92

Okay silly day today. I counted out the amount of cents in my purse and decided however many I had, I would find stories relating to that figure. I had 92 cents.

WWII saw her entertaining the troops with 'We'll Meet Again' . Dame Vera hits the charts again in 2009. BBC News at the grand old age of 92...yes 92!

London, January 2009: Doctors treating an 92 year old Chinese woman for stomach ache, were stunned when they found that she had been carrying an unborn child for 60 years.

A FORMER Desert Rat is taking on a 12,000ft tandem skydive to raise cash for injured ex-soldiers – at the grand old age of 92.

Soldier's identity disc returned after 92 years.

Archives Part II

I decided that I would spread the Hidden Treasures Challenge to a few more blogs.

Virginia Kate Saga's is a blog run by the author Kathryn Magendie. Her blog is vibrant, her personality really shines through each post.

Me, My Muse and I is where Jennifer Shirk writes her daily blog posts, I love popping in and reading the variety of topics she shares.

The Everyday Adventurer is run by Ratty, his pictures and adventures in the great outdoors are wonderful.

I look forward to seeing their six archive treasures.

Those who have been challenged, here are your rules:

1. Take the Challenge picture and place on your blog
2. Find your favourite six hidden posts in the archives of your own blog and add the links under the picture
3. Choose one other blogger and send the challenge to them
   
4. Link back to the sender of the challenge and New Scribbles
   

Archive Treasures

I have received and given out several awards over my blogging life and thanks to those who have awarded them.
I like reading about other folk and their quirks. I love sending out to others the notification that they have been awarded. I do confess to struggle at finding the time to mention 15 bloggers and my 15 favourite things etc. Today I decided to start something of my own. I decided to set up SIX HIDDEN TREASURES CHALLENGE... HEY - COME BACK!! You don't have to pass it onto 6 others etc.

The aim of this award is for you to share YOUR six hidden treasures in YOUR archives. Those posts you were proud of writing, and have sat in the dusty archives unread for years or months are going to be shown to the world again.

The Rules

1. Take the Challenge picture and place on your blog
2. Find your favourite six hidden posts in the archives and add the links under the picture
3. Choose one other blogger and send the challenge to them
   
4. Link back to the sender of the challenge and New Scribbles
   

So here are my Six Hidden Treasures:

1. Trivia Fun
2. I'm Two Socksy For This Blog
3. I Nearly Won The Troodos Car Ralley
4. Charity Star and Pride
5. Our Day Out
6. Silly Sunday
   

I am going to choose my writing buddy Lizzie to dust off her archives @ Words To The Wise

Defending A Coward

I stood at the graveside of a 22 year old soldier friend who died so I am free to write this blog, lead my life and have freedom.
I watched the face of the young soldiers surrounding us, their pain was raw, they had lost part of the body of defence they had built. A stronghold of love and support had been ripped apart, it had to regroup quickly inorder to survive, but it needed to grieve. His parents and siblings will have the time to grieve, they will be allowed to let their guard down, the soldiers will not be able to. They do not have the luxury of time, they will be shipped back to face the enemy, knowing that at anytime, it could be their turn next.

I admired them, thanked them but could never be them, I am a coward, I will hide behind their united wall. They have my Admiration & Gratitude.

I came across this moving video on the BBC News, I thank God I am not that parent.

We hear each day that another soldier has died, whatever our feelings are about the war that is taking the lives of others, take two minutes out of your busy lives. Use one for those who chose to defend us and the other who, had no choice in giving up a child to war. My friend Shane, chose to go, to become a defender, his parents did not choose to give their child to the military, there was no choice for them. Both sides suffered the sniper shot of the enemy in defence of a coward.

Moi Superior?

Helen @ Straight From Hel has awarded me, (well this blog), The Superior Scribbler Award.
Well I was thrilled to bits, moi superior? Thank You Helen.

Of course, as with every Bloggy Award, there are A Few Rules. They are, forthwith:

• Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
• Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
• Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

The 5 Recipients of The Superior Scribbler Award from New Scribbles By Glynis are:

1. Lizzie @ Words To The Wise
   
2. Roz @ Crafts On A Budget
3. Lauren @ Friends Revolution
4. Chris @ Christoncipher and friends
5. RJ Evans@ Webphemera

I know you will find something interesting at each blog. If you only have chance to visit one just pick a number, each blog deserves the superior award.

catastrophe

Murder in Turnham Green

When DH and I married we rented a mid-floor flat in a house. It was in Turnham Green, off of Chiswick High Road in London.
It was a small, town that had once been a village. I have been looking back on the area thanks to the Internet and came across an interesting murder story.
On Chiswick High Road in the 1820's there was a house called Linden House. It was owned by George Griffiths. His heir was a young artist and journalist, his nephew Thomas Griffiths Wainewright. He wrote for The London Magazine and used the name, Janus Weathercock.He eventually became well known amongst the writing circles and Charles Dickens was one of those he became friends with.
When Thomas got into debt he went to live at the house. He was also a dandy, described as an `over dressed young man', a spendthrift, a forger and a probable poisoner, although it has to be said he was never convicted for murder. To ensure he would receive his inheritence early, it is suspected that he poisoned his uncle, and later he took out life insurances and poisoned other members of his family. He was caught and imprisoned for forgery, not their murders.
Pen, Pencil and Poison" is a biographical essay about him, written by Oscar Wilde. He puts forward the notion that that Wainewright's criminality reveals the soul of a true artist. Read more about this fascinating young man, who was eventually transported to Australia on a convict ship from the UK and became a well known Tasmanian painter.

