God rest our Queen – Thank you!

The Travelling Monkeys Thank The Queenk
Queen to nobody


Who was The Queen to nobody
A nobody like me?
I never met her in real life
Just saw her on TV
Too young to get a telegram
Our paths never to cross
But though we knew each other not
I feel so deep her loss
Like most, for my entire life
A constant presence, there
Our symbol for the world to see
She ruled with grace and care
Quintessentially British
Celebrated with pride
Queen Elizabeth the Second
Our ever constant guide
A force for good for all the world
Much did she see and do
Long did you reign, Your Majesty
For all your time, thank you
There will never be another
Like you were on the throne
We wish you Godspeed to Philip
Together not alone
Forever in your Nation’s heart
Right where you’ve always been
You’ll be remembered for all time
God rest our gracious Queen.

It’ll be lonely this Christmas

Christmas this year will be a very strange one. Getting together with loved ones not in the immediate household was out of the question for anyone with any sense. We made the most of being in and safe and look forward to better times.

Uti and Upsi tried to help by stirring good luck into the Christmas cake.

As usual, Braydy is planning our TV viewing over the festive period – what would we do without the television, especially now?!

Uti had a mince pie ready for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer. We hope his magic kept him covid safe.

They’re coming to take us away

We’re still trapped in the house, what with Coronavirus going mad outside, while we grow ever more stir crazy inside. At the moment, we’re having to be Travelling Monkeys that don’t travel. We’ve decided to stave off the insanity by treating ourselves every now and then by having cheeky food and milkshakes delivered to the door from various places. No prizes for guessing where some of it comes from. Apologies to the fish and chip shop where Rudi got his sausage and patties…

Clap For Carers

Another Thursday and we are all out clapping, banging saucepans, playing musical instruments, apart but together in our celebration of all the hard work we are so thankful for being done every minute of every day by the NHS and all the key workers. Thank you, all!

Coronavirus continues

The weeks pass and we are still in lockdown. There has been no abatement to the onslaught of this deadly virus and no sign of a way out any time soon. While the suffering and grief continue and we learn to adapt to our changed circumstances, working out how to live so differently, every day we bear witness to incredible acts of selflessness, bravery and determination.

People we didn’t realise we rely on, people we have taken for granted for far too long:

Health care professionals – doctors and nurses; hospital support staff; the carers; the educators; sanitation, postal & delivery workers; food providers… The list goes on.

Every Thursday at 8pm, emerging briefly from our places of self-isolation, as a nation together, we thank the NHS for everything it has done, everything it does and everything it will continue to do in the face of huge adversity.

We also thank everyone of you, the ones who really keep our country running.

Thank you all.

Thank the Heroes

Another day in isolation
At home with loved ones or alone
Our main form of communication
Is now the internet or phone
Vital technological lifelines
Bridge the distance we all now feel
Allowing much needed contact time
And the chances to keep it real
Not just talk but to see each other
Face to face though so far apart
On the front line or under cover
We were together from the start
All through this pandemic’s destruction
The majority does its best
Heroes rise to meet the infection
Fighting it daily without rest
People coming from all walks of life
Pulling towards the common goal
Helping others in desperate plight
By taking on amazing roles
Putting at risk their very own lives
Despite the lack of PPE
Caring enough to help us survive
Everybody, you and me
So, we clap our hands – we owe so much
To people we might never know
It is amazing that there are such
And it is to them our thanks go
Thank you for being amazing souls
Thank you for all the things you do
We thank you as one and as a whole
Life’s for living because of you.