Memories of childhood

I can remember as a child, helping my nan wind wool from a skein to a ball for knitting.. it usually involved holding the skein between your arms and constantly being reminded to keep the tension up... I didn't mind (usually) as the treat afterwards sometimes involved a very sticky treat in the form of chocolate fridge cake something I still make these days though less often.

My nan was a crafty woman, she could turn out fine crochet, knit intricate patterns and make her own clothes... born in 1897, she saved string from parcels to resuse and brown paper to make patterns where appropriate.. I wish I had half her talents.

I remember having one of these as a child, perhaps not politically correct these days, but having persuaded mum to buy robertsons jam just to collect the badges, it was fun to see the knitted versions.

I brought this pattern on Saturday afternoon, when I walked into Redruth to see the pasty festival .. it was nice to see the town so busy for a change.

Daylight robbery then ensued as I was charged 25p for the privilege of owning a pattern I am not sure I could make even as a reminder of days gone by.

Sunday, being wet, was spent knitting, something I have taken up since I passed my course, but already I am regretting not having anything to do with my mind ;-)

A Decade on

Ten years ago today, I lost my Dad. We were on holiday down in Cornwall and had planned to go to the Eden Project. After a busy day, touring Mousehole, and Penzance way we had a light tea and he went to bed at about 9.30pm, not unusual as the dogs were awake at 6am for a walk.

This particular morning, I woke first, let the dogs out into the garden and called out did he want a cup of tea. No answer, and with a tight feeling in my stomach I went into his room.

He was lying on his back, his left hand on top of the quilt. He looked as though he were asleep but I knew better.. sometime during the early hours of that morning he had slipped the earthly bounds and left behind the shell.

I knew he would have been happy at the manner of his passing, but not the timing. He wouldn't deliberately have chosen to leave me 300 miles away from home with no-one around, but the gentleness of his passing was joyous to me. After Mum had died ten years previously, he had always said he wanted to go quickly and I believe he had his wish.

A blur of police and questions later, I was allowed to go home and set off back to the Back of Beyond.. I had two elderly jack russells to keep me company and it wasn't until I got to within two miles of the house I felt the tears start.

My brother Zeltus was there to meet me, as were neighbours and yet I felt as though Dad was not that far away from me in spirit. The polytunnel was his domain, and sometimes I felt that if I turned quickly I would see him working with his beloved plants.

Ten years on, things have changed, it took me 6 years after his death to come back to Cornwall and to visit the Eden Project and I fell in love with Portreath and Redruth... another two years and I was living here and yet I think Dad would have approved.. A visit from my Uncle Peter last November allowed me to talk about the maternal side of my family with him and helped to explain much of what I knew of my grandfather...I have an offer anytime I like to visit them in Australia and I hope very much to do so.

To Dad, I still miss you daily, but somehow you have passed along your green fingers to me for fuschias and I have started my collection... Love you xx

Today, catching up with the news I heard that a fellow blogger has lost her battle for life... Jo McGowran of Life in Windermere


Jo was one of my earliest followers, and we had some great bloggy conversations, she faced her cancer, like she did life, with courage and fighting spirit. The world seems a darker place now to have come home and heard the news.


Her funeral is on Monday, and I would have loved to have gone, but time, distance and commitments will keep me in Cornwall but in her memory I shall wear something yellow as I think of her family left behind.

Happy Birthday Mum

Mum, who died so young (aged 61), would have been 80 today.

Miss you, and wish you could see what I am doing now.. though it would not have surprised you that still no kids but two black labradors who would have loved you too xx

God bless and keep you safe

More (second hand) memories of Tripoli

Dad was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E) during his years of service with the British Army and served alongside many different regiments including in Malaya 75 Aircraft Workshops, in Germany 4 Field Workshops etc.

I don't know who he served alongside in Tripoli, but I do remember him telling me that one of his many and varied activities involved assessing the local drivers for their ability in driving. Apparently the driving test of the day required the candidates to be able to drive the vehicle in a straight line for 100 yards and then reverse the same distance in an equally straight line. I remember asking him why didn't it include corners etc but his reply was that in the base the roads were simply straight through.. good job then that he didn't decide to retrain as a driving instructor/examiner when he retired from the Army!

Small things

Isn't it funny how small things remind you of someone or something?

