London Scarves

I began to notice scarves.
Chaps with scarves
particularly.

There's the bohemian scarf
worn by elegant chaps
in the environs around Buckingham Palace
and among thespians,
a rather loose-tied scarf
loping down from the neck,
showing an elegant
carelessness.

There's the university flick,
which has one leg dangling
down the front
and a single wind
around the throat
and the other leg dangling
down the back - a little bit
Dr Who
and a little bit juvenile lead.

There's the good boy scarf,
neatly folded in front
and tucked in tight to protect
the throat and the chest,
no doubt with a Vicks rub
underneath.

There's the scarf which is wound
round and round
the throat, the throttling scarf,
or I don't care if anybody knows
I'm wearing a scarf but I really need to
keep warm.

Then there's that funny Italian double loop
which arrived a couple of years ago,
where you shove both ends
through the loop
and bring it round your throat
and flash it off
in rather an unnecessarily
vain way,
although, it has to be confessed
(I'm afraid I've tried it once or twice),
is very warm.



From the BBC Radio 4 In Our Time newsletter from Melvyn Bragg, emailed 31 January 2013. Submitted by Lesley Ingram.

Not Squirrel but Monkey

"I thought it was a squirrel at first,"
he told the Leader.

"It was a similar size, but
was dark brown in colour and
had a long, straight, upright tail.

It paused for a moment standing
on its hind legs, looked at me,
then scampered off
over the hedge."



Taken from the Guardian's weekly round up of news from the North of England, 26th August 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.

Remembering

It seems a lifetime since
Peter was at Mildert
studying History.

Peter has never forgotten
the immense support that
so many friends gave him
in the months and years after
his December 1982 car crash.
Though now registered blind
and therefore unable,
amongst other things,
to join the Army,
he has been able to enjoy
a successful career
focused on helping others.



From the Durham University Alumni newsletter, 25th June 2010. Submitted by Marika Rose.