Oh what we wouldn’t give
To have another life
One which has more sunshine
Where no neighbours give us strife.
Well here’s a little story
Given with a pinch of pride,
To tell you that you can indeed;
And land the other side.
Not only as the self you were:
Bit all the missing parts,
The scattered bits you thought were left,
Like plasters on your heart.
It started during Covid, when our patience , trust was tested
The art was made for future times, and painful bones were rested
Contact with the outside world was mostly done on zoom
While unkind eyes peered in through the curtains in the living room
A goldfish bowl is what it felt, a sport for bored old men
While real life captured daily in the dreams of ink and pen
But sadness takes its toll you know,
Despite how brave you feel
Despite distractions, kindly words and never ending zeal
All a human wants to do
is open their back door
To feel the sun on their bare feet
And let their spirit soar.
Pain is eased by warmer climes.
Where damp bones are less sore.
Where just for once a dress is aired
To float in at the shore.
We packed the house with boxes
Planned a road trip for so long
Both of us excited, planning
Nothing could go wrong
We headed off to Dorset in a car packed to the top
And listened long to Audible and old c.d.s non stop
The B and B though lovely , was run strictly, and like school
Bear, in car at Breakfast , trying bravely to stay cool
Beaches were so pretty but a long way from the car
And a wander down to Lulworth Cove felt a step just too far
A hot and fluffy Scottish dog and 12 year old, to entertain each day
These trips should come with medals or a free spa by the way!
Next was a small chalet in a little place called Eype
Right next to lovely Bridport which was where we really liked.
We looked at lots of houses, thinking renting would be right
To see how life would unfurl and if this was where we liked.
We needed to be careful.
And that’s why we were quiet
The more they knew, the chance for damage
grew with every night.
A plan was hatched to safely try another little boat
A few who knew could see how hard we’d tried to stay afloat.
All we needed was a plan,
of Epic size proportions
But, hey this is real life here,
with all its mad distortions...
Returning back to where we live, my daughter would not go
Her summer was more summer if she could simply flow
So we returned, the bear and I, had just two weeks left to search
To look online for something new, in shadows of the church.
That time was peaceful, useful, long , she’d never been away .
And we both got to do the missing which we did, I’m glad to say .
Our house was cleared and cleaned and boxed and sorted every day,
But every turn produced a problem tripping up the way.
From nests of wasps which manged to escape their mortal trap
to blown up routers thanks to power cuts, needing several chaps.
Each new thing became a task though simply to sort out,
and spaces came with things that went, the things we dared chuck out.
If you think you are going, you clean out even more
your cupboards don’t have spices dating back to Eighty four.
So emails pinged and forms were filled
for landlords time again
Oh how we forget what its like to go through that in vain
To jump through hoops and hand out cash and prove our worth for lets
‘ No parking, fun, or children, and definitely no pets!’
In summer too when every shed is sold as summer space
For one months rent , a car you’d buy or ticket up to Space.
The days were ticking past and I had to get my girl ,
my guinea pigs were down there too and this lot are my world.
Bear and I however had managed something too.
Our goodbye lunches sparkled in the eyes of all the friends we knew.
We felt a tug of love, a lamplight in the gloam
The silent yet warm constant presence making home a Home.
We drove back down to England to continue with the plan.
A room filled floor of boxes to join us in a van
When two hours in a wobble veered us off the A1 road
And holding Bear in one hand, the A.A. man did unload
The boot packed full of random stuff and two cats ,mewling madly
Our tyre was worn but also had a cut which leaked so badly.
We made our way back down at 50 all the way
And 12 hours later we arrived, but no words could we say.
The best parts are the absences in an adventure story
The chance to miss and find again, your own sweet Jackanory
Sometimes life can play a trick and you must listen hard.
Sometimes you must journey long to stay just as you are.
Sometimes you must see yourself as others see you first.
Sometimes you must love yourself the way you most deserve.
We used our instincts all the way and listened to each time
An obstacle would light each step and that this was a sign.
