Walking Days

Around about this time of year
in ones now in the past
my mind has turned to walking
with my brother for a blast
Together we have wandered
many miles o'er many hills
mostly here in Sussex
with the pleasure all that fills

And there will be a time again
when we venture out once more
to follow paths we know so well
and have traversed before
My heart is there a-hankering
for those happy days again
when I can go out walking
with my brother and my friend

But I'm also quite content to wait
until it's safe and free
when we can walk with confidence
my brother Dave and me
And that will be very special
something to look forward to
Once more out there walking
doing what we love to do

 

©Jemverse

Photo – Jem and Dave Croucher on the South Downs Way, Sussex, UK

Family things

Another garden, one in Brighton
at the tail end of the week
where we've come for Wagamamas
on order as we speak
Our youngest daughter's residence
below the railway line
On a mellow Friday evening
with the weather warm and fine

Conversation here as always
engaging everyone
as we gather for the evening
for a meal as well as fun
Life enriched with times as these
impossible to measure
our family together on
these days we always treasure

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics (spot the fox)

May the fourth be with you

Obi Wan Kinobi
five years ago today
came to join our family
hip-hip, hip-hip, hooray

So May the Fourth
be with you here
with Obi Wan
to bring you cheer

Our Star Wars chap
our 'little brown'
he's such a joy
to have around

So on the fourth
of May each year
we celebrate
to be quite clear

For he remains
a Croucher true
something here
we'll share with you

A small brown dog
of many names
but Star Wars
Obi-Wan remains

©Jemverse

Photo – Obi-Wan Kinobi Croucher in the sun,May 2021 – Jempics

Easter Egg Hunt

I’m devising an Easter egg hunt

it’s a giggle

as I had to squeeze into some spots

with a wiggle

too cunningly hide the eggs

with some guile

as my children have been at this

for quite a while

so they all know the places that

I pick for hiding

which means that deception

is now residing

to find nooks and crannies and

difficult places

to keep them all busy with

smiles on their faces

as all of my children are

grown adults now

the clues have got harder

and harder somehow

But they’ll use their wisdom and

collective endeavour

to solve all the problems I’ve set

‘cos they’re clever

And when they are done and all

eggs have been found

we’ll share some Bucks Fizz with

good cheer all round

For the joy of delivery comes straight

from the heart

and the prize of completion is

just taking part

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Social distance birthdays

It was murky on the Dyke today
and you could not see far
which really was a pity as
the view’s spectacular

You’ll have to take my word for that
because the picture shows you nowt
of what Sussex has to offer
and what the Weald is all about

But our social distance meeting
was just as joyful as they come
to celebrate a birthday
with the way that we do fun

Five of us in both the cars
and Eddie on the phone
the best that we could offer
as we can’t meet up at home

And though murky with cold drizzle
the warmth the meeting brought
gave us all with the special joy
that times like these they ought

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

For Pops

Look at me now Pops, I’m an older man now
I’m past sixty, the years have flown by
That slap in the face
has long turned to grace
yet still on this day I will cry

Nineteenth of February nineteen seventy-four
etched in my mind for all time
The day that you left
leaving family bereft
although all these years later we’re fine

Just four of us left now, Mum with you now
We are older and wiser and free
Yet still we recall
as the years pass and fall
with that promise that one day we’ll see

So this one’s for you Pops, this day I remember
once a year with a glass in the air
As with happiness here
with you share a beer
and the memories happily share

©Jemverse

In loving memory of my father – John Alan Croucher (10/5/34 to 19/2/74)

Thirty-four

On a February day
thirty-four years ago
I remember quite well
the remains of the snow
as on a bright morning
I walked by the sea
so proud of the fact
of no longer ‘to be’
But actually now
a father at last
all those long months of waiting
now finally past
For there on that day
to Sally and me
the gift of a daughter
with our Emily

©Jemverse

Photo – Emily Rose on her 33rd birthday – Jempics

Eighteen crazy holes

Eighteen crazy holes
Chichester in the sun
an after Christmas present
enjoyed by everyone
The plane up on the falls
gave us all a focal view
and every single hole
gave us a challenge new

Lee Jones he got a hole in one
but mostly all we managed two
so the scores when we had finished
were split by points quite few
All for one and one for all
it was a special day
for family fun together
with crazy golf to play

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Christmas week VII

7 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

The Christmas week now
today sees its end
with just five days to go
before this year we’ll send

On its way with relief
as really we should
as let’s face it, it’s truly
not been that good

But before it’s sent packing
we still have some December
to fill with good things
for us to remember

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Christmas week VI

6 of 7 in the Jemverse ‘Christmas week’ series

T’was the day after Christmas
twenty-sixth of December
and if I say so myself
a one to remember

For this year as we know
has been naff to extreme
the worst one in fact
that the world has yet seen

But despite all the naffness
we have still come together
for the best of good times
we will treasure forever

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics