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I got tested for CV19
And they told me I was clear
Just waiting for the flu tests
Before I have another beer

They're testing me for A
And they're testing me for B
I'm moving through the alphabet
Until I get to Z

I'm getting lots of L for love
And it fits me like a glove
You can never get enough
Of L for love

I'm getting heaps of Ts for thoughtfulness
And Cs from those who care
I'm really truly blessed
by all my special friends out there

So have an S for safe out there
Have a C cos we all care
Have an M for Max our hero
Until we reduce CV19 to zero

A child is born
A son
A grandson
A great grandson
A brother
A nephew
A cousin
A citizen of the world
A world that is a whirlpool of opportunities and challenges
How can we prepare this boy for this world
We can teach him to care
We can teach him to love
We can teach him to think
We can teach him to see with his own eyes
We can teach him to be honest with himself and with others
We can teach him to listen before he speaks
We can teach him to trust and be trusted
We can teach him to respect
We can offer him our unconditional support
We can allow him to be vulnerable
We can allow him to learn from his mistakes
We can honour his dreams
We can wipe away his tears
We can acknowledge his fears
We can be everything to him that we would want him to be for everyone else
We can lead by example
We can shine a light into his dark places
We can be a father, a mother a brother a grandfather, a great grand father a grandmother, a great grandmother, a cousin, a nephew, an uncle, an aunt that he would be proud of.
In fact that is our responsibility when a new child is born and it is a responsibility we should not bear lightly

I’m 48% Scots, 48% Irish & 4% Norwegian (go figure)
So, tell me folks where should I show allegiance?
To the whole damn world, I think
We’re all part of the HUMAN race
I don’t want to be distinguished by the colour of my face

I’ve never seen the world as us and them
Where one is right and one is wrong
One side versus another
It’s simply not my song

My parents taught me tolerance
Not prejudice and hate
Until my own experience tells me different
I’ll happily call you mate

I know we’re not all the same
I’m not that naive
There are many different world views
Different things that we believe

But two people can arrive at the same place
By taking completely different routes
Some people walk in sandals
Some people walk in boots

Some people see different things
On the journey that they take
Some people get there quickly
Some people get there late

So, let’s not get our knickers in a twist
About who has a right to be here
Let’s all live and learn together
And maybe share a few beers

Most of us didn’t CHOOSE to be Australian
We’re just part of someone else’s journey
And whatever we think about other people’s culture
We’re all the same when we’re on the gurney

So, from a Scot who’s also a Kiwi
I say to you tonight
Treat people as you’d like to be treated
And you’re sure to get it right

We’re all different in our own way
Whether from Stanthorpe or Baghdad
Let’s focus on what we have in common
Trust me I’m sure it won’t be that bad
 

It's Christmas time in Sydney
And the Irish are all here
Singing songs and smoking
drinking whisky, drinking beer

Gina's nigga rapping and Jack is on guitar
It's like the musicians' corner in a good old Irish bar
There are sisters and cousins Brothers and sons
Young folks and old folks, all having fun

It's a long way from Ireland
A long way from home
To celebrate Christmas
It's a long way to roam

But there's nothing like family
Nothing like kin
As my grandmother said
If they're Irish bring them all in, bring them all in, bring them all in

If you're Irish come into the parlour
There's a welcome there for you
If you're Scottish, Kiwi or Australian (or even English)
Then you're more than welcome too

Cath's sitting in the corner a smile on her face
Surrounded. by her family, she's in her favourite place
So a happy Christmas to you all
On this very special day

May you cherish all the memories as you all go on your way
May you cherish all the good things
and put your problems to one side
As we gather here as a family celebrating Christmastide

He was the gentlest of men
And he taught me a lot
Like the respect of your peers
Just cannot be bought

If I can be half the man he was
I'll count myself blessed
He was somewhat unique
Not like all the rest

His life wasn't easy
He had his fair share of strife
The Japanese took four years
From him and his wife

He spent four years as a POW
Didn't talk about it much
Said my stories they would trouble you
But he didn't use it as a crutch

There was no hate in those eyes
When he thought of those times
But there's no doubt that it changed him
I could see it sometimes

But if everyone who suffered the things that he did
Behaved like my dad then we would be rid
Of the hatred and suffering we see in this world
And the flag of peace and tolerance would be unfurled

He and mum had such strong faith
And not once did they doubt
They'd be blessed by God's grace
And that Dad would come out

They'd be together again to restart their life
Bring up a family, be husband and wife
If their faith had been weak I wouldn't be here
To tell you this story of the man I hold dear

He was a man of simple tastes
His garden and his records
Johnny Cash and Jim Reeves
Endless hours of pleasure

When he'd had a drink, which wasn't a regular thing
We all knew the laughing policeman he would sing
Until the tears ran down his face and he could sing no more
And mum would watch and smile at him from the kitchen door

He was not an educated man
Left school at fourteen
But he was the wisest man I knew
Had seen things that never should have been

I've tried to live my life
In a way that would make him smile
Treating people with respect
Following his style

Everyone who knew him
Had a kind word for my dad
I never saw him do something
That could be described as bad

He taught me to keep it simple
And I've lived my life that way
I just wish we could be together
For just another day

I hope that he'd be proud of me
Of the things that I've achieved
But I know I have been blessed
Because his wisdom I received

He would never call it wisdom
Because he was such a humble man
But he taught me how to live my life
That's where it all began

So everything I have
Everything I am
Was instilled in me
By this very special man

I'm disconcerted
I've been disconnected
You don't talk to me anymore
The line we used for so many years
Just doesn't work anymore
You cut the line, you pulled the plug
From under my feet, you pulled the rug

All I hear is silence
Nothing, just nothing at all
No shouts, No threats, No Tears
Nothing for me to defend
Just this silence, forcing me to accept
that this is the end

I'm like Cinderella after the ball
But there's no glass slipper for me
No hope, no chance for you and I to be
Together like we used to be
Like we've always been
Like we should be

You've even changed your name back
To what it was when we first met
You've expunged me from your life
Like I am some fully paid-up debt

I couldn't figure out what it was that I did wrong
I've loved you forever and now it's gone, "so long"
But then I got to thinking, as sometimes you do
And I figured out, it's not about me
It's actually about you

It's not about me
It's not about me
It's not about me
It's about you and what you need to do
You need to be who you need to be
And it's clear that this doesn't include me

So I'll love you forever
And I'll give you your space
I'll respect your decision
Walk away with good grace

But I'll stay connected
just in case things could change
I'll keep my line open
I'll still be in range

But I know you too well
I know you've made up your mind
But I still reserve
The right to be blind

Greta Supertramp scientist and surfer
Just a small pocket rocket
With energy to burn
And an intelligent look in her eye
She takes photographs of interesting things and sees beauty in mundane things
With her scientist eyes
She made us real Italian pizza from scratch
Making her own yeast.
I guess that was the scientist in her
When I say she likes fruit, that's a bit of an understatement
I've never seen anyone eat as much fruit as Greta
She could pack in 10 apples a day and then some oranges to get a balanced diet
She brought colour and laughter into our home which she called the IHOP
The international house of people
The fridge is her drawing board and we often come back to a funny picture or a message which she adds a bit to each day
She was a good person to have in our home and we are blessed for having known her

He's on the gypsy caravan
A wild ride round the world
He sees the world through a different set of eyes
As his story gradually unfurls

He's wise beyond his years
But he's had his fair share of tears
His perspective is guaranteed to surprise
He lives his life and faces down his fears

But it's not all beer and skittles
Life on the road can be somewhat brittle
Sometimes he's up, sometimes he's down
When moving on to another town

You can't take it all with you
You have to leave some things behind
Even those that hold a special place in your heart
You have to find the strength to leave

He's a gypsy sometimes tipsy
But always up to facing each new day
You may think his life is glamorous
But he's just living life in his own way

And each day is always different
Not knowing what's in store
The only thing he can be sure of
Is that papa knows the score

And whatever the adventure
he ends up being on
He knows that I'll be with him
Through the sunshine and the storm

Because I made a promise to him
on the day that he was born
That I'd be with him forever
And that promise has been sworn

So we're joined at the hip
And we don't need a script
To know how this thing will play out
I'll be with him whatever should occur of that there is no doubt

Because I made a promise to him
On the day that he was born
That whatever happened to him
He would not regret the day I brought him home

I dreamed of you last night
My dear mum and my dear dad
You were so real to me
Best dream I ever had

You spoke to me in poetry
Word paintings in my head
I tried to sink into the mattress
Not wanting to ever leave my bed

Your words were like music to my ears
The sound of voices oh so dear to me
They brushed away all fears
You were both so very clear to me

I asked your view of Cath my wife
Although you haven't met her
She's a keeper you said as one
You could not have done any better

I wish you could have stayed longer
Because I loved to hear your voices
And it was good to hear you say
You supported my life choices

But all good things must end
And this dream was just a fleeting glimpse
Of the ones I call my mum and dad
And others call Cissie & Bimps

But if you'd like to visit
once again while I am sleeping
And leave some gentle poems
Here with me for safekeeping
I'd welcome that for sure
And I'd anticipate with pleasure
Every visit that you made
To bring such very special treasure

If I hurt you without knowing
Is the pain any less?
No it isn't

If I hurt you without intention
Does the pain not still endure?
Of course it does

If I didn't recognise your pain
Is it still as sharp?
Yes it is

If I didn't give you all you thought I should
Does that mean I had some left to give?
Perhaps I had but you didn't tell me how

You didn't feel you were the centre of my world
But no one else occupied that space not even me as you believe

I didn't give you what you needed
And you think I should have known just what that was
But I didn't and I can't change that
I'm just an imperfect person full of flaws
But then aren't we all

And sometimes when we need to be at our best we're not
And things fall through the cracks that life creates

