This picture by Andrew Wyeth which Tess gave us for her Mag 178, put me in mind of a Trellis Saga, akin to the poem by John Keats. Cad and Ada are renowned for such exploits in their long and varied relationship...
La Belle Ada Sans Culottes.
(With apologies to John Keats)
"O what can ail thee, Caddoc T
alone and bare and pale and wan?"
"My biking kit's been nicked, look you!
And Ada's gone."
"O what can ail thee, goodly Cad?
You seemed chilled through, and woe-begone?"
"You deaf? No boots. No gloves. No wife.
I'm all undone!"
"I see the anguish on thy brow,
as if great sorrows overtook -
and on thy cheeks..."
"Hands off, you swine!
Don't push your luck!"
And here Caddoc launched forth into yet another tale of mishap by moonlight...
I thought to give Ada a spin,
(beloved wife — she's just 'the most' )
We'd hit the road for Colwyn Bay,
along the coast!
I bought a helmet for her head,
and leathers black and biker's boots.
She flipped her helmet's visor down,
said "Cad, let's scoot!"
I sat her on my racing steed,
and nothing else felt all day long,
but Ada pressed against my back,
with sweet Welsh song.
She bought me pink Llandudno rock
and Ninety-Nines and bags of chips.
And then in language strange she said—
‘Mmmm - tasty lips!’
She hauled me to a trysting spot,
and there she lay and sighed full sore,
and there I shut her dear Welsh eyes
with kisses four.
And so we lulled ourselves to sleep,
and there we dreamed, but later on
we woke up in our Birthday Suits
our leathers gone!
We saw the robbers making off,
masked brigands, ugly brutes, a brace.
But then things went from bad to worse!
Ada gave chase!
And so I stand here in the gloam,
and horrid thoughts go through my mind -
If I join Ada in the chase
what will I find?
Two robbers cowering in fear
cornered by Ada without her vest?
She'll be arrested too! I'll plead
"She did her best!"