As I was working on the last section of my Research Methodology chapter which at the time of writing stands at an absurd and definitely to be edited 63 pages before appendices, a childhood favourite came up on the Spotify playlist – Puff the Magic Dragon.

My parents loved Peter, Paul and Mary and as kids, their music was regularly playing on the family radiogram. There aren’t a lot of music artists that I have in common with my now late parents but Peter, Paul and Mary was one of them.

Of course, there is Tell It on the Mountain, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Where have all the Flowers Gone but my favourite has always been Puff the Magic Dragon.

As it came up on the playlist I paused and had happy thoughts about family times and immediately wondered whether my sixteen-month-old grandson would enjoy it as much as I do.

I have always looked past the numerous discussions about its apparent drug references, preferring to believe that it’s just a kids story. For those needing some convincing, I suggest you visit the Songfacts interview with Peter Yarrow.

The fantasy of a lonely little boy and his adventures with a gallant dragon, Puff, as his best friend captivated me as a child. I could imagine being that little boy with Puff in his mythical land of Honahlee. No wonder the dragons were my favourite characters in the epic Game of Thrones.

As a child, I couldn’t imagine a time when it wouldn’t be the best thing you could do to frolic in the autumn mist. However, as I came to realise time marches on for all of us and so time for an imaginary dragon is quickly forgotten. It is a timely reminder that the world moves on mainly for the better but not always.

Note: The video is a 1965 live recording of Puff the Magic