The Twelve Days of Christmas

A flight of fancy along the Thames…

…to the traditional tune of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ with a few deviations from the original rhyme and rhythm.

Super yacht passing through Tower Bridge

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Two fiery boats, FIRE DART and FIRE FLASH, on permanent standby at Lambeth.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me: two fiery
boats and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Three boats filming along Lambeth Reach

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me: three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Four kayaks paddling upstream

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Nostalgic look back to happier days in 2012

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Westminster Bridge, one of the nine bridges by Leo Villareal for the Illuminated River Thames public art project

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Yachts in St. Katharine Docks ready to race

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me: seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Boats moored at Greenwich Yacht Club

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: eight masts a-clanking, seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Plane tree leaves on the Victoria Tower Gardens foreshore

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: nine leaves a-lying (What?!), eight masts a-clanking, seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

The Thames Barrier protecting London

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: ten Barrier gates, nine leaves a-lying, eight masts a-clanking, seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

The well protected tug SIR HENDRIK

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me: eleven rubbery rings, ten Barrier gates, nine leaves a-lying, eight masts a-clanking, seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Seen from Lambeth Bridge, boats at rest

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: twelve boats a-sleeping, eleven rubbery rings, ten Barrier gates, nine leaves a-lying, eight masts a-clanking, seven yachts a-waiting, six arches shining, FIVE OLYMPIC RINGS, four paddling kayaks, three film craft, two fiery boats, and a super yacht on the Thames, yippee!

Then I awoke…

Further information
Great admiration for the skills of those working on the Thames, and wishing all reading this a happy, healthy, and successful year in 2022.
Inspiration came from Larry the Cat @Number10cat, who has his particular gastronomic take on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” every year.
And thanks to @AlanBarrierEA for correcting my Barrier counting!