Eternal Refuge

What a busy morning - had a lovely walk in the sunshine this morning, and then got organised as I am having Tim & Claire over for dinner tonight.  We are having a pork casserole, and I have made some jam tarts, but also bought a roulade ( yes, I cheated ... but why not?)

I can't believe it has been 8 years since Mum was called Home. It was lovely to see some Autumn colour near where she is resting this morning.  The cemetery is a beautiful location, and even if you don't know anyone resting here, it is a lovely place for a walk.  During lockdown it was always busy!











Right, so I had better get my kitchen floor cleaned.  I love cooking but am not the tidiest chef alive. My cookery teacher at school always said that my area looked like a bomb site! And especially with flour, which I needed, it get's everywhere!

So, before I head off -




29 – Ask A Stupid Question Day: There's no such thing as a stupid question except for the one you choose not to ask. When you were in school, did you hesitate to ask questions because you were afraid they were stupid questions? Did you make fun of other students who asked questions that struck you as stupid? As an adult, do you still hesitate to ask questions you think are stupid? Do you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will ask the question so you won't have to?
Actually I always hoped they would get asked, as I wasn’t brave enough to ask questions in class.




Right will catch up with you soon, and then again tomorrow x

Well I did tell you I would be spamming you, after a gap of a month this will be a shock ... 3 posts in one day!

One of the places we went was The Gallipoli Peninsular.  The info when I booked is that we were driving through, but fortunately we stopped in 3 locations.

The first was at ANZAC Cove ... and as you can see the cemetery is right on the beach.  This is the beach that the ANZACs landed on April 25th 1915, and it was special to be able to step on it myself.















Our final stop was unscheduled, but one of the group had his great-uncle buried there, and we only had to go a few miles out of the way ...








We also saw the Helles Memorial, for those with no known grave ... most of them are from the Navy support.  One of which was sadly a hospital ship that was sunk.


We also saw some of the Turkish cememteries and memorials, mostly at a distance





They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.


May they R.I.P.

When I last posted (on the 27th August), I genuinely expected to be back later that day to catch up with you all ... but, NO ... my internet had other plans for me.

So, as of 1 hour ago I am finally back on line ... 5 engineering visits, including digging the road up (and diverting traffic) and the fault has been found.

I had hoped to post a note on my LJ when I was at work, but LJ (& DW) were both blocked by the NHS, so couldn't let you know.  As I don't have a posh phone I couldn't even get on line that way ... so sorry ... and I have missed you, and LJ.

So much has happened in that time ...

England has a new monarch, and I am not afraid to admit that I cried when I heard the news about The Queen.  And on the Friday before the funeral (a week after she died) I went up to London and joined a 13 hour queue to pay my last respects to her.  I then went on to Green Park to see the flowers.  A very long trip, but so special, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything.  Last night I had dinner with Tim & Claire, who had gone the following day and it was great to compare notes.  She will be missed.  God Save The King.

The day of the funeral (just at the end) I got a taxi to the city, travelled to London and have just spent an amazing week in Turkey ... travelling hundreds of miles, and taking hundreds of phots ... yes, I will share.

Today is the 7th anniversary of Mum passing away (Dad's was at the beginning of the month, 6 years for him), and I can't believe it.  If the weather stays OK, I may walk up to the cemetery, although it would probably be better if I didn't.  When I flew to Turkey my bad ankle swelled to double it's size, and has yet to go down!

I won't catch up with the missing month of meme, as I want to get the photos posted ... but will start with yesterday as that was the day I got back home after my trip, so ...



28. What’s the closest thing to a castle you’ve been in?
I am English, and a sightseer ... I have been in loads of castles. Last one was Totnes, back in the summer

29. What were the circumstances the last time you were hoarse?
I do occasionally get a sore throat and if bad enough it will make me hoarse, but not for many years now.


Right, well I am going to post this brief summary of my missing month, and will promise, internet permitting, I will catch up with you all later ... and get some photos up, as well

Hope that you are all well x

As I said I had one more post from my holiday, on the way back to Calais we stopped at a WWII memorail site.

During the Allied retreat towards Dunkirk in mid 1940, the Germans took many prisoners, however in this case it ended in the mass murder of 80 British and French POWs by Waffen-SS soldiers from the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. The 80 men were rounded up and let to this barn where they were slaughtered, although one man was able to escape (Bert Evans) and it is due to his survival (he managed to find other Germans on his escape who treated his wounds (he lost an arm) that the story was known at all.

Sadly no one was prosecuted as the SS were "following orders", and those in charge left nothing to follow.

The Wormhoudt massacre is a plave that must never be forgotten












Overlooking the battle sites



The peace monument

A named Oak tree for each named soldier





Man's inhumanity to man is a phrase often spoken, but sadly in cases like this, it's true.

May they R.I.P.


And so on that sad note, ny holiday photos have finished

Apparently today is the 40th anniversary of the Argentinian invasion of The Falkland Islands ... I was at college at the time so the age of the soldiers really struck home to me ... 350+ died. Actually I saw a patient a couple of weeks ago who was ex-military and he was a bit older than me so we ended up speaking about the conflict ... although he was a POW from day #2.

I do hope that those who fought, suffered, and mourn are comforted today.



How can it be the Weekend, again? Sorry I didn't post yesterday - I was too busy having fun!

Christine came up on the bus and we went out to a National Trust property again ... it was lovely to be out and about ... seeing some history, and some beauty ... having a walk (and maybe taking a photo or two!!) Yes, the photos will be up at some point - probably Monday by the time I am organised.

This morning washing is on the line, and some ironing must be done a bit later, and I have walked into the city to get a new battery for Mum's gold watch ... and collect a birthday card for someone I am seeing on Monday. So that was about 4 miles.

Now I must get some lunch organised ... but before I go ...


1. If your 5-year-old self suddenly found themselves inhabiting your current body, what would your 5-year-old self do first?
Panic
Maybe wonder why I don't know any Welsh as at that age I was learning the language in the aim that I would take my 11+ in that language.

2. What inanimate object do you wish you could eliminate from existence?
The only thing I can vagualy think of are Mobile Phones ... but I do know that wouldn't work.
I shall think and maybe edit later!

3. What is your favourite way to waste time?
Reading fan-fiction
Sight-seeing/museums etc
Jigsaws (when the brain fog allows)


Right that's it - I must get food ... and will hope to catch up with you all later, but if not, I'll see you Monday x

Yesterday I went to see Jiffy's gravestone -



Here is where he is resting -









(And, here is the older part of the cemetery) -





And here is Meadow Wood Cemetery web site

This morning we actually our clinic finished early so I was able to stop for the minutes silence as this is the first official anniversay of Lockdown.  We stopped to remember 126,000+ deaths through Covid, but also so many others who have died of un-related causes, yet have no services,  So many who have suffered in so many ways.  For the first time I am so glad that Mum & Dad are no longer here.  To not be able to visit, to not be able to spend time with them as I did ... I would never have managed it.  For those who have, and continue to suffer in such a way, my heart goes out to you.


Despite having a busy clinic this morning I did disappear for 3/4 hour - so I could get my second Covid injection.  I had #1 12 weeks ago, almost to the minute.  So far, so good.  I didn't have any problems then, so hope today will be the same.  I plan on having a fairly lazy afternoon, although have ironing to do as I washed and hang outside sheets and some clothes before I left for work this morning.  So I need to re-make my bed and get ironing done.

Other than that I aim to do some more icon making.  I have one on-going challenge which is stumping me, so that's good really (well I tell myself that!)


Well before I get on with other things, I will do today's question -


23. Preferred water temperature for showering?

Warm ... closer to hot, than tepid

Well, sadly today is the day I didn't want to see.

Yesterday it got that my poor Little Man got very wobbly, and couldn't turn over when lying down, or stand up, very easily.  And he slept , spluttering in his sleep, so I realised that he was really struggling, which meant I had to take the initiative and take him to see Marnie.  He didn't actually wake up as I picked him up and put it in the car.

I was at peace with my decicision ... even though the house feels incredibly empty.

I have literally known him since he was 7 weeks old, as has his vet.  The lovely thing is that as he was sleeping on her table and we were talking we were both stroking him, and both were crying ... that meant a lot that Marnie could be with him for those final few minutes.

I am going to have him buried, which won't be till next week (or even the week later), but will be going to that funeral.

Anyway my darling boy, I shall miss you ...  you really helped me to cope with saying goodbye to Mum & Dad, you gave me lots of laughs, lots of cuddles ... and lots of love.

( And a few photos )

curiouswombat has reminded me, via her latest post about her hristmas Shopping, that although I spnsor a guide dog in Mum's name I have never got round to sponsoring a horse.

I loved my 15 years of riding and do miss their company.  Horses are beautiful creatures, and how they get abused is more than beyond me.

Many of you have known me for some time and have read about my riding with DJ, my Connemara namesake; however, although he was very special, he wasn't my first love.  His name was Jaykub, and when he died in 2003, at the age of 10, he broke my heart. I had fallen in love with him at first sight, and had the honour of actually owning him for just over 18 months ... and also knowing he loved me.

Anyway, as I was looking at web-sites, I saw this poem ... well known, but as ever, meaning a lot.

The Rainbow Bridge For Horses
Author Unknown

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
when their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
is a place where beloved creatures find rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
til The Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
for here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed.
Their bodies have healed with strength imbued.

They trot through the grass without even a care,
til one day they whinny and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes sharp and alert.
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the herd.

For just at that second, there's no room for remorse.
As they see each other...one person...one horse.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart
has turned to joy once more in each heart.
They nuzzle with a love that will last forever.
And then, side-by-side, they cross over...together.

Still miss you Jaykub (& DJ)

Someone/something you miss.

Silly question for me.

Miss you Mummy & Daddy.



The list of 365 questions can be found here