“Welcome to my home on the internet!”
“Rippling Shadows”
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I found your words resting on a page
written in that slim stylish hand,
the book, a gift I think?
Not significant to utter or to make worthy of print
I studied them closely…
I loved you as the sun glints its rippling
shadows as they spill across my bedroom wall and
your book.
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I loved that you thought to write your daily notes
for me to read again during these Summer days.
I wanted to talk to you,
pulling at the grass of your resting place did not
satisfy… tidying the petals away did not sate my need.
Did not gratify…
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Endless is this dark road between us
I long to hear your voice!
Still as the sun glints these rippling shadows as they spill across my
bedroom wall – I drink comfort from your written words…
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Do you know it’s Summer? Do you know it’s Summer…
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Copyright @ Â 2013
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Distant Dreams – The Cornish Riviera Express.
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Distant dreams of long ago
from far away, the memories come
of tousled heads and clean white gloves
as crumpled down the socks did fall
when stepping high, to different world.
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Steel on steel, hoot and chug
as fire burns the toiling brings
smoke from stoke in iron heat,
to huff and puff as loco runs.
Excited hearts, new strange smells
of coal, oil like warm sweet sulphur reaches
noses pressed flat against the windows gaze,
as little legs felt prickly seats and polished sills;
to watch this world of passing scenes.
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We sat with Mum in pretty hat and
Dad along in Sunday best, of blue and shiny shoes,
enchanting dreams of long ago…
Of passing fields green and sweet,
of newly seen cows and sheep.
The engine massive trundles strong,
huge with brass, enamelled and long,
on rails that sped us on and further on…
As power for steam from fire it runs
on winding rails and signals seen
captivating world that passed
we sat entranced, in life so different
from one we knew,
enthralled to captivate enchanting views.
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The stations pass in colourful flowers
brightly tucked in buckets and troughs,
with sharp polished names of Truro and St Erth;
the joys of travel the fun and mirth.
Delightful wonder at every bend,
as windows down our heads did send
hair blowing in the wind;
the squeals in tunnels that never end.
As porters smart in flat blue hats,
lift cases and trunks in bustle and flap,
of come and go with whistles blown,
we gaze as if in misty dream,
as doors bang shut, huff and puff
smoke and toil, coal and steam,
to make it so.
And on we go…
And on we go, in distant dreams…
of long ago…
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A Remembered Journey on The Cornish Riviera Express -1950
The Cornish Riviera Express is a British express passenger train that has run between London and Penzance in Cornwall since 1904. Introduced by the Great Western Railway the name Cornish Riviera Express has been applied to the late morning express train from London Paddington Station to Penzance Station continuously through nationalisation under British Rail and privatisation under First Great Western only ceasing briefly during the two World Wars.
Photos: Courtesy of Peter R Foster.
It is a Letter of Utter Love:
Photo: Across To Granada from Susie's Collection:
Scroll down in the comments to read the moving letter from Karen on http://susiehemingway.com/2013/05/07/the-fight-without-choice/
Life Goes On A Pace!
Time to update ‘My Diary’ I think, having been very quiet here of late but my life has certainly been rushing on a pace in these last few weeks.
Having been lucky to have had a wonderful trip across southern Spain from Alicante and then up through enchanting Granada and on to magical Seville in Andalusia. Returning to a lot of catching-up in the garden, family visits and many chores needing to be done around my little home here in the Lincolnshire Wolds, more writing and with three or four trips to the gym weekly, I have been most remiss here – so a little about my travels first:
I started  my journey flying into Alicante, the old place never seems to change much over the years but of course there are many changes from my first visit there in the 60’s
I so enjoyed it this time, good to give it a ‘once over’ again and the chance to walk everywhere, as it was not the boiling temperatures of mid-summer. I relished the leafy back lanes away from the main streets although I did stroll the entire length of the main promenade one early morning – the port in Alicante is so pretty in the early morning light with its affluence of beautiful yachts and speed boats set in quite chic surroundings- here it is much updated in recent years, with it’s chrome filled restaurants and espresso smelling coffee shops but it still retains some of its original charm and as usual out of season for me, it always looks it’s best. Staying in a great little boutique hotel which was set in a small alley just behind the main street, not plush in anyway but having everything needed for a short stay, a one-step too for the restaurants and bars and perfectly near for late night strolls.
After a few days it was on the road for a mammoth one day journey of 595 km across the southern part of Spain ending in Seville. The roads are so good here and It was wonderful to see the Sierra Nevada’s in the distance.
Granada was delightful and I need to go again to cover more of this enchanting city but no journey is complete without a visit to Alhambra which is of course everything that is written about it. Time was short there but I felt the ambiance of this magical place and it is on my agenda to return again and spend some study time there.
Seville is for me everything you imagine inland Spain to be, truly abundant and steep in rich cultural heritage. Best to divided the central area into four parts to make sightseeing a little easier, La Macarena, El Arenal, Santa Cruz and Parque Maria Luisa and then across the river which really makes up a fifth part.
No one can go to Seville and not take in the Cathedral and La Giralda, Reales Alcazares and the Museo de Bellas Artes but there is so much more. The wonderful warren of white alleys of the Barrio De Santa Cruz in the old Jewish quarter appealed to me greatly. It is a most picturesque corner of the city. Full of wonderful little shops and tapas bars and the atmosphere on a warm spring evening is electric. Wonderful for a late evening stroll with a promise of a good dinner at the end. I was so lucky to stay in a super Hotel here in Seville, with all the lovely special things to make the stay even more pleasurable and so able to re-coup a bit for the next days sightseeing. There is so much to see and I could not cover it all but I promise myself to visit this lovely part of Spain again God willing…
And so I returned to London just in time for a grand reunion with 130 old friends from my days in the desert of Al Ain in the UAE – we took over the Ruby Room in “Jewels” a London Nightclub, to meet up again after 25 years. A super evening was had by all and the plans are in place for the next one to be held back in Al Ain in 2015 – I sincerely hope to make that!
