Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while

Reversing the loop

Six miles and thirteen thousand steps
reversed, the loop's still fine
as this quite pleasant circuit
is something wholly mine
Takes around two hours
with a few stops in between
to savour once again the views
amongst the best I've seen
For this is Sussex and my home
we share a synergy
taking full advantage of
each other's company

Shoreham my home

Through a gap in the bushes
I spied Shoreham town
nestled there under the Downs
twixt me and the sea
safe there in the lea
the bearer of treasure and crowns

Chalky

These chalky trails on Sussex loam
in these green hills above my home
are quite the best so many times
I will return as they are mine
and with a joy I'll shout aloud
this is my Sussex and I'm proud

Back to the loop

It was back to the loop
with a whim and a way
as the sun was quite warm
on this late April day
and I was on leave
and the hills were all green
and the chalk of the trail
is the best I have seen
so I put best foot forward
with this walk 'cos it's there
reacquainting myself
with this pleasure to share

Greenship

There's a green ship in the harbour
up the river quite a bit
much further on than usual
so I took a pic of it
Rarely dredged of course these days
the building silt means most
will rarely venture up this far
at Shoreham on the coast
A far cry from my yesterdays
when every berth was full
so good to see the odd one still
with time's incessant pull

Summer in April

At the end of April, summer
made an early show of hand
as the sun shone warm on Sussex
fair across this pleasant land
So I put a best foot forward
took advantage with no shame
once more into the hedgerow
bordered pathways, trails and lane
Exploring parts of Sussex
I had never been before
in this lovely springtime sunshine
as that's just what it is for

Fairwarp Cimb

Above the eighteenth century village
through yellow gorse and sand
on the edge of Ashdown Forest
neath shady beech trees grand
we climbed to top of Ashbourne Hill
walked past the airman's grave
silent in memorial
this bright day April gave
then back down through Campfields rough
crossing Small Brown's brook
to conclude this four-mile circle
at the starting path we took

The silence of ancient walls

Beside old Railway Gardens the old flint wall has stood
built two hundred years ago but still it's looking good
And if its stones could talk and tell the history of the years
of Shoreham since the railway came of all those toils and tears
What a merry tale that would be for us who live
in this town beside the sea and what we wouldn't give
For history books are great to have but the interesting essence
can only come from something that has stood from past to present
So sadly we will never know for these old walls are still
and silent from the years they've seen as they forever will

Sussex my home

From up here with this vista
three sixty turn around
I can see the hills I've walked upon
on this fair Sussex ground
Some are many miles away
feint shadows in the mist
but all of them both near and far
my feet have trod and kissed
For this kingdom is my Sussex
with its flint and chalky sod
all its hills and pastures
touched by the hand of God
So whenever opportunity
gives me the power to roam
I offer up a prayer of thanks
that Sussex is my home

Sunset glow

High on Ditchling Beacon
the warmth of sunshine glow
hid the fact of bitter cold
with Sussex Weald below
But sheltered in the lea this bank
gave us some respite there
as we took in the setting sun
this special time to share
And as the evening gathered
and the gold slipped slow away
the glow outside so too within
confirmed this lovely day

The February cast

Brighton Pavilion lit up at night
in the glow this February cast
provides for an image to capture and hold
for a memory I know will last
And though long we've lived here
and many times have before
seen this view by day and by night
it's always a pleasure never to fade
to again see this wonderful sight

Of fortune and privilege

A horse wandered slow on the golden foreshore
as the sun diamonds shone on the sea
and high on the shingle the wolf wagged his tail
with my two daughters and me
Eastward we wandered this vista beside
our fortune and privilege known
a walk on the beach in winter sunshine
here in Sussex this place that is home

Seagull II

In Worthing a seagull perched on a pole
looked out over the sea
surveying the land from birds' eye view
so regal and proud there was he
that I paused for a moment in reverence there
doffing proverbial cap
admiring his stance and the vista below
provided by this handsome chap

