Inanimate objects high in the sky, silently they fly, silently passing you by

Elgantly built, some for speed but mostly built  to cover a need

A need to get from A To B as quickly, cheaply and efficiently

Transporting you from your life at home to another less familiar zone

Some of us like it hot and by the beach, tanning and surfing all day long

Some of us like to be out of reach, isolated in a small hut on a hill, hiking each day is our chosen thrill

Some of us choose a City Break, a short hop to another land with different vibes and different sounds

Some of us fly business class of course, they get the extra room and a pillow to aid your sleep

The majority fly economy stowing your bags at your feet

Whatever your choice its much the same aim, getting away for a break is your game.

You may choose Las Vegas, Florida or France, Iceland, New York or Jamaica, Singapore, Rome or Venice, the world is your oyster.

You may choose to climb a mountain, dive in deep seas, camp by a fire, go see a band, dance by candlelight on the sand.

All of these choices are yours to explore let the Plane whisk you away to these destinations and more.

Your imagination is endless so let your mind roam free, have courage, book your ticket,  choose your destiny

Planetary alignment. 😊💫

"The planets are aligned tonight! It's called Planetary Alignment!" The weatherman says, proudly imparting his knowledge. I know what he is thinking: "Does anyone care?" 🤔😂

Tonight, after the sun has set, is the best time to see Jupiter, Pluto Venus, and Mercury. Together with Mars, Saturn, and the Moon in almost a perfect line and all visible to the human eye. 🔭✨

At just before sunset, we gather our grandchildren, Fletcher, who is five, Roman, who is eight, and Alfie, who is sixteen. My husband and I set out for the park, the younger children excited that it was turning dark. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌅

We installed Sky Walk apps and ones that zoomed and set out with binoculars of various sizes.Excited and hoping for a few surprises. 📱🔍

Everyone gathered and looked to the sky. 🤩 We were stunned by Mercury and Venus, who seemed the closest to our naked eye. 😲❤️

Wow! With the addition of a monocle, we could see both planets clearly. The rings and craters that marked them individually 😲🌕

We took pictures, and everyone talked animatedly. Excited by what they had seen. 📸🗣️

Even our young teen was impressed he took the best picture too. Using his iPhone with a broken screen, he had no need for an app with Zoom. 👍📸😍

Thank you Mr Weatherman for making us see the universe through your eyes. This evening was simply one of the best🙏🌟✨

At the top of a rocky hill
Overlooking Plymouth Sound sits a Fort big and round
Known to the locals as the Royal Citadel

The Fort protects Plymouth Sound and all the citizens that live
and work around.
Originally designed by Sir Francis Drake and funded by taxes on pilchards exported by sea.
With walls 70ft high and host to 113 guns, the Citadel protected Plymouth for over 300 years and was home to the naval military.

When I was young annual Military Tattoos were held
Every child in Plymouth seemed to attend transfixed by the smart men all in time, marching and playing their drums and pipes.

Now the Citadel proudly sits on display but sadly has no role today, no tattoos or music of the night displays.

By 2024 the Plymouth Citadel will be no more
Three hundred years of history will be replaced by housing much in need but sadly no longer will it have a military history

There is Poetry in everything we see
From the peaks of snow-covered mountains
To the depths of the deep blue sea

There is Poetry to be scribed by the tip of your pen
Descriptions of wondrous landscapes from Cornish Tors to Scottish Glens

There is Poetry to be scored from the heart
Take love, add a pinch of romance, that's a warm and snuggly place to start

There is Poetry to be slugged from the depth of a bottle
With darker colours that become stormy and sometimes appear mottled

There is Poetry to be found in every corner of the Globe
A story or Poem maybe of poverty, maybe of power, waiting to be told

The world needs Poets of every guise
Poets of Romance, Nature and those who are considered to be worldly-wise

There is Poetry to be pulled from deep within your soul
Dig deep, make writing Poetry your personal goal

Lying, sleeping on the couch.
Arms outstretched, he has no cares, tumbling blonde curly hair
A whirlwind by day, he is no slouch, for that I can truly vouch.

My grandson not yet turned two.
The apple of his grandads eye.
He will awake again in a few, so much to see and do.
Once awake he will run and fly our precious little butterfly.

