Time

Holocaust day

2012-01-28T12:38:00.002Z

(I meant to post this yesterday but an important appointment delayed me doing so. This is post I have published before, but I think I now have more readers who won't have read it)

I first met Emil Stein over 20 years ago. By then he was no longer working due, I believe, to health issues, and was starting to write down some memories of his early life, primarily for the benefit of his children.

Perhaps he did also hope to get them published, but I think his main drive was to record his memories so that people in the future would not forget the events leading up to the 2nd World war - and its horrendous consequences for the Jewish people in particular.

Emil died many years ago, but I do think of him and never more so than on Holocaust day...

He grew up in what many of us would consider quite privileged circumstances. I don’t recall what his father’s occupation was, but I do know that his uncle was a doctor and one of his cousins, Heinz, who was his idol - was at medical school.

Emil lived somewhere near Prague in Bohemia (part of Sudetenland - where ultimately one of my uncles was kept as a prisoner of war) where on March 15th 1939 Hitler’s troops marched in - bringing with them the Gestapo and the S.S.

The following day long queues formed outside the police headquarters which was where the exit permits had to be obtained. One of his aunts and a young cousin were among those who queued - and were fortunate to receive their permits.

Emil and his older brother were not so fortunate. For three days they had taken turns to queue, but were not successful as there were always thousands of people in line. They lived further away from the department and as they couldn’t leave home until after the curfew had ended they were never near the front.

In desperation they tried Czedok (the state run travel agency) which was where they had bought their tickets.

(This travel agency was how Nicholas Winton got so many children out of Czechoslovakia in his rescue efforts in 1939. They helped him take children out by offering him discounted rail fares. Without this help, his rescue mission would have been far more difficult)

However, for Emil and his brother, getting the passports stamped by a clerk at Czedoc didn’t come without a price - they had to pay 1000 crowns...’Life’ had to be paid for...

On March 22nd the 2 brothers waved one of their aunts and their cousin Ruth goodbye, but Emil had to wait at the same railway platform - between curfew - between the 28th and 30th of March hoping for his brother to return with the stamped documents.

On the 30th - ten minutes before train departure his brother came running through the entrance waving the passports in triumph - followed by their mother.

Somehow they managed time to kiss their mother, who pushed sandwiches into their hands and - with great difficulty - managed to board the overcrowded train.

Within minutes the train moved slowly out of the station and from the window they watched their mother waving a white handkerchief - tears running down her worn out face, with uncontrollable sobs shaking her thin frame.

For the rest of his life he would remember her that way...

His cousin Heinz also manged to escape to France where he joined the Czech army. He reached the rank of Colonel and was awarded the ‘Croix de Guerre’ First Class. After the war he continued his studies and qualified as a doctor.

As for the rest of Emil’s family... He never saw any of them again...

They all perished - many in the concentration camps. Prague was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. At least two-thirds of the Jewish population of Prague perished in the Holocaust (over 60,000).

It is estimated that nearly 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust - together with another 5-6 million non Jews (Gypsies, homosexuals, prisoners of war and those with physical and mental disabilities).

When I heard that Emil had died, although I was sad for his wife and children, I hoped - with all my heart - that finally he was re-united with all his loved ones...

Against my better judgement!

2012-01-16T20:36:00.002Z

Against my better judgement we now have a - reject' -Siamese kitten we have called Georgie. I am a life long cat lover - and a Siamese cat devotee - but at our age and with our problems it didn't seem sensible to have any more animals (I recall saying that about our chickens too!) Siamese kittens are adorable and so loving - but NOT for the faint hearted (Georgie is our 4th). They are both stress relieving and stress making - my nerves are in shreds! J and M are in heaven though and it is all worth it for the happiness a loving pet brings. I try not to worry about the future, just try to take each day as it comes now.

I think Georgie is made of elastic...

He does not like this harness, but he does tolerate it if you take his mind off it. When he is older we want him to get to know the garden - under our control! We have never kept any of our Siamese in before - but we are now having some qualms as he is the most inquisitive - and biggest climber - we have ever had.

He retrieves his toys and brings them back to us and sometimes - if he is in the mood - when he drops them at our feet and we hold out our hand and say " give it to me" he will pick the item up again and put it directly into our hand. Clever boy!

Just a lock of hair...

2012-01-16T20:19:00.003Z

Pressed carefully in my dad's family bible is this little lock of hair beside the name shown above. He was just one of my grandfather's siblings who died in childhood - a common enough occurrence in those days...

That small lock of hair would have been their only visible reminder of that little child...

Benefit Scrounging Scum: Lord Freud's Letter to Peers re #spartacusreport &...

2012-01-16T19:25:00.000Z

Benefit Scrounging Scum: Lord Freud's Letter to Peers re #spartacusreport &...: Today, Lord Freud has written to peers with a response to the Responsible Reform (Spartacus) report. This is the full letter, and our respon...

Decisions

2011-11-19T11:52:00.001Z

This was written on Monday when the photo was taken

Merlin is very poorly...

For several years he has had a lot of problems and almost daily little 'accidents' but he has had more the last couple of days. This morning I noticed his back feet and base of his tail are swollen and it is obviously hard for him to walk - he looked at me sadly and blinked his eyes saying " help me".(the photo shows his feet)

J rang the PDSA but he can't be seen until tomorrow afternoon. We have important hospital appointments in London today and tomorrow so we couldn't really have gone earlier anyway. I think that despite passing urine he has a fluid build-up and if it is also around his heart then there is no hope. Much as we love him dearly we pray that perhaps he will pass in his sleep, otherwise we will have to make a decision which will be in his best interests...

He sends his love to all of you who have been following his journey and to remind you that 'Love Is Eternal'

On Wednesday our dear, dear friend went to meet his Maker...

Remembrance day 2011 - Carshalton War Memorial - claiming 2 of my ancestors

2011-11-12T19:51:00.001Z

This photo shows my dad's paternal grandparents - George Barber and Mary Buckenham. When I first started doing my family research back in 2000 I just used to trawl the Internet tracking down Barber's and Buckenham's in Carshalton, not knowing where they would fit in; but almost knowing for certain the ones I found would be part of my family line.
Most of the information collected I put in boxes and forgot about them, particularly as in later years there became available so many other ways to track down people and cross reference their details.
When there was a lot of press publicity a couple of weeks ago about the plaque theft from the Carshalton War Memorial - for scrap value - sadly, not an isolated incident, I thought I had better try to verify the connection of the soldiers from WW1 - S H Barber and William Buckenham.
Sidney Herbert Barber was one of the children of the couple in the above photograph and my paternal grandfather's brother...( spelt Sydney on the town's memorial site)

I also have the WW1 service bible of another brother, Arthur.
William Buckenham was initially harder to sort out...

He was the nephew of Mary Buckenham in the first photograph. I had census details of him and his family and realised, both by my papers and the family bible again, that his father had died on November 6 1896 aged only 36. For a time William disappeared from the radar - until I discovered that his mother had married again 4 years later and in the 1901 census he is living with his mother Elizabeth and her husband Edmund Francis. In 1911 he has a half sister along with his own full blood siblings

Having spent years scouring documents I have come to the conclusion that baptismal names are often re-arranged in everyday life- and nearly all have family names repeated as middle or third names - then of course they have nicknames!

Many of my ancestors in the 19th century were farm workers and illiterate and even birthdays were nothing to celebrate - it was more important simply to stay alive - which was no mean feat in those days.

May God Bless and Honour all those on the Carshalton Memorial - as indeed, all around the country.

Foxy's Revenge!

2011-11-09T20:54:00.000Z

A couple of years ago our son bought a very expensive pair of shoes from a small shop in Canterbury. However, his disabilities made them too heavy for him to wear and his stroke last year made him realise he would never wear them - so he gave them to J for the garden.

The conservatory door was open for a short time this evening and when J decided to go down to the shed he was surprised to find the shoes missing from the doormat.

When he got down the garden his torchlight picked them up and he knew the fox had taken them (every time he chases him off or throws a clod of earth at him he pays us back with some deposit - or stealing something.)

J picked up the shoes - and thought they smelt remarkably foxy, but when he got by the door he realised that Foxy had peed inside both of them!!! - they are now wrapped up and in the dustbin!

Ever increasing immigration levels to the UK are not sustainable...

2011-11-05T21:07:00.001Z

If you are concerned about the ever increasing population of the UK then consider signing this ONLINE PETITION to call for David Cameron to clamp down on immigration - predicted population growth at the current rate (although it will probably be faster) is seen as the major factor behind the rising numbers.

MIGRATION WATCH WEBSITE

To talk about this issue is not racist, but realistic - the ever increasing numbers of people coming in, both legal and illegal - and the birthrate expectancy ( and actuality) within certain cultures, means that life is going to get very, very difficult in the future. If you are currently living in a 'nice' lower/average population area you may consider this will never be a problem for your children or grandchildren. However, the outward population spread from all major cities - especially London and the South East,will ultimately mean you will be affected. From housing: schooling, jobs and healthcare... Forget about green spaces - they will be built on!

Dr Dolan - medical trip to Dehli

2011-11-05T10:46:00.002Z

This article was in this week's local paper. Dr Dolan took over from my original Rheumotologist when he retired and she has cared for me well over a number of years now.

See http://www.justgiving.com/Louise-Dolan0

What is your position in the world's growing population?

2011-10-27T10:58:00.003+01:00

The BBC website has an interesting tool for you to see your place in the world's soaring population growth. Interested? then click HERE

Double Yolkers

2011-10-18T11:19:00.001+01:00

Our latest hens obviously won't be laying until the spring - and even then will probably want to sit on them - despite it being a futile exercise. When we have to buy eggs we always buy the above - and more often than not, they are double yolkers - and very tasty eggs too.

The eggs in the above photo are some we have saved (blown of course!) from our hens over the years - ranging from eye watering massive to teeny weeny.

Preparing for snow!

2011-10-17T11:54:00.000+01:00

Almost three weeks ago all 3 of us went down with a flu type virus with a dreadful cough - M and myself have been virtually no-where ever since but on Friday we went out in the car.

We had read in the local paper that our London Council BEXLEY had a limited number of bags of rock salt and snow shovels that they were going to sell at cost price. Strangely, they were not at our local recycling centre - the north of the borough, but the south side. (our area is certainly the 'poor' end of the borough where we have such delights as the sewage works, sewage burner - and now a rubbish burner. Perhaps they think it is not very important bothering about our roads!)

