STAR

Dylan in the snow. Update

2012-02-13T17:44:00.000Z

My grandson Dylan came to spend the day with me on Friday. Oh! we did have fun together. We have had a very snowy week and I couldn't wait to get him out in it. Here we are stepping out of the door. 'It's a very big step, Oma, for someone who's just learned to walk!'

We had to take 'lamby' with us to show him the snow (see lamby in Dylan's hand below).

Dylan's wellie boots would not go on easily and he soon got fed up trying so out we went, he wearing his best shoes, just bought.

I'm wearing my spotty wellie boots. Aren't they just the best!

Here are some pictures of my English garden in the snow last week. It does look pretty, doesn't it.

We threw snowballs and listened to the crunch as we walked, but when we got cold and tired, we had to come back into the warm for a snuggle.

Love is: having a gorgeous grandson to snuggle up with! Oh and a pretty little cat too!

Snow is coming!

2012-02-04T16:10:00.000Z

Needed!

I expect my next post will include a snowy picture since now I'm back in London, 5 - 10 cms of snow is expected tonight. I daresay I will wake up to a white world tomorrow. I can usually tell before I pull back the curtains because it is so quiet outside - no cars, no people, just peace and quiet.

For now though, I have returned to a bitterly cold place where there was even ice on the inside of the car this morning, as well as the outside. Cold but beautiful (wink).

My flight back to the UK was very smooth indeed. The 'put seat belt signs' didn't come on once and there was very little turbulence so I got a good rest. We arrived back in London at 9.40 a.m to a sunny landscape and a biting wind. The sun was shining and all was well with the world.

There is a new automatic passport control desk as you go through, for people with a 'chip' in their passport i.e. the new sort, which I have. That was a much faster way of doing it. You just open up your passport to the picture page, where the chip is, and put it face down on a scanner. When you remove it from the scanner, the automatic barrier opens, and you go through. It saves being scrutinised by a passport control person. I don't know if it available for non British people but it certainly helped me. I always find it very intimidating having to pass through the passport control, don't you?

So I'm back, with a visit to the dentist planned for Tuesday - ugh! While I've been in America, I've had a sensitive tooth and a sore tongue, see previous post on 'toothpaste' so I shall be glad to get that tooth sorted!

Soon I shall see Dylan again, YES!

Have a great weekend people.

Star

Return to England

2012-02-01T12:55:00.000Z

Today is a big day for me because I return to England, overnight tonight. The flight from Atlanta leaves at 20.40 this evening.

So this morning, I will be checking my luggage, again and again and we leave for the airport at lunchtime. it's a three and a half hour trip to Atlanta from here and rain is forecast!

Since the time in England is five hours ahead, I will land tomorrow at Heathrow about 10 to 10.30 a.m. I have been watching the weather forecast there for the last few days and this morning when I looked, it had improved a bit. Now I can expect temperature of just about freezing and sunny. Isn't that nice! I'm so glad the snow has decided to wait until Saturday!

So it's goodbye to Tennessee and hello to London.

Dylan's mummy has been very poorly since Christmas, with a horrible cough virus. Yesterday she had to go to the Emergency room at the hospital because she had difficulties with her breathing.

I feel I'm needed!

See you when I get back to London!

Star

Dylan Update! Dylan walked on his own today for the first time. Yeh!

2012-01-28T19:09:00.000Z

I just got this news from Facebook! Dylan walked on his own for the first time today! I am an excited Granny!! just in time for me to come back and see him. I return on Wednesday next week. He is one year and three months old.

This pic., taken with a polaroid, I think, is hot off the press. He is shown with him mum sitting close by.

Isn't that just the most exciting thing today!

Marion Montgomery

2012-01-27T18:59:00.002Z

Here is one of my favourite singers, Marion Montgomery, singing with Dudley Moore.

Love this. Hope you enjoy it too.

Star

The Snowman

2012-01-17T22:09:00.001Z

When this video came out, it must have been around 1989 because my youngest son, David, looked very much like the little boy. I knew when I saw it for the first time, that it would be very special to me and it is.

At the end of the Christmas period, I would watch The Snowman and at the point where he melts away, I would know that Christmas was over.

Christmas is melting away from me too. I go back to England in two week's time, back to my house and my sons and my little grandson, Dylan.

Perhaps there will be a trace of snow on the lawn...

Toothpaste

2012-01-16T00:45:00.000Z

No, that isn't my smile! I wish it was, but it isn't.

When I first got here, back in November, I went to the supermarket to get the things I needed, one of which was toothpaste. I like Aquafresh best so that's what I bought. I didn't bother to study the label on the box. It looked the same as the one I am used to back in the U.K.

A week later I had a very sore tongue! (no comments please!!). I couldn't understand it. My tongue was sore and red and I couldn't bear anything to touch it. Cleaning my teeth made my tongue scream and water poured into my mouth from the salivary glands! All the little papillae were standing up to attention. I began to think it was an allergy and looked around for what I'd been eating that was different here than back in Blighty. I've never had a sore tongue in my life and believe me, it wasn't pleasant! I thought maybe I'd been drinking my tea and coffee too hot - I do that a lot, but when I went on to water only, that helped but didn't cure it. I rinsed with mouthwash. That was like swallowing fire...

Finally I went back to an old wives recipe, salt water. That did tamper it down a bit. I daren't eat pickles or chilli or anything fiery.

I began to wonder if I should go to the Chinese doctor and see if he could recommend something to take the fire out of my blood.

At last L suggested it might be the toothpaste. True enough, it was worse just after brushing. I looked at the box and saw that it contained bleach! Well naturally that set the alarm bells going. L thought that might be the reason for the soreness so I changed the toothpaste to an ordinary one without the dreaded 'whitening' in it and now all is fine

EXCEPT

I now have a sensitive tooth so I had to go and buy some Sensodyne.

Does this post sound like a toothpaste commercial?

Has anyone else had this problem?

A New Teapot!

2012-01-12T21:46:00.000Z

Necessity dictated that we needed a new teapot! since the other one met with an accident over the Christmas period!

So out with the old:

r.i.p ... and in with the new, just like the New Year that's just started! The new one matches my tea set, which is a bonus and I also have a spare lid for it. An English lady needs a lot of teapots! The design for the new teapot is Colclough Royale. I originally bought it for my mum, purchasing a few items each birthday as I could afford it. Most of it is still intact, but this is the third teapot that has joined the cups and saucers! Sadly, the Colclough factory is no longer in existence, making my teaset a collector's item.

The poem below describes where I am in my life right now. I like very much being a Grandma and look forward to the days when my little grandson will come round for tea and cakes with Oma.

Copper kettle burnished bright,
Glinting in the firelight,
Starched white tablecloth in place,
Edged with newly crocheted lace,
Heady smells of fresh-baked bread,
Hand-made butter pats to spread,
Damson jam and apricot,
Tea brewing in a cosied pot,
The tinkle of those silver spoons
Brought magic to those afternoons,
Her wrinkled face, her kind, blue eyes,
The cakes that she called butterflies;
Such memories in mind I see,
Of going to my gran's for tea...

by Brian H. Gent.

A nice cup of tea,

Just right to have with a plate of chocolate chip cookies:

What follows is a picture of a child's Japanese tea set, part of it anyway! It was mine when I was little, but this is all I have left. I may well be searching through E-bay in the future!

Does anyone else have a child's tea set from their youth?

Dylan update Jan. 2012

2012-01-09T22:11:00.000Z

Here is Dylan, my grandson, in his elf costume. I've only just got this picture, but I wanted to share it with you because it is so cute.

I haven't seen Dylan for a while and I'm told that he now has two front teeth and he is walking around the furniture.

He also likes yoghurt!

oops, the spoon goes in too far on this next one!

Notice he's already a football supporter.

and playing and posing in the light box from his Uncle David...

He's growing up so cute, isn't he! I know I'm biased.

Meanwhile, his mummy has been very busy opening her own Pilates Studio in Hitchin, England.

You can see her website here. http://www.thepilatespod.co.uk

She looks very fit on it, doesn't she:-

and here is the lovely family together before Christmas:

My son looks proud too, doesn't he!

Yuletide

2012-01-03T14:23:00.000Z

Yuletide is the time of the 13th moon, the Elder Moon. It is time for us to say 'thank you' and to give back to the spirit of the world. We have now arrived full circle at thirteen - the Witches number - corresponding to the elder moon, the moon of completion, covering the period from late November to late December. This brings us to a chapter of many blessings - the finishing touch to all magic, for fullest power.

Much of this magic concerns saying 'thank you' when magic-making has produced good effect. Once your wish has been granted, it is good manners to thank the powers that be for turning your mental strength into material manifestation. The blessings might include the extras in life, such as money superfluous to real requirements, or an extra child, or some other additional bounty.

All things have their time and place and this kind of magic is as important as any other, for example the letting go of hostility.

We must learn to recognize the cycle of death and rebirth: after this, the individual has completed all life's lessons and should practise them for the benefit of all.

From Titania's book of white magic.

So while we are busy with New Year's resolutions and promises to be better people etc., let's take a moment to count our blessings and be thankful for what we do have in our lives and for the better parts of our own personalities. Let's not be in too much of a hurry to move on to new things. Remember the saying, 'all things come to those who wait?'

I hope you like looking at my beautiful fairy house. There is a place inside for the fairy to live and she/he is welcome to stay as long as she/he wishes.

You can find more posts like this one on my other Blog. Click Here

A Spinning Wheel

2011-12-28T14:37:00.000Z

Santa Claus brought me a spinning wheel for Christmas this year. Aren't I incredibly lucky? and grateful!

This one is called an Ashford Traveller and it has a double treadle so I can treadle with both feet. I also received some lessons to be able to use it. Since I am only here til the end of January, I received my pressie early, so I can already use it, although I still consider myself a learner.

So now I can turn this 'roving'

into this yarn...

and when I have filled two of them, I can ply them together and get...

this lovely yarn to knit with.

This is something I've always wanted to do. It isn't easy, as I found out and there were days when I thought I'd never master it.