I wish that you could have told me what you needed
And then I could have done better by you
And then I could have done better by us
In the end we missed too many connections to get where we needed to be
And if we'd planned our journey better, we might be in a different place

But it's hard this life
It throws things at you when you least expect and sometimes you drop the ball
And without knowing that it's so
The game is over even 'though there seems to be more time on the clock

When you said you loved me and then walked away
I knew you'd reached a point where love was not enough

I should have fought to change that but I felt so disempowered
Not telling me what I was doing wrong,
Even if you think I should have known , is not good enough

You knew I loved you even if I didn't show it in the way you needed me to
You didn't shine a light to show me the way
Maybe in your eyes if I couldn't see it for myself then it wasn't good enough
But it would have been good to see that light instead of fumbling around in the dark

I never wanted to hurt you
I wish I could have been there for you
But you feel I wasn't and I will always regret that

I didn't just tell people what a great midwife you were
I told them what a great human being you were
I told them you were beautiful and kind and thoughtful
I told them you were smart
I told them you were loving
I told them you were strong

But I forgot that even the strong need support sometimes
And you feel I let you down when you needed me most
We can't change that so we have to live with it
But there will always be a special place in my heart for you
Even though we will no longer be together

His name is Jake and he's a seriously cool dude
He's very good looking
Especially in the nude

You won't be disappointed girls
If you hook up with Jake
You won't want to go to sleep
You'll want to stay awake

He's tall and he's handsome
He told me so himself
But don't take his word for it
Check him out yourself

I'm sure you won't be disappointed
If Jakey is your choice
I'm absolutely sure that
He will make your heart rejoice

He's an easy guy to please
He's an easy guy to tease
Just buy him pork buns
That always puts him at ease

Just make sure you treat him good
He doesn't like it when you're rude
And let me know if you agree
That he's a seriously cool dude

He's a poet and a performer
Words flow from his lips Like honey
Nourishing you and refreshing your mind
He writes about Sri Lankan food, family, friends and his passion - cricket
He writes so eloquently about cricket that even a Scotsman like me could almost love the game although he still wouldn't understand it
But it's not just the words which are beautiful
It's the way he delivers them
Because I've read them myself and I can't do them justice
In normal life he speaks very quietly,
almost mumbling so you have to strain to catch each word
It's probably a deliberate strategy to ensure you're listening on the off-chance that
he might say something interesting
But when he reads his poetry his voice is strong and clear and resonant
as if he knows he has to get this right
As though he understands his audience will hang on every word
And we know he has turned every word over in his mind a hundred times to get it just right
So he rises to the occasion and doesn't disappoint
To hear Janaka read his poetry is a privilege
And we his audience are truly blessed to share in this experience
I write for my own pleasure
but he's working on a different plane to which I don't aspire
But the way he writes his poetry is still something that inspires
And one day I'd like to dream that I could put some words together
That would sound as good as his
Although mine would be in a Scottish/kiwi accent and I just know he'd take the piss

I came back home after a long time gone - from the other side of the world. Everything was different but nothing seemed better to my older eyes. I remembered things in a softer light

The field we used to play football in was filled with ticky tacky houses, all just the same. The bing we had adventures on was gone and you could see all the way to Armadale two and a half miles away

Through our childlike eyes this wasn't just a slag heap from a coal mine. This was OUR mountain, which we climbed without thinking of the dangers, even when we saw smoke spouting from the top like a poor man's volcano. And in the winter that slag heap was our mountain covered in snow. It wasn't the Alps but it was still beautiful and we liked it

We built makeshift igloos and sledged from the top of the hill in our field and when we hit the snow-packed ramps we'd built we'd go up in the air and land on our arses with a thump.

And when the field flooded as it did every year, we didn't see it as a field with poor drainage, we saw it as our own private lake. We sailed around in old spare tyres during the long summer holidays and played pirates

We carried trees all the way from our forest the snaky - there were actually 3 forests the daddy and the mammy and the baby and from above they joined together to look like a snake so I guess that's how it got its name. We carried back trees for a couple of miles to make goal posts for football and even though they were shaky, they were much more exciting than our jerseys placed 20 feet apart and we had a cross bar we could hit - and if we hit it really hard the whole lot fell down. Usually, on the goalie - happy days indeed except for the goalie!! And when Tam Walker the farmer arrived we grabbed them and ran, streaking across the field as fast as our wee legs would carry us

We used to play "race the bull" across the field and we managed this without a risk analysis or a contingency plan. We knew if we weren't fast enough we were fucked but hell that just made us run faster and we didn't stop until we were over the fence, over the burn and halfway up the hill with the bull still raging and stamping its feet at the fence.

Were we stupid - fuck yes but we lived to tell the tale so we couldn't have been THAT stupid could we?

We sometimes played football in our field with the "townies" and we'd dribble the ball among the cows knowing that as townies they'd be far too scared to chase us - not knowing the cows were probably more scared than they were

I remember when I was probably about nine taking my wee sister Anne down the burn road in her pushchair and we used to do wheelies, with her squealing with delight and me trying to keep it from rolling over. There was also a tree down there we called the aeroplane tree because it had a big branch that we would climb out onto and parachute off. It seemed so high at the time but I went down there years later as an adult and the branch barely came up to my waist.