I was watching Saturday kitchen, when Rick Stein was talking to the owners/producers of Noilly Prat and was keen on learning how to pronounce it. Instantly I was transported back to one of many memorable conversations with the Late Elaine of Old Age is a Bitch and her love of Noilly Prat while I hadn't even a clue on what it was (other than alcoholic). I could have sworn I heard a chuckle from her as Rick tasted the drink and still managed to make a mess of prounouncing the name.

I like it that I have good memories that come from seeing things, no wonder some agencies are using memory boxes to stimulate the memories of the older generations, from pictures of wartime memorabilia to photographs.. it's good to be reminded that the memories can be stimulated and provide thoughts of people that mean something to us all.

Yesterday was a catch up day, as Saturday with the cough being no better, I ended up back a the doctors for a dose of antiobiotics, thankfully though the steroids seem to have worked and my O2 levels are back up in the high nineties rather than in the low nineties. Still have the cough but that may take a little longer to go as it is an irritation that needs to clear up but even after a couple of doses of Amoxicillin it is less violent than it has been.

I will promise to upload some pictures of the recent snow and ice, not to mention the last few milder days with even... blue skies and sunshine.. (just need access to a reliable internet service in the evenings) however, the job is good, going well and life is good; the only thing that would now make my life even sweeter is finalising the house sale up country.

Hmmm Bah Humbug

I have a long journey in front of me tomorrow, and have snow and ice today and overnight... it couldn't have held off until Sunday and given me a break lol still never mind, I have now written out my christmas cards, baked two desserts to take with me and dismantled the ratz cage having transferred them into temporary accommodation for the trip.

Just need to finish packing, tidying up and hoovering then a clean up before I am ready to leave. Still can't quite believe it, and today is technically my last day at work as I am on holiday next week. After nearly 30 years, I still remember my first days and have many highlights of my time at the University of the Back of Beyond, though there have also been many downs; one recent one was hearing of the recent death of a friend and colleague, tragically he was diagnosed with an agressive form of cancer and I only heard yesterday that he had passed away on Sunday. Charlie was one of the drivers in the MT section, and could always be guaranteed a smile and a joke when you met him, I think he would like to be remembered that way by all that knew him.

I will miss some of the people, but not the new regime that is in place. Where once the University was education with a sideline of business, now it seems to be a place where business rules with education on the sideline and in the long term this will do them no favours as staff are leaving with experience and skills much needed. Still not my problem any more, and I am looking forward to a fresh start.

I have my P45 and am ready to hit the work market at the Edge of the World, so anyone out there want a hard working, multi skilled person able to put their hands to most things IT (would have said most things but hopeless at DIY) please get in contact.

Time to say my goodbyes

I have but a few days left here, and today is the start of the long farewell. I might not see some of these poeple again as visits will be intermittent in the future. Some will be harder than others, but there are many methods of communication, and I am certain to keep in contact via facebook with some, with phone calls and emails for others and some by letter.

I am savouring the memories, and at the same time I am looking forward to the new start. Leaving the problems I have encountered over the past 6 months here though not forgotten nor fully dealt with and I will be talking over these with people to see whether it is worth pursuing further action.

On a happier note, Kalem Murphy entered the world yesterday weighing in at over 9lbs (ouch) congratulations to Kathryn; hope you recover quickly and enjoy your new son.

A Christmas Meme

I got this from Kathy over at The Second Half of my Life - thanks hon xx

Since there are now only 10 days until Christmas is here, I have answered 25 questions to let you know more than you could possibly want to know about me. If you're reading this post, then you can either :

(a) leave a comment and answer the 25 questions below,
or
(b) write the answers to the questions below in your own blog post (if you have a blog, that is) or
or
(c) call yourself a scrooge in the comments below and refuse to answer them.

I hope you choose (a) or (b) but if you choose (c) then I'll just let the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future deal with you. If you do decide to write your own blog post about it, please mention Mandy since she is the author of these important questions. (Writers credit and all that jazz - thanks!)

1) What is your favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. That man is gorgeous lol

(2) What is your LEAST favorite Christmas movie? anything cartoony, except disney cartoons

(3) What is your favorite Christmas song? White Christmas by Bing Crosby et al

(4) What Christmas song(s) drives you crazy? I wish it could be Christmas every day

(5) What is your favorite Christmas drink? (i.e. egg nog, hot chocolate) Strong coffee with a slug of Jameson's in it.. lovely on a cold winters morning or after midnight carol service

(6) What is your favorite Christmas memory? Watching my Mum and Dad open their presents and just being with them, just wished I had known how much I would miss that.

