I thought this an appropriate title on Armistice Day. I am always deeply moved on Remembrance Sunday – it is hard sometimes to understand where we would be now, had generations before us not given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The Dearly Beloved and I went with friends and neighbours to Ypres in Belgium for a tour of some of the many World War 1 Battlefields and cemeteries. I had always looked back with thanks but no understanding of what really happened. My paternal grandfather and his brother were there – and though totally banned, my grandfather wrote a diary. It was an inexplicable experience retracing my grandfather’s steps – at least he came home. His brother however was not so fortunate- aged 21 he was killed. Now the sentiment from my home was this was “ sad” – but as we travelled on that bus across Belgium, the harsh reality was that his body is still missing under Belgium soil and could be discovered with any new build at any time. He is by no means the only soldier whose body has not been recovered and I pay the highest tribute to the Belgian people for the respect they give our dead when they are found.
However Remembrance is not just about those who died in World War 1. Our friend Lee served in current day war – he has never spoken to us of the horrors he witnessed but any one of us must know that those serving their country in war zones see things that horror movies could never portray . Losing friends has been hard for both the DB and I – but to see a friend blown to smithereens in front of you has to be indescribable . So to all those who have served our country , serve it today and will do in the future – you have my deepest love and respect.
On a lighter note I hear Jeremy Corbin plans to improve working conditions for those in the Armed Forces….just wondering how he’s going to do that ……Without a doubt those serving must have respect, appropriate pay, living conditions and pensions – my thoughts really are for the battlefield and how you can possibly effect that ….
Oh dear, I hear you say, dare I go on? Of course Dear Reader, continue … Last week the DB and I climbed the mountain behind our bolt hole to the Cross at the top. Now the DB last did this forty years ago – I know , vintage describes him well !!!! As we set off I realised we were taking the true Camino Romero ( the way of rosemary!)
Either side of the path , both up and down, were rosemary bushes. In truth Kathleen and I on our Camino hadn’t experienced this – I think we saw one rosemary bush on our way! Anyway the hills round here make up for it!! For those of you who have followed this blog from its incarnation, I want to assure you that although I haven’t written about how hard the Camino was, it’s because it wasn’t and not because I don’t want to show any weakness. Yes we had hills and mountains to climb, but we never once questioned whether we could do it or not- rather we knew every hill had its summit and we would get there at some point.
However I feel my blog as we leave St Jean Pied de Port ( when we do Dear Reader!- several years hence I fear!!) will read slightly differently!!!!
Now last Friday, on my way to the market , trolley in tow………I’m going to digress! Yes I have a shopping trolley – whoever thought! My mother had a tartan type – I remember as a child walking with her to the village, trolley in tow! Then look , our purchases from the butcher, fishmonger, grocer, green grocer,were given to us in paper bags – marvellous.
Then someone invented the plastic carrier bag – I remember thinking miracle of miracles , what an amazingly brilliant invention! – and then the supermarket came along – could it get any better????…..I guess I leave it to you to answer – all I can say is that I now shop at the butcher, the fishmonger, the green grocer …….the supermarket of course gets a look in but sadly the individual specialists cannot compete with big brand prices. So the big supermarkets will be here to stay – and they offer choice to those on low budgets and so are invaluable .
A minute ago I was walking to the market with my trolley ….. see what can happen! Now as I crossed the road I saw our friend Paco in his mobility scooter outside a rather nice jewellery shop. We gave our customary greeting and I asked what he was doing . “ Oh I’ve been to choose something for my wife’s birthday next week” “ How lovely, what have you chosen?” “Oh some earnings and a matching necklace”
So I said “ Lovely Paco, I’ll tell the DB I’ve seen you and what you’ve bought!”
Now Dear Reader, I’ve previously promised that I would divulge details of the DB’s past presents . I do not want you to think I am materialistic in any way – all I ask for in a present is thought, and before I tell this tale you need to know the DB has given me some wonderful and amazing presents, all of which have been greatly loved and appreciated.
However one year he had a “blip”!!! I was working, so as was my routine, I went downstairs early to take the magnificent Louie out for his early morning walk. Propped up by the kettle was an envelope and a plastic bag. I opened the bag to find a Jasper Carrot CD – a little baffling ( and yes back in the day, I liked Jasper Carrot but not been a recent fan…) , anyway got on with walking Louie, came home and made the DB a cup of tea. “ Happy Birthday” he said “ Thank you” said I . Then off I went to work – now remember what matters to me Dear Reader, thought….
I didn’t quite know what to make of this gift – anyway we were going out for a meal with the DB’s son and wife later so I was looking forward to that . I arrived home and got ready to go out- in the car on the way the DB said he knew the gift wasn’t perhaps quite what I wanted. So I decided to let him know thought was very important. “I went to five shops trying to find what I wanted” he said. The guilt dear reader, the guilt. Best leave it there. Silence.
Anyway we arrived early at the restaurant- and when Ross and his wife Lucy, arrived they did so with balloon, sparkles and anything else birthday like you can imagine . “ Oh for goodness sake “ said the DB “ you had to show me up, didn’t you?”
“ Oh no Dad, what have you given Jane for her Birthday” asked Ross ( he knows his father well!!!)
Well, without going on and on, he confessed ( as I suspected) that on his way home the evening before my birthday, the only thing he could find was something Jasper Carroty which I might like!!! He found it at the motorway service station!!!! As for the five shops he’d been to – well Pets at Home had nothing, Allied Carpets had little to offer, Mothercare – say no more, Staples had nothing and B&Q ….oh yes they had a yellow rose, but he didn’t know where I’d put it ………
So Dear Reader – thought is what counts. Needless to say , I know where I’d have put the yellow rose 😂😂😂……
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them …
Camino Romero 