Image: My suitcase just off the carousel at Manchester Airport, as it came towards me I said "Come to daddy" it felt great knowing that it had been with at both start and  finnish. Three previous tours it had been left behind either going out or coming back and all of them were at Heathrow, that's why Schipol seemed a better idea.   

 

03.12.22 – 115) Sky’s grey, not to worried it’s departure day

Sound of planes in flight woke me up during the night

I’m up showered, dressed, tee shirt neatly pressed

Now to get something in my belly, I’m told there’s a nearby Tacodelli

Menu looks nice, prices can’t be beaten

Four items for a buck, ordered an’ soon eaten

Back to the motel to check on my flight, it’s in order everythings alright

Carry on packing an’ then, to the library it opens at 10

As for my flight, that’s not till 18:05 tonight

 

116) Later today I’ll head East, gonna feel sad leavin’ The Beast

We travelled far, what a great car

All that power under thr hood sure was good

Yes later today I’ll be headin’ East

An’ yes I sure am gonna miss The Beast

 

117) I leave the motel, times abatin’ my Write Out Loud blog needs updatin’

So I gotta be, at the local library an, also upload photos to my USB

An’ put some on Facebook so it can be seen, where I’ve been

But this time, task number one get my boarding pass done

 

118)  Soon things is done an’ away I run

But not before a chat an’ laugh with the library staff

Tellin’ them the elation I felt at their co-operation

An’ as my tour ends they all seem like friends

 

119) At the AWR empty cages said to me those that were there are now free

An’ there’s a few still there expectin’ to be

The staff smiled when they heard,

I was hopin to be back next year on April 3rd

Then a possum was brought in barely alive

It wouldn’t survive that was clear, it’s injuries too severe

I wanted to cry but felt proveliged to be there

To witness in its final hours it was given such love an’ care

 

120) Time to leave, I’m drivin away, I gotta be, at the airport for three

So make time for lunch, Popeye’s seems the best bet

If they still got catfish on the table, to use my malt vinegar I’ll be able

They were doin’ drive through only an’ that made me frown

I wanted a meal an’ a sit down

Next one was short on staff, didn’t want to be late, decided not to wait

Third time lucky, somewhere to sit sandwiches good an’ hot

I opted for beef an’ cheese they said you want fries I said “Yes please”

Soon it was here, proper meal washed down with root beer

But what was really nectar to my lips was my own malt vinegar on the chips

 

121) Meal done, away I run with heavy heart

It’s time for me and The Beast to part

We seemed such a good match, got it back without a scratch

Last night I sat in it with a smile, remeberin’ how we covered many a mile

An’ it weren’t to bad on the gas

But maybe a bit to big for the streets of Cas’

 

122) The Beast left, picture taken, now my way I’m makin’

To the terminal for my flight, an’ things keep goin right

Couldn’t have asked for more,

KLM counter just through the terminal door

My papers are seen, it’s like a well oiled machine

Really grand, they’d my boarding pass to hand

Told me I needed to be at gate three

Through customs, share a joke with the customs bloke

Whats App messages to home an’ friends to tell

So far things is goin’ really well

An’ others can find out if they look, on facebook

An’ hopefully I’ll not get too bored waiting for time to board

 

123) Time slowly abatin’ I can se a KLM plane waitin’

Hopefully they got everything safely on board

Cos’ soon it’ll be time to board

At the end of another poetry roam

An’ I’m thinkin. “Get me on an’ get me home”

 

124) At last I’m on board, things look neat, they got me an aisle seat

Middle row from what I seen, two of us an’ no one in between

Pilots just come on to say a 25 minute delay

Hopefully that’s only all an’ Schipol staff are on the ball

All my plannin’ not in vain, an’ goin’ home without my suitcase again

 

125) Should have left at 18:05, now it’s 18:03

What can the problem be. They didn’t tell us why we couldn’t fly

The thirty minutes got longer, I could feel  impatience getting stronger

At last we move, then we’re in the air I look an’ find

We’re over an hour behind

I still hope things go right an’ I catch my connecting flight

An’ I can still do my rhyme cos we got lights this time*

*The last twice I flew home was in a 747 1 light between 3 seats and it was lights out blinds drawn when it got dark, no chance of writing at all.

 

126) We began our flight I looked back an’ saw Austin lit up at night

I thought, “beautiful sight”

At last homeward bound, I’m wonderin’ when the food’s comin round

Unlike last time I’ve got a light so I can be

Flyin’ through the night composin’ poetry

Or even have a look at Clark’s Christmas Book*

But most of all I end up doin’ a rhyme sayin’

“We got our connection on time”

*Clark published a book called Christmas Candy to raise funds for animal charities, and gave me a signed copy.

 

127) Inflight screen shows Greenland belowAnd 3 hours 40 minutes to go

Eastward bound flying over Prince Christian Sound

Stil night and I’m thinking “What a boring flight”

Then was seen Dylan and Springstein on the inflight entertainment screen

Give them a play as we fly towards the day

When they’re done, I’ve revisited Highway 61

And can say I was Born in the USA

Now they’re done, I’ve a mind to see what else I can find

 

128) I give the classics a go and there’s some I know

I’m flying through the dark listening to music by Bach

Sure sounds swell, as does The Canon by Pachelbel

And I get a thrill with Figaro’s Aria from Rossini’s Barber of Seville

I sit back listen ans smile it eases the boredom for a short while

 

129) Still Amsterdam bound, breakfast brought round

Less than an hour to go and I find. we’re still an hour behind

We’ve flown through the night, I hope things go right

Cos’ now all I really want to be, is home in time for tea

 

130) Announcement made and if it’s right,

I should make my connecting flight

Hopefully the delay hasn’t blew it

Cos’ I’ve an hour and fifteen minutes to do it

 

131) Quick disembarking, no time for larking

Depature screen quickly found, to terminal D29 I’m bound

Pleant of time, wait board, sit toght

Ready for take off on my final flight

 

132) Facebook brought up to date, on my final wait

Family and taxi firm told I am, now in Amsterdam

I look and find, Manchester time is an hour behind

Be there soon, hopfully mid afternoon

 

133) Flying North under a sky of blue, hopin' my suitcase is on board too

Unlike in 2019 when we were delayed, at Heathrow it stayed

How nice it will be when this flight is done, if we go home as one

 

134) Through the cloud we see Manchester below

It’s in sight almost the end of my flight

When we landed to my delight I saw my suitcase had made the flight

Picked it up thinking “I’ve got my gear now let me get out of here

For the taxi at the end of my roam

To take me back to my beloved Yorkshire and home”.