(7) What is the best toy/gift you've received on Christmas? All of them, all given with love

(8) What is the worst toy/gift you've received on Christmas? None of them, they were all give with love and affection and have come in useful, though I will admit to a preference to being given things which are more personal that just functional/

(9) What do you LOVE about the holidays? The time to recharge the batteries and being able to go out for long walks without having to watch the time.

(10) What annoys you about the holidays? The greediness of the shops, starting way too early and TV adverts pushing the holiday too much too soon.

(11) Do you prefer star or angel on top of a Christmas tree? Or something else? Star

(12) What is your family favorite recipe at Christmas? Home made mince-pies with home-made mincemeat.. and I am not a huge fan but I love these

(13) Are you a Grinch or a Who at Christmastime? Bit of both

(14) Christmas light displays? Love them, but hate them... prefer less ostentacious displays and not very carbon friendly

(15) Santas at the mall? No, dont like them

(16) Christmas cards? Yes I send them, but no longer handmade ones as I am not very artistic

(17) What is the best thing about Christmas, in your opinion? Time with friends and family

(18) What is the worst thing about Christmas? The pressures and stresses

(19) When do you put the tree up and take it down? Up on Christmas Eve and down on 12th night

(20) Out of the 12 days of Christmas, which day and item would you want your true love to give to you? Two Colly Birds, only because I have no idea of what they are

(21) Why do you think that Grandma got run over by a reindeer? No carrots to give to Rudolf and the gang

(22) Who is your favorite reindeer? Donner and Blitzen, who could separate them

(23) Do you believe in Santa Claus? No

(24) What is your favorite smell at Christmastime? Mince Pies baking

(25) What would make you happy at Christmas this year? Good food, good company and a toast to happier times

A Victorian Christmas

The Victorian Farm made a re-appearance on the television screen in the UK last night with a special three part christmas edition and this time they have a number of additional activities on the associated website including making a victorian style christmas card, a paper mache box and the old mince pies.

So much better to be able to make presents rather than by them if you have the time. This will be the first year that I haven't managed to make mince pies, as I kept thinking I would make them in Cornwall when I had moved, thinking I would be there by October and now it is less than two weeks away it will be a bit late to make them now. But some of the other ideas I might look at including decorations.

I have already listened to a Christmas Carol, one of my favourite books at this time of year, I have it on CD and love the transition of Scrooge from grumpy old character to loving employer, friend and Uncle. I read it first when I was about 13 and usually have listened, or read it before christmas to enjoy the story and to make the season.

What do you do to make Christmas real to you?

The Best Days of your Life?

School is supposed to be the best days of your life, according to some wisdom often mentioned by adults when I was at school.

Not for me, I lost track of the number of schools I have attended, some for 6 months at a time because of army postings and being relocated to Malaya and Germany as well as various places in the UK. Not that I would have changed those experiences for the world. Zeltus and I did have the option to go to boarding school, but he had experienced that whilst in Malaya and I don't think enjoyed it very much, I was never one for the Mallory Towers books never mind the real thing.

The last school was particularly trying for me, Mill Chase County Secondary School in Bordon. Coming from an Army background this was the first civilian school I had attended in a few years and it was completely different from any other one I had attended. The teachers were ineffective in dealing with classroom issues and most of the time I just tried to keep my head down and not be a highlight for the bullies. I lost track of how many things were mislaid by me (taken from me) and I couldn't wait to escape as soon as possible.

I enjoyed the learning process, just not the place in which those processes happened. When the move to the Back of Beyond was due I was asked if I wanted to stay on at school and that was the easy answer - frankly I would rather pull my teeth out with a pair of pliers..lol.

So never one for an easy option, I started work at the grand old age of 16 years and 5 months of age and still working now. The Open University was a god send to me, I could enjoy the experience and get a degree while still working and even though I have my degree now, I can always be persuaded to continue my learning development.

True Friendship

What exactly is true friendship?

I think I know what it is, let me see :

Being there for you no matter what you do or say, always providing moral if not physical support. The first to cheer you on and the last to give up on you.. that seems to be my view of it but tell me if I left anything out here.

I know what it isn't, having lost two so called friends along the road during 2008. Not by my choice, theirs, they didn't like what I was doing, nor who I was doing it with and decided that if I continued along my route it was going to be totally separate from theirs; at the time it coincided with anniversaries that were difficult enough emotionally.