I saw this idea in a book about spinning. You put the two spindles in a shoe box and secure them with knitting needles through the middle to hold them steady. Larry suggested brass weights in the bottom to keep the box from jumping around and the scrumpled up paper balls keep the spindles moving smoothly. Alternatively you can buy a lazy Kate, but I quite like this idea. It works and it's easy.

Larry got some cosy slippers...

This is a cushion cover I made with my first attempt at creating yarn. As you can see, if you look closely, the tension is changeable, but the colours work well together and it is very warm and snuggly. I am proud of it because it is the first thing I made all by myself.

So as you can see, I have been busy over the last few weeks.

Now for the thank you letters.

Star

Nearly all gone!

2011-12-28T00:41:00.000Z

We finished the Christmas pudding yesterday and there's only two biscuits left!

The mince pies and the Stollen cake are going down steadily...

There's still a little trifle in the bowl.

so we were well fed, don't you think. Now we have to take some exercise and walk off the excess calories.

It's a lot about the food!

2011-12-26T16:46:00.000Z

It's about who gets the last chocolate?
and who snaffles the last sausage!

We have a lamb stew for dinner today...

with maybe a glass of wine.

and a light dessert for afterwards.

Enjoy your 'Boxing Day' an English tradition, which harks back to the times when servants were given a Christmas box (present) and maybe allowed to go home and visit their relatives for a couple of hours.

Decorating the table.

2011-12-24T16:29:00.000Z

It's always nice to have a table centrepiece for the the Christmas table. I managed to pick up this one, which I think is very pretty with the bright red cardinal birds on it. It looks nice under the lamp where the light picks up all the details.

Also managed to get these lovely placemats, also with cardinals on and some pretty napkin holders with holly berries.

So we're almost ready! We have leg of lamb for tomorrow, see below. Christmas pudding will follow.

and afterwards, a nice walk in the countryside to freshen ourselves up. Maybe it will snow or maybe not. My guess is not! but that's o.k. because with the snow comes the cold and it's quite mild here in Knoxville at the moment.

This is a picture of the brook near the apartments, taken on a previous snowy Christmas.

This is the nativity scene we have on display. I think it looks grand, don't you?

What are you having for your Christmas dinner?

Christmas is coming

2011-12-22T12:55:00.000Z

Dylan with Daddy on the carousel.

While a certain little somebody waits for Santa to arrive... Here's a lovely poem to make your heart glow:

This poem by Sir John Betjeman is one of my all time favourites.

The bells of waiting Advent ring,
The Tortoise stove is lit again
And lamp-oil light across the night
Has caught the streaks of winter rain
In many a stained-glass window sheen
From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green.

The holly in the windy hedge
And round the Manor House the view
Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,
The altar, font and arch and pew,
So that the villagers can say
'The Church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial Public Houses blaze,
Corporation tramcars clang,
On lighted tenements I gaze,
Where paper decorations hang,
And bunting in the red Town Hall
Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.

And London shops on Christmas Eve
Are strung with silver bells and flowers
As hurrying clerks the City leave
To pigeon-haunted classic towers,
And marbled clouds go scudding by
The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,
And oafish louts remember Mum,
And sleepless children's hearts are glad.
And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!'
Even to shining ones who dwell
Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

And is it true? For if it is,
No loving fingers tying strings
Around those tissued fripperies,
The sweet and silly Christmas things,
Bath salts and inexpensive scent
And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare -
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.

Now my little grandson Dylan is no longer a baby (boo hoo) but he was last Christmas. Just in case you missed it, here he is again at two months old. It's worth another look, don't you think?

Christmas Cards

2011-12-20T22:15:00.000Z

This is a picture of my little grandson, Dylan, all dressed up for Christmas. Well, almost all dressed up. He was going to his child-minder today, dressed as an elf, so he has more to put on. I hope I get a picture of him soon to show you him in his elf costume.

Do you send Christmas cards to all your friends and family? I used to, but with the cost of postage and the introduction of cheaper ways of sending greetings, I now don't send nearly so many as I did. What a pity the Post Office can't reduce the cost of postage for the Christmas period! However, I love getting them and I love the pictures on them and the way that they brighten the room in this dark time of the year.

Today I was busy putting up the cards in the living room. This year I chose to hang them on a ribbon opposite the front door. I am pleased with the result.

In England, I don't know about here, the card hangers are very popular and have taken on a life of their own.
Here are two of the ones I use when I'm over there.

The first one is a red pillar box design:

and the second one is just decorative with Christmassy scenes on it.

'It was during the late 19th century that Christmas cards came into their own. Previously, people had exchanged Christmas greetings by letter and school-children often prepared Christmas pieces for their parents or grandparents, a kind of sampler for their best handwriting on special paper with a printed border.

The Valentine card had been around for some time, so it is quite surprising that it took the Christmas card took so long to get off the ground. It is generally thought that the person responsible for the first Christmas card was Henry Cole, director of the newly founded Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1843 he commissioned H.C. Horsley, R.A. to produce a suitable design. It depicted, in its central panel, a jolly family sitting down to their Christmas dinner and raising their glasses in a toast, while two smaller side panels portrayed acts of seasonal charity, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. In 1846 1,000 copies of this design were printed and sold for a shilling a copy.'
from Hamlyn's Complete Christmas Book

So are your Christmas cards in the post? or already hung beneath a picture over the mantleshelf. What is your ritual for this lovely custom?

Wrapping up the presents...

2011-12-16T13:35:00.001Z

Christmas Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous

"It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts;
It’s not wrapping presents, its being present
and wrapping your arms around the ones you love;
It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time,
It’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time;
It’s not having the biggest and best Christmas light display,
It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart;
It’s not Santa coming down the chimney,
It’s Jesus coming down from heaven,
and giving us the gift of eternal life."

These are some presents from last year, all wrapped up and ready to be opened. Last year there were 9 of us, including for the first time, my new little grandson, Dylan.

This year I am in Tennessee with Larry and Millie so it will be quieter. I wonder if Father Christmas will find us over here?

As the cards go out and the shopping gets done and we remember all our friends and family, near and far, I want to wish you all a very happy Christmas.

I love the way John Lennon says it!

There is always HOPE.

xxx Star

Snowflakes

2011-12-13T22:15:00.000Z

I think we all agree that snowflakes are beautiful and for us in the northern hemisphere, Christmas is only complete with a fall of snow: not too much mind! not enough to disrupt the Christmas travelling, just enough to set the scene.

Here are some snowy scenes from my Christmas last year:

and next for your delight is the Waltz of the Snowflakes from the Nutcracker Suite. Enjoy.

What's the weather doing in your area today? Anyone have snow yet?

English robins, so small, so cute, so tame, sometimes!

2011-12-10T16:18:00.000Z

As we prepare for Christmas, amidst the hustle and bustle of the shops and all the other things we have to do, let's take a moment to enjoy the simple things of life, like this beautiful English robin that I found on YouTube this morning. He's so tame, I'm sure he's done this before lots of times.

Have a lovely Saturday everybody and don't get too fraught, will you.

Star

Dorcas the Duck

2011-12-04T22:44:00.000Z

With my hat 'Amanda Marigold' firmly on my head, I have a new story out in the Kindle Store today. It's called Dorcas the Duck and it's aimed at parents to read to their children or grandchildren of around 7 or 8 years of age. The story takes place in England and concerns a Duck called Dorcas who returns to the same pond every year to raise her ducklings. This year however, she faces a challenge. Can you guess what it is? Here is a taster for you to enjoy.

Dorcas the Duck

Dorcas the duck came to Hardwick Green every year with her husband Joe. Each Spring they flew in together and made their landing on the pond at no.1. Mr. Grace, who lived there with his family, which included two large dogs, fashioned a magnificent pond, covering most of the back garden space. He loved animals. Once he and his wife realized that the two ducks returned to his pond every year, he decided to build them a small, but comfortable duck-house.

Dorcas and Joe were excited about returning to Hardwick Green. They enjoyed raising a family of ducklings each year, feeding them on the lush, green grass and, when they were big enough, teaching them to fly.

Little did Dorcas know on that sunny day in Spring, that this year things would be different and she would be facing a crisis, which would test her love and endurance to the limit.

+++

The sun was warm on the ducks’ backs as they flew into HG and settled in at no.1. The daffodils were blooming in all the gardens up and down the street and tulips were nodding their pretty coloured heads in a gentle breeze. Everything seemed normal until Dorcas noticed the wonderful duck house, which Mr. Grace had constructed. The joy of it made her heart flutter.

“Look, look Joe. Just look at that beautiful house. It wasn’t there last year. We can raise our family of ducklings in there and they won’t get cold or wet, will they.”

Joe looked at the duck-house. It was very well erected and fulfilled all the conditions necessary. It had a sloping roof to take the rain away towards the back and a little ramp, which led from the doorway at the front, gradually down to the pond below. ‘The ducklings will love that,’ he thought.

Dorcas and Joe settled in to their Spring home and Mr. Grace and his wife waited for the ducklings to arrive. At the end of March, there were thirteen ducklings and a very proud mum and dad at no. 1 Hardwick Green. The water in the pond was full of ripples and never still as Dorcas and Joe swam round and round with their pretty brood.

Ducklings grow very quickly and by the end of the first week, they had doubled in size. They were very playful indeed. They were also getting adventurous and Dorcas was finding it difficult to keep them all together. She took them for walks, being careful to make sure that they all followed her in single file so they couldn’t get lost.

One day she took them up the road to the paper shop. Mr. Patel, the owner, worked very hard. He was in the shop from morning till night, selling newspapers, sweets and crisps and chocolate bars. He knew all his customers by their first names.

Dorcas left the ducklings outside the shop with strict instructions not to move. “Stay together and don’t move. I’ll be back in just a moment. Mr. Patel doesn’t want thirteen pairs of muddy feet all over his clean floor.”

Into the shop she went, with her backside wiggling from side to side. She really was a pretty duck. Mr. Patel liked her very much.

“Good morning Dorcas. What would you like today?” he asked her kindly.

“Good morning Mr. Patel. I’d like a newspaper for Joe and a bar of chocolate for me. It’s hard work raising this brood of ducklings and I need some more energy.” She replied proudly.

Mr. Patel could understand the duck’s language even though it sounded odd to his own ears. It was more of a quacking than a talking, in fact. He folded up a newspaper for Joe and put a nice big bar of chocolate in as well for Dorcas. He leaned across the counter, and put the items in her basket. She promised to pay him with eggs as soon as she started laying again.

Mr. Patel smiled and watched her as she waddled out of the shop with her purchases.

Then there was a shriek.

“Where are my babies? My babies have gone! Oh no!”

There was no sight and no sound of the baby ducklings. Dorcas was horrified. She dropped her basket on the ground and sped back into the shop.'

+++

Now if you want to find out what happens next, you're going to have to hop over to the Kindle Store and buy the story. The good news is that it's only 99c. If you haven't got a Kindle, you can still download the story to your PC and read it or print it from there. If you're in England, you can go to Amazon.co.uk, enter the Kindle Store and buy it there.

Hope you're enjoying your Sunday.

Celtic month of Elder

2011-12-02T16:19:00.000Z

We are currently enjoying the Celtic Month of the Elder.

'The unique personality of the elder was anciently believed to come from the spirit of the 'Elder Mother' who dwelt within the tree. The Elder Mother, called Elle or Hyldemoer in Scandinavian and Danish myth, worked strong earth magic and according to legend, avenged all who harmed her host trees. No forester of old would touch elder, let alone cut it, before asking the Elder Mother's permission three times over and even then he was still in dread of her possible wrath. Likewise, in many country districts of Europe and Britain, wise people still show respect by touching their hats when passing elder trees, in continuance of ancient custom. Certain North American tribes also believe that elder is the Mother of the human race.

According to legend, witches would often turn themselves into elder trees, and one famous witch-tree turned a king and his men to stone, thereby creating the Rollright Stones in Oxfordshire. This ancient piece of folklore tells of a Danish King, on his way to battle for the English Crown with his warriors, meeting the witch and asking her what his fate would be. The witch replied:

Seven long strides thou shalst take,

And if Long Compton thou canst see

King of England thou shalst be.

Because he was almost at the crest of a hill, the Dane was confident as he strode forth, but unexpectedly at his seventh stride a long mound rose up before him, blocking his view.

The witch replied:

As Long Compton thou canst not see,

King of England thou shalst not be.

Rise up stick and stand still stone,

For King of England thou shalst be none,

Thou and they men hoar stones shall be,

And I myself an Elder tree.

In an instant the Danish King and his men were turned to stone. Those warriors loyal to the King became the King's Men stones set in a circle; and those who had questioned his authority turned into the Whispering Knights, huddled together and apart from the others. The King himself became the King Stone, standing, still in shocked attitude, apart from all his men. The witch then resumed her guise as the guardian Elder tree.'

from 'Tree Wisdom' by Jacqueline Memory Paterson.

Following picture from Wikipaedia: The Rollright Stones of Oxfordshire.

You can find other posts like this on my blog 'A Witch Abroad'.

Millie

2011-11-30T00:09:00.000Z

This is Millie's scratching post, also known as our pouffe! Like many cats, she prefers the furniture to scratch on, but she knows she's not allowed. However, we relax the rule for the pouffe because that can be more easily replaced.

She often has a wash after she's done something naughty...

...but when she's asleep, she is just as cute as can be.

All together now, ahhhhhhhhh! Click to enlarge and see her speckly feet.

She really looks like she's smiling in this next one, doesn't she?

All curled up in her own special basket.

I'm sending hugs and kisses to my other cat, Patch, across the water too.

We might get snow tomorrow. The weather is already feeling colder. I've been eating turkey soup for the last three days.

What's the weather like in your part of the world today?

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T23:45:00.000Z

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! This was the display I saw in the bank when I first got here at the beginning of the month. They really went to town didn't they!

We have a much more modest display but it's just as much fun.

We don't have Thanksgiving in England so this is new to me.

We shall be having a turkey with stuffing and pumpkin pie for dessert (if it comes out right).

Have a lovely day.

Star

2011-11-22T14:39:00.000Z

Sales of my book, Bertie's House are doing very well at the moment, so it seemed a good time to read you Chapter Two, Belinda's Story. This is where you get to hear how Belinda, the little black rabbit, gets to roam free in the Street.

The story is aimed at children of 9 to 10 years of age. The book is available in the Kindle Store as an e-book at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

I write under an alias - Amanda Marigold.

I hope you enjoy the reading.

Dylan update - one year old.

2011-11-13T12:53:00.000Z

Dylan moves into his first year and there is good news concerning his lactose intolerance etc. He has now been given the all clear from the hospital and he can stop all his medicines. Isn't that wonderful? From the age of four months he has had to have a special diet and vitamin supplements. Now he can eat a normal diet and as you can see from the picture, he likes yoghurt!

Just before I left England for my trip over here, Jim took a short video of me reading to Dylan. I have the video camera with me so there will be no more videos of Dylan from me till I get back (boo hoo). However, I have the following precious one, which I can watch when I'm missing him.

Here I am reading to Dylan from his favourite book when he comes to visit me. It is called 'When I go to Grandma's'. On each page is a little blue bird, which Dylan likes to find and show to me. Enjoy...

Happy Sunday everybody!

Star

Feeling much better now!

2011-11-07T22:38:00.000Z

Here I am outside Krogers supermarket with all the pumpkins. I'm feeling much better today, thank goodness. As you can see it is sunny and it was 70 degs. Don't I look English? I've got my thick November skirt on. Almost everyone else was in shorts and T-shirts! Anyway, I've hardly unpacked my bag since I felt so ill the last few days.

No Philip, I didn't get my flu jab before I came over. I meant to, but you know how it is, I didn't get round to it. Actually, I think it would have been too late anyway. I was already infected.

We went to the supermarket because we were right out of bread, so I bought two loaves and a bag of rolls. Kroger had had a complete refit since I was last here in April and everything had been moved to somewhere else. It did look tidier and there were lots of signs to tell me where things were. While we were there we bought some cookies (shortbread biscuits) and some ice-cream (no hope for some people!); oh and some sausages and shrimps. I think my appetite has come back with a vengeance.

Before we went shopping we planted a load of daffodils and tulips and cleared out a lot of weeds that had taken hold in one of the flower beds. I think they got washed in with the flood, back in February.

Millie has been so affectionate since I've been back. She sleeps right on my shoulder in the bed with her head on my cheek! So sweet. She keeps me warm too.

Back in the U.S.A.

2011-11-05T23:00:00.000Z

I arrived back in Atlanta late on Wednesday evening after a smooth flight from London. However! I had developed a bad head cold and have spent a couple of days with my nose like a tap, dripping into tissues - horrible. My eyes have felt like they were going to explode out of my head and I've had a pounding headache from sinus congestion. I discovered, on a recent trip to Walgreens, that the medications here are different! What to me is Lemsip is Theraflu to you and there are many different kinds. I bought the one for cold and flu, but discovered it didn't have aspirin in it. Larry said to take it with Tylenol? but I didn't know what that was. Now I discover it is what I know as Paracetamol. You have to be very careful that you don't overdose on all these medicines so reading the instructions is imperative. I usually take a decongestant Sudafed for my blocked sinuses, but apparently that can't be purchased here anymore because of one of the contents.

Today, Saturday, I began to feel a little better. I hope that continues. I've been trying to avoid giving the cold to Larry but that was hard whilst we were cooped up in the car for three hours on the way from Atlanta to Knoxville. I hope I haven't infected the whole of America now!

Millie was very pleased to see me and I was equally pleased to see her. It's been a few months since I was last here, but she never forgets me. Aren't animals wonderful.

We have a new addition to our 'cabin' - a beautiful elk skin, which Larry acquired while he was in Wyoming recently. Here's a picture of it.

Whilst I am going to miss England and all my people there, it is nice to be back and see the sun shining and the squirrels feeding on the patio. We have three now, increased from one since I was here before.

Larry bought some bulbs for me to plant and I brought over a special fork to dig the ground with, so more of that in a future post.

Meanwhile, back to bed for recuperation. We put the clocks back here in Tennessee tonight. Last Saturday we put them back in England and in the meantime I have travelled back in time so what with the jet lag and the clocks, I have no clue what the real time is inside my body and just 'go with the flow', which means breakfast at 4 or 5 in the morning and a good sleep in the afternoon in the hope of stabilization.

See you again soon!

Pixabeille

2011-11-03T19:23:00.002Z

The third Blog I want to share with you is called Pixabeille. It is an artistic Blog and the owner is just embarking on a sketchbook project, which anyone can join in with.

I hope you enjoy looking at the beautiful pictures that she has created.

Star

Diamonds and Toads

2011-11-02T19:17:00.003Z

While I'm busy travelling to Tennessee, I want to show you some of the Blogs I visit. These are the ones which you'all may not visit regularly.

Second one is 'Diamonds and Toads' a Blog about Fairies and all things enchanted. As you might know, I love fairies, witches and all things supernatural so I often visit here and enjoy the posts. Even if you don't believe in fairies, this website is a must. You might even change your mind.

Star

In de Polder - a lovely Dutch House

2011-11-01T19:13:00.004Z

While I'm busy travelling to Tennessee, I want to show you some of the Blogs I visit. These are the ones which you'all may not visit regularly.

First one is In de Polder and this post takes you on a tour of a typical Dutch house. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. What do you think?

Star

Dylan update - Dylan is one year old tomorrow - 29.10.2011.

2011-10-28T20:35:00.000+01:00

My grandson Dylan is one year old tomorrow! Doesn't seem possible does it. He's grown so well and his personality has developed and he is now very much his own little person. It has been a real joy to spend time with him and enjoy him as he finds his way in the world. Here he is opening his present from Grandad and me (Oma).

I wanted him to have the present today because today he was here to be looked after while his mummy was at work. I thought he would have more time to enjoy it and since next Friday I will be in Tennessee with Larry and Millie, I wanted to enjoy it too.
Jim put the walker together, watched by a curious Dylan and then we had great fun watching him try it out. Have a giggle with us as we charged about the house trying to keep up with him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN. WE LOVE YOU. XXXXXXXXXXXXX Grandad and Oma

The Flavour of Ghosts...

