days out...

Hello Friends,
I wouldn't wonder if I did not have any friends left I have been so bad at updating my blog...SORRY... I am going to try to make amends and start to write more regularly.  I am always afraid that I am boring you as day by day  I seem to follow the same old patren...mostly !!   However since last time I wrote life had been interesting !!   My friend Sheila arrived down from Edinburgh ( via Cardiff where she had been visiting her daughter) It is great when Sheila arrives. we have known each other now for over 40 years now. We are true friends as we were out of contact for quite a while and suddenly got re acquainted and it was as if we had met only a few days before, other than the fact that we had a whole lot of news to catch up with. (We had first met at a Spina Bifida Meeting. Sheila had a son Martin with Spina Bifida he was one of the older children when we started up the Ass. and Sheila was very involved right from the start.)  Sheila is now on her own since Martin died ..and also Martin her husband...when she is down with me we have good times especially as we can get out and about in the car. Sheila does not drive so enjoys that.  We paid a visit to our nearest Safari Park Longleat. It is a great place and not far from me here in Box, only takes about 40 mins to drive there.  It is a beautiful estate owned by Lord Bath and was one of the first Safari Parks to open in the UK.  It is quite fascinating being able to see so many wild animals at very close up ! The lions are my favs. but there are also beautiful Giraffes that are Mary's favs. This year we were able to admire quite a few new babies they look so cute. The one place I do not drive in is the monkey park...these monkeys are...well..monkeys and are all over your car in a second ripping of window wipers, trying to get the rubber off round doors and widows,  really quite frightening and certainly not my idea of fun !! (when you go into the enclosure you do so at your own risk )   As well as many many animals this year they had a new one to show us and that was a very old elephant Rosie who is around 60years old.... it is only a few weeks ago that there was shown in the TV and in newspapers her being very cruelly treated by her owners at a circus. It caused quite an uproar and Lord Bath stepped in and has re homed her. She is settling in well and whilst we were there was enjoying the freedom of being able to give herself a dust bath and throwing dust all over herself, she new keeper watching from the distance.  I read only on Friday that she is now so comfortable that they have even been able to take her out for short walks in the estate.  It takes quite some time to get around the estate at least 2 hours slowly driving through and at the end after we have parked the car it is time for lunch and after that to see some more smaller animals at close range. The funniest of them must be thee Mere Cats..they are so cute and inquisitive, I think they are my fav small animal...We did not have time this time..or the energy ! to visit the beautiful gardens but plan to do so soon, as we got the kind of ticket that allows us entry as often as we like to the gardens especially... Another day when my other friend Pam was over from Bath we all went to a small town called Marlborough. It is most famous for having a very large and important School , Marlborough College..It is small enough to be able to walk along one side of the main street and cross over and walk along the other side admiring all the shops that are different from shops we find in most towns. There are also some lovey little alleyways to pop into to find yet more little shops. Lost of delightful cafes and pubs.  Needless to say a stop at one of the pubs was a must for lunch..On our way back I drove over what is called the Marlborough downs. This is a range of hills above the town. Mostly chalk hills with some lovely panoramic views. quite a few horse racing stables are around and you can often see the horses out on their gallops. This road eventually passes Lynham Airfield some of you may know that most of the troops who have died in Afghanistan etc are brought home to Lyneham and then via the small town of Wooten Basset where every time they pass through the people of the village come out to line the streets, neither Pam or Sheila had been through the small town before so that was again something new for them. Of course a day shopping in Bath is always on the list of things to do !!
So you see that has kept me a wee bit busy....since Sheila went home Mary and I have had various Dr. and hospital appointments..nothing particularly wrong so no worries...also a friend of mine has had a daughter in hospital now Ann cannot drive as she had had to have two toes removed...one on each foot recently and one especially is proving difficult to heal...anyway she needed transport to and from the hospital so Sybil's Taxi was much in demand.  I have visited the hospital so much in these last few months I swear the car knows it's own way there !! Thankfully Jane is home now so Ann only needs help to go some shopping..
My niece Beth is continuing to have a hard time trying to get the house ready for putting on sale. There is so much to clear out it can get a bit overwhelming at times.  I have tried to help but am afraid I am not much help ...I did go up and removed about 5 books  LOL  my sister must have 100's at least ....5 bookcases full....see what I mean about me not being much help !! Beth and Max organised a come and collect whatever you want day last Saturday and although quite a lot was taken it still hardly made a dent in what is still to find places for.  Max and a friend have made a start on decorating each room in turn and this week have been laying a new wood on the decking floor...It just seems to go on and on. It will be a relief to us all when it can be put on sale...and hopefully sell....It is not a good time to be selling at the moment as there is not much money going around especially for mortgages for younger folks...
My other sister Margaret is getting better, Her hands have healed amazingly. I can hardly believe it hardly a scar to be seen. I certainly had never heard of Sweets Disease..and it was a terrible worrying time. I only pray that she can regain a bit of stenghth as she is still very wobbly on her legs the result I suppose of the heart failure and it will just take a time for her to get back her oomph !!
Better go now. Promise to come back soon....promise ,