And so to conclude – I have been spending my days since my return with some good work around my little home – replacing much needed worn fencing in the rear of the property, gardening, and general up-keep, although it never looks much different I must try to keep the old homestead going and at least neat and tidy.
I have also been lucky to have had some really super dates and lovely dinners out and a recent trip to a pop concert, which was totally wonderful and took me back to years ago and the lovely music of that time, it was difficult not get up and dance!
So my friends, life goes on a pace and as I am lucky to be well, my  intentions are to thoroughly  enjoy this part of my life. I am returning to Marbella later this year and I am so looking forward to that but will not wish my life away and so I make the most of each given day in quiet ways – for life is good. All best wishes to my dear friends who continue to read here – I pray for those who need comfort in times of ill health and for those caring for their precious loved ones.   Stay strong and may many blessings come your way. We will chat again soon.
True Words from Gibran.
“The Fight Without Choice”
Feeling sad and cross today at the passing of yet another good Man to the dreadful disease of Multiple Myeloma. My heart goes out to dear Karen at the loss her beloved Hugh suddenly at the weekend. I have posted below a poem written in 2009 which sums up my feelings today. This poem was written at the height of my anger at such a hateful disease.
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May Karen find the solace she so deserves during these sad days and in the coming months. Much is now being done to find a cure but we so need more research into this difficult and most awful disease that appears for some reason to be on the increase.
All blessings dear Karen and  rest in peace dear Hugh.
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THE FIGHT WITHOUT CHOICE.
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It was never a choice was it?
It sneaked in and through
along and around,
this nasty wicked beast that coursed
along the channels of our lives.
It tangled and tried to spoil,
bent, broke, quietened and flawed,
it tried to rob, steal if you may
inflict damage and take away.
It encumbered, hampered, distressed and sapped,
this dark encroacher that went too far.
Still it did not spoil or mar
Love twixt us two,
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this fight… without choice…
The Reunion by Susie Hemingway Moursi
One hundred and thirty old friends converged on a London night club, for ‘Jewels’ we all are! To reminisce we must – to reminisce we did. For were we not the pioneers of those desert days? For did we not help shape things to come? “I knew your husband” one sweet man said.  “I remember your face” said another. We squealed with delight when across a close friend we came. Pretty ladies exchanged their gifts of words, their memories and their smiles, as music from those ’80’s days played loud and clear, our thoughts returned to the hot indolent days and torpid nights of our treasured paradise, merging with the vibrant dancing that was now.
Handsome men stood together, enjoying their beers, remembering Rugby on stony terrain and Hash House Harriers running through ‘najoods’ in boiling arid heat. Oh yes not much was forgotten at the desert reunion! Sweet memories of twinkling nights atop Jebal Hafeet, the tastes and smells of the “Golden Sheep” “The Hilton” and “The Intercont”. Cooling sun- downers at the end of a sweltering day, the brushstrokes of these clear memories like a perfect piece of art. Friends made in a life together under a turquoise sky, bonds made in this desert oasis that will not be broken even though years pass.
Our laughter in London was an echo of past times, still beautiful now with the changing years. Stay well dear friends until we meet again… Â Â Susie Hemingway Moursi
News For My Readers:
For sometime now I have received requests for my “Poems of Love” to be made into Audio Tapes. Recently a dear friend from Sweden asked me to please considered this again, so he may upload them to his phone to carry with him. He had enjoyed listening to my poem ” I Write For You”, read during the BBC interview, and he would like to hear more. This dear man also suffers with Multiple Myeloma and so of course I wish to support MMÂ as much as I can.
It has now been deemed viable for me to record a selection of my readers favourite poems from over the past years. Already I have had requests for ones that are personally liked from my book “The Power Within” and also ones that were not included in the book but are still on www.susiehemingway.blogspot.com and here too from more recent poems.
So I will be going into the recording studio at the beginning of May to record a selection of my love poems.
Dear readers, should you have a poem of mine that you would like to hear me read, please leave the title in the comment section below or email me and I will endeavour to include your favourite in the first recordings.
“If I Could”
If I could let you go as a flower lets
its petals fall one by one when life is finished,
unfettered, unbinding, unattached,
what a release that would be.
If I could one by one let loose these ties between us
let them fall and float to safely keep,
and so to live again.
I would,
if I could.
If I could shed my yearnings like an Autumn tree
that loosens it grip on burnished leaves
what joy that would be!
To bury those petals and leaves alongside my love
as a healing token to keep safe, to store my love.
I would – if I could.
For love lies sleeping in my heart
like a beautiful flower or a strong tree
which will not die or season change
which will not release me,
but will endure for all time.
If I could let you go.
Surely I would – if I could… .
“And So It Goes”
Life continues as days creep into Spring
the darkness leads to lighter hours,
blizzard grey days turn away
and the ache in your heart weakens.
Did you hear the birds singing today?
Sweet melodious sounds of daffodil days,
the sky was a hyacinth blue of hope
as green shoots of a different life arrive.
The proud majestic swans walk the banks of the river Bain
stretching their long necks to reach towards the sun,
the river high, cross and angry with the world
as a face of courage captures strength,
my soul swoops and enters into my heart
as sadness flies away on the wings of time.
The Winter is over, the dark days are done.
Gentleness pursues my life now, kindness enhances it,
delight embraces it.
Solace appears at my door
And so it goes.
And so it goes…
This poem is dedicated to Karen Caraven Hannon and to Susan Patterson who both need your prayers at this time.