To the  Coy "Oldie"

Had we but World enough, and Time,
This coyness, "Oldie", were no crime.
We could sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long posting Day.
Thou by the harbour side
Should'st Rubies find: I by the Tide
Of Kattegat would complain. I would
Meet you ten years before the Flood:
And you should if you please refuse
Till the Conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable curiosity should grow
Vaster than Empires and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine Boat, and on thy Transom Gaze.
Two hundred to adore each rope,
But thirty thousand to the rest.
An Age at least to every part,
And the last Age should show your thought.
For Oldie  you deserve this State,
Nor would I move at lower rate.
But at my back I alwaies hear
Times winged Chariot hurrying near:
And yonder all before us lye
Desarts of vast Eternity.
Thy visage shall no more be found;
Nor, in thy marble Vault, shall sound
My echoing Song: then Worms shall try
That long preserv'd anonanymity:
And your quaint Honor turn to dust;
And into ashes all my trust .
The Grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there  yacht race.
Now therefore, while the youthful hew
Sits on us  like morning dew,
And while our  willing Souls transpire
At every pore with instant Fires,
Now let us meet up while we may;
And now, like revenous birds of prey,
Rather at once our Time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapt power.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our curiosity  up into one Ball:
And tear our Pleasures with rough strife,
Thorough the Iron gates of Life:
Thus, though we cannot make our Sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Unexpectedly free for that QLD or even "Lunch" Oldie suggest a time & place!

here we go again...... hold on for the ride.....  

Welcome back AG

Hooray!!!

Oh Ancient Geek, How nice to see, you're back on line and wanting me.

A City restaurant awaits, the wine is right, now where's them dates?

I'm not so ancient as some we know, (I'm thinking of that Blakieo!) 

I've all my teeth and I'm ready to go. My time is but a Superstition, mixed with Outrage,narrower and of a flighty disposition.

Now where oh where shall we meet? In the City,what a treat. 

I know a man who keeps his wine,in condition that is near sublime. 
The ale is fine, the wine is better, the food is great and getting better.

Alas,not looking good for July, but Ancient Geek,please do not cry. 

Early August rings some bells, how are you fixed? Give us a yell!

For ancient Merlin sailors in the City, come and have lunch,(it won't be pretty!) 

Oldie may even buy a glass of vino cheap for that's my class!

Oh Ancient Geek, how about a lunch, a few nice drinks and lots of fun?

Look at the first week of August, I feel a trip is near, to St Mary at Hill (Oldie pays the bill) for water, water (some wine) and Beer!

Helm reunions on the cards methinks,
A spot of lunch and then some drinks,
To reminisce of sailing days,
Oh yes, how good, but through a haze
Of time and wine, liquers and beer
They seem to them the glory years
No sponsors then, no bloody logos
'Twas beer and birds and post-race discos.
One constant theme - the Merlin Rocket
Ensures the need for well lined pockets
So - naught has changed (except our ages)
Accept the fact that life has stages
And celebrate with e'een more beer
The past and glorious sixty years!!!

Oldie; dear oh what a thought
Let's hope our plans come not to nought!
Monday the 14th would seem good to me
I've no engagements on the sea.
We could even have a Grouse
Starting maybe with herrings soused.
No oysters yet there's no R
I still wonder who you are?
As to the pud' I've some ideas for those
But good taste decrees these should be in prose!
To be in touch my e-mail's above
Just in case should push come to shove!

[email protected]

I shot an arrow in the sky
Where it went know not...eeek!

But though 'twas aimed at Harolds eye
It might have hit the Ancient Geek
He'll have been there there is no doubt
Helping Hal to pull it out!!

