Fame

Fifteen minutes later

I pull into the Sandringham Estate car park

Already I know that this is my kind of place

I will take lunch in their cafe restaurant

But first to let the gardens overwhelm me

Down, through the avenue of limes, to the Buddha

Then a stroll, by the dark brown waters

Which hereabouts they choose to call lakes

I have the Whitby breaded whole-tail scampi

With a bottle of beer-shandy

Due to my latest diet I don’t do dessert

Though I am calling in at EH Prior & Sons, later

But no rush, not for now, it is a time to dwell, to look around

Find a quiet bench, or a seat under a pergola 

Actually I stumble upon St Mary Magdalene Church

Which is bound to do something for me

Dust behind the door

Dust on the beams and lintels

A real sniff of the worship of royalty

Outside the headstones are arranged in rows

Back inside, I do take a few moments

Sit on a pew beneath a stained glass window

Look forwards to the altar, my view

Obscured, by tourists just like me

It is not a big place, but does look cared for

As it ought to be, if our princesses

Are to be christened here, as was

The nation’s favourite, the late Princess Diana

 

Arrive Be Depart

I drive down Beach Road in Heacham

Park up, on the roadside, just before the public toilets

I have it in mind to walk on the sands

For an hour or so; a time simply to be

Getting ready to head off to Sandringham Estate

I take the camera, in its bag, out of the car boot

Check the Four-Hundred zoom lens is attached

The beach is gated, with a large, welded, angle iron affair

With such a dearth of caravans

Is it to stop joy riders joy riding on the beach

Yes, there are masses of mobile homes

Laid out in a maximisation of space sort of way

Just like Lincolnshire, or anywhere else I guess

I stroll rather than walk, meander even

As the sea defences become ever more apparent

I carry on, as far as what I take to be

A stretch of fresh water

A chap in a sleeveless, bright-yellow vest

Swigs from a can of lager, his military style camouflage shorts

Stand him out as someone who is here on vacation, always

South Beach Road runs out into a cart track

Although it does return to where my car is parked

Why have I been here? What have I left behind?

What is there which pulls me to nowhere?

Other than to be beside, and to look at the sea

I don’t go into the cafe

How much cake can one eat

Instead I climb into my welcoming limousine

The stereo plays my favourite music

This is more like the escape that I was made for

Prepare

A good night’s sleep

Meditation with a cup of tea

Listening to Temple of the Heart

Writing up my response to Haiku Minds

Vulnerability

I am, you are, we together

Separate, or apart, or close up close

Bath time

Listening to the Procul Harum playlist

Including Gary Moore, making one feel

Highly nostalgic; his blues songs are contagious

A new shirt for a new day

Foot cream, or heal balm in my case

Applied liberally, before

Putting on the colour-burst cotton socks

Then it is off to Norfolk Lavender

For a Full-English breakfast

Cooked to perfection, and served with a smile

In their still quiet restaurant

I will buy a memento from the gift shop

But just what, well that will have to wait

Until after the grilled and seasoned tomato

And the thick toast with lashings of butter

A good start to the day

Welcomed with appreciation

Listening to Start of the Week

Writing down my streamlined thoughts

Vulnerability

I am, we are, you are

Even with the lavender cushions

Hi

I am writing to let you know that I am here

I was about halfway here when I thought

That I would like to write you a letter, tonight

It is a good place, Lavender Barn that is

For, as yet, I haven’t been out into the town

I have been writing, so from that point of view

The retreat is meeting its purpose square on

Whether the writing will be any good, or

Whether you will care for it, well only time will tell

Of course there is a resonance with our Norfolk trip

To see the pink-footed geese in the dawn frost

That was a good trip wasn’t it; do you remember

Maggi Hambling’s sculpture on the beach

You and your friend trying on hats

You must have been in that shop for a full hour

And I am pretty sure that you didn’t buy anything

Talking of shopping, I am going to Norfolk Lavender

Possibly for breakfast, tomorrow, if the weather holds

Though I have a vague recollection of being disappointed

During our last visit there, but I can’t quite recall why

I have two beds to choose from, but both will feel empty

Without you

All my love

Christopher

xxx

Settling In

I have had my bath

And my cottage pie

Already I am in my pyjamas

And dressing gown

(Bought especially for the trip)

I am comfortable

Though the early excitement is fading

But this place is a good choice

I say to myself

(I say that often)

I have not meditated yet

But I will do

Probably sat on a dining chair

By the window, with the curtains drawn

(It needs to be a calm place)

First I have the urge to write a letter

Is it too soon

No, it is not too soon, get on with it

Stop procrastinating

(Procrastination is my number one skill)

I don’t sit at the dining table

To write the letter

That would infer formality

Instead, I am on the rattan settee

And I do gaze into the warming wood-burner