2022

So what do we want of the year 22

As we approach the year that is new?

Here’s hoping for not like the last two years

Which filled us with tragedy, risk and with fears

Please go away you covid bug

And let us all receive a hug

Real or virtual, we care not which

So long as we can make a switch

Back to a world where we can plan 

For gatherings and holidays and meetings of clan

Happy New Year 🙏

Boat Sharing

Twenty plus years of sharing

Has been just great for us

Cruising around the country

With the minimum of fuss

Moving around marinas

Some cozy, some so large

But always staffed by people

Who look after us and “barge (!)”

We love a city mooring

Leeds, Manchester or Drum

But also rural quiet spots

Away from the humdrum

Favourite canal, the Caldon

Or maybe the Peak Forest

We also love the Ashby

When our need for locks is modest

We’ve travelled the whole country

England through the back door

Cities, towns and countryside

Mishaps ‘n adventures galore

Rivers in flood are the riskiest thing

And lead us to some fear

Heading up the Severn on amber

Or caught by a Sour wier!

Self pump outs are a challenge

Can’t pretend that that is fun

And losing reverse right on a bend

With nothing to be done 

But we have done the Caen Hill flight

In December, and in spring

Been lifted by the Anderton

Seen the Barton bridge in swing.

Now hanging up the windlass

After everything we’ve seen

Fellow owners – you’re fantastic

And Sundowner is the queen.

LIMBO

Many folk experience

This time of in between

House sold but new one not complete

A world of not quite being

Each day a brand new box to tick

A different hurdle to jump

The fear that it could yet go wrong

Making the poor heart thump

Pretend that it’s a holiday

As you rent a short term place

A chance for exploration

While continuing the chase

Just wishing to be settled

Not waiting day to day

For no more boxes to be ticked

No forms to go astray

The end will come

With no more stress

The limbo does subside

Really we’re the lucky ones

With somewhere to reside

WORKING LIFE

As a child I had a nurse outfit

With apron and all that

I took a convoluted route

To earn myself that hat

..

This verse is a reflection

On my retirement day

To recall all the ways 

I’ve earned my daily pay

..

Paper round at Trevettes

Friday’s never funny

On to woolworths on the till

As we moved to the new money

..

I planned to continue to study

To major in IT

Sadly my exam results

Blew that dream for me

..

At 17 we had to move

My Dad was made redundant

I really sought the chance to stay 

But my earnings weren’t abundant

..

I’ve remained a proud north Londoner

Wherever I have been

Most clearly ever evidenced

through my passion in my team

..

And so I moved and worked in tax

My knowledge now is very lax

I barely recall VAT

that career was not for me!

..

I left the inland revenue

In search of some held dream

Kibbutz life suited very well

An idyll not quite seen!

..

I nurtured avocado trees

Before they were a thing

Milked cows, picked fruit, arranged events

At which I didn’t sing

..

I met a lot of people 

A mental health nurse, name of Jacques

Little did I know back then

That he put me on track

..

Driven back to England

By the onset of a war

The magic bus adventure

-my European tour! 

..

Part time jobs in nurseries 

’n’ selling supermarket booze

Before I landed in the career

I’d at last come down to choose

..

Now I’m a mental health nurse

Health career had begun

Some of it quite challenging 

Most of it, quite good fun

..

I’ve learnt that serendipity 

Is something to embrace

I never ever thought I would wor

with those of advanced age.

..

The closing of asylums 

A time of angst and fear

When I look back on the move I made;

It defined my whole career.

..

I worked in a small hospital

Where you could have a bed

Whether your need was physical or

A challenge in the head

..

I much remember just one man

Who’d sadly had a stroke

He should have quick got better but

His mental health was broke

..

This emphasised the mal-divide

‘Tween different schools of learning

I fixed my gaze on fixing this

Still something of a yearning!

..

Why focus services and jobs 

On body or on mind

Surely it’s clear, we all are both

But that’s not what we find

..

My mission was now set for me

Early adopter ACP

and later on a PhD

Through the eye of gerontology

..

Mental health Liaison nurse

At first, just one of two

Making the case, doing the job

The working time just flew

..

Amidst it all I found more luck

Supplied by Tony Blair

Consultant Nursing recognised 

Of course, I got in there!

..

This opened lots of doors for me

Meeting good and great

Took part in National Strategies

And met my National mates

..

NHS life’s not all easy 

So when I’d done my years

I took my first retirement 

It didn’t end in tears

..

I held on to a little bit 

With what became HE

Little did I know back then

How far this would take me

..

I dabbled in a lot of roles

And found a lot to learn

Not least that I could offer much

And dictate my own terms

..

I’ve led investigations

Done shifts in some care homes

Private memory service

Many many new milestones

..

All along I held my post

Worked on with HEE

Initially in Wessex 

and then in Thames Valley

..

Consultant Practitioner Trainees

Supporting them to grow

Such a lucky privilege

To watch where they will go.

..

I learnt about curricula

And making new workforce’s

Through work achieved with Ghana 

Developing new courses

..

The new ACP pathways

Give hope that those behind

Can carve the career that they want 

In more of a straight line

..

That is me, but before I go

Before I rest…. tomorrow

“Please take that risk, against the flow

And plough your unique furrow “

Round trip to Wembley

I was born in Wemb er Ly

Left there at the age of three

On to Southgate: that is home

Where I was schooled and I was grown

At 17 the family moved

Quite devastating as it proved

Devizes did not suit me well

Too quiet, too rural: it was hell

To Bristol, married and divorce

To Bath: loved living there of course

Off to Israel for a while

To try out a brand new lifestyle 

Back to Potterne until when

To Basingstoke to be with Ken

Ash and Jo came along then

To join stepbrothers Steve and Ben

Finally we settled down

to spend much time near Guildford town

From the hills you can see

A lovely view of Wemb er ly

Nala

Nala is a funny hound

Quick of eye 

Can spot a fly

At a hundred feet

She can cover lots of ground

Takes no heed 

of her speed

And the fear of those she meets

Yet when she is in her own home

In a heap

Fast asleep

She doesn’t stir for anyone

Occasionally if there’s a bone

She’ll raise her head

And may be led

To having just a bit of fun

But now we’re out and all alert

On the prowl

To catch that owl

If only I was off the lead

I’ll chase a ball, one final spurt

Then back to bed

To rest my head

Dream of the chase at that great speed