Lest we forget

For the Granddad I never met, because his body lies in a field in the Netherlands and has lain there since the 25th November 1944...for Walter Harrison I may never have met you but I will never forget you.

Move him into the sun—
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields half-sown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds—
Woke once the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?
by Wilfred Owen

Kitty stink-eye

When your cat is giving you stink eye because she knows you're going to attempt to reclaim your spot on the settee...

A thoughtful post from my friend

A heartfelt and thoughtful post from my friend: Young People with Anxiety a Personal and Academic Perspective

I too have suffered with anxiety and depression multiple times on and off over the years, had/has panic attacks (fortunately very rare these days), and suffers with social anxiety. Never ever crush the weak just because you are strong. Equally, don't assume the weak can never be strong.

Be kind. Be thoughtful. If someone is struggling, support them in whatever way they are comfortable with, but don't *assume* that they are always struggling. If in doubt find out. Communicate.

Local air show

We really enjoyed our day together at a local seaside air show.

Such fun!

It rained a little but stayed dry enough.  Sadly the fly-by by the Battle of Britain vintage aircraft had to be cancelled due to bad weather at the airfield they were setting off from.

The Red Arrows were as amazing as ever!

The Haunted Hotel - Wilkie Collins - Book Review

4 stars

I rather enjoyed this book. It rather reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. It certainly kept me guessing to the end. I found it easier to read than the other Wilkie Collins book that I've read, The Moonstone, although I don't think it was quite as high quality of writing.



It certainly had a very creepy aspect to it.  The Victorians loved a good ghost story.

Agnes Grey - Anne Brontë - Book Review

4 stars

A very enjoyable read, despite the customary Bronte bleakness.

It's obviously a commentary on parenthood and marriage. Basically: Money, status, and comfort don't buy you happiness; and, overindulging your children (and not instilling good morals in them) is detrimental to their happiness and the happiness of anyone who has the misfortune to come across them. This is the general theme of the book.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS NEXT*
The children depicted in the book were terrible - oh my, the son in the first family was pretty much a psychopath! And the 'lovely' Rosalie in the second family was selfishness personified. We worry about 'the youth of today', well, as this book is apparently partly autobiographical, it appears the youth of the 19th Century were pretty awful too.

The gentle romance was lovely though.

All in all a good book, very enjoyable.

Mansfield Park - Jane Austen - Book Review

5 stars
This is the only Jane Austen book I hadn't read before...or at least I don't remember reading it! Which is strange, I suppose, as I love Austen.

Being on holiday, and having plenty of time on my hands, and already having it stored on my Kindle, I thought I'd give it a go.

I loved it. Slightly reminded me, in tone, of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. Fanny Price is a great heroine, quiet, unassuming but with strength of character.

Definitely a page turner for me as I waited for the Crawfords to get their comeuppance.

Well recommended.