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~ The Guide Dog ~
I guide her across the road when the light turns green, slowly
past the busy shops that she has never seen. People hurry in and out
doors swinging to and fro, why humans rush about so much I would
love to know. My mistress and I always take our time, we are in a
world of our own and we live a life sublime. Walking in a country
lane when the hedgerows are in flower to hear the bleating of
the lambs beneath the old church tower. I look towards the
cherry tree and find her favourite seat then I lie down beside her
my head upon her feet. When the sun bids farewell at the end of
the day I gently tug the lead and we go on our way. Evening has
descended no further must we roam I can see a row of houses we
are almost home. I fetch madam's slippers she makes a cup of tea
and with deep concentration she prepares a meal for me. I cannot
say thank you but all my thoughts reach through she can sense my
true devotion by everything I do.
~ I Am The Girl ~
One morning I met Caroline a bonny child aged five, a real little
chatterbox very much alive. She talked about her family her school work
and her play, Rebecca the special friend she visits every day. I could
not drag myself away I longed to hear the rest, then came the unexpected
innocence at it's very best. "I have two brothers Darren big and
Philip small, they are noisy and different not like me at all". She
lifted her tiny skirt and gave a graceful twirl, "They are boys and
I am the girl".
~ The Evacuee ~
During the second world war we welcomed evacuees, my parents had a little girl who did all she could to please. Her name was Violet Burrows
who was eleven years old and throughout her long stay she was as good as gold. "When
you have had your tea dear please will you fetch a loaf of
bread", "I will go now Mrs Down" she always said. She was small for her
age a thin frail mite her loving ways were a sheer delight. She made her bed and tidied the drawers every single day to prevent any property going astray. Summertime was spent on the beach she joined us for tea at four,
we could count our blessings even though we were at war. When the battle was over and peace was restored I gave her a present she could never afford. I made a green
coat and a cute matching hat, she felt so proud to travel in that. Forty years
have passed we did not meet again, of one thing I am certain of, my efforts
were not in vain.
~ Kitty And June ~
Mrs Godfrey was impatient with children no understanding at all,
I suppose she had quite forgotten the time when she was small.
During the second world war she received evacuees two sisters
named Kitty and June, it was made known their departure would
not come a day too soon. She begrudged every morsel of food they
ate and disapproved of their clothes, why she adopted such an
attitude heaven only knows. Should they be a few minutes late
home from school they were sent to bed without any tea, her
unreasonable behaviour was most distressing to me. I called as
often as I could to give them little treats, a slab of milk
chocolate or a box of sweets. I fashioned several pretty dresses
in a princess style, the rapture on their face made it all
worthwhile. At Christmas I filled a stocking with as much as it
would hold, they certainly deserved it they were as good as
gold. Mrs Godfrey feigned illness she was not fit for the burden
imposed, the girls moved to a fresh billet the traumatic chapter
had closed. I noted her recovery was remarkably quick, I never
forgave her for such a mean trick.
~ The Old Homestead ~
My father bought a piece of land on which to build a home, I
will never find it's like again however far I roam. Each room
was facing the garden most had a lovely sea view, my days were
filled with sunshine the skies were always blue. I was then
three years old life stretched ahead to mellow every stick and
stone and every flower bed. All this was achieved by hard work
and endeavour a fragment of heaven I felt would last forever.
The wind of change blew fiercely those joys were swept away, it
could not destroy the memories, they are here to stay.
~ Washing Day ~
I love to see a line of washing dancing in the breeze, it is a
simple pleasure which never fails to please. Swinging out
stretching up somersaulting in a twist not a garment is able to
resist. The pink nightgown caresses a blue nylon shirt, the
towels slip their pegs and nearly fall in the dirt. Jumpers and
cardigans wriggle and jiggle sleeves waving merrily, the antics
of the trouser legs is sheer ecstasy. They give a mighty whirl
and twirl with high kicks the envy of a chorus girl. Even the
bras and panties dance in tune, alas they are dry all too soon.
The owner plucks them one by one I can no longer enjoy the
fun.
~ Jo-Jo ~
Jo-Jo is a budgerigar in a lovely shade of green, the sweetest
cutest talking bird that I have ever seen. He leaves his cage
twice a day to exercise his wings I wonder if he is aware of the
happiness he brings. He alights upon the mirror and turns his
head one side, he knows that he is beautiful and puffs his
feathers up with pride. "Jo-Jo a beauty" all so
crystal clear he really is adorable a perfect little dear. How
he loves his mistress he perches on her hand every word she
utters he can understand. Living together they have a lot of fun
when devotion is united two hearts beat as one.
~ Memory Test ~
My music teacher Emily Richardson gave a Christmas party every
year, tables laden with fancy cakes and jellies bright and
clear. There was various entertainment and a memory test, that
is what I liked the best. Adverts from magazines placed on the
wall I well remember there were twenty in all. The origin was
cut out we had to guess the name and take a pencil and paper at
the start of the game. I detected Pears Soap, Amami Shampoo,
Robin Starch and Reckitt's Blue. The Bisto Kids passion for
gravy with the rich aroma and taste, teeth became ivory castles
through the virtues of Kolynos Paste. Snowfire tablets for
chilblains cold cream for chapped hands New Zealand butter from
the best farmlands. Farrow's advertised their peas in rhyme and
a tonic named Instant Postum was popular at the time. Persil
washes whiter than white Horlicks is good for you last thing at
night. To prevent that sinking feeling Bovril will help keep you
afloat 'Go Suck A Zube' for a dry tickling throat. Force Cereal
created a Sunny Jim, who could ever forget him. Jars of
Robertson's Marmalade not to be outdone stuck a golliwog label
on every one. Mansion polish gave floors an ecstatic shine
applied by a family of mice not the human kind. Expectation
realisation for the boy with a Fry's chocolate bar and Lux
toilet soap the beauty aid of every film star. When the score
was added up there were no ties I had the all correct answers
and won the first prize. A box of water colour paints complete
with a brush the claps and cheers made me blush. It gave me
hours of pleasure painting pictures by the score now I look
forward to next year and hope to win some more.
~ Stop Me And Buy One ~
A Walls representative cycled around the town, that enterprising
fellow never wore a frown. At four o'clock promptly he was
outside the school with a delivery of 'Snofrutes' to keep
children cool. A penny for a large one and a half penny for the
small, as a first class salesman he was certainly on the ball.
Offering strawberry, orange, lemon and lime all in cardboard
wrappers youngsters thought they were sublime. There is no such
thrill in this present day 'Stop Me And Buy One' has faded away.
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© Birds-Eye Walls.
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~ The Garden I Remember ~
I remember a garden glowing with colour and lit by the sun, a
lovely black cat lay drowsily blinking yet determined not to
miss any fun. I sat on a stool with a bowl full of soap suds
blowing bubbles that floated on sweet scented air, never a
worry, never a care. I remember pink blossom on the apple trees
and busy little honey bees, pansies in the flower bed
butterflies fluttering overhead. So many memories I recall,
memories of my childhood are the lovliest of all.
~ I Wonder ~
The funny things that grown-ups say, sets my mind in a whirl,
Mum said that I must eat crusts it will make my hair curl. If
that is so I wonder why her hair is as straight as a die.
~ The Only Way ~
If I was a millionaire with lots of lovely cash to spare, I
would help all the poor to enjoy life a little more. There is a
saying so very true, only by making others happy can happiness
come to you. |