Till then remember to always   LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

spring days, wedding days

Hello Friends,

Wherever are the months going ? Here we are the 1st. May already.

I do hope that by now you are all enjoying the spring weather and that the terrible snow and ice and awful storms are over and that we can look forward to lovely spring/summer days.

There are quite a few things associated with May Day one of them I was thinking about before I got up this morning and that was the tradition of washing ones face in the morning dew...supposed to make us look beautiful !!  Should I get up I thought to myself ? will my wrinkles disappear ?..after a few mins...no secs,,I decided I would stay in bed for an hour or so more !!

 I have only once did such a daft thing and looking back it really was daft...I worked in Edinburgh at that time in the bank and some of us girl decided we should give it a try and we would take an early walk on Arthurs Seat and "wash our faces! !!!  this meant that I had to get a very early bus 5.30am !! into town to meet up and have our walk...well to say we were mad might be an understatement..the only good thing I suppose was that at least it was a dry morning!!  as for my complexion....not so sure...the wrinkles have still appeared  LOL

This has been a rather special week I am sure you will agree...the reason.. A ROYAL WEDDING

I had a visitor overnight on Thurs. but we were both up around 7am watching the TV run up to the wedding.  Cathy was supposed to be leaving by 8.30 but was rather reluctant to leave but had to move at 8.45 to get up to London to see her Mother.   Once she left I got into the kitchen and started to make sandwiches...nice dainty ones !! cucumber, salmon and cheese ones. all the crusts removed naturally !!  made up plates with union flag napkins, also plates of fancy cakes and biscuits...all had to be covered for lunch...Around 10.30 my friend Cait arrived and Mary Cait and I settled down to watch the proceedings evolving in front of our eyes, from the first glimpse of Prince William and Harry on their way to the Abbey to the arrival of Kate in her most beautiful dress. Our breath was quite taken away by her appearance and that of her lovely sister Pippa and the gorgeous little flower girls and page boys.  How proud everyone was to be part of this spectacle..

Before the brides arrival we had seen many many people arrive some famous most not so the fashions were many and varied and the hats or in the main.. facinators!!.. were a creation to behold. It has to be said from the sublime to the outrageious !! The royal party themselves were all most beautifully dressed none more so than our beloved Queen in a gorgeous Yellow coat and dress..Had it been a dull wet drizzly April day she would certainly have been a bright light of sunshine... The wedding service was lovely and the music was just a delight.  when the married couple and few friends went off to sign the register I dashed into the kitchen and brought through the early lunch... It was a bit of a surprise even to Mary as I hadn't even hinted to her I was doing it...Must say we were ready for it by that time.( I could almost have felt Mary wondering if I was going to ask if anyone wanted anything to eat !!! LOL )   It was so lovely to watch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk all the way through the Abbey smiling and nodding to everyone as they made their way out on to the steps where they were met by a sea of people and noise...The posed for a moment and then were assisted into the open carriage for the ride back to Buckingham Palace...I am sure you have all seen the wonderful scene on the balcony when all the family came out to wave to the crowds and where the newly weds thrilled the crowd by giving each other a very speciall kiss..  That was almost he end of our TV viewing although throughout the day we were given re runs and endless still photographs.  I do hope that you were able to enjoy the occasion with us.   I feel so privileged to live in such a wonderful country who can put on such a spectacle to be enjoyed, by it is said many millions of people worldwide.

As if one wedding was not enough....on Saturday I had another wedding to go to...This time though I had an invitation !!  It was to the wedding of one of our ex ministers at church. He kindly invited all at church...however only three of us decided to go to represent everyone else.  The wedding was a little smaller that the one the previous day !! around 200 guests I think.  It was a lovey day and we had such a nice time.  we were invited to stay at the church for a Cornish Cream Tea...(John our ex minister and Pauline are Cornish) this was served by members of their church delicious scones with butter, strawberry jam and topped with thick Cornish cream...There was another reception later in the day but Clare the bride etc stayed with us all for a cream tea and for many photographs to be taken......guess what ?  Sybil forgot to take her camera !! and I managed to buy a nice new one thinking it should be a good try out for it !!!

