Mud, Mystery, Murder, Manuscripts and Madness.

I heard this story when I was a lad from my father and grandfather; no mention of it was ever made in school.

The geezer in the muddy boots is Dr. Orville Ward Owen a medical doctor from Detroit, the date is May 1911, the place is close to the low tide mark of the River Wye in the shadow of the walls of Chepstow Castle.

What led the man to this place was never explained to me back then, although what he sought was well known to my relatives, and their view was that he was wasting his time and money. He made several visits, one lasting longer than six months. In all twelve or fourteen shafts were driven into the river bottom, some deeper than twenty feet. All he found were some heavy timbers that were the remains of a Roman landing stage, these were not what he was looking for.

 

 

 

 

Continue reading “Mud, Mystery, Murder, Manuscripts and Madness.”

I now hate snow and ice

Just a little poem to start the (snow)ball rolling. I hope it is pessimistic enough for you, Ara 🙂

I now hate snow and ice

Once, when I was young, I used to love the snow and ice,

Now I am old and grey and doddery, it is not so very nice.

What fun it was to ride a sledge quickly down the hill

Now the very thought of that makes me feel quite ill.
Continue reading “I now hate snow and ice”

January 2015 Poetry Competition

Extract from Winter Complaint by Ogden Nash

I don’t like germs,
But I’ll keep the germs I’ve got.
Will I take a chance of spreading them?
Definitely not.
I sneeze out the window
And I cough up the flue,
And I live like a hermit
Till the germs get through.
And because I’m considerate,
Because I’m wary,
I am treated by my friends
Like Typhoid Mary.

Continue reading “January 2015 Poetry Competition”

Results December 2014 Poetry competition

mouse choirWell here we go, one day late with the results. The invitation was to write a poem with a Christmas scene, traditional or otherwise and/or to use a voice of a Christmas object e.g. mince pie, robin, ice-skate etc. It all sounded so exciting to begin with, but only four entries came in. Nonetheless I feel it was worth it for there were some gem images in and among the entries.  Continue reading “Results December 2014 Poetry competition”

December 2014 photo results

Sea and / or Sky

What a wonderful array of entries we had this month, first and foremost I’d like to thank all contributors for their efforts. There’s nothing worse than being a judge and running a fun challenge to receive a meagre 2 or 3 entries from the usual suspects.

As mentioned elsewhere, I had nothing to do with the actual judging, a panel viewed the submissions over a few drinks yesterday at The King’s Arms (home of the E.P. rugby supporters club.)

And here is their verdict …….

Continue reading “December 2014 photo results”

Christmas Carol Quiz for Christina

  1. NBrueghelame three carols where the word “winter” is sung in the verses.
  2. Identify the carol in which the word “snow” appears five times in the same verse.
  3. In which carol do the words “wondering” and “wondrous” appear?
  4. Which two words rhyme with “chime” in Ding Dong Merrily on High?
  5. In which Christmas Carol, does one “strike the harp”?
  6. In the twelve days of Christmas, what was sent by “my true love” on the 9th day of Christmas.
  7. Identify the carol from which this metre is taken from the 1st and 3rd lines of each verse.                       “pom pom  –  pompom  pom  pom  pom  pom”.
  8. In which carol are the cows depicted as “twitching the sweet hay”?
  9. Name the two composers who scored separate musical setting of “In the Bleak mid-winter”.
  10. In which 15th century verse/carol is the birth of the baby Jesus described “as dew in April”. (Leonard Berkeley was commissioned to set this to music in the 1960’s)
  11. Name this macaronic 15th century carol which celebrates the sacrifice of a wild animal. (No Janus, this has nothing to do with macaroni.)

So there you go; encouraged by Boadicea for posting a Quiz and admonished by Christina for failing to acknowledge her musical talents.  Continue reading “Christmas Carol Quiz for Christina”