The rainbow rises, showing all of its colours
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Violet, Indigo and Blue
Blue the colour of your eyes
I love rainbows, I love you



Raincoats and Welly Boots.
Go together like
A pantomine tale and mother goose.

Raincoats and Welly Boots

Little girls and little boys;
playing in natures endless supply of toys.
Walking through puddles, almost knee deep.
Splashing in mud pools, mud covering their feet.

Raincoats and Welly Boots

Wearing Raincoat and Welly Boots
Splashing, laughing not a care in their world
Should be the entitlement of every boy and girl.

Raincoats and Welly Boots

For just 5 minutes
Discard your black shiny shoes and Italian suit
Put on your Raincoat and Welly Boots
Remember when once you were young
Splish, splash, splosh oh what fun

Raincoat and Welly Boots

Rain falls on the ground
Splish splash splosh becomes the sound
Rainy days once more

Reflections in the water
Of white fluffy clouds from above
A sprinkling of Summer
And sunnier days yet to come

I wonder, what would it be like to be lost and alone?

To find myself in a foreign country, completely alone.

A frightened young child, unable to speak.
Acting uneasy, shy, embarrassed and meek.

Wishing for someone to become my friend.
Wishing this nightmare, l am caught up in, please, come to an end.

Not knowing what happened to my Mum and Dad.
Locking myself away, hiding my sad :(

I can't imagine how it would be.
If I lost my sister whilst crossing the big wide sea.

Apart from my family; No knowledge of their safety or demise.
Waiting for information from an adult considered sagely wise.

I imagine it would be horrible and the toughest of times.
And imagine this happening today, in peacetime.

This is happening every day, bombs being dropped on buildings and homes,  in cities far away.

Driving families to leave their homes and all they know.
Wearing down their shoes until all that is left is a very thin sole.

Walking over mountains, with all they possess in a small backpack.
Losing loved ones along the way but keeping going, staying on track.

Determined to find peace and a new homeland.
Make friends, play football, maybe join a brass band.

Its not much to ask when you are nine or ten
Just wanting a home, loving parents and maybe a best friend.
******
Reading a book today called The Boy at the back of the class by Onali, Q, Rauf.
I found it a heart warming read, aimed at children but you should definitely read it.  It is charming, funny and sad.  Written from a child of 9 ¾ perspective if what is right and what is wrong when a young boy is brought into school and told to sit at the back of the class.  All he needs is friends to start opening up about his troubles.

My mind is nimble
After ten kilometres
Body not so quick

The Spanish and the English had been joined in matrimony with a seal of approval and instructions to Prince Philip he was not to try and rule.

In time a Heir would be born to his wife Queen Mary and then order would be restored, Queen Mary who was admired and adored died childless in 1558 leaving her sister as the Heir.

The relationship was a tentative one, holding on by a string, the English plundered Spanish boats and took all of their nice things.
They set their bounty before Her Majesty The Queen and duly she admired and asked for more to be brought to her, she was a greedy squire.

It didn't take long before King Philip of Spain did declare that we would fight the English and stop the robbing Privateers.

Then one day on Plymouth ***
Playing bowls one night, one of these Royal Privateers
Spied a fleet of Spanish ships and ran with all his might
To inform Her Majesty we were under attack
Her Majesty's orders given, we must of course fight back

The Spanish Fleet sailed past Plymouth and dropped anchor off Calais
Storms abrewed and vessels were lost
The Aramada ships scuttled away, returning back from where they had came
Francis Drake was a hero
Her Majesty The Queen was delighted and called him to the Palace where he got down on one knee and was duly knighted.

