Diamonds of Life

On 12/03/2021 By Peter's ponderingIn environment, Limericks, nature, Poetry, walks33 Comments

Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

On 11/02/2021 By Peter's ponderingIn animals, nature, Poetry, Rapid rhyme, The spoken word29 Comments

I saw a little squirrel go a walking human paths well trod

His tail was swishing to and fro as if ‘twas like a passing nod

to metronomes just beating time accompanying his daily trek

And oft times I remember him, his journey by that lonely beck

I ponder this, and wonder that, considering his lonely jaunt

I saw him yet again today and thought him looking rather gaunt

I’d like to think he sees me, yet, I hope he knows I can’t forget

The joy he brought when e’er we met reminds me of the epithet.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed

This being my first audio attempt I am spoiled for choice of what to offer. I tried so many versions and have rejected dozens, but cannot pick which one of six should be THE ONE. Being human, and kind, I’m giving you all six. You choose!

BEABT1

BEABT2

BEABT3

BEABT4

BEABT5

BEABT6

Words, pictures, and audio all ©petermatthews February2021

Song Lyric Sunday – 7 February 2021 – Caribbean Blue

On 07/02/2021 By Peter's ponderingIn Earth, Fantasy, Music, nature, Song Lyric Sunday, Weekly prompts14 Comments

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs.

This week the title or lyrics of the song must contain a colour. (For my American friends that is one of the many words where you took out the U for some reason!)

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

Last week I chose “Even in the Shadows” by Enya and I’ve decided to indulge myself further this week by offering “Caribbean Blue”, another Enya song.

The video for this is really rather clever. It is other worldly, dreamlike, with a generous smattering of childhood magic. The lyrics include a bit of Latin so I hope that you paid attention at school.

Eurus Afer Ventus – South African Wind

Boreus Zephyrus Africus – Northern West and Southwest

These are all ancient Greek wind gods, or Anemoi

Please sit back and enjoy this lovely song.

Caribbean Blue

Enya

Eurus
Afer Ventus

So the world goes round and round
With all you ever knew
They say the sky high above
Is Caribbean blue?

If every man says all he can
If every man is true
Do I believe the sky above
Is Caribbean blue?

Boreas
Zephyrus

If all you told was turned to gold
If all you dreamed was new
Imagine sky high above
In Caribbean blue

Eurus
Afer Ventus
Boreas
Zephyrus
Africus

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Nicky Ryan / Roma Shane Ryan / Enya

Caribbean Blue lyrics © Emi Music Publishing Ltd

Song Lyric Sunday – 27 December 2020 – Heart of the Country

On 27/12/202027/12/2020 By Peter's ponderingIn animals, babies, beauty, dreams, environment, farming, gardening, happiness, horses, Music, nature, Song Lyric Sunday, Weekly prompts26 Comments

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. Jim has given us Odor /Scent /Smell /Taste this week to be included in the title or lyrics.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

This week I’m pondering on the final concert, and the final public performance, of The Beatles, Paul and Linda McCartney’s move to the Mull of Kintyre, and the beauty of that part of the world. I was fortunate to live in the Outer Hebrides for two years, based in Ballivanich, on the Isle of Benbecula. Wild, sparsely populated, enduring some tremendously strong winds and wild weather but beautiful, captivating, and instilling a sort of desert fever in those who are lucky enough to experience it.

The Beatles’ final paid concert of their career took place on 29 August 1966 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The band played to an audience of 25,000, leaving 7,000 tickets unsold. They had become disillusioned with live performances, singing the same songs time and again, unable to hear themselves playing. They had upset many fans with John’s statement that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

The Beatles’ rooftop concert on 30 January 1969 marked the end of an era for many fans. The group did record one more album, Abbey Road — on which work started the following month — but by September 1969 the Beatles had unofficially disbanded.

To save some money from the taxman and as a bolt hole from Beatlemania, Paul had, encouraged by then girlfriend Jane Asher, bought High Park Farm in Campbeltown, near Argyll’s Mull of Kintyre in 1968. But it was only when newly married to American Linda Eastman in 1969 that he decided to make it a home.

He said: “Going up to Scotland was real freedom. It was an escape – our means of finding a new direction in life and having time to think about what we really wanted to do.”

The farm, which was rustic to say the least, would become home to Linda’s daughter Heather and the couple’s first child Mary. Stella, now a top fashion designer, arrived in 1971.

But it was also the place where Paul’s next music project was born.

The new expanded editions of Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway include never-before-seen pictures of the McCartneys’ life in Campbeltown, which in time would inspire his love letter to the area – Mull of Kintyre – a 1977 Christmas No1.

They released the album ‘Ram’ together in 1971 and formed the band Wings in the same year. The couple were also nominated for an Oscar for their song ‘Live And Let Die’, the theme tune for the 1973 Bond film of the same name.

“When she came to Britain and we got to together the greatest thing about it was we both wanted to be free. We did what we wanted and she took pictures of it all.”