Anyway, we had no idea where the other centre was so we used the Sat Nav - which seemed to take us on a scenic route which went on forever... The place was well concealed and we went past it several times without even seeing it.

Eventually we bought our items - which probably now ensures we have no heavy snowfall! - but we had an 'outing'.

Gardening Competition Update

2011-10-13T09:58:00.002+01:00

The prize giving for the Gardening Competition was yesterday evening. Due to my awful cough I wasn't able to go but J went with one of our friends. We hadn't expected to win anything this year as the unusual weather had played havoc with our plants.

Surprisingly, J picked up silver for our back garden and as it was getting so hot he and P were about to leave when he was called up again. This time to get silver for our tiny front garden. This was a real shock - as we hadn't even entered it!!!!! (we had noticed the judge photographing it as he left though)

Our front garden was a complete embarrassment this year - it looked as if Barbie lived here - everything turned out pink. Much as I love pink we definitely didn't plant for plain pink - it was meant to pale pink to deepest pink with blue, lilac and white. Even the 2 climbing roses, although pink but 2 different shades, came out exactly the same.

I will post some photos of the back garden which were taken on the day (when I get a moment). J didn't buy copies of the photos of him being presented with the awards as he said he couldn't see the point. I will try and see if I can get them though.

Titan the robot

2011-10-08T17:26:00.000+01:00

I was reminded of Titan by a film clip of him on the TV...

I saw Titan a number of times at The Kent Show (we didn't go this year and I'm not sure if we saw him last year either - however we were there when this video clip was taken.)

Knowing full well it is just a robot has never helped my fear of it! - even the children seem less scared than me ( I generally cower at the rear of the crowd)

I have had to use someone else's clip as although I have my own I just can't upload to You Tube anymore - due to my ISP ORANGE - whom I hate more and more as I can never stay connected for very long at a time now. The problems started some months ago and although I contacted them several times they were not helpful. I really should change ISP - but I like my e-mail address and it would cause me even more hassle.

Enjoy Titan!

Alan Carr - Crayford

2011-09-21T22:34:00.000+01:00

I recorded the 'Who do you think you are' programme (featuring Alan Carr) last week, but never got round to watching it until this evening.

I'd heard of his links with Crayford - where both Jon and I come from. However, it was interesting to learn how his great grandfather had ended up in the town after deserting during the 1st world war; and how he had managed to 'lose' his identity by changing his name and working for Vickers the armaments factory.

When they showed the electoral role for 1919 I had to pause the TV - for there just a few names below his great grandfather (given there as Richard Mercer) was my husband's great grand parents - Ethel and Henry Wade - it is indeed a small world!

Alessi

2011-09-21T12:05:00.001+01:00

We love Alessi designs, but confess that we use them as decoration rather than for their designed purpose

Autumnal changes in the garden

2011-09-10T13:44:00.003+01:00

Remember to click the photos to enlarge

The changes in the garden are now more apparent and we have already harvested and completely dug up loads of our vegetables. The colder nights have meant the flowers and trees are beginning to yellow and lose their leaves. We have already started bringing in some of the very tender plants. Many others need potting up and putting in the greenhouse - and will have to take their chances with the winter weather.

We will have to heat the greenhouse on really cold nights (which we always used to do). Last winter we didn't and it was so cold we lost most of our plants.

Sad though it is, this year we are lifting early as once it starts to get too wet and windy it becomes an unpleasant task. The deadly cactus' are back in their box - they need the protective sides or rather, I DO! as in previous years I have suffered the pain of a falling cactus - getting the needles out of skin isn't pleasant!

Cucumber

2011-09-09T10:25:00.001+01:00

I have just picked this cucumber from the greenhouse. If I slice it the slices will look like a number 8 - perhaps that is my lucky number for today!

On a dreary, cold Bank Holiday Monday...

2011-08-29T16:58:00.002+01:00

Summer bank holidays used to be something very special indeed. The same scene was re-enacted all over the country- here in the suburbs around London during the 1920's and 30's, railway stations would be filled with thousands of people all waiting for the special trains which had been laid on for them. Their destination could be Southend or maybe Margate, or any other of the nearby seaside towns.

In the photo above it is the 1920's and my dad is on the left of the middle row. I believe he is with his cousins - probably the 3 at the back are the photographer's assistants - or perhaps artistes from an end of the pier show.

Below is what I wrote about bank Holidays several years ago:-

Bank Holiday weekend - and a coach trip down to Margate was always a great day out when I was young. I haven't been there for years - and I would probably be sorely disappointed if I re-visited... best to remember things how they were.

When few people had cars, coach trips to the coast were so looked forward to...

These photos show Dad and friends stopping off en route (as was usual!) on one of their - men only - 'beanos'. (when it was a mixed outing we still ate, drank and sang on the coach and stopped midway for extra refreshments! )

Photo below is one of M taken on the beach at Margate over 30 years ago.

Pekin Bantams

2011-08-25T10:43:00.001+01:00

Over a 30 year period we have kept and bred many varieties of chickens, both full size and bantam. All of whom have had their own personalities and sometimes quirky behavior ( Our Silkies drove us to distraction with their unbreakable broodiness and their tendency to breed numerous cockerels)

Pekins are new to us and although they are not going to be great layers, their friendliness and the fact that they are easy to handle is a big bonus. We should have bought in point of lay around June but we were held up by various factors so these were late hatching's (we don't intend to have our own cockerel again which is what we usually do) and although they are now coming up to point of lay, the weather is changing and daylight hours reducing so it might be the case that they don't even lay until the spring.

The gift of life

2011-08-24T10:34:00.000+01:00

37 years ago today our son was born - a gift for which we are truly grateful.

On Matthew's birthday 8 eight years ago a gentleman died suddenly and through the generosity of his family, myself and others were given the chance of extended life through the donation of his organs. I hadn't been on the waiting list very long so it was a big surprise.

I always feel sad for the donor's family on this day - but I give thanks for what they did... Matthew always says it was the best birthday present he could ever have had.

London - Riots,looting and arson

2011-08-09T12:02:00.007+01:00

If it was Wartime then we know what the penalty would be...

Riots, looting and arson - not in some far off poverty stricken dictatorship - but in the U.K's capital city.

Where do I live - London! Woolwich is just a couple of miles away. Although it was given limited coverage on the news HERE are some photos. Actually there were other, even closer incidents, but I can understand that only the worst are being given airtime. Probably that's just as well though as perhaps the publicity fuels the momentum of the events. I thought about whether I should even be posting this... but I expect by now the whole world has already seen the film footage's - these really are scary times.

Many of us locals believe Woolwich received less publicity because it is where the 2012 Olympic shooting events will take place, as well as being next door to Greenwich where the equestrian events will be centred. Mustn't worry the tourists!

Timeline - BBC

Gangs - just how targeted will they be by the police? London is a mecca for them - The Krays had to spend the rest of their lives in prison - and, yes, I do know their history ( but also people who knew them well) and nothing will convince me that they warranted their extreme sentences. How are their modern day counterparts dealt with? - very few will actually even receive custodial sentences - whilst the 'do gooders' defend them with their talk of their 'deprivation and disenfranchisement'!

Saturday Night Soldiers

2011-08-07T16:36:00.000+01:00

..............He thought again of him and Wilf as lads - and the other boys - though most of them he now realised, had gone to meet their maker. Some of them, like his brothers, he thought sadly, had never got beyond their youth. Their lives snuffed out like candles during the retreat from Dunkirk.

No-one had expected another war. He and Wilf hadn't known what they'd let themselves in for when, together, they'd joined the 'Territorials'.

'Saturday Night Soldiers' people had called them. Generally, people who were better off; those who nothing of what a difference joining up had made to the lives of boys such as them.

It wasn't the little bit of money they got - helpful though it was - it was the pride of belonging to something: the weekly drills, the rifle range on Sundays, the two weeks under canvas in the summer... and the suit...

Only those who had barely enough clothes to wear, let alone keep warm in - and who had long abandoned thoughts of ever hoping to look smart, could know just what it felt like to put on a uniform. The first suit that any of them had ever owned...................

Didn't we have a lovely time...the day we went to... Herne Bay

2011-08-06T20:29:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was a lovely day and would have been my dad's birthday - so we decided to have a trip down to Herne Bay and Reculver the places I wrote about a couple of Posts ago. We hadn't been for over a year - since just before M's stroke last year.

The sea was a lovely shade of blue and it was hot and sunny...

Of course the best way to finish off the day was to do it the traditional way (my dad would have added a Pint!)

Perfect end to a perfect day!

A rather pink display!...

2011-08-06T19:53:00.000+01:00

I took these photos of the front of our house yesterday. The climbing roses were magnificent about a month ago - but I'm not sure that I remembered to photograph them.

Tick Tock - who stopped our clocks?

2011-08-03T19:18:00.003+01:00

Late morning yesterday we looked at our our garden clock and found it had stopped. We knew it was about lunchtime so we went inside to eat and looked at the back room clock - and it had stopped!

We went to bed earlier than usual as I had an important hospital appointment this morning. In our bedroom there are 2 clocks - one is battery operated and the other radio controlled. J hadn't yet come up when suddenly a beeping started which turned out to be the radio controlled clock sounding an alarm at 12 midnight - now, in five years of owning it, we have never used the alarm function as neither of us have ever bothered to read the instructions about how to do so!

We set the battery clock's alarm for 7am but I kept waking up every hour or so. I looked at the radio controlled clock which said 7am - which was just as well as the other clock had stopped at ten to two in the morning - Spooky!

Kentish Cherries - and Me and Jimmy

2011-08-02T19:34:00.006+01:00

Because of our parent's friendship, Jimmy and I were friends too. When we were young we played together throughout the year but, after the death of my mother, and before my father re-married, we always shared a fortnight on holiday in my Grandfather's caravan at Reculver in Kent.

This was always the last week in July and the first week of August as it was the time when The Royal Arsenal, a Ministry of Defence establishment, closed down for a fortnight. Now Jimmy and I got into scrapes and had adventures all the time - but on holiday when we were primarily left to our own devices - we had plenty of opportunity to get up to even more mischief!

Where Jimmy led, I followed... He was 3 days older than me which gave him that slight edge of superiority Now, it was eating Kentish Cherries over this last week, which reminded me of the occasion we bought local cherries, went back to the caravan alone - and jimmy suggested we made 'wine' with them! The resulting dark purple stains over the upholstery were there to haunt us for many a year after that.

