ACROSS THE SEA

My love has gone across the sea,
To where the sun sets in the West,
He is the man I love the most,
The man I love the best.

I'll never know the reason why,
No farewell he had bidden,
His reasons he'd kept to himself,
His thoughts they were well hidden.

I'll dream of him all every night,
Till he returns to me,
When we're together once again,
So happy we will be.

**

Items marked ** were originally replies to postings made by John Goacher who can be found at http://tykonia.blogspot.com/

DOGS**

I hate dogs! They bark, they crap all over the place, but most of all I'm frightened to death of them. Big un's, little un's, black un's, white un's, everyone of them puts the fear of God into me.I must have been about seven(or eight) and I was out on my bike going up Salterforth Drag towards the quarries that you will remember up there. I was pushing my bike(it's a bloody steep hill is that)when I got to the spot where there was a drinking trough for the horses, when a collie dog came running towards me, I bent down and started stroking it, when all of a sudden it grabbed me by the hand and bit my fingers, drawing blood. Being only seven(or eight)it hurt, and I cried.Whatever my plan was for the day was cancelled immediately (what was a seven or eight-year-old lad doing out on his own miles from home)and off I cycled home to tell my mum. Cannot remember what transpired, but I do know that the dog had been in a fight and had a raw wound on its neck, and of course when I was stroking it I touched the wound, hence the beast attacking me.So ever since I have been frightened to death of dogs and have many tales of my encounters with them. I have had a brief respite the last five years since I had a replacement hip and I walk with a stick, I feel more secure when in the presence of them for I can defend myself with the stick.