Me by the sea

Gold on water evening time
on the beach into sublime
Westward walking all this mine
In Sussex by the sea

Sea air salty winter clime
far out there horizon line
evening shadows intertwine
In Sussex by the sea

All these wonders help define
the sea in me this storyline
of beaches with the weather fine
In Sussex by the sea

A spirit freed

The mystery of what's beyond
the gate across this winter field
keeps me guessing in the rain
that winter brings to Sussex Weald

I can see I think a mound of earth
and a house bathed deep in mist
behind the barren trees devoid
of green the spring and summer kissed

And part of me longs there to tread
exploring paths to whence they lead
for this the gift on me bestowed
to celebrate a spirit freed

Adur valley beauty revisited

7 of 10 in the Jemverse Winter 22 series ‘Brittle Days’

Today the river mirrors
The pale blue of the sky
As whitened Sussex fields
In frosted splendour lie

Lancing college chapel
Proud as always on the hill
Overlooks the Adur valley
Quiet and beautifully still

And as I gaze upon this vista
Briefly from the train
I am reminded that I live here
And a smile returns again

Reluctant Reindeer

3 of 5 in ‘The week before Christmas’ series from Jemverse

The Houndie House sled has been up now for weeks
for reindeer dogs to pose by
but whenever we go
our reindeer says 'no'
so we'll make do with this with a sigh

Mill Hill Barking

Popped up to Mill Hill for a wander
Obi barked all the way there
shouting loud from the window
all that we passed by for to share
that he was going for walkies
out on the fine Sussex trail
and he wanted all there to know it
by his barking there to regale

Emmaus II

Sitting outside Emmaus
my purchases clamped in my hand
looking forward to hearing
old vinyl from my favourite band

Pleased with my finds here this morning
browsing bric-a-brac and some more
this place in Portslade that we come to
up here at our favourite store

Our beach hut

And the view from the beach hut
to the shine of the sea
on this day in December
was fantastic for me

So pleased I can come
at all times of year
as this place is my haven
and always brings cheer

Our field

So many times
we've both walked this field
with our little dog, Obi
in the heart of the Weald
Just north of Steyning
on the Partridge Green road
it's been here our haven
and many times strode

Each time we come here
something different we see
whilst Obi does running
quite safe and quite free
and we never grow weary
despite knowing it well
as it's wholesome and lovely
which these words I think tell

Days Gone

In Regency Square
where once stood the Pier
Victorian splendour
still evident here
but time has moved on
and the 360 high
is now the feature
high up in the sky

Yet standing here now
the future I hold
is recalling the heyday
('cos yes, I'm that old)
when the West Pier still stood
as a visual feast
besting the new one
a mile to the east

SDW (South Downs Way)

The South Downs Way
my favourite trail
so as moments come
I'll oft regale
the pleasure I derive from this
just walking here
my perfect bliss

Jack and Jill

On the South Downs
high, top the hill
we walked around
the Jack and Jill
two windmills there
and standing still
though long time now
since flour to mill

The view gave all 
the eyes to fill
where we took stock
of our free will
November yet
not really chill
we wandered freely
with no ill

Veteran

So this morning, leaving Brighton
after breakfast in the sun
we saw two old cars passing
on the annual 'old crocks' run

Both brought a smile, they always do
these cars of yesteryear
with drivers dressed up to the nines
quite cold but full of cheer

And not alone our spirits raised
as people stopped to wave
the veterans as they chugged past
a memory to save

John Harvey

And down the Bridge Wharf twitten
the brewhouse brews beer and wine
standing proud there for tradition
now since eighteen thirty nine

John Harvey forty years before
in Bear Yard across the way
started brewing Harvey's beer
and does so to this day

Mangolicious

Had a Mangolicious Laines
a lovely IPA
fruity and refreshing
at the end of a long day
Eating at the Open House
all my girls and me
and a lovely Wolfgang
for a delicious tea