Mangolicious

Had a Mangolicious Laines
a lovely IPA
fruity and refreshing
at the end of a long day
Eating at the Open House
all my girls and me
and a lovely Wolfgang
for a delicious tea

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Definitions: ‘Mangolicious’ is a fruity IPA from the Brighton brewery ‘Laines’. The ‘Open House’ is a Brighton gastro-pub where one of the main brews on tap is ‘Laines’. ‘Wolfgang’ is my middle daughter’s Patterdale terrier.

Last brunch

Last brunch today so IPA
featured as it should
along with a veggie breakfast
from the menu which looked good
Shared with jocund company
conversation for a smile
here at our Al Campo
where we come once in a while

©Jemverse

Photo – Al Campo, Brighton (a gastro bar/cafe/restaurant) – Jempics

Monday Lunchtimes

Monday lunchtime at Al Campo
watching life go past
the windows open to the world
with summer here at last

The sunshine's really hot out there
but no-one is complaining
for the start of summer's overdue
from all the Maytime raining

And the four of us with flat whites here
just sharing conversation
enjoy this lunchtime respite
with cathartic reservation

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘Al Campo’ is a restaurant/bistro in North Brighton, one of our favourite family meeting places

Through the trees

Evening sunshine through the trees
the Warren shaded now
but I still feel the sunshine
so warm upon my brow

It has been one of those balmy days
that only summer brings
and conjures up the feelings
to pull at old heart strings

And now as evening settles in
the sunshine fades away
as we here celebrate the joy
rekindled here today

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Eye to the sky

Soaring up to deepest blue
the i-360 there
as dwarfed beneath its structure
I turn my head to stare

The 'doughnut' glistens  in the sun
high up there in the sky
and tourists take their pictures
as they're taken way up high

Though truth be told I always would
prefer the old West Pier
this is still a fitting tribute to
the Brighton that's still here

©Jemverse

Photo – the British Airways i-360 observation tower, Brighton, Sussex, UK – Jempics

The i-360 was built on the landward site entrance to the old West Pier, derelict since the late 70’s and sadly destroyed by fire in the 1990’s

Promenading

Walked along the promenade
from Hove to Brighton town
the sunshine warm with summer
come to take away the frown

Very many people there
all walking in the sun
celebrating here in unison
that summer's truly come

The sea reflected blue of sky
the breeze a whisper there
the mood one of exuberance
in which we all could share

And as we ambled there we six
in jocund company
enjoyed our promenading
in Sussex by the sea

©Jemverse

Photo – the promenade on Hove seafront, Sussex, UK – Jempics

The last West Pier

You'd never think from how it looks
that many years ago
the boards of this forgotten pier
I walked down oft and slow
Derelict for forty years
and then destroyed by fire
the skeletal remains now stand
as its last funeral pyre
Brighton's West Pier still it's called
but you'll need imagination
to picture how grand once it was
from this last iteration

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The big gay gull

In the grounds of our Emmaus

Old Portslade village, Sussex way

stands proud a wooden sculpture

of a seagull tall and gay

…

The ‘Big Gay Gull’ was built for ‘Pride’

a diverse celebration

in partnership with charities

for summer jubilation

…

Emotion with endurance stays

as ‘Big Gay Gull’ remains

proud in the lovely sunshine

but also when it rains

…

Celebrating Brighton’s culture

it’s freedoms’ testament

paying homage to the rainbow

it stays true to its intent

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Freedom II

Seagull giving it ‘some of that’

on ‘Fatto Mano’s’ there

whilst we walked slow through Brighton

the afternoon to share

Rock buns in Pavilion Gardens

charity shops galore

cheap CDs in the pound shop

and we’re back here once more

The sunshine made the people

and the ambiance so real

almost like a living thing

at fingertips to feel

It’s been a long time coming

but we embraced it here today

tangible this freedom feeling

and this time it’s here to stay

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Pond Water

There’s a pub in Brighton called ‘The Pond’
closed of course at present
as every pub in England is
which is a bit unpleasant
It serves a pint they brew themselves
‘Pondwater’ – quite sublime
which I will savour once again
quite soon, I trust, sometime

And though the connotation is
contrary I’ll agree
planting in the pond today
reminded me you see
as planting in pond water
new plants new hope to bring
a thought popped in just as they do
that’s worth remembering

Such are these thoughts, these pleasantries
on which our hopes we pin
with expectation promise
from this Covid time we’re in
And emerge we will victorious
when time is right once more
to savour all these pleasures
which we cherish and adore

©Jemverse

Photos – Jempics