The Last Chicane

The Last Chicane

I’ve been climbing every rung

Even the broken ones unsung

I’ve played every sad song

Even when the words were wrong

I felt my bird fly away

Even though her nest stays here today

I’ve praised my swan’s eternal flight

Even through the hardest fights

I’m listening to the bells chiming

Even above lyrics that aren’t rhyming

I’m beginning to flutter my wings again

Even after missing the last chicane

I’m preparing for the next equestrian

Even tasting potions of bubbling champagne

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

Hello dear readers, and dear Sue(Nan’s Farm-Inside Out)…. here I am on the beach, yeah !! yes a long 18 months since I’ve been able to feel the warm sand between my toes…. not hot enough for swim yet, but I could smell the fresh sea air…… In my excitement I took all of these photos (and More). The sun was shining and it was a pleasant 23’C.

Eastern Beach, on Corio Bay The Geelong Yacht Club

Ivor with the famous Bollards** More of the sculptured Bollards**

The enclosed beach area within the perimeter of the promenade

Some views as I was walking around the promenade

The salt-water pool, where Ivor learnt to swim (55 years ago)

Yachts on Corio Bay Steps and fountain down to the beach

The children’s pool area

The lush lawn expanses at the beach Looking back to the Geelong City centre

I hope you all enjoyed viewing these photos, as much as I enjoyed my outing to the beach on this a memorable day for me…….

**Jan Mitchell’s Waterfront Bollards

No visitor to Geelong’s magnificent waterfront precinct can miss the whimsical bollards that stretch from Rippleside to Limeburners Point. Painted by local artist Jan Mitchell, the bollards have become an icon of Geelong. Sadly Jan is no longer with us but she has left a lasting legacy which will put a smile on just about anyone who comes face to face with these unique and much loved pieces of public art.

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

From Big To Small

Today’s Weekly Photo Prompt is: Big and Small.… and I believe the topic is open to one’s own interpretation….. Please go and visit the fabulous “Weekly Prompts” site >> Here

Tonight I’m making two BIG bowls of salad’s for my dinner. The BIG bowls of salad will probably last me most of the week, for my dinner meals. The two salads I made were a Potatoe Salad and a Broccoli Salad. I had a SMALL serve of each salad with my barbeque lamb loin chop…. Then for sweets I had a SMALL serve of mango yogurt.

Above: my two BIG bowls of salad, the broccoli salad, top of photo, and potatoe salad at the bottom of the photo…

Above: A SMALL serve of each salad with my barbeque lamb loin chop….

Above: The recipe for the Broccoli Salad, and yes, it’s yummy….

Above: My SMALL Mango Yogurt, also very yummy…… actually a Greek style yogurt

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

A Smooth Lake Of Tears

After months of anxieties and tears

Today was softened, on a smooth lake of old fears

The specialist report was stable

Grey clouds settled under his table

Obvious scars inside the head

Were idle seeds in the garden shed

Life is allowed to continue, cautiously

Back to a normal daily odyssey

Writing about cosmology and ideology

As battology turns a page on neurology

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

Welcome Our New Barista: Ivor Steven

G’day dear readers, today I’m reblogging this article, my introduction as a new Barista/writer for the Go Dog Go Cafe team. I’m honoured and thrilled to have been appointed as member to this wonderful group of writers, at Go Dog Go Cafe. You are all welcome to go and visit their fabulous website for writers…

Go Dog Go Café

The Baristas were thrilled at the diverse and talented group who submitted applications to be a new Barista at the Go Dog Go Cafe. We will be introducing them to you one at a time so you can get to know them and their writing better. This week we introduce you to Ivor.

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Ivor Steven is a part-time plumber, a former industrial chemist, and now likes to call himself a plumber/poet. He has had several of his poems published. He started writing eighteen years ago, after suffering a stroke, to help with his rehabilitation process. In December 2018, Ivor suffered another two strokes, and has again recovered, to continue writing his poetry, and is an active member of the Geelong Writers Inc. Victoria, Australia

Read more of his writing at Ivor.Plumber/Poet

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My Kite And Bike

Another older poem from last year, and quaintly appropriate for this historical gold-mining town of Ballarat

My Kite And Bike

Here I am in this ancient town

Climbing the local mystical Blue Mountains

Standing in the world’s greenest paddock

Flying my yellow and purple kite

On that old magical golden thread

My kite is soaring higher and higher

Towards our planet’s crimson sky

A sky covered by the clouds rainbow hues

Creamy clouds, opaque, thick and soft

Powerful and solid grey, hovering aloft

Where pristine snowflakes abound

All bright and shiny white

Heavy enough to ride my silver bike on

Peddle my way through today’s slippery black-ice

And wallow in the colourful heights of tomorrow

Not Here Nor There

I’m feeling a bit older this morning after last night’s party!! , so here’s an older poem I’m reposting…

Not Here Nor There

My time is slowly passing.

Age is creeping, not lasting.

I’m frail and growing older.

My body shivers when it’s colder.

And sweats like hell, in the heat.

My mind is feeble and weak.

I don’t seem to remember.

Whether it’s March, April, or September.

Here I sit, what am I doing.

There I look, where am I going.

There I ask, what’s for tea my dear.

Oh, I forgot, she’s not here.

Well best I retire to bed.

And wrest this weary head.

Under a linen sheet, like a hood.

Laying here, on this piece of wood.

Ivor Steven (c) October 2019

Lake Wendouree

Having a lazy day in Ballarat, but managed to have a picnic lunch and a walk around a bit of Lake Wendouree, the famous picturesque attraction in centre of Ballarat..