[Janet Kenny]

Thanks John,
It's who you know she lied glibly.

Ours were terrific.
Janet

[Jim Hayes]

My curiosity was piqued, we had excellent poems I thought, so I wondered what marvels had edged us out.
We weren't even edged, not one HM among us.

This was the winner;
My credit card is Platinum -rated
I’m draught-proofed, lagged and insulated,
and I know it sounds a wee bit conceited
but I’m Christmas-bonus-ed and winter-heated.

By Council-officials I’m pampered and fussed
I’m Neighbourhood-watched, I’m community bussed,
they suggested a chair-lift, just in case
but I fear my bungalow hasn’t the space!

Dear Darling, I try hard to spend but I fear
‘There’s concessions for people of your age dear’
and though interest is low and the pound is weak
my premium Bond’s on a winning streak.

‘Live now and pay later’ the pessimist said
but by then, if I’m lucky, I may well be dead
so until this oldie bites the dust,
I’ll have me a boom instead of a bust.

Peter Davies.

And one of the MacGonagallesque runners-up ends;

I hitched a ride to where the whole world knows
A welcome is reportedly writ large--
Including food and lodging without charge.
Though at the start there was some opposition
They softened when they saw my dire position;
I’m in my old room now, whence Mum and Dad
Daren’t kick me out. This surely can’t be bad!

Gillian Ewing

I couldn't be bothered posting any of the others.

John if your cricket entry doesn't win, I won't bother supporting this lot again

[John Whitworth]

I agree with your opinion of this clutchof winners, Jim. But I don't know how many of us actually entered. I did. And I prsume you did. I think we were good enough for £25. But I HAVE won an Oldie twice, so it can be done. Thank you for your support about my cricket poem, but some people, particularly women, have this blind spot about the noblest of games. Why, in the US you prefer to play rounders, a game desgned for the beach.

[Janet Kenny]

Originally Posted by Jim Hayes

My curiosity was piqued, we had excellent poems I thought, so I wondered what marvels had edged us out.
We weren't even edged, not one HM among us.

This was the winner;
My credit card is Platinum -rated
I’m draught-proofed, lagged and insulated,
and I know it sounds a wee bit conceited
but I’m Christmas-bonus-ed and winter-heated.

By Council-officials I’m pampered and fussed
I’m Neighbourhood-watched, I’m community bussed,
they suggested a chair-lift, just in case
but I fear my bungalow hasn’t the space!

Dear Darling, I try hard to spend but I fear
‘There’s concessions for people of your age dear’
and though interest is low and the pound is weak
my premium Bond’s on a winning streak.

‘Live now and pay later’ the pessimist said
but by then, if I’m lucky, I may well be dead
so until this oldie bites the dust,
I’ll have me a boom instead of a bust.

Peter Davies.

And one of the MacGonagallesque runners-up ends;

I hitched a ride to where the whole world knows
A welcome is reportedly writ large--
Including food and lodging without charge.
Though at the start there was some opposition
They softened when they saw my dire position;
I’m in my old room now, whence Mum and Dad
Daren’t kick me out. This surely can’t be bad!

Gillian Ewing

I couldn't be bothered posting any of the others.

John if your cricket entry doesn't win, I won't bother supporting this lot again

Well that settles it. We've all heard of the casting couch. nudge, nudge. Either that or the oldies have moved on to the next phase.

Or...
Someone is lurking at Eratosphere and thinks we're breaking the amateur rules.

[Jim Hayes]

Janet Kenny; Either that or the oldies have moved on to the next phase.

Janet, it's a cliche to say it, but I truly laughed, out loud.
Thanks.

Jim

[Julie Steiner]

I entered mine, but a.) I changed the title to Recession Carol, when the contest rules stipulated Recession Confession, and b.) my e-mail addy ends in aol.com, which is the Sign of the Beast according to some spam filters. Alas. Or c.) maybe they just didn't like it. At least I got a pretty good poem out of it, which I'll now send elsewhere. Thanks for letting us know about it, John!

[Martin Elster]

I entered mine also. Who knows if it got there? I thought it was one of my better efforts. Oh, well ...

[R. S. Gwynn]

Mine was just taken by [i]First Things[i].