In Flanders Fields

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.

John McCrae

My beloved old grandad (who died aged 100 years and 4 months old in December 2008) held great store by Remembrance Sunday. Every year (even last year when he was so frail and over 100 years old) he would dress up in his Sunday best and watch the television broadcast of the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph (The Queen, government representatives and soldiers march to the Cenotaph (empty tomb in Greek) in London and lay wreaths. A two minute silence is held to remember all those who have died for their country in the First World War and all wars since. The “Last post” is played on a bugle to introduce the two minute silence at 11 o’clock and “Rouse” is played at the end. Other commemoration services are held in churches and at war memorials throughout Britain). It seems strange that this year, for the first time ever in my life, he won’t be phoning me to remind me to watch the service. I will watch it anyway ~ and I shall remember those who so bravely gave of their lives … and I shall also remember my beloved grandad, whom I still miss greatly. RIP.

Please do leave your post url in Mr Linky if you join in ~ so we can all enjoy your photos. And don’t forget to visit each other!

Well today I’m going to disappoint. I was intending to take photos of a fireworks display last night for today’s post but didn’t feel well enough to go out. This week I’ve graduated to walking semi weight-bearing with crutches and as a result have been in a lot of pain. I think I got lulled into a false sense of security when I was non weight-bearing ~ because as I was not putting any weight on my leg, it didn’t hurt much.

However, now I’ve started putting it to the ground it’s very painful ~ and last night the ankle joint was swollen, very hot to the touch and inflamed. I had no choice but to elevate my leg and rest ~ so no photos! I’m collecting a new prescription today for some tablets which my doctor thinks should help reduce the swelling and  inflammation, so hopefully I’ll feel better once they’re in my system.

I had an x-ray last week and was told all looked well (although the graft has not yet fully knitted with the tibia) so I’m not overly concerned. Apparently swelling and inflammation of the joint during recovery are par for the course after a bone graft to the leg. :sigh:

Anyway, since I don’t have any suitable photos for today’s theme ~ I thought I’d share a sweet little picture my 6-year-old grandson drew of me, when he visited last week. He was bemused by seeing me in a wheelchair (just before I started semi weight-bearing) ~ so we referred to it as Nana’s Hot Wheels to make him laugh ~ hence the title of his picture! Whilst he was visiting we went down to the beach with his bucket and spade (I stayed on the pathway) and I carried his bucket and spade on my lap in the wheelchair ~ so rather amusingly in the picture, he’s hung them on my elevated leg! LOL!  I just love that boy!

And a few other pics taken on that beach trip ~ these photos were taken early (straight after breakfast!) ~ it was wonderful weather for late October ~ so warm we didn’t need coats, even at that time of day! I loved the light that morning too ~ it’s quite common to get that wonderful Autumn/Winter light here ~ and it’s perfect for taking photos.

First of all ~ Mr Artistic with his little sister (cousins to baby Pumpkin):

Beachcombing for shells and interesting stones etc …

 ”Look what I’ve got Nana!”

 

 ”I found some too!”

 ”WOW! That looks interesting!”

 Concentrating on writing in the sand …

 That’s all for this week folks!

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Photo Friday Advance Diary

 13th November ~ Photo Art  (using photo-shop, or any other device)

20th November ~ Free Choice (your favourite recent photo and why).

Historical facts re Guy Fawkes in the UK:

Guy Fawkes (13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries,belonged to a group of Roman Catholic restorationists from England who planned the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Their aim was to displace Protestant rule by blowing up the Houses of Parliament while King James I and the entire Protestant, and even most of the Catholic, aristocracy and nobility were inside. The conspirators saw this as a necessary reaction to the systematic discrimination against English Catholics.

The Gunpowder Plot was led by Robert Catesby, but Fawkes was put in charge of its execution. He was arrested a few hours before the planned explosion, during a search of the cellars underneath Parliament in the early hours of 5 November prompted by the receipt of an anonymous warning letter.

Guy Fawkes Night (or “bonfire night”), held on 5 November in the United Kingdom and some parts of the Commonwealth, is a commemoration of the plot, during which an effigy of Fawkes is burned, often accompanied by a fireworks display. The word “guy”, meaning “man” or “person”, is derived from his name.

Interestingly ~ I’m not sure many folk would stop Guy Fawkes these days ~ since the current UK government is currently considered rather corrupt and inadequate.

November 5, 2009
Bloggers from all across the globe
will blog for peace today.
We will speak with one voice.
One subject.
One day.

If you’d like to join in and want more information or a template, visit the world-wide Peace Blog. 

 

John Lennon:  Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.