Not to carry on this path;
But see it as devine.
On getting down to Sussex,
where the gathering troups were held
The planned next manoeuvre
was far from being gelled
In England there was one month left til schoolterm did begin.
But Scottish schools returned in days, and time was running thin.
As things came clear for reasons I shall leave for just today
It came to me that this was time for us to be away
In one day two new tyres, new togs and food was deftly sought,
and all those things that previously for Dorset had been bought,
We’re swiftly and with Kondo grace stuffed back into the car.
Along with several animals and all the Art so far.
And realising with lightning speed that this had been the reason
That fate had stepped in just before this new emerging season
And travelling back to where we knew were friends with open hearts
Was where we made our home and what inspired the Beach Hut Art.
We made the journey home which made us feel quite glad
To unpack every box and discover what we had
To know the choices laid out bare and stand still any way
And re affirm what we believe, no matter what they say.
You run, and search for you we think is missing in your lives
When what you have is what you’d pay a leg for in St Ives
Off we drove at 5 am, stuffed up to our cars brim
Excited to be going home at last and not so scared of him
Guineas cage on top of cats and Bear leaning on me
A more comical carload you’re unlikely to see.
The school had left a place for her despite our prior chat
And lovely feels are happening when home feels where its at.
The boxes are now emptied, the feet are on the ground.
The Summer shed off more than rubbish,
Insight has been found
We can save the rest for other days, as this could take a week
But trust me when I tell you that if Inner calm you seek
Step outside your comfort zone and leap into the unknown
Miss your loved ones Til you both want nothing but your home
Drive away and back again to see where you are now
Scare yourself a little while your body will allow.
Mine’s already creaking with the haar in every joint
The Autumn school term makes adventure hard now, that’s the point
A healthy body to ease pain needs the right amount of heat
And healthy minds need peace to live with earth beneath your feet
So, back to the beginning with a view I’d pay to have
To know the value of your lot and make your head feel glad
The chance to see what you would miss is if you let bullies win
They pop up almost everywhere so turn to them and grin
Your feet are earthing you wherever your two legs can be
And your two legs can carry you from shore to shining sea
And if like me, you struggle with this easy of all things
Three thousand miles proves your car can be your wings
The Gods were working with and for us on this magic quest,
This summer ended not as planned but worked out for the best.
For us, I know the following, and never will forget,
We like our house and won’t be pushed into an airbrushed let
where animals and children aren’t welcome on the floor.
It might be noisy but there’s always welcome here behind our door.
A little word of thankyou too for meals made on our quest.
And barefoot caravaning tending truly was the best.
My bin man and our lovely gardener we could not compare
And A. A men with pet skills, well you got us everywhere.
We’ll love and richly leave you for a little while this time
But soon be back with drawings, stories, notions love and silly rhymes .
]
Leaving a light on,
All our Liz and the zoo xx
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Having a lot of something isn’t something to be freaked out by. If you want it too.. work towards it. If it isn’t what is part of your plan, let the person enjoy their creation. Don’t belittle, demolish, crush, be jealous of or question what they are doing. Just ask them about it or walk on by!
The last few weeks, a procedure on my hand has meant a rest from all things requiring fingers and thumbs…which has limited my writing. Thankfully it is the singing and eating season so other bits of you get to be spoilt .The Christmas roller-coaster has begun in a joyful way with old and new friendships, very high notes thanks to the organist’s tendency to go up each verse.. as a wee joke… and a general spike of conviviality in the air.. Having joined the wonderful Echo Choir in Eyemouth a few months ago, my new bunch of ‘Leah’s Aunties and I popped up in many churches, priories and village halls – all of us a bit more hobbly than the next.. But helping each other on and off a variety of stages and podiums in our adopted new family..
As a very keen and recent amateur gardener, I can safely say that the same thing happens at certain moments when your hands are in soil , the sun is on your face and there is no such thing as clock watching . Planting the seeds of an idea in whatever form you wish is still as magical..