It is funny what you learn from day to day.

It Feels Like The Oscars!

I have been award two awards in one day, it feels like the Oscars!

Elizabeth over @ Mystery Writing is Murder, has awarded me the Humane Award.
The Humane Award is to honor certain bloggers who are considered, kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in blog activites and always leave the most supportive and encouraging comments.
I am thrilled to recieve this award and have great difficulty in choosing only one or two to pass it onto. I offer it to you all and I also nominate:

• Ratty over at The Everyday Adventurer entertains me with his delightful blog and wonderful photographs. He is a very supportive blogging friend and certainly deserves this award.
• IcyBC over at Reach Beyond Limits is an active blogger, who leaves encouraging and supportive comments and I send the award her way.
  

Jen @ Woolgatherings awarded me Kreativ Blogger, thank you.

The rules are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated

• I am counting down the days until the second child of ours gets married. He is our first born and only son. He is a Zoologist/ Herpetologist and our house used to be full of reptiles. I was known as the mad lady of Manningtree (my old UK village).
• I was a nurse in the UK and the first operation I assisted with was a right, below the knee amputation. I also assisted with one of the first organ removal operations on a child after death.
• I learned to swim with a broken arm
• I ate Mars Bars dipped into pickled onion vinegar when pregnant with the first child, I ate pink candy shrimps with the second and fresh oranges with the third.
• I have been to Portugal, Monte Carlo, Majorca, Valencia, Paris, Tunisia, Spain and of course, Cyprus. I have never been to Wales, Scotland or Ireland, despite being born and brought up in the UK.
• My father's mother was a descendant of Sir Humphrey Davy, the inventor of the miner's safety lamp.
• My Grandfather was in the Royal Navy and was part of the Russian Convoy, he used to tell us his story. The video of this man could be my grandfather talking.

I am supposed to name 7 blogs to receive this award, but again I ask that you accept it directly from this page, yes I nominate you all.

Assumption Day in Cyprus

Today is Assumption Day in Cyprus, a very big religious day in the Greek Orthodox Church. It is the day that Mary Mother of Christ, ascended to Heaven.
Many of my Cypriot friends have been fasting, leading up to this day. We have been given gifts of Honeydew and Watermelons, Apples, Eggs, Wine, Cakes and much more, their generosity is quite humbling, especially during such financial hard times on the island.
They will attend church and visit the village of Panagia, very close by, to pay homage to Mary at the Monastary Chrysoroyiatissa, dedicated to Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate. It is a beautiful place to visit, it has wonderful icons and a delightful winery, the monks produce their own and sell to the public.

After the ceremonies, large groups of families will picnic, go to restaurants, BBQ or just relax with fresh foods in their homes. The day is regarded as a little like Christmas Day. The hillside villages will be packed with devoted worshippers.

I know I will not be going to bed early tonight as the music will ring around the village, the sound of laughter will be heard from every front porch. I love to hear the village come together and I know that if I was to walk by any of the homes close by, my evening would be spent amongst friends having fun and keeping a tradition alive.

Going Dutch on Memories

SS Avalon

My father as you know has Alzheimer's and is now going downhill fast. He has entered the latter stage and the first time he did not recognise who I was, was at my daughter's wedding. It hurt but the day was so perfect, I realised it was planned that way for me. Fate was kind and took the pain away.
For being chief taster of the wedding cake mix, he was given a gift by the newly weds. It was photograph of the ship he served on as a young man. This is all he remembers of his past now and loves to tell the muddled tales of the sea.

He started life as pantry boy and rose to being silver service steward to the Royals and famous.
Stars such as Glynis Johns (yes I was named after her Glynis Joan), Vera Lynn and Mr Sainsbury the name behind the huge British supermarkets. In fact Mr Sainsbury told my father to invest in food, as people have to eat, but dad didn't take up the share offer, how he regrets that.
The royal families in Holland and England, never flew in those days, and my father bought his first house with the tips they generously gave him.
I remember sitting on deck with him, on one of our many trips to the Hook of Holland, we were sharing a bag of cherries given to me by 'Cookie' the ships cook.

Why am I talking about this today? Well I came across information about The Madurodam in Holland, it is a miniture world and I loved it, we went many times day and night. Oh how I adored the little buildings and people, I was a tiny child but felt like a giant princess in my own world.
We stayed with a dutch ship's pilot and he gave us schokolade haagen (chocolate rain), the little chocolate sprinkles on bread for breakfast.



