A few days ago(29th Nov 2017), I had started writing a poem about Penny Farthing Bicycles, prompted by an article in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper, the arrival in Geelong of eight members of the Melbourne Bicycle Club in March 1880, as per featured picture above, courtesy of the Geelong Heritage Centre Collection. Then I was chatting with my friend Jane of Janebasilblog, she had just sent me the song and lyrics of the Mary Hopkin hit, “Those Were The Days”, from 1968, and I mentioned The Kinks were one of my fav’s from that era, and of course their song “Lola”. After our chat, I starting thinking [which is dangerous for me] about writing a crazy, combined, mixed up poem… The piece below is the result of those thoughts, and to my older readers, you’ll notice all the phrases written in Italic, are song titles taken from The Kinks album “The Kinks Collection”. So apologies to Ray Davies for using his song titles in such a manner.
“Where Have All The Good Times Gone”
I remember the olden times
Of pennies and farthings
Pounds and pence
When money made no sense
Mary Hopkins sang
βThose Were The Daysβ
And the Kinks song “Lola”
Was the best number one ever
Many a lazy Sunny Afternoon
Spent down near Waterloo Sunset
Where we would all dance
All Of The Day And All Of The Night
My Friends would all dress-up
Like Dedicated Followers Of Fashion
Unlike that lonely Plastic Man
Who faked the Death Of A Clown
Way back then, You Really Got Me
You fired me up, here in Victoria
Thousands of Days forgotten in the burn-out
Charred in a cloud of Big Black Smoke
But now, I’m Tired Of Waiting For You
Wondering, Where Have All The Good Times Gone
Ivor Steven (c)
Originally Posted, 29th November 2017. 4.00pm
You and me were free
We do as we please, yeah
From morning, till the end of the day
Till the end of the day……….
Like writing…….
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Yep, I had fun reminiscing and writing/forming the words.
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Thank you Ivor for some very fond memories.
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Thanks Peter, it was a fun write for me.
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Nicely done!
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You know where my head went….but what is lovely is that my husband and I have MANY memories, hundreds and hundreds if not multiples of thousands, of hours on bikes and ‘where have all the good times gone’. π Now they are full of grandkids and grandparents!
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Haha, great, I’ve just sent you an interesting email, I’m sure Hubby will like it too….X
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I saw it!!!!!!! I want to do that too!!!!
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Ah , thought you would, although it’s a bit of windy wet day here today.
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A day on the bike in the rain is better than a sunny day in the office. π
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If there’s a follow up story in the newspaper I’ll send it over for you.
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Thank you!!!
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Very clever Ivor!
This is the second comment and Like I’ve done here, the first one was when my W.P screen was playing up and now I can see it didn’t register. I listened to the songs too and they brought back lots of lovely memories.
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Thanks Sue, I had fun writing and forming the poem, and surprisingly it seemed to work ok.π
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Yes it did Ivor, very wellπ
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Oh, and Sue your previous comments did come through, I posted this poem twice, sometime I do this because of being trapped downunder here in the middle of everyone else’s time zones, which I’m still confuddled about, haha, so thanks for “All” of your comments.
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And I’m Befuddled!
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Oh …sorry !! hehe
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Love this! Nicely done, Ivor! π
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Thankyou, It was a fun one.
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I enjoyed your sentimental poetry and video, Ivor. I have a feeling that there are still more good times to be had! π
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Thanks Rose, I enjoyed writing and forming the poem from the song titles, again something different.
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I love what you did here my friend
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I love this one. Relatable. π
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Thank you β€οΈ, I had fun writing this one π
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When you enjoy doing something it always turns out to be beautiful. π
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Yes, so true π
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I enjoy this blast from the past, seems so recent I feel like i can almost taste the meat pie and blown sand grit in my mouth.
Very nice Ivor … π
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I’m glad you enjoyed my whimsical poem, although it did get a little serious towards the end, I had a lot of fun putting the titles and words together, and somehow, the verse fell into place.
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Pretty darn brilliant and very original! Iβm tempted to ask if you have been writing your whole life? Itβs such a rewarding pastime is it not?