So there we are that has been my last few days of what has been a very up and down April..

This week I look forward to Wednesday when I have a dear friend come down from Edinburgh for a week holiday.  I hope to be able to have lots of news about that next time.

The flowers at the top are called "bleeding hearts" and were some we saw when we had our walk in the botanic gardens..

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Spring Days., New Life,

Good Morning Friends,
Well it is now a week since the day of Sarah's funeral and what an odd time it seems to have been.  I am so thankful to have been surrounded by your prayers and love.( I know there are many people who feel they have no faith and seem to manage through the days quite happily, but as they maybe can't understand ,my faith I equally do not understand their lack of faith..)  I have found it strange the reaction of people. Most have been kind and clearly they don't know just what to say or do. I think they have found my acceptance of Sarah's death quite hard to understand and fully expect (and say so) that I will collapse in a heap...one of these days...However although I do feel empty I am also happy that Sarah, John and Jacqueline are all at peace and with our Lord.  How can I be sad when I think of that.  Sure sad and sorry for myself...but that is just something we as humans have to cope with.   The funeral itself went as well as these things can do. There were so many people there to share their love and thoughts and memories of Sarah. Even one of her ex colleagues now retired and living in Spain flew all the way over  in the morning hired a car at Gatwick and drove down ( a 3 hour drive) attended the funeral and was driving all the way back to catch the last night flight back home....
We have been blessed with the most wonderful weather these last two weeks. Every day sunshine and no sign of the April Showers...already though the water boards are warning us of water shortages later in the year !  Because the weather has been so wonderful it has brought all the spring blossom out at least two weeks early.  The bluebells are out in the woods that are around us here but as it is so warm they won't last long but I do love them. Also the smell as we pass the woods is beautiful the wild garlic is gorgeous...well I think so !! Mary is not so sure,,,it reminds me of the woods we had near our home in Scotland where Mum used to take us for walks....might even be the first smell that I can actually recall.... On Friday we were in Bath and had a lovely walk/trundle through the Botanic Gardens again just ablaze with flowers and smells..and birds and bees..I will share some of the photographs taken over the next few weeks...
Beth Max and I have been meeting quite a few times up at the house trying to think what to do next...Before they do anything major Beth has to go to Probate and this will take a few weeks so there is no hurry but it is good to be able to take action as soon as the Probate is granted.  It is going to e a very hard few months for them both especially as Max is not very well himself and off work at present.  Beth went back to work yesterday.
Friends thank you once more for all the support that you have shown me. There have been times I actually felt your physical presence  surrounding me.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Goodbye

Sarah...1937-2011.

Ann is a good friend of Sarah and John and when John died she did a wonderful poem in his memory I used it on the page just before his funeral.(such a short 6 months ago) I have just received one that she has done in memory of Sarah, so I thought I would share it with you as well.   It kind of describes her love of life. The picture I have put on is not a particularly good one but it shows her wonderful smile that captivated everyone.

SARAH.

Where shall we find her ?

The voice that is the morning breeze,

whispering through the pollen laden trees,

Soft as the hair on butterflies and bees

Yet firm as Edinburgh rock

Deep as a Caladonian Loch

Where shall we find her ?A mind to mediate and analyse

Is never still and never dies,

Multitudinous friendship ties

Leaves us with a wealth of memories

Enduring as the timeless seas.

Where shall we find her ?

In any face that saw her smile

"Come and stay a while,

Don't take an inch we'll give a mile,"

Such generosity of heart

Sets her apart

We'll never find her like again

Unless we look amongst the trees,

The meadows full of butterflies and bees

The birds that swoop and glide with ease

And peck the nuts and fruit and seeds.

Don't look for her that's where she'll be,

with John.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow around 1.30pm.

Love one Another.

