My granddad used to say to me

They were the good time’s for your gran and me

There was fish and chips and batter bits

Wrapped in newspaper

A scrumpcious treat for me,

Then there was your gran’s scrubbing our doorstep

With her curlers in her hair

And granddad’s smoking Woodbine’s

And nattering to any one who cared,

There were kids playing

Marble’s, snobs, and hopscotch

Outside the old gun factory gate’s,

Look here comes the rag and bone man

coming down the street

giving out all of his  treats,

Balloons and gold-fish to every kid he could see

Some kid shouts the coalmans around the corner

Filling up the shoots,

And leaving coal scattered in the streets

Ho no the toilets were down the yard

As far has they could be,

 No -one could see

The newspaper on a nail

No toilet rolls in sight

To stand out at night,

Then there’s gran with her mangle

And washing on the line,

Cloth’s prop in the middle

Holding it up high

The wind is blowing grans washing

Until it nearly dry,

But granddad’s in the front room

Puffing on his fags

Thinking of the good time’s

And the memories of  the year’s that have passed

by Thomas Sims

Love is…

Dancing through the daffodils

Skipping with the lambs

Love is many things

Love is…

Finding that spring in your step

When your heart is leaping

Wherever you may tread

Love is…

Feeling that burning desire

Being with the one you love

To set your emotions on fire

Love is…

That unique feeling

That unique bond

Knowing you belong

Love is…

Picnics in the park

Being together

Underneath the stars

Love is…

Emotion you may discover

Happiness or sadness

Love is a roller-coaster

Love is an experience

To cherish like no other

Gillian Sims

Course

Boat Race course (“Middlesex” and “Surrey” denote sides of the Thames Tideway corresponding to the traditional English counties)

The course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6.779 km) from Putney to Mortlake, passing Hammersmith andBarnes; it is sometimes referred to as the Championship Course, and follows an S shape, east to west. The start and finish are marked by the University Boat Race Stones on the south bank. The clubs’ presidents toss a coin (the 1829 sovereign) before the race for the right to choose which side of the river (station) they will row on: their decision is based on the day’s weather conditions and how the various bends in the course might favour their crew’s pace. The north station (‘Middlesex‘) has the advantage of the first and last bends, and the south (‘Surrey‘) station the longer middle bend.

Competing for the fastest current

During the race the coxes compete for the fastest current, which lies at the deepest part of the river, frequently leading to clashes of blades and warnings from the umpire. A crew that gets a lead of more than a boat’s length can cut in front of their opponent, making it extremely difficult for the trailing crew to gain the lead. For this reason the tactics of the race are generally to go fast early on, and few races have a change of the lead after half-way (though this happened in 2003, 2007 and 2010).

The race is rowed upstream, but is timed to start on the incoming flood tide so that the crews are rowing with the fastest possible current.^[11] If a strong wind is blowing from the west it will be against the tide in places along the course, causing the water to become very rough. The conditions are sometimes such that an international regatta would be cancelled, but the Boat Race has a tradition of proceeding even in potential sinking conditions. Several races have featured one, or both, of the crews sinking. This happened to Cambridge in 1859 and 1978, and to Oxford in 1925 and 1951. Both boats sank in 1912, and the race was re-run, and in 1984 Cambridge sank after crashing into a stationary barge while warming up before the race.^[12][13] Cambridge’s sinking in 1978 was named in 79th place on Channel 4’s list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

The race is for heavyweight eights (i.e., for eight rowers with a cox steering, and no restrictions on weight). Female coxes are permitted, the first to appear in the Boat Race being Sue Brown for Oxford in 1981. In fact female rowers would be permitted in the men’s boat race, though the reverse is not true.

During the race the crews pass various traditional landmarks, visible from the river

The deep red rose for you I chose,
Drenched in scent
Reminded me of the days we spent
Nestle together amongst rows of heather
Forever I will remember Our innocence
Hiding from our parents
We were the only thing that mattered
You and I colliding with the world outside
Pretending we were perfect
Too nieve to know  what could happen to us
Forgetting about all the fuss,
Parents searching
The world For us
Never mind
We had  spoke,
nestled together,
Amongst rows of heather
Forever I will remember
Our innocence

By Gillian Sims

  

 

Gentle she was, a young woman of means,

Beautiful in her Marcel Wave she was. 

A hair dresser with her own shop 

A teaser of hair and tresses. 

Then the quiet Irish man took her eye and her heart.

Not impressed were her parents 

With the young Irish trade unionist from the motor trade.

 Time eventually brought them round to accept the vows

 The young couple had made.

Grief she bore when her fist born 

Died at six months. Brave she was to have more.

 Three girls then two boys, and two more angels lost in-between. 

Then after all was finished, me, making six. 

Hard she worked to bring us up and support her quiet man 

Who was there for her too.

Kind she was, good and open hearted she was.

 The door always open to family and waifs and strays

 Big hearted she was to all who past through our door. 

Always there she was, with words of wisdom and comfort.

 Her beautiful heart shone through her eyes.

Patient she was  but there was temper there if needed, 

She was not strong or mean but if needed 

Her children and her man she would defend to the death!

Beautiful she was in features and in heart 

There was no task she would not finish if she had made a start. 

Cried for her daughters she did as her man gave them away 

And when her sons married too she had a proud day.

Together alone again by themselves again.

Happy she was full of the business of her quiet man. 

Yet she was always ready to talk and help and ease our pain. 

