Thank you, John. I remember Tony Hancock ordering three classic works of English Literature in a library so that he could stand on them and reach 'Lady, don't fall backwards', a slushy detective novel.
I have often waited until they make the film, but don't always watch the film.
Sometimes despair at the quantity of unread books, but I wouldn't be without them.
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Only in the Guardian, I guess, Uilleam.
Brilliant piece of verse.
Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)
What is it about scabs that we just have to pick at them?
Comment is about Resist (blog)
Original item by Aleks Mor
Hahaha! Well done Stuart. This rings very loud bells as we have just hosted (if that is the right word) our 14-years old granddaughter Alys for a week! We packed the week with interesting things to do, including a day trip to Brighton (in brilliant sunshine too) but she still projected a semi-disinterested facade all week, even as she was cooing over the Vivien Westwood shoe exhibition in the Northampton museum.
It was a privilege to watch a teenager in full flight!!!
Comment is about Adolescence (blog)
Original item by Stuart Vanner
Very well written Helene! What freedom and peace can bring the acceptance of people as they are! Thank you.
Comment is about Eyes of Eternity (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Emotionally high voltage!
I love it! 🎇
Thank you Clare! 🌷
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
John,
Thank you for this as I am firmly of the opinion that reading or the reading of books is in decline. Modern Technology with its keyboards and screens has delivered the death knell The lamentable quality of English now found in newspapers and the like, bear witness to a generation which is barely literate. A friend once remarked that a monkey can watch TV but he cannot read. I treasure my books and have at least three on the go at any one given time. It is a joy to read as it stimulates the imagination and enriches one's vocabulary.
Great poem
Keith
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
By pure coincidence this article has appeared in the Guardian.
It may go some way to explaining the current parlous condition of the UK.
"Origins of masturbation traced back to primates 40m years ago
Behaviour predates humans by tens of millions of years but evolutionary purpose is less clear, scientists say".
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/07/origins-masturbation-traced-back-primates-40m-years-ago
Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)
Thank you one and all.
Uilleam, you are right. Teaching is a great profession to have, and you would have suited it admirably, from what I have read of your poetry. Joy and anguish in equal measure 😂
Manish. Concentration has been eroded by the deluge of tripe we get served up on TV. 😕 I AM A VICTIM! 😀
Clare (thank you 🌷) I would love to have have taught you! There weren't many full on genius students in our catchment area!
Graham. You're right. I am seldom totally serious. But in every joke, there is a soupcon of truth 😁
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Priceless!
Comment is about Per Ardua ad Astra (now with audio) (blog)
I have a leather covered notebook that has a coffee/tea stain on many of its pages. It is an old friend and I often go back and read my notes from the past! I now read from a kindle for pleasure but beautiful reference books (I believe some call them coffee table books) are like pictures on a wall.
I hope your tongue is firmly in your cheek this time JB?
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
A good poem puts one in the place being described, even if one doesn't want to be there. This is one such piece.
I have ben married for 52 years (together 55) and considering this poem is a painful reminder of what lies ahead for one of us.
there are too many poignant lines to mention here. A very telling poem and I thank you for it.
G
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Twenty, Stephen!!!??? You can get a three-bedroomed semi in Grimethorpe for twenty.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
John Botterill, Stephen Gospage - Thank you. ☺️
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
You’re brilliant!😂😂😂 I’m going to laugh every time I think of this poem.
I wish you’d been my English teacher at school!🤣. Love it.
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Superbly written, my friend. The last part is rightly said that people nowadays prefer watching a biopic with information in bits, rather than reading the autobiographical book of a renown personal or otherwise.
Thank you.🌻
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thanks again John.
One of my regrets in life is that I never got to be a teacher.
What a wonderful profession-teaching a subject one loves; to inspire inquiring young minds.
One of my fondest memories of school as a nine or ten year old was our teacher, at the end of the last lesson, reading Black Beauty.
It was something I always looked forward to; I think that fired my imagination and gave me a love of reading.
Comment is about The Reluctant Reader Returns (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
I know a place in St John's Wood where they do discounts on a latte macchinato, John. And you still get change of a twenty.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
My thanks to Graham and John B. Yes, these were truly brave people.
And thanks to Hugh for liking.
Comment is about Normandy Veterans at the Airport (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
Thankyou Uilleam and Stephen. Yes, I was lucky to get back with all my fingers.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Gilt edged Tennyson, Bethany? Perfect adornment for a shelf 😀 probably wouldn't read it though.
