Image: Nianna or Her Most Gracious Majesty, enjoing a meal with her Most Loyal Prince Consort, she missed my farewell meal so we went out togter on my last night in Edinburg. I stayed at her house again and as usual enjoyed looking after the cats 

 

 

 

17.04.24 – 110:78) Nianna’s at school she’ll be ringin’ round

To see if a walk-in vet can be found

I’m at the house ready to go if she lets me knowe

I’m uploadin’ photos to my usb, Sooty’s snuggled next to me

Text comes in vet found she tells me where

Sooty’s put in his box an’ I head there

It’s found we go in we’re booked in

Vet comes round, checks her over, ultra sound

They’re gonna keep her in that’s great,

Knowin’ there’s something that can be done I’m feelin’ better as away I run

An’ there’s something else I just seen

Yup another fillin’ station sellin’ cheap gasoline

Tank full, drivin’ away get the radio to play

I couldn’t have timed it finer

Cos’ the next song that comes on is “She had me at Heads Carolina

 

111:79) So the day carries on and before afternoon ends

Me an’ Clark meet up with friends

Increasin’ our spendin’ power a meal at Costa Messa an it’s happy hour

Really nice, food at half the price

Back at Clarks we sit an’ talk, then I take Ivy for a walk

It’s done an’ away hopin Sooty’ll be home today

Radio playin an’ I ain’t got far

When it plays another favourite.

Luke Combs version of Tracy Chapmans Fast Car

 

112:80) Admin up to date, it’s getting’ late

Nianna not home yet says she’s gonna look in on the vet

Time passes it’s getting’ night I’m hopin’ she’s alright

She comes home I’m no longer blue cos’ she’s got Sooty with her too

Vet’s visit not in vain, fluid drained she’s lean again

So, when asked “How went the day?” we can tell “Went the day well”.

 

18.04.24 – 113:81) Darkness gives way to light,

I wake to see if Sooty’s alright Nianna’s in a state sayin' she’s runnin’ late

“Where’s my phone?” she’s heard to utter and finds it among the clutter

She’s gone an’ once more I’m showered dressed an’ fed

Ready to face the day ahead

 

114:86) To Clarks’s for the first part of the day,

Say “Hi” to Ivy then we’re away

To *Wally World we run, shoppin’ there’s always fun

Goin’ from aisle to aisle with a smile

He wants to get things right for my welcome part tomorrow night

Goin the extra mile so it’s done in style

Once we’ve done the deed, It’s back to Nianna’s for Sotoy’s next feed

*Wally World, Clark’s nickname for Walmart

 

115:83) Sooty fed, an’ away I head

Thinkin’ about takin’ a break at Edinburg Lake

Never supposed it would be closed

Headin’ back I saw a sigh that looked mighty fine

What did I see? A ranch with the same initials as me

 

116:84) Tonight a special night, I get to recite

Common Space the venue poetry on the menu

Gonna be a delight I’m one of two speakers tonight

*Carla’s on first talking about reachin’

People with special need through her teachin’e

An’ I’m gonna use my time to talk about catchin’ my life in rhyme

Lookin’ forward to it and in the main

Thinkin’ it’s great to be workin’ with Daniel again

 

19.04.24 – 117:85) Last night went well, both of us playin’ our part

Speakin’ from the heart an’ passion not on ration

From either faction, creativity in acion

This mornin’ I started late and had to fly

With good intent for a day at Valley View High

Some students were interested, some weren’t

Some got nothing, others learnt

About the travellin’ guy who takes the time to record his travels in rhyme

Who while on his roan gives a presentation about his home

An’ there was a special group who seemed to like,

Being taught to talk like a Tyke

Takin everything in with a smile an’ makin’ my efforts so worthwhile

 

20.02.24 – 118:86) Sure was a delight,

My welcome party at Clark’s last night

Table laid down he sure had gone to town

Makin’ the most of bein’ the perfect host was a hit with his rapier like wit

On a screen in the background memories abound

We chat about what’s been since I was last seen

Memories to share while we are there

Before it ends I meet Geneva and Terry, two new friends

Then me an’ Amt take the time to regale our rhyme

Then in a strange lingo, Mexican bingo, all in all a good time had by all

 

119:87) Another day downtown bound, local library found

Photos uploaded then I’m on

My way to see what’s hapennin’ at Author Con

There to find books of many a kind

Daniel’s ther we chat an’ he says he’l suggest where

We can have dinner and meet me there

So me an’ Nianna spend the afternoon relaxin’

Not doin’ anythin’ overtaxin’ Keepin’ the mood light,

Cos’ I got dinner with Daniel tonight

 

120:88) Red Lobster chosen directions sent, away I went

Drive steady Daniel’s there already

We go in find a seat decide what to eat

Malt vinegar comes out, waiter makes it known they got their own

It’s sough and brought, slightly milder than mine but still fine

I get stuffed flounder, tastes swell, goes down well

A bit too much then a thought starts dawning

Ask for a to go box and have it for breakfast in the morning

Great time had The Poet Marriachi an’ The Yorkshire Lad

Good conversation not drear

Talkin’ about what we’ve done since last year

An’ then some as we talk about the year to come

 

21.04.24 – 121:89) Last night there was one more chore

Nianna asked “do you wanna go to the store?”

