Image: New Yorkshire cap and tee shirt bought for this tour and worn often and used in publicty posters

 

 

 

 

 

24.09.24 - 1) Eyes tested, given the all clear,

Now start planning for next year

See what’s in the coffers and look for the special offers

See what’s best try not to get too stressed

Search not in vain, got a good deal again

Decent flight, stopover times just right

Plenty of time so hopefully I’ll see my suitcase at the end reunited with me

Car next let the excitement mount the company’s offering a good discount

And how great I feel realising I’ve got a great deal

Once more on the internet I looked, soon my accommodation was booked

Now just two things left to do, driving license and ESTA to renew

 

21.11.24 - 2) Driving license pending, ESTA renewed

Things seemed to be going right

Then an email from British Airways, they’ve changed the time of my flight

These things happen they say not to worry or get in a flurry

It could be in vain cos’ they may change again

A shorter wait but should the staff should be able

To get my luggage transferred from the first plane

When it’s done we can fly across the pond as one

And at the end of the flight I hope I can put in rhyme,

Me and my suitcase arrived in Austin, both at the same time

 

01.01.25 – 3) New years day 2024 gone the world carries on

2025 another year, do we live in hope or fear

Hoping for the best if put to the test. It’s raining I’m not complaining

Weather forecasters got it right it’s been raining all night

Soon I’ll be getting up and see Milo our pup

Him and me having a snuggle on the settee

So good bye 2024 I’m gonna lie in a bit more.

 

4) Milo’s okay and what better way to start the day

Than let morning creep while we have another sleep

The two of us snug and warm together who cares about the weather

A moment not to miss, a time of bliss

And a time to reflect on what’s gone what’s to come

Looking back I’ve got all my documentation for the American nation

Driving license sorted insurance paperwork the last to arrive

Now wait for my Texas poetry tour come alive in April 2025

 

05.01.25 – 5) I woke, rose opened the curtains and found

A layer of snow on the ground

Fallen through the night everything white

No strong wind or icy blast, a gentle fall it had come at last

Still coming down in village, city and town

Been forecast for a while at least it would make the kids smile

To them a lark, photos on Facebook of them sledging in a local park

But hopes of getting elsewhere dropped as trains and buses stopped

But a hardy few knew what to do

Coming to the fore, offering help in their 4 x 4

No time to lurk get essential workers to work

So once more give a cheer for the unsung hero the volunteer

Snowed gently for most of the day

Now I can hear the rain beating on my study window pain

So tomorrow things should be alright as long as it doesn’t freeze tonight.

And a nights sleep bring, a dream of Texas in the Spring

 

19.01.25 - 6) Snow gone January rolls slowly on

Still cold as the month gets old

Meanwhile in the wider world a truce is being unfurled

To say the least a ceasefire in the middle east

News delighting hopefully an end to Hamas and Israel fighting

Thousands have dies many more have cried

As with any war that question is what was it for

What was it worth, will we ever get peace on earth

Demonstrations, cynicism running rife, will there be an end to the strife

Peace they say but will it last, will there be hatred from the past

Aid lorries no longer waiting time now abating

Will the hostages get home at last

For now we can hope and pray that their tomorrow will be a better day

 

20.01.25 – 7) I rose to face the day ahead a chilly wind blowing

Phone bleeping texts coming to say, who would need food parcels today

A total of five as the morning come alive

Later there’d be an inauguration

In the worlds so called most powerful nation

No more ridin’ with Biden the voters had decided to plump for Trump

It would be, the second time he would beat a female president nominee

Many said it wasn’t fair, he should not have been there

Four times indicted on one convicted

Well the die has been cast we’ll see how long the honeymoon will last

The media said we could see it on tv

They gave us the time it would be on air I thought do I really care

 

19.02.25 – 8) January gone the year rolls on

February now and its still cold as the month grows old

Rain, wind and frost pushes up the heating cost

And I’m waiting for April to bring another poetry tour in the Spring

And when I’m driving anywhere

Listening to country music it’s like I’m there

 

20.02.25 – 9) I woke to the morning air ringing

To the sound of birds singing

Outside it felt quite warm, wind blowing not a storm

But it got stronger as the day got longer

Still the food bank to be done and in the main it didn’t rain

Items selected, packed and collected

Job done home I run

After tea change then away to do something I like

Ending my working week at Inkspill reciting at an open mic

 

23.02.25 – 10) Once more weather changes again cold wind and rain

Really cold day, March only 5 days away

One thing I’m knowing, it hasn’t stopped the daffodils from growing

Few in number waking from their Winter slumber

As if to say “take heart Spring’s on it’s way”.

