It was supposed to be so easy
A simple across London stroll
Twelve miles to Wingate and Finchley
Not a difficult goal.
I knew I'd be in trouble
A few weeks before
Walking three German friends round our city
My feet were really sore.
So it was with some trepidation
That I left Champion Hill
By the time we hit Archway
I'd already had my fill.
Pretending I wasn't hurting
Pity my poor plates
Suddenly discovering sponsored walks
Are among my number one pet hates.
I've never driven motors
Walking is what I do
Public transport takes me everywhere
And Shanks's Pony gets me through.
This walk has really hit me
I'm scared of getting old
Can't face a future of immobility
If the truth be told.
There's an old saying
Of 'No pain, no gain'
If I couldn't cope strolling ten miles
It would drive me insane.
So many ordinary walks I've not done
Imagined them all in my head
Will I ever get to do them
An armchair bound cripple instead?
Today's the morning after
Can't even run for a bus
Struggling to hobble once I've sat down
Don't want to make a fuss.
I'm sure, give it a day or two,
I'll be right as rain
Able to stroll wherever I want
Time to dream again.
I'd love to do the Thames Path
Going stage by stage
Following the guidebooks
Religiously page by page.
Taking seaside walks
Photographing as I go
Sharing them all on Facebook
Putting my snaps on show.
My ultimate would be Jock borders
Hadrian's Wall coat to coast
If I could still manage it
To me that would mean the most.
But now I'm getting older
I'm suddenly past my prime
All those things I want to do
Running out of time.
In walking to Wingate & Finchley
I'm pleased with what I've done
But if walking long distance hurts this much
I'm glad I don't own a gun.
If I were a horse
They'd put me down as lame
Part of me wants to do that now
Such is my strolling shame.
I'm sure I'll be more cheerful
Once my legs no longer ache
Then I'll go kid myself
A ten miler's a piece of cake.
At the moment I'm hurting
But I can still dream and achieve
Lot's more strolling from A to B
Carry on and believe.
As it stands I'm so proud
As well as totally numb
The pain has all been worth it
To raise such a tidy sum.
Dulwich Poet 23rd April 2017
(Yesterday I walked just under 12 miles, a sponsored walk from Dulwich Hamlet FC to Wingate & Finchley FC. The money raised is to be split between our fundraising [the 'Inter City 125'] to get our team over to Germany to play our friends Altona 93 in a special 12th anniversary game of both clubs] & the homelessness charity 'Shelter'. I found it quite tough towards the end. I am unfit anyway, and I'm not getting any younger...)
Sunday 23 April 2017
Tuesday 18 April 2017
"Escapism"
Half a mile from the station
A delight of a ground
Half decent programme
Admission just five pound.
Out of my local area
Jumped on a train
Headed for Risborough Rangers
No I'm not insane!
A sun setting evening
Weather dry and fine
Such a gorgeous setting
For ground six eighty nine.
Basic but cared for
In their club they take pride
A much better set up
Than my local step six side.
Club house full of photos
Ground painted red and white
It's got that total 'cared for' feel
That makes groundhopping a delight.
Resting on the railing
Football's not the best
But what do you want at Step six
As long as they try their best?
It can't exactly be easy
On a bumpy bone-dry pitch
I doubt if they can afford summer top soil
They don't exactly look rich.
But who needs Billericay style money
When all you need is love and care
Clubs like this are football's lifeblood
Despite trophy cabinets usually bare.
Inside I quietly content
As the sun sets tonight
Darkened trees for backdrop
Under the glow of artificial light.
A single goal in it
Certainly could have been more
But you won't hear me complaining
About the one nil score.
This is genuine entertainment
The highlight of my week
Albeit that's only because
Losing to Grays was so bleak.
This was simply football for enjoyment
No Pink & Blue tinted specs tonight
There was even a late 'cabaret' bonus
Of 'handbags' masquerading as a fight.
Leicester were playing in Europe
Tannoyman updates the score
Game on the telly in the bar
Not bothered to go in the door.
Why would I want artificial Champions League
That I'll never be able to afford
Much better to see real live honest football
Where I doubt I'll ever be bored.
In the second half it's getting colder
The crisp air doesn't make me chill
For ninety minutes I'm without a care
Non-league football's my total thrill.
Tomorrow I'll start to 'worry Dulwich Hamlet'
As play-off nerves kick in
But for now it's going to Risborough Rangers
That keeps me calm and content within.
Dulwich Poet 18th April 2017
(Yesterday I went 'groundhopping', ticking off Risborough Rangers, who were at home to Buckingham Athletic, in the Spartan South Midlands League First Division, the day after Dulwich Hamlet suffered a very disappointing one nil defeat at home to Grays Athletic. This trip was the perfect 'pick-me-up' after that! I jotted this down on the train back to Marylebone)
A delight of a ground
Half decent programme
Admission just five pound.
Out of my local area
Jumped on a train
Headed for Risborough Rangers
No I'm not insane!
A sun setting evening
Weather dry and fine
Such a gorgeous setting
For ground six eighty nine.
Basic but cared for
In their club they take pride
A much better set up
Than my local step six side.
Club house full of photos
Ground painted red and white
It's got that total 'cared for' feel
That makes groundhopping a delight.
Resting on the railing
Football's not the best
But what do you want at Step six
As long as they try their best?
It can't exactly be easy
On a bumpy bone-dry pitch
I doubt if they can afford summer top soil
They don't exactly look rich.
But who needs Billericay style money
When all you need is love and care
Clubs like this are football's lifeblood
Despite trophy cabinets usually bare.
Inside I quietly content
As the sun sets tonight
Darkened trees for backdrop
Under the glow of artificial light.
A single goal in it
Certainly could have been more
But you won't hear me complaining
About the one nil score.
This is genuine entertainment
The highlight of my week
Albeit that's only because
Losing to Grays was so bleak.
This was simply football for enjoyment
No Pink & Blue tinted specs tonight
There was even a late 'cabaret' bonus
Of 'handbags' masquerading as a fight.
Leicester were playing in Europe
Tannoyman updates the score
Game on the telly in the bar
Not bothered to go in the door.
Why would I want artificial Champions League
That I'll never be able to afford
Much better to see real live honest football
Where I doubt I'll ever be bored.
In the second half it's getting colder
The crisp air doesn't make me chill
For ninety minutes I'm without a care
Non-league football's my total thrill.
Tomorrow I'll start to 'worry Dulwich Hamlet'
As play-off nerves kick in
But for now it's going to Risborough Rangers
That keeps me calm and content within.
Dulwich Poet 18th April 2017
(Yesterday I went 'groundhopping', ticking off Risborough Rangers, who were at home to Buckingham Athletic, in the Spartan South Midlands League First Division, the day after Dulwich Hamlet suffered a very disappointing one nil defeat at home to Grays Athletic. This trip was the perfect 'pick-me-up' after that! I jotted this down on the train back to Marylebone)
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