The sentimental bloke

If it is true that Nostalgia is not what it used to be, sentimentality is looked sideways by many at as being sloppy etc
But I think sentimental is OK

In 1915 C J Dennis published The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, which told the story of an Aussie bloke courting and finally marrying the love of his life, Doreen. The book was an immediate success, selling over 66,000 copies in 18 months.

Fer 'er sweet sake I've gone and chucked it clean:
The pubs an' schools an' all that leery game.
Fer when a bloke 'as come to know Doreen,
It ain't the same.
There's 'igher things, she sez, for blokes to do.
An' I am 'arf believin' that it's true.

Yes, 'igher things--that wus the way she spoke;
An' when she looked at me I sorter felt
That bosker feelin' that comes offer a bloke,
An' makes 'im melt;
Makes 'im all 'ot to maul 'er, an' to shove
'Is arms about 'er . . . Bli'me? But it's love!

Bill did battle with the Stror at coot and came out smelling of roses.


Here is another another sentimental bloke. I was always under the impression that the song was written in George's later years (and you can't let the facts get in the way of a good story) but it seems he wrote it as he gazed into the future.
A good heart tugger nethertheless.
When You And I Were Young Maggie
Words by George W. Johnson
Music by James Austin Butterfield (1866)

An historic American folksong written in 1866 by George W. Johnson writing about his wife, an ex-student of his, who died a few months after their marriage.

George was a young school teacher when he met Maggie Clark, who was then his pupil. Maggie and George fell in love and were later engaged. Maggie was not well, however, having contracted tuberculosis. During one of his fiancee's more serious periods of illness, George walked to a nearby hill, overlooking a mill, and composed the verse that provided the lyrics to his song.

On October 21, 1864, George and Maggie were married in Glanbrook, Ontario. It is also around this time that George's poetry book, Maple Leaves, was published. It included his poem "When You And I Were Young, Maggie."

Unfortunately, Maggie's health deteriorated and she died on May 12, 1865, as a result of typhus fever. She was buried in White Church Cemetery.

The following year, George worked with his friend J.C. Butterfield and set "When You and I Were Young, Maggie" to music. It was first sung by Maggie's sister Elizabeth, and eventually became a popular song all over the world.
I wandered today to the hills, Maggie,
To watch the scene below
The creek and the creaking old mill, Maggie,
As we used to long long ago
The green grove is gone from the hills, Maggie,
Where first the daisies sprung
The creaking old mill is still, Maggie,
Since you and I were young. Oh they say that I'm feeble with age, Maggie,
My steps are much slower than then
My face is a well written page, Maggie,
And time all alone was the pen
They say we have outlived our time, Maggie,
As dated as songs that we've sung
But to me you're as fair as you were, Maggie,
When you and I were young.



I went walking in the Cranbourne Botanic Garden yesterday avo. It was cool and windy, there had been rain the day before which had softened the leaves and everything.
Quite a delightful place on such a day, and the company was great, I am guilty of liking my own company for short periods of time!
As I made my way up to the high vantage point called Trig point,(up there between the tree in picture), I saw lots of things, Bandicoots, birds, wallabies, wombat tracks, trees!
The photo below would say different things to different people.
The Sentimental Bloke would be likely to be sad and say , "It was all so lovely before the fire.
A practical, cynical person might conclude that one of the trees escaped the fire only to be blown over, out of hand, by an ill wind.
An old man like me, looking forward to heaven, or the new earth, or heaven on earth, might look forward to the transformation and new life, depicted by the Australian bush.
If the earth is to be destroyed by fire, (2 Pet 3:12) we shall look forward to seeing and being part of the new heaven and new earth


As I had a break from writing this blog, I rose, looked out of my window, and Lo, there was a garden party right on my own front lawn. The picture is not good, as I had to take it furtively between the slats of the venetian blind.
There were about 20 shiny Starlings, two Blackbirds, two Indian Miners and a few Sparrows. The Starlings were feasting, the Blackbirds were watching, aloof, the Sparrows fluttering around wondering if they were missing anything, and the Indian Miners strutting pompously. A bit like people I thought!