Yet the winds blowing, rain on my widow drumming

And it seems like Spring’s going to be a long time coming

 

11.03.25 –11) Now we’re in March and for what we were yearning

It seems the weather was at last turning

A really great weekend but we’d hoped in vain it turned cold again

Just hoping the future will bring, a change and I get to Texas in Spring

But I’ve been told to beware with what’s going on over there

Trump in power, apparently not his finest hour

Acting the fool trying to ridicule

The President of Ukraine, it was all in vain

Zelensky stood his ground refusing to back down

Tariffs imposed seemed to have backfired because like as not

Countries affect are having an American goods boycott

 

17.03.25 – 12) March is getting old and it’s still cold

17th March today, St Patrick’s Day

My late mum would have 100 today which would bring

A telegram form the king

Although not here any more wherever I may be

Hopefully she's looking down on me

From her heavenly home when I’m on a poetry roam

And my performances delight her

As she remembers the fortune teller who once said

One of your sons will become a poet and writer

 

21.03.25 – 13) The morning air ringing to the sound of birds singing

Were they heralding the first day of Spring

Is fine weather finally looming out in the garden flowers now blooming

Sun actually shining to start the day,

Rise, a shower, time with Milo breakfast and then away

To the food bank see what the day will bring

But thinking of Austin Texas in Spring

Hopefully all will go fine and I’ll fly out on April 9.

 

01.04.25 – 14:1) Today another NaPoRiMo starts

A full month dedicated to the poetry arts

A poem a day they ask should be an easy task

But of late I seem to have been slacking, inspiration lacking

Hopefully it will come back and the month be on track

When in Texas I find I can write about anything I find

So instead of a daily score I may well write many more

But for now I’ll leave it with this one

Cos’ it’s time to enjoy some April sun

 

02.04.25 – 15:2) Another sunny start to the day once more I’m away

To the food bank as expected there’s parcels to pack and be collected

A collection to be done then the sandwich run

Surplus to the schools then away to enjoy what’s left of the day

 

03.04.25 – 16:3) Another day, sunny once more

Time to contemplate a poetry score

But doubt about what to write about, it could be what I’ve seen on tv

What I’ve been doing or any hobby I’m pursuing

Just let it flow and it’s gone alright now it getting late so to all a goodnight

 

04.04.25 -17:4) Working week past, the weekend at last

Enjoy some time for me and see

What I can get done to get ready to fly off to enjoy the hot Texas sun

Departure day now five days away

Don’t have to be slacking soon I’ll need to get packing

And be needing to print some poems off for reading

So hope everything goes right in time for my outward flight

 

05.04.25 – 18:5) Time’s going fast, its the weekend at last

A few days more and departure day. Once more I’ll be away

my 13th tour of Texas for poetry and more

Stare checking for what I need, it appeared

I was short on socks, so shop sought and some bought

Everything else seems okay

Soon I’ll be getting things ready for departure day

But first thing first and to my delight, I’ve got an event with friends tonight

 

06.04.25 – 19:6) Last nights event went well I could tell

An engagement celebrated we were all elated

Poetry and music we had a ball a good time had be all

Time to smile meeting friends I hadn’t seen for while

Now it’s the Fifth Sunday in Lent to church I went

The music to play like the service DJ

On the CD player the music ringing To it the congregation singing

My last service for a while soon I’ll be travelling many a mile

When it’s over I leave with wishes and more

For a safe and successful 2025 poetry tour

 

07.04.25 – 20:7) Rise, dress, breakfast and away

To the food bank for my last day

Only a few need packing but still no time for slacking

Working nice and steady get them ready

As expected some were collected

One was cancelled for two there was a delay

So they can wait till next collection day. Then I’m done so away I run

Get things sorted just so cos’ there’s only two more days to go

When hopefully I begin another poetry roam of Texas, my spiritual home

 

08.04.25 – 21:8) Email said boarding pass was ready

Checked through details nice and steady

Press go let it flow that it’s done I am ready to fly

Now to make sure nothings lacking, carry on with my packing.

When that’s done sit and chill wait with anticipation

An early night and hopefully tomorrow a safe flight

And a successful poetry roam, of Texas my spiritual home