Monday, 26 December 2016

Driving Home For Christmas

"Doreen, slow down, I can see a dancing light over there on the right. Do you think it could be a firefly?"
"Don't be ridiculous Derrick!  Fireflies in December, and on late Christmas evening."
"Ah it's disappeared.... Oh no, there it is again.  Well look at that.  It's a cyclist, must has gone off into the ditch.  Shall we see if we can help?"
"He's getting up.  looks like he's ok."
"What's this? Oh my goodness, such language! Calling me 'dippy lights'. There's no need for that.  I'll dippy his lights if I get my hands on him.  Speed up Doreen, that's just rude."
"Probably been drinking.  Can you get points on your licence if you're cycling?"
"Doreen, be charitable  - it is Christmas."
Shenzhen Traffic Police photo showing a man on a chair in the beam of car headlights with a police officer next to him
See BBC website for
the remedy provided by sympathetic Police Officers in China.

Monday, 19 December 2016

Joanna- An Adult

Joanna with her flamin' cake



Shanghai Moon with lala, my mum, Frances and Rebecca

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Christmas 2016

 I march down our street shouldering a Christmas tree,
Surely I did this last month, but a year's passed already.

A year when Liz and her buddies up at Mizoram Baptist High,
Were asked to put on a musical, the school's first ever try.

"Just portray us as a happy school" was the instruction from the Head,
'We're a happy school' was the main message, sung, danced and said.

Down to earth from India, they toured sunny England,
Visiting interesting places, including the oysterbeds of Mersea Island.

Now that Sheffield's her home, Liz finds student life somewhat raucous,
I think she's read all her books on her undergraduate English course.

Joanna puts up with us old fogies, portions sizes have got fairer,
Recently at our church Ball, she won best fancy-dress wearer.

She continues to be theatrical, next term there's a trip to Broadway,
She's acting as the headteacher in the college musical, 'Hairspray'.

Studying English and Philosophy but drama's still ace,
A gap year is planned, then to university? (watch this space.)

This year Andrew's been learning about failing gracefully,
He didn't pass the third year of his course in family therapy.

On a happier note he celebrated his fiftieth year,
And is planning a skydive to show he has no fear.

Things go well at his work though he's concerned for the NHS,
His colleagues are wonderful and their support is a bless.

Margaret's school expands, now all academy's must compete,
She's a popular teacher, I don't remember giving my teachers a treat.

To Aachen we traveled to see the glories of Charlemagne,
We saw the amazing royal treasury and even gorped at his brain!

In the Summer fourteen Starrs stayed in Lorton in the Lakes,
Playing pool, cooking feasts and  following in Wordsworthian wakes

We are now off to Faringdon to join the Christmas scene,
With you we'll march together into the year 2017,






Sunday, 11 December 2016

Nabakov

I listened to 'Despair' by Valadimir Nabakov, with the extraordinary rendition offered by Christopher Lane, an actor.  The more I was drawn into the story, the more I felt a close proximity and bond with the character of Felix.  As I listened it dawned on me that here was a man with whom I have a close affinity.  This uncanny, disquieting experience has affected me all week.  It is as if I have found my doppelganger prematurely. Like being given a life-time for searching and it's all over so quickly, like a football match where the winning goal is scored within the first minute.  What am I to do?  This has got me thinking now.