Brexit: All Words and No Pay
Politicians know how to duck and weave,
Which is how we got to Remain or Leave.
Brexit – our time to ‘take back control’,
Solve all our problems with one simple poll.
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The Maasai Mara
Different views and well-deserved reviews
A morning drive in the Maasai Mara. Hard to beat. Yet more wonderful sightings of animals enjoying life in the wild. For most of our time in the Mara we’d been pretty much on our own; just us 4 friends in a jeep with an excellent spotter and guide. Finding us regular sightings. Sometimes even on request. Another leopard, please. No problem.
This day there were a few more jeeps about. Some were rushing along at speed, all going in the same direction. Probably to see a kill. That sense of excitement. Check camera settings ready for action.Visiting Grenfell
It all looks so different today,
that smoking charcoal block,
now pale, swathed in creamy
covers rippling in the breeze.
At the top, the banner of green:
Grenfell Forever in Our Hearts.
The words descend in silence,
stirring memories of that night.
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The Brazilian Pantanal
Home to jaguars & jabiru, otters & ocelots
People sometimes ask me where they should go to view wildlife. That rather depends on what they want to see! Most of us think of the Big 5 and that’s certainly a great place to start. Many different destinations in Africa tick that box. But what next? In the last few years I’ve been lucky enough to see orangutans in Borneo, lemurs in Madagascar, bears in Canada and those truly amazing polar bears (and walruses) up in the Arctic. So, how would a trip to the Brazilian Pantanal stack up? Would we see jaguars? The Ugly Duckling Diva
A Fairy Tale Comes True
Sally was the second to be born. Her beautiful sister, Sam, emerged on time, perfect in every respect. Sally’s journey was harder, she arrived all battered and bruised. Sally was very large and, it’s true to say, very ugly. People tended to smile at Sam and sigh at Sally.
Behind Those Bars
Sanctuaries and zoos – lots to think about
I’ve recently been to an animal sanctuary in Thailand and a family outing to Dudley Zoo. Comparing the two experiences has been fascinating and once more made me ask what zoos are for.
Poles Apart
I
May made a snap call for Polling Day,
time to mark man’s hard won right,
women’s even longer fight, for that
fiction called Democracy. Cast away!
Candidates call from opposite sides:
Strong and Stable, Fairness for All.
Empty promises, sit on fences,
fiddle expenses. Brexiteers collide.
We’d rather vote for TV stars,
sports personalities, latest evictions,
B list celebs (ignore their convictions).
So we got Trump and risk a war.
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Here & There
Here: morning rush hour, stand still,
bands of lorries, cars, vans,
red lines, yellow lines, white lines,
zebra crossing.
The Other Side of Canada
A wonderful mix of wildlife and culture
I’d never seen a bear in the wild before, then all in one summer I saw three different types: Polar Bears, Grizzly Bears and Black Bears. Mind you, being in the right country did help.Drawing the Line
How I felt about going fishing
Recently I had the pleasure of spending a few days in the wilds of Scotland, celebrating a friend’s 50th birthday. One afternoon a group of us went out on a boat to see the scenery and hopefully spot some seals. Fishing was an added option. I found the experience quite thought-provoking.