In early 2019, I was referred to my local hospital for an operation, which eventually took place at the beginning of 2020. I spent most of that year taking things easy at home. No sooner was I back fit and well, when COVID-19 came along, and I was ‘confined to barracks’ yet again.
At the very start, I decided to familiarise myself with my new Windows 10 laptop by re-editing an old children’s story book. Then, I took up writing rhyming poems based on an earlier short story on my family history.
Initially, the poems began as reflective poems on my life – a poetic, personal diary of recent social history from WW2 to COVID-19. Concurrently, I decided to write observational poems on modern life and my concerns on the state of the world, from the eyes of an old codger.
Creating these poems over my long ‘lock down’ period has helped me endure this unfamiliar way of life for us all. Time to pause, look back over my life and our ever-changing world, and keep my brain active.
Having gathered together more than 60 poems over the two years, and with encouragement from family and friends, I decided to put them all in a book and raise funds for my charity of which I am a trustee. Age Connects North East Wales offers help and support to the elderly across the counties of Flintshire and Wrexham.
They say variety is the spice of life. Poems by an Old Codger is full of variety with some element of spice too.
If you wish to buy a copy of my book and support my charity, please email me at the address given below.