Broadband madness, love and death,

My dear friends,  
I am sorry for my long absense due in the main to the fact that I was changing from BT as my telephone supplier to the telephone being supplied by AOL as I was saving around £12 a month.  However on the change over day something happened and I was left without a telephone line and no internt connection !  After 10 VERY stressful days and nights!  I was eventually reconected yesterday at around 5.30pm.  I will I am sure soon get through all you wonderful blogs as I have missed you all very much.
Thank you for all your prayers for my eldest sister Margaret. I am glad to say that she got home from hospital two weeks ago as theer is littel more can be done for her she has heart failure and so can only take things very easy gets very tired but is happy to be home with Mitch her husband who is dashing around her as if she were made of china !
Now I ask you for prayers for me...and my wonderful niece Beth...Last week my beloved sister Sarah was taken into hospital on Monday afternoon. She had had a chest infection that did not repond to antibiotics and they thought that the hospital coudl treat her more intensively.  They tried there best but unfortunately on Thursday we were told that no more could be done.  Sarah and Beth and I had all said we did not want any invasive treatment.  She has been on a high pressure ogygen supply and it had not helped her lungs at all.   She was so wonderful and asked ....what next....the Dr. explained they would stop the oxygen...but that she woudl have no pain....she asked what day it was and we said Thurs.  she said then tomorrow will be Friday ?  Yes I said the 1st. April...Aprils fols day,  you don't want to be a fool do you !!...... YES she said with her usual broad irrisistable smile thast it we wil do it tomorrow....Beth and Max her husband sent. as ordered by Sarah, for Max's son  Alex, who Sarah looked upon as her Grandson to coem on the first train from Lonodn on Friday morning, which he did and was able to have a few mins with his Granny on his own..which was lovely for them both I am sure.  She was given some morphine around 12.45 and a relaxant and they disconected the oxygen at 1ok....(not before she had said when they gave her the injection why are you not taking of this mask ?  I am ready to go now.... again said with her lovely smile...the nurse said well you will just have to wait another 10 mins  with a smile...) They had explained to Beth and I that it woudl be easier for her if they did it that way...She was then free to speak to us whenever she coudl catch enough breath and she was able to do so even giving Beth and I orders ! and still her last thoughts was for others.. She died at 3.45.  It was an easy death for her, very hard for Beth and I.  However I am pleased that she is now at peace and I know happy to be reunited with her dear John ( It is only 6 months since he died and darling Jacqueline 18 months ago.)   I can't help being just a wee bit sorry for myself as I feel that half of me has gone as well and with Maragret being so poorly it just seems a bit overwhelming.
I will be back soon with I hope much brighter news.
As we continually said to Sarah all week....We Love You....please pass on that message to all your loved ones

(In the photograph on my side bar of the three sisters  Sarah is the one on the right)

Springtime..

After the last blog writing of my friend Angie's thoughts on the Earthquake I began to wonder whatever could I write ...Things around here seem so trivial ..However perhaps a bit of trivia is what we need after all the hours of watching the developing disaster in Japan.

The week my wee village of Box has come alive..it is so full of colour..There are daffodils everywhere one looks. In gardens, and on the roadsides even some on the roundabouts..My willow buds have now turned fluffy and golden with pollen..just ready for the bees that have started to buzz around, they especially enjoy the bed of heather I have near the door...so I think you can say that I am HAPPY to see the spring arrive..   Something that I found out the other day and I am not sure if you will find it very interesting but if you are interested in history and history of our little village you will find some details here

1867 The Free Methodist Chapel was built by Box Methodists to attempt to combat the 'riotous' lifestyle enjoyed by many quarrymen living on Box Hill   (Now closed when it joined the village Methodist Church)


1870 Box Cricket Club was founded  (and is still one of the best cricket grounds in the area I can see it from my small deck during the playing season, This week they have started rolling the grass etc.)

1875 Box Church of England School was built ( This is a wonderful school and gets excellent results)

1881 In the 1881 census, Ditteridge was listed as having a population of 101

1895 The new parish council takes over the operation of the Fire Brigade  (no longer in use)

1896 The Methodist Chapel and Hall were built, mainly by members of the congregation (this is where I am a member)

Late 1800s By the end of the 19th century, there were nearly 700 quarry workers in the parish as the quarrying industry flourished

1907 The Roman Villa was excavated by Sir Harold Brakspeare. The findings were not unique, but showed a once extensive dwelling

1915 Ridge Quarry was temporarily converted into an arsenal for the duration of World War One

1951 The population of Box reached its peak at 4,581 residents

1920-1925 Restorations and enlargements were carried out at Hazelbury Manor for the owner,

G.J. Kidston, by Sir Harold Brakspear

1922 Box school became a mixed school of 212 pupils

1923 The village war memorial was erected following the First World War on Bear Green

1926 The recreation ground was built  (this is the Rec. that I overlook and it is wonderful)

1943 The Cemetery was extended into an area that became known as the New Cemetery

C.1945 Following an urgent need for more housing after the Second World War, the 'Fete Field' (which was once used for outdoor social activities) was used to build the Bargates Estate

