But I am still very grumpy, and even grumpier now that I seem to have killed my Loopy Letters website with a flurry of plug-in updates. Apparently I do not have the required internet speed to service a WordPress.org blog. I blame the weather – it is bogging every thing down. ‘Devon’ is such a sweet sounding name, but what it actually means is: vat of mud.
Anyhow, before I accidentally destroyed Loopy Letters, I was going to write a joyous little post about Valentine’s day, which would spread love and…er… joy. There were going to be dancing nymphs; a ray of sunshine; chocolates; flower garlands; love hearts aplenty; fluffy poodles; cute kittens; cashmere mittens; jolly bunting; a toaster; a coffee grinder; and a cuddly toy… BUT, I have been thwarted, and my mood has again been sullied, so my only option is to inflict one of my vintage poems upon you instead…
*Clears throat and tries to speak proper English like wot the Queen does*
Shall I compare thee to a changeable afternoon in June?
Thou art bad-tempered, moody, but thou oft make me laugh:
You may have wind summat rotten and sad elasticated pants,
And that afternoon that doth flashed by a bit quick:
Sometimes you get blinky in the eye and you miss it,
And oft’ it gets tiresome and overdramatic;
And every country fair has a beer tent,
By chance a brisk breeze showing nature’s bush untrimm’d:
But thy changeable afternoon in June shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that wobbly chin and come hither expression;
Nor shall Death wander off and brag about nicking your bling,
When in eternal lines deeply scratched on a tree:
So long as forests are protected, and there are opticians and designer glasses,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
And here is a very poor, deliberately off centred photograph of this stunning piece of literature made real…
Damn, spilt my tea again….
And yes, this will be sent out under the banner of The Loopy Letter Project… yes, it could be winging it’s way to YOU!!!!
Some of you may recognise this gorgeous little verse from HERE. As part of my ten years of blogging celebrations I shall be revisiting some of my most lauded work and republishing for my legions of new followers.
So there you go then, have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, my lovelies!!
SXXX
P.S Should I keep all the Loopy Letter stuff here??? That site gives me such a headache… and it seems to have vanished completely… apparently I have to access some behind the scene files… excuse me whilst I go backstage.
*Exit, pursued by a bear*
Wonky Words 
Ah, so that explains all the hairy arsed blokes in Tesco sheepishly clutching bunches of roses, then. Happy Valentine’s Day, cousin: your sonnet certainly warmed the cockles of this old rheumatic’s heart.
With regard to your Loopy Letters woes, if it’s any consolation you are not alone. Something funny has been going on with logging in for the last week, and even a complete system rebuild hasn’t completely sorted it out, although I’ve managed to work around it just about. Perhaps you should consolidate the two blogs into one frustration?
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Good afternoon, Cousin! I don’t think all these WordPress woes are worth the bother…. apparently I have the white screen of death on my Loopy Letters site. Oops. It didn’t take me long to break that new toy!
Perhaps I have little choice and I will have to consolidate… it’ll make like easier 🙂
Sx
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Loopy Letters is displaying normally here, for what it’s worth. I’ll have a go at adding a comment: it’s possible that if head there via the notification that might shake something loose. Weirdly that worked with the crossword blog … well, once or twice.
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There has been tinkering behind the scenes, Mr Batarde, I had to get a man in to sort it out…. and Loopy Letters is back. I was warming to the idea of bringing it here. Obviously, I should pay it more attention and not let all the updates build up!
Sx
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Ooh…I haven’t touched Idle Thoughts for quite a while…I hope I can still get in.
Actually, I was thinking of closing it and beginning again. sort of Miltonically,”fresh woods and pastures new…” But if it’s going to cause a techo-headache, maybe not…
You might save some grief having everything in one place. And I like your take on the Bard of Avon.
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Dinah, you have indeed been idle with your thoughts…. at least you know you are idle and titled your blog to reflect this. Apparently Loopy Letters is back… looking sorely neglected… not very loopy and thin on letters.
I’d recommend jazzing up the blog you have… change the theme… move the furniture about… put up some new pictures. Starting afresh is a slog!
Sx
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Happy Valentine’s Day, even if it is with George Clooney!
I will follow the delightful Loopy Letters wherever they may be. Of course, these days that might be considered as stalking, so maintaining the required 100 yard distance per the restraining order.
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I have sent George packing, Mr Lax! Have you ever been to Loopy Letters? I will find a portal for you… somehow I don’t think you need a restraining order!
Sx
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I don’t believe I mentioned this back in 2011, but I think your poem is quite sweet.
And I hope you didn’t spill that tea (PG Tips? Doesn’t look strong enough for Yorkshire Tea) while under my bed, as the stain will be indelible by now (you know I don’t clean under there very often…).
I don’t know what to suggest about leaving Loopy Letters free and single, or coupling it up with Wonky Words? I fear that the Valentine’s Day Effect may colour a decision towards coupling…
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I was sweet way back in 2011, Mr Devine! Thank you!
Ah. So you have noticed that I sometimes hide under your bed? This is a fairly recent phenomenon… only since 1837… and in all that time I have never spilt any tea there…. although I have made a mountain from biscuit crumbs. Sorry.
Meanwhile, have you seen the series, Mum, on BBC2? It’s very sweet too. And… I will keep the blogs as they are until the next time Loopy Letters goes into meltdown!!
Sx
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That would bring a tear to a glass eye, wonderful. Have you tried 5-HTP for your grumpiness? Holland and Barrett sell them.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Mitzi – Do Holland and Barrett sell anything stronger? I will look out for the 5-HTP when I next visit. I usually come away with blueberry yoghurt coated raisons.