Well I suppose it was only to be expected that my beautiful new grand-daughter, born on Halloween, would be nicknamed Pumpkin by her Mom and Dad (a fact that will no doubt delight my sweet friend Melanie ~ who also has the same nickname!) ~ it’s a good job I like the name! Here are a few snaps of Pumpkin taken yesterday (at just one day old):

Kathleen ~ the photo below is especially for you … everyone loved the quilt and admired the beautiful craftwomanship, thank you:

 

So now I am Nana to three ~ and the circle of life continues …

My beautiful new grand-daughter was born today, at 6.44am ~ a first child for my eldest son. She was almost a week late in arriving and weighed in at 8lb 15.5 ounces! Mom and baby are healthy and happy!  Jessica shares her birthday with my dear maternal grandmother (her great, great grandmother) who was also born on Halloween (and who died many years ago) and she shares her first name with my paternal grandmother (who died just a few years ago).  However, I believe Jessica was named after her own mother’s side of the family ~ so the link is coincidental although pleasing to me. Jessica is my third grandchild and second grand-daughter. I’m delighted ~ expect photos soon!

So the circle of life continues … I know my beloved Grandad will smiling down from Heaven today and will be delighted that the little one shares the same name as his late wife ~ the mother of my father.

Welcome to the World Jessica Laura!  May your life be full of love, blessings and good health.

PS: It just occurred to me ~ I share the same birthday as my maternal grandfather ~ what a coincidence.

 

Please feel free to join in, by leaving the URL to your Photo Friday post in Mr Linky below: 

(Posted in my absence ~ I am at hospital all day today for scans, x-rays etc ~ No news on the new granchild yet, the Stork is late!)

Well, I don’t need much of an excuse to show a pic of my boys (Milo ~Tuxedo, and Alfie ~ Grey) ~ courtesy of PhotoShop!

And with a bit of Halloween hocus pocus ….

 Photo Friday Advance Diary

6th November ~ Guy Fawkwes OR any seasonal celebrations

13th November ~ Photo Art  (using photo-shop, or any other device)

Today is a dear friend’s  birthday ~ so Have  a wondeful day Mel! If you have time do pop over to her blog and make her day with a birthday greeting!

There is also another important birthday on the horizon ~ my new grand-daughter was due to be born last Sunday and may be born today or tomorrow. I can’t wait to welcome her to the World. Wish her a safe arrival. She will be the firstborn of my eldest son and his beautiful wife ~ and my third grandchild (2nd grand-daughter).

 

Please feel free to join in, by leaving the URL to your Photo Friday post in Mr Linky below:

As you all know I have a problem with mobility at the moment ~ so I’m limited to where I can go in a wheelchair, and I can only go when someone is available to accompany me. It’s all very frustrating  ~ but I did manage to get a few Autumn photos. On my way back from  physiotherapy I persuaded P to take a short detour through a small wooded copse just a few minutes stroll from our house.  As luck would have it the sun came out (it’s been grey and gloomy almost all week) so I was able to snap a few Autumn pics for today! I would like to have visited an Aboretum (:sigh:) and taken photos of the beautiful Autumn colours ~ but I had to make do with fallen leaves.

PS: Elizabeth joined us for Photo Friday last week and the previous week ~ so please check Mr Linky so you can visit her blog and look at her stunning photos. Thanks.

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PHOTO FRIDAY ADVANCE DIARY:

 

30th October ~ Halloween

6th November ~ Guy Fawkwes celebrations

13th November ~ Photo Art  (using photo-shop, or any other device)

 

 

Please feel free to join in, by leaving the URL to your Photo Friday post in Mr Linky below:

 

First of all: WELCOME to a new Photo Friday participant today ~ find Elizabeth’s blog on Mr Linky above. Elizabeth has posted some lovely pics of her town: Watsonville. Unfortunately I don’t have a Google Account (it’s a long story) ~ so I can’t comment on her blog but I’ve e-mailed Elizabeth to see if she can change the comment sign-in! Do take a look and give her a warm Photo Friday welcome! Her pics are great!

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Sidmouth is a beautiful town with a plethora of well preserved Georgian buildings, many of which are grade 2 listed. Today, however,  I am showing you street views ~ that is, what I see day by day as I stroll into town. My home is just five minutes walk from the centre of town and less than 4 minutes walk to the sea shore.

I consider Sidmouth to be in an ideal place to live because if you don’t want to get a car out you can stroll to the Theatre, Cinema, shops, banks, building societies, Cottage Hospital, Doctor’s surgery, Library, hairdressers, churches, parks, sea shore ~ and everything else you could want including golf course, putting green, bowling green, sport’s centre (and swimming pool), tennis courts, croquet lawns … I could go on and on. In addition their are over 200 clubs and socities so whether you want join a book club, photography group, art , embroidery, whist, etc etc ~ it’s there withing 10 minutes walk. We took all this into consideration when we chose our home because we intended to retire here and knew eventually that as we got older we may not want to drive. Notice I used the word “intended” ~ well one can never know what’s round the next corner ~ so I like to keep my options open.

From left to right, from top to bottom ~ the photos are:

Church Street, Old Fore Street (x2), High Street, Market square, Fore Street, The Esplanade (x2), Station Road, Fortfield Terrace.

CLICK on any photo below you want to BIGGIFY! 

PHOTO FRIDAY ADVANCE DIARY:

23rd October ~ Autumn

30th October ~ Halloween

6th November ~ Guy Fawkwes celebrations