At work Tinsel on the PC and lights scattered on the tree
Time off to spend with the family
Decorations throughout the house
Christmas Tree too big, needles dropping on the floor
Frantic last minute shopping for stocking gifts from the late night store
Wrapping presents, writing cards ready to send
Mince Pies and Mulled Wine drunk with friends
Laughter from the GrandChildren excited for the day
Elvis Christmas songs on in the car, set on loop to play
Presents opened in pjyjamas sitting on the floor
Lazy breakfast with the Kids, Grandchildren and more
Late meal on the day
Turkey, Pigs in Blanket, Roast Potatoes and veg, all the trimmings
Christmas Pud and Brandy Sauce
Turkey Stew and dumplings on Boxing Day
Meals shared with the family, everyone helping with the food, sharing the load and spreading the love as everyone should
Walks with the neighbours next door and anyone who wants to join in
Popping into the Pub for a welcome beer
Christmas Carols ringing out cheer
Board games out and playing begins, rules changing, shouting, laughing out loud, a bit of playful cheating can be heard
Wrapping up warmly with scarves, hats and gloves
snuggling up to the one that you love.

I love this time of the year - don't you?

Is it a bird flapping it's wings, soaring high in the sky?
Is it a flower unfurling it's petals at the start of a new day?
Is it a Swan swimming gracefully on the River?
Is it a child playing on the swings?
Is it any of these things?
Or is it the freedom to be able to walk in the park, til the sunsets and it becomes dark?
Seeing with your own eyes the beauty that surrounds, anything from a rosebud to ant mound.
Being able to paint a picture with acrylics or with words without fright or fear.
Being able to drink a beer, raise a glass , clink and shout cheers.
Sunbathing in a bikini on a beach, should not be considered to be out of reach.
Political debate and points of view it's  OK if their different, its more interesting you see if you don't always agree with me.
Wearing lipstick and face paints thats an old tradition I'm happy to uphold, some like it subtle others very bold.
Whips and Chains, I can refrain their not necessarily for me but hey what's stopping you, if this is what sets you free.
Listen to music, it's your choice, country, pop, hip hop, rhythm, jazz or blues, there's a genre for everyone; find something that you like keep playing it on repeat, get the body swaying, dancing on your feet.
Laughter is a freedom no one should lose, so many good comedians around, find one you like and laugh, laugh, laugh, turn that frown upside down.
Travel to countries far and wide, see the sunset rise on foreign shores, dip your toes in the ocean, climb a mountain or two, visit Trevi Fountain, the hills of Peru.
Donate your time to a worthy cause
, attend a demonstration to change unworthy laws.
Dress in clothes of your choice, pierce your ears and ink your skin, don't look on it as being a sin.
Read Shakespeare, Dickens, De Maurier, Kipling, Wilde, Lear, Bukowski, Chekhov, Harris, Hanff, Dostoevsky, newspapers of your choice, let's all rejoice in the spoken word no matter how insignificant or absurd.
Write prose and poetry about what you see, share it online with the poetry community free for all to see.
Cherish your loved ones and nurture their love, watch them grow to acheive their dreams, setting them free to live as they choose, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

But most of all own your choices.
Be proud and make heard your voices.

How do you define love?
How do you begin?
Come with me on this journey and explore,
The emotion of love that we all truly adore,
The emotion that we all seek to receive,
The emotion that makes us weak at the knees.
An emotion that has been written about in Music, Stories, Poetry
An emotion we have captured in paint,
An emotion we long for to hold and cherish, let noone taint.

Songwriters have written lyrics, declaring their feelings of desire,
Different Genres, Ballads, Rock Anthems,Jazz, Rhythm andBlues,
Singing of love for cars, women and drink.

Singing of the Power of Love and who started the fire,
Singing of pain, hurt, unrequited love, betrayal too
Songs making us remember, desire and think.

Music so light and pretty,
Music that rises slowly to a high crescendo,
Music of passion, devotion, trust and loyalty.

Music that is dark and *****,
Music that takes you down low,
Music of betryal, mistrust and insanity.

Artists take to the brush to paint a picture clear,
Of women walking on a bridge parasol in hand,
Portraying feelings of lust, romanticism and fear,
Of lovers dancing on the beach leaving footprints in the sand.

Portraying their love of the beauty that surrounds, women and children with beguiling smiles,
Portraits that make you laugh, cry and stand still for a while.