2011-10-26T19:00:00.000+01:00

Have you ever stopped to wonder why ghosts choose to inhabit some houses rather than others? They don’t just live in old Victorian mansions where an unfortunate has died and left a hint of themselves behind, do they? Sometimes they move in with you or me and the house takes on a flavour, a dash of blackcurrant in the soda or a drizzle of lime in the lemonade. If the curtains shiver when there is no wind, then there could be a catch of rum in the coke, something intangible to darken the taste buds, a slight bitterness to the pumpkin pie.

Some ghosts are sweet and sugary, like the one that pushes my door open when I’m talking on Skype. Looking at my computer screen I can see the office room behind me. The room used to belong to my son. His enamel name plaque still hangs on the door and proclaims ‘Edward’s room.’ I never had the heart to take it down, even when he moved to France to start a new life. The room is cosy and warm. Its radiator gives off a generous heat as I sit chatting with my friend through the internet. Why then did the picture suddenly freeze, leaving her with her arms in the air, caught in mid exclamation with a look of alarm on her face? A message comes up: ‘your internet connection is slow. This might affect the picture quality.’ Not everything on the screen is static though. As I watch, fascinated, I see my door slowly opening to its full extent. Dare I turn round? What would I see if I did? nothing, probably. It is always nothing and yet… the door is open. There is no wind; no cat comes in, no child with bad dreams has stirred the household. I am all alone. I can taste salad leaves and smell basil. This ghost has a taste of the summer yet it is late October. The door doesn’t move, it stays still, open, inviting me to get up and walk through. Should I go, leave my friend with her arms in the air? Did she see? The internet clicks back. My friend is talking. I relax. The moment passes. Later I must walk through that door, onto the landing, into the bathroom, remove my clothes, stand naked in vulnerability and wash. For the moment, I remain in my seat, as frozen as my friend was, but for a different reason.

Yesterday, another visit. I rose early while it was still dark. I descended the staircase into the kitchen, switched on the electric kettle, already filled the night before. Pulling my dressing gown around me against the chill of the morning, I passed into the lounge room and stooped down to light the fire glow. A warm red from the fire filled the space around me, such a friendly, welcoming sight on a cold morning. As I stood up, I noticed that something was missing from the mantelshelf. A china money box with the Queen’s head on it had stood there proudly for years, collecting money for a local charity. Now it was gone, vanished and I could taste chocolate, sweet and bitter, both flavours opposing on my tongue. I walked over to the doorway to see if the porch door was locked as it should be. It wasn’t. It was closed, but not locked. I made tea and carried up two steaming mugs full. I asked my partner:

“Did you move the money box yesterday, the one on the mantelshelf?”

“Yes, I put it in the sideboard, ready for when I started decorating. Don’t want it broken, do we!” he replied.

“You didn’t tell me?”

“No, was it necessary?”

“Well, I thought we’d been burgled, like we were before when my mobile phone was taken, remember?”

He asked me, “I locked the door last night when I came in, didn’t I?”

“No, I found it unlocked this morning, just now when I went down to make the tea.”

“Odd, I thought I’d locked it.”

We drank our tea, he in his room and me in mine. It tasted cholatey. Such a strange flavour, reminiscent of afternoons that are cold, but craving warmth and comfort: blankets tucked around legs, hot water bottles in the small of my back, my mother’s voice in the kitchen humming along to the radio and the smell of washing drying on the frame around the fire. There was always stew in a pot on the stove to welcome my dad when he came home from work, tired and hungry, cold from the ride on his bicycle in the freezing wind.

Later when we went downstairs, washed and dressed, he said to me, “I thought you said I forgot to lock the porch door? It’s locked now. You must have been mistaken.”

“No,” said I, “it was definitely not locked.”

“Well it is now. You must have locked it this morning, absent mindedly.”

“No, I didn’t!” I was indignant. “The door was unlocked. I left it as it was. No point in locking it in the morning was there.”

He regarded me doubtfully. “I found this in front of it.” He held up a chocolate bar wrapper.

You see, in the end, you doubt yourself. You just don’t know. The wine becomes sour, coffee burns your tongue. Doors open and close; you watch and accept. Keys disappear and reappear somewhere else. You swear you put them here, but now they are there. Where have they been in the meantime? In some fifth dimension perhaps or just temporarily invisible? I never did find the keys I lost as a child. Coming home from school one day when I was about eleven years old, I let myself in with the house-key I was entrusted with, greeted the dog who jumped up to lick me and caused me to drop the key and then found that it was gone, forever as it turned out! That ghosted flavour tasted of sour cherries!

The cat stares at something on the stairs like she’s watching the invisible man. You smile at her. She knows. Sometimes her tail bushes up and she runs.

It’s amazing how good this stew tastes today. The flavour is outstanding!

Star

A walk up Dunstable Downs

2011-10-21T20:29:00.000+01:00

From Wikipaedia

Dunstable Downs are part of the Chiltern Hills, in southern Bedfordshire in England. They are a chalk escarpment forming the north-eastern reaches of the Chilterns. At 243 m (797 ft), Dunstable Downs are the highest point of the county of Bedfordshire.^[1]

Because of its elevation, Dunstable Downs hosted a station in the shutter telegraph chain which connected the Admiralty in London to its naval ships in the port of Great Yarmouth during the years 1808 to 1814.^[2]

Last week, when it was my birthday, Jim asked me if there was anywhere I wanted to go. I thought about it for a moment and then told him I'd like to go for a walk up Dunstable Downs. Somehow it felt a fitting place to go for my 60th birthday. It was somewhere where I could blow away the cobwebs, feel the fresh wind on my face and walk until I was tired (which isn't very far these days!).

So off we went. It was colder and more blowy that I thought it would be!!!!

I took these pictures so as to remember my day and to give you folks a look see at what it's like up there.
In this next picture, taken from the top of the hill, you can see the gliding club below. While we were there, we saw the gliders taking off, being pulled up into the air by the small planes.

From Wikipaedia

The downs are used by gliders, kite fliers, hang gliders and paragliders in the area because of their height. The London Gliding Club is based at the foot of the downs.

Much of the downs are managed by the National Trust as part of the Dunstable Downs, Countryside Centre & Whipsnade Estate property.

+++

The land is very chalky, which is why it looks so white in the next pictures.

There are some nice paths to walk on, put in by the National Trust. I don't remember these or anything like it when I was a child and came up here with my mum and dad and my dog, Jacko.

From Wikipaedia
The downs are home to a wide variety of wildlife including many rare wild flowers, such as the Bee Orchid, and different butterfly species, like the Marbled White and the Chalkhill Blue.

I didn't see any butterflies. It was too cold to stop and look, but we did see some red kites hunting for small rodents and lots of other birds.

From Wikipaedia
Central Bedfordshire Council and the National Trust commissioned Architype architects to build a visitor centre known as The Chilterns Gateway Centre, on the very top of Dunstable Downs. The summit is right next to the B4541 road that crosses the hill, and so an ascent of the hill requires nothing more than getting out of a car at the highest point and walking across to the trig point.
+++
We were glad to get out of the wind into the visitors' centre and warm up a bit. Here is Jim looking windswept and invigorated!

...and my cup of tea cooling down.

This is a view of the visitors' centre inside. It has a very nice gift shop.

and a lovely cafe.

Through the window we watched this pretty lapwing, looking for crumbs.

I enjoyed the morning walk very much and will remember it every year on my birthday. When we got home we had a piece of my birthday cake, chocolate. It was gorgeous.

Only 9 days till I go to America. I must start packing soon. So much to do and remember.

Star

Dylan update - 11 months

2011-10-14T08:46:00.000+01:00

There are times when it's the box, not what's in it, that is the best article to play with.
Here is Dylan playing with the box the shape-ball came in.

Now that I'm old(er)...!

2011-10-11T14:45:00.000+01:00

I saw this on demandingjoy.com

It seemed apt for my birthday week!

25 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned WAY Sooner

When I think of my younger, thinner, stupider self, I think, “Holy crap. If I knew then what I know now…” Well, here are some of the things I wish I knew then.

1 out of 4 people that you meet won’t like you. That’s really OK.
Life isn’t fair. Most of the time it’s not fair in your favor, so don’t whine about life not being fair.
Save your money.
No one knows what you’re thinking unless you tell them.
Perfectionism will kill you.
You’re stronger than you think you are.
You think that sexism and racism were in the olden days. They’re not.
Comparing yourself to others is never a good idea.
When someone shows you who they are, believe them. People are consistent.
Develop critical thinking skills and use them.
Never hide your intelligence from anyone.
Trust your instincts.
80% of everything is irrelevant
Spend WAY less time worrying about the shape of your body.
Stay away from credit cards.
There are lots of men who will be nice to you. Accept nothing less.
Be nicer to yourself too.
For the most part, it doesn’t matter what people think. Follow your own truth.
No education is wasted. Drink in as many new experiences as you can.
Pay your dues. Work hard.
Networking is critical.
Letting go of control is liberating. Try it.
Don’t treat anyone badly. You’ll be surprised when they’ll pop up again in your life.
Do what you love, not what you think you’re supposed to do.
Don’t forget to enjoy your journey!

Sleeping Beauties!

2011-10-09T17:53:00.000+01:00

Sleep oh Blessed Sleep

Sleep oh blessed sleep,
the place where I can dream,
of all that I do need
my energy to keep.

Sleep oh blessed sleep,
The place of future hope,
in places far away,
and love for me to keep

Sleep oh blessed sleep
Lull me with your content,
Keep me ever safe my
souls sanity to keep.

Sleep oh blessed sleep,
Let me emerge at morn,
With clearer thought and mind,
with no more need to weep

Susan Alldred Lugton

In Greek mythology, Hypnos^[1] (Ancient Greek: Ὕπνος, "sleep") was the personification of sleep

My friend Jim...

My grandson, Dylan ...

Sleeping beauties all!

