A 12-day Thames Christmas reverie…

…to be sung to the traditional tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as best you can, as my scansion and alliteration aren’t great…

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Port of London Authority vessel BARNES.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me: two fireboats ready and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Fire rescue boats FIRE DART and TANNERr at their Lambeth River base.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me: three Tower crew, two fireboats ready and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Tower RNLI crew on a shout with with HEARN MEDICINE CHEST.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on theThames.

Four cruise boats resting: MERCURIA, AVONTUUR IV, SAPELE and another, possibly MERCIA.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Joseph Bazalgette’s elegant lamps along the Chelsea Embankment.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Six sparkling balloons for sale on the South Bank.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me: seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Seven aggregate sandcastles side-towed by a GPS tug.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: eight rowers rowing, seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Eight rowers rowing guided by their cox.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: nine marina marvels, eight rowers rowing, seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Nine boats moored at St. Katharine Docks.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: ten kayakers kayaking, nine marina marvels, eight rowers rowing, seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Ten kayakers kayaking.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me: eleven Watermen’s cutters, ten kayakers kayaking, nine marina marvels, eight rowers rowing, seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Eleven cutters in the Royal Tudor Pull flotilla, June 11, 2022.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: twelve gleaming baubles, eleven Watermen’s cutters, ten kayakers kayaking, nine marina marvels, eight rowers rowing, seven sandy castles, six bright balloons – five Chelsea lanterns, – four sleepy cruisers, three Tower crew, two fireboats ready, and a Port of London vessel on the Thames.

Twelve Christmas baubles

And the dream ended as I awoke…

******************************

Thank you for joining me here. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a happier 2023 than last year.