Thanks for your comment. Loved it 😁
Comment is about Reluctant Reader (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
And a beer with no 'ead on it! And couldn't find any peas pudding to go wi' me 'am ☹️
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
I definitely won't be going to that there London.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Takes some doing that Hélène; and some humility too.
Comment is about Eyes of Eternity (blog)
Original item by Hélène
Well done Hugh. There's a campaign going to encourage people to not mow their lawns and to leave cemeteries untended etc. Good idea!👍
Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)
Original item by hugh
When I shake a six Bethany I want my treasure buried with me like Tutankhamun. You've had your fist wrapped round that ten bob note so long, Kevin, it's no longer legal tender.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
a fiver!!!!!!!
bloody hell, you're pushing the boat out.
you'd need a spanner to get ten bob out of my mit.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 19:35
Like the old advert used to say Clare-' because you're worth it '
💐
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Manish and Bethany. Digging deep is painful but necessary at times. I truly appreciate your support. 🌻🌻🌻
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 19:18
Know EXACTLY where you are coming from John ( almost ) being poetry book swamped myself but I'm sure I would be kicking myself if I sent even a few of them packing especially my gilt edged Tennyson! great read matey!
Comment is about Reluctant Reader (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 19:03
ohhhh! its only money John and you can't take it with you but knowing you you'd probably give it a bloody good try 😂
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
If someone had told me 10 years ago I’d pay £3.50 for a cup of coffee, MC, or £2 for a bottle of water, I’d have told them they wanted their bumps feeling.
And thanks for the Likes, Hugh, Ghost, Clare and Russell.
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 18:51
Lots of us are on the same thought trip today Helene-lets hope it never ends
Comment is about Eyes of Eternity (blog)
Original item by Hélène
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 18:44
<Deleted User> (35860)
Tue 6th Jun 2023 18:42
Hallowed ground eh what Hugh? 👍
Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)
Original item by hugh
Know the feeling JC! When I had a pint of Guinness in my local
pub recently, I was charged £7.50. Just as well I'm now an
"occasional drinker" in retirement. The old advert. told us that
this particular drink was "good for you". Maybe, but that doesn't
refer to my bank account these days!
Comment is about I WENT DOWN TO THAT LONDON (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Very true, Hélèna. I completely agree with this.
Thank you.
Comment is about Eyes of Eternity (blog)
Original item by Hélène
I absolutely loved this poem, Clare. Beautifully and skillfully written, as always. Every stanza is so evocative and emotional.
Thank you.🌻
Comment is about Fly High. (blog)
Original item by Clare
Great poem, Jordyn! Full of wild wanderings and musings.
Comment is about April. (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Absolutely fantastic, KJ. Loved it all. You are back with a bang!
Make sure it goes into your new book! 😀😎
Comment is about The Rocky Horror Picture Show (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
A magnificent tribute, Stephen. Thanks for keeping these fires burning. 💪
Comment is about Normandy Veterans at the Airport (blog)
Original item by Stephen Gospage
A self help mantra.
It has to get better
It must.
Love it.
A poem for Spring 😎
Comment is about April. (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Many thanks to everyone who has commented and liked this one.
It's much appreciated.
Cheers Kevin
Comment is about The Rocky Horror Picture Show (blog)
Original item by kJ Walker
Thanks for the comments and likes all of you. You may have guessed I wrote this in real time as I was travelling from Harrogate to London in April for the climate demos at Westminster. Three 7-line stanzas over the course of a 3 hour journey is about my rate of writing.
Greg: yes, the Whitsun Weddings was probably rattling around in my subconscious as I was writing it. Larkin was a fine poet but not noted for his activism!
Comment is about Rolling down to London (blog)
Original item by Tim Ellis
I know that feeling, Uilleam. I have made lists of books I must read before I shuffle off, but I just lose the lists haha. I am a sad embarrassment to the English teaching profession! Thanks for your comments, as ever. And thanks for the likes Nigel and John C
Comment is about Reluctant Reader (blog)
Original item by John Botterill
Thanks Jordyn.
I am as mad as a hatter and so I must be truly delirious with happiness😊
Comment is about April. (blog)
Original item by Jordyn Elizabeth
Stephen Gospage
Wed 7th Jun 2023 13:54
A good idea to get away from the antiseptic and pristine, Hugh. It still requires work, though, doesn't it?😀
Comment is about My wild and wonderful garden (blog)
Original item by hugh