Linda McCartney died after a battle with breast cancer on April 17, 1998. She was 56 years old.

The song I’m offering is Heart of the Country from the album Ram released in 1971.

The video shows some great examples of the free and easy life in their dream home. A great place to raise their children, grow their own food, ride in deserted areas (UK horseriders may note they use American style saddles and tack), and generally enjoy life.

The song aint bad either!

If you want to see more then there is some lovely pics, and music, at the bottom of the lyrics.

I look high, I look low

I’m lookin’ everywhere I go

Lookin’ for a home

In the heart of the country

I’m gonna move, I’m gonna go

I’m gonna tell everyone I know

Lookin’ for a home

In the heart of the country

Heart of the country

Where the holy people grow

Heart of the country

Smell the grass in the meadow

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Want a horse, I want a sheep

I wanna get me a good night’s sleep

Living in a home

In the heart of the country

I’m gonna move, I’m gonna go

I’m gonna tell everyone I know

Livin’ in a home

In the heart of the country

Heart of the country

Where the holy people grow

Heart of the country

Smell the grass in the meadow

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Want a horse, I got a sheep

I’m gonna get me a good night’s sleep

Livin’ in a home

In the heart of the country

I’m gonna move, I’m gonna go

I’m gonna tell everyone I know

In the heart of the country

Heart of the country

Where the holy people grow

Heart of the country

Smell the grass in the meadow

Whoa, whoa, whoa

Seen on my morning walk #2

On 01/10/2020 By Peter's ponderingIn animals, decline, health, nature, Poetry, sadness, walks28 Comments

I met a poorly squirrel

now what could rhyme with that

I asked what she was doing there

and then we had a chat

Suggested she move somewhere safe

and not stay on the ground

I even helped her start to climb

close by where she was found

I came back later she was there

looking much the same

I do not think that she’ll survive

it really is a shame!

Some things I’ve done that you probably haven’t.

On 28/09/202027/09/2020 By Peter's ponderingIn about me, Army, Fact, Music, My life, nature, Nostalgia, Service, technology, transport, war, water, work11 Comments

This is a reblog of a series I started in October 2017. I thought I should resurrect it in order to attempt to get it completed. Perhaps it could take the place of my Lundi limerick series.

Peter's pondering

I had this random thought that I have done a few things in my life that the average person will never experience. I thought I would write a post entitled:

“Ten things I’ve done that you probably haven’t.” It developed a little like this:

TenElevenTwelveThirteenFourteenFifteenSixteenSeventeenEighteen Nineteen Twenty things I’ve done that you probably haven’t

I arranged them in reverse alphabetical order, just for the sake of it! Then I thought of an added one, or four. So, here we have:

Some things I’ve done that you probably haven’t

Travelled down the Rhine on a Duck
Transferred between Royal Naval ships at sea by Jackstay
Transferred between Royal Naval ships at sea by helicopter
Spent time in a prison cell
Sat in a Harrier Jump Jet
Rowed in a coxed 4 at sea
Regularly travelled to work by helicopter
Qualified as a helicopter…

View original post 174 more words

Rapid rhyme #33/ Melissa the mouse

On 22/09/2020 By Peter's ponderingIn about me, animals, babies, beauty, friends, nature, Poetry, Rapid rhyme, walks30 Comments

I talk to them, they talk to me

in easy stages one two three

First greet them with a bright “Good Day”

and ask them if they’ve time to stay

Then if they have, ask how they are

and have they had to travel far

Are they alone or with their spouse

Do they live in a hole or house

It’s truly magic, meeting friends

the joys of walking show no ends

Some of you may know that I go for a walk most days. I talk to the trees and anything else I encounter along the way. In these days of Covid I have changed my route and now I mostly go through fields, woodland, along the river and canal. I stay away from roads and people as much as possible!

Today I had a real bonus meeting and conversation. Apart from the cattle, horses, swans, spiders, grasshoppers, and birds, that is.

I quite often come across a dead mouse, or vole, and that’s what I saw this morning, and then……she moved. It was a teeny tiny mouse, and her name was Melissa. I know that for a fact because she told me. You may think me a little potty, nuts, crazy, or whatever. I don’t care.

I asked Melissa if I could take a few photographs to remember her by, and she agreed. In fact she was quite happy and so that her friends on Mousebook could see what a big girl she is she asked if I could put a Pound coin alongside her to compare with. A pound coin is 23.43mm diameter. That is 0.922 inches in old money!

Melissa was exploring her neighbourhood for the first time but couldn’t remember how old she was. Baby mice grow up very quickly. After just six days, they have fur and can move and squeak. After 18 days, they are ready to leave the nest. Female mice can start having babies when they are just six weeks old. They can produce 10 litters every year, with up to 12 babies in each litter.

She soon went back to the nest which was accessed by a small hole in the ground. Another of her siblings popped his head out to say a quick hello but disappeared and didn’t want his photograph taken.

Seriously though, folks, isn’t she gorgeous. So much so that I am not sharing her space with any other friends I met today.