Penny's Jottings

I am still in my sleepwear and its well after two!

My hair is unbrushed! Oh what a to do!

I’m unshowered, ungroomed, unshod and unclad

I’m a little ashamed and feeling quite bad

In my defence I may say that I was feeling quite weary

my life is quite full, and a book made me teary

Playing games till the wee hours made my eyesight quite bleary

Though an occasional win made the losing less dreary

so I crept out of bed, after a hot cup of tea

and sat in a chair with the dog on my knee

checked socials and emails and played one last Wordle

gazed at the clock and felt my blood curdle

I am still in my sleepwear and its very nearly three

Well…. I think I’ll have lunch and a nice cup of tea

it’s my birthday again, oh what a to do!

Each year passes faster, ‘tween me and you

I no sooner manage the age that I be

then here comes the next one surprising me

I remember my birthdays when I was a child

Passing the parcel and kids running wild

it seemed like a lifetime ‘tween each celebration

but now each year passes with one inhalation

I’m not really moaning, the alternative’s rough

and I love the attention, can’t get enough!

so thanks everybody for the singing and gifts

for the kind thoughtful messages, gives me a lift

I am feeling quite happy, as I’m sure you can tell

But I’m gonna let out one primeval yell!
a scream to the universe, slow down and chill

I need time to catch up, to be calm, to be still

sitting in my kitchen sipping tea, picking up the strands of my life

reflecting on the past six weeks, hectic, busy, catching up

family fun and laughter, whisky and coke (dad turning in his grave)

joys and sorrows of time passing, time wasting, time standing still

listening to each other, envy, love, joy and pain intertwining

lives changing passively and actively, lives altering painfully

the joy of being home, the sorrow of leaving,

I see life as a pattern made from multi coloured string

a non linear, loose, ever changing pattern

where love, hate, excitement, boredom and sorrow mingle

where safety and danger challenge each other

where duty, sensitivity and love are decimated by ego

where questions overflow and answers disappear.

sitting in my kitchen, reflecting on the pattern of my life

tis the night before travelling the house is a mess

there are unpacked clothes and a feeling of stress

As I work faster the mess is not less

what will I take? did I clean the loo?

there are a million things left for me to do

I’ve got to complete my work projects too 

download my stories, decide what to wear

pack my passport, style my hair

hoping my phone battery will last till I’m there

I’ll just pat the dog and plan out the day

prioritise my work and get each job underway

I wish I was organised but that’s not my way

the pools a bit green and the yard needs a weed

the carpet needs cleaning and I need a feed

the car needs a clear out, the dog needs a lead

Ah well what’s forgotten will be here when I’m back

It will all be completed before I hit the sack

Up with the lark then to clean up and pack

Hooray ! Im gonna be off tomorrow! 

I had a dream about Rob and Stace, hand in hand

Spending 25 years in ‘happily ever after’ land

where the air is sweet and there are no stresses

and Rob is in tights and the Stacey wears dresses

where people don’t argue, and children behave

and the women are dainty and the men oh so brave

and marriages last to each final last breath

when they swear to each other a love after death.

but no! I was dreaming, they are not in that place.

they are here, where stresses are quite common-place

where challenges erupt and values clash

where decisions are made for the after-school dash

where work is imposing and communication lacks

where misunderstanding makes us stop in our tracks

where children are challenging everyday rules

and where families clash with the values of schools

where life is expensive, and bills are arriving

and the grass needs mowing and weeds are thriving

where dreams are shattered, and children are sick

and life hurries on, years pass by so quick.

But Stacey and Rob have stood strong through it all

With love and affection and an occasional brawl

Shoulder to shoulder and backs to the wall

Meeting each challenge in their own unique way

supporting each other through work, rest, and play

and that’s what it’s about at the end of the day

25 years but who’s keeping score?

Here’s hoping they enjoy 25 more!