What's the time, Mr. Wolf?

Viscount Bolingbroke at Lydiard Millicent once complained that it disturbed nesting pheasants,

Not caring that it was a call for workers in surrounding villages to earn their daily bread.

Here:

Time to snuggle under blankets. Dreamily listening to the day begin.

Time to spare

There:

Boilermakers, carpenters, smiths, fitters and turners get ready.

While wives brew tea, make toast and sandwiches.

Time to hurry.

Here:

Time for my weather forecast. Was the hooter loud? – rain.

Was the hooter ragged? – windy.

Can I hear shunting, Express train whistles doppler through the station?

There:

Streams of bikes become rivers. Pedestrians, Woodbine dangling,

All make their way. Hurrying to keep the wolf from the door.

Here:

Time to rise. Frost on the window.

"Have you washed behind your ears?"

Bicker with my sister by the kitchen stove.

Toast and dripping a Monday breakfast.

There:

Time to hurry. From North, South, East and West.

From Highworth and Wootton Basset, By workers' train.

Stratton, Old Town, Rodbourne, Gorse Hill, By bike and foot.

Here:

Torment my sister –

"Old Town for money, New Town for wit,
Gorse Hill for swearing, Rodbourne for s**t"

Here:

Mum tells of Hooty. Who could imitate the Hooter,

Ironically, fired for lateness.

Became a rag and bone man,

Exchanging paper windmills for jam jars.

Celebrated in postcards.

There:

Through the gate, down the tunnel, head for the shops.

A, B, C, D, E … Erectors, Boilermakers, Painters, Machine and Wheel, Tenders, Concentration Yard, Carpenters, Masons, Electrical.

F, G, H, J, K … Smiths, Chainmakers, Millwrights, Pattern makers, Foundries, Coppersmiths.

On through the alphabet to X Points and crossings, Z Transport.

To get your pay check on the hook.

Don't get on the wrong side of the foreman!

Here:

Relax in the warmth of the kitchen, an hour before school.

There:

Late by a minute – lose a quarter.

Late by 15 – lose a half.