Have a great Sunday!

Star

How many dogs does it take to change a light-bulb?

2011-10-05T22:29:00.000+01:00

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

Rottweiler: Make me.

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Chihuahua : Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or 'We don't need no stinking light bulb.'

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

Australian Cattle Dog: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it.. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

How many cats does it take to change a light bulb?

Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is:

'How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?'

ALL OF WHICH PROVES, ONCE AGAIN, THAT WHILE DOGS HAVE MASTERS, CATS HAVE STAFF!

Funny, heh!

Please hop across to my husband's Blog and take a look at his pictures, if you have the time. He's recently been on a visit to Cheyenne, Wyoming and saw some wonderful wildlife. Click here to visit him.

Star

Messing about on the river - The lighter side of life.

2011-10-01T09:31:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite things to do is to walk along by the side of the canal. I love being near to water. Today I'm going to take you with me along the canal path at Leighton Buzzard. I hope you enjoy the walk.

There are lots of pretty houses along the side of the canal. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

This is where the boats go from one level to another:

The blue boats in the next picture are available to hire for holidays etc.

Can anyone identify this shrub for me?

Wouldn't you just love to sit here on this seat and dangle your feet in the water?

A solitary moorhen enjoying a swim on her own.

I found this video on Youtube. I love the song that goes with it and whilst listening to the song, you can enjoy the movement of the boat.

I hope this post makes you feel good. Happy Saturday everyone.

Laughter is the best medicine!

2011-09-28T20:32:00.000+01:00

Pam Ayres writes some hilarious ditties. Here is an interesting article about her. Click here.

I like her poem 'Will I have to be sexy at sixty?"

As I approach my 60th birthday in October, this poem is apt! I've enlarged the print in case anyone else is this age or above!

Will I have to be sexy at sixty?
Will I have to keep trying so hard?
Well I'm just going to slump,
With my dowager's hump
And watch myself turn into lard.

I'm not going to keep exercising,
I'm not going to take HRT,
If a toy boy enquires
I'll say, "Hah! Hard luck squire!
Where were you in 73...?"

I'm not going to shave my moustaches,
I'm just going to let them all sprout,
My chins'll be double
All covered in stubble,
I'm going to become an Old Trout!

My beauty all gone and forgotten,
Vanished with never a quibble,
I'll sit here and just
Kind of gnaw at a crust
And squint at the telly, and dribble.

As my marbles get steadily fewer,
Must I battle to keep my allure?
Have I still got to pout
Now my teeth have come out
And my husband has found pastures newer?

Farewell to the fad and the fashion,
Farewell to the young and the free!
My passion's expired,
At bedtime... I'm TIRED!
Sexy and sixty? Not me!

A lighter look on life!

2011-09-27T16:30:00.000+01:00

I'm going to be looking at the lighter side of life for a few days. I saw this poem on another site recently and asked if I could show it. The author has agreed for me to use it for 30 days; so here it is in all its glory. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I'M NOT THE LOVER I USED TO BE

CHORUS
I'm not the lover I used to be
Aging has made me a mockery
I'll never earn any lover's points
The only stiffness is in my joints

VERSES:
I used to be active all night long
Pleasing my lovers with deeds and song
Loving the sound of their moans and pleads
Gaining pleasure from filling love's needs

(CHORUS)

Casanovas used to admire my strokes
Now, I'm the subject of cruel jokes
Sex I recall when I look to see
Directions in my dictionary

(CHORUS)

Viagra has never worked on me
I only get action when I pee
My pride and joy fails to get credit
Foreplay ends when she calls the medics

(CHORUS)

Sexy urgings whispered in my ear
Failing at my goal, my greatest fear
My lover's laughter turns to weeping
Before hitting my stride, I'll be sleeping

(CHORUS)

I'm condemned to rocking in a chair
Reclaiming youth's ways is my prayer
To be the lover I used to be
Is safely stowed in my memory

(CHORUS)

© Copyright 2009 Charles Lucas All rights reserved.

Getting ready for a journey...

2011-09-25T09:30:00.000+01:00

I'm getting my things together for a journey. Can you guess where I might be going?

Isn't this a terrific advertisement?

Star

Who's that peeping in?

2011-09-20T08:45:00.000+01:00

Look who's peeping through the cat-flap yesterday? Yes, it's The Ghost, the cat who wants to live in my house, but doesn't. At least he doesn't all the time. Last winter he was in the house more than out of it, but we had to shut up the cat-flap in the end because he was frightening my own cat, Patch. She refused to go out anymore because every time she did, he chased her back in again. He's quite a dominant gentleman and she's very timid so we had to take action. Shame really because I do like him.

Now I spoil him outside by giving him treats in a bowl under the flower-pot stand.

Things was, he knew something interesting was happening in our house yesterday and this is what it was...

A little mouse was having a run around the carpet.

It was quite a bold little mouse, I thought.

...but when he headed for Jim's trouser leg, I had to take action.

and managed to capture him in a glass. I'm good at catching mice. I've had a lot of practice.

So that was the end of that story. I wonder what will happen today?

Have a good day everyone.

Star

My adventure yesterday.

2011-09-16T18:51:00.000+01:00

When Jim retired last June, his firm bought him two tickets through Steam Dreams for a trip on a special steam train. Yesterday was the day. I was honoured to be asked to go along too so we set off earlyish to make sure we got a parking spot at the station.

The train was due in at 12.02.

We wiled away the time in the shopping mall as the minutes ticked by.

Then we went down onto the platform to wait.

Time passed quickly and then she arrived...

The train started its journey in Surrey so it had already been going for five hours when it got to Welwyn Garden City. We jumped on and found our carriage - Carriage H, near the back, First Class! We were greeted with champagne and orange juice.

We settled down in the carriage with our four companions. It was one of those that had a door you could shut. The corridor went alongside.

We were on our way to the cathedral city of Lincoln, which is about 200 miles from where I live. We passed a wind farm along the way.

Then we saw the cathedral, looking magnificent on top of its hill.

Arriving at Lincoln station, lots of people wanted to take pictures of the splendid locomotive.

We were an hour late arriving in Lincoln because we had to fit in with all the slots already taken up by the usual trains so instead of two hours to look around, we only had one hour. That meant that there wasn't time to go round the cathedral. So I took some pictures of the town centre instead and we had a meal in a very nice pub.

This is the city gate.

We had fish and chips.

After an hour went by, we returned to the station to wait for the train to take us back home. I caught it on video just as it arrived back in Lincoln.

and finally, here is a professional video which gives a little of the history of this wonderful engine.

Wasn't I lucky to have such an adventure! If you want to have a trip like this, click here to book. They've got some very special trips coming up.

Here is the link to the Wikip. page so you can read more about Tornado.

Bertie's House

2011-09-15T09:27:00.000+01:00

I am borrowing this post from my other blog: http:amandamarigold.blogspot.com, which is my writing blog and uses a pseudonym.

My book, Bertie's House, is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, in the Kindle Store.

It is a story for children or adults who are children at heart.

Here I am reading the first chapter of it:

That was the first time I've used the webcam other than on Skype when I talk to Larry and I haven't got the sound quite right yet. I hope you could hear it ok? If not, I may have to hunt for my external microphone. I always think it is nice to read to children and I know I'll be doing a lot of it for Dylan as he grows up.

Today I'm having an adventure, a very exciting adventure. I'v got my camera and I'll be telling you all about it pretty soon.

Star alias Amanda Marigold

Dylan update.

2011-09-09T08:51:00.000+01:00

For the grandparents-to-be and those who already are

GRANDPARENTS ANSWERING MACHINE
Good morning. . . . At present we are not at home but, please Leave your message after you hear the beep. beeeeeppp ...
If you are one of our children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of "arrival" so we know who it is.
If you need us to stay with the children, press 2
If you want to borrow the car, press 3
If you want us to wash your clothes and ironing, press 4
If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5
If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6
If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7
If you want to come to eat here, press 8
If you need money, dial 9
If you are going to invite us to dinner, or, taking us to the theater start talking we are listening !!!!!!!!!!!"
********************************

If you are not a grandparent you will still love this. If you are it shows how precious the babies are and what we mean to them.

WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT?
(Taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds) Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own.
They like other people's.

A grandfather is a man, & a grandmother is a lady!
Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them.. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.
When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.
They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on 'cracks.'
They don't say, 'Hurry up.'
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums out.
Grandparents don't have to be smart.
They have to answer questions like 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come dogs chase cats?'
When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grownups who like to spend time with us.
They know we should have snack time before bed time, and they say prayers with us and kiss us even when we've acted bad. A 6-YEAR-OLD WAS ASKED WHERE HIS GRANDMA LIVED. ''OH,'' HE SAID, ''SHE LIVES AT THE AIRPORT, AND WHEN WE WANT HER, WE JUST GO GET HER. THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE HAVING HER VISIT, WE TAKE HER BACK TO THE AIRPORT.''
GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS, BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!
It' funny when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

Now back to my Grandson - Dylan! He came to me on Monday with his bag of food for the day. He's on a special diet at the moment because he was found to be allergic to milk when he was very small. This will be under review soon. Meanwhile, he is just starting to feed himself and I thought you might like to share in the enjoyment of that experience with me.

Country Matters - Hexton Tearooms

2011-09-06T17:22:00.000+01:00

I love to go here and drink tea, eat cake and look at lots and lots of pretty things.
Why don't you come with me today?

There are scones on the counter and tea in the pot!

and lots of teapots to buy!

I especially love the baby counter!

Have a lovely sunny day today!

Star

Pickle time!

2011-09-03T15:45:00.000+01:00

This little pussy cat is hiding something. Can you guess what it is? No? OK I'll tell you. She's hiding pickles. Jim, newly retired, has been making his annual mustard pickles. First of all he prepares the vegetables and leaves them in a bowl overnight, salted and covered.

The vegetables used are marrow, cauliflower, runner beans and shallots.

The smell is a bit strong so he covers the bowl. Next he rinses off all the salt and throws away the excess liquid and then boils the vegetables in malt vinegar until they are just soft. Sometime she uses ordinary vinegar and sometimes spiced. They turned out delicious this year, as always.