Artists that capture the perfect smile,
Artists that capture that capture the love in the eyes,
Artists that capture that moment, once in a while,
Artists that capture that bond, those ties.

Poets create a picture with their words,
Bringing to mind lust and desire,
Writing of feelings that matter.
Making you cry, laugh, raising your emotions higher and higher,
Using words that describe, pain, and hurt,words that charm and flatter.

Poets that tell a story of hardship, friendship and survival,
Poets that make you laugh, cry and bring about revival.

Poets that write of emotions,
Poets that write of tenderness,
Poets that write of devotion,
Poets that write of togetherness.

Throughout the centuries we are bequiled by love,
How it hurts, how it heals,
The emotions love makes you feel.

How it is won, how it is lost.
Love at what price, what cost?

How we desire love from each other,
How we desire the love of our father and mother.

How love can raise you up and let you down,
How love can get a smile out of a frown.

How love can be your freedom and yet love can smother,
There is no medium that can capture all the different aspect of love for each other.

Love is unique,
Love can be bleak.

Love is scary,
Love can be weary.

Love is strength,
Love can be any time, any length.

Love is freedom,
Love can be your guiding beacon.

Each and everyone of us, feels love in someway
How do you recognise love? if love spoke to you, what would it say?

We polished the brass door knocker
And
Swept the front door step
When the Sailor came to tea

We laid the table with our finest cloth
And
We set  the table with the prettiest fine bone china
When the Sailor came to tea

We served scones with jam and cream
And
We made sandwiches of all shapes and sizes
When the Sailor came to tea

We invited our relatives from afar
And
We invited our friends too
When the Sailor came to tea

We served Champagne with lots of fizz
And
We served Orange juice too
When the Sailor came to tea

We talked about interesting things of the day
And
We danced to, the beat of the latest music
When the Sailor came to tea

We felt the love in the room
And
We felt the love in our hearts
When the Sailor came to tea

I was delighted to be there
As
You see it had been 4 long years since  my brother the Sailor last came to tea

When you walk amongst the flower and trees,
Do you take note of the insects and bees?
Making their homes in the branches and leaves.
Some no bigger than a speck of dirt.
Bees hovering amongst the roses, cowslip, and milkwort.
Pollinating the buds of new flowers, preparing for Spring to arrive.
The treasure they desire is nectar; to be drunk by the Queen of their beehive.

Show your admiration for nature at work.

Beetles, crickets, flies of all kinds, can be found.
Amongst the stem and leaves closer to the ground.
The crickets emit a shrill chirp, the flies hum as they quickly flap their wings.

Listen closely as nature sings.

Popping up their heads from their hole in the ground.
Wild rabbits, take a look around you, hundreds abound.
Squirrels running up their trees.
Escaping predators, storing their tea.

Watch closely as nature plays.

Down by the canal amongst the reeds, dragonflies of a beautiful bright blue.
Flap their wings very quickly, look closely, do you see one close-by?
Be quick they will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Wonder at the swiftness of nature.

Gnats and midges in their hordes,
Creating havoc and discord.
Swatting a huge band of them with your hand; wondering what is their place?
As they make a nuisance of themselves, getting in your face.

Wonder at the swiftness of nature.

Ducks swans, geese sharing the river, swimming atop; Fishes swimming below.
Birds make nests for the young in the safest bushes beneath the largest willow.

Admire the protective side of nature.

When you walk...with an open mind.
You will be delighted at the many forms of nature you find.

Where do the birds go at night?

When the noise ceases and silence surrounds.

When there are no starlings or sparrows flying in the sky or to be seen upon the ground.

Where do the birds go at night?

When it is perfectly quiet where can all the birds be?

Are they asleep in bushes close to the ground or nestling high up in a tree?

Where do the birds go at night?

When darkness descends and evening arrives, where do all the birds hide?

Are the birds playing hide n seek, having a bit of fun, as they wait for the first glimpse of the morning sun?

Where do the birds go at night?

Do you ever wonder if they have a secret life?

By day they are happy, singing a cheerful tune. By night they are more reflective singing Clare De Lune.

Where do the birds go at night?

Is it a puzzle that keeps you awake?
Do you toss and turn, until the birds return at daybreak?

Where do the birds go at night?

When morning breaks and the birds begin to sing.
Every morning seems like the first day of spring.
Waiting for the first sight of birds gathered upon your fence.
Full of hope for the day to commence.