She laughs
She crys
She moans
She sighs

He laughs
He crys
He moans
He sighs

Together as one
They laugh
They cry
They moan
They sigh

Sid the Snake, slithers
Sid the Snake, stealthily glides
Amongst rushes, Sid the Snake hides

Venom in his Fangs
Sid the Snake, hunts for its prey
Will Sid eat today

Sid hisses his warning
Fangs immobilise, cause pain
Sid  the Snake, winning today

Avoid Sid the Snake
Give Sid the Snake a wide berth
Stay safe, know your worth

Sid the Snake, slithers
Sid the Snake, stealthily glides
Amongst rushes, Sid the Snake hides

Winter rainy days
Storm Dennis wreaking havoc
Home, here in the UK

Flooding roads and homes
Leaving chaos in its wake
People made homeless

Cherished lives are lost
Power lines felled to the floor
Storm Dennis how much more

The doors are wide open
The sky is blue
The wind is cold it cuts right through
I love the wind upon my face
It reminds me to embrace whats on its way
Who knows what will come
with every day

I love the wind blowing through the house
It sweeps the air and makes it pure
Pure crisp air for all to breathe
It’s done its job, it may now leave

It swirls and whirls and with it takes
Memories some new and some untold
But it never takes the old ones that are valuable to you
The wind leaves them behind for you to cherish once it’s gone

Who knew the wind could be so strong?

Summer Rain falling
Lowering warmth of the day
Nourishing the Land
Reviving life in our plants
Summer Rain, falling again

Summer Rain falling
Keep an umbrella on hand
Coats optional choice
Summer Rain nourishes land
We run around dodging drops

Summer Rain falling
Dark clouds full of Summer Rain
Falling on flood plains
Causing panic and distress
As the rain blows through again

Sunny days
You came again!
You are a balm to our soul.
In an otherwise world of grey,
You bring colour.
In a world of coldness,
You bring warmth.
In a world of silence,
You bring sounds.
In a world of loneliness,
You bring togetherness.
In a world of uncertainty,
You bring peacefulness.
  
When the pandemic is at bay.
You will bring beauty to another day.
Thank you for staying around!

Winters sky blushing
pink emblazoning the sky
start of a new day

The sun sets low behind the trees
The sight of it bringing you to your knees
The trees branches still bare of leaves
Gives the sky a hauntingly beautiful glow
And your thankful to have been there to see the sunset beneath the trees
To be brought to your knees by the outstanding beauty that's nature

Ten little ducklings,
furry and new.
Huddling together shielding themselves from your view.
Mother Hen protectively stands nearby.
Watching you closely with her eagle eye.
Father the Drake full of colour
stands a little to the side, but don't be fooled be certain; he's a fighter not a lover.
If you threaten he will chase you away.
Survival the name of the game.

Oh America we feel for you today, 26 lives stolen away
Praying in church for God to rest their souls , lives taken both young and old.
We weep and cry for the family members that remain, hoping that one day they will feel less pain.

Reason on hiatus, no way to make any sense
violence and hatred rampant, way too many, dead
all that's left, is aftermath, no justice too dispense
burying lives, for those who survive, and every tear dropped, or shed

Picking up the pieces, trying to move on, now that 26 lives have gone.
Trying to make sense of what’s left behind
Rewriting Gun Laws, springs to mind, not to take away your right to arms.
Just to make it harder for those that like to inflict harm.

Fight the fight, and know within your heart and soul
remembering those, we can't replace
and in church our guns, to hold

26 souls taken suddenly away,
Lets us all offer our thoughts and prayers to those left behind
Showing the world Humanity wins everytime.

Pray the prayers, and hang our heads, my friends
for those who are with us, no more
and to heaven's gates, commend

Amen
Rest In Peace - Sutherland Springs 26, Texas 06.11.2017

My sweet friend
Hold my hand
Let me take you to a better land
A land where everyone is unique
A land where petals pave the street
A land where everyone is happy and free
A land where you would want to be
Oh, sweet friend, I can take you there, just take my hand and follow me there.

My sweet friend
Hold my hand
Together we can stroll to far away lands
Lands where love conquers all
Lands where we can revive our souls
Lands that are serene and so divine
Lands that were created before the start of time
Oh, sweet friend, I can take you there, just take my hand and follow me there.

My sweet friend
Hold my hand
We can make a life in another land
A land where we can love each other
A land where we are true to each other
A land like no one else will see
A land unique to you and me
Oh, sweet friend, I can take you there, just take my hand and follow me there.

My Sweet Friend
Place your hand upon my heart, we can be together until death do us part

Another year over, a new one has begun,
I reflect on the great things that I’ve done,
The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met,
The many ways I travelled by car, train and jet.

