Remembrance

Over the years I have taken the act of Remembrance very seriously. 

My Grandad (mum's dad who is sat in the tank in the photo below) died on August 8th 1944 in Normandy aged just 29 and his brother, Paddy, in the other photo was a dispatch rider and he died just over a year later in Italy on the 13th August 1945 aged 25. 

Martin was killed when a bomb hit the tank he was working on but Paddy was accidentally killed when he was given what was thought to be painkillers but turned out to be poison.

Top left, Paddy Kelly then top right Paddy and Martin. Bottom left their sister Mary and bottom right photo Paddy, his wife Violet and my mum as a little girl. In the boxes Vi's earrings and eternity ring.

We grew up knowing the family history. I visited My grand-dad's grave in Normandy with my mum when I was a teenager and we have always worn our poppies with pride.

I did a long post here in December 2018 about the commemoration for 100 years since the end of the 1st world war.

We will Remember them.

November came and went...

.... And already we are turning to thinking of Christmas. It will be a very different Christmas this year. For so many their Christmas will be sad because of the loss of a loved one, others will struggle with the cost of it and worry about finding money to pay for it and others may be alone and feel isolated.

I am doing my bit and have volunteered to help with a group of people that want to bring some support and socially distanced joy to my local area. We are hearing some sad stories about people feeling lonely and cut off. We are a group gathering pace on our Facebook Page we have lots of lovely ideas and I am sure I will write about some over the next few months.

So what did we get up to in the Lock-down month of November?

I received some seeds from my lovely friend Michela in Venice.

We did have a few sunny days...

We celebrated our 24th Wedding Anniversary with a lovely meal, the day before the pubs closed...

I have done some playing in my workroom too. I picked some flowers from the garden to enjoy inside.

The cats all had their yearly injections and check up...guess who is over weight?

The garden has its autumn clothes on...

We went for a walk in the hills above Todmorden one misty day

We commemorated Remembrance day at school and at home.

We have had some beautiful skies too...

many of them photographed on the way to or from school.

We met up with our friend and god daughters to meet the new member of their family...

On a less wet day Hubby and I went for a local walk over the hill on Norland Moor

My big brother hit a milestone. We could not have a big celebration but I think his close family made it special for him.

The first chrysanthemums from the garden

I came across this delightful shop window display in Hebden Bridge when I was picking up an order.

Another local walk last weekend then home to make some spiced orange gin!

and plant Tulip Lasagna!

So it has been a busy month in school and at home despite the lock-down. Our area is in Tier 3 so the poor hospitality venues are finding it so hard, I fear the country will look a lot different when we finally emerge from this pandemic.