Sx
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Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours. Here’s to wishing you a problem free Loopy Letters site, better weather, and a good cup of tea to help you relax.
Back when I had to pull all nighters, I needed coffee and tea for the caffeine boost. Problem was, I’d suddenly fall asleep quickly when the caffeine wore off, and after knocking over a cold cup of coffee that soaked my notes, I switched to putting my caffeinated drinks in a bottle with a cap. I had to use a funnel to pour the drinks into the bottle, but now, when I need a drink, I take off the cap, then I replace it when I’m done. That way, I have eliminated accidental spills.
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Happy Valentine’s to you too, Mr Swings! I am calmer today. Perhaps you should have taken photos of your coffee stained notes – it’s all the rage now 🙂
Sx
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If it cheers you up at all, I did buy you some roses but I think I might have given them to the wrong girl unless you were the girl in a tweed hat with a poodle on a lead who slapped me after I gave them to her just for saying, “I think this merits a drink!”
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Ha Ha! Mr Ducks, you definitely gave the flowers to the wrong girl. No tweed hat or poodle… and Jack Russell owners probably never say no to a drink!
Sx
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I said I would marry her after that to try and put things right but she just walked off in a huff. There’s no pleasing some people 😦
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Outrageous behaviour! Even for someone with a poodle.
Sx
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Can you send my bear back here please! and a belated happy Valentine’s sweetheart xxx
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Do you need to exit, Lulu? I will send the bear to pursue! Happy Valentine’s!
Sx
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I hope you de-grumped a bit, lovliest MsScarlet – ? See, I clicked on the “LoopyLettersLink” in your sidebar – and voilá ! – there I was. Even the “contact” thingy worked & opened automatically an email program. Nothing’s lost. There is still room for dancing nymphs, fluffy mittens and a toaster.
I also hope you had a very nice Valentine’s Day, and that this Mr Clooney lived up to the expectations, good ol’ George.
When I saw your manuscript I first thought of stains from red wine, each to his own. Is the staining en vogue again ? In earlier days it was used “to age” maps etc.
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Good afternoon, Mr Mags!
To be fair I have been in varying states of grumpiness for the last six years. This Winter has been particularly harsh… what with the broken boiler and the vat of mud that people refer to as ‘the countryside’, trying its best to come indoors through every nook and cranny. Let’s face it, I am an urban soul marooned in a very large bog of manure. I doubt it will end well.
Yes, Loopy Letters has been repaired and is back in all its clunky glory!
Red wine stains? – Now there’s a thought, and possibly a good excuse.
Sx
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“I am an urban soul marooned in a very large bog of manure.” You are so poetic. Poetry mixed with that dry British humour (I had to force my spellchecker not to correct that word) plus spilt tea could be the next big thing.
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Thanks for posting your poem again. I don’t recall being a reader of your blog back in 2011. Blogs were still on the rise back then I believe. What better use could one find for “sad elasticated pants” than putting them in poem?
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I’m glad you like my poetry, Bill! I should write more.
I have had a sunny day today and my urban soul was taken to a town to visit shops… and pavements… I even got to wear proper shoes instead of wellies. It was a joy.
Sx
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We had sunshine and a warm breeze on a Monday over here today.
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speaking of the weather – did you get hit with that recent snow? Recently I’ve seen a flood of snowy pictures that were taken in Ireland. I recall hearing that the snow made it all the way down to Rome. I certainly don’t expect a full weather report but you have written about rain, wind and mud in the past. No reason to leave snow off the list.
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Do as you wish with Loopy Letters and Wonky Words as long as you’re still here and posting and haven’t eloped with George Clooney, never to be seen again.
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I am still here! This blog is going nowhere, Ms Mistress! Though I’m bored with George now.
Sx
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Did the earth move for you, dearest ?
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Ha! If you are referring to the earthquake in Wales, then sadly no it didn’t. I missed it!
Sx
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What a wonderful poem, life it embraces
From stretchy pants to blinky faces
Nothing glossed over, not one thing
Even wobbly-chinned ladies laden with bling
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What a wonderful comment, Nick! Have some cake!
Sxx
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Don’t mind if I do. Is that one of the extra chocolaty M&S ones?
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Late to the game. I’ve been busy with a new cat or two. Is the tea spill intentional? I assume not but I think it WORKS. You can post everything here. You can post everything there. It matters not. We’ll find it. 10 years is not a joke.
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Hello, Monsieur Pain, the spillage was indeed intentional… I am going through my stained phase.
I will post the calligraphy on Loopy, I seem to have the site under control at last!
Sx
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(I’m not the only one late!! Looking @you, Br. Pain) As they say in the movies, I’m with you fellas! Post here, post there, I’ll read, maybe later than most, but I will read, sugarpie! Love the poem! 😉 xoxox
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Oh I am often late these days, no worries, Savvy!! And you have probably had this poem inflicted on you before… so the apologies are on me!
Sxxx
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I love your poem, your manage to retain, and, indeed, exceed Mr S’s unique marriage of irony and romance.
Keep warm, X
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Ha, Ha!! Thank you, Eryl!!
I might write a post tomorrow about this brief respite from the mud!
Sx
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George Clooney? He’s a bit of a boring old fart nowadays isn’t he? Or maybe I am because I forgot it was Valentine’s day! I was in the States, not that that is an excuse as they celebrate it there too. 😀
When in doubt get a man, that’s what I say.
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