The Inkwell#airfix
I
The picture seemed accomplishable
The box was a reasonable size
The mass of pieces hidden away
II
The jigsaw vast, and wide
An advantage – No glue required
follow the pictures – one by one – like lego
III
Camouflage coming together
like they were best of pals
snapping into place to form wings
IV
preparation of propeller
poised for propulsion
piece that was smallest – key for the turning
V
now sat proud
with other marvels of flight
squadron of air kits – on a maiden flight
#IWM #Airfix #Duxford
A poetry piece by B.F. Kirkham.
There’s a bucket of wings on the table,
but this ain’t no KFC
You’re there with your mates at the ready
and take home a plane for free
You pick up the pieces as listed
the fellow from museum there to help
as your classmates fumble with pieces
and boys and girls start to yelp
Behind you is the perfect model –
they tell you it took men all those years
as part of the wing it does come off
and it almost brings you to tears
Patience – comes call from behind you
as you fiddle with the pieces for a while
it won’t take you long – and you can’t get it wrong
as the teacher gives you a smile
Suddenly it all comes together
the tail end the wings and the prop
resembling that big plane behind you
and its something you don’t want to drop
So you say ta to the model instructor
with your plane that’s been made paid and mended
and your classmates all fly, those planes from time gone by
before the trip to the museum is ended.
11th November 2017
As the accord was signed
Regiments over the battlefields of europe
Made safe their weaponry, as commanding officers
Instructed their men to stop shooting
So they stayed at their post
Till the time was declared by those in charge
It’s time for the firing to stop , lads –
Come back home, you’re needed here
Enjoy the boat ride back.
More on remembrance in the archive :
https://inkdropblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/two-minute-silence
https://inkdropblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/remembrance/
https://inkdropblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/memorial/
https://inkdropblog.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/remembrance-sunday/
https://inkdropblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/the-guns-fall-silent
Monday 5th June 2017
Venue : Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridge
An early morning start at IWM North on Monday, as we met up with fellow volunteers and staff from the other branches at IWM Duxford for Volunteers week.
We travelled south through the Midlands on our journey, stopping off on some familiar services on the M6 and M1… the route usually adopted when I visit my relatives there. It was a bit rainy on the way there, but I was looking forward to visiting Duxford. Due to that branch holding most of the museums Aircraft Collection
We arrived at Duxford’s Entrance around about noon, and then after a short repast, we all entered the main hall, where the chairman of the imperial war museum welcomed us all and the ceremonies for the volunteer awards commenced.
I received my award for “Developing in a Role” from the chairman – and heard my Vollie Manager deliver a wonderful (more than a ) few words on why i’d won it!
How I started as a guide, then doing object handling and family history….
I did whisper at one point….”Ta boss! you can stop now….!!!” (sic)
After the awards ceremony, we took a look around the hangar and the various activities on display, this included seeing how concorde dipped its nose, to sending messages by morse code – to walking on board a Lancaster bomber. I enjoyed walking round the RAF Fleet, and got a really good view of the planes from the top deck of the gallery.
IWM Duxford , Cambridge, 5/6/2017
For a brief moment today,
looking around the hangar in Cambridge
I got to see the marvels of flight first hand
Great planes – from early pioneers to new planes and even spaceflight
Hoped to see something special – and I wasn’t disappointed
Tomorrow – i’ll take a look at what I captured
Salford, 12th May 2017
Down the long stretches of Tarmac he goes
In darkness, fuelled by apples and bananas
Some call him crazy, but others they smile
Taking to the deserted road, to break down his time
All for the prize, of reaching that line
Nice shiny medal and Achievement awaits
Could records be broken this year ? A possibility
Expect a great smile as the target is reached
#coloryourworld #antique-brass #cyw
At times you could mistake it for gold
with it’s off yellow patina
Decorating houses 🏡 with things from time gone by
But it’s much more valuable than that
To each wooden door 🚪 its castings and shapes
Bring a smile to those who are greeted by it
As younger successors buckle bridles and shoes
And animals awake their owners
As they knock on front doors around the land
This is a picture of a Barrage Balloon, It was used (alongside many others) to provide cover against enemy bombing attacks on Britain during world war II.
Despite its size and volume these balloons were terribly lightweight and required teams of operators to anchor them and keep them in position.
They were used in areas of strategic importance , such as Runways , Railways and Docks. The port of Manchester was considered a key target for the enemy airplanes in World War II because of the vast amount of goods coming through it.
The one you see on here , is part of Imperial War Museum North’s Large object collection where the balloon operators tale is one of many displayed throughout the Museum’s Main Exhibition Space
Salford and Liverpool, November 2015
Hey! over Here! Yeah, Man – It’s ME!
Hiding away, in plain sight, in the sea.
A product of Her Majesty’s Royal Na-vee…
But one you can’t spot – I’m sure you’ll agree
Hidden, I’ll protect you
by day or by night
with my dazzling colours to avoid a fight
coloured like sea and sky so bright
enemy spotters cant see me quite right.
And it’s not just me hiding – look up in the air
catch a glimpse of my flying friends if you dare
on spotting missions against th’ enemy
and tanks hidden like fallen trees
So keep your eyes open –
and don’t let them veer
One Minute i’ll be there
and the next
Disappear!
The Inkwell