Category: City Life

On Football Car Parking

Do you want your car looking after, sir?

During the match, sir?

Only half a crown, sir?

Not to bother, son. I’ve a dog. See?

Ah yeah! That’s a great big dog, sir

Fierce too, I bet.

His name’s Vicious, if you need a clue

Yep, he looks like a smart dog

Tell me, sir

Can your fierce, smart dog put out a car fire?

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n.b. Moral: Pay the boy and your car will be still where you parked it and in good condition when the match is over.

n.n.b. Thank you to Danny for the joke.

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CLP 12/02/2020

On the Weekend (VIII)

What drama awaits?

Crash! Pause. Bang! Fence creaks. Snap!

Scutter of debris

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n.b. ‘Scutter’ may be a new word to you – it is to me. It is the sound of something hard and heavy being dragged in irregular bursts along a city street by a powerful draught, gust or gale.

As the day breaks temperature changes in the atmosphere brought with sunrise add complexity to the storm. This is one confused, angry storm.

CLP 09/02/2020

On the Weekend (VII)

Random tin-can spins

Dances in crazy circuits

Wild Saturday night

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n.b. A tin has been rattling from kerb to brick wall to lamp-post through much of the night. Storm Ciara arrived on schedule and is gusting through the terraced streets creating whorls and eddies of air that tear at fences and buffet trees and whisk this can in merry circuits; Saturday night fever indeed! I am not going out in pyjamas to break up the dance party.

CLP 09/02/2020

On the Weekend (VI)

Determined to stay

Exploring Portsea Island

Unearthing treasures

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n.b. Portsmouth is Great Britain’s only island city, the second most densely populated urban environment after London. Perhaps it should be twinned with Manhattan?

A brand called Strong Island is developing here. Pompey folk are proud of their home city and are happy to wear the label, despite the island having significant social problems associated with its high density population.

This weekend of treading the streets, stopping here and there to ask questions and to take time wandering, has already led me to establish a sizeable list of places to visit and things to do.

It’s alright here.

CLP 08/02/2020