REFLECTIONS and RHYME
This is a sanctuary where I keep my reflections and musings about my countryside upbringing in Derbyshire, England. I reflect on village life, school days, growing up and most things inbetween, including parts of life which we all face such as “The Joys of Ageing” and “Getting through” difficult times. If you like my work, please buy me a coffee by clicking here!
This is a sanctuary where I keep my reflections and musings about my countryside upbringing in Derbyshire, England. I reflect on village life, school days, growing up and most things inbetween, including parts of life which we all face such as “The Joys of Ageing” and “Getting through” difficult times. If you like my work, please buy me a coffee by clicking here!
Episodes

Jul 16, 2025
THE VILLAGE NURSERY
Jul 16, 2025
Jul 16, 2025
4 min
This poem is about the pre-school nursery which I went to in the hamlet of Bubnell, England, when I was 2 or 3 years old.
It covers my old memories and also musings as to what happened to the teddy that I used to play with.A little more melancholy perhaps.
Jul 16, 2025
4 min

Jul 9, 2025
This Path
Jul 9, 2025
Jul 9, 2025
10 min
This is a poem about some of the curve balls that life can send us and how we can get through such tough situations or have to learn to adapt and find a new way of living with things that can’t be fixed.
It also looks at some of the good things which can ultimately come out of such situations—things which you probably would never have noticed before life changed.
Jul 9, 2025
10 min

Jul 2, 2025
Bakewell Carnival
Jul 2, 2025
Jul 2, 2025
5 min
This poem will take you back to carnival time, wherever you went to yours and wherever you might still go to now to join in the fun.
Can you hear the crowds cheering and see the bunting blowing in the wind, as the variety of floats, walkers and marching bands go past?
I hope this poem re-captures for you some of the joy and energy of a summer carnival day wherever and whatever that means for you
Jul 2, 2025
5 min

Jun 25, 2025
Sports Day
Jun 25, 2025
Jun 25, 2025
7 min
I loved writing this poem because I was immediately back on our local "rec" in Baslow, and could see the bunting blowing in the wind and hear the children shouting!
I hope it takes you back to the egg and spoon race, the sack race, the infamous tug of war, the tiny tot’s race and of course, the embarrassment of watching your mum and dad in the parent’s race. You’ll remember the anxiety, the fear, the pride and the interesting techniques used in some of these races.
I hope you enjoy it
Jun 25, 2025
7 min

Jun 18, 2025
THE JOYS OF AGEING
Jun 18, 2025
Jun 18, 2025
7 min
This poem takes a look at my ageing process and also that of my husband as we bumble along together.
It is a tongue in cheek study of the changes we have seen and continue to see from needing glasses, our hearing changes, the menopause ( obviously me only), through the various new aches and pains experienced and our reactions to them.
As there is little that we can do about the process, we basically have a good laugh at it and go with the flow as it were. I’m sure that there will be much that you can empathise with either now or in the future.
Jun 18, 2025
7 min

Jun 11, 2025
Old Bakewell
Jun 11, 2025
Jun 11, 2025
5 min
This poem takes the listener on a walk around the old town of Bakewell in Derbyshire, England.
This is the Bakewell that I remember when growing up and is a special glimpse into a few frozen moments in time. If you are local it may trigger many memories and feelings which you thought were long gone.
Even if you are not local, I suspect that it will take you back to another special town in your life, experienced long ago and the people you met there along with the places you frequented.
Jun 11, 2025
5 min

Jun 4, 2025
SCHOOL DINNERS at PRIMARY SCHOOL
Jun 4, 2025
Jun 4, 2025
7 min
This poem contains a load of memories about dinner times at Primary School, from the meals we ate such as Cheese Pie and beans to the kind dinner ladies in their orange overalls who brought the trolleys to the tables for the very important servers to dish up.
When you listen to it, I hope you hear the sounds from the kitchen, the chatter of the children and I hope you see those meals once again in front of you and catch again their lovely smell. I also hope you see the faces of long lost childhood friends around the table with you.
Jun 4, 2025
7 min

May 26, 2025
The Village Hop
May 26, 2025
May 26, 2025
3 min
The Village Hop is a nostalgic walk down memory lane to the local village discos and hops which we used to go to as teenagers!
Although the villages and towns mentioned in the poem are in Derbyshire, the verses will undoubtedly take you back to your youth and the parties you went to as a teenager.
Wherever you spent those years, it may also remind you of some of the poignant feelings you experienced back then.
If you like my work, please support me through Buy Me a Coffee!
May 26, 2025
3 min

May 26, 2025
Getting Through
May 26, 2025
May 26, 2025
9 min
This one, I guess is about knowing what helps to maintain your own mental health.
Once again, it’s about stopping and focussing down on the small things.
May 26, 2025
9 min

May 26, 2025
The Nocturnal Visitor
May 26, 2025
May 26, 2025
1 min
This story is about waking up to find that the garden has been transformed with frosty cobwebs hanging in the trees because a spider has visited during the winter night.
I think the theme of this poem is about learning to stop for a while and look at the small but incredibly beautiful things in life.
May 26, 2025
1 min