Simple pleasures but I still remember them as though they happened yesterday.

However for the people who live there now I guess what I see as negatives might well be positives.

The trains are running again and you can be in Edinburgh or Glasgow in half an hour and you don't have to wait at bleak bus stops in the winter for buses that don't arrive.

There's a big shopping centre almost on the door step in Livingston and .... well I can't really think of any other positives but that's just me

I know for sure the kids growing up there won't have the memories that we do and they're the kind of memories that last for ever

Having a coal mine at your back door might not be the stuff of dreams, but we created our own dreams back then and they haven't been diminished by time

I remember when the first Chinese restaurant opened the Honey Flower. I was such a fussy eater that I had the same meal the first six times I went because it was really good and I couldn't believe I could possibly like anything else. The funny thing is that it wasn't really Chinese but I didn't know that then. It was called American Chow Mein with crispy noodles and came with a soft fried egg on top. I went back there in the eighties and they all had Scottish accents one of the boys went to school with my sister.

I guess this was another part of the way the town was evolving but I liked that part of the evolution. Up until that time we had fish and chip shops that sold fish suppers or haggis pudding suppers. My brother used to go into Pud's and ask for a rat supper when he was drunk and get chased out of the shop (Pud's didn't have a great reputation).

Then there was Serafini's where for a special treat mum used to take us for fish & chips sitting down inside. There was Boni's the ice cream shop and of course they used to come round the streets with the van and we rushed out as soon as we heard the chimes.

Dad used to get an oyster (sponge in the shape of an oyster filled with ice cream or a black man two chocolate covered wafers with ice cream in between. Probably wouldn't be able to call them that now.
We also had the chip van which was actually an old bus with a chimney to let out the smoke from the fryers.

The old shops have gone, replaced by nothing memorable and the pubs don't have any character although they do have a huge range of beer and you can get a decent meal. In my day it was limited to cheese and onion or smokey bacon crisps

The streets were so different I needed a map to find my way around

Brodies who used to make delicious rhubarb tarts, Seggies rolls, the home bakery where you could get great tattie scones and Blairs who made delicious mince pies had been replaced by shops without character or local history
Bathgate used to be the heart of the district but now it's just a satellite of Edinburgh or Livingston the new town they built in 1962 to cater for the overspill from Glasgow & Edinburgh

It seems that my birthplace and I have evolved in different ways and we are no longer as comfortable with each other as we used to be and I guess that's what happens when you move around and come back periodically. You don't get a chance to experience the good stuff you just hanker for the bits you remember fondly.

And this place Bathgate sitting midway between Edinburgh & Glasgow is still where my roots lie, even if those roots are not as deep as they once were

This place Bathgate is where my parents were born and where they brought me up and built the core of who I am now

This place Bathgate has a proud history going back to the time of Robert the Bruce who gifted Bathgate castle as a dowry for his daughter Marjorie at the beginning of the 14th century and it has a history long before that with the ancient Druid burial ground of Cairnpapple in the hills above the town going back for over 4,000 years

So while Bathgate and I have evolved in different ways so that we would find it hard to recognise each other in a crowd, it sits at the very core of who I am and 64 years later, living in far-flung lands I'm still proud to call myself a Bathgate Bairn.

I ain't doing anything wrong
I ain't doing anything right
But that's because I ain't
doing anything tonight

I think I'll play it cool
I think I'll hold my tongue
I think I'll keep my secrets
I think that I'll keep mum

I just don't need the trouble
I just don't need the strife
I think I'll pretend I don't exist
And leave things to my wife

She knows better anyway
And she's nearly always right
I've never felt the need to win
Every single fight

She did get it wrong once
But I wasn't brave enough to say
I thought I'd trust the law of averages
And live to fight another day

And based on past experience
I might just go to bed
I don't suppose she'll join me
It's some time since she has
So I think I'll keep my head down
And wait for things to pass

A Sri Lankan man into my life came
He was disrespectful to my age
But I liked him just the same
His blood was cold but his humour warm
And a friendship it began to form

Then he introduced me to his lady
A lovely mix of east and west
I thought she was far too good for him
But I guess that she knew best
She has far superior manners and a twinkle in her eye
And I don't know if he realises he's a bloody lucky guy

Janaka and Lana or Lanaka for short
Janaka finally proposed and you've agreed to tie the knot
We wish you all we wish for ourselves
Happiness and lifelong love
And throughout all the years you are together we hope you fit just like a glove

Now I'm not a poet in the same class as Janaka
But I hope these words I put together
Make you laugh or smile Lanaka
You set much too high a standard mate
And one that I'm afraid I just can't reach
But this is the closest thing you're going to get to a wedding speech

Susannah, she's a Liverpool girl,
Scouse, call her what you will
She's, got a heart of gold
And she's not very old
Just 50 years young
Liverpudlian's her mother tongue

