The local bespoke crematorium,
and pottery kiln, under restoration.
Where I hope, one day, to be smoked
and then placed in an urn of clay.
Michael Le Multiple may think
that’s an idea magnificent.
Upon the foothills of time
this mere mortal coil
one day will cease to unwind.
So, I say . . . Burn baby, burnπ₯π
Folks around town are looking
rather feral since the local
beauty parlour burnt down.
Wally’s nails are getting kinda long.
BALMY ALLEY
Kevin & Ben, proud Castle Rock men,
and proprietors of the Lock Down CafΓ©.
A tidy little town.
But Max, the town’s only plumber,
is nowhere to be found. He’s gone
looking for CoCo, his missing puppy.
Last seen heading down
to Dead Man’s Gully!
Where Larry patiently
awaits his quarry.
But I’m sure CoCo is safe.
Such a small ball of fluff
wouldn’t even suffice
as a piece of dental floss
for this King Croc π
Backpackers who camp
too close to the river bank
are Larry’s preferred snack.
He can never resist
the occasional multicultural
taste of tourist.
As for the locals . . .
Larry leaves them in peace.
Thankfully, as what Larry can do
to a moving car is truly scary.
“Better get a sports car, son.
You better get a real fast one!
Even that Alfa Romeo
may be a bit too slow?”
Being very green
Larry never
throws anything away.
Luckily, the old homestead was
spared last summer’s bushfires.
The old school bus
lovingly converted
into a guest house
is starting to rust.
In the cool of the evening
By the waters clear
And flowing free
I still see Grandpa
Riding high upon his tractor
Harvesting the pastures
Of an omnificent forever
Noel and Philomena
Thanks for entrusting me
With your daughter
The ever lovely Linda
You both will be sadly missed
. . . in my little town.
Incendiary Portrait;
~ Courtesy of Multiple Michael
Words and Images;
~ David B. Redpath Β© 2020
Beautiful post and mesmerising presentation.
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Thanks for the positive
feedback, Tanvir π π
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What a great post. Congrats π I love this personal information. Wonderful story to read. Good’day Mate πππ
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Thanks for that bonza comment π
Have a great arvo, Amigo π
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Interesting shoe tree!
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Yes! I believe Larry the crocodile
uses it as a Christmas tree π²
Especially when he finds someone
asleep under it ππ
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I really hope Coco and Larry never meet.
This was a great tour!
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Thanks for taking the trip, Basilike.
I do suspect Coco was abducted
by alien gypsies, and sold to a
childless couple of mutant canines.
Perhaps it’s all for the best. I’m sure
they’ll afford little Coco a better life
than poor old Max.
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That’s what we told the kids π
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It breaks your heart π
when they cry π as
you show them the doorπͺ
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We need to bring them up strong…
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Nothing expresses compassion
like an education at the School
of Hard Knocks.
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You are so right!
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I’m living proof of that truth.
The finest humanoid hybrid
facsimile a juvenile facility can
produce . . . If I say so, myself.
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You may!
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Thanks for a tour of your town and townsfolk, David!
Larry seems to be pretty friendly! π
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You’re welcome anytime, Punam,
in my little town π
And yes, you can hand feed Larry,
if you no longer need your hands ποΈ
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Thanks, David. π
I think I will pass hand feeding Larry.
I do need hands to write. π€
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Happy to meet Larry. Seems to be the king of your town. π
The photographs are awesome. Such cute animals. Thank you for sharing the beauty.
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Indeed Kritika π
Larry is actually the team mascot
for the local football club.
In fact, he never misses a match
(as the football ground is right next
to the river bank).
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Hahaha
Surely he would have his own rules of playing. π
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Larry just sits on the boundary line
and quietly watches. But once, or
twice, an umpire has mysteriously
disappeared after the local team lost.
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πππ€£
Larry is doing his job.π
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This was great fun to read π sounds like an intriguing place π
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Thanks Ingrid.
The town of Castle Rock is
an Aussie enigma sandwich π
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ππ
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Iβm stunned a single post could contain such multiple themes. You touched on love, loss, solitude, sadness, humour…
Some posts make greater impression than others and will occupy a special place in mind for a very long time. I think this one is amongst those masterful works…
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Thank you very much for the
positive feedback, Isabelle.
