Author Archives: Robin

Frantic fortnight as we get ready to take Sooty, Sweep and Soo on tour

After the first week at Harry’s place, a very busy time all round, it was time to make the master show tape with all the sounds and music for the show. The recording studio was the Corbetts’ living room and the musicians were the Corbett sons, David and Peter (the latter known professionally as MatthewContinue reading “Frantic fortnight as we get ready to take Sooty, Sweep and Soo on tour”

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

My apologies for the lack of regular content, other than poetry, which has, itself, been lacking in regularity of late. For various reasons I have found myself too busy to provide the regular input which readers so rightly deserve. Or is it that I am too tired at times, not as up to the markContinue reading “Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible”

Farewell

Ann Brontë 1820-1849 Farewell to thee! but not farewell To all my fondest thoughts of thee: Within my heart they shall still dwell; And they shall cheer and comfort me. O, beautiful, and full of grace! If thou hadst never met mine eye, I had not dreamed a living face Could fancied charms so farContinue reading “Farewell”

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Robert Browning 1812-1889 Hamelin town’s in Brunswick, By famous Hanover city; The river Weser, deep and wide, Washes its wall on the southern side; A pleasanter spot you never spied; But, when begins my ditty, Almost five hundred years ago, To see the townsfolk suffer so From vermin, was a pity. Rats! They fought theContinue reading “The Pied Piper of Hamelin”

Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne

It took 600 years to really establish the Saxons as lords and masters of the land now called England. They had driven the original inhabitants into the West and then pushed back the various Nordic invaders into small enclaves. Edward the Confessor had ruled for a good time but in 1066 he popped his clogsContinue reading “Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne”

The French Revolution

by Washington Allston 1779-1843 Earth has had her visitation. Like to this She hath not known, save when the mounting waters Made of her orb one universal ocean. For now the Tree that grew in Paradise, The deadly Tree that first gave Evil motion, And sent its poison through Earth’s sons and daughters, Had struckContinue reading “The French Revolution”

Cigarettes And Whiskey And Wild, Wild Women

by Anne Sexton 1928-1974 Perhaps I was born kneeling, born coughing on the long winter, born expecting the kiss of mercy, born with a passion for quickness and yet, as things progressed, I learned early about the stockade or taken out, the fume of the enema. By two or three I learned not to kneel,Continue reading “Cigarettes And Whiskey And Wild, Wild Women”

Taliesin in 1952

by RS Thomas 1913-2000 I have been all men known to history, Wondering at the world and at time passing; I have seen evil, and light blessing Innocent love under a spring sky. I have been Merlin wandering in the woods Of a far country, where the winds waken Unnatural voices, my mind broken ByContinue reading “Taliesin in 1952”

Celtic countries lead the way when it comes to “spoiling” our children

I wonder how many of us are aware of laws that affect our everyday lives and could get us into serious trouble, bearing in mind that ignorance of the law is no defence. As of today (21 March 2022) it has become illegal in Wales for parents (or anyone acting in loco parentis) to smackContinue reading “Celtic countries lead the way when it comes to “spoiling” our children”