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I started writing about 20 years ago, I’d suffered a medium Stroke, and I had to learn to read and write again, and taking up writing poetry was a good way to rehab myself, and I had Carole, with severe MS, but what a glorious subject she was, to write about, and I still haven’t come close to doing her justice yet ππ
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Oh my goodness – you certainly have weathered many a tempest. Iβm in the medical imaging field and know how devastating strokes and MS can be. Your tone is altogether uplifting Ivor. What a journey life can be.
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Yep my journey hit many a rough road, but my Carole was full of courage, grace and an everlasting smile. Now my path is becoming smoother.
https://wp.me/p6B6QE-fw
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This piece was beyond magnificent Ivor. I pause to take it all in. I have never known an enduring love such as this. You were truly blessed to share life together. xx
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Thankyou Diana. I was truly blessed and privileged to have been the chosen one to look after Carole, my words about her have yet to describe her amazing personality under such trying circumstances. All her friends, family and carers still remain in awe of her kindness and happy demeanour towards all who had the pleasure to have been associated with her over that thirty years of her suffering the consequences of her MS, and all of its terrible complications. π Oh wow, I’m getting carried away, π sorry I never tire of trying to explain to people the angelic nature of our Carole. I’m proud to say, she made me into the person I am today. πππ
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This, dear man, is not getting carried away. Itβs simply once more relishing the sweet memory of your astounding life partner. There is such joy in the revisiting of such beautiful memories I have no doubt. πΉπ
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Thank you for your kind compliments Diana, and you are a sweet person. π for reading my story and understanding
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Hi Ivor, a smidgen from the Glam Rock years. That was a Blockbuster of a poem. Written In The Summer Time? Or the time The Cat Crept In? People Like You And People Like Me Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep like a little piece of the Action turn up the volume then Juke Box Jive nothing like a Ballroom Blitz.
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Yep, l love doing the ballroom blitz, they were fun times π
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We might even get Walt on board I’m sure he could write a story or three on song titles, have a real oldie I wrote a few years back on a radio show play list must have a search through the archives…
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Ok, search and dig… Walt saw my poem when I wrote it back in December, has he spotted yours yet.
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I noticed that he saw yours ok, mine may have got lost in time zones will surface at some point 10:35 AM here bright sunshine just a glorious day.
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Time changes everything.
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Yea indeed Sadje β¦ letβs hope for better times soon
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I hope so Ivor
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Great piece, Ivor. Love it.π
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Thank you Grace .. a fun piece for me to write βοΈππΆπ
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My pleasure.π
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ππ
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absolutely love this trip down memory lane, awesome Ivor … Jane is so inspiring and challenges us to write from a ‘different’ angle!
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PS any chance of a link to Jane’s blog please, I can’t find her in my search?
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Yeah ..I was just searching then .. her last entry was Oct 27th …
https://janebasilblog.wordpress.com/
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thanks so much, got there!
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I haven’t heard from Jane for a few months .. best I look her up and see what’s doing ..
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Well done Ivor π
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love how you put this together
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Thanks Beth , fun to write while I was singing along with the Kinks
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So clever and such a fun read! π
(((HUGS))) π
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Listening to the Kinks and writing a poem at the same time is definitely my idea of fun .. ππ΅π
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Woot woo! Great fun, indeed! π
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Yeah πΆπΆπ€ππ
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A fine tribute to great music
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Yeah for The Kinks
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Great weaving of these classic song lyrics π€© I remember enjoying the Waterloo Sunset when I lived in Londonβ¦
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Thank you Ingrid …I remember having a fun time with this one … listening to the Kinks and writing my poem … π΅ππ
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Ah the old bone shaker Ivor, thanks for stopping by hope your Tuesday is going well
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Thanks Chris … nearly time for bed here in Geelong, Victoria, Aus … haha .. a Kinks song
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I love this, Ivor! The Kinks are one of my favorite groups and I enjoyed how you wove their music titles in with your words. I’ve written poems with this same idea and had fun because the song titles bring on fond memories.
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Thanks Eugenia .. I definitely enjoyed writing the poem while listening to the Kinks fabulous music πΆ ..πΆπππ
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Most welcome, Ivor! β€οΈ
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Well done, Ivor. I love both of these songs. Those really were the days!
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Thanks Dwight … they were indeed great songs from our younger days
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Yes!
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nostalgia at it’s best Ivor! ππ
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Nostalgic and fun to write Cindy βοΈπΆπ€π
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