It is greatly appreciated ππ
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What an absolutely amazing post. Fills the heart with happiness and beauty. And yes, that shoe tree!!! And so many other beautiful animals, buildings, and most of all, people, to see. π Thanks for sharing with us, truly. ππ
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My pleasure, Lia π¦π¨π
I can hardly keep all the treasure
of a lucky country under cover π
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P.s. and yes, the death, the death; it’s sad but also kind of lovely, as in memento mori, and/or funny. Like in your first lines, which made me smile with glee. πππ€
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A life well lived is a cause
for celebration & inspiration πΎ
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AMAZING WORK
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Thank you, Nancy π
A labour of love π
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I love that crocodile.
Lovely.
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Larry is my favourite Croc π π
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What an inspiring poetic tour, with portrays everywhere!
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Thanks for coming along
for the ride, Newton π
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You are welcome, David. It’s indeed a great tour!
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Mr. Redpath, once again I bow to you in awe of your artistic brilliance,
cool-cat humor and just amazing talent to both entertain and a-muse, in a deep kinda way! Eres un artista al cien por cien. Awesome photos and story! Gotta love Larry. Really love it, a great Friday-read! Gracias!! Abrazotes π
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Thank you immeasurably, Queen Gypsy.
I was really just doing a diary/journal
kind of thing. So, very pleased to get
such a positive reaction π π
Much Antipodean hugs back in your
Andalusian direction π¨ π¦πΊ π
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Yay! Antipodean hugs are the best π Thanks matey!!!ππππ π
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I thought that the old incinerator would do for me. However, with global warming… I’ve been reading up on Human Composting and have changed my documents to reflect this. I’m sorry for your loss.
Thank you for the fascinating photos, I do believe Thailand and Vietnam were as close to OZ as I shall see. Fingers in France are crossed for Coco!
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No problemo, LΓ©a.
Coco was spotted sipping
a mojito at the Copacabana,
a local dog friendly cocktail bar.
Dust to dust.
Human composting
sounds like a must.
Especially since some of us
are already halfway there π
Thanks for reconnecting
in a trains-pacific direction π
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As you say, I am well on my way there… However, I shall have to dig a bit to discover if that is allowed here, yet… Good news about Coco. I would be lost without my two divas (or should I say masteIs?)
I’ve yet to have a mojito (The Hemingway special) but being that my region is the largest producer of grapes in the nation, I’ll stick with some of our local red… I do like red. π€£
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Better dead, than without a good red.
Especially when cooking a bolognese
or lasagne π·ππ
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I prefer a nice crunchy red pepper. You see, I’m vegan… But I also love an excellent vin rouge! π·π·π·π· SantΓ©
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I make the best vegan lasagne
especially for my daughter π
Lots of chick peas and peppers πΆοΈ
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I haven’t made chick pea lasagne but I have made spinach lasagne or zuchinni / courgette lasagne. I do love a good curry and also eat a lot of salads and soups depending on the weather. Naturally, what ever is consumed deserves to be washed down with a good red, n’est pas? π·π·π·
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Chin-chin, LΓ©a.
Epicureanism is my
chosen religion too π
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Absolument!
Chin-chin, LΓ©a.
Epicureanism is my
chosen religion too π
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BTW, perhaps you will check out the poetry blog on 14 July as you may find a laugh. A throw back to the Common Wealth Days… (lots of family in Canada, a bit in the UK and more (the other side) Sweden… I’m a mongrel. π€£
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Will do, LΓ©a π
I believe it to be genetically
most therapeutic to mix up
the gene pool. If you don’t
give the DNA a good stir …
well, just look at the British
Royal family π±
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A tour
and
much, much more
down under’s
memory lane
surely
not
in
vane
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Thanks Hal.
I’m on that slow train
but eventually
it will get to the station.
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No churns, no porter, no cat on a seat,
At Chorlton-cum-Hardy or Chester-le-Street.
βSlow Trainβ
Song by Flanders and Swann
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Thank you for drawing the curtain back to invite us into your your life and times. Please accept my condolences on the death of Noel and Philomena.
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Thank you very much, Liz.
Glad you came along for
a stroll down memory lane.
