The Christmas Bonus

By Claire Baldry Dec 22, 2023

By now most people in receipt of a state pension will have received their £10 Christmas bonus.

Have you decided how to spend yours? If you like singing, this poem can be sung to the tune of the traditional song ‘What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor’

What shall I do with my ten pound bonus?
I am so excited that I might just go nuts,
Not enough to share, so family please don’t phone us
Shopping in the morning

Buy two meal deal sarnies or else ten pot noodles?
Coffee to take out with mini apple strudels?
All day breakfast wrap now that won’t cost me oodles?
Shopping in the morning

Two large rolls of tape and one small pack of paper?
Smelly for my car with matching window scraper?
Otherwise a candle with some scented vapour?
Shopping in the morning

Take a plastic bag as I won’t need a trolley,
I might buy some sprouts and a large winter cauli,
Maybe I should choose mince pies to keep me jolly?
Shopping in the morning

What shall I do with my ten pound bonus?
I am so excited that I might just go nuts,
Not enough to share, so family please don’t phone us
Shopping in the morning

About the author

Claire Baldry

1032 Up Votes

Claire is a retired Headteacher who lives on the East Sussex coast. Claire is an established speaker, performance poet and writer. She has a strong following on You Tube and has been listed in the top 100 Poetry Rivals National Competition. Claire has published five booklets of poetry which have sold hundreds of copies. 'Simply Bexhill' was published in early June 2014, and 'Simply Christmas' in November 2014. Her third publication is a series of narrative poems entitled 'The De La Warr Date'. She more recently published 'Seaside and Sailaway', which includes a section of poems about holidays on cruise ships, and Simply Modern Life. Claire has published two full-length novels, the first called 'Different Genes'. and more recently 'My Daughter's Wedding'. Both are romantic stories about love in later life, combined with a gripping mystery. The books can be purchased through bookshops, Amazon or borrowed from any local library. Links can be found at ww.w.clairebaldry.com .Claire and her husband were awarded the SE Diabetes UK Inspire Award in 2017 for innovative ways of fundraising.