Sending love and good wishes to all my family and friends and all my readers in America on this your 250th anniversary.
Here are two of our fridge magnets collected on trips to your beautiful counrty. 
Category Archives: friendship
Happy Fourth of July!
Lunch and A Poem
It’s been a bit of a day for one reason and another but we had a lovely lunch at home with a dear friend and together sorted out several theatre trips over the next few months – lots to look forward to.
This little poem came to mind today, Celia, Celia by Adrian Mitchell. It made me smile. I hope it does the same for you.
When I am sad and weary
When I think all hope has gone
When I walk along High Holborn
I think of you with nothing on
My Mum, Precious Words and Deeds
My lovely Mum died on this day in 1994 and I still want to tell her stuff that excites me or that I need her wisdom on. That doesn’t go away. She was a very special person and supported me every way in everything I did.
Regular readers will have seen this photo before, a favourite taken at Carn Brea Castle on the occasion of Mum and Dad’s Golden Wedding celebration in 1989
I have been going through some treasures and found some letters from Mum, all relating to her care of me while becoming a mum myself.
A story for you – Very early in my third pregnancy , I knew that I was expecting twins. I had wanted to have twins since I was 9 years old! My GP told me I was being silly and that he would tell me if/ when this was so. My lovely parents believed me and bought us ‘multiple birth’ insurance at 8 weeks and the GP wrote a letter to the insurance company saying that he was sure it was a single birth.
Roll on eight months or so to September 9th 1977 and the doubting GP sent me to see the consultant at the hospital. She listened to me, sent me for an x-ray and there they were, arms and legs everywhere! Before taking the plates back to her, I phoned my lovely Mr S and my Mum to share my utter delight. What follows is the letter from my Mum that came the next day:
Letter dated 9/9/1977
Just a week later, our twins arrived on 16th and 17th September, and so did my Mum to help look after our other two, 4 and nearly 2 years old, while I was in hospital and then three more weeks to help – but that is another story.
Rijks Museum and Goodbye Amsterdam
The Night Watch by Rembrandt being cleaned, love the t-shirts
Love the mischievous expression on the young woman’s face
Miniature kitchen in one of the dolls’ houses
I Love this jacket!
Taken from the Eurostar on the way home after a brilliant holiday with our very good friends.
Books, Bikes and Cakes
On one of our walks around Amsterdam we came across an alley lined with arches and in each a book store. They were so tall, a very long ladder was needed to reach the higher shelves. 
As you will probably know, bikes are an important mode of transport in Amsterdam. Pedestrians really need to keep themselves very aware of the silent speeding velocipedes, bells being very few and far between! It was lovely to see whole families riding, the baby in a baby cart, the toddler on a frame in the front and children of all ages cycling along. There were also flower decorated bikes.
Parking for many bikes
WEdding bike
I really wanted to try Dutch Apple Cake and succeeded – one more a pie and one with a crumble topping – both absolutely delicious. We also shared a scrumptious tiramisu after an excellent Italian meal in Antonio’s.
Two Stations, Saying Goodbye and Garden
I hope the Flowers in May, posted for your delectation, have pleased you. I scheduled them all, taken just before we went away for a long needed break – a train journey to Amsterdam with friends. Over the next week or two I’ll share photos from then.
St Pancras station where we caught the Eurostar
Amsterdam Centraal
While we were away on our long planned train trip to Amsterdam, the funeral of our Dear friend and breakfast companion, J, took place. As we very sadly couldn’t be there to say goodbye and to sing for him with my choir, my lovely choir leader offered to take something precious of mine so that a part of me would be there.
I chose a small ribbon in purple, white and green that Daughter no 3 gave me some time ago. J appreciated my suffragette history and so it seemed an appropriate token to represent me last week. 
Grown well in our absence
Muguet, Happiness Calendar and Garden Birds
May 1st is La Fête du Muguet in France and our dear friend Kath, to whom this blog is dedicated, always gave me a bunch of Lily-of-the-Valley or, if they were away in their house in Meysaac, a card would arrive on the day. The flowers symbolise happiness and good luck and I grow them in the garden in memory of my lovely friend.
Here is the Meaningful May calendar of happiness.
It’s a lovely time of year for bird song. Here is what we heard in a 10 minute recording. 
Happy Beltane to you all.
Bluebells, Clematis and A Song
Driving to choir this morning was a blur of beautiful blueness as the hedgerows along the way are thick with bluebells. I couldn’t take a photo (as I was driving) but here are a few of the lovely flowers from our garden.
Our Clematis Montana is wonderful this Spring having been cut almost to the ground two years ago.
We sang this beautiful song, Keep You in Peace, at choir today, rehearsing for singing at the funeral next week of our very dear friend and much loved member of our choir. Thanks to S for the video.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18kehYmcJ1/
Goldfinch, Pigeon and A Poem
We have a charm of Goldfinches in the garden, taking turns at the feeder. Sometimes, when the feeders are full, there are a dozen at once.
There are two regular courting pigeons in the garden. One had just flown off as I took my photo. 
Today’s poem in the book, “A Poet for Every Day of the Year” made me think about our dear friend John who loved cricket, so this poem, ‘The Catch’ by Simon Armitage is here in John’s memory today.
A Birthday Treat and Bluebells
The first message to come through on my birthday (31/12/2025) was an invitation to Afternoon Tea at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth and this afternoon we went with our Dear and very generous friends to celebrate my birthday with a splendidly delicious afternoon tea and the most wonderful views. Enjoy the gallery and imagine our tastebud joy!
The savouries
Sweet treats
Chocolate egg pot, chocolate mouse in a little chocolate flower pot
Scones, jam and clotted cream
Bubbly!
Thank you so much N&G – that was a wonderful afternoon with you two and what a truly lovely birthday present!
Bluebells on the way home
