crisp white linen,
deadly silence,
occasional chink of careful crockery,
muzak – 1812 overture!
toast comes too early, always,
I try and eat without noise,
the food is good.
The Bird in Hand, Twyford.
March 13, 2010
crisp white linen
The rusting tractor (at Collingham Station)
Past it.
Grey paint, streaked
Massey Fergusson (maybe)
with rust and parked behind,
the station near to the pretty,
irregular rows of black septic tanks.
the loose looming gravel pit
out of nowhere
reaching machinery up towards
the watchtower.
Beers on offer at the Strugglers, Westgate, Friday 13th March, 2010
Brewsters Marquis 3.8% £2.65
Draught Bass 4.4% £2.70
Brampton Golden Bud 3.8% £2.65
Timothy Taylors Landlord 4.3% £2.65
Brewsters Decadence 4.4% £2.75
Greene King Abbott 5% £2.75
Poachers Lincoln Best 4.2 £2.75
Guest Beers at the Victoria Union Road, Friday 13th March, 2010
Clarks No Angel 4% £2.95
Very poor showing this week. Let’s go round the corner to the Strugglers.
March 12, 2010
The night train
They stood there, 10 travellers on the platform waiting for the night train. It was cold but not as cold as it had been. We were coming out of winter and into spring so despite the late hour there was the slightest hint of freshness in the air.
The connection wasn’t a good one so we all had to hang around, having mostly got off the express, I guess. The onward journey was only a short one, maybe thirty minutes. It wasn’t as if we had the whole night ahead of us which somewhat reduced the dramatic effect.
March 7, 2010
The Sunday Morning Relax
Classic FM on the radio provides a relaxing background to streaky bacon with one egg, over easy, and steaming black cawfee.
Sunlight streams through the slats in the blind in the kitchen window.
There is no pressure and I sit quietly on the pew, in the corner, uninterrupted. No jobslist, no hassle. I feel my shoulders loosen up and relax.
March 5, 2010
Carol Singing
Times were when I loved nothing more
than the ‘1812’. Its cannons’ roar,
its church-bells’ ringing
used to make my pulse-rate soar.
But now what sets my heart a-winging
is Carol singing.
March 1, 2010
There are trees in Northumberland Avenue
There are trees in Northumberland Avenue
They were not cut down during the war
To provide spars for spitfire wings
To prevent them being a fire hazard during the blitz
Or to stop spies from hiding in their branches
And listening in on conversations
“Being Prepared”
“Being Prepared”
Selfridges Sell Fridges
Hitchin a lift
Fir StClass
NE Wark
Y Ork
E Scalator
Simple harmonic foot
The unfinished roof
Five elephants before the fall
I’ve just checked and the car keys are still in my pocket
I can see clearly now the book is closed
Vince’s flowers
Tsunami warnings over the weekend
Hawaii
Australia
New Zealand
Central America
Pacific Islands
Isle of Man
February 28, 2010
Light
The sun set
an hour ago,
yet
through the kitchen window
I see clear to the bottom of the garden.
There, in the sumach,
singing still
and undeterred
mind thegap
mindthegap
m indthegap
mi ndthegap
min dthegap
mind thegap
mindt hegap
mindth egap
mindthe gap
mindtheg ap
mindthega p
mindthegap
February 27, 2010
Guest beers at the Victoria Friday 26th February 2010
York Yorkshire Terrier 4.2% £2.95
Batemans Miss Canada 4.1% £2.95
Batemans Salem Porter 4.7% £2.95
Brains SA 4.2% £3.05
Batemans XXXB 4.8% £2.95
Seem to be getting a predominance of Batemans beers on the guest list in what is advertised as a Batemans pub!