Cat Flap

This is one of my favourite poems because the situation was so funny.

The tabby hunter
was most displeased
yesterday afternoon.
Someone locked the cat flap
and went out for quite a while.

When Mum came home with groceries
and little girls from school,
tabby meowed at her loud and long
as Mum stood and stared.
“She’s telling me off !” she said,
then put away the groceries
while ignoring tabby’s harangue.

Young Chloe checked the back door,
unlocked the offending flap.
“You shouldn’t bring your birds inside !”
she told the outraged tiger.

Now therein lies the problem
which tabby does not see.
She brings her birds inside
takes them round each room
as they scatter poo and bird feathers
until they die of shock.
Then she buries them
in the living room
for little girls to find.

Five year old sensibilities
are distressed by lifeless birds.
Mum doesn’t like cleaning up
bird feathers and poo.

While tabby keeps on hunting
she will always be locked out
when the family are not at home
to reject her hunting trophies.

She’ll be far from the sunny couch,
from beds covered with teddy bears,
and the luxurious faux fur throw
on Mum and Dad’s bed.


Previously posted July 2020.


This is my last post, as I explained Thursday night in Moving On.



Cat Flap

Moving On

With much reluctance and regret I have decided to finish up at WordPress.

My last post will be next Saturday 4 November New Zealand time, and I will continue to read the posts of blogs that I am following next week. After that I will be gone.
My diabetes is growing worse, and severely restricting the time and energy I have available for whatever activities I do during the day. At this time I have started typing up summaries of the family history in my head for my niece to whom I have already sent my two cartons of records. As we email each other it is clear that her mother – my sister – has shared little knowledge of our family. Their family and I have lived in different cities for nearly fifty years, on different islands. Crossing our very narrow and very deep Cook Strait is expensive, and getting to the far end of the South Island is even more expensive. We did not do it often. My niece is very interested, and I am so glad that she is so interested. But I have much typing to do on my computer. I have no children of my own, and have been single for some years now. I am so happy to have such a keen successor. But taking the time to do this means I have to sacrifice WordPress time.

I had my annual review with the diabetes nurse this morning, after an extra one off session with her two months ago. We have another meeting in one month’s time. For the first time she said – yes diabetes is a progressive condition. After age seventy especially we are at the mercy of the great genetic lottery in the sky. I must work with what I have.

Thanks to all who followed me. It has been great knowing you all.

Moving On

Plans Awry

Drifting off to sleep
I comfortably knew my
plans to catch up washing
clothes, cooking meals next
day would be hectic, still
would afterwards leave
several days clear for
urgently important business.

In a pleasant haze of finally
decided plans I slept soundly
…….. and woke very late
next morning ! Aaaaaarrrgh !

The electric kettle quite dead
would not switch on so large
quantities were boiled in a
saucepan taking time, have
to buy a kettle next day.

And so a very busy day
moving very fast, clearing all
tasks before the days ahead.


Previously posted August 2018.

Plans Awry

On The Move

Mum picked up five year old
Michael after school daily, also
next door’s five year old Peter.
At home she gave them plain
sandwiches to last them till
dinnertime not tempt them
to extra, though young Peter
strangely ate a lot. Then
the boys played till Peter’s
sister came for him. their
parents were home from work.

One day a FOR SALE sign stood
on Peter’s front lawn, soon after
covered by SOLD. His parents
were set to move by themselves
so Mum helped, her children
at Grandma’s for the day.

Going through town Peter’s Dad
picked up a rental key, Mum’s heart
sank as she saw that shabby rental
home after packing sparse contents,
sparse larder at their previous house.

Late afternoon she made sausage
and egg pie in her roasting dish,
took it to the new rental home.
She stared as two parents, three
children stuffed hot pieces of
pie in theri mouths as she put
the dish on the kitchen bench.

For the working poor starve too.
The 1980’s boom bust cycle
scattered them by the wayside.


Previously posted August 2018.




On The Move

School Days

At the teachers’ daytime course
Miss Jones saw a familiar face
gradually recalled a little girl
in a classroom twenty years ago.
Bright alert, assertive, learning
easily, surely she would have
moved on beyond conventional
fields such as primary teaching.

Surprised at Miss Jones’ greeting
the young teacher did not remember
a school term in Miss Jones’
six year olds’ class. Why did
Miss Jones remember her ?
Some children stay in a teacher’s
mind for their abilities, behaviour,
personality. This young woman’s
abilities, personality, stayed
in Miss Jones’ memory.

“Where did it all go ?” the
young teacher wondered
to a stunned Miss Jones ?

The young teacher recalled her
high school years, a sarcastic
maths teacher needling pupils
daily, overshadowing the rest
of the high school day …….

…… quenching energy and self
belief, enthusiasm and confidence.


Previously posted August 2018.


School Days

At the Library

Saturday morning
in library foyer
newspaper shelves on
a long wall overlook
reading tables. On
Saturday breakfast
table – toaster, bread
spreads, tea coffeeSaturday library
milk, sugar teaspoons
knives, electric kettle.
Happy people.

Computers at other
end people tapping
keyboards, internet
printing out posts
for WordPress blogs.

Comfortable armchairs
along a wall under the
windows ………. cosy.
Middle aged man
leans back, head back
jaw dropped, arms limp.
SNORES LOUDLY !


Previously posted July 2018.

At the Library

Mowing The Lawns

For little brother’s second birthday
Nana remembered uncle’s joy with
his second birthday gift of a toy
lawn mower. She gave little
brother a lawn mower too.

As Mum grappled to detach its
parts from its box, assemble then,
little brother struggled to wrestle
it out of her hands. At last the
lawn mower was assembled, little
brother walked off, slowly and
steadily, just like Dad, mowing lawns.

Brm Brm ! Brm Brm ! Brm Brm !

Little brother has the Brm Brm !
gene on his Y chromosomes.


Previously posted July 2018.

Mowing The Lawns

Flying Starfish

Fast forward horizontal flying
starfish leap on to the giant
bean bag at the foot of the wall.

OOPS ! BANG ! ROAR !

Crashed into the wall, nearly
through the wall to see Mum in
the next room trying to rest.

His sisters play different games
on the giant bean bag but little
brother wants to do big
high flying jumps on to it.
In time he will learn to judge
the distances, avoid the wall.

Little brother has the belly flop
gene on his Y chromosomes.


Previously posted July 2018.

Flying Starfish

Morning News

A sociable time at Friday morning’s
junior assembly as the five and six
year olds sing songs, show their
best work, receive awards for
best of the week, report special
news to the children, to parents,
babies, toddlers, sitting at the back.

One Friday Morning Grandma brought
in Tessa, telling the teacher
she would collect her after school as
her new baby sister was born yesterday.

What special news ! Giving Tessa
her award, the teacher beamed,
said “Tessa has important news !”

Tessa was indeed excited, reported
“Mummy had the baby on the
wash house floor !” The children
looked puzzled as their mothers
shrieked, laughed, finally recovered.

It does help for the teacher to get
the back story behind the news.


Previously posted July 2018.




Morning News