and all your friends were too!

You’re parents said don’t worry I’m sure that you’ll do well.

They didn’t know how much you’d skived. You didn’t dare to tell!

Finally the letter was held within your hand

Your fingers now appeared to be well beyond command!

You opened them eventually and breathed a heavy sigh

You got much more than you deserved. The marks were pretty high!

Okay! This was the way it happened maybe just for me.

Others might have been quite sure results would bring them glee!

Some would have disappointments, others couldn’t care.

Meanwhile all the family would be standing there

To give congratulations or a consoling word

To get so much attention was really quite absurd!

Then you rang your mates up to see how they had done

And arrange to meet them so you can have some fun!

It hasn’t changed in many years. It happens every year.

No matter what results you have there is no need to fear.

Life goes on regardless whatever grades you get

And there really is no need for all of this upset!

Well done Lexxie! You’re a star! Great GCSE results.

 What a difference a day makes!

I got sunburnt yesterday sitting on the beach 

Even though the sun cream was there within my reach!

I was very silly. It did not seem too hot!

So I deserved discomfort, which I surely got!

The morning had been rainy but the afternoon sublime

And we stayed out in the sunshine for quite a little time.

We went back to the beach today in cloudy, windy weather.

The seabird sitting close to us had no unruffled feather!

The wind and rain defeated us and we could not sit

So we went back to the car for a little bit!

We went for a cliff top walk but couldn’t see a thing.

What a lot of changes a different day can bring!

Eventually we gave up and came back to the flat

And had a cup of coffee. we really relished that.

Tomorrow is another day but the forecast has it worse!

I wonder what delight I’ll show in tomorrow’s verse?

 On The Beach

(Ok so I borrowed the title from Nevil Shute)

The rain was falling steadily as we approached the coast

That we could now be hardy was our ardent boast!

We had to wait within the car till the rain desisted

With the fervent hope that it wouldn’t be persistent!

After several minutes it had eased a lot 

So we set off for the beach to pick a likely spot.

We found the beach quite busy with hardy English groups

And the sound of children with their excited whoops.

We picked a place beneath the church and set up our seats

And you may have guessed it, the rain came down in sheets!

We covered up as best we could until it cleared away

And then we sat upon the sand on a most perfect day.

The sky cleared up in minutes to a perfect blue

And the glorious scenery now came into view.

We sat there basking in the sun for quite a little while

And then wandered round the beach with a beaming smile!

Then we sat and read our books as the time went by

Until we had to pack up with a wistful sigh.

Church Cove weaved its magic around us once again

As it has done for many years, not just now and then!

 Foresight

I wish I could anticipate what is going to be!

Here we are in Cornwall a small way from the sea.

The weather is atrocious. The rain is pelting down

We could do our shopping. There is no need to frown.

Oops! I wonder can you guess where the rain coats are?

Yes! You’ve guessed it! I’ve left them in the car.

The car is quite a way away so we’ll have to wait!

In the flat just watching rain isn’t very great!

If I’d had the foresight to bring the coats inside

We could do the shopping nor stay inside and hide!

 Church Cove Gunwalloe

There is a place in Cornwall which means the world to me.

A church within a little cove right beside the sea.

I’ve visited this little cove for thirty years or more

And every time its beauty thrills me to the core!

The silence of the little church calms my restless soul

And the rolling breakers make my spirit whole.

A little stream meanders around the shale and sand

And it changes courses as if at God’s command.

Every time I visit the tortuous course has changed

For my continued pleasure this has been arranged!

The countless sculptured headlands entering the swell

Create a wondrous seascape that anyone could sell!

When my days are finished my ashes will be spread

In Church Cove Gunwalloe and nowhere else instead!

 Patronage 

You’re a friend of Boris. You deserve to be a peer?

After all You talked to him and bought the lad a beer!

You’ve  paid for every policy with your unearned cash

And you think, in ermine, you would cut a dash!

It surely is not patronage. You are in accord!

For use of all your millions. It is a just reward!

Okay, you’ve paid for polices that will enrich you more

But in the world you live in who is keeping score?

We live in a ‘democracy’ but peers are unelected

And we have no input to how they are selected!

So select your cronies, we see you have the power.

You may make us want to cringe but we will never cower!

 Time

The tracking of the sun as it moved across the sky

Was something that the ancients did their best to try.

The shadow from the gnomen moved around the face

So time can be determined when the sundial is in place.

It had a disadvantage though, when the sun has gone,

Though you cannot track it, time is going on!

The water clock could measure how the time progressed 

The constant rate of water flow had to be assessed!

Then there was the glass they used to measure every hour

And if you were there to turn it then you were a star!

Then there were the candles they could calibrate

With markings for each hour. The burn a constant rate.

Clockwork with a pendulum became the latest thing

And the world rejoiced at the precision it could bring!

Now we are more accurate with electricity 

With every new invention how clever we can be!

Now we have this accuracy, lateness is a crime.

So are we any better off as simple slaves of time?

 Money Rules!

The rich get even richer, the poor go to the wall!

Thinking of equality, there’s no such thing at all!

You do not need ability so you can cut a dash. 

Money wins elections for those who have the cash!

Provided you can suck up to those who have the power,

You can be elected in less than half an hour!

If you think election results can not be bought

Go to an asylum. You really, really ought!

We’re proud of our democracies but we can see the flaws

In those who are entrusted with making all our laws.

In two party systems the elected are not free

To use their vote, by conscience, for the likes of you and me!

Call me too simplistic, or say I’m talking rot 

But then look at the calibre of leaders we have got!

 Carpe Diem

A Latin phrase for stirring those who hesitate.

Those who seize the moment can be truly great.

“He who hesitates is lost.” So the saying goes.

Having looked before you leapt one must just suppose!

An opportunity, if missed, seldom comes again

Looking back with longing is just for foolish men!

You should always boldly go on the track you chose

So for you the chance may come to pluck that promised rose!

It is not just in actions that opportunities are lost.

Sometimes it’s with emotions that we reap a cost.

Never leave the words unsaid to someone that you love

Lest they too soon be taken to the realm above!

 Stratford-upon-Avon 

An afternoon in Stratford with family all around

There beneath a leafy tree sitting on the ground.

With vittles from the Dirty Duck, our picnic had begun

While watching swans on Avon in the shining sun.

Lots of friendly banter with each loved relation

Meeting up in relish after being in isolation.

Of course with social distancing we could not embrace

During this pandemic it’s not the time or place.

Soaking in the atmosphere of the bard’s home town

With lots of star struck lovers pacing up and down.

I had my days of courtship walking round this place

Watching plays performed for us with elegance and grace.

Then we brought our children to relish every day

That they could learn of Shakespeare by watching every play.

They’ll pass it on to their kids this love of the bard.

This town beside the Avon doesn’t make it hard!

ReplyForward