Another time, the fold up table we ate on (notoriously wobbly) - which fitted in between the 2 bunks Jimmy and I slept on, was accidentally knocked by Jimmy's leg - consequently smashing most of my Granddad's china in one fail swoop. There was a bus strike on at the time and we all walked the 3 or 4 miles distance to Herne Bay in a attempt to replace the broken crockery (which would have been an unexpected expense to pay out from our holiday money) After a long and tiring walk we arrived at the town - to find it was early closing day - and so we just had to walk back again empty handed.

From our National Savings Stamps (which we saved all year - 6d a week) we all used to allocate ourselves some money to play Bingo - and would receive tokens which could be saved up to swop for something special (one year I managed to get the board game 'The Army Game' - which was very popular on the T.V. at that time.) This particular year though, we all had to pool any 'wins' we had to replace the china.

Together we would climb dangerous sandy cliff faces and on several occasions stayed out too long at low tide and got caught on little 'islands' when the tide rushed in (I couldn't swim and those episodes still haunt me today!)

Half a century ago the high and low tides were much further out down the beach and more of the Goodwin Sands were revealed than are today. It wasn't until they retrieved the dummy bouncing bombs a few years ago (the testing place for the WW2 Dam Buster raids) that I realised that what Jimmy and I thought were old oil drums with their top rims sticking out of the mud - were in fact the dummy bouncing bombs! We would look forward to them being uncovered - far out - each low tide - and would merrily jump up and down on them.

The photo at the top of this post shows us at the caravan door in 1958 - looking like a pair of waifs - but what fun we had!

The Secret

2011-07-28T10:05:00.002+01:00

Do you know The Secret?

The Dancing Couple

2011-07-26T13:52:00.002+01:00

Today is our 42nd Wedding Anniversary... A couple of days before last years Anniversary I wrote about a chance meeting with Len Goodman and how my husband didn't dance - see HERE Sadly, on the actual day of our anniversary, instead of going somewhere special, we ended up in hospital when our son's carotid artery tore and he suffered a stroke. Dancing and all other things were quite trivial and meaningless in comparison...

So...It has been a difficult and upsetting year as you can all imagine. Today I opened my present from J and found that he had bought me The Dancing Couple brooch from Butler & Wilson - which I have long wanted!

If you would like to see a short film clip of our wedding day link HERE

Gin - Mother's Ruin!

2011-07-21T10:37:00.005+01:00

For years I collected Breweriana - I spent a lot of my early years in Social clubs (Working Men's Clubs) - which changed dramatically over the years - and I suppose such items evoked nostalgia. My husband didn't share my interest; so a few years ago I sold most of my collection. I kept a couple of ashtrays (I've never smoked!) and just couldn't bear to part with my Beefeater Gin ice bucket.

It isn't that I like Gin - horrid, ughh! - otherwise known as 'Mother's Ruin' for various reasons - but I just loved the design of the item. It normally sits on top of a kitchen cupboard but when I got it down to clean it, I just couldn't resist taking a photo.

Darn that Fox!

2011-07-12T15:43:00.000+01:00

This Iceberg Rose has lived happily - and bloomed profusely - for many years now. When my husband worked in the local woods he rescued it when it was dug out a flowerbed bed (from the park below the woodland) when it failed to blossom

We cherished and nurtured it - and it repaid us handsomely - until one of the local foxes decided to mark up at its roots each night! Finally beyond saving, it has now been dug out...

Birthdays/Deathdays

2011-07-12T15:24:00.003+01:00

Birthdays and Deathdays - can't avoid them - best to just relive happy memories... Today is my husband's birthday and the anniversary of my dad's death.

Above is a photo of my dad with my stepmother - probably celebrating a birthday! Cheers!

Angel Wings - Needlefelting

2011-07-11T17:19:00.003+01:00

Quite hard to photograph all the Swarvoski crystals which I sewed on. I made the background from Merino fleece - a higher proportion of white with pastel colours added in. The lace and silks are hand dyed.

Acrylic painting - Reculver Kent

2011-07-05T23:32:00.000+01:00

A Midsummer Day Hare - and today it's 32c!

2011-06-27T19:33:00.001+01:00

Today it was Hot, hot, hot! 32c and almost unbearable as it was very humid ( a storm is brewing now). It took a lot of hard work - and water - to stop the plants from wilting.

Last week we went out on Midsummer's day and saw 3 Hares (a good sign) I managed to capture one on film but it was long way off so not very clear as I still haven't got the new camera I want.

The harvest was coming along nicely - today's good weather would have improved it more

Feeling rather sad today as Merlin (our elderly Siamese) is really not very well... He has been a dear and loving friend to us - a source of comfort when life has been particularly hard. I know his time with us is ending - I just hope and pray that he might drift away whilst asleep and at home with us.

Gardening Competition

2011-06-07T10:56:00.000+01:00

We swore we would never enter another gardening competition - it's such hard work! We got a 3rd place for our front garden some years ago and it was shown in the council magazine, however our frontage is VERY small and we knew we would never get a higher place than that.

We also entered our back garden in the competition run by the company my husband worked for - and won that - but as far as we were concerned that was it!

This has a been a very difficult year though and this year I - unwisely - put our back garden into the Bexley in Bloom competition - really as a means for something to work towards.

Unfortunately the judging is in July - after the first flush of the early summer flowers - and before the next flowering occurs. therefore I have taken some photos of the flowers which obviously will not be seen by the judges.

Victorian death photos (no photos shown here)

2011-04-26T00:38:00.003+01:00

These days - in this culture at least - I believe we have become so uncomfortable with death that people often find it a hard topic hard talk about or deal with. In earlier times life expectancy was far shorter, families were larger, disease treatment minimal and child mortality in particular was something expected - but obviously still heartbreaking.

Many years ago I first recall hearing about Victorian death photographs which at the time seemed to me most macabre. Not long ago, someone we know, casually mentioned they had bought an album of old photographs and suddenly realised they were in fact death photos - consequently he put the set in an auction and achieved a amazingly high price for them.

Weird though this all sounds I suppose as I have got older I can understand why grieving people felt/feel the need to to have one final photograph of someone they dearly loved. This isn't something I would want to do myself personally - but, particularly during Victorian times, acknowledging someones death ( whether by photos, mourning clothes or jewellery) and the long period of grieving which followed, was all part of a well established ritual. Admittedly, the public show was generally the preserve of the 'well off', but even the poor carried their memories through the years.

I recall my dad saying that he had an infant brother who died and as there was no money for a proper grave in the churchyard, the Vicar allowed his baby brother ( and other infants) to be buried unmarked alongside the churchyard walls. When I visit there I often wonder just what part of the encircling wall he was buried against....

When my own mother died I wasn't even told for months that it had happened - I just presumed that she was still in hospital as she had been in and out ever since I was born. I didn't even know when she had been buried, although many years later it transpired that when one of her sisters came down from Scotland for what I thought was a visit, that was actually for the funeral...

However it was about a year or so later that something happened when a friend of mine died - that has always haunted me - and I hope that no-one reading this will recognise the person I am writing about.

A***** was a couple of years older that me and had always been a sickly child. I didn't know that she had a heart condition - but she died suddenly of a heart attack.

That was sad enough, but I overheard a conversation between 2 neighbours who were family friends - and was left in no doubt how angry and critical they both were about what had been witnessed.
.
I don't suppose anyone from the authorities would have rushed to remove A***** and very quickly all our part of the road knew what had happened. To my horror I heard Aunt M say that she had called at the house and found that A***** was lying on the kitchen floor covered with newspapers and that the family and visitors were all having to literally step over her to move about.

Aunt M was a 'Matter of fact' person who originally hailed from the north of England and she just couldn't bear to see the child left like that. Single handed she washed and laid out the body of my friend and got the parents to bring down her best nightdress. Then she removed A***** to lie on the sofa where she remained until someone eventually came and removed her from the house.

Her parents and siblings had always seemed to be a bit slow and strange to me (although perhaps I was wrong in thinking that) but thereafter, every Sunday they would go to the churchyard to take flowers and attend the grave, so there is no doubt in my mind that she was a very loved child who was always in her parents thoughts.

When I go to the churchyard to visit my parents grave I always pop round to say hello to A***** - but in my mind I always imagine her left lying on the kitchen floor covered in old newspapers...

Blossom in our garden

2011-04-12T19:10:00.000+01:00

Photos taken in our garden yesterday.

Blogger - Dynamic Views for Readers

2011-04-01T11:23:00.007+01:00

I have enabled my Blog so that alternative views are available - which means it is far easier to see my much older posts without going back numerous pages. See the snapshot view HERE ( see how the web address is written) Click onto one of the pictures which come into view - and then the whole post can be viewed

There are 5 Dynamic Views - and if you go into one of them you can access the others by using the drop down box on the upper right hand side of the page. Try it and see!

What a month - what a day!

2011-03-25T16:14:00.011Z

First of all - through computer problems I have lost all my e-mails and contacts today - so if you know me I can't get back to you unless you contact me first with your address.

The month of March has been truly awful for us - I have been taken to hospital 3 times by ambulance and Matthew has also needed an ambulance to be called. My problems escalated from one thing to another - and at my worst I really thought I could die - scarily confirmed by my consultant this week!

Although am not at all well, I am a lot better than I was, but tests this week revealed that my main anti rejection drug is at too high a level (a truly toxic drug - SIROLIMUS - which may be adding to my problems.

Really, the computer problems are so unimportant - but it just added to my distress.I live in such a scary place - always walking the tightrope between life and death - I think that people who know me seem to forget that reality. Unfortunately, I can't!

UPDATE still trying to get the prescribed dose of medication!!!!! where are these drugs?

12th April - finally received my drugs today - production problems - scary! Still unwell though and continuing to lose weight. My gastric reflux (caused by the massive size of my own PKD kidneys and liver) is getting worse and I now dread going to bed each night in view of the cardiac arrhythmia which mainly comes on at that time - and now often lasts for over 30 hours at a time.

Gypsy Cob Sculpture, Belvedere, Kent

2011-02-19T12:02:00.006Z

This sculpture, a few roads away, was erected last Sunday morning. We have passed it a number of times since then, but I have always felt too cold to get out and take a decent photo! In the sunlight it is very sparkly - a bit too much really - but presumably with time it will dull down a bit.

