Another day going through old files on my computer and discarding some of the rubbish that has accumulated. I came across a poem about Oxford that I wrote a while ago and thought it may be worth posting to see if there is any feedback. Yesterday was also a little out of the ordinary as I published my second book "Three of a Kind" on Kindle. It's three short stories and quite different in nature to my first Kindle book "Reflections Tall Stories and Short Poems". Anyhow try my poem and see what you think.

Oxford

By

David Higgins

I can almost see Oxford from here

Dreaming Spires lazy picnics cloudy beer

Eights on the Thames rowing as one

Students in punts just having fun

Willow strokes leather around the Parks

Retire to the pub for high jinks and larks

Bicycles leaning against college walls

Sightseeing parties obstructing the Broad.

I can almost see Oxford from here

Clean-cut athletes on cinders appear

The starters gun fires to signal the off

Straight down to business for eager young Toffs

Ibbotson sets the pace Bannister sits poised

He wins in sub four listen to the noise

History was made on the Iffley road track

The standard was set no going back.

I can almost see Oxford from here

The Izigonis revolution is near

Tired models and staid old designs

Choking life from the factory lines

Enter the Mini cool funky and fun

Bright colours turn heads of both old and the young

It’s had a face-lift or two in its time

Larger more comfy than old ones of mine.

I can almost see Oxford from here

Fans rise to their feet and cheer

Ron Atkinson Tony Jones Maurice Kyle

Use a mixture of brute force and guile

To dash Blackburn’s cup dreams once more

Division one side are ousted by four

Dreams of Wembley were quickly dashed

Preston North End and Kendal saw to that.

I can see Oxford from here

Mist that descended has cleared

Cars still roll from assembly lines

Foreign owned but never mind

United have moved from the old Manor Ground

To the Kassam stadium with seats all around

Dark Blue sportsmen play hard but fair

Forging bonds that in business later they’ll share

Colleges still attract the cream of the crop

Brilliant young minds who strive for the top.

Visit to Royal Leamington Spa.

Acorn sculpture in the park.

Hippo Hooray

Seat for one to meditate.

Poppy sculpture.

Flower beds in the park.

I just had to include a fountain.

 Abstract Sculpture.

Fog knitting

Fog knitting

It is believed that Fog knitting was introduced to the British Isles by the Vikings. It Is understood they knitted on their journey across the North Sea where the raw material was readily available as a way of passing the time on the crossing. The art lay dormant for several centuries before being resurrected by explorers sailing to discover new lands in the fifteenth century.

The fog is best harvested in November and December on the coast of Cornwall and Devon where the quality of the product is cleaner and finer having been blown in off of the Atlantic Ocean. Fine mesh strung between wooden uprights is a favourite method as it can be dismantled and re-erected should the wind change direction. Lesser product can be obtained from some of the major industrial cities of the world where pollution gives a coarser texture with a dull finish.

Shortage can be difficult and it is critical that glass jars are used in a temperature controlled room. To knit with the fog it is best decanted into a piping bag with a fine nozzle and squeezed slowly onto fine wooden needles. Patterns can be found in some old reference books but it lends itself to crochet where ad hoc designs can be very rewarding.

It is planned that national championships will be introduced with international competitions organised between countries of the New World who received the original settlers. If the trials are successful it will be submitted for inclusion it the Winter Olympics in 2022 as a demonstration sport. Because of the nature of the material it would be considered unsuitable for summer Olympic due to higher temperatures. Competition would be on a knockout bases with the best of three pieces submitted against the clock being adjudged the winner.

Research by David Higgins.

Sunday run returns

Sunday the weather was cooler, a lot cooler, more conducive to running. Cloudy and a noticeable breeze. We ran along the main road before turning into a lane. In the field next to the lane I saw a man with a metal detector. I could not resist the temptation so we stopped and had a word with him. His haul for the morning was a broken child's toy cap gun from the seventies. Metal detecting can be very hit and miss unless you do a lot of homework into local history. It can become a bit addictive, the next sweep could uncover a hidden haul.

Reluctantly we set off again along the lane, then up the steep field. I was pleased to be able to run all the way to the top after losing so much time through injury. A man was at the top with his daughter collecting elderflower to make elderflower champagne. Running down through the woods with the breeze blowing it was very pleasant. After the woods we ran down a field across the stream and up the other side before entering a village. The footpath beside the pub is overgrown so we had to walk up it. Once into the open fields again we were able to press on again. Fields that a few months ago were flooded are now as hard as rock due to the hot dry weather we have enjoyed. It was six and a half miles at a fairly sedate pace but that was exactly what we needed. We now have a base to build on.  

Run in the sun.

Well get out we did. Only twice but at least we made the effort. Tuesday we ran three miles and Thursday four. Twelve miles for the week was less than I had hoped for but under the circumstances it was acceptable. Saturday is forecast to be cooler and if that carries over into Sunday we can begin to build up the mileage again.

Too Hot To Handle.

After completing a second three mile run last week I was keen to build on that momentum. This morning it was hot and forecast to get even hotter so it was best to get it done. We ran on the side of the road that was in the shade of some large trees. This ploy worked well for a mile when we changed course running along a lane before entering a field. The ground underfoot was rock hard and unforgiving. The sun was beating down and I was beginning to sweat freely. I took a bottle of water but this had little effect. I got progressively slower as we went along, partly due to the heat and in part due to the fact that I had missed so much training. It was good to be running again and I have no after effects on my Achilles. The weather forecast for the next week is more sunny hot weather but I will try and get out there.

One step at a time.

Yesterday I took a step in the right direction. A three mile run without any adverse reaction from my Achilles tendon. It had been two weeks since my last attempt and eight weeks since the injury occurred. Even the cycling, which had been reduced during Wimbledon tennis fortnight, has done little to retain much fitness. It will be a long slow road to reach the level of fitness I had achieved before the injury happened. I do not enjoy running in hot weather so a little rain would be very welcome.

I have been out with my camera a few times and have posted some of my pictures.

Poppies in oilseed rape fields.

Poppies in perfusion.

A scene from one of our regular runs.

Tranquility.

Canal in town center.

Sign depicting what was sold at the town market.