At both these times I was meekly accepting, not fighting for what I percieved was lost. Now after 18 months I see that these friendships were not real, both of the people concerned were at best superficial friends though at the time I thought different. I am sad always at the loss of a friend, but I am no longer grieving for something that was not what I thought it was.

Here's to new friends, new activities and new beginnings...

Remembrance Sunday

Today at 11am, and on Wednesday morning we will stand silently and think of the sacrifices that the men (and women) in the British armed forces, both today and in the past, have lost their lives so we may enjoy our freedom.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place;
and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing,
fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved,
and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. —

Liet.-Col. John McCrae

How Stupid and Bureaucratic Can You Get - updated

British Legion to be charged for Remembrance Day service road closures

I have just read on our local, regional scandal rag newsheet that the whitless wonders who govern Back of Beyondshire are about to implement what can only be considered stupid and Bureaucratic nonsense.

Honouring the war dead will cost The Royal British Legion in Back of Beyondshire £150 for every Remembrance Sunday service where a road is closed.

Towns and villages within the Back of Beyondshire Council area will be charged to cover the cost of advertising road closure public notices for the November 8 events.

Margaret Roberts, regional manager for The Royal British Legion, said: “The Royal British Legion would be extremely disappointed if charges were to be levied against the charity for Remembrance events.

“The Government fully recognises and wholly supports the importance of Remembrance ceremonies and parades to local communities, and the Legion wants people of all ages to understand the importance of remembering those from the British armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice defending the freedoms we enjoy.” Among those needing to close roads for their Remembrance events will be Flitwick and Shefford, which will need to close the High Street in order to hold the service next to its war memorial.

Shefford town mayor Paul Mackin said: “Shefford Town Council is pretty disgusted with the fact that someone is going to have to cough up £150 so we can hold a service to mark our heroes’ Remembrance Sunday Service.

“For them to come up with having to pay for the road closure notices is absolutely disgraceful.

“It’s unreasonable to be hitting charities for this sort of money.” Cllr David McVicar, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at Back of Beyondshire Council, said: “We will always offer help and assistance to any group requesting a road closure.

“Although there are road closure charges to all profit making organisations, under the Special Events Order, if the event is run purely for charity, there is no charge other than the advertising cost of £150.

“Back of Beyondshire Council classes Remembrance Day as a charitable event.”

For the Love of God, can we not just deem this something special rather than just another charitable cause.. the one time in the year to remember the fallen, not only of the first and second world wars, but the ones who are currently serving now...

Well something worked as this was the response I got to an email I sent to the twit in question

A further press release has been issued correcting the misinterpretation by Back of Beyondshire on Sunday regarding Remembrance Day Services. We will NOT be charging for any advertising relating to road closures on Nov. 8th. The misunderstanding arose from an explanation on how we intend to treat charity applications and our process for future years with regard to Remembrance Day. Rest assured no charges will be levied on the Legion for future years as we will post one advertisement covering all of Central Back of Beyondshire and the Council will absorb the cost. I trust this clarifies the situation.

With regards Councillor David McVicar
Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities
Member for Icknield Ward, Dunstable

Hmmm I don't particularly like the phrase "our process for future years with regard to Remembrance Day" it smacks of trying to slide this one through under the wire in future years... not if I can help it..

One of my favourite monologues

Is Bob Newhart, with Gerard Hoffnung in a very close second with the bricklayers story and Pam Ayrs providing the british contingent she is going to be appearing at the Stables nr Milton Keynes soon and I am just debating whether to try and get a ticket or not... still makes me laugh.

Dad used to own a LP of Bob Newhart, and I can remember listening to the story of the driving instructor and having tears of laughter running down my face. Sadly he lent the record to a friend and it was never seen again.. years later I managed to find a copy on CD with some tracks I had never heard before including this one on bomb disposal; so for your delectation and amusement... here it is courtesy of this site


