Memories

Dancing on Air

Life, Memories, Poetry, Schooldays

#octpowrimo

Salford , 10th October 2018

I don’t remember exactly

When my clumbersome feet

Felt lighter than a feather

Perhaps it was walking across fields of flowers

Or watching the squirrels In the local park,

Rolling around in the mounds of freshly cut grass

Or maybe, it was the taste of strawberries in winter,

Hiding away in a little fruit tartlet

Or at most, the moment at that high school dance

Where the girl I had an eye on gave me half a chance

Moments now scattered in the mind, here and there

Moments I was literally dancing on air

Hidden things

Memories, Poetry

#Promptuarium

13th September 2018

Hidey Holes in the place where I rest my head

hold memories, to recall and to cherish

programmes of events and photographs

uniform pins of times gone by

Old cameras look on in awe as

24 stills turn to 48 turn to over a 100

as film turns to cartridge and to chip

how many memories are on the corner of my desk ?

Archives of old journals and diaries

now playing hide and seek

in the corner of a wardrobe space

On occasion, shown the light to read

And what of the tapes and videos

now boxed away ?

The machines can no longer play

Tape recorder occasionally used,  video cassette – gathering dust

Toy Story

Childhood, Memories, Poetry, Toys

#Toystory #Memories #Childhood

Salford 6th September

I can see them now

scattered around on the floor

those little bricks that stuck together

some square – some rectangles

some red, some yellow, some blue, some green

we made trees and houses

for the little lego people

that rode around in the cars

on the stubbily green grass outside the house

we’d just built

Flagbreak

Camping, Cooking, Memories, Outdoor Pursuits, Outdoors, Poetry

Unfurl

A summer morning, Worsley woods, west of Manchester

the sun just peaking through the nest of trees

circle of tents in various spots

and a scout leader starting the beginnings of an altar fire

little faces pop out of the niger tents to grab a view

breakfast served at 8 am sharp

but first, a mug of tea

some make a break for the toilet block

as sausage and eggy bread sizzle in a pan

orders given to the sous chef … he keeps his eye on the food

and slowly the camp leader makes his way to the pole

and all stand still in observance

the flag is released from its bonds

and flies high in the gentle breeze , proudly to attention

and all present give a salute

before breakfast is served

Tale of a Pencil Case

Childhood, Memories, Schooldays

Salford 18th March 2018

Anyone who’s read the “First Day at School” piece on here, will know how in my first year at High school – i ended up in Needlework for form.

Well, during the school week that year – as well as your regular stuff from English and Maths, Geography, History and all….we had craft lessons and this took us from Woodwork to Pottery.

But before we could get into the really messy stuff.  We had to do the basics

and this meant making a pencil case from scratch

They were all standard size – and made from one standard tartan fabric,

the inner pocket – we could choose a colour from a selection and attached it to the tartan before creating the cases over all shape

I still have memories of lads in their craft aprons yelling out after being stabbed by a stray pin.   For me, my Achilles heel was getting the thread in the needle

Once attached, we were shown how to operate the sewing machine

As i put my foot to the pedal – i watched as the fabric slowly formed into the case

Then the decorations and fixings went on – biased binding, riff-raff braid in all colours and velcro and pop-studs

It took a few sessions to master, but when i finished i’d created something i’d be proud to take into the rest of class with

Tend

Garden, Memories, Poetry

Salford, 9th February 2018

Tend

Plants need looking after when they’re little.

I remember , as a lad being given three packets of seed by my Grandad.

they never told me what was in those silver packets

but each day i’d go to my spot by the lawn, to see what popped out of the ground

and with watchful eye, my mum and dad helped me sort the weeds from the plants

whilst i watered the soil, when the clouds weren’t dropping the rain

and each day, slowly but surely, the little seeds grew

flowerheads hid away till the sunshine appeared

and on those days i’d water them with my watering can…

then one day the flowerheads opened

and a square of reds, pinks, oranges , yellows and blues surrounded the lawn

Moving Day

Memories, Places

Relocate
Salford, 5th December 2017

It came like a bolt out of the blue.

I cant remember the date – i remember the announcement

“I put an offer in – they’ve accepted!”

we were moving house.

Over the next few days – boxes were packed

and preparations laid,

as carpet and kitchen came in

and walls were painted – blue and beige

Over time – the view outside changed

plants grew, and colours emerged

impromptu rock garden and ferns

brightening up the buildings site opposite