No.20

"No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, 
you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.”
- Tony Robbins

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This beech tree which used to stand on Castle Hill at Wittenham Champs in Oxfordshire had the following poem carved on it. It's said that Joseph Tubb 1805-79, who had written it, spent two weeks one summer in 1844 completing the carving. Sadly "The Poem Tree" died in the 1990s and collapsed in the summer of 2012.

As up the hill with labr'ing steps we tread

Where the twin Clumps their sheltering branches spread

The summit gain'd at ease reclining lay

And all around the wide spread scene survey

Point out each object and instructive tell

The various changes that the land befell

Where the low bank the country wide surrounds

That ancient earthwork form'd old Mercia's bounds

In misty distance see the barrow heave

There lies forgotten lonely Cwichelm's grave.

Around this hill the ruthless Danes intrenched

And these fair plains with gory slaughter drench'd

While at our feet where stands that stately tower

In days gone by up rose the Roman power

And yonder, there where Thames smooth waters glide

In later days appeared monastic pride.

Within that field where lies the grazing herd

Huge walls were found, some coffins disinter'd

Such is the course of time, the wreck which fate

And awful doom award the earthly great.

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I wonder if any people remember this rhyme. I rather think it's a Glasgow one.

Sugarolly wah-ter, black as the lum,

Gaither up peens an’ ye’ll a’ get some.

Translation = Sugarolly water, black as the chimney, Gather up pins and you'll all get some.

Jean once told me about sugarolly water which her father used to make. A mixture of liquorice sticks and water was put into a lemonade bottle and given a really good shaking. It was put aside for a week and apparently one could tell from its black colour whether it was ready or not. Jean said this was a real treat and one that she always looked forward to.

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"They say that opposites attract. We certainly agree!"

NEXT POST - FRIDAY

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