She's tried, men
But wouldn't try them again
She loves Jeanette
They make a great duet

They've tied the knot; got married; got wed
Australia's still in the dark ages
So they did it in Enzed
She rides a bike
The kind of woman you can't help but like
Dirty laugh - a twinkle in her eye
Not interested in handsome guys
So happy birthday Susannah
And don't worry about the years
50's just half a century,
plenty time for way more beers
And it doesn't matter how old you get the truth it will be thus
For every year you add my dear
You'll still be younger than us

Look for something positive in each day
Even if some days you have to look a little harder
The day starts better with sunshine
Than it does with clouds
And you can see better when it's not darker

It's not always easy I'm not that naive
But it's still the better option
At least that's what I believe
So even if you're struggling
As I know you often do
Hit the day with a smile on your face
Let the sun come shining through

And when you feel it's all too hard
And your body can't go on
Just rest and take life quietly
So that you can carry on

You have nothing to prove
No apologies required
It's ok to take a rest
and admit that you are tired

And when your batteries are charged
And you're ready to get going
Put your smiley face on
And get those juices flowing

Let the world see you as you are
A warrior queen, a fixer and a doer
The one who solves the problems
Not the sickness but the cure

The one who comes back fighting
Who never throws in the towel
Who being the best you can be
Is your mantra, your avowal

For Brooke

I came to Medellin to see my boys
Mis nietos Jero & Thiago
They made my heart light up with joy
Esas luces brillantes

They were such shining lights
They had such mischief in their eyes
They made my heart beat faster
When we had to say goodbye

Such good friends these brothers
Tan buenos amigos los hermanos
Such love and affection for each other
tal amor y afecto por los demás

And mama Marialoving her angels
And papa Andy making them strong
And both of them giving their best to their children
And letting them know how much they belong

I wish you both much happiness
I wish the best for you
Be the best that you can be
Be good, be kind, be true

Te deseo mucha felicidad
Te deseo lo mejor para usted
Ser el mejor que se puede
Ser bueno, ser amable, sér verdadero

I wish you both much happiness
I wish the best for you
Be the best that you can be
Be good, be kind, be true

She was my mum
And that's the sum
What else do I need to say?
When I was growing up she made every day a happy day

It wasn't always easy
Although I didn't know it at the time
With my dad she did the suffering
Sometimes they didn't have a dime

She always had her knitting
Or a crossword puzzle on her lap
She knew words I still don't know
And she knew them front to back

She had a sense of humour
Which I found out when I was older
Coming back from warmer climes
To see her in Bathgate which I found so much colder

She would tell me funny stories
They would always make me smile
And I wondered how I never saw before
How she delivered them with so much style

But she was just my mum
And sometimes it takes a while to learn
That your mother is a person in her own right
And to have more time with her now is what I yearn

She was quick and she was clever
And often me she did console
And I never heard her ever
Say an unkind word about a soul

Her life it wasn't easy
She got sick when I was young
They had to fix her loving heart
And her many virtues went unsung

She lost my dad for four whole years
To the war to end all wars
But she never showed her fears
Her faith was enough for her
and like my dad she didn't want to settle any scores

I was there when she passed
Although it took me quite a while
But I knew she would hold on for me
To once more see her smile
And although it was the hardest thing to see her pass
She'd lived her life and earned her right
To leave this world with class
I was privileged to have this woman for my mother
And if I was given the choice I could not choose another
She was my mum and that's all there is to say
I just wished I could have had in her in my life for just one more day

Five foot eight
Ramrod straight
Straight as a die
Never told a lie
Twinkle in his eye
Proud to call him dad
Best dad I could have had
Taught me how to behave
Taught me how to be brave
Said it's ok to cry
When you have to say goodbye
But he was strong as strong could be
And he gave that strength to me
And I've tried to pass it on
I've tried to make him proud
I hope that I've succeeded
But I guess I'll never know
You just have to do your best
And hope that it's enough
So if you're looking down on me
I hope you're liking what you see
And you're smiling with your eyes
And I hope you realise
That you did your job with style
My dear old dad

Number two son
Mr do it yourself
He can hang your pictures
He can put up a shelf

He can lie on your mattress
Saying never again
But you know he's just fooling
'cause the booze is hurting his brain

He's a big fella Jake
But gentle as a lamb
Except if he gets too pissed
And then he ends up in the slam

For saying something rude
To an officer of the law
And they evict him from the venue
And put the handcuffs on his paw

But on a serious note
He's a good mate to have
When the chips are down
And you really need a laugh

You can laugh with him or at him
He doesn't really care
'cause he's Jake the mate
The big cuddly teddy bear

So if you're in trouble
Or even if you're not
Jakey will be with you
To help you sink a pot

Good on you Jakey boy
For being such a mate
Everyone should have someone
In their life like Jake

You don't deserve the pain you have
The constant battles you have to fight
You don't deserve the uncertainty
It simply isn't right

But you light us up like a beacon
Like a lighthouse on a hill
Reminding us how lucky we are
When we think we might be ill