Er... hello, Lieutenant Stevenson here...
Patrolman Hackmaster?...
Oh! hello Willard, you're a little late reporting in aren't you, Willard?...
You've found a shell on the beach?...
You think that's unusual, do you Willard, finding a shell on the beach?...
It's not that kind of shell?...
What's the matter, Willard, doesn't it sound like the ocean when you hold it up to your ear?...
Oh! that kind of shell!...
Well, I'll tell you what, Willard, I'll send somebody out in the morning and we can er...
Oh! is that right?...
I was sort of hoping it was your watch making that noise...
I'm gonna give it to you straight, Willard. Willard, you've got a live one there!
WILLARD!!!...
Don't hang up...
That's an order, Willard...
And stop that whining!...
Now, you're perfectly safe, Willard, there's nothing to worry about as long as it's ticking...
Er, when it stops ticking, that's something else again, Willard.
Now, listen Willard, get control of yourself...
You and I are going to disarm that thing...
I've got the instruction manual...
Well, no! I'm not coming down there, Willard...
Well, I mean I can't just leave the office anytime I want to!...
NO!!!...
DON'T BRING IT IN HERE, WILLARD, NO!!!
Now look, Willard, I'm taking just as big a chance as you are, I mean, this is my responsibility, if that thing goes off, it's me they're gonna wanna to talk to, not you, ya know!
Alright now, Willard, describe it to me...
Uh... it sounds like some sort of torpedo, Willard...
It must be one of ours!...
It says, 'Made in Japan' huh?...
Well, it could still be one of ours, Willard. Is there a serial number or anything like that, on it?...
X5307... er, let me look that up, Willard, just a minute...
Oh boy!... you've found a beauty there, Willard. Ha! ha!... d'ya know how powerful that baby is?...
Six city blocks, Willard. ha! ha!...
What d'ya mean , you'll call me back?...
There's a phonebox seven blocks away...
WILLARD!!!...
Now, stop that whining, Willard!...
Willard, I know this is dangerous, but if we can save one human life...
Oh, that's the way you feel about, huh?...
Look Willard, control yourself now...
Listen Willard, according to this, there's a... Er, how long has that thing been ticking?...
About 5 - 6 minutes, huh?...
Huh?
Oh!... Er... nothing, Willard, nothing... we're just gonna have to work a little faster than I thought!
Willard, according to the manual here, about six inches from the tail-end of it, there's a plate...
Yeh, and it's held on by four screws...
Now it says, now this is very important, it says, 'This plate should be removed with an LT5 screwdriver with a plastic handle and a de-magnetised tip'...
Oh, you don't have one, huh?...
Augh!... use a coin then, Willard!...
Okay?... you got it off then, Willard?...
Boy! that thing sure is complicated... I can't make heads nor tails outa this...
No, don't worry, Willard, I'll get that thing fixed if it's the last thing... er, we'll take care of it, don't worry about it...
Listen Willard, there's a kind of a little hootymajig thing in there... a wheel of some kind! Why don't you try turning the wheel, Willard?...
Oh, I don't know... turn it to the left and see what happens...
Yeh!...
I can hear it, Willard, it's ticking a lot faster, isn't it?...
Er!... you'd better turn it back, Willard!
Okay! let's see...
Listen, there are two wires here. It says here, 'Under no conditions...
Oh! someone's spilled coffee over this page...
Well, one is a kind of greyish-blue and the other one is a kind of er, bluish-grey...
Willard!...
Who are you talking to there?...
A LITTLE BOY!!!...
Willard, get him out of there! if that thing goes off, we're...
He says it's his?...
It's a toy torpedo?...
Willard, let me talk to the kid, will ya?...
He ran down to the beach with it?
Willard, I think you'd better come into the office, we ought to have a little talk... you hung me up here for ten minutes because of a kid...
Willard!...
What was that noise?...
The toy torpedo just sunk a fishing trawler, huh?
Well, that's alright, Willard... it's out of our hands now, 'cos now its in the Coast Guard's, right?...
Right!
Good-bye.

We Plough the Fields and Scatter

We plough the fields and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft, refreshing rain.

A very modern looking tractor and plough working at Mattocks Farm
© Copyright Glyn Baker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Yep, they are out ploughing today round the Back of Beyond, a true sign of Autumn. Not that the weather isn't changing much, it is still warmish though a lot cooler in the morning and the nights are drawing in fast with it being dark by around 8pm.

I like Autumn, generally, the lush gold colours of the turning leaves on the trees, the warming sunlight all gently ease you into the dark winter months ahead but this year I feel regrets at losing the Summer which once more was not the heatwave that was predicted but more like a few good days and then a few worse days...

I am sure when I was a child, summers were long sunny days full of hosepipe bans and dry dusty days.. this year was a mix of torrential downpours and colder days with the odd occasional hot day when it was so hot that doing anything until evening was unwise..

The garden is beginning to slow down and grow less quickly (though I wish the weeds would take the same stance as the plants lol) and it has become a tidying up project rather than a growing project... soon it will be time to let it sleep.