I’ve been to some great places, Zante, Memphis, New Orleans & France,
All these places have their own unique rhythm and dance,
In Zante it’s Greek music and dancing, jumping and clapping all part of the fun,
In France the rhythm is vibrant and fun, all taking part under a gorgeous warm sun,
In Memphis, of course, it’s rock and roll, rhythm and blues and a lot of soul,
Beale St is the place to go,
In New Orleans, it’s rhythm and blues and jazz,
On each street corner marching bands,
Bourbon St the place for all genres of music from Louis Armstrong to Jason Mraz.

I’ve climbed to the top of a Mountain to look at a Saxon Fort,
I’ve been underground to some Roman Remains,
I’ve travelled the English Channel from Dover Port.
I’ve become intolerant to the Gluten Grain.

I’ve visited Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams,
I’ve been to Cardiff to see the Speedway,
Visited a stately home for Scones and Cream,
I’ve visited The Mumbles, Swansea just for the day.

I’ve celebrated my middle son getting married,
I’ve snuggled the Grandkids for hours and hours,
Dozens of shopping trips complete and bags carried,
Worried over my Grandkids in the darkest of hours.

I’ve visited Graceland’s, home of The King,
I’ve travelled from Memphis to New Orleans by Amtrak train,
I’ve visited the bayou of New Orleans,
Seen Alligators sleeping, Herons, Lizards and Cat Fish on the end of a line,
Travelled the Mississippi on a paddle boat powered by steam.

I’ve visited museums in several locations,
The Van Gogh, The *** Museum and The Moco in Amsterdam, The Lowry and Imperial War Museum in Manchester,
Walked these cities in all types of Weather,
Viewed paintings and sculptures by Van Gogh, Dali, Lowry and Banksy, photographs of **** maids and their Lords,
At the Imperial War Museum, I learned a lot about wars,
On display the bravery of more than a few, Men, Women and Children too.

I’ve had family days out aplenty,
Fed ducks, swans and geese with stale bread,
Trips to the park on seesaws and swings,
Laughed so much, at Comedy Club, it’s hurt my head.

I’ve travelled on a barge up the Manchester Ship Canal
I’ve visited Rame Head, Cornwall, for Family occasions
I’ve watched Peabody Ducks march back to their nest, a carnival fit for Royal
Walked along the cliffs of Whitsand Bay, close to the Coastguard Station

I’ve published two children’s books based on stories told my children at bedtime
I’ve been to concerts, Phil Collins, Coldplay, Robbie Williams and The Rolling Stones
I’ve written many a poem, 190 plus including Limericks, consisting of 5 lines that rhyme
I’ve had a tooth implant, causing swelling and bruising to my cheekbones

I’ve discovered a love of Gin and Tonic,
I never used to like so that’s ironic
Rhubarb and Ginger my favourite flavour
Sit at the bar, sip it slow, it’s a joy to savour

I’ve had times I needed to cry
I’ve had times I needed a hug
I’ve had times I needed to smile
I’ve had times I needed to laugh
I’ve had times I needed no one
I’ve had times I needed to be surrounded

As I reflect at the year past,
I reflect that mostly it’s been a blast,
This year I want to experience new things,
And, my long-term plan is to return to running.

So, please Lord bring forth another year,
I’ll use all my blood, sweat and tears,
To make good use of another year.
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On This Day In History – August 15th

1914 – The Panama Canal opens to traffic with the transit of the cargo ship SS Ancon.
1920 – Polish-Soviet War: Battle of Warsaw, so-called Miracle at the Vistula.
1939 – The Wizard of Oz premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California.
1941 – Corporal Josef Jakobs is executed by firing squad at the Tower of London at 07:12, making him the last person to be executed at the Tower for espionage.
1944 – World War II: Operation Dragoon: Allied forces land in southern France.
1947 – India gains Independence from British rule after near 190 years of Crown rule and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.
1965 – The Beatles play to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, an event later regarded as the birth of stadium rock.
1998 – Northern Ireland: Omagh bombing takes place; 29 people (including a woman pregnant with twins) killed and some 220 others injured.
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People I Share my Birthday with

Princess Anne
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jennifer Lawrence
Deborah Messing
Ben Afleck
Jack Russell
Carol Thatcher
Mark Thatcher