Talking of eating delicious things, I was sent this little video of two dogs enjoying their dinner. I think it's terrific. It made me smile and brightened my day. I hope it brightens yours...

Shillington Scarecrow Festival

2011-08-31T09:11:00.000+01:00

A high spot of the year for me is a trip to the Shillington Scarecrow Festival, held on Bank Holiday weekend in August most years. If you click on the pictures, you will be able to read the words on the placards adorning the scarecrows.

For such a small village, there is a lot going on in Shillington. Click here for details. I know if you live in the wilds of Canada or the mountains of the Pacific North West of North America or some other far flung place like Tennessee! you may not be able to go to these events. However, come-along-a-me and enjoy the fun.

There were over 100 scarecrows on Monday, dotted about all round the village and plenty of other things to see and do, like visiting the ancient church, a picture of which appears towards the end.

These scarecrows below are locked up and the little dog has the key! Click to enlarge.

My favourites of the ones I saw and I didn't see all of them by far! were the musicians. This exhibit was so original and even had music to go with it - invisible from this side of the wall.

I love the expressions on their faces, don't you?

This next scarecrow had managed to climb up onto the scaffolding to inspect the damage but it was a bit windy and cold yesterday. I hope he didn't fall off!

Spot the deliberate mistake on this placard! Delightful exhibit nevertheless.

I thought you might also like to see some of the old and very picturesque cottages in the village. Here they are...

The next one had some beautiful hanging baskets all over the walls of the garage and sheds.

This is the old school building, now for sale! I'l love to buy it. It is situated right on the top of the hill opposite the church.

Next door is the Old Post Office.

and further down the road, the old bakery and other essential buildings which supported village life in years gone by.

I adore the vegetable garden in this next pic. Click to see properly.

I wonder who lives here?

This is the view from the side of the church. Ancient gravestones stand and fall like aged teeth.

Click to read the inscription on the side of the church.

Here is the church itself, standing proud atop a high hill. It is not the only church in Shillington but it is the most imposing. You can read more about the church in the website above.

If you would like to see more of the scarecrows that I saw yesterday, Click Here and you will be transported to another world. Go on, spoil yourselves...

I think the people of Shillington put on a grand show. It was wonderful, it truly was! Thank you people.

Star

Conclusion

2011-08-28T15:49:00.000+01:00

Here is the death certificate that arrived the other day (click to enlarge). It shows that my ancestor - three greats grandmother Mary Chaplin died at her home at 44 Bevan Street, Lowestoft on 10th May 1884 at the age of 72. It says she was the widow of Edward Chaplin, a carpenter. The cause of death was 'decay of nature' old age!

The certificate was signed by Martha Card (married name), Mary's only daughter, on 12th May.

I still don't know who her parents were but I will endeavour to find out. Perhaps I'll get lucky and turn up some new information.

Meanwhile there is much to think about. Mary only had one daughter - Martha, but she and her husband had ten children, one of which was my great-grandmother Margaret. I sit and wonder what it must have been like for Mary to have ten grand-children and to entertain them in her tiny little house! I wonder if she had a favourite? or if they all survived to adulthood? I know that Mary was deaf and dumb so life must have been very hard for her.

There are lots of Mary's, Martha's and Margarets in the Jenner family. Perhaps the enigmatic mother of Mary Chaplin was called Martha? If she was, then perhaps Mary's daughter was named after her?

I am named after my Oma. Mary Chaplin was her grandmother. My Oma's name was Stella Martha and I am Stella Margaret. If I'd had a daughter, perhaps I would have called her Martha? Who knows. We are all called after Stella Maris - the star of the sea. For these were fishing families who lived beside the ocean and earned their livings from catching and curing fish. It was a hard life but they endured it.

My Oma bucked the trend. She changed the pattern. She became a governess and went to live in Holland, working for a titled family. How courageous was that in her lifetime. She must have had some pluck to do that, don't you think. I wonder what made her do it. But that is another story, for another time.....

One thing I do know is that if my Oma hadn't moved to Holland and married a Dutchman, I would not be here!

Star

Where did they live?

2011-08-22T19:40:00.001+01:00

I received one more letter from E. with regard to her searches in the log-books of the Zebra but unfortunately nothing was turned up that shed any more light on Mary Chaplin's parentage. So I am still investigating that and should I find something new, I will let you know immediately. She did have parents! I just have to find out who they were, hmmm...

Meanwhile, my thoughts turned to where she lived, which was at 26 Southwold Road, Wrentham for most of her married life. When her husband Edward Chaplin died in 1851, she must have moved to Lowestoft. I still have that to prove, but she died in Lowestoft and was buried in Lowestoft in the graveyard of St. Margaret's Church in 1884. I think it is likely that one or both of her parents came from Lowestoft. We often return to the place of our birth when we get old, at least over here we do so I am hoping I am right on that one. At least it allows me to centre my search on that particular area.

I have sent off to the PRO at Kew in London and am waiting for the death certificate to arrive this week.

Next time I go to Wrentham I intend to look in Southwold Road and see if the house that Mary lived in still exists. I doubt it but having looked at the Google.co.uk maps I see that there are some very old houses still in Southwold Road. Here is where I have to be careful though because according to one of my sources of information, namely the administrator of St. Nicholas's Church in Wrentham, back in 1994, the numbers of the houses have changed over the years. Now isn't that interesting! So where number 26 Southwold Road was is now most probably where number 34 Southwold Road is located today.

Where number 26 falls today was a field originally owned by Benacre Estate and during WW11 by Mr. Fox, the landlord of the Old Kings Head public house (now no. 5 Southwold Road). It is most likely that the houses would have been originally numbered consecutively up the Southwold Road and that No. 26 would have been on what is now the odd side of the road opposite Carters Tower Mill - now where no. 34 is located.

I intend to go to Southwold Road and locate the public house. Perhaps someone in there will know some history about the road and the people who lived in it. I have been interested in this story for so long now that I feel sure that one day I will learn more.

Meantime I look forward to getting the death certificate. IF ONLY I could get my hands on the birth certificate too.

If you want to look at Southwold Road yourself, go to www.Google.co.uk and put 34 Southwold Road, Wrentham in the look up box. Then click on 'maps' and you will be able to take a virtual tour of the road. It's fun to do.

A trip to Bedford

2011-08-15T20:26:00.000+01:00

We have lots of lovely parks around here and sweet shops (tee-hee)! Saturday I went to Bedford and visited this gorgeous old-fashioned sweet shop. Just look at all the goodies on show:

Next up was a walk along the river bank. I was surprised to see this mother duck with five ducklings. It must have been a second lot because she was so blase about it all. It was raining when we got there but cleared up later on and became quite hot in the sunshine.

This is the boathouse. Lots of rowing goes on on Bedford river.

Gorgeous willow trees.

Plenty of places to sit and eat ice cream. See, the clouds are clearing.

Many swans live on the River Ouse. This one was hopeful!

A visit to the local street market followed the walk by the river. The produce looked so wonderful.

Flat peaches in the next picture. They're a new one to me.

and of course the cheese. We are lucky to get such a variety of cheese.

I did so enjoy my day out. Came home tired though!

We have quite a short summer here in England so we need to make the most of it. Already I can see signs of Autumn coming in the colours of the leaves.

Another letter ...

2011-08-12T13:57:00.000+01:00

The picture shows Lowestoft harbour as it is now, but 100 years ago you could walk across the harbour over all the fishing boats! My ancestor, Mary Chaplin, was buried in the graveyard of St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, in 1884 at the age of 72.

Towards the end of May I received another letter from E. Here is an excerpt from it...

Dear S,

'I had a most enjoyable day at the Public Records Office in Kew yesterday. O.k. I haven't found baby Mary yet, but what I did find was quite interesting.

So far I have read some of the Master's Logs i.e. Adm 52, 3721, 4393 and 3807. These are concerned with the day to day running of the vessel, the discipline of the crew, weather, bearings and burials at sea. The Captain's logs, of which there are eight for the same period, will have much more information, but I was beaten by the clock.

Zebra was built in 1765 and stationed at Deptford. She was an 'Ordinary' or seemingly a standby ship. A Bomb ship, quite small, with 12 guns so a baby being born would not have gone unnoticed. Just imagine, we are involved with the Napoleonic wars and little Zebra appears to be a supply ship, nipping in and out under cover of night from Sheerness or Dungeness over to Bologne and back in 1804 and 1805. In and out of the Thames estuary. In 1807 a most interesting account of Copenhagen on fire. There was mention of Ireland also.

The most interesting log was Adm 52 4393, which was still between the leather covers, but only just, wrapped in waxed paper. I was probably the first person to have opened it for decades. A tiny piece of leather fell away, which I wickedly squirreled into my pocket (enclosed).

Now my imagination is working overtime. Was Mary's mother smuggled onto Zebra at dead of night to bring her back to England and safety? It was hardly a pleasure cruiser. Were the tiny baby's ears damaged by the gun fire and loud explosions?

I am going up again next Wednesday to find the next exciting chapter.

I wonder if the local titled family were a French noble family taking refuge in England? I just cannot reason why a very pregnant lady would be put on a warship at such a dangerous time just to save her good name.

Must stop day-dreaming about Mary and her mother, but am itching to find out more.

+++

I now know that the period E was researching was too early for my ancestor. I have since discovered that she was born in 1812/13 so the above information would be too early. However, it does make for an interesting read, doesn't it.

On we go ...

Dylan update - communication!

2011-08-07T16:59:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, Dylan and I were playing with what I call his 'Farmer Toy'. He was very interested in it and for the first time, I noticed that he was copying the sounds. He says 'baa' for the sheep sound and 'moo' for the cow sound.

When I asked him 'Where is the sheep?', he looks underneath the toy, aaaah.

Later on when I ask him 'Where is the farmer?', he looks straight at the yellow box, but he hasn't yet worked out how to open that one. That is the most difficult box to open.

See what you think... Dylan and I have been working on this toy for weeks.....I'm a very proud Oma, can you tell?