When we're feeling sorry for ourselves
When we're having a bad day
You remind us with your optimism
The price you've had to pay

And we take on a new perspective
And realise how lucky we all are
And our gripes and moans are nothing
Compared to Max our superstar

So while I wish you didn't have to bear
The suffering you do
I'm glad that fate intervened
And introduced this man to you

You are a total inspiration
To everyone who calls you friend
And although some days are dark
I hope that you are on the mend

I hope the doctors work their magic
I hope the Gods stop playing games
I hope the spirit stays unwavering
And that you achieve your aims

I hope you write your book
And lead the way for others who are ill
I know that you can help them
To digest this bitter pill

For me, I'm glad I met you
Even for a little while
Some people touch you as they pass
And leave you with a smile

So I hope the coming years are kinder
Than the ones that have gone before
I wish you peace and happiness
And health and so much more

Take care, my friend, keep up the fight
And keep inspiring as you've done
I think the time has come for you
To have your day in the sun

You make me proud
My son, my boy, my friend
I will watch your back until the very end
I will be there for you whatever trouble you get in
There is nothing you can do that I won't forgive your sin

We may not share the same DNA
But my blood flows through your veins anyway
As your blood flows through mine
Father, son, throughout time

I love the way you've created yourself
To be your OWN man
not some stereotypical copy
Not some also ran

You're not living someone else's dream
You're just doing what you do
With style, aplomb, courage and grace
The way I always hoped you'd do

Blessed with skills & experiences
That an MBA couldn't equal in a thousand years
You go out into the world - sometimes scared
But prepared to face your fears

So when people ask me what you do
I smile from ear to ear
and say anything he wants to mate
Then I shed a little tear

But not because I'm sad my boy
Not because I'm sad
But just because you make me
very proud to be your dad
xo

Reds, browns and yellows, echoed on the surface
As the autumn trees look back at themselves,
Congratulating each other on how good they look against the perfect blue-sky backdrop.

The three poplar trees on the creek at the bottom of our garden,
Shivering in their winter nakedness,
Waiting for spring to envelop them in leaves once again
So that they can sway and sing in the summer breeze.

Dogs stop for a chat and nuzzle,
Sharing smells and wagging tails.
It's a great place for them
With the scents of grass and flowers,
The sound of water and birds
And the chance to make new friends.

After the long drought,
The creek flows fast and free
And the ducks and other water birds
Are dipping and diving.
It's a much healthier place to live,
Now that nature has rebalanced.

And crossing over Bridge Street
Where the weir controls the flow,
There's a heron on a sunken tree
Just watching, watching,
And the sun flickers through the trees
Making patterns on the path.

And then it's down to the Quart Pot Creek Bridge
(or Red Bridge as it's known),
Built back in 1886
To ship out Stanthorpe's tin.
It's a marvellous sight
Silhouetted against the deep blue sky.
It's a wondrous place, the Quart Pot Creek

Reminiscing with my little sister
On those happy days we spent together
Growing up in Bathgate many years ago
We were blessed to have the love of parents Ben & Cissy
Who put us on the right track
and showed us where to go

We talked of empire biscuits
And trying to read our mother's writing
And Jim Reeves on the radio
How we had to sit there oh so quietly
As dad set up the microphone
As he recorded every single show

I told Anne that I was there
On the day that she was born
Convinced she came in old nurse Waugh the midwife's magic bag
All five of us delivered by that Wonder Woman midwife
While our dad sat downstairs dragging on a fag

I asked Anne what time she was delivered
As I wasn't sure why I was there
I thought I should have been in school as I was six
She said mum always said she was born between the 10 and 11 bus
Which of course isn't on her birth certificate

I used to take her in her pushchair
Down the burn road doing wheelies
And she giggled as we went around each and every bend
nowadays the politically correct brigade
would have mum and dad arrested
and yet she turned out almost normal in the end

We talked of dad's time as a P.O.W
And I told her things she hadn't heard
He didn't talk much about it by the time she came along
We talked about the lovely way he copied poems
In his beautiful handwriting
And how he taught us to be gentle, kind and strong

We've had such a lovely time
Catching up on times gone by
Listening to music and driving around the sights
And I'm so happy that she found herself a man as good as Stewart, not just a husband but a friend
He's so good he could almost be a White

Each action you take
Affects not only you
It ripples right down the line
Impacting not just a few

It reaches out and touches
Folks that you don't even know
So be careful what you say & do
You may reap the seeds you sow

while for some things you do
The impact may not be great
Think before you act
And act with love not hate

So before you start a ripple
Think before you do
Every action has a consequence
That impacts not only you

But don't think of this as bad
You may make someone glad
So, start a positive ripple
And let it flow to where it will go

On a road trip to Maleny to pick up Mukti for the skin
The rain is pouring down and dark clouds are coming in
We're singing to the music that the Ipod's pumping out
We're talking and we're laughing - that's what life is all about

I stopped for a piss
You went for a fag
I got a burger and fries
In a brown paper bag