While i was out walking the other day, heading South.
I met a man with a peculiarly large mouth.
It started at the bottom of his chin and went up to his eyes.
It gave him a look of permanent surprise.
I stayed a while, he was a friendly chap.
We walked and talked, had a lovely chat.
I bade him farewell and went on my way.
Whilst thinking to myself,tomorrow is another day.

While I was walking the very next day, heading West.
I met a lady dressed to impress.
Dressed in a Hat, skirt and jacket with a crispwhite shirt.
I decided to try my chat up skills and flirt.
"How do you do?" I said very politely.
She pursed her lips together very tightly.
Then she smiled and said "very well, thank you, have a nice day".
I thought to myself, tomorrow is another day, i raised my hat and went on my way.

While I was walking again one day, heading East.
I came across a Cat the size of a Beast.
The Cat was black and had big paws.
It was the largest Cat you ever saw.
He had ten whiskers at the side of his nose.
And was 6ft tall when he stood on his tip toes.
I thought he looked frightened, a little scared.
I asked him outright "dear fellow, what has you looking so ensnared?"
The Cat smiled a big grin like the one that got the cream.
Stood full height, claws extended and let rip a loud scream.
I didn't stay around to hear his reply.
I was frightened he would scratch out my eye.
I reminded myself, all is not lost tomorrow is another day.

While I was out walking the other day, heading North.
Giving thanks for living on this wondrous Earth.
I met a child skimming stones across the river.
I thought of my childhood and began to quiver.
I asked the child if i could have a go.
He gave me a stone and i gave it a throw.
It skimmed just once and then it flopped.
The boy and I laughed and laughed until we could not stop.
The boy taught me his art of skimming.
Until the boy declared his Mother was expecting his homecoming.
I thanked him for his time and went on my way.
Grateful that tomorrow would bring another day.

At the start of a crisp clear Winters day
Our gorgeous Sun has come out to play
Bursting light through the white fluffy clouds
The warmth of its rays much weaker now
It turns the sky a pale yellow
Like a loving hug;  it wraps you in its arms leaving you feeling soft and mellow
Its presence in the otherwise dull sky
Bringing a smile to our mouth and a sparkle to our eyes
Its a welcome start to the day
When Winters sun comes out to play

Winter trees, standing there.
With your canopy of leaves stripped, your branches bare.
You remind me of Samson when Delilah stripped him of his hair.
Is your strength diminished in the same way?
When the sun retires and blue skies have turned to grey.
Your trunk and branches in summer, used as a hiding place for feathered birds;
And squirrels that are grey and furred.
Your branches once bearing fruits of gold.
Stripped bare you look solitary and old.
You have a look of elegance whilst waiting for the earth to warm.
When you will once again become mother nature’s store, birds and bees visiting in their flocks and swarm.
A miracle of nature.
A glorious portraiture.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas
Filled with love and joy.
An early morning start, opening presents with your girls and boys.
Fingers crossed they've been good enough this year to get their wished for toy.

Eating and drinking with your family
Playing lots of games.
Log fires burning, chestnuts roasting in the flames.
Grandad snoring in his chair.
Children laughing at his balding grey hair.

At 3pm after the Queens speech, together we all sit.
A table that usually sits four, now sits ten people or more.
Turkey at the centre, 3 veggies and gravy in a dish.
Everyone pulling crackers and making a New Years wish.

Later in the evening corrie street on the tele.
Everyone sat together on the sofa watching with very full bellies.

Another Christmas day almost done.
Mum and Dad relaxing with a glass or two.
Raising their glasses and toasting a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.

Tumble through my head
Just as I fall into bed
Spinning round and round
Not making any sense
Where's my pad? It's downstairs

Trying to sneak down the stairs, creaky floorboards, squeaky doors, husband who loudly snores but high alert should I speak.
Trying to sneak to get my pad makes me giggle and laugh

Find my pad, start to write
Hubby quietly stands in door, gives me such a fright
We may as well have a cup of tea, even though its only half past three
We drink and talk, back to bed

Words tumble through my head - - - and my pad is still downstairs!!

Young love, holding hands
Swimming in the surf, walking on the sands

Young love, sweetly kiss
Life is a blast, full of promise

Young love, dancing at night
In each others arms, holding each other tight

Young love , declaring their future
Baring their souls, whispering to each other

Young love , full of romance
Living life, taking every chance

Young love, open and true
Standing in front of each other, vowing "I do"

Young love, starting out with a plan
To be together forever and build their own large clan

Young love, becomes mature
Still walking on sands talking of the future