A painting by Simon Footitt. Roy’s Rolls is a fictitious cafe used in the TV Soap “Coronation Street”
Wonky lamp highlights
Café and/or butty shop.
A welcoming brew,
Or is’t just a fantasy
On a cod, damp TV set?
©Alan McKean, 23 January 2026
(Painting by Simon Footitt)
(The Rover’s Return is a fictitious pub used in the TV Soap “Coronation Street”
A cooling pint, a warming smile
Best pint around within five mile
A wonky lamp, welcoming green door
An ‘ot ‘otpot (you’ll ask for more)
Kaleidoscopic clientele
A warts and all pub (or hotel)
So pull up a brew, and sit thisen
Enjoy the show, just like misen
Two flags
Adrift in the breeze
Wonky steel chimney
(cold – no smoke)
Splashes of colour
Up wonky steps
Herring gulls
Select their targets
Brightly coloured doors
Offer shelter
The beach huts
Watch the beach
The beach
just watches time,
And waits
©Alan McKean, January 2026
©Simon Footitt (painting)
(Painting “shops” by Simon Footitt)
A gentle amble
Paw by paw
A calming stroll
Past a shop door
Smell the flowers
Take a pill
Ham sandwich too
A stroll, a chill
Ignore the bike
(back tyre looks flat)
Look up above,
Who owns that flat?
Three layers of life
Three gentle souls
A cat sees on
Its daily patrol
©Alan McKean, January 2026
Corner Shop
(Simon Footitt painting “Steeples, Middleton”)
Key maker
Spanner finder
Brush seller
Screw provider
Purveyor extraordinaire
Of all your hardware needs
Blazer fitter
Gym kit seller
Black shoe polisher
School tie knotter
Purveyor extraordinaire
Of all your school needs
Same building
Different memories
Same shop on the corner
Different times
©Alan McKean, January 2026