Seemed a good way to end the day. To H-E-B we went a good time spent

Enthusin’ over something so simple but so amusin’

Corn syrup became the pun, usin’ it sure was fun

Cos shortly after, usin’ it we’d bust into fits of laughter

Does it or don’t it? will it or won’t it? There or missed on the ingredient list

Seemed funny as those that had it were smaller an’ cost more money

But we didn’t buy ‘em or try ‘em

Just continued to use it as a pun an’ make our shopping trip much more fun

 

122:90) Sunday a day of rest would turn into a patience test

We’d been to church, congregation a real friendly bunch

Back to Nianna’s for lunch She has to go out,

Door left open we could be in a fix, should be seven cats we count only six

The house I look round, it’s Pepper he cant be found

Not outside in the yard, surely findin’ him can’t be hard

Search high an’ low thinkin’ where could he go?

Far an’ wide, where can he hide?

I’m wonderin’ where then suddenly he’s there

Head count again an’ there’s still six

Nianna’s back an' shows me where Shishi’s hidin’ under a chair

So in the main, The Feline Magnificent Seven’s back again

 

22.04.24 – 123:91) This morning it’s dark but I’m not leaving a car park

Back into the street then away cos’ I gotta meet

Amy, when I get there we gotta fly

Cos’ she’s got me a slot at Harlingen Collegiate High

To dark to read the directions I wrote, use gps instead an’ away I head

Nothin’ to fear, rememberin’ landmarks I used last year

Soon I’m there a moment to remember, introduced to a new family member

Sadly Belle passed away, now Foxy comes into the fray

Fuss made then away to begin the day. It comes alive on our mornin’ drive

Reception we book in, the class we look in

The students arrive an’ things come alive

The first part’s delightin’ hearin’ them reciting

Then my turn to tell my story about my rise to poetic glory

An’ how every April I’m found Texas bound

Always a pleasant task, to answer questions they ask

An’ they don’t get blue when I read ‘em a poem or two

Speak ‘em out, tell ‘em how they come about

Mornin’ not in vain, three classes an we all seem on the same plane

An’ as is the norm, some tips on how to perform

The last class ends and to my delight a guy says he likes how I recite

Shows me a poem he’d like me to read, I do the deed

Reading with intent, giving 100%

He’s pleased an’ I can think of no better way to end this part of the day

 

124:92) We’re drivin back I’m thinkin’

This mornin’s gonna take some beatin’

Amy’s thinkin’ it’d time to be eatin’ Chilli’s chosen,

We’re fed an’ back we head

Face the afternoon ahead before it’s time for bed

 

23.04.24 – 125:93) I rise thinkin’ great day yesterday but I can’t delay

I gotta be away Nianna said last night can you be

At Valley View South Elementary

Seven thirty start to share your poetry art

So, I’m once on the way to another school

To play the joker the clown or the fool

No point in being the serious one

To me poetry is and always should be fun

 

126:94) In the school library in a rockin’ chair, like I’m havin’ a nap

Big toy frog sat on my lap

Got him wavin’ some kids are grinnin’ seems their hearts I’m winnin’

So when it’s time to play, he’s my assistant for the day

 

127:95) First class done they sure had fun

Goin’ that extra mile made ‘em smile

An. Maybe hey did like, being taught to talk like a tyke

Second class more of the same, let them see poetry as a game

Using any prop to hand sure went grand

Third class slightly older, inquisitiveness getting bolder

Fourth class we’re well away an’ part of the time

I find I’m actually speaking in rhyme

An’ it makes my day when one asks “Can Trevor stay?”

Last session ends, I’m thanked and my spirits lift

I’m given a thank you gift an’ feel like givin’ a cheer

When they ask “Can we book you for next year?”

 

24.04.24 – 128:96) Yesterday afternoon chaos reigned

*Sith had been out and was mud stained

So I did what I could to get rid of the mud

We’d get the rest away later in the day

So, to Edinburg Wetlands a short drive, ended up nearly eaten alive

Got some good pictureS though then it’s off I go

To Clarks once more he’s taken the time to bake his special walnut cake

Ivy gets a bath an’ it’s grand when I get to lend a hand

Thinkin’ get it right cos you’ll be doin’ similar tonight

Tacos for supper to sample, it’s Taco Tuesday hope there’s ample

Then in the main get Sith clean again

Now it’s the morning of my last day tomorrow I’m away

Time’s passin’ an’ soon It’ll be my farewell meal this afternoon

*Sith is one of Nianna’s cats very mischievous his name is an anagram of another four letter word

 

129:97) Edward messaged me with what I want to hear

My festival tee shirt and anthology are here

Which gave me the notion to use them for festival promotion

And although I’ll not be there in part I’ll be there in heart

 

130:98) Edward tells me he’s home, he don’t need to say it twice

I’ll be there in a trice Really great to meet an’ we’re both sayin’

It’s a shame I’m not stayin’

I read him I poem I just writ an’ he thinks it’s a hit

Bin takin pictures on his phone,

The two of us now recordin’ me on my own

A personal recital for a pal, He records it an’ I can’t wait to look

An’ see how it comes out on Facebook