Funny how Boys have always loved scaring the hell out of the Girls isn’t it, although there were some Girls who scared the hell out of me I can tell ya , but I’ll save that for another day.
When my Son was about 8 he brought in a dead field mouse from the garden, he held it up by it’s tail and started chasing his Sister all around the house with it, frightening the life out of her. Later that night I scribbled this and let him read it, he never brought in another dead mouse, would you believe he’s in his 50’s now and still remembers it word for word.

Mister Cronkill knew not his fate
The day a dead mouse he ate
An out-of-work Ironmonger
He did it to stave off his hunger.

He breathed deeply and lay back in his chair
Then picked from his mouth the very last hair
His eyes got heavy and sleep was his intent
And into slumberland he made his descent.

His mind was at rest in a sleepy wonderland
When he felt a sharp scratching upon his hand
An enormous mouse stared up to greet
“Now Mister Cronkill, I thee will eat”

I had actually known a Peter Cronkill at that time, sadly he died in his thirties. I thought it a very unusual name, he lived in a tiny tenement room in town and used to work at a wrought iron foundry making gates, fences, and ornamental surrounds for graves. the place closed down and he never worked again, soon after that his wife left him, ran off with an Argentine sailor who had jumped ship in Dublin Port, she was never heard of again. Peter took to the drink heavily and every penny he got went on it. Food was never a priority with him and I remember him telling us in the pub one day that he would make up a big pot of stew on a Monday and it would last him for the whole week reheating it every day, poor fella, I believe he was under 6 stone weight when he died, God rest his soul.
At this time of year I always think of the poor unfortunates who live in dirty damp hovels or on the streets, it’s easy for some to say it’s their own fault but behind each face there’s always a deep sad story as to how they ended up as they are, besides it’s not for us to judge them.

London. Harrods, what about Austerity? is that applicable to Austria???

Austerity what is that?
Morning has broken.

It is similar to when a poor person gets a cold, and cannot afford linctus, ultimately they unnecessarily lose their voice, that is Hoarse-sterity.

Answers, we think we are entitled to them, but, do we really want or need them.