A Ride on a Blackpool Tram….Poem

I havn’t managed to get to Blackpool this year. My childhood was lived here, in fact I suppose it was my childhood paradise. But what I miss the most, is a ride on one of their iconic trams……..the film at the end was my era. In fact from the late 1950’s right through the 60’s and probably beyond……..

Metal on metal as they rattle along the prom

My favourite mode of transport, the classic Blackpool tram

As a child I’d marvel at these magical machines

Sat upstairs, my nose pressed against the screen

…………….

‘Hold tight’, ‘Tickets please’

The cry would come

A beaming smile, ‘Where to me duck?’

‘Pleasure Beach please’..’well tha’s in luck’

……………..

The candy floss, the donkeys, arcades whizzing past

Central pier, Manchester square, the tram was packed

Waterloo Road, South Pier, and always the sea

My finger poised, ‘ding ding’, ‘next stop please!’

…………………

As I watched it set off to Starr Gate, its’ end

I knew it would turn around and come straight back again

I could spend all day going up and down the prom

On my favourite mode of transport, the old Blackpool tram

Friars Crag…..Poem….

This small tiny Crag in paradise

Holds so much peace for me

It has beauty all around it

Sat on its bench, look and you will see…..

With Cat Bells soaring on the right

And the beautiful bay to the left

Borrowdale lays straight ahead

Without these sights I’d feel totally bereft

Here’s where my ashes will eventually lay

Where my soul will live on forever

Where Robins appear, so tame, so close

But only if you believe in their power

Everyone should have a special place

And Keswick is certainly mine

I can sit in the rain, the sun or the cloud

And feel close to nature …..so divine…..

………………………………

Choese this song because I like Cold Play AND it’s called Paradise……

The one word we never hear from the media…..

During August, it was announced that the football legend Denuis Law had been diagnosed with Mixed Dementia. The press announced is sounding like an obituary …..but he wasn’t dead! However, Law himself then wrote an article for the Guardian… a positive article…he said:

“I do understand what is happening and that is why I want to address my situation now whilst I am able, because I know there will be days when I don’t understand and I hate the thought of that right now. In the height of the pandemic I said I hoped that if one positive was to come out of it, it would be that it would make people kinder to each other, so that’s what I am hoping for now.”

You can read the full article here hopefully:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/19/manchester-united-legend-denis-law-diagnosed-with-mixed-dementia?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

If the media continue this negative onslaught towards dementia, we have no chance of reducing the stigma associated to a diagnosis. But thankfully Law was honest. Yes we know it’s a bummer of a diagnosis, BUT there is life still to be lived…..by chance I’d written a poem the week before….

One word we don’t hear at diagnosis, 

one word we so desperately need, 

sinking into a depth of despair 

simply because that one word is missing, 

…….

One word for the life still to be lived, 

one word offering encouragement, 

one word that could help us see light, 

amidst this dark black tunnel….

…….

One word that smiles, 

that brings about relief, 

one simple word to help us cope, 

what is that word? 

It’s HOPE.

A small word that can have a huge impact on someone’s life…..

Final thought for Dementia Awareness Week…..Poem

As I said at the beginning of this week, for those of us affected by dementia, every day is dementia day, there’s no escape. You may forget we exist next week as something else takes your eye, but remember this one last thought…….it applies to anyone and everyone…..

What Action will you take today?
To make someone feel safe
To make someone feel calm

What Action will you take today?
For someone with dementia
For a stranger in the street

If you can’t think of an ACTION today
JUST SMILE
A smile can relieve a thousand thoughts
A smile can relieve a thousand worries

If you can’t think of an ACTION to take today
JUST SMILE
You may make someone else’s day………….

P.s…..there’s still time to sponsor me to raise funds for MInds and Voices by throwing myself off the beautiful fells of Keswick….every penny counts…..🙏

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mindsandvoices-york

A Christmas Poem….

I did try and write a new one this year…..but I still love this one best from a couple of years ago with all the references to the old carols, which I so love….so thank you for remaining with me on this unwanted journey, I couldn’t do it without all your support…..🎄

A time of year I love
To enjoy ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
Amidst the ‘Bleak Mid Winter’
When darkness dominates the day

When ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’
And bring calmness to the chaos around
When a ‘Silent Night’
Is all that I seek

I hope to bring
‘Joy to the world’
To family and friends alike
So everyone can sing this ‘Christmas Carol’

‘Deck the Halls’
And ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’
And ‘Have yourselves a Very Merry Christmas’
Singing ‘Tidings of comfort and Joy’

So ‘Come rest ye merry gentlemen’
Feel blessed this time of year
And let me and my family
And Billy, of course

Wish you all
A Happy Christmas
And let’s hope we can have real hugs in the New Year…

Natures healing hands…….Poem

A stunning sunrise

To start the day

Lifting my mood

Nature at play

A simple flower

Much needed colour

On a gloomy winters day

Natures own technicolour

A Robin visiting

Having a snack, a morning shower

Making me smile

Natures own super power 

I chose this song because it’s happy and I love the scenery….love to wake up to a frosty white morning….❤️

What a difference a day makes……..Poem

Five bad days in a row of late

Surely tomorrow must be good

Waiting in the darkness

If only it would

…..

Lying with my eyes closed

I sense a change in my head

I feel lighter, brighter

As I lay here in bed

…..

I stay there for a while

Just to wait and see

If it really is true

Has dementia finally unlocked the key

…..

I smile a tenuous smile

I really think it has

Today really is a good day

The rubbish time has passed….

…..

Give me a moment……poem

Give me a moment

Just a few minutes of your time

Give me one moment

To climb out of this brain of mine

…..

Give me a moment

To help me understand

What’s going on in my head

None of this was planned

…..

Give me a moment

To feel at peace

To feel normal again

To feel this rage in my head cease

…..

Give me a moment

Just one or two

I’m not asking for much

Just a moment for this confusion to pass through….

this song was my choice today dedicated to the beautiful mum of one of my best friends who sadly for us escaped this world this week but will be met at the gates with open arms by her husband Ivan…..To Babs…..❤️

My head is on fire…..Poem

Wrote this last week after another head banging day…….

My head is buzzing

It’s not my own

It’s sparking and muddled

Like a badly tuned radio

…….

I’ll hide under the duvet 

Til the noise abates

‘Til the warring factors

Stop crashing their plates

……

The muddle, the confusion

Renders me useless

No sense is the world

Making me feel foolish

…..

So come on dementia

Be kind to me today

Stay in your box, firmly locked

Keeping your confusion at bay

…..

Allow me to wake with a feeling of sunshine

Not a dull and overcast day

Give me a rest from your bad tempered jest

And allow me a trundle with a clear pathway…..

…..

Chose this song for the title, but I’d also forgotten it existed……

How many times…..Poem

How many times have you thought to yourself

If only I’d known that before?

How many times have you wished for a day

In the future to come and wished for more?

…….

How many times have you been jealous of others

Wanted what they had, wished you had more

How many times have you cursed your bad luck

And said “I wish I had more”

…….

Today, just stop and look around you

Stop wishing your life away

Appreciate what you do have

And be pleased for others having a good day

…..

We all have gifts around us

But we rarely see their value

A simple smile, a loving hug

Must never be undervalued

…..

Because they’re all the riches I need

As well as the nature all around

They’re pure gold in my eyes

And I feel so lucky that them I’ve found……

……

Chose this song simply because I love it……..