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So, you just lost your in-laws? Is that your hometown with all the burn scars? Is the old homestead your family’s or your in-law’s?
I don’t wanna mess with no crock-a-gators.
I’ve never seen a shoe tree like that.
When I depart, no embalming for me. That’s crazy. Ashes to ashes (dust to dust). Funk to funky. (We know) Major Tom’s a junky.
Love the family shot.
Hope Max finds his dog. πΆπ
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Ask me no questions, Victoria
and I’ll tell you no lies π
Noel and Philomena were my
in laws, both now deceased.
Noel passed just last week,
hence the necro-centric post.
He lived close to “my little town.”
So we spent many days visiting
him, up in the alpine region of
Australia, before the end.
I don’t know what has become
of Coco, but I’m certain Larry is
innocent. He’s over 80 years, four
metres plus, and has only one eye,
and wouldn’t bother himself with a
lightweight piece of canine fluff.
He does prefer backpackers, since
they taste just like chicken ππ
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Sorry for the barrage of questions. The pix were so interesting.
I’m sorry for family’s loss.
Larry is a tough customer.
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No problemo, Victoria.
Just you were in danger
of tearing the thin veil of
a fictional poetic illusion.
But the eulogy was very real βοΈ
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Slowly backing away from the thin veil…
*hugs*
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The humble hamlet
of Castle Rock
could never be
dismissed as rash friction
or even a flash fraction
since it lives on in my
delusional imagination π
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I hear ya’. β€
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Hi David, An emotional and wild ride through your poignant photo essay. Beautifully compiled and photographed. I am sorry for your loss. Take care.
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Thank you very much, Jane.
I do look at your site and think
that I really need to get a better
camera (as I mainly use my
Chinese smart phoneπ±but
please don’t tell anyone π).
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Capital stuff _ a stellar tale down the carousel. A long way to go — I do dearly hope — before any interning in an β±οΈ.
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Best be prepared for any
eventuality, Anna.
I’ve just had lovely a greek
amphora style urn glazed
in my team colours π
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An intriguing town, even more so with your ever wonderful narrative.
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Thank you muchly, L.G.E. π
An fair dinkum Brigadoon
is my little Aussie town π
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Hope is wonβt be 100
Years before we see more of it. Best to you and your fair lassie. ππ€
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terrific compilation of images and texts; vastly entertaining and a homage to the little town and its folk; love the ‘omnificent forever’ π is it even a word? it should be!
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Thanking ye verily, John.
If it was kosher for Shakespeare
to invent new words, from the
sublime to the absurd, then why
not make up a few of my own? π
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indeed π
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
YOUβLL LOVE THIS!
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Fabulous post and so cleverly told π
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Nice collage. π
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Thanks for viewing, Ben π
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What a fabulous post that provokes many different emotions. I smiled at that croc. and glad my husband and I aren’t backpacking anywhere near him. I’d prefer not to be his afternoon snack. π Really though, this is a wonderful post. Thanks for all the personal touches!
~Lauren
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Thanks for taking the grand tour,
Lauren π You’re welcome back
to Castle Rock anytime π
Larry is over 80 years old, and has
only one good eye ποΈ So, with a bit
of head start, I’m sure you and your
husband would stand a fair chance.
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Love the personal but still Redpathian treatment, David.
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Thank you extremely,
Monsieur Teemley π π
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Some town you’ve got there! A while lot a everything going on! Made me laugh.
Pat
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Most gratifying, Pat.
The big picture of life’s drama is a
comedy. With little pieces of love,
loss, romance, & trauma, thrown in.
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A quilt of sortsβ₯οΈ
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This is all so lovely, David! Cheers and Thank You! π€β€οΈπ
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My provincial pleasure π³π¦π²π
Katy π π
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π
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David, I loved this post!! Especially the lines:
“Where I hope, one day, to be smoked
and then placed in an urn of clay.”
and the photos were great!!!!
An Awesome mind!!!
Chuck
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Like a platypus being crowned
Miss Universe, I’m truly flattered.
Thank you muchly, Chuck π π
Environmental factors coming into
play, in a natural state of nurture.
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R.I.P. Noel and Philomena.
I imagine Larry the Big Croc can be invited to the Vatican to receive the Laudato Si Environmentalist of The Year Award (for his recyling efforts!) as presented by Pope Francis.
