Pearl

Thirty years ago today
two star-crossed lovers wed
and as years passed their love it grew
throughout the life they led
So to celebrate their special day
a pearl of best persuasion
for this their anniversary 
befits this grand occasion

©Jemverse

Photo – Wikipedia (edited)

One for Pops

On Father's Day in twenty-two
my glass I raise remembering you
as though it's now 'most fifty years
there's still a smile and still some tears
so here's to you on Father's Day
you're still my Pops in every day

©Jemverse

Photo – John Alan Croucher (my Pops) 10/5/34 – 19/2/74

Born to the sun VI

Born to the sun and born to a beach
which I'm going to now 'cos it's in easy reach
and today is my birthday and I'm sixty-three
so a day in the sun makes good sense to me
I'll be there with the Beans so it will be the best
for good conversation, some laughs and the rest
and this evening much later to Brighton we'll go
for a meal and some beers to conclude the show

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Buck

At the Buckingham Arms with my Bro for a beer
Our local, our pub - we both love it here
Conversation will flow and we'll have a good time
with a chat and a game over beer or a wine
It's our mindfulness tonic for mental health's sake
so we'll waste not a moment this pleasure to take

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while
It had a moat and curtain walls
bridges, steps and towers
and when we'd finished it we knew
that it was wholly ours
We'd made the best sandcastle
Camber sands has ever seen
and whilst it stands you'll surely know
that Crouchers there have been

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘Seahorse castle’, Camber Sands, Sussex, May 2022 – Jempics

Camber Sands

For a birthday treat our children
took us to Camber Sands
a weekend at Badger Cottage
neath the sand dunes tall and grand
They'd all kept it a secret
but it's known and open now
as the six of us are here
with our dog cos he's allowed

©Jemverse

Photo – Camber Sands, East Sussex – from the top of the dunes looking West – Jempics

May the fourth be with you II

Seven years of Star Wars days
we've had this little chap
the dog of many, many names
so let's give him a clap
Obi Wan Kinobi is 
his proper name of course
hence 'May the fourth be with you'
as he is strong with 'the force'
But he has many others
to numerous to repeat
as he is a very special friend
who makes our lives complete

©Jemverse

‘Obi Wan Kinobi’ – who came to us on Star Wars Day 2015 (photo – Jempics)

Celebration

Wagamama's with my girls
midweek, a Tuesday night
feeling rather famished
so to do this was quite right
no particular reason there
but life to celebrate
so really you don't need one
when you've that to satiate
Having said that we all raised a glass
to several things we'd done
all good cause to celebrate
and the reason we'd all come

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Fairwarp Climb

Above the eighteenth century village
through yellow gorse and sand
on the edge of Ashdown Forest
neath shady beech trees grand
we climbed to top of Ashbourne Hill
walked past the airman's grave
silent in memorial
this bright day April gave
then back down through Campfields rough
crossing Small Brown's brook
to conclude this four-mile circle
at the starting path we took

©Jemverse

Photo – climbing Ashbourne Hill (above Fairwarp), North-East Sussex, Good Friday 2022 – Jempics

What life’s for

The Open House, a fine March day
with sunshine bright and warm
joined by all the Crouchers 
and some others per the norm
For we'll not stand on ceremony
and with open arms spread wide
welcome others to it
as we say this name with pride
Friends and family are important
as you'll often hear us shout
as these extra-special moments
are what real life's all about

©Jemverse

The Croucher Clan and several good friends at Brighton’s Open House pub, Mother’s day 2022  –  Photo: Emily Croucher