The Zebra and Mary

2011-08-05T19:25:00.000+01:00

...so my friend's mother's friend (get it?) went to London to see what she could find. Here is an extract from her letter...

'Dear S,

The ship that I have found is S.S. Zebra. As you know, all British ships are registered at Lloyds and must have unique names. Passenger ships did not develop until the introduction of steam power many years later with 'Great Britain' and Brunnel's other wonderful ships.

Consider the first fleet, which sailed to Australia in 1788. They were naval vessels with guns and soooo small. People did not travel for fun. It was not until the peace and security of Victoria's reign that travel became available to the general public in comparative comfort and safety. Then passenger ships came into their own. Until then people who wanted to travel had to do so in very cramped and unsanitary conditions.

There was, I am assured, only one H.M. S.S. Zebra, which happened to be designated a bomb ship. So do you want me to read the Captain's Logs which are the best chance of finding Mary?'

I replied 'yes please'...

Her next letter read...

'So far my very limited search into passenger lists in the later part of the century was very unrewarding. Please be patient until after Easter when the evenings are light as I am very wary of travelling in the dark.

I am also going up to renew my card at the Genealogy Society this week and they may be able to advise me.
They have lots of copies of old registers etc.

I am fascinated by Mary's story and do hope that I can find out more about her birth. I wonder what happened to her mother? It reads like a Thomas Hardy plot.

Please do not expect too much, but I will do my best.'

I couldn't wait for her next letter!

2011-07-31T08:51:00.000+01:00

Have you got a name? Silly question perhaps but important nevertheless. Supposing someone stole your name and/or your identity? Wouldn't that be just dreadful.

The certificate above was a present for my little grandson Dylan on the occasion of his Naming Day Party on June 9th this year. It was a really fun day but it had a serious side too. Three responsible adults chosen by Dylan's parents, each made a short speech with promises to take an interest in his development. The adults were chosen for their diversity of interests as well as their ability to be responsible. One promised to instill in Dylan a love of football, another an interest in books and reading and the third promised to ensure that she would always be there for him. It was a very moving occasion.

So a name is very special.

After the war a name could be an embarrassment. Lots of Jewish people changed their names and who could blame them although it is an outrage that they should feel the need to do so to avoid being labelled. However, many people who were not Jewish also changed their names. There were many reasons for this. Perhaps a person didn't want to be known by the name they had previously used in case they were identified. In Holland there were many Quislings: people who collaborated with the Germans and were later ostracized by their community. Once your own name was ditched, you would need a new name... and this is the subject of my next book 'Muisjes' recently published in the Kindle Store and available as an e-book. Go to the Kindle Store and type Muisjes, that will find it. It's on offer for the summer.

Here you will read a story about my early childhood, when at the age of eleven, I became involved in a terrifying cover-up. If you want to find out what happened,click here and buy my book. and for English readers, click here.

We all have a story to tell!

Congratulations David and Michelle

2011-07-30T09:17:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to my youngest son David and his wife Michelle. Today they celebrate their FIRST wedding anniversary. Aaaaah.

Edward Chaplin's religious life

2011-07-28T14:13:00.000+01:00

On my visit to Wrentham in the 1990's, I found the chapel, see picture above, where Edward Chaplin worshipped for a large part of his life. He was the guardian of my ancestor, Mary Chaplin who was born on board the SS Zebra in 1812, and later father of her child, Martha, my great-great-grandmother. There is, so far, no record of Edward having married Mary, but there is proof that he is Martha's father because he is named on her marriage certificate when she married William Card in Wrentham on 24th December 1855. It's a shame that so far I can't find proof of Mary's marriage to Edward, if there was a marriage because the certificate would give me the information I seek on Mary's parentage.

At this point I want to mention something interesting which I found in a local booklet about Wrentham:

"there are American connections, which began about this time. Wrentham, Massachusetts was a frontier settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony of 1660, being part of Dedham and known by the Indian name of Wollomonuppoag. The land was purchased from the Sagamore Indians; the 600 acres costing £24-10 shillings and 8 pence (in our old money before we went decimal). On 15th October 1673 the General Court granted the incorporation of the town of Wrentham and the tricentenary of this historic event was marked in 1973 by striking a replica of the 'Pine Tree' or 'Bay Shilling'. The two sides of the coin are shown here:

It was around about this time in my investigations that a friend of mine's mother's friend offered to go to London and do some research on the SS Zebra for me. She said she had access to parts of the maritime museum, which ordinarily people would not be able to get to. I was delighted to agree to her going and I'll let you know what she found in future posts.

It keeps on getting more interesting, doesn't it!

Dylan update

2011-07-25T20:51:00.000+01:00

My little grandson Dylan is nine months old now! It doesn't seem possible - the time has gone so fast. I have so enjoyed watching his progress as he learns new things all the time and how to handle situations for the first time.

His mum Michelle has returned to work now and for some time Dylan has been coming to me on a Monday, to the childminder on a Tuesday and to his other Grandma on a Wednesday. Gradually over the weeks he and I have established a routine together, which involves playtime, walking out time, feeding time and sleeping time.

Over the months I have had to get some extra baby furniture. I had some help from you'all with that. We have acquired a cot:

A blue pushchair:

A wooden highchair from Mothercare. It turns into a little table and chair for later on. The white tray comes right off so it can be used as a little chair for sitting in and watching T.V. or looking at a book. I like it very much and Dylan is getting used to it.

His toybox is underneath the chair/table.

We bought him a scrapbook, which I have almost filled. I shall probably start a new one for his second year.

Ed and Michelle provided the cot and this little bouncing chair, which he likes to sit in. I think he thinks he's a bit too grown up for it now, but he will sit in it when he's tired.

Here he is playing with one of his favourite toys.

I'm really enjoying my grandson.

My English Garden in July

2011-07-22T16:18:00.000+01:00

July has not been such a good month weather wise, so far, here in the south of England. However, I have been busy in the garden, ably assisted by Jim, newly retired and feeling enthusiastic. There is plenty to do, but I am beginning to see the fruits of our efforts with a neater than usual garden to enjoy on a lovely summer's day.

The night scented stocks in the next picture fill the evening air with the scent of cloves - very enticing.

Jim's beans are crawling up the poles. It doesn't seem to matter which poles they climb up. They are not fussy and often pick a different pole to the one they were planted against!

We have some embryo tomatoes... and can you see the new red tree? When the old one died, after 25 years, I was very sad. Then I noticed a new one was growing on the opposite side of the garden. It's now into it's 3rd year and it's taller than me.

Doesn't that old fence look better, now that I've finished painting it? I thought it was at the end of its road, but now it looks like it may last another year or two. Of course, it's not my fence so I don't have to replace it, but I do have to look at it so I want it to look nice.

I have had a lot of success with the Sweet William plantings this spring/summer. There are seedlings in abundance just waiting to be planted out in a barish corner.

Here are the bean plants again. I don't see them in America but that could be because they are a cool weather crop really. We call them runner beans, not the same at all as bobby beans.

The cotinus has been wonderful this year now that I've cleared the old shrubs out of the way. It has flourished and filled the space and looks great as a backcloth for the silver poppies.

We have four new rose bushes. Here's one of them, the red one - more of that another time.

Next up are the begonias, always cheerful in the summer and easy to keep.

and the rhubarb is glorious. It's gone berserk this year. Just look at these enormous leaves and the stalks are almost as thick as my wrist. (I'm given to exaggeration sometimes.)

I hope your garden is flourishing too this July. If you don't have a garden, then perhaps you have a window box or a patio. They all provide endless pleasure, don't they!

What have been your successes so far this summer?

The Phone Hacking Scandal

2011-07-20T16:25:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, here in the U.K. the BBC showed us the interviews of Rupert Murdoch and his son James, the recently resigned Chief Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson and Rebekah Brookes, who recently left the News Corp. Organisation. It was on the TV for hours and made interesting but disturbing viewing. It seemed to me that Rupert Murdoch was well past his sell-by date and was probably an embarrassment to his son James, who did a good job of supporting his father and also didn't seem to know much about what had been going on. As they both said, the News of the World newspaper, now closed down, is a very small part of their organisation.

Today, our Prime Minister has been answering questions about why he decided to employ Andy Coulson, late of News of the World, as his press secretary. He said that in hindsight it was a bad decision, which he now regrets. I felt it was a pity he hadn't made more in depth enquiries into Andy Coulson's past before he was employed. If I go for a job, I have to say what I've been doing for the past five years at least so for an important job like Prime Minister's press secretary, you would think that more exhaustive enquiries would be made.

With their backs to the wall, they all start blaming each other, don't they. Nobody wants to accept that they knew what was going on, instigated it, accepted it or paid for it!

This morning, when I woke up, the first thing that came into my head was the following song by Bob Dylan, entitled 'Who Killed Davey Moore?' I think it sums up the situation perfectly, don't you?

Who Killed Davey Moore?

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not I,” says the referee
“Don’t point your finger at me
I could’ve stopped it in the eighth
An’ maybe kept him from his fate
But the crowd would’ve booed, I’m sure
At not gettin’ their money’s worth
It’s too bad he had to go
But there was a pressure on me too, you know
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not us,” says the angry crowd
Whose screams filled the arena loud
“It’s too bad he died that night
But we just like to see a fight
We didn’t mean for him t’ meet his death
We just meant to see some sweat
There ain’t nothing wrong in that
It wasn’t us that made him fall
No, you can’t blame us at all”

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says his manager
Puffing on a big cigar
“It’s hard to say, it’s hard to tell
I always thought that he was well
It’s too bad for his wife an’ kids he’s dead
But if he was sick, he should’ve said
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the gambling man
With his ticket stub still in his hand
“It wasn’t me that knocked him down
My hands never touched him none
I didn’t commit no ugly sin
Anyway, I put money on him to win
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the boxing writer
Pounding print on his old typewriter
Sayin’, “Boxing ain’t to blame
There’s just as much danger in a football game”
Sayin’, “Fistfighting is here to stay
It’s just the old American way
It wasn’t me that made him fall
No, you can’t blame me at all”

Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?
“Not me,” says the man whose fists
Laid him low in a cloud of mist
Who came here from Cuba’s door
Where boxing ain’t allowed no more
“I hit him, yes, it’s true
But that’s what I am paid to do
Don’t say ‘murder,’ don’t say ‘kill’
It was destiny, it was God’s will”
Who killed Davey Moore
Why an’ what’s the reason for?

