Eternal Refuge

I have been trying to post more, again, and have snagged part of a meme from kazzy_cee .... and here is #1 ....

1 Would you rather relive the last 365 days or lose a year of your life?
I had 4 amazing holidays ... and 3 of them were places that I would actually love to go back to ... so, yes please, can I re-do the last year!


( Further questions )

On Day 2 I started off by visiting the assorted memorials at Hyde Park Corner ... British, Oz, NZ, and Indian.  They are really lovely, lifelike images, and interesting ideas to represent the specific countries, etc.

( Wandering around Hyde Park Corner ... a huge roundabout )


For many years I used to travel up to attend the dedication of the Field of Remembarnce.  This year I didn't go to the ceremony, but went later in the day.
( The field of Remembrance )

And to get to and from the grounds of St Margaret's, I had to walk across Parliament Square ... and saw the statues.
( Here are a couple )

The Underground Signs

First - I'm back, and yes, I had a great trip.  I haven't had a chance to sort photos yet ... but will do ASAP (probably over the weekend).



Anyway - why this title?

Well, I heard a story from history this morning while I was having breakfast.  So, whether  you are Brexit, or not.  Whether you are a Teresa May, or a Jeremy Corbin fan.  It doesn't matter.  There is a perfect answer, that has already occurred in history when the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition ended up having a duel.  True.  William Pitt, the Younger and George Tierney, fought a duel on Sunday May 27th, 1798.

So, maybe that's all we need from now on ... Simple. End of all Parliamentary debates!!  Just head to Putney Heath, and there is the answer.

And, then one week later I met up with Brenda at Killerton ... my local "house", but one I hadn't been to so far this year with the National Trust trips.

( Not far to travel today )

And so to the second country of my trip ... Austria.  I had been briefly to Salzburg back in 1981, as we were/are all fans of The Sound of Music.  However, weirdly, Mum always was sure we had been to Vienna, and nothing could change her mind ... so, Mum, 37 years later I managed to catch up with you ... 2 days in Vienna.

( Pottering around the city )


Day 2, we went to the Schönbrunn Summer Palace. The Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire lived here ... well until 1918, when the 2 countries became republics. My parents actually knew someone who was born here, not long before that date, as his mother was Companion to the Empress.
( A beautiful Summer residence )

Well I think the hard thing has been to just pick a few photos to give you an idea of what the city of Prague looks like ... As you can imagine, I took loads more, but here are just a few for you to peap at .... enjoy

( Enjoying a stroll around The Czech Republic )


( St Vitus Cathedral, Prague )

Well I did warn you I wouldn't be around much at present - and here I am 2 posts in a week.

Christine & I went on our last weekly trip yesterday ... we went to Trerice House in Cornwall. Apparaently the house was what prompted the author of Poldark to write some of his stories.

( Didn't see Ross, sadly )

After we had left the Cistine Chapel we walked across and into St Peter's. I have been to Rome before (more about that in another post) ... but I only have a couple of memories of the city. One is the sheer height of this building, the other is the statue of St Peter that has a damaged foot ... just where people go and kiss it.

( Judge for yourself what it is like )

I know I posted a few pictures from the Uffizzi but am going to post a load more.  The reason is that I posted a few pictures on Instagram, with a cross-post to Facebook, and a good friend of mine was actually in Florence on a day trip about the time I was (we should check if it was the same day!!).  She and her husband were celebrating their Ruby anniversary with a cruise, and had a day in Florence ... but like I said the queues were horriffic.  As they didn't have long they didn't attempt the queue.

Anyway I have known Liz over 50 years (and that is scary to type!!), and she and her father are both artists ... so am going to post a lot more of the pictures  - not ideal but a belated Ruby wedding gift.

( Happy Anniversary Liz & Steve )

What a week .... talk about a roller-coaster.

Having started back at work this week after my holiday to Italy (yes pictures are partly up, and some more to come later) I knew the week would feel weird, especially as I had my annual update training day on Wednesday.  Working for the NHS in a large hospital there are certain things we need to re-learn every year, eg fire safety, hand hygiene, and basic life support ... so that was my Wednesady organised.

However, before I got there, late Tuesday afternoon I had a phone call from my doctor saying my blood test from the previous Friday (to check my thyroxine, etc) was showing an ovarian marker ... I needed scans.  So, Thursday morning I phoned, and was seen an hour later ... but was told I was all clear. 

The weird thing is, for that 36 hours I didn't think who I could talk to (other than God), but my main concern overall was not how much I might miss of the future, but of how Jiffy would cope.  However all is OK, totally clear.

Today I had a stress management day at work, as well.  And one thing that they were talking about was learning to be thankful.  I have done these sorts of posts in the past, but thought I would try to do it again for a few weeks ... and hopefully that will also make me post.

The stress course was good in that it showed me how I had managed to develope depression even though I had (and have) no regrets with looking after Mum & Dad.  One thing I did get reminded was that all the bullying I had a teenager has left scars ... and medically scars do fade, but never disappear.  So I realise that I must accept that the hurt of years ago will always shape my life.

Sorry for scribbling, but as I realised today (and this week) I have let a lot continue to drift, and no longer have Mum & Dad to ground me, so scribbling here is a way of letter go of some of the tension of the week.