It's just Hell's Bells and Ben building friendships by the mile
We laugh a lot, we talk a lot - we've got lots to make us smile
We haven't known each other long, but we've come a long, long way
Our friendship's based on mutual trust and growing every day

I stopped for a piss
You went for a fag
I got a burger and fries
In a brown paper bag

Now we're heading on home and the rain is pouring down
We got Midlake and The Waterboys all the way into town
We got the Pogues and Little Barrie and Die Antwoord pumping out
It's such a simple way to live - that's what life is all about

We're living here in Stanthorpe
Looking out on Quart Pot Creek
Living here is easy
Living here is sweet

We arrived here in the autumn
When the leaves were changing hue
Enjoying early morning walks
With the sky the deepest blue

The folks here are oh so friendly
Everybody wears a smile
Everybody makes eye contact
And we're loving the lifestyle

The creek is full to brimming over
The duckling families bob and weave
A relief after the long drought
The rain a pleasure to receive

So we sit here on our deck
And watch the world go by
Along the walkway by the creek
So peaceful on the eye

Yes we're settling in quite nicely
To this place, this new home
Where we will watch the sunset for the last time
No further need to roam

When I was seventeen life was full of angst
Trying to be so cool in my full-length Afghan coat
That stank when it was wet
But looked amazing just the same
I was trying to be different rather than just trying to be me
Although the evolving me was in there
But I was still learning the game

When I was 30 I moved to the other end of the world
To work on my New Zealand voice
Where everyone said gidday mate
and everything was "choice"
It was a formative period building on what had gone before
I liked the laid-back Kiwis
And I continued to explore

When I was 39 I ran my first Marathon
Another challenge completed
By the end, I was somewhat depleted
(But very satisfied)
It took more determination than skill
But it was such a thrill
And I was still evolving

When I was 49 I changed career
From cars to education
They called me the "car boy"
And put me on probation
But I won them over in the end
And we learned a thing or two
That’s what education’s all about
You teach me and I teach you

When I was 55 I came to Australia
Time for a new adventure
You never stretch the possibilities if you never venture
Lost a wife which was sad
but built a new life so not so bad
No more marathons for me though
too bloody hot mate they had to go
When I was 62 I found a new soulmate
Life is good mate
Wish I’d met her years ago
But it’s never too late mate
We fit each other like a glove
It’s good to have someone to love
Everything is great mate

When I was 71
I moved to Stanthorpe
Best choice I ever made mate
Love the people, love the country
Love the lack of traffic
Got to be a Ten FM DJ
Sweet mate

And now I’m 73 I’m chilled as chilled can be
and I don’t give a hoot mate
What you think of me
I’m living here in Stanthorpe
Doing my own thing
Life is sweet. I’ve got everything I need
I’m so happy I could sing
(But I won’t) trust me you’ll be relieved
 

He taught me tolerance
He taught me not to hate
He taught me that there is good in everyone although in some it's buried deep
He taught me to be kind
He taught me that a smile is better than a frown
He taught me that simplicity is not a weakness because he was a simple man but the strongest man I've ever known
He taught me that education is not what you learned in school; because he didn't spend much time there but he knew many things
He taught me to love words because although he was not a scholar he appreciated good writing and got pleasure from the simple juxtaposition of words to form something beautiful and meaningful
He gave me a love of music without boundaries & genres because it can move across borders and cultures and ages
He taught me that it was Ok to be wrong and the importance of an apology when it was appropriate
He taught me that crying was Ok if you felt better for it
He taught me that sadness was Ok as long as there was a good reason for it
He taught me that having no money doesn't make you poor
He taught me that my best is always good enough but that it is a changeable feast and it was important to be honest with myself
He taught me that there are always opportunities for improvement but not to let others set my standards
He taught me to believe in myself because he believed in me
He's been gone a long time now but his light still guides me.

In the winter I can see the post office from my deck
But as we turn to spring the 3 poplar trees at the bottom of our garden gradually sprout their leaves and by summer the post office has magically disappeared except when the wind blows and it peeks out behind a weaving branch or two

The sun shines on the poplar leaves making them shimmer like silver
And in the wind, we can hear them whisper
The creek is ever-changing
And in our short time here we’ve seen it go from almost dry to halfway up our lawn 
I quite enjoyed my lake view for a while and in my garden finding all the things that were left upon

I grew up with very distinct seasons
And I missed that in Brisbane where the weather just moves from hot to less hot even though I’m told the four seasons still exist
back in Scotland I used to enjoy seeing my first lamb in spring, my first Robin and the first snow of summer. 

So, Stanthorpe feels more like my birthplace than anywhere else I’ve been and that’s a comfort at my stage of life.
I love reading stories about 3 pigs running down Sugarloaf Road
Or a bull heading out Texas road in a hurry 
And all the wonderful volunteers that keep our community vibrant 
And the fact that it takes 5 minutes to get anywhere 

I love watching the duck families blossom on the creek and being chased by the mama duck when I get a little too close for comfort
They use my garden as a training ground for walking together in a line, dad up front, mum bringing up the rear and all the little ducklings racing as fast as they can to keep up

So, thank you Stanthorpe
I’m glad I found you and all your friendly inhabitants.
There’s a lot of kindness here and only a small number of arseholes
So, I think I’ll stay if you’ll have me. 
 