What a world my father transported me to from the age of three. Tulips, clogs Windmills, a minature city and chocolate for breakfast. He may not remember but I will never forget.

Kitchels? Catch Alls? The Mayflower and Harwich.

Kitchels? Catch Alls? I hear you ask.
I was given a sweet bun by a Cypriot friend yesterday and was reminded of a ceremony, unique to my home town of Harwich, in Essex UK. On Mayor making day the newly elected controller of the town, throws a small bun known as a Kitchel, from the window.


The bun is for the children standing below the Town Hall window. The history of the bun is that it is a current bun , shaped in a long oval, tube like presentation. It is a little like a Hot Cross bun eaten at Easter. In the county of Suffolk it was origionally known as a catch all and a God's Kitchel. Godparents would bless their Godchild with a bun. It is believed to be a tradition of thousands of years, dating back to the Norman Conquest and is also believed to be an Anglo-Saxon word meaning small cake. The tradition was taken to Harwich for the newly elected Mayoral celebrations to spread goodwill amongst the poor of the town. The local baker makes 400 of these buns, I think now they are wrapped up for hygiene purposes, but when I was a child, it only hit the floor for seconds and was devoured in equal time, no time for unwrapping or germs. I have been witness to many Kitchel throwing ceremonies and the excitement of the children (and adults), remains the same every year, a bit like the bride throwing the bouquet.



My latest poem, Harwich, Essex, England

.

The house of Christopher Jones owner of The Mayflower.

Did you know that the Pilgrim Father's ship originated from Harwich in 1620?  My primary school was called The Mayflower. Christopher Jones was the ship's owner and master, he lived in Harwich until he was 40 years old. Harwich is a port town and l remember many fishing fleets during my childhood. Dovercourt and Parkeston are smaller towns that are included within the area of Harwich. I was raised in Parkeston and Dovercourt, DH was raised in Harwich, if asked where were you born, local folk usually just say, Harwich.

So You Think Us Brits are Crazy...

So you think us Brits are crazy? Well OK we are slightly odd, here is a little proof. This lady is getting extremely excited by public toilets, just watch her video!


I came across a few blog posts stating their finds on the crazy Brits.
Blog 1
Blog2
Blog3

Here is a video that share a few differences between English and American words.

My New Video!!

Lauren over at Friends Revolution has been a writer friend for about a year now. She is a very talented lady, not just in the writing world but in the everyday world too.
At a young age she opened two restaurants, some may know her as Chef Lauren. She is now training to be a Doctor in Archaeology, very specialist field. Her articles relating to the world of archaeology are very interesting.

Well the reason for the introduction to Lauren, is that she made a video...FOR ME, about me.
How lucky I am to have such friends!
I now have two videos, one from Louie Jerome and now this one.

Tagged and Happy

Tagging is a great way of finding new blogging friends. Through adding links we can connect our friends with each other. I have been tagged and asked to relay 6 things that make me happy. Who tagged me? Donald Swarbrick over @ Get Things Off Your Chest by Opinionated Pensioner is responsible for the latest tag, thanks Donald and here is my list.
I am going to change this tag slightly at the end of my list, it is something I thought of while writing this.
Okay, here goes:

1. My life makes me happy, everything about it. There are bad times but they remind me that I am alive and living, therefore, lucky.
2. Being married to DH for 30 years is a happy tick in the box for me.
3. My blogging friends, they support me, don't judge me and keep the smile on my face...yes that is you...Thanks!
4. Writing, the days when it flows well make me happy.
5. The moments when my dad remembers who I am when I phone the UK. They are rare moments now as Alzheimer's has more of a claim to him than we do.
6. Getting news from my children about their lives

So they are the six things that make me happy today...who know's what tomorrow brings.

I am not going to add six names to continue this tag as I have done it many times before. I am going to ask you to tag one blogging friend of yours and put the link in the comments box, that way I can go and visit them. Ask them to do the six things that make them happy to keep it going.

The French Alps ( My Pics)

The French Alps were a wonderful site from the plane. I remember when I was 15 (36yrs ago), we traveled from the UK to Spain and Italy via the Alps on a train. Now I have seen them from both top and bottom. The sky was so clear and the view just took my breath away. I could see every crater and crevice.
I do not own a fancy camera, these were taken on my Pentax digital using zoom.
If you click on the pic it will enlarge and you can see them in their full glory.

Thank You...A forgotten Art?

Thank you all for the lovely return greetings. I am thrilled to have so many blogging friends.

With the weddings out of the way comes the task of saying, 'Thank You for your gift'. I pride myself on bringing up my children to have said thank you and to write a thank you letter in the past. They admit as they have gotten older, email, text and telephone is the easy option. For their wedding thank you, they are all going to write, they want to do it the old -fashioned way. I consider it the polite way, but others say, anyway is ok. What say you?

I love to open a little note, with a thank you, it makes me feel as if someone has taken time out for me.
I was taught to write a thank you follow up letter after an interview, I only ever did it once, after that I felt it was a 'nuisance letter', for the prospective employer. So is there is a time and place for a thank you response?