1957 The Rising Sun, a public house, was tragically destroyed in an explosion, killing the licensee and his family

1960 The public house 'The Lamb' was closed

1967-1968 Another excavation of the Roman Villa was carried out by Henry Hurst and revealed alterations made to the villa and its outbuildings

1968 Clift Mine was closed

1969 The remaining quarries were closed   (Now just a few months ago it was reopened)

1969 Selwyn Hall, the village hall, was built

1970 Bingham Hall, the building where indoor social activities used to place, was demolished (its function being replaced by Selwyn Hall)

1978 The parish council bought the land at the Box Common to manage it on behalf of the people

1986-1988 Peter Gabriel, formerly of the rock band Genesis, launched his own record label, 'Real World Studios' in a converted mill

1992 The organ at St. Christopher's Church, Ditteridge, was rebuilt

1998 The 'Lovar' water garden was built from former wasteland on the northern perimeter of the recreation ground  (this is also the village dog walk and in the summer I sometimes take Dee along for a walk there is a lovely pond there where we can see the dragonflies, wonderful yellow Iris and water lilies)

2001 The 2001 census recorded Box's population as 3,439 people

2004 The people of Box could finally access the Internet through a broadband connection

I actually found details way back to almost neolithic days and some other time I may take you even further back in village times...

Today has been one of ups and downs.  We had a good church service and afterwards Sarah felt well enough to come out for dinner. Peter went and collected her and we met at the Bear a very old village pub. They do a wonderful Sunday Roast.  Sarah and I can only manage a child's portion ! but Peter makes up for us have a LARGE portion..and then also manages to finish what Sarah has left !!  Peter and I had roast beef which is done to a turn it is served with all roasted vegetables, carrot, swede, sweet potato,beetroot, and also fresh spring beans of course Yorkshire pud. and roast potato It was a very delicious lunch. Sarah and I had a cherry and apple flan between us for afters and Peter had trifle..No wonder I fell asleep when I came home !!!  That was certainly an UP part of the day next came the DOWN part my oldest sister Margaret had not been at all well for a few weeks now and has been waiting hospital appointments. Today she had one for her heart and unfortunately the results were not good and consequently they admitted her to the hospital.  We do not yet know what the diagnoses is. she has CPOD like Sarah but her symptoms have always been different but although her breathing has not been as acute as Sarah's I think that perhapss the time has come for her to need oxygen as well.she has such a very very bad cough that I am sure that has put a strain on her heart.  I am just waiting for Mitch my BIL to phone to give me an update..if he is not too tired when he gets back....I would sure appreciate your prayers for Margaret and Mitch at this time. Thank You.
I am praying that you are all enjoying some spring weather.
Love to you all..... and never forget to say to all your loved ones how much you love them.  I know that we think they should know that without us having to say it, but is sounds all the better when you actually say it out loud....
Love Sybil x

Earthcquakes and Tsunamis

I am just popping in for a few moments this morning as I want to share this poem that my friend has written with regards the terrible events in Japan.   I will come back later today...promise...

A Psalm of Earthquakes and Tsunamis


O Lord, hear the cry of your people

as creation trembles and we are made small


The mountains are laid low and the seas rise

The planet shrugs its shoulders


The restless dirt groans and moans

under the weight of our living.


Crops and land are lost to the salt of the world's tears

Wave upon wave cascades over the face of your earth



Their weeping carries away

The witness of our living.


In one convulsive heave

pride and possessions, people and places



are shaken down by the land, thrown up by the sea

to be caught by the air:


tossed and turned, and returned

to the wave of anxiety


that crashes onward

An unstopable force of creation and destruction.



Though you called upon us to name the beasts of the field

And the birds of the air



Still the sea is yours

You made it - and its raging fury



The land is yours

You formed it - and its restless heavings


And we, moulded by your hands to hold your breath

are bound to this world by your will and your Word


So I will praise you God in the midst of the fury

From the depths of my grief, for the land and the sea and the lives that are lost



For the nurture and nature that shapes us and feeds us

Though its power astounds, and its might dismays us



Still your Word brings order out of chaos

And your mercies comfort and sustain us


Reminding us, even as we weep

of green pastures, beside still waters
 
 written by my friend Revd.Angie Sheir Jones.