2022 is the year of the J
A year full of good things
When things go your way
When the sun shines on you
And dreams can come true
2022 when you get what you're due

A house with a garden
Where you grow for your table
And Lola can run for as long as she's able
And neighbours who smile when they see you each day
A place where you're happy
A safe place to stay

You get to a stage when your needs are not great
A place to enjoy, to feel safe, to create
Some friends to come by
To share laughter & food
Where neighbours are friendly and no one is rude

So may this be your year
When things come together
When life is a breeze, light as a feather
And there's light in your life
And you paint & you draw
And there's music & movies
And a friendly wee paw

To be sure to be sure
It's a wonderful place
And everyone there
Has a smile on their face

I'm in Waterford town
In the Emerald Isle
And it makes me so happy
I just want to smile

The air it is pure
The grass it is green
If you've been here before
You'll know what I mean

I'm in Waterford town
In the Emerald Isle
And it makes me so happy
I just want to smile

The wind is so fresh
The sky is so blue
The girls are all gorgeous
But none more than you

I'm in Waterford town
In the Emerald Isle
And it makes me so happy
I just want to smile

I'm proud that the blood
That flows through my veins
In a gift from my genes
Irish droplets contain

I'm in Waterford town
In the Emerald Isle
And it makes me so happy
I just want to smile

I'm in Waterford town
In the Emerald Isle
And it makes me so happy
To see your beautiful smile

I can't remember a time in my life
When you were not around
Full of energy
Full of intelligence
Full of life
Like a whirlwind
Blowing away life's cobwebs
And even though we've been apart
longer than we've been together
You still fill a space in my life
that distance doesn't diminish
As we grow older and head towards the dimming of our days
As the colours start to fade
And light turns into grey
Be sure you made an impact on who I am
With your wise words and enthusiasm
So happy Christmas Godmother
and if we don't meet again
know you will always hold a special place
in the heart of your loving Godson Ben

Got stuck in traffic in Stanthorpe town
Couldn't make any progress
I was feeling down
It took 3 and a half minutes
From end to end
It's a real struggle living
In the Granite Belt

I was only going to Aldi
So I should have walked
But I was checking out the specials
And you know they rock
So I sat in the traffic doing zero rpm
While listening to the music on Ten FM

Living in the country I must confess
Does wonders for the ulcers and reduces the stress
The drivers always stop when you cross the street
And you get a lovely smile
From the people you meet

So come on down to Stanthorpe
Give yourself a treat
The wine's mighty fine
And the apples are sweet
There's free live music
Every month in the park
Friendliness & generosity are our hallmark

Don't let people bring you down
Just walk away
Don't let them kill your inner clown
Just walk away

Don't let them make you who you're not
Don't let them take what you have got
Don't let them flatten out your curves
Don't let them drain your scarce reserves

Don't let them say how to behave
Just walk away
Don't let them make you their slave
Just walk away

Don't let them make you who you're not
Don't let them take what you have got
Don't let them flatten out your curves
Don't let them drain your scarce reserves

Don't be defined by those who hate
Just walk away
Don't wait until it's too late
Just walk away

Don't let them make you who you're not
Don't let them take what you have got
Don't let them flatten out your curves
Don't let them drain your scarce reserves

Be the one you want to be
Stand tall and straight so you can see
The road ahead that's straight and true
Be no one else's dream - Be you

For Brooke

I met a young guy in the valley
Who looked like he deserved something better
He had a girlfriend out in the sticks
But he couldn't afford to go get her

He had tattoos all over his body
That told his story in ink
Some people thought he was trouble
But I tell you that's not what I think

He had an air of success all around him
Even though it hadn't yet found him
But I knew from the look in his eye
That find him it would given time

He had knowledge a plenty
Without varsity learning
He was out there living
Not sitting home yearning

His motto was you live just once - live it
He had it tattooed all round his neck
But there was more to that motto it wasn't just ink
It was much deeper than skin
was the way he would think

So don't criticise that kid on the street
Cos you don't know the journey he's taken
Just open your mind to the idea that he
might in you something hidden awaken

He might write you a letter
About places he's been
and things that he's done
and people he's seen

About women he's loved
And hearts that he's broken
And in how many different cities he's woken
About things that he's faced
And things that he's beaten
And how many strange wonderful things that he's eaten

As you sit home alone
On your new mobile phone
With your carefully manicured feelings
Living life through your Facebook account
Watching spiders spin webs on your ceiling

If you're honest you wish you'd the courage
To step out from the safety and give life a go
But you know that you won't cos you won't take the risk
It's much easier to slag off the people that do

And yet you can't understand
Why you've got it so wrong
And that it's him not you
that's the hero of my song