I couldn't find a video of Bob singing the song, but here's cover by John McFadden.

Mary Chaplin's Guardian, later husband? Edward Chaplin

2011-07-18T09:11:00.000+01:00

In March 1994 I wrote to the Waveney Life Magazine to see if anyone in the locality could shed some light on my mystery. I had some interesting replies.

+++

Since establishing that baby Mary Chaplin was given over to the care of one Edward Chaplin, a ship's carpenter, I turned my attentions to that gentlemen to see if I could establish why he was given the baby to care for after her birth on the Zebra circa 1813.

Out of the blue I received a letter from a distant cousin, whose grandfather, Frank Jenner, appears on the Jenner family photograph on the right-hand side of this Blog. Frank is the little boy, sitting on the floor at the front of the group. In his letter my cousin confirmed the story of the scandal, which had passed down his line to him thereby giving the story more credence. In his letter he tells me:

'Edward Chaplin appears in the 1841 census as a carpenter, aged 60 but the 1841 census rounded the ages of adults to the nearest 5 years, so he might have been 61 or 62. However, in the Wrentham burial register his age is recorded as 77 when he was buried on 29th March 1850 in the graveyard of the Congregational Chapel in Wrentham.'

from a letter to me from a village historian in Wrentham during my investigations:
'The census of 1841 states that Edward, aged 60 and Mary aged 25, Chaplin, lived at 26 Southwold Road, Wrentham together with their daughter Martha, aged 8. Edward Chaplin became a member of the Congregational Chapel in 1836 and remained so until his death. There is no mention of Mary being a member. As there is no record of Edward and Mary getting married, which they obviously did, it is possible that they probably were married at the Congregational Chapel.'

So my trip to Wrentham was going to be interesting. I wanted to find the Congregational Chapel where Edward and possibly Mary worshipped. As Mary was deaf and dumb, maybe she didn't go to the Chapel with her husband, but their daughter Martha was baptised there and documentary evidence exists to prove that fact.

I also wanted to find Southwold Road and possibly number 26 where they lived together as a family. Could that house still be there and would I get any spooky feelings when I saw it?

Then I received a letter from the Administrator at The Church of St. Nicholas - Wrentham. I quote from it as follows:

'I spoke to a number of people about the Chaplin's and in particular about 26 Southwold Road. Where number 26 falls today was a field originally owned by Benacre Estate and during World War 11 by Mr. Fox, the landlord of The Old King's Head (now no. 5 Southwold Road). His daughter, Mrs. Vera Bird, in her 70's says that she thinks the houses would have been originally numbered consecutively up the Southwold Road and that No. 26 would have been on what is now the odd side of the road opposite Carters Tower Mill , which is where No. 34 Southwold Road is now.

Since these investigations of mine took place, Google have now produced aerial maps and it is possible to call up Southwold Road and see what it is like nowadays. I did that the other day and found it a mix of very old and new houses.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I went to Wrentham, looked at the antique shop and found a ship's box with the name SS Lion on the top. I didn't see anything to do with the Zebra. I didn't really expect to, but one can always hope. Apparently the HMS Victory, built in 1765, sailed with a flotilla of bombships, The SS Zebra played a part in the Battle of Copenhagen. Here is a list of the bombships involved, as you can see, the Zebra is listed amongst them. All this happened before Mary Chaplin's birth, but it is interesting to me in the knowledge that later on when the ship had finished it's life at war, my ancestor came into existence upon it!

United Kingdom

Nelson's squadron (from Wikipaedia)

Polyphemus 64 (Captain John Lawford)
Isis 50 (Captain James Walker)
Edgar 74 (Captain George Murray)
Ardent 64 (Captain Thomas Bertie)
Glatton 54/56 (Captain William Bligh)
Elephant 74 (flag of Vice-Adm. Lord Nelson, Captain Thomas Foley)
Ganges 74 (Captain Thomas Francis Fremantle)
Monarch 74 (Captain James Robert Mosse †^[22])
Defiance 74 (2nd flag of Rear-Adm. Thomas Graves, Captain Richard Retalick)
Russell 74 (Captain William Cuming)
Bellona 74 (Captain Thomas Boulden Thompson)
Agamemnon 64 (Captain Robert Devereux Fancourt)
Désirée 36 (Captain Henry Inman)
Amazon 38 (Captain Edward Riou †^[22])
Blanche 36 (Captain Graham Eden Hamond)
Alcmène 32 (Captain Samuel Sutton)
Jamaica 24 (Captain Jonas Rose)
Arrow (ship-sloop, Captain William Bolton)
Dart (ship-sloop, Captain John Ferris Devonshire)
Cruizer (brig-sloop, Cmdr. James Brisbane)
Harpy (brig-sloop, Cmdr. William Birchall)
Discovery (bomb, Cmdr. John Conn)
Explosion (bomb, Cmdr. John Henry Martin)
Hecla (bomb, Cmdr. Richard Hatherhill)
Sulphur (bomb, Cmdr. Hender Whitter)
Terror (bomb, Cmdr. Samuel Campbell Rowley)
Volcano (bomb, Cmdr. James Watson)
Zebra (bomb, Cmdr. Edward Sneyd Clay)
Otter (fireship, Cmdr. George M'Kinley)
Zephyr (fireship, Cmdr. Clotworthy Upton)

+++

I called in at the local church, St. Mary's, and spoke to the administrator who was very helpful. It is hard to do all this when one only has limited time. However, Wrentham is a small village and people have long memories.

Next time I'll tell you about an interesting find in Wrentham.

HMS Zebra

2011-07-14T14:29:00.000+01:00

From Wikipaedia:
HMS Zebra was an 16-gun (later 18-gun) Zebra-class sloop of the Royal Navy, launched on 31 August 1780 at Gravesend. She was the second ship to bear the name. After twenty years of service, including involvement in the West Indies campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars she was converted into a bomb vessel in 1798. In this capacity she took part in attacks on French ports, and was present at both battles of Copenhagen.

The Zebra was commissioned in August 1780 under Commander John Bourchier.^[4]She then served in the Downs Squadron during the closing stages of the American Revolutionary War. On 10 February 1781 she was in company with Juno when they captured the American privateer Revenge.^[5] Then around 10 May she was in company with the sloop Martin and the cutters Flying Fish and Busy when they recaptured theIndustry and the Jenny.^[6]

On 14 April 1782 Zebra was with Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney, the commander-in chief of the Leeward Islands station, at the Battle of the Saintes. She was in Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood's division. During fleet engagements, only largeships-of-the-line of over 50 guns traditionally took part in the battles and the smallZebra did not participate in a battle. Smaller vessels like Zebra would be used to relay messages, tow damaged ships out of the line or rescue seaman.^[7]

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When I first discovered that my ancestor, Mary Chaplin, was born on the Zebra, I became fascinated. I recalled a story which my mother had told me when I was small...

Mother and I went to visit my Auntie Elsie, my Oma's sister. You can see her picture below. She's standing at the back on the right, next to my Oma.

She lived in a grand house at the top of Gunton Cliff in Lowestoft. She owned several properties in the neighbourhood and was quite a formidable lady. Mother and I sat down in the elegant sitting room at the front of the house. We were brought tea to drink in china cups. I did my best to be presentable, sit nicely, speak when spoken to, not slurp my tea, stir the sugar in carefully etc. Then my Auntie remarked:

'Just look at her, you would almost think she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth!'

I didn't know what that expression meant and had to ask my mother afterwards. It was then that she told me the story...

She told me that a way back in time, one of our family had been put in the family way by the Lord of the Manor where she had worked as a servant. She didn't mention who the relative was or when it happened, just that it happened. This was very common in those days but intriguing nevertheless. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know where my ancestor had been working and who the 'culprit' was who dared to take advantage of his servant in this way. I also wondered if there was any truth in the story or if it was just hearsay.

In the course of my family history investigations, I have got back to Mary Chaplin, b. 1805-1813, and no further. Could it be that this was the child of the union between my servant ancestor and her boss? Could that explain why she was born on the Zebra with (so far) no record of her parentage?

Perhaps if I came forward in time, maybe some answers would be revealed? What happened to this little girl, born deaf and dumb on a bombship?

What I know is that she was brought up in Wrentham, Suffolk by one Edward Chaplin who was not her father but her guardian for some reason.

I decided to go to Wrentham and make some enquiries .......

My Great-great-great grandmother, Mary Chaplin

2011-07-10T21:42:00.000+01:00

Above is a page from the 1851 census return for Wrentham in Suffolk, England where my 3 x greats grandmother was living at the time. If you click on the picture, you will see clearly, her listing is half way down. It says:

26 Southwold Road (Wrentham)

Mary Chaplin (Head of household)

Aged 38

Charwoman

and the interesting bit (to me) is the last entry on the right hand side, where it says 'born at sea SS Zebra - deaf and dumb'. That part is interesting for lots of reasons but the main one for me was that she was born at sea on the SS Zebra. I don't know the exact year, only that it was somewhere between 1805 and 1813.

A few years ago when I was researching this branch of the family, I went to Wrentham to have a look around and get the feel of the place. It is charming. It is delightful. It is on the sea in my favourite part of the country, the East Coast, just down a bit from Lowestoft where I often go on holiday and where my maternal grandmother (Oma) came from.

We looked in a small antique shop on the High Street and guess what I found? I found a wooden chest. On the top was a name: SS Lion. Could there be a connection with the SS Zebra?

There was only one ship with the name SS Zebra at the time and my research showed me that it was a small bomb ship! of 12 guns, part of the support fleet for Nelson's flagship - the Victory, built in 1765.

Was it possible that my little ship, the SS Zebra saw battle in one of those special wars? and I was still wondering how come my ancestor was born on such a ship.

Further research may provide the answers. Watch this space.