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I Dream of Italy

I sit bored on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Basingstoke. There’s no romance in that. I love my country, I’m proud to be British, but in a pandemic and having only seen the inside of my house and Asda for nearly 12 weeks, I dream of Italy.

Italy is all around me. Pasta comes in our food delivery, Puccini plays on the radio and even the book staring back at me from the end of the sofa is about Italian cars. It should be said that I have never been to Italy but it has always fascinated me. I won’t be going any time soon, and not just because of the global pandemic. No, I won’t be going because I’m poor. I still have a picture of sun kissed vines and olive groves, Days like these playing on the stereo of a 60’s sports car in the sunshine.

I base my ideals on ‘la dolce vita’, I follow Florentine tailors on Instagram and try to dress in a Neapolitan manner. I drink Prosecco when the sun shines on my council estate garden and Barolo when the nights draw in. I fuel my passion, or torture myself, by reading Italia magazine and imagine driving a Riva on Lake Como. I am even learning Italian, on an app, on my phone.

One day I will get a job, then I will retire and drive my classic car through the Tuscan hills. Until then, I dream of Italy

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In these strange times

No vapour trails in the sky

On this bright blue day

No distant rumble

No, not one.

Nothing but the agitated Starlings

As the hawk passes by

Nothing but the regal Buzzard

Riding the invisible thermals.

The birds are clearer

The road noise gone,

The planet breaths

In these strange times

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Summer

I love the summer

Panama hats

my new blue trousers

I want to feel the wind

in my hair

in my face

from the seat

of a small British sports car

I love my pastel colours

my pink jumper

I want a Jaguar

to drive in the countryside

sometimes I go out of my way

on the way home

just to drive

down country lanes

cricket on the radio

or Jazz

or Opera

when the suns hazy

the Queen of the Night aria

over the wind noise

I wish I was brave enough

to where my cravat

while I drive my imaginary Jaguar

an old English eccentric

it just suits the summer

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I found out last night that my mother is just getting over a cough and my farther has a bad cough and high temperature. The inevitable is that they have both got the virus. This really brings it home, when the first people close to you get it. I know for a fact that my parents have been following the social distancing rules and only going out for food and to walk the dog. They still got it. It worries me because my partner has Scimitar Syndrome, a rare heart and lung condition, and as we have no one to do it for us I have been going out for food. If I get it and pass it to her she could die. So when I see idiots sunbathing in parks or going to the beach it really makes me cross. STAY HOME, PROTECT THE NHS, SAVE LIVES.

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Buzzard Over Basingstoke

Against the azure blue sky

You circle.

Round and round and round

Riding the thermals,

Dancing on the slightest breath of wind.

High, high, higher

You fly. Silhouetted against the spring sun

Low in the morning sky.

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A post shared by Premium Things (@premium_things) on Mar 31, 2020 at 1:03pm PDT

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For the love of deck shoes #deck #deckshoes #lifestyle #shoes https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pg0oRgjgk/?igshid=13abziml392f1

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All dressed up and nowhere to go

I find myself in an odd situation. I have recently discovered Plazza Uomo magazine and the rich world of sartorial dress. I have always dressed a bit differently and always smart but I didn’t realise there was a whole world of this. So on my limited income I have started to smarten up my wardrobe even further. This is great, now I feel good about my self and walk a little taller. Here in lies my problem. Given current restrictions and social distancing measures I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go. I am vastly over dressed for lounging on the sofa or in the garden. It’s completely inappropriate for house work. I mean I live on a council estate in Basingstoke so I’m overdressed anyway, but that’s a different issue. I love dressing up but it all feels a bit much. I don’t want to be a slob, but there’s something else. When you don’t have to get up and get dressed it’s easy not too. I have found, however, that forcing myself to get dressed smartly every day, to make myself presentable as if I were going to work, helps me to achieve more from my day. So I tell my self that’s why I do it. Not that just like wearing a tie and jacket.

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[classychrisblog]

Urban Kite

What do you eat

as you fly

over council houses,

as you’re mobbed

by crows, pushed

aside,

out of place,

wild?

Unlike pigeons

or starlings

you never seem

to land,

just cry out.

I can hear you

sometimes

in the distance.

I don't know where you are.

I can hear you

sometimes

talking

to your mate,

to your young.

I can see you

sometimes

silhouetted against the sun,

a two-pronged tail,

pointed wings

thicker than a seagull’s

and more graceful.

I look out for you

my friend,

in the sky.

I talk to you

as I walk by.

Just an acknowledgement

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My first attempt at tying a bow tie. This is a skill every man should have.

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I Want to Drive an Alfa Romeo

I want to drive an Alfa Romeo

round country roads

on a quiet day

with no other cars on the road

just enjoying the road

push it into the corners

take the apex

drop down through the gears

press the accelerator

and go

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[classychrisblog]

Going to post some of my poems on here but if you can't wait check out my first book on amazon.

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Morning insperation

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Maserati 3500 GTI Vignale Spyder