South Harting

8 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Up on Harting Down
I saw the folly to the West
It’s lovely here this morning
in bright sunshine, just the best

Then I walked in woodland
sunlight filtered through the trees
Birdsong all around me
Blue sky between the leaves

Followed little byways
Down the hillside to South Harting
and the White Hart in the village
just as lunchtime it was starting

©Jemverse

Photo – The ruins of the ‘Vandalian Tower’ folly on Tower Hill, just west of Harting Down in West Sussex. The folly was built in 1774 to celebrate the founding of the American settlement of Vandalia, a proposed British colony that never grew beyond its initial founders. As a part of the American War of Independence, the small colony was hung out to dry and while they proposed becoming a state by the name of “Westsylvania,” the fresh American government scoffed at the idea and the territory was subsumed by the states now known as West Virginia and Kentucky.  – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

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With Gold

7 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

Got up early
Went for a wander
as the sun rose on Frogmore Lane
Retraced my steps
to the path on the hill
on my own and peaceful again

There were sheep in the field
looking at me
with a quizzical look on their face
Wondered I guess
what I was about
so early in this lovely place

There was birdsong to hear
high up in the trees
a wonderful music and sound
So idyllic here
at this early hour
with no one but me here around

I walked down the path
to sit on a stile
and watch as the morning took hold
And the warmth of the sun
as it rose in the east
painted all that I saw with gold

©Jemverse

Photo – Early morning – Meon Valley, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

East Meon

6 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

We climbed back up old Butser Hill
East Meon in the valley
Went west along the hill line
and we didn’t dilly-dally

Walked along the South Downs Way
past ‘Dead Woman’s Gate’
I slowed down a little then
but Dave, he didn’t wait

Round Salt Hill and Welter Down
Coombe Cross, Halnaker Lane
Until we came full circle
back to East Meon again

©Jemverse

Photo – East Meon, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

The Long House

5 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

In the garden out back of the Long House
sitting out here in the sun
The fragrance of jasmine strong in the air
now the early evening has come

It’s peaceful here and idyllic
and I’m so pleased we could return
Here in the East Meon valley
contentment swift to discern

©Jemverse

Photo – The ‘Long House’, East Meon, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

Itchen Abbas

4 of 8 in the Jemverse ‘Circular Sussex’ series

So we’ve walked in field of violets
and through hawthorn twitters long
to the Plough at Itchen Abbas
where Charles Kingsley wrote a song
“The Water Babies” was his opus
and he stayed here as he wrote
This village here in Hampshire
very quaint and quite remote

©Jemverse

Photo – violet fields above Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, UK – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

Charles Kingsley wrote the final manuscipt for “The Water Babies’ during a stay at ‘The Plough Inn’ at Itchen Abbas in 1862-63

Good Music

3 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

It’s been three whole years
since the music was good
and there’s been little change in that time
For last night at the Crown
as the beers went down
the music was vibrant and fine

We played games of pool
then the Uno of course
the same game we started back then
The rules might have changed
and the deck re-arranged
but it’s great to be back here again

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics.(In May 2013, starting our annual walk from Winchester, we started a game of Uno. And never stopped playing it – keeping the scores running every time we go to a pub together. This year we started our walk again from Winchester, so went back to the Crown and Anchor where it all started to continue playing the same game we began three years earlier! Currently our scores are both approaching a quarter of a million points!).

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

The Bishop on the Bridge

2 of 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Circular Sussex’

The Bishop on the Bridge
in Winchester town
the Itchen flows swiftly by
And we sit with a beer
in the garden out back
my brother David and I

When we were here last
three years ago now
so expensive we thought was the beer
So returning again
we needed to come
and have another one here

©Jemverse

Photo – the river Itchen from the back of ‘The Bishop on the Bridge’ pub in Winchester – Jempics.

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. This year we took in a series of circular walks based around our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

Back with music in mind

No. 6 of 6 in “The Music” series from Jemverse

Each month with new music
I’ll chop and I’ll change
and the playlists I use
I will oft re-arrange
So I’m grateful for i-pods
with music in mind
as with buds in my ears
I can always unwind

©Jemverse

Photo Jempics

“Music in Mind‘ was originally posted to Jemverse on 26 January 2018

Circular Sussex

It’s that time of year
the bags are all packed
the walking boots firm on my feet
My brother and me
with hearts full of glee
are off for our annual treat

Winchester bound
and the start of the trail
we’ll walk and we’ll chat and have beer
And through valley and field
to the Sussex Weald
we’ll rejoice in the fact that we’re here

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

[Every year in May, my brother Dave and I go out for a week’s walking. Typically this’ll be on our favourite long-distance trail – the South Downs Way through Hampshire and Sussex]

A 60th tale

A day out in Lewes
with the girls in the sun
Browsing antique shops
and all having fun
Here for Sal’s sixtieth
Celebrations start here
Two months for us all
in this special year

We’ve had olives and coffee
at ‘Bills’ for a treat
and later ‘The Snowdrop’
for a beer sounds sweet
We’ve danced in the square
with a man on a flute
and paused on the bridge
watching one with a lute

We’re brought things for the garden
and stationary too
and second-hand clothes
of course, as you do
And best thing of all
and the reason we came
was Cliffe High Street antiques
for some presents again

Three tall iron sculptures
for the garden outside
pre-rusted for us
with iron oxide
And now that we’re done
with Lewes behind
we head back to Brighton
with dinner in mind

Bangers and mash
in the pub on the hill
With plenty of choice
’til we’ve had our fill
An excellent day
it has been for us all
With memories made
we will oft now recall

And the star of the show
for our own Sally Ann
her sixtieth birthday
has been rather grand
Precious these are
these family days
with memories to treasure
in so many ways

©Jemverse

Photo – the three iron garden sculptures we brought at Cliffe High Street antiques centre in Lewes on 16th May 2019, in situ – Jempics