Clever she was but not school or college wise 

She was wise in life and love and truth and need.

Lonely she was when her man was taken,

Wept she did as she wanted to join him. 

Lost she was without the quiet man . 

Heart broken she became though 

She threw herself in to caring for grandchildren.

Gone she was before her body, her mind and soul went to him. 

Lost to us she was a smile here and there 

Maybe a flash of recognition.

Unknowing of all around her she was,

Sad eyed frighted lamb lonely lonely.

Tiny she was when she went, sadly lost to us long before.

Gone into her mind to find her quiet man. 

Tears we shed for her,we wept in grief and I in anger

 Because so long had she been gone and I had wanted to talk to her,  

But gone she really was.

Anemones her favourite flowers were

 They always remind me of her. 

I forgave her for leaving me 

And now accept she had to go 

As by the side of her quiet man was where she had to be.

Never to be forgotten.

willow Willers

What is a mother?

What does she do?

What is so special?

A mother does for you

She is kind and loving

She is strict, but always fair

When you were afraid of the dark

For you she was always there

She shared all your emotions

Picked you up when life was tough

Smoothed things over for you

When your pathway in life was rough

There are many ways to say thank you

To a mother you love so dear

For a mother that is so loving

When she wipes away a tear

Do not take a mother for granted

In addition, do not forget to say

Mother I really do love you

Especially on this your special day

I often think of my childhood days

And the love that my mother showered on me

Helping me to achieve my ambitions

I become a respected member of society

Memories of her often come into my mind

And I remember the things she used to say

That if I wish to be a success in life

That hard work and honesty would pave the way

These words made a great impression on me

And although it is a long time since you passed away

Her impression helped to form my character

And that is why I am thinking of you today

Ron Martin

When the children have finished play

They suddenly remember its Pancake day

Inside they run to see all the treats

That will surround their Pancake feast,

Jams fruit and cream a Pancake dream

The children lick their lips

Whilst mum masters the mixture and whips,

All the magic ingredients together

To produce batter as light as a feather

patiently the children wait,

Whilst mother designs and creates

This scrumptious feast

That will knock them off their feet

Once the Pancakes have reached their plates

She relishes in their happy faces

Their eyes light up with such joy

Like Christmas all over when opening their toys.

By Gillian Sims

Her alluring sculpture of a woman

Her dark hair like a charming legend

Her feminine scent from heaven

Her beady eyes outshining diamond

Her dulcet voice like breeze tones

Her sweet lips as coconut flan

Her sharp wit penetrating stones

Her clear skin wearing no tan

Invaded my gamut of emotions

Inhabited my heart, soul, and mind

Dived into my deepest oceans

And cured my eyes that were blind

© Chaouki M’kaddem

December 25th, 2014

“The word ‘March’ comes from the Roman ‘Martius’. This was originally the  first month of the Roman calendar and was named after Mars, the god of war.   March was the beginning of our calendar year. We changed to the ‘New Style’ or  ‘Gregorian calendar in 1752, and it is only since then when we the year began on  1st January. The Anglo-Saxons called the month Hlyd monath which means Stormy  month, or Hraed monath which means Rugged month. All through Lent the  traditional games played are marbles and skipping. The games were stopped on the  stroke of twelve noon on Good Friday, which in some places was called Marble Day  or Long Rope Day.  The game of marbles has been played for hundreds of  years and some historians say that it might have been started by rolling eggs.  In the past, round stones, hazelnuts, round balls of baked clay and even cherry  stones have been used.”

We live in a world of violence,

We live in world of crime,

With robbery and muggings,

That happens from time to time.

There is fighting throughout the world,

No thought for one another,

Just senseless destruction and killing,

Brother killing brother.

Why do we have this slaughter?

What drives the desire to maim?

Have we forgotten to care?

For we are doing it all over again.

We all seem divided,

By religion politics and race,

It is time for all to realise,

Each one has its place.

We must tolerate each other,

Work for a world of peace,

Embrace all those who strive for good,

So all the troubles will cease.

We are a race of people,

Different in every way,

We must respect other cultures,

In whatever they do or say.

So long as we all stand together,

With one aim in mind,

To stamp out the evil around us,

By being helpful considerate and kind.

Malcolm Bradshaw      

You are my teddy bear
So soft and smooth
With love so strong
We have nothing to lose

You are my teddy bear
As soft as silk
You are my goodness
You are my goodnight milk

You are my teddy bear
My midnight hug
You are my comfort
The one I love

You are my teddy bear
The one I like to cuddle tight
You are my teddy bear
That helps me sleep at night

Gillian Sims

The children all look forward

To the tradition of Pancake Day

Whilst mother cooked the pancakes

The children went outside to play

The smell of the pancakes cooking

Creating an hypnotic aroma in the air

Children just like a magnet

Drawn inside, just to stop and stare

They stood watching their Mother

Tossing the pancake with glee

Children shouting.” Please don’t drop it”

 Landing safely back in pan for all to see

Out came the oranges and lemons

Making them delicious to eat

Children tucking into the pancakes

Everyone enjoyed that pancake treat.

Nottingham is a wonderful city

One in which I’m proud to live

There are so many things of interest to me

Things which keep me busy and alive

Inspired by the legend of Robin Hood

Nottinghamians are known for their generosity

Giving what they can to help other folk in need

Hospitable and willing to see other peoples views

And I am so impressed with my own city

Making me want to share my pleasure with you

Ron Martin