I've been Skipping all weekend

All in the name of decluttering...lol

Not involving a rope, only old bits found in the shed at the bottom of the garden, the small shed, the greenhouse and the little shed... half an engine, various garden pots and other detritus all was carried down and put into the large skip ordered and delivered on Friday.. can definitely recommend it as a means of release. I was absolutely cream crackered last night, made a sandwich for tea as I was too tired to cook.

Originally I was supposed to have another viewing yesterday, but this was postponed until during the week so I carried on taking stuff out to the skip. The attic was emptied, stuff I had forgotten was in there as well as stuff I then remembered.. including two brand new army sleeping bags (any offers anyone?); I suspect that Dad 'alf-inched them during his time in the stores way back in the mists of time.

The chair in the spare room was broken up with a sledgehammer, as was the old bookcase by the back door... to take up less space in the tip. Likewise, old bits and bobs from the greenhouse all went to the skip.

Identifying stuff to take with me was easy, and getting rid of rubbish was relatively easy, what was more difficult was some of the stuff which had memories but no practical purpose... these have been put in the carport for a second thought while I carry on filling up the skip.

A busy weekend, and yet an enjoyable one..

Schooldays

Janet's oldest started school this week, The Queen is enjoying it immensely and it reminded me of my first days at nursery school (what everyone else now refers to as Kindergarden).

I can't remember being told about it, but older brother Zeltus had been going to 'school' for about two years before I was sent.. Nursery in Aborfield, where we were based at the time, was in a nissan hut down by the Cinema building (I think this is where it was) and it was in a old army nissan hut with a fenced off play area at the rear and to the side.

My mum took me there one morning with instructions to have fun and play nicely with the other children, of course I was suitably distraught at being abandoned to my fate and no idea of when or even if I were to be allowed home again. See in the 1950's we weren't mollycoddled, parents didn't stay with their kids, they weren't allowed to.. no drop them at the door and run for it..

I do remember a couple of things, one of which was the rocking horse behind the front door which was used in strict rotation so everyone who wanted a go managed to get some time on it, I think I did but I really can't remember it other than it was a magnificant specimen of a rocking horse in a dapple grey colour.

The other thing was the free milk and biscuits at break-time, now they were strict and you had to drink your milk warm as it was felt at the time that ice-cold milk was bad for you, ever since then I have had a phobia about drinking plain milk unless it is a) fresh and b) icy cold. Likewise you were supposed to keep your strength up and this involved partaking of a biscuit, never mind if you didn't like the offerings you were made to eat it.. I developed a hatred of fig rolls and won't eat one to this date... surprisingly at the time I didn't like bourbon biscuits either though I love them these days.

I am sure there were some activities but I can't recall doing anything particular, so anything they taught me was obviously lost in the mists of time.

Release came at the end of the morning, freedom given for the rest of the day until the following day when it resumed once more.

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

A mentioned in a post recently Tennyson recently, in one of her posts. I came across him by accident almost (not having studied him at school). One of my visits to my Nan co-incided with a bun-fight (jumble sale) at her sheltered accommodation, I was searching through the books (even at 11 I was always into books) and saw a battered 1897 copy of Tennyson's poems. I spent the princely sum of 10p for this treasure only to see my Mum roll her eyes at my purchase. I enjoyed reading some of the poems more than others, but my particular favourite was :

Memorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava, October 25, 1854
Written 1854 Alfred, Lord Tennyson (illustration by Richard Caton Woodville 1825-1855)

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

Its always nice

Its a good feeling and nice when things get their MOT done and they get through it with no work needed.. Max my beloved motorbike had his 3rd MOT today (was it really 6 years ago that I purchased him - the time has gone by so quickly) and he got through with flying colours...

I am now free of car/bike hassle until January when Tax becomes due on the car, and then April when the MOT is due on that but I am hoping after paying for all the work last time that I wouldn't need to do too much more.

Of course this time last year, I was looking forward to a long and challenging ride down to the South of France, this year I might be going to Suffolk to the National Rally instead... oh how the mighty have fallen actually I have plans that might include a holiday in the sun but it does require the house to be sold and if there are enough pennies in the pot then I am going to have a break and am considering Cyprus... should still be warm enough in Oct/Nov time shouldn't it?

Any other suggestions welcomed... I want a beach, soft and sandy, don't mind if it is quiet as long as there is a bar to have a drink at, don't mind self-catering but happy to do full board or even half-board.