I'll tell of the Battle of Hastings, 
As happened in days long gone by,
When Duke William became King of England, 
And 'Arold got shot in the eye.
It were this way - one day in October 
The Duke, who were always a toff
Having no battles on at the moment, 
Had given his lads a day off.
They'd all taken boats to go fishing, 
When some chap in t' Conqueror's ear
Said 'Let's go and put breeze up the Saxons;' 
Said Bill - 'By gum, that's an idea.'
Then turning around to his soldiers, 
He lifted his big Norman voice,
Shouting - 'Hands up who's coming to England.' 
That was swank 'cos they hadn't no choice.
They started away about tea-time - 
The sea was so calm and so still,
And at quarter to ten the next morning 
They arrived at a place called Bexhill.
King 'Arold came up as they landed - 
His face full of venom and 'ate - 
He said 'lf you've come for Regatta 
You've got here just six weeks too late.'
At this William rose, cool but 'aughty, 
And said 'Give us none of your cheek;
You'd best have your throne re-upholstered, 
I'll be wanting to use it next week.'
When 'Arold heard this 'ere defiance, 
With rage he turned purple and blue,
And shouted some rude words in Saxon, 
To which William answered - 'And you.'
'Twere a beautiful day for a battle; 
The Normans set off with a will,
And when both sides was duly assembled, 
They tossed for the top of the hill.
King 'Arold he won the advantage, 
On the hill-top he took up his stand,
With his knaves and his cads all around him, 
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.
The Normans had nowt in their favour, 
Their chance of a victory seemed small,
For the slope of the field were against them, 
And the wind in their faces an' all.
The kick-off were sharp at two-thirty, 
And soon as the whistle had went
Both sides started banging each other 
'Til the swineherds could hear them in Kent.
The Saxons had best line of forwards, 
Well armed both with buckler and sword - 
But the Normans had best combination, 
And when half-time came neither had scored.
So the Duke called his cohorts together 
And said - 'Let's pretend that we're beat,
Once we get Saxons down on the level 
We'll cut off their means of retreat.'
So they ran - and the Saxons ran after, 
Just exactly as William had planned,
Leaving 'Arold alone on the hill-top 
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.
When the Conqueror saw what had happened, 
A bow and an arrow he drew;
He went right up to 'Arold and shot him. 
He were off-side, but what could they do?
The Normans turned round in a fury, 
And gave back both parry and thrust,
Till the fight were all over bar shouting, 
And you couldn't see Saxons for dust.
And after the battle were over 
They found 'Arold so stately and grand,
Sitting there with an eye-full of arrow 
On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and.

Odds Bodskins...all o' ye!

Oh Ancient Geek, that date's no good,
I'll have gone to Salcombe like I should
After that, Rotterdam awaits
I think we need some other dates

The end of July seems good to me
'cos then I won't be by the sea

Oh silly me of course it is
Its hot and England put me in a tizz,
How about 25th July
So much on th time will fly!

Oldie,
I'll not do this in rhyme!
We are however getting near the time
I'll have to put a date a time and place
Into my calendar to avoid disgrace
It's claer Oldie dear that my suggestions come to nought
Thus any day 2nd week August
Just name the day the time the place.
The bill is mine including wine 
suggest 12.30 for nine!
Enjoy Salcombe!
AG

Oh goodness me, I have a hunch
These guys will never get their lunch
Such busy men on different tacks
"I have this date so please get back
To me, dear Oldie" - "Sorry Geek
I fear we'll never get to speak
Of days gone by and former glories
Success, disasters - Oh! such stories
Of how we downed those pints of scrumpy 
And now transformed to old men grumpy
The Victor Meldrew syndrome's struck
So with that image, Geek we're stuck
With Forum postings to relieve it
Like Victor M - can YOU believe it"?

Dear Ancient Geek,
Apologies for the delay in replying but quite busy. Suggest a lunch on the week beginning 31 July might be possible or better still an after work drink...?

Dear Oldie, 
The problem is I've more or less been persuaded to break the habit of a lifetime and do Cowes Week, but the yot is in Scandinavia and I'm inclined to leave it there, so discount that.
Also I've a Flanders & Swann concert on the 31st eve, and Claire Teal concertt 2nd eve. So lunch on the 1st? e-mail me if that's ok.

Oldie dear we have agreed! (E-Mail sent.)
So to Salcombe bless and God's Speed!

At last, at last the forum cry 
The Geek and Oldie get to vie
With tales of Merlins gone to rest
Discussions of which boats were best.
And which of helms and crews were quicker
And who was best at holding liquor!!!

The date has passed, so have this bunch,
Met each other and had lunch
So come on tell us, Ancient Geek
Who is Oldie, pray - do speak!!

Indeed we did rather well too!
AG in Cyprus now en route points East.
Agreed a joint communique when O and AG are both back and fater Tenby.
Like "AG"  "O" likes his anonymity!