tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85942589238255355102024-03-13T19:42:34.456-07:00A Notebook for EileenA Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-60183978735150807112017-10-02T04:00:00.001-07:002023-01-06T08:41:08.475-08:00I've waited all summer for butterflies to appear in my sunny garden, but even the prolific white blossom on the Buddleia didn't attract them this year. However, suddenly they have arrived. The blossom has died, very few flowers remain, but the butterflies are here, fluttering and swooping close to the windows and even settling on the warm bricks of the wall by the door.<br />
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Other visitors to the garden are the sparrows!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGMffr6j79Q/WfEOZjRbAuI/AAAAAAAACtk/XpZZKRpgLUMYVL9CQHcXU3kFIIjxWRh0gCKgBGAs/s1600/20171002_103228-2-3-1-1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1077" height="256" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MGMffr6j79Q/WfEOZjRbAuI/AAAAAAAACtk/XpZZKRpgLUMYVL9CQHcXU3kFIIjxWRh0gCKgBGAs/w224-h256/20171002_103228-2-3-1-1.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A butterfly hovering on the bricks by the front door.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ct4VM535S4/WdIausI09wI/AAAAAAAACkc/VwSOQ0mdlNEHersOaHjxZSEE-yCrR4r6ACKgBGAs/s1600/20170809_114753-1-1-1%25281%2529-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="483" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ct4VM535S4/WdIausI09wI/AAAAAAAACkc/VwSOQ0mdlNEHersOaHjxZSEE-yCrR4r6ACKgBGAs/s200/20170809_114753-1-1-1%25281%2529-3.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regular 2 o'clock meetings - perhaps it's Sparrows' Institute,<br />
similar to Women's Institute.<br />
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-19832503731156788422017-01-13T08:10:00.003-08:002017-11-11T02:55:28.039-08:00Happy New Year to my friends across the world.<br />
It is amazing to realise that the first two weeks of January have already come and gone and people are beginning to think ahead to the summer and plan holidays in warmer climates.<br />
But today we have snow!! Floods are forecast along the east coast and people warned to keep away from the sea-fronts as tides reach their height tonight. Fortunately I am far enough inland not to have that worry but we do have icy paths.<br />
Wherever you are in the world I hope 2017 has started well for you and your weather is better than ours, here in England.A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-70178066321939115042016-08-02T09:21:00.000-07:002016-08-02T09:21:25.686-07:00<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Last Saturday I went to see “<i>Kynren, an Epic tale of England.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a spectacular open-air night show that has been on the tongues of
Bishop Auckland people for the past year. In fact after such a build up I half
wondered if I might be disappointed. I certainly was not. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The show was magnificent with a cast of hundreds of local people.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It covers the history of the area as seen
through the eyes of Bishop Hensley Henson.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The backdrop mysteriously </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">changes from Auckland Castle to Durham
Cathedral to a disaster in the coal mines and all beyond the setting of a lake
that sometimes swirls in mists and at others is clear and bright. Music provides
a background and fireworks accentuate the effects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are marching armies, battles between the English and the Scots;
horses galloping and riders jousting, as well as quiet scenes of rural England
with sheep and calves and geese walking quietly beside a group of young people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> A beautiful boat sails over the water carrying Queen Elizabeth 1st to meet Shakespeare and later Stephenson’s
Rocket complete with passengers steams its way across the arena leaving the 7000 strong audience gasping
its appreciation. Queen Victoria arrives in an open carriage and the Bishop in
a Rolls Royce car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">When the ninety minute show finally came to an end the whole audience rose for a standing
ovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As we made our way back to the courtesy coach that would take us to the
car park we agreed that the organisation had been flawless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Congratulations to everybody involved.
They deserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-18751575917628895022016-02-12T11:08:00.000-08:002016-02-13T09:42:58.955-08:00Great news - my Novella is now available on Amazon.<br />
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<h4>
Its title is<a href="http://tinyurl.com/j6nojyp" target="_blank"> "Decide Where To Go" </a>and it is in paperback and on Kindle.</h4>
</div>
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The main character is Linda Bryant, one of the Baby Boomers generation from the 1940s.</div>
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She is now past retirement age but still full of energy and ambition. Can she fulfil<br />
that ambition without antagonising her family?</div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-21433966815211855962015-11-26T02:27:00.000-08:002016-02-12T10:50:53.772-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
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My last novel <i><b>BRIDGE TO THE MOON</b> </i>has a NEW COVER<b>.</b></div>
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No change to the story of course.</div>
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Its original cover was a dark one - purple - which seemed appropriate at the time. </div>
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The new one is in bright colours with a happy little girl called Marguerita who becomes </div>
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the focal point of the story.</div>
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I hope you enjoy it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Available from Amazon.</div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-27728481170484918122015-04-18T11:34:00.001-07:002015-06-08T14:47:19.197-07:00Fridays will never be the same again. Simply because my lovely "milk girl" has given up her job.<br />
Yes, I am one of the few people who still have milk delivered to the door. Whatever the weather, the milk is on the step in the morning after being delivered in a white van decorated with black splodges reminiscent of a cow.<br />
At teatime on Fridays this dynamic young woman parks the van and rushes to the door to collect my money. It takes less than five minutes but in that time she tells me her plans for the weekend - the meals she'll be having with friends or the Hen-party she's going to in Benidorm. She shows me her healthy-looking tan produced on a sun-bed that afternoon. We discuss the clothes she's wearing or the twin sons that make her so proud.<br />
But now she's going to work in a factory on day shift so she'll no longer be getting up at 1 o'clock in the morning and driving in all weathers. The reason is that the milk round has increased so much that the work is just too hard for her.<br />
She gave me a big hug when she told me the news and another before she walked away down the path. She was a wonderful character and I'm so pleased she was my "milk girl."A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-23605694046087141632015-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:002015-01-02T09:08:07.191-08:00Happy New Year to all my Blogging friends.<br />
<br />
Christmas has come and gone in a very happy way this year; spent mainly with family from toddlers to teens and with their parents and grandparents; even the dogs have been part of the celebrations..<br />
We've had meals together and all the fun of unwrapping presents; their bright paper transforming the plain carpet into a sea of colour..<br />
<br />
But now another year has begun. My good resolution is that each morning I will continue to write as well as finding some time for reading later in the day.<br />
Recently I've been introduced to novellas, slim books that can be digested in an afternoon - J L Carr's charming tale "A Month in the Country." "Death in Venice" by Thomas Mann and Ian McEwan's "Chesil Beach." But in contrast I am now attempting to read a doorstop of a novel, "The One Plus One," by Jojo Moyes. With 516 pages I felt completely daunted at first but am now absorbed in its story-line of a single mother struggling to cope against all the odds.<br />
<br />
Good luck with <i>your</i> New Year resolutions whatever they may be!<br />
<br />
.<br />
<br />A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-40953539454035550662014-10-15T05:16:00.002-07:002017-11-28T02:13:45.576-08:00<br />
"The Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson. Illustrated by Alex Sheffer.<br />
<br />
If you go down in the woods today ...............<br />
make sure it's Hamsterley Forest near Bishop Auckland.<br />
<br />
Take the children across the impressive new bridge that spans the river and follow the Gruffalo trail through the trees.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwwB_UlIoM8/VD5cjBq-iWI/AAAAAAAABFA/skudDJ-1Ugk/s1600/DSCN1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwwB_UlIoM8/VD5cjBq-iWI/AAAAAAAABFA/skudDJ-1Ugk/s1600/DSCN1262.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross the wood-and-metal bridge, enjoy the reflections in the water<br />
before you reach . . .</td></tr>
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...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mL6Kj8kvXpw/VD5dQrbzjkI/AAAAAAAABFI/5_GxmX2Tffc/s1600/DSCN1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mL6Kj8kvXpw/VