Eternal Refuge

When I started this week I didn't think I would be working at all and would get some housework done ... yes, I managed that at firts.

But in the end yesterday I ended up working afternoon/evening ... and will be doing the same this afternoon.  So less housework done than planned, although it means I didn't get bored ... but my Bank balance is happy with me!

The good news is that I have had the splint off&on and gradually regaining full strength & mobility ... so another positive.

So, I need to get on and get a bit of sorting done, before having lunch, and heading into work.  But, as ever, here's todays question -



James Brown was born today in 1933. Known as the Godfather of Soul - can you name one of his songs?
Having Googled I knew some of his work ... but never great at remembering who artists are, I was not suprised.





Right, will see you tomorrow x

Challenge #6

In your own space, share a favourite piece of original canon (a show, a specific TV episode, a storyline, a book or series, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much. . Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



I suppose when I read this question I had a momentary panic, and then the first thing that came to mind was Spike’s speech to Buffy during “Touched” near the end of BtVS season 7 (from 2002 – 2003)




This is what true love is … willing to just be there, help & support as needed. Not wanting (even if he hopes) for anything in return.

And, for those who don’t know it, I am single … so maybe this resonated when I first heard it as I am still waiting for my Spike (Knight on a White Charger) to arrive

One of our visits was one not scheduled ... and we went there for 2 reasons.  The first was that many of the group were Scottish, so we were taken to Black Watch Corner -


As I got off the coach our guide called me aside, to show me the view across the main road .... Glencourse Woods.  I had already been taken there on a previous visit, but this time it was across the road from where I was ... However, for me, it was in memory of my Grandfather.  On the 10th August 1917 during the third battle of Ypres (The Battle of Passchendaele), this is where he was stationed. The lowere photo was taken in 2018 when the tour went along the other road, than the one we were on this time.




From there we went to The Berks Cemetery & Extension -





CWGC re-etching the stones



A German Jew ... sadly if he had survivied he would have faced the Nazi regime.

Lieutenant R Pouton-Palmer, an English Rugby Captain ... and relative of the "Hunter & Palmer" biscuit company.


As we were driving along we saw some of the German bunkers



Another place we were shown was this re-built farmhouse, which (in the cellar) there are still the remains of the original cartoons of Old Bill, by Bruce Bairnsfather



Our next stop was at Messines and our first stop was the museum.

Old Bill

Photos of the town at the end of the war

Copy of painting of St Nicholas' Church - Dec 1914, by Adolf Hitler

The rebuilt Messines Church - where Hitler had been a patient in the crypt when injured in 1914

... and a toilet for the men near the entrance


And, our final stop of the day was Ypres, or Wipers as Granddad would have called it. The city was totally destroyed during the war, but rebuilt to look as it did pre WWI. As I said, Claire's great-grandfather's name is on the Menin Gate ... but as you can see it is being renovated.



















Since 1928, the "Last Post" has been sounded every evening at 8 p.m. by buglers of the local Last Post Association at the war memorial at Ypres in Belgium known as the Menin Gate, commemorating the British Empire dead at the Battle of Ypres during the First World War. The only exception to this was during the four years of the German occupation of Ypres from 20 May 1940 to 6 September 1944, when the ceremony moved to Brookwood Military Cemetery in England. On the evening that Polish forces liberated Ypres, the ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate, in spite of the heavy fighting still going on in other parts of the town. These buglers or trumpeters, sometimes seen in fire brigade uniform, are members of the fire brigade representing the Last Post Association, who organizes the events. The Last Post Association uses both silver B♭ bugles and E♭ cavalry trumpets, with either British Army tradition being respected during services at the gate.

... and it's cooler today!

Oh well I need to spend some time here, before heading to work. I am hoping to get another set of photos posted.

As I didn't post yesterday I just had to share this, even though it's a day late. Yesterday was apparently "Hole in my bucket, day" ... and like many people I knew the words as I grew up singing it, and hearing Mum sing it, and just in case you don't know it -



( Lyrics, so you can sing along .... )


Right, lets get some photos sorted, and hopefully posted.

Tomorrow morning I am meeting Claire, then working in the afternoon, and all day Friday, so it wil be Saturday before I can get back ... so ...



31 – Web Designer Day: We all visit various websites every single day of the year. What are "features" on some websites that really annoy you? What features do you appreciate the most on well-designed websites?
A cear menu, and a clear search button

1 – June is Audiobook Month: Do you use audiobooks? If yes, do you use them exclusively, or do you also read ebooks or physical books? If you don't use audiobooks, why not?
I am at present listening to "Cold Days" one of the Dresden Files ... but it is read by James!
I read proper books, but also always have a Kindle with me.

2 – Donut Day: Do you like donuts? Have you ever made your own? If/when you buy donuts, what it your go-to place -- is it a major chain (Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Hortons, Krispy Kreme, etc.), or do you have a favourite independent bakery?
Yes please!
I actually really like the plain sugar dusted, raspberry jam filled ones.



Right - see you soon ... or Saturday x

I do love music from the 1960's and on free TV Britain has a programme showing 60's music all the time. If I have a lazy-ish I tend to watch some of it with a lazy cuppa. This morning was one of those days ... and here are a couple of those on this morning. I tend to forget how long the Stones have been around ... and for my The Animals sang "House of the Rising Sun", so that was an odd song, and an unusual combination.

Enjoy

The Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now - 1964


The Animals/Sammy Davis Jnr - The Rain In Spain (1965)



I have just had Christine on the phone. We normally chat on a Sunday, but her dad (at 95) is in hospital at present, so she will be there tomorrow.  He is doing well, and hopes to be home again in a few days.

I have made some ginger biscuits before that ... so now I am almost ready to get some lunch, make a sandwich for tea, and then head off to work.  But, as ever -


11 – World Plumbing Day: We take indoor plumbing for granted – until there's a problem with it. Have you ever suffered a major plumbing emergency? Have you ever tried to fix a plumbing issue on your own? Did you succeed?
Back in 1996 I had a burst pipe in my loft.  I am lucky I was in the house at the time, so was able to turn the water off at the mains.  But that is as complicated as my plumbing gets ... in my present house that tap is in the kitchen (or I have a stop-cock outside on the pavement)

12 – Craft Month: Do you enjoy being creative? What crafts do you participate in? What crafts would you like to try out?
I do quite a bit ... although not as much as I used to when I lived near Toni.  She is amazing at all crafts.
I knit, crochet, cross-stitch, do tapestry, and make icons on the computer.  I would love to try pottery.



Right, let's get on.

Hope you all have a good weekend x

Sorry I wasn't around yesterday, but a full day of work and fighting a cold meant that once I got home I ate something, watched an old episode of DR Who on the TV, and had an early night.

All in all I am feeling a lot better. Not yet 100%, but certainly a lot better that I have felt over the last 3 days. Still Mum used to say that a cold was -
"3 days coming
3 days here
3 days going" ....
So I have 3 days of getting better to go.

Clinic today was odd ... nice patients, mostly. However one of the patients just went home before finishing his appointment. The only reason I knew that was that another patient poke to him, so at least I knew where he had gone.

So as I have been off-colour I ended up I had empty food cupboards, so that has been a task for this afternoon. Now I am here and want to get some icons made, so there won't be any photos today.

I am working tomorrow, and then it's Sunday ... so ...



6. Are actual paper road maps obsolete? When was the last time you actually used one?
I still use maps ... even if it means I have to print it out from Google Maps.

7. Has a phone or car GPS's instructions ever resulted in you being completely lost?
Never use either!

8. What TV show has a theme song or opening credits sequence that you really love? Feel free to name more than one if you want!
Sorry it still has to be the theme from "Flashing Blade" ... I loved the show when I watched it in the late 60's, and learnyt the song when I first heard it -


9. Of websites you look at daily (or almost daily), which have you been paying attention to longest?
Has to be LJ ... I only look at a couple every day, and that is the longest one


See you Monday xsho

From the year that Slade released Merry Xmas Everyone in 1973 (when I was in my second year at senior school), I loved it ... and still do.  Since then, every year the first time I heard this song it makes me think of Christmas.  So, this morning just after my alarm clock went off, this was the song on the radio

Mum and Dad used to tease me about it, and so it makes me smile for 2 reasons




Work today was OK, although one of the patients felt he was 100% and couldn't see what the point of having the appointment was ... so to hear that he would be hearing from the consultant for a further appointment.  As always there are people who are not well, yet feel things are great ... others are pretty "OK" and yet complain about things.  people are odd!

Oh well, at least today is dry at present, so I may do a short walk to try to inspire myself to do some housework when I get back, or maybe it will mean I am too tired, and have the perfect excuse not to do some cleaning!!

As ever, before I go -


8. What is an unusual item you or somebody you know owns?
Ummm - what's unusual for you, might not be for you!
I suppose some people would find it odd that I have  a human skull on my lounge cabinet (it used to live on my bedside table)   His name is Charlie, in case you are interested

Wow how can it be another week already!

Clinic went well, although only 3 patients and we were still late finishing, so maybe it didn't go as smoothly as it appeared to!

Just been to have treatment on my neck & shoulders.  I have been seeing a Sports Masseur for a couple of years now as my neck/shoulders has always been still & sore.  A combination of horse riding falls, poor posture, and too much computer time, etc, etc.  The mobility is certainly better than it was, however this appt was well timed as I could feel how tense my shoulders were after the time with Auntie Joyce.  So now I am sore, but for the best of reasons.  So, having said that I will post the missing photos tomorrow, rather than aggrevate my muscles.

I am going to Tim & Claire's for dinner this evening, so that will be nice, although it means I won't be able to catch up with you all.

But before I go a couple of things.  One was that Don Everly died over the weekend.  I do love their music (this is a favourite of mine), but I do also love to see their clothing.  This clip was done in the 50's, although they didn't really change much into the 60's ... a bit of differnce between them and some of the "pop" groups of todays top 20.



And, of course -


23. Where was the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home?
San Diego, 5,398 miles away ... when I was staying in Los Angeles


So I'm off now - see you tomorrow x

I find it sadly ironical that Captain Sir Tom Moore died of pneumonia and coronvirus. The man (for those who don't know) walked 100 laps of his garden last year and raised over 35 million pounds for the NHS charities. He also, at age 100 had a #1 in the UK charts and last summer he was knighted by the Queen

May he R.I.P. and may his family have those special memories to keep them strong during these difficult days.



Todays clinic was "good" we had 60% no-show ... so as we tend to have to keep in our designated location, I sat and read. So great to get paid to read Spuffy (yes, I had my Kindle with me). So frustrating though when people don't bother turning up ... or even ringing to say that they won't be coming.

In a few minutes, I am going to walk up to Tim & Claire's and then Claire & I are going for a walk, as the weather is actually quite nice (although cold), so it will be good to catch up with her.

But before I go ...


3. How do you feel about plastic surgery?

When Claire had her mastectomy she had an implant, so she has had plastic surgery. Yes, I can totally understand how cancer survivors and burns (etc) victims would want & need plastic surgery.

However when you see some "stars" who are so distorted by surgery I do have to wonder why?

So, yes, brilliant in rehab, otherwise, not so much.

Yes, 45 years ago I was baprised by my Dad at the Old Chapel in Upminster.  I do remember a lot about the day, a special time of confirming my faith.  As Dad was taking the service I was able to chose 3 of the 4 hymns (Dad chose the first), and they were -
O Come all Ye Faithful
O Jesus, I have Promised, to serve Thee to the end Both Mum & Dad also had this hymn
Hark The Herals Angels Sing Still my favourite Carol
O the Bitter Shame & Sorrow

The Chapel is no longer a Chapel, but has been renovated as an Event's Centre -

This is the view if I was standing where the baptistry was and looking towards the door


So, can't believe that was 45 years ago!!!  Where did those days go