Thursday 12th

Day out at Rustington-on-Sea

September in Brighton

Two course dinner yesterday in Community centre in company of Alice, who lived for a number of years in Hong Kong and her Carer for the day Becky, plus Barry who spent most of his life in West Midlands.     Excellent meal and good company.

Today met up with two cousins at Shoreham and ended up in Steyning for afternoon.

Street Art (Graffitti)

I am a great fan of Street Art, loathed by some but loved by others.  I think it brightens places up.   Below are some of the many murals to be found in Brighton

Recap on March

March went so quickly, very frustrated by not being able to get out in the garden, so many jobs to be done and things to be planted but weather has stayed so cold and we still have snow laying.     I did notice flowering Cherry trying to come out in Bloom yesterday hopefully it will become warmer soon.    With clocks having gone forward at end of March, (Easter Weekend) it is nice to get the lighter evenings.    Very few walkers on weekly walks in March.

Recap on February

February was a milestone Birthday, and I celebrated it by spending it in Brighton and Eastbourne with friends and family, and also catching up with some cousins I hadn't seen for 60 odd years.      Weather was a bit chilly as you would expect but we didn't get the snow and had a couple of decent days.
I went on the Brighton Wheel, out for a very nice meal and saw "The Hobbit" which although a bit drawn out was enjoyable. The fact that one book is being made into 3 films makes you think the other two are going to be considerably drawn out too!!    I also saw  "Les Mis" which I really enjoyed.
       The Brighton Wheel

a different view of the Wheel

a view from the Wheel

In the meantime at home my Crocus were out!!

One of my favourite flowers, I just love them.

In the Garden today

More snow

A snowman yes!

Another layer of snow today not many people about apart from a few children on sledges.

post script to above

   It suddenly dawned on me yesterday that, with the death of my Aunt, that now makes me the oldest living member of my Mother's side of the family and what a sobering thought that is!!!
  We've had a trip to local theatre cancelled today because of bad weather.
  Now the question is  should I make a Snowman?

Early January 2013

Starting off my Blog for 2013 on rather a sad note with the news of the passing of my favourite Aunt aged 93. She was a remarkable lady, dearly loved by all who knew her. To me in the past few years she has seemed the mainstay of our family the last direct link to my Grandmother and my Mother, her elder sister, both of whom died some years ago. My Aunt, like my mother, was a devout Catholic and the Church played an important part in their lives.

It must have also helped my Aunt a great deal in coming to terms with the loss of her Brother-in-law at the end of the war, followed by the loss of her dearly loved twin sister from Pneumonia at the age of 33. She then took on the responsibility of bring up her Sister's Son, and although engaged to be married continued to live at home, caring for her Mother and nephew until her mother died. She then married (aged 40 ) her long time suitor, and went on to have two lovely girls, but tragically lost her husband, many years later, when he died suddenly while they were on holiday abroad. It was a blow to us all as he was also greatly loved and respected by all who knew him, a carpenter by trade who prided himself, rightly, on his skill and doing a really perfect job. Dovetail joints every time! As he died abroad his body had to be sent back to this country for burial in a sealed coffin, although it was apparently rough wood I remember my Aunt saying that he would have been pleased as the joints were dovetailed. After his death she concentrated on the bringing up of her 2 teenage daughters, her sister's son had by then left home and married, and doing work for the Church. She made several trips to NZ to visit friends who had emigrated there and continued to enjoy her life. One of her daughters came to live with her, with her family, some years ago and she in turn has cared for her Mother. Now my Aunt has gone she also is left to care for 2 daughters. My Aunt had 3 sisters, all of whom died before her (2 of Cancer) she herself kept in fairly good health was very good at needlework, also craft work, in fact was in the middle of doing an embroidery  when she died, . Years ago she would make all her own clothes, as would all her sisters, a talent which unfortunately did not pass down to me or my sister! Marrying late and having children seems to have happened a lot in our family, my mother married when she was 27. but my other Aunt had her children later on in life, and I did not marry until aged 40. Luckily all our children have been normal healthy people and grown up to be a credit to us.

My Aunt was kind,compassionate , fun loving and someone you always felt a joy at meeting,she will be sorely missed. May she RIP..