You can see more on the YouTube video

The artist (Andy Scott) says he was inspired " by seeing so many cobs grazing amongst the industrial buildings" That's really quite amusing as although it is is a 'nod' to acknowledge the gypsy presence and the long history of breeding the horses on the marshland (where they were forced off!) - they are now building on the land where some of the horses are used to grazing.

In fact the statue - although appropriate - is really partly publicity for building regeneration schemes in the area.

When the gypsies got moved from the marshland - flooding, harsh weather and building development being the main causes, a friend's father (A Fairground Showman) bought land near us as a yard for them to stay on during the winter months. This was ultimately taken over by the Greater London Council (as it was then) and run by Greenwich Council when the councils became obliged to set up sites.

Over the years many gypsies have moved into houses around us in Abbey Wood and Belvedere, but some still keep their horses and race their traps - which I like to see.

Cloud

2011-02-12T16:02:00.004Z

I looked out of the window on the landing just now and saw this interesting cloud formation. It is travelling downstream along the line of the River Thames. The river throws up lots of different clouds probably due to the moisture current it travels over.

Guy the Gorilla

2011-02-10T15:35:00.004Z

I first saw Guy the Gorilla with my parents at London Zoo in about 1953. I recall nothing of the journey or any other animals I just remember people being in front of us and my dad lifting me up so that I could see Guy clearly - and his eyes looked into mine...

The next time I went back to the Zoo was in 1978 when we took our son about 6 months after he came out of hospital following his first brain tumour surgery. Matthew wasn't really interested in the animals and gave more attention to the chains and padlocks surrounding each enclosure.

I hated the zoo and was particularly disturbed by the polar bears who were pacing and behaving in a bizarre manner in their tiny enclosure.

I wanted Matthew to see Guy - but also dreaded it... When we arrived at his (small) cage I felt overwhelmingly sad... Those same expressive eyes and an awareness of his resignation of being in captivity. It was a very hot day and people were throwing him ice lollies to eat.

Sitting in the corner of his cage he carefully and delicately took the wrappers off with his immense hands and with obvious relish enjoyed every one of them.

The hopelessness of his situation was awful - a crowd puller he may have been - but at what price?

Probably it was people's kindness that hastened his end though, as a few weeks later, he died of a heart attack during an operation to tackle his infected teeth.

Probably animals in captivity are cared for far better these days, but I have never been to a zoo again.

Education Tuition Fees

2011-02-09T20:26:00.004Z

The issue of tuition fees and possible scholarships has been in the news again today and has reminded me that the cost of education is nothing new - it is something which has been a problem that people have faced in past times.

In 1880 school attendance did became mandatory (although this was hard to 'police') - but these were 'penny' schools or 'ragged' schools - and often there were simply no pennies at to be spared...At that time period, children could leave school at the age of ten. In 1889 this was raised to 12 (for my dad, who went to a Church of England School, school leaving age was 14

Only in 1891, during Queen Victoria's reign, did schooling become free - which opened the doors for the children of the poor to have some chance of an education. In early Victorian times most poor people were still illiterate and I know from checking census records that this was the case with many of my own ancestors. Even when the opportunity for free education did become available, there were still many children who didn't attend on a regular basis because - particularly in the case of girls - they were often needed to help at home - or in the case of lads in rural areas, required to work on the land to bring in some income.

Sometimes it was simply lack of clothing or boots which made it difficult to attend. My dad - born in 1913 - was fortunate to have a headmaster who worked hard to help the lot of the poor and even had a store of boots. (I have written of Mr Darker before - HERE )

I was born a few years after the second World War and by comparison, my opportunities would have seemed endless... but were they?

In 1960 I passed my 11+ and was given a place at a Grammar School - were it that easy!

My dad really didn't think that I could go - because the uniform (which could be purchased at only one shop) cost an amazingly high amount of money. Money which we, as a working class family, simply didn't have. Children's mothers were beginning to supplement family income by going into employment - but my mother was dead, so there was only one income.

In the end I did go - but sacrifices were made - and debt entered into...

My dad borrowed the first £20 - for the winter uniform - by securing what was called a Provident Cheque - which needed to have set amount of money repaid each week. By the time the Spring term came round - and the summer uniform required - he still hadn't paid off the first debt and borrowed a further £20 from a Loan Club run from a public house in the town where we lived.

Obviously interest was charged and I don't even know just how long it took for all the money to be paid back. What I do know is that, although I benefited wonderfully from my education, there was never any possible chance of going on to university (if I had been clever enough!) or even staying on until the 6th form! I was needed to go out to work so that I could at least hand over money for my 'keep'.

As I never had any great ambitions I don't think this was any hardship, but once you have gone into employment it is very hard to motivate yourself to go into further education later in life (and my family situation and health problems did make this impossible)

So how do I feel about this furore over the cost of fees? well, it does impose limitations on who can access what is available - but even for those achieving the best degrees, there are no guarantees of a job being available at the end.

For many years, prior to the recent financial problems, young people would train at our universities - and then leave the country to work abroad - paying nothing back into this society at all. Perhaps this will help weed out the aimless who attend courses where there is only a small chance of obtaining work at the end - and hopefully, the dedicated, truly serious students will be helped to apply for scholarships.

Whatever happens, this money/class/choices issue is nothing new! but higher education isn't an automatic right (although some might believe that it is)and people will have to understand that they need to work very hard to achieve anything in life, whether this be in education or some other sphere.

Perhaps some of the problems today are caused by people thinking that 'the state' should provide everything for them. (and I will personally try to bear that in mind when I am faced with the looming D.L.A. issue !!!)

Today's little outing...

2011-01-31T23:37:00.003Z

I am hoping to get a Bridge Camera soon with a telescopic lens - hope I can work it! If I can I might be able to take some better photos.

We didn't go far, but it was a nice little outing. Although the sun was shining it was still very cold though. M loves it in this greenhouse and he took loads of photos both inside and out (and he has updated his blog!).

It is hard for him to get around but he is making the best of things. He is very even tempered and has coped with everything amazingly well. He does wish that his hand would improve though.

Autumn - almost forgotten

2011-01-31T12:02:00.004Z

Last year was so awful that although I still took photos, so many never got posted as I'd intended.. We are now approaching Spring! However, I thought I'd have a little look back to the garden in October. At that time it seemed like the flowers would last forever - and then the snow and frost came!

You can see from the photos that the colours are fading in the garden - as the mellowness of autumn approached...

Remember to click the photos to enlarge them

Burns Night 2011

2011-01-24T15:13:00.006Z

Tomorrow - on the 25th - Burns Night is celebrated. Now, as my mother was Scottish, I should have had some involvement in this tradition - but alas, I have never attended a Burns Supper, never tasted a Haggis - and don't like Whiskey!

I do read Robert (Rabbie) Burns though and know my Scottish history.

and I thought you might be interested to learning more about the ceremony of the Burns Night event HERE

and reading the...

Address To A Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hudies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut ye up WI ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!

Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit!' hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down WI sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! See him owre his trash,
As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whistle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,
That jaups in luggies;
But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

Although I was young when my mother died, I recall no Haggis - just a never ending supply of Scotch Broth - with so much pearl barley! She obviously had a sweet tooth though, as she was forever making toffee and fudges and all sorts of other sweets. How did I keep my teeth!

I'm just a mix of Scottish and English genes and contrary with my views! Let no-one English criticise the Scots - and let no Scot do likewise to the English!

If you are disabled - feel the fear...

2011-01-13T12:24:00.004Z

More on what is coming regarding the changes to DLA - link HERE to read The Guardian online. One of the comments on the article mentions that some disabled people are stockpiling drugs as they would rather put an end to life rather than go through all the procedures again - I understand that.

Once I was young and relatively healthy - now I'm not... Our son has never been healthy...No-one knows what will happen to them as the years pass by. Many who are currently well and able bodied may think that this issue doesn't affect them - but one day it might.

Changes to DLA

2011-01-08T12:03:00.009Z

Perhaps you need to have to have a disability yourself - or care for someone who has - to fully understand just what restrictions are imposed on the way you live your life. The DLA allowance (which has always been fraught with problems claiming) at least helps with some of the day to day issues; for make no mistake - if you are disabled you need extra money for all sorts of reasons involving your care and easier mobility.

I don't know anyone who wouldn't far rather be fit and healthy and mobile - and not have to undergo the indignity of claiming such benefits.

When I first got mine (I won't even go into the reams of form filling and medical letters required; including a separate claim form which made you list places and say how often you would go - which you would be then able to go to if you were awarded the mobility requirement.) Initially I was turned down and when I appealed, a doctor (with very little English) came to see me.

He made me lift one leg and asked how far I could walk without pain or discomfort - and wrote down something I couldn't see. Eventually I heard I had been turned down, so I asked for the paperwork - which revealed he had written I could easily walk five hundred yards!!!

Eventually my award was granted, but I had to make it extra clear that I had multiple health problems both caused through PKD (which is a systemic disease) and other diseases too. The fact that my kidneys failed a little while later and I went on dialysis was just another issue (although you can/could get a middle rate care allowance for that alone)

When I had my transplant I wrote and told them - very difficult in itself as I had terrible tremors from the drugs. Then, when my husband went up to the Post Office several weeks later, he was told my benefit couldn't be claimed - as it had been stopped!

I rang the department and spoke to a very cocky young man and his exact words were " You've had a transplant, you're cured!". (In fact my transplant, although it saved my life, gave me new, debilitating conditions)

Eventually I did get it reinstated - but the stress was dreadful. I had already been suffering from depression, which has never lifted, so this made things far worse.

In our son' s case, although he had been disabled since he was three, we didn't claim until he was an adult and that was an equally terrible experience. He was turned down because the doctor stated that he was young enough to improve. In the end his Neurosurgeon had to write and say that apart from his existing disabilities from his surgery and radiotherapy, because his brain stem tumour couldn't be completely removed, he would never get better and could only get worse. (since then he has had had 2 further surgeries for different brain tumours, a stroke and is in renal failure).

Do I have hope or faith that the planned new System PIP will be fairer and easier? do I heck! Frankly, death seems an easier option than going through all this again. The aim is simply to take as many people off the benefit as possible.

