I wonder where they come from, I wonder where they go, I wonder who might use them, as they hurry to and fro. Is a ghost abroad at night? Does it haunt this secret place? I can hear its shuffling feet, but I cannot see its face! So ancient are these steps, So stony cold and bare, In the heart of old Vienna, By a bleak and wintry square.  ..read more

I do not like Brussel sprouts No no, not at all One there sitting on my plate Was it ready for a brawl? My plan of thoughtful attack Let it go straight down my snout Swallow that green ball whole Yes, Ive worked it out  But Alas, this did not occur putting me in quite a state Coughing hard it flew right out Landing on my sisters plate My sister she was horrified Mum was raving mad I sat and widely grinned Announcing “ Sorry, Mum my bad!”  Not one has passed my lips since then Those green and slimy sprouts From that day until presently  Im happy to do without ..read more

These giant domes of rock rise from the desert plain; a rusting of iron oxide gives them a reddish stain. Six hundred million years ago  they were thrust up to the sky. With many heads a-dreaming, their legends will not die. Teacher’s note: Kata Tjuta, which means “many heads” in the local Aboriginal language, is located 25 km from Uluru. Like Uluru, it is considered sacred to the Aboriginal people of Australia, and the mythology of the site is not disclosed to outsiders.  The highest peak (at left) was named Mount Olga by explorer Ernest Giles in 1872 ..read more

I see the old men march, who survived the times of war, beneath their proud-held banners from so many different corps. I see bright companionship shining in their eyes; they’re marching to remember those who fell and could not rise. We salute them once again and pray that never more young men will have to go a-marching into war. Photo by Pixabay ..read more

What about recycling? That’s something you can do to save the planet every day  and save some money, too. You could take up gardening and grow veggies in the yard, or start a steamy compost heap, it isn’t very hard. Maybe you could buy less stuff, not use so much plastic, and more refillable containers would be just fantastic. However you go about it, whatever you might do, please just do something, because it’s up to me and you. Photo by Vlada Karpovich ..read more

There’s a Gruble in my garden wearing rainbow coloured clothes. He lives beneath the gimble patch where no one ever goes. If you’re curious I’ll show you, but you’ve got to promise me, you’ll never tell a single soul. That’s how it’s got to be. We’ll tiptoe from our bedrooms and steal along the hall, then down the stairs, across the yard up to the garden wall. We’ve got to be as quiet as mice ‘cause on the other side, if the Gruble hears a noise, beneath the gimble patch he’ll hide. He won’t be there this morning, nor in the afternoon. But set your clock for midnight and provided there’s a ..read more

Nature’s jewel shines not only upon the finger ring but within each glance, where we see everything that sways the senses, calms the breath and feeds the inner soul from birth to death with riches far beyond the tools of man – displayed within the beauty of a delicate plan. Imagine a whale’s journey or the migration of wild herds, for the majesty of life cannot be explained in simple words.  Just compare Earth’s night sky with moon and sprinkled stars, to the mountains and rivers, oceans deep and tree-lined bays with bars. And see that a common hand has touched each one with fresh palette ..read more

A valley in Wales so green and clear, no sign of the coal mined near here. A land of song, where mining coal destroyed its valleys but not its soul. Teacher’s note: Wales was once famous for its polluting coal mines.  Today we celebrate great Welsh singers such as Dame Shirley Bassey, Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins, Bonnie Tyler (Gaynor Sullivan), Sir Tom Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel, actor Richard Burton and poet Dylan Thomas.  The word “Eisteddfod” — a musical competition— is taken from the Welsh language which is still spoken.  ..read more

It sounds like a cracker each time a bug-zapper electrocutes one of those insects. To protect our meat pies from pic-nicking flies, that zapper is nowhere near perfect. It’s a haphazard thug killing mostly good bugs important for plant pollination plus millions of beetles who never harm people. It’s rather a sad situation. Their UV light glow won’t attract mosquitoes. It’s CO2 breath mozzies seek. So this gadget’s NO-GO and, for those in the know, it’s best to use bug spray with DEET ..read more

Shoes always come in pairs, but pears don’t come in shoes. And I know that my nose knows how to make ah-choooooos. Whales don’t come from Wales, is it rite or is it right? And who can tell the difference between quiet or quite? Angle grinders not ankle grinders, it’s so easy to make a slip— because English is really funny and tries to make you trip ..read more