3186 - Lake Dischtricht

My good luck on this holiday has held
Berchtesgaden's an outdoor kind of place
The sun shone til 4:30, so we sailed
(Me and a guy called Jet) on this high lake
Called Konigsee (King's Lake) and saw the face
Of Mt Watzmann, the second highest peak
In Germany. At the far side, amazed
At the beauty of Obersee, and walked
Alongside it and beyond, trying to seek
A route up the steep hill to waterfall
Was successful. Next, because of footache
No more long walks, but cable-car technique
Took us up Mt Jenner, where we beheld
Great views of lake and Berchtesgaden. Ace!

Fri 8 May

2948 - What a performance!

Warm night, just got back from Bridgewater Hall
Where I witnessed a most emotional scene
The Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra, all
There, playing alongside the Halle, been
There many times but I have never seen
Anything quite like that, tears in my eyes
Some beautiful ladies gliding between
The regulars, in African dresses
Being treated to sounds of Sibelius
Berlioz and Beethoven, with them mingled
Their own music, players and choir, all being
Too much to take, knowing the sheer duress
Of living in the Congo, somehow still
Achieving this. Beautiful human beings

2210 - Key to the strings of my heart

The dark nights are drawing in - wish I had
A drawing room to draw them in, but all
I've got is a tiny living room, bad
If you're a pianist, but I'm not. Haul
A baby grand up the stairs? Laughable
No, I need money, room, but I have space
Of one kind, reliably - personal
I'd hit the wrong key anyway, misplace
My fingers, even heart, which beats its pace
To a rock or dance tune. This is no fad
A guitar fits in here though, lovable
Partner, not quiet, not hard to replace
But a thing of beauty - we are solid
As a rock, we are cute, we rock and roll

1482 - Two English hills, one Irish hill recalled

There is a green hill not so far away
Well, two, in fact, that rise out of the plain
Both wooded hills topped with castles, like they
Belong not in Cheshire, but maybe Spain
Or Germany. On a clear day, it’s vain
To deny that Beeston and Peckforton
Castles aren’t worth a visit. The first-named
Is from around 1300, ruined
Now, but on such a tall outcrop, you’re stunned
By views of eight counties; looking one way,
The Pennines; the other, Welsh hills are seen
Reminds me of Carrowkeel in Ireland
Green panoramas, distant hills of grey
Ben Bulben, near Sligo, and the Midlands

1219 - Let it snow let it snow let it snow let it snow let it snow

The beauty of the early morning scene
Struck me as I came out of my front door
The snow was deep and white (not at all green)
My boots sank down but never touched the floor
The high branches intermittently poured
Their crystal contents near my head; cautious,
I crept quickly beneath while making for
The safety of the open sky, the trees
Three times cursing their luck at each near miss
The Regent Road traffic was barely seen
The slush hills and valleys a long brown score
From Liverpool to Manchester and Leeds
A relief to be home; I’m not too keen
On going out tonight. Will it snow more?

1077 - Stone soul survivor

Some people climb mountains, strain their utmost
Some people start businesses, work all day
Some people take it slow, with tea and toast
Some people, like me, find things hard to say
But never fear, if words all slip away
Or there’s no-one to hear, no-one to text
Just play some favourite music; you’ll find they
Don’t matter. You’ve found beauty so complex
Beauty that never ages, never sets
Out to cause pain. Guardian angel ghost
You flit from long dead brain into mine. Play,
Play on till I’m asleep, my genius guest -
Only you understand, are not opposed
To soul’s expression through some other way
Sun 16 Aug