When I read this from so long ago, [this first baby is 30 now!] I thought to myself that it's good these little things were recorded, 'cos they're like snapshots in time.

We lived way out in the country then, 1974, and I would take the baby out for walks in an old fashioned, well sprung perambulator given to me by my cousin, which was far too big to fit into the car.

The dogs would walk out in front, the old one trotting at his own speed and the young one bouncing about, Sindbad the cat would follow us, no matter how many times I would try to shoo him back, keeping well out of the way, walking on top of the walls so the dogs could not get him, the pup did at first try to bite his feet, but he just stepped daintily higher!

One time I told the farmers wife about seeing the foxes with their babies, her husband had another neighbour shoot them all! I was so upset that I never told anyone again.

I would like to encourage anyone to try and write 'memories for the future', and verse is fun once you get the hang of it!  --  Stella Rodgers

Happy Days

There are no pavements up here on the moors,
Just land as far as we can see,
Walls, and more walls, onwards
The dogs, cat, baby, and me

Foxes babies playing, and falling
Over each other, like us
At twilight all in a tussle, don't tell,
It's a secret from the farmer, baby! hush!

Sheep follow us with lazy eyes
Our progress along is so slow.
We're in no hurry to get anywhere
There's nowhere at all to go.

This lane leads onwards, round in a loop,
For farmers to visit their stock,
The one thing that we don't need
Up here with us is a watch!

Dogs in front, cat behind,
Walking on the walls.
He's a nimble, quick, jump up…
So disappointed he doesn't fall!

Oldest companion plodding on
Not galloping around,
Those days are gone, age has crept,
Here now are less agile times.

Cat behind, dogs in front,
Where have they just been?
Found a dog-friend on his own,
Master nowhere seen.

What fun and silliness! Larking about,
Crazy, such a fuss!
Cat looks down from lofty heights,
Baby stirs, sits up.

She's looking out at all the noise
And laughs with silly glee,
What fun we have on all our walks.
Dogs, cat, baby and me.

Stella Rodgers (1974-75')

End.