The image of the papal beanie cap and the white robe and cassock (possibly slightly blood stained) lying on the Sistine floor after Larry gets his medal should make for awe inspiring and gripping visual news footage on television.
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Actually, Larry is a follower of
the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
He’s been a dedicated member of
the Rajneesh movement, only
green instead of orange, ever
since they established an Ashram
right next to Dead Man’s Gully.
Apparently, anyone wishing to
leave were introduced to Larry,
the hard way. In fact, one of the
Bhagwan’s Rolls Royces is the
pride of Larry’s scrap metal
collection. But I’m sure he’d be
honoured to recieve such an
award from a fellow polytheist.
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Undoubtedly.
When I worked as a reporter for an Alberta weekly newsmagazine many moons ago, I once did a story on the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh as there were a couple of Rajneeshi inclined professors in the University of Alberta Faculty of Education who were trying to recruit their students into the movement.
I actually phoned their female mayor of Rajneeshpuram (the renamed small town in Oregon they had taken over at the time) to find out about them.
She said the town was a cashless society.
People were given cards from the Rajneeshpuram bank and they used cards at local businesses and the money was automatically withdrawn from the account.
I remember thinking at the time, this sounds like the future Antichrist system being implemented on a small scale.
Flash forward 35 years and this is indeed how the world global banking, commerce and economic system are run.
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A sneaky electronic fleecing of the
sheep, who are now being convinced
that cashless is clean and hygienic.
However, I remember that there was
quite a scene when Narendra Modi
did a spot of demonetisation in
India back in 2016. The public didn’t
like it at all. But I guess you can’t
stop the future. It’s been predicted,
some even say prophesied, for a
long time. At least the oncoming
out of control train wreck referred
to as the End Times, means that the
number of the beast will soon be up.
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I love your little town, especially Larry. Hope the plumber found his dog
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Thank you, Parneet.
Castle Rock is our well kept secret.
I’m sure that Coco has made his
way home by now, wagging his tail
behind him π
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A loving home town portrait. But fess up, David. What is the connection between you and Multiple Michael?
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Thanks Anna π
Most of us residing in the Lucky
Country (or The Great South Land
of the Holy Spirit, as referred to by
Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros,
the Portuguese explorer) are truly
fortunate to be Australian.
Michael lives in Miami, Florida,
9,680 miles away. We share an
appreciation of great art, artists
(such as Salvador Dali), and poetry.
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I cannot think of anything but WOW – that gator!
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Indeed, Lara π
It’s a case of see you later
if you run into Larry the gator π
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I love the accompaniment of your words with pictures. It creates a more surreal experience.
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Thank you, Kendi π
They say a picture is worth
a thousand, but I often find
. . . less is more π€
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True. Less is always more. π―
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Love this awesome tour, David! Thanx for sharing.
Art
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My pleasure, Loujen.
You’re welcome back to
Castle Rock anytime π
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Thanks for following!
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My poetic pleasure, Peter.
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Rockinβ town!
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Castle Rock has the lot π
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Most lovely creatures and poem,dear Redpath.
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Thank you, Aruna π
Very pleased you came to visit ππ
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Most welcome,i am a simple guy of India not the Batwomen of China.π
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I pity any old yak in Tibet π
Or any Uyghurs doing slave labour
somewhere behind the Great Wall.
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That is natural when China conquered Tibet.his that work is not nice.
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A fascinating post! Loved your words and accompanying photos! Thanks for sharing! π
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My proudly parochial pleasure, Patty π
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Love. Love. Great pics, although I prefer the Crocs I put on my feet not the kind that put their feet on me! You were created to tell stories. So good.
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Thank you, Carol π
Both Larry the croc, and myself,
appreciated you kind comment
very much π π
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All of this β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
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You’re always welcome
in my little town, EC ππ
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What a fun post. I loved the poetry in between the great photographs. You have a nice big family, that is a blessing especially if you can get them all together. That croc was scary looking, he was massive. Thanks for sharing this with us. Sending love and hugs Joni xoxoxo
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Thank you very much, Joni π
Home is where the heart is π‘
Perhaps that’s why I’m always
hitting the road π
Happy New Year, Joni π
2021 will hopefully be better
than the last one π€
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