Shame on you all those members of Parliament who support this new plan and infer that many people on this benefit are claiming without just cause (none of us have forgotten the expenses issue fraud that many of you were involved in) We - the disabled - didn't choose to be this way - and every new bit of legislation makes life even harder.

SEE HERE

London does it best! (well, I live there so of course I'm biased)

2011-01-01T15:49:00.000Z

Christmas Bessings To You All...

2010-12-25T13:55:00.001Z

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

Charles Dickens

The Sock Mob

2010-12-22T22:40:00.004Z

I am so heartened by the care and kindness shown by this group of young people from The Sock Mob - freely giving their time to the needs of the homeless in London. There are other groups who do good work (and I am full of admiration for The Salvation Army in particular) however, these young people are inspirational.

We were in central London on Monday and Tuesday this week for hospital appointments... On Monday at Whitechapel, which has long been an area of deprivation - although most people will be more familiar with its connections to Jack the Ripper & the Elephant Man.

On Tues we were a mile or so further down the Whitechapel Road - driving into The City. A place of amazing buildings - money! - and like many other areas of London - a place for Rough Sleepers.

Poverty and homelessness are still major issues and I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough at any time - let alone during this terrible current weather.

There, but for the grace of God...

Frozen!

2010-12-12T17:11:00.006Z

Our back garden

Today's Trivia

2010-12-06T16:04:00.002Z

First of all today we finished off the decorations in one of our downstairs rooms. Last year we changed our Christmas tree for a fibre optic one - - but last year I think we must have put lights on it as well, as when we tried it this morning the decorations didn't sparkle very much. To compensate, we added a wreath with candle lights on one side of the fireplace.

It is still freezing cold so we thought we should go out early. We went to the recycling centre first. The salt and grit mountain has certainly reduced ( behind where seagulls are flying) but I don't know where the council have been spreading it! Certainly not near us - presumably the 'posher' parts of the Borough got it on their roads!

After that we went to buy some bird food - large tub of fat balls, huge bag of seeds and a sort of suet mixture with insects in!

Then a trip to Sainsbury's (which I now dread due to its immense size) M was finding it even harder to walk in the cold - and wearing his ice grips - so he decided to stay in the car.

Once inside J suddenly shouted "LOOK" ( he is getting a bit deaf and doesn't always realise he's shouting!) We werewalking towards the bottom of the travelator and as I looked up I saw to my horror an immense Shrek coming down and aiming towards me. In fear I leaped sideways - with an almost miracle-like agility!

When I was a safe distance away I did a short clip of Shrek to show M - and hoped I wouldn't meet up with it again!

A few aisles further on, a little girl said "Mummy, I want to see Shrek again" Mummy replied " but he frightened you!" - I know the feeling!!!

Pictures in the... Lava Lamp!

2010-12-04T14:14:00.002Z

I'm used to seeing 'pictures' in the fire flames - but now I can see them in the Lava Lamp!

OH s-NO-w!

2010-12-02T22:52:00.008Z

I think I was a bit casual about the snow the other day! Our road now has snow and ice higher than the path and cars have been skidding and getting stuck with their wheels turning. I wanted to take one of the road to show - but I kept picking up the number plates so the one above simply shows the front hedge.

The trains have stopped running on our line (normally just 25 minutes to Charing Cross) and - joy! - the planes aren't flying at the London City Airport.

Just to add to the problem I think we are due to get mist and fog over the next couple of days!

The photo above shows just outside the back door looking down part of the garden - the path has been cleared several times but keeps getting covered again.

Usually a heavy snowfall takes us to our woods where I end up taking hundreds of photos - but it is far too cold to venture out and Matthew wouldn't be able to walk in the snow anyway. He is very sad about not getting out to take photos himself.

Even going down the garden would be difficult. He has ice grips for his shoes but his walking stick would be dangerous on the snow and ice and (more importantly) strokes and heart attacks are linked to very cold weather)

On a lighter note there is a great slideshow HERE which sums up the state of the country - and PLEASE, PLEASE remember to feed the birds, they are really having a hard time too.

Update 3rd December J has just disturbed a Partridge in our back alley. Last year a fox buried a Pheasant in our front garden. Fantastic to know that we still have gamebirds around here despite the never ending building developments.

...just a little bit... not too much of it...

2010-12-01T00:14:00.001Z

Even London and the South East has received snow today - along with Arctic winds - although nothing on the scale of Wales, Scotland and Northern England. Instead of showing our piffling amount on the ground I thought I would show one of our Lilac trees, which still has most of its leaves on - most odd to see it snow covered.

We currently have about 5" depth - certainly not much when compared to other places. However, even around here there has been gridlock and abandoned cars.

On the lunchtime news it showed that my old school in Dartford had been shut - for what seemed like a rather small amount of snow! I - and my best friend - well recall the terrible winter of 1963 when we walked there through amazing depths of snow. I only walked from the next town, whereas my friend walked from a rural village miles away. That snow lasted 3 months!!!!

Tower Bridge London

2010-11-28T18:51:00.001Z

No snow, but freezing cold and would rather have stayed at home today. However, our son's Neurosurgeon has changed from the 'Royal London' to 'Bart's' (same hospital group) and as we have to go in a few weeks time we thought we should do a test run - not using the river tunnel (big mistake!).

The traffic was awful - it will be even worse on a working day - and although our son's friend who is doing The Knowledge - was with us, there were so many road works and other problems that it took over an hour and a half to get there - and even then we couldn't find anywhere to park. We will now have to make other arrangements.

As we were going over Tower Bridge I suddenly thought to get my little recorder out (Vado HD) but the film turned out a bit wobbly and we were all talking - unfortunately it was my voice which was picked up!

Those Darn Reindeers!

2010-11-23T23:01:00.002Z

We went off to a local garden centre this afternoon - and could I get those darn Reindeer to face front! most of my photos showed their bottoms; so I think they have become rather camera shy. (and shushh, but the two that had antlers, had rather sad looking ones...)

The one below is a model one that was in one of the displays - handsome beast!

I'm sure the Reindeer's liked the weather more than me today as it was very, very cold outside. We bought a few more decorations (which we didn't need but they were so tempting) and then we were glad to go home.

Always

2010-11-22T14:54:00.002Z

My dad sang his way through life... and that's what I've done too - must be in the blood!

Dad also whistled tunefully - something which I could never emulate and in fact, even when I did try, I would be admonished by him saying "ladies don't whistle!"

The songs sung ranged from old music hall numbers (which I started with too) and then progressed through all the favourites of the melodic eras of song. I went one stage further when the 1960's and The Beatles and their like rolled in, but dad only embraced the non - pop singers like Frank Ifield.

Dad sang at home and in public and whenever there was a function he would be there at the microphone! I have a number of photos of him singing but I can only find the one below which is already scanned into my computer (probably because it is badly fading)

Some of his favourites were 'Always', 'You made me love you' and 'Now is the hour' and whenever I hear them I can also hear his voice singing them...

I'll be loving you Always

With a love that's true Always.

When the things you've planned

Need a helping hand,

I will understand Always.

Always.

Days may not be fair Always,

That's when I'll be there Always.

Not for just an hour,

Not for just a day,

Not for just a year,

But Always.

I'll be loving you, oh Always

With a love that's true Always.

When the things you've planned

Need a helping hand,

I will understand Always.

Always.

I love all sorts of music but I now find myself at the stage where I can freely admit that the old ones are the best!

Armistice Day WW1

2010-11-10T11:55:00.011Z

As we draw close to Armistice day I generally concentrate more on the 2nd world war (although I always recall all those killed, injured or affected by any war) However, today I am particularly remembering everyone caught up in the events of WW1.

So many men were killed in that war... amongst them were my own ancestors... Some of mine also survived though and I have some papers and the military issued bible given to one of my dad's uncles.

All wars are terrible - and that one truly so... Even for those at home there were still bombs and rationing (most people just associate that with WW2)

The photo above shows 2 pages from an Autograph Album that I own. It records from 1913 to 1919 and was owned by someone who either lived in or visited nearby Danson House (now owned by the council and open to the public) and a private house at Polgate.Some of the entries are very sad - considering what probably happened to those who wrote them...

They shall grow not old,

As we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Discover the playlist WW1 with Isla St Clair

Guy Fawkes Night

2010-11-06T23:53:00.010Z

When I was young in the 1950's, November the 5th was called Guy Fawkes night and in the days leading up to the event we would learn about the history of the Gunpowder plot in 1605 - and chant:

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

It went on as below - but we never bothered with that bit

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence [or mercy] he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!

More recently the occasion is more generally referred to simply as Bonfire Night. Personally I always felt rather sorry for Guy Fawkes. His means of execution was particularly horrible and it seemed quite terrible for his effigy to still be burned annually centuries later. (These days some one could do something far worse and would probably end up with Community Service!)

Most children would make a Guy to burn on their bonfire. Although as a child I never did this myself I would watch with admiration as my friend Jimmy would make his... A brown paper bag filled with screwed up pieces of newspaper would make the head.;then a face would be painted on and it would be joined to stuffed old clothing and finally adorned with a hat.

(We did help our son make them when he was young though and I have found a photo of him taken in 1984 with my dad.)

Back in the days of my own childhood though, it was quite a serious business to try and get some money to buy fireworks with. There certainly wasn't much money about and although our families would spend a few shillings, it was up to us to try and get a few 'coppers' more...

The best spot was near the station so that we could get the railway commuters on their way home from work - or those walking up from the bus stops in the town. Jimmy and I probably did look like a pair of waifs and sitting by the Guy our requests for pennies would often be successful.

We would only do it for a couple of days and then counting our pennies we would go to the toy shop in Station Road. (there was no age restriction in those days) Going to this particular toy shop though was a daring mission in itself. Most of the time we gazed through the windows to stare at items we coveted but knew we would never own. The purchases we did make were small and cheap...and we had to face The Woman!

She ran the shop with husband - a man who was so unobtrusive that I can't even recall what he looked like... but his wife... scary! Children rarely notice a great deal about adults, but this lady stood out from most other women we were used to. The early post war years were grey and monotonous - remember, until 1954 we still even had rationing.

People worked long and tiring hours and in the most part their clothes were basic and unassuming. The Woman wore garish clothes, vivid makeup and had badly peroxided hair. I'm sure she was probably a beauty when young - and perhaps had still shined at Town Hall dances during wartime - but that time had passed...

Not only that - despite owning a toyshop, she didn't appear to like children!

We still bought our fireworks there though and whilst Jimmy preferred ' Bangers' and 'Rockets', I liked 'Rainbow Fountains' and 'Sparklers'

My dad worked long hours and cycled miles back and forth to work to save on bus fares. He would leave at 7 in the morning and come home about 7 at night. Most nights I would sit on a wall by Station Road and wait for him. The hill was steep and he always had to walk up pushing his bike. On Guy Fawkes night I used to be especially impatient for him to turn up...

We had our dinner first though when we arrived home - whilst I had a job containing my excitement!

Then we would go up the garden where we had already made up a bonfire. Dad would always buy me a 5 shillings box of mixed fireworks and a packet of 'Sparklers' and I would look through the box whilst dad lit the fire (doesn't sound very safe does it!)

Dad would put a potato into the fire for both of us - and then the serious business of the fireworks would begin...

The 'Catherine Wheel' was always a problem though - it would stop spinning or fizzle out - and dad would mutter a few things under his breath!

The air would be smoky and acrid - but we were used to factory chimneys, coal fires and smogs - so this was no hardship!

As the fire would start burning low dad would take the potatoes out of the fire - sooty and black - and they were the best potatoes I've ever eaten!

I can because I must....

2010-11-04T13:02:00.005Z

I can because I must... And will God's help I will...

Years ago I remember our Methodist minister quoting these words - that his mother had always used when Life brought hardship and suffering. Perhaps it was an attitude which I had always, almost unthinkingly, tried to adopt prior to the sermon, but I think that his words encouraged me to re-affirm my intent to try to apply it throughout the rest of my life.

It certainly isn't always easy and I confess that sometimes I initially fail - but when I have time to gather my thoughts in silence I then try to regain my mental strength to pick up and carry on.

You don't even really have to believe in a personal God to follow this teaching. Even If you think of 'God' as the collective goodness of people or even the cosmic forces of the Universe, you are still able to draw strength to help you cope with the difficulties that we must all face at some time or another. We are all travelling through life and there are very few people who live completely charmed lives - so positive affirmations can do no harm - and hopefully give us courage...

All Hallows' Eve and Pluckley

2010-10-31T16:42:00.002Z

Whilst I'm not at all keen on the ever increasing commercialism for Halloween (in my youth it wasn't even celebrated at all) I've noticed that on radio and in papers they tend to report more on Ghost stories and hauntings as it comes around.

On Radio Kent the other morning they were talking about Pluckley and it was mentioned again in the online Telegraph (the Internet is a cheap option of perusing the newspapers!).

Pluckley is reputedly the most haunted village in England and is often mentioned when mysterious happenings occur. We'd never been there until about 18 years ago when we had arranged to pick up some rare poultry breeds from a farm in that area. We weren't meant to pass through the village but we missed the right turnoff from the motorway. Consequently I had to find a route through minor roads between farms and villages. At one point we seemed in the middle of no-where but I then spotted a sign for Pluckley.

We had already heard of its reputation and we laughed that we might see something! However, quite the reverse happened...

Bear in mind this was a Saturday afternoon on a lovely summer day... On the road in we passed the church on my left hand side (I was in the front passenger seat) and saw no-one about, then we drove into the Village itself - and there wasn't a soul anywhere!!!!!

There were a few shops and a pub - but we never saw a single person or even a dog.

As we drove out the other side we remarked that it was a bit like Brigadoon - only it wasn't the village that had disappeared; simply the people...

We found the farm - this was around the area where 'The Darling Buds Of May' was being filmed - and from the farm it was easier to go directly back to the motorway - so we never did go back through the village to see if anyone had re-appeared!

Traditional Scottish Prayer
From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!

Back on The Island - peace...

2010-10-30T22:52:00.003+01:00

Although the weather was overcast and rather cold yesterday, we went bird spotting on The island. My camera isn't good enough to home in on all the birds we saw so these were the only ones I managed. The birds above are a flock of Starlings. If we had still been there a couple of hours later they would have been sky dancing in their thousands. Somewhere I have a clip of a display I took at dusk there a few years ago.

This rather far away bird is a Marsh Harrier. Their wing span is immense and it flew low over our heads - but of course it took me ages to turn my camera on and focus!!!

Countless kestrels and a few Hen Harriers. All the usual small birds that like the farm and marshland habitat. Although my camera's lens isn't good enough to capture them clearly, there were literally thousands of Lapwings spread over field after field. This is always a good time of year to see them.

There were less Egrets than we usually see... although some were on the marshland by the water.

They has been a lot of shooting going on and whereas we usually see hundreds of Partridges and Pheasant, either most had been shot - or were in hiding! We saw one really amazing looking Pheasant who was much bigger than most we see - he must be a wily old bird and had probably escaped the guns for several years.

The reeds and rushes had turned a lovely colour - and were bent in the wind - as was I !

Autumn

2010-10-25T16:36:00.002+01:00

The colours in our garden and our local woods - despite a number of frosts - are changing very slowly so this morning we went to the gardens at Hall Place to photo some of the trees which are a bit more exposed to the weather.

The Hot House had its usual Autumn display of gourds they had grown and we couldn't resist buying some to display indoors.

Liberating Snowy

2010-10-22T17:37:00.011+01:00

Snowy, as I explained in a previous post, was my first rabbit - a New Zealand White and although I never realised it at the time, she was liberated from a pharmaceutical company which had obviously used her for drug testing.

The company was in the next town. It had been there since 1889

- an organisation which had been responsible for many major developments. (After several takeovers and amalgamations the building has now been demolished)

Not that I knew any of this at the time... a schoolfriend who lived further up the road had recently acquired a black rabbit and said that her father could get me one too. Surprisingly my dad agreed that I could have one, but that I would have to clean it out and buy its food out of my pocket money. That seemed fair and I passed on the good news to my friend.

A few Saturdays later my friend's father took the pair of us to a building with a large millpond in front of it. We were instructed to wait discreetly by the door whilst he went inside.

Shortly he reappeared and we followed him inside and up some stairs. Here my memories are rather vague and I can just recall many rows of cages.

Much later I realised that the rabbit’s testing life had probably finished and that it was in fact on ‘death row’ and was one of a number that had been - probably unlawfully -liberated.

As the rabbit was white I decided - somewhat unoriginally - to call her Snowy. Although when we did have some snowy weather and I let her out into the garden I learned that compared to the snow on the ground she was not as sparkly white as I had thought.

In the spring my friend and I decided that we would let the 2 rabbits play together! - and just over a month later Snowy gave birth to a litter of 6 - rather neatly she had produced 2 black, 2 grey and 2 white.

Dad wasn’t best pleased but local children wanted them and I although I can’t recall who had 5 of them, one (a black) went to Jimmy who named his Horace) Jimmy was the youngest son of family friends). We were only born a few days apart and we’d been told that his mother had wanted a girl whilst mine wanted a boy. With childlike logic we often wondered why they simply didn’t swap us!

Snowy obviously led a charmed life as Jimmy and I would collect hay for the hutches from Dartford Heath - surrounded by wild rabbit droppings - at a time when Myxomatosis was rife!

When Dad remarried Snowy came too and although Nan wasn’t really keen on pets I was aware that during the course of the day she would give her a few tit bits.

One day when I was coming home from school I had just passed the little shop where my stepmother was working and she rushed out towards me. For the next hundred yards she said things like “ I’m sure you expected it to happen” and the suchlike. I had no idea what she was talking about and answered yes and no at what I deemed were appropriate places. When we reached the gate I said I was going to see Snowy (to tell her the days events!) which forced my stepmother to give up trying to ‘sugar the pill’ and tell me that Snowy was dead!

I was devastated! You would have thought that I would have been used to death - after all both my mother and a close schoolfriend had died a few years earlier - but somehow I hadn’t been prepared for this to happen...

Although it now seems terribly over dramatic - such was my sense of loss that, half a century ago, I went upstairs and got out my little prayer book and finding the part for The burial Of The Dead, I marked up with one of my colouring crayons the passage which I told myself I must always remember for the rest of my life.

That passage has served me well...

Purple Majesty

2010-10-15T13:15:00.000+01:00

I just had to try them! Currently not widely available in England. Reputedly filled with more antioxidants SEE HERE certainly good for Halloween!

I was rather surprised to see the water turn green and considered dying some fleece in it. Most of the antioxidants must be in the water - J gamely drank some and said it was fine - perhaps I'll take his word for it!

The potatoes themselves were tasty and I will certainly buy them again.

Crayford - or Sainsford?

2010-10-06T21:13:00.004+01:00

When Sainsbury first came to Crayford it caused a massive change to the town - a new road was built which directed traffic away from the the independant shops - obviously making a big difference to their trading levels. Now it has been rebuilt and is the largest Sainsbury store in the U.K. SEE HERE

When I grew up in Crayford it was as many towns of that era - small shops - with the biggest player being the Co-op! In fact, our family 'Divi' number is etched into my brain. I remember waking up one morning about 20 years ago with a number spinning around my head. I rang my dad, who confirmed it was indeed our old Dividend number!

Certainly,the opening of a Woolworth store in the mid 1950's was an exciting event - and that became the place where I spent my weekly pocket money. So obviously I wasn't adverse to change in those days.

When the first Sainsbury arrived we began shopping there - even whilst realising the effect it would have... although my dad would never go there; I think all the changes had begun to pain him...

So... do I now embrace an even bigger and better store? I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I do - and went on the re-opening day last week (and several more days since!) It is so hard to resist - even when you realise the implications of such a large and powerful trader... Once such a small town... dear me... please don't let the town be re-named Sainsford!

The store is now so large I have had to show its frontage in 3 photos.

UPDATE: after several more trips I have realised that the store is too large! Very busy - with so many people who have nearly knocked Matthew over. The fact that he has his arm in a sling and has a four footed walking stick makes no odds to them! He is trying to walk unaided but it's impossible when so many knock into him - including those in wheelchairs and with sticks themselves! What is the world coming to - why have so many people such bad manners these days? We have actually found that the teenagers are more considerate - people of my age and above are awful!

Creating Memories

2010-10-04T23:58:00.000+01:00

I took these short video clips today - to create memories. A cloudy but lovely day; our son loves the gardens and, since his stroke, this is the first time he has managed to go around the gardens (a small part of it) without a wheelchair. He had forgotten to bring his camera - he loves taking photos - and all I had with me was a small Vado HD video cam which he doesn't like using ( it was his but he gave it to me)

Courage

2010-10-04T19:45:00.003+01:00

Playing Aeroplanes - Before...

Same place... a later time... September 2010

Nan

2010-10-03T18:51:00.008+01:00

She wasn't really my nan... she was the mother of my stepmother and when my dad remarried it was her house that we moved in to... It was a council house - though much larger and nicer that the one we moved from - and my dad had made sure that the tenancy had been changed into his name before he remarried. I think he must have felt that unless he did that he would never be certain of his own future security.

However, Annie had been the matriarch of the house long before we arrived - and for as long as she lived, life carried on under her command!

(I'm the one with a perm in the front!)

She had lost a son at sea during the war and her daughter (my stepmother) had lost her own husband in the same manner - before he even saw his child (my stepsister). Annie's other son and 4 daughters all lived nearby and her house really was the centre of family life.

The granddaughter who had grown up there was the apple of her eye and one other grandchild in particular was considered to be the personification of perfection - everything I wasn't!

Annie didn't 'appear' to like me - anymore than my stepmother did! I seemed to be tolerated but that was about all. However, things are not always as they appear and with the passage of time one becomes aware of what feelings both lie beneath the surface and why they manifest in certain ways.

I was very insecure and lonely and also very jealous of the attention and praise that everyone else seemed to get; so I probably wasn't a particularly loveable child.

We hadn't been there very long when I became aware of 'nan's' authority and sense of decency. It had started over some minor misdemeanour at the dinner table which caused my dad to lose his temper. It concluded with him giving me a smack and then chasing me up the stairs. He had a very quick temper in those days and as his dad had punished him, so he did me.

After I came downstairs I noticed a strange atmosphere... only many years later did I learn that nan had been horrified - harsh words were exchanged and she had decreed that he was never to smack me again

I wonder now if that was when she began to understand me better... she was always a bit gruff - but scrupulously fair. At some point she asked me to vacuum her bedroom for her once a week. Now, anyone would have done it for her had she asked... but I think she had feelings of self respect and always wanted to be independent After I did it each week she would give me half a crown - which I never expected (although I was grateful for) and I believe she used the cleaning as a means of giving me some pocket money.

My stepmother was a brilliant dressmaker and was always running up items of clothing - primarily for her daughter and the 'perfect' niece. (let me say here that my jealousy of that niece gradually abated and I that years later I happily asked her to be my bridesmaid). One day though, I came home from school and was shown some material - white, with a beautiful border of flowers - and was asked by nan if I liked it. I answered " yes" thinking it was for P - to be astounded when nan said it was to be made into a dress for me! It had been her idea - and she had paid for it.

At that time I had a rabbit - imaginatively called Snowy! - and whenever they all ate rabbit for dinner nan would arrange a newspaper barrier across the table (held up by the condiments) and give me fish fingers!

One day she got up and surprised everyone by saying she was taking me and P to Sittingbourne (where I think she'd had family when she was young.) At the last moment cousin B was told to go with us. ( many years later my stepsister told me that she had been acting a bit strange and they wanted someone older to go for safety reasons. I have to say that I never noticed her being odd in any way, but perhaps when you are young you don't see these things?). Of the journey I have absolutely no memory. All I can remember is seeing some boats in a harbour and being in Woolworth's! She told us all to choose a bit of jewellery and I chose a 'gold' chain which had a ball with chain tassels hanging from it - I realise now that it was a copy of a style popular in Victorian times. How I loved that necklace!

Some months later I came home from school to see the surprising sight of my dad leaning on the gate with his arms crossed. I couldn't understand why he was home so early... and then he told me that nan had died...

My abiding memory is of her sitting by the fireside combing her long white hair until it dried... then she would plait it and pin it up with a massive hair clip.

Some months afterwards we moved to a smaller house and until I married homelife was never so happy again... you never realise what you have until it is gone. I didn't know her for a great number of years but I later realised that she had made my life so much easier for being in it.

I still have her hair clip - no-one wanted it, but I kept that and a few of her ornaments to remember her by... I never forget acts of kindness...

Autumn creeps in...

2010-09-29T20:40:00.004+01:00

Click the collage (and other photos) to enlarge.

These are some photos taken of our garden over the last few days...all the leaves are just starting to change colour. We need to take more cuttings and pot up a lot of the plants to go in the greenhouse for the winter, but we seem to have very little time.

Wasp Spider - Argiope Bruennichi

2010-09-29T19:37:00.002+01:00

Well I just love Spiders and at this time of the year I seem to take lots of photos of them and their wonderful webs. This Wasp Spider would certainly earn its place on a Spider 'Spots V stripes' team! (see below)

I took this photo at the weekend but by Tuesday it had packed up its web and gone.

It's thought that this species came from Europe in around 1922 and was originally only seen across the south coast of the U.K. although it now seems to be spreading further northwards.

The spider below is just a common variety but I thought he should also have a moment of glory!

Spots versus Stripes

2010-09-10T16:19:00.002+01:00

If anyone wants to know about Matthew you can contact me, but I won't be writing and updating about him here.

Meanwhile.. enjoy Spotsvstripes

Prayers needed...

2010-07-27T14:04:00.004+01:00

Please say a prayer if you feel able for our son Matthew who was admitted to hospital yesterday (although he is STILL on a temporary A/E ward as they can't find him a bed.) He has serious neurological deterioration - although no-one knows what has caused his problems.

He is under the Neurologists who are liaising with the Stroke Unit and his Neurosurgeon - but a brain scan hasn't revealed either that he has had another tumour or a stroke. His left arm is almost useless and his left leg not quite so bad. He has visual disturbance and some lost vision in his left eye. Yesterday he kept falling asleep whilst we were talking to him - so deeply that we feared he was going in and out of consciousness.

He is speaking normally but nothing else has improved. I was told by them that I mustn't go on the temporary ward as I would be at risk of infection and as they still haven't transferred him I have had to stay at home whilst Jon has set off for the hospital in inner London.

Matthew hasn't been washed, had his teeth cleaned or helped with a shave... and despite telling them he couldn't go to the toilet unaided, someone took him - and left him there! He fell over trying to get back and two patients (one a heart patient) got out of their beds to help him back.

I feel helpless and useless... and don't know what the outcome of this will be...

Several days later - Matthew was finally admitted to a ward, however by then he had got worse. After several - wrong - diagnoses it was revealed that he'd had a stroke, occluded right Carotid artery - caused by a tear in the artery wall.

1969 - Our Wedding

2010-07-25T12:19:00.003+01:00

A couple of years ago one of my husband's elderly relatives died and when Jon's cousin cleaned out the garage he found some old, reel to reel film. The film had obviously deteriorated but he managed to get someone to transfer what they could to a DVD.

He gave us a copy as it was found to contain some film of our wedding. We had no idea it had been taken and in fact, even our official photos and album were simply in black and white!

I managed to isolate the wedding frames and although it is rather grainy I have uploaded it - as tomorrow is our 41st wedding anniversary.

Len Goodman - and my dance-less marriage

2010-07-22T23:53:00.004+01:00

The title isn't a headline from The Daily Star!... read on...

This morning we decided to make one of our regular trips to Bluewater. We parked and made our way towards one of the doors into Marks and Spencer's. Coming out the door, helping a very elderly lady, was a tall man with a twinkly smile who said Hello to my my husband.

As I'm renowned for not recognising anyone when I'm out, I duly responded too and then, after moving out of earshot, asked my husband who the man was - thinking he either lived in our street or had been a workmate, as even to me, he seemed familiar.

J replied it was Len Goodman. The name sounded familiar... then I realised who it was! He has had a Dance Studio in Dartford since the late 1960's - although he is far better known to people these days for all his television work. Consequently, I daresay he is so used to people approaching him that he now finds it easier to greet them first.

I have always loved dancing and even now, could probably manage a Waltz or Quickstep. Sadly, J has never shared my interest and I have had a dance-less marriage! 41 years on Monday... Oh Len... is it too late for me to book him a crash course!

What actually happened on our wedding anniversary was THIS and dancing was the last thought on our minds...

Not too old!

2010-07-18T20:26:00.010+01:00

Yes, here we are - Jon and I - two senior citizens joining the youngsters on the carousel this morning at The Kent County Show.

It was cold and windy this morning - hence my hat and many layers of clothing!

This a just a fraction of the video as it went on for rather a long time - and yes we did go a lot faster! I was actually worried about a really tiny tot who was on the horse in front of me... she seemed fine, but she was far too young to be on a horse by herself.

(This was a H.D video, but for some reason it doesn't seem to have uploaded to YouTube with the perfect clarity. Ahhh, just realised why... to cut out a short clip I had to edit it with the Windows Movie Maker, which changed the format)

Matthew and me on clip below:-

And an exhausted sheepdog...

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Happy Birthday to Merlin

2010-07-06T11:50:00.001+01:00

Merlin was 19 yesterday - please go over and say hello to him on his Blog

The Nearby Tree

2010-07-05T11:05:00.000+01:00

So far they'd just been rumours which Matthew had heard. Perhaps the stories had just grown in the telling - no-one quite knew… After a while everyone got bored with talking about it - everyone except Matthew, that is…

He'd never stopped thinking about that magical tree in the storybooks he'd been read as a child; so when he heard a whisper that there might be something similar happening closer to home, that was something he just couldn't dismiss easily.

The talk was that those original stories really had been based on fact - about a place that the author herself had actually visited. That, of the myriad of fruits the magical tree had grown, it had once produced acorns that she had collected and saved.

An awful lot of pink

2010-06-17T20:32:00.000+01:00

Just some of our roses currently in bloom.

The 'Crusher' awaits...

2010-06-17T20:14:00.003+01:00

It is terribly sad, but the above wireless' will shortly be going to the crusher in the recycling centre. After many, many years of collecting things from the past, I have been gradually disposing of them in various ways.

I had hoped that these Bakelite radios could go through the local auction house where I have been successfully selling my jewellery - however, times and tastes are changing and we were told no-one would want these; so they wouldn't even want to put them in the sale.

The larger radio belonged to one of my dad's close friends, but the other was bought by our son.

I have kept two other old radios though - purely because of the sentiment attached. One is absolutely huge and was bought by my dad and his brother on 'hire purchase' - even before they had electricity in their house.

The other radio was also given to me by my dad and dates from the early 1950's. On that I listened to 'The Navy Lark', 'Educating Archie' 'Two way family favourites' and all the other popular programmes of that time frame. How I loved Saturday mornings when ' Children's Favourites' with Uncle Mac came on... Sparky, the magic piano was everyone's favourite - although they always did it in two parts - the second half the following week!

Then Max Bygraves singing 'I'm a pink toothbrush' Right, I'm singing along - are you?

The pettiness behind ' Anyone But England'

2010-06-11T18:58:00.002+01:00

So the World Cup has started!

Now... I don't even like football (I think my kidney's previous owner did; but that's another story!), or any sport for that matter, but I can understand the passion that many people feel and the pride they have in their country's team. So what is all this pettiness about? - and why has it bred a movement which promotes 'Anyone But England' SEE HERE

How small minded some people are! My mother was Scottish and J and I have relatives in both Scotland, Ireland and Wales and no-one could say that we are anti Celt - but this needs to be said...

I don't even think this is much to do with the football anyway... so let's get this straight. I'm English and live in London but wasn't personally responsible for the Irish troubles, neither Culloden, or the Clearances - and I don't even know what the grievances are that some of the Welsh have with England!

We are all a genetic mixture from past traders or invading forces from Europe and Nordic countries - Oh darn those Romans - better not go to Italy then!

When I was growing up we finished our address by writing 'England, Great Britain' (as children we often followed this with, The World, The Universe etc!) and I can't even recall when we had to change to writing ' England, U.K.' We are obviously not very united; so this seems very farcical; particularly at this moment in time.

Live and let live I say... there is enough conflict about more serious issues and supporters of A.B.E seem to have missed the point about the benefits of helping to unite the world through a common interest. That being the case, shouldn't the first bit of unity come through having a United Kingdom!

A visit from the Chimney sweep

2010-06-08T11:53:00.001+01:00

The chimney sweep came to clean one of our chimneys this morning and - ever careful - we covered everything possible in sheets and plastic. The escaping soot and dust was very minimal though - so different from how it used to be years ago!

For most people an open fire was the only source of heat and when I was growing up it was long before the area had been designated a smokeless fuel area.

Rich black coal would be put on the fires in those days (when it could be afforded) consequently, the amount of soot up the chimney stack was immense.

As it was expensive to have the Sweep, invariably people's chimneys would catch fire. I can remember the awful 'woosh' when ours did - and the arrival of the fire brigade shortly after.

The soot was a valuable commodity for your garden though. It was sprinkled liberally around the roses - probably joining the manure left by the milkman's horse (we rushed with a bucket and shovel after it passed by) - a combination which must have made a glutinous mess - but brought joy to a gardener's heart!

Showing respect

2010-06-06T23:35:00.002+01:00

After we went to the Erith Riverside Festival today we went off to the supermarket in Crayford. Passing St Paulinus church we came across many dozens of bikers parked up; filling the churchyard and surrounding area - demonstrating it was either a funeral or a service of remembrance for one of their number.

I always find such scenes very touching as I feel that showing respect is a very important part of how the deceased’s life is finalised and their life celebrated.

We also have a quite a few gypsy funerals around here and you have to see their processions to understand the importance and attention to detail which is given lovingly given. This makes me question whether these days many people have lost the understanding of how important it is to mark the way you say ‘goodbye’ Perhaps not so much for the person who has died, but for those left behind who have to carry on and cope with their loss.

I wouldn’t advocate going back to Victorian traditions, but I recall when growing up there were still certain rituals which were observed.

First of all, whenever a hearse drove through the town , everyone stood still and the men always removed their hats or caps and bowed their heads. If someone close to you died you wore a black arm band or - generally in the case of men - a diamond shaped patch was stitched to the jacket arm. This showed that you had suffered a loss and perhaps it also helped people understand that they needed to show sensitivity to the person concerned. This symbols were generally worn for about a year.

I recall that some of the much older women did indeed embrace black for the rest of their life when their husbands died - but thinking about it, I realise that they really had grown up in Victorian times.

Personally I don’t think wearing black to a funeral is always necessary although this is a personal decision. I’ve attended many ‘normal’ funerals but also one that was completely non religious (and he had an amazing wicker coffin). At another funeral the deceased was in a cardboard coffin and we all wore bright and cheerful colours.

‘Wear pink!’ would be my instructions to potential mourners (I paid for my funeral over ten years ago and sadly wasn‘t given the option of a woven coffin at that time) However, I’m now beginning to wonder if my ‘mourners’ would even exceed half a dozen! For I am still amazed that I have lived this long whilst others have unexpectedly died before me.

I think I am the proverbial creaking gate… and I certainly am creaking…

Dunkirk

2010-05-23T14:00:00.003+01:00

As the anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk is coming up I thought I would show the card that was sent for my Dad when he arrived at Folkestone. His experiences were pretty ghastly... I have tape recording of some of what happened which I did back in 1989. I really must sort out how to transfer it to disc.

If you go down to the woods today...

2010-05-17T18:12:00.001+01:00

Well, you could have seen us!

Very fresh and green everywhere... beautiful! Although I'm still unhappy with my new camera which is meant to be better - but isn't. Unfortunately the last one broke; so I'm stuck with this one for the moment.

“And there is pansies, that's for thoughts.”

2010-05-14T22:55:00.003+01:00

As said by Ophelia, in Hamlet...

Sights, sounds, smells... all can evoke memories. The photo shows the 'Heaven Sent' perfume which is no longer made. I wore this perfume for many years when I was young in the 1960's (it came in a blue sqeezy bottle then!). It was very sweet (and perhaps a bit sickly for some) but I just loved it!

Matisse

2010-05-10T18:44:00.003+01:00

Although I do like colour, I have never really been a fan of Matisse's work. However, I watched a documentary about him last night and gained more understanding about him as a person.

What I learned - separate from his artistic output - made me feel that his courage and determination were to be much admired

I do concede that many, many people greatly idolise his work and his use of colour is still copied today. If he was in his prime today he would probably be the very best graphic designer around as his simplistic use of form and colour lends itself so much to current advertising.

I think I must have seen another programme years ago and as his style is SO NOT ME! I remembered I did a spoof Matisse style offering - very much 'tongue in cheek'!

I have added it in here and as you can see, it most definitely isn't the way I work! but it was fun to do!

In the arms of an Angel

2010-05-09T14:39:00.003+01:00

Lyrics

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
They may be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of an Angel fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees

In the arms of an Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here

Anniversary of V.E Day

2010-05-08T12:04:00.003+01:00

This is a photo of the V.E day street party taken where I grew up with my parents in Heath Road, Crayford.

This was 4 years before I was born, but my much older half sister is in the photograph. Although I can't be certain... I think the lady standing up at the very far end in a dark coloured jacket may be my mother.

Wren singing - short video clip

2010-05-02T11:09:00.002+01:00

Finally managed to capture a small moment of the Wren singing. I don't think he liked me going into the garden as he flew off quite quickly. The other morning - from just after 4.00am - he sang for over 2 hours - a most amazing, diverse mixture, of notes

Spring in the garden - video clip

2010-04-27T23:00:00.004+01:00

Still unwell and spending a lot of time in bed, it has been so frustrating not getting out in the garden.

Today was warm and sunny and I stood at the end of the patio to take a short video. The Wren was singing and the chickens were loudly telling us some eggs had been laid.

However, each time I took a clip, either a plane went over, or some other noise occurred and when I finally did manage to have no excess noise interruption - the Wren had left his nest in the Lilac tree (they have females and nests all over the place) and the chickens had got bored with telling us about the eggs!

In the Hot House

2010-04-27T22:46:00.000+01:00

Last week - before M & I got ill - we visited a local House and garden. Even though it was quite hot enough outside anyway! we went into the Hot House and I took some photos. These are just a few.

Card making

2010-04-24T12:28:00.003+01:00

These photos are odd shapes and need to be clicked to be enlarged

I have spent a few hours the last couple of evenings making some cards. Mainly because I felt so guilty at having so much card and scrapbooking materials which I wasn't using! Consequently I didn't enjoy making them in the way I used to. I haven't even done much scrapbooking either - so much waiting to be finished off.

They don't show up very clearly in the photos but most are decoupaged in some way or other (some hand cut pieces and other die cut) The die cut is definitely easier!!! and all have sparkly stones dotted here, there & everywhere.

Last London Tram 1952

2010-04-21T16:30:00.004+01:00

Our poor little 'village' (what a joke that now is!) has seen so many changes over the years. The housing area nearest the Thames has over the recent years been known as Little Lagos, for obvious reasons.

When we first moved here the Bus Garage (previously a Tram Shed) was still operational and to catch a bus on our side of the railway we had to hope the crossing gates wouldn't shut before the buses got over.

The bus garage got knocked down for housing - the railway crossing was no longer needed when they built a flyover road (demolishing houses and shops in its path)

In 1952 a special 'Last Tram Week' took place and the very last London Tram came out of our garage and along with most of the others was unceremoniously destroyed at nearby Charlton.

The postcard shows the 698 parked outside the Victorian Public house - which itself was demolished without warning last year. The open space leading onto the grassy banks below the woods is now a pleasant view - but is probably going to be used for all the equipment needed to build Crossrail which will terminate here. ('We' are told it will bring prosperity to the area - Huh!!!!)

With love from J

2010-04-21T15:52:00.000+01:00

Bee-fly

2010-04-18T12:43:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the poor quality of these photos which I took this morning. I broke my last camera and my new one has more mega pixels - but the macro seems worse!!!

Our garden has so many birds, butterflies, moths and all manner of insects at the moment. The sudden wonderful sunshine has brought everything out.

We always have a lot of different bee species and at first that is what I thought this insect was (although it looks and flies very very similar to the Humming bird hawk moth) On checking though, I discovered it was a Bee-fly.

Watching it feed with its long proboscis is wonderful to see...

The volcanic ash has landed!

2010-04-17T17:12:00.004+01:00

This morning it was quite apparent that the volcanic ash had settled here in London - and all over the country I should imagine.(Cars and flat shiny surfaces all covered with fine dust - easier to spot on those surfaces I presume)

I was coughing all yesterday evening and as I have asthma I had already presumed it was starting to descend. My chest definitely isn't as bad today, but stay in safely? impossible! We had already made arrangements to have the plaster and cement render taken down off our hall wall - thus giving us our very own indoor dust cloud!

M and I escaped by going off to stay with a friend for most of today.