Our August meeting, as is the tradition, was a social evening, with plenty of food and some drink. But we still managed to find the time to share some fine writing. Here is the first of these, a poem by Heather Cook extolling the pleasures of a stay-at-home Bank Holiday:

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

by Heather Cook

Another warm and sunny day

And oh, what bliss to roam

Down Mr Waitrose’ tranquil aisles

Just minutes from my home.

***

The motorways are jammed I hear,

The airports overflowing;

There’s engineering on the rails –

Don’t even think of going.

***

But should you ever get there

It’s standing room on beaches

While pottering round Waitrose

Is just a bowl of peaches.

***

The shopping done, I’ll rest a while

Until it’s time to dine

Then rustle up a ready meal

Washed down with well-chilled wine.

***

***

But if you fancy a pastime that is a bit more strenuous, why not join Carla Scarano D’Antonio’s life-affirming ‘Yoga Classes’?

YOGA CLASSES

by Carla Scarano D’Antonio

We meet at weekends in the park or on Zoom since the gyms are closed. A small bunch of five-10 ladies when we are outside, a few occasional men, more numerous on the online sessions. The instructor is passionate about us, she supervises every movement, corrects our postures and suggests alternatives to the most difficult ones. We enjoy the time out when the weather is fine, the thick branches of the oak trees swinging in the wind, the clouds gathering in grey menacing clusters and then scattering in white fluffy bits above our heads. We rotate our bodies, twist, swing legs and arms, one leg in high ‘peeing dog’ pose and hold, hold our postures, exercise abs and sun salutations. We sit as if ‘peeing on a dirty toilet’, ‘hula hoop sassy hips’ and ‘kneel as if proposing marriage’. Our legs point straight or are soft when standing; we take life with ease and mean to go through it, ageing but still active, not bothering about bulging bits, varicose veins, big bums and flabby arms. We are stags, dancers and warriors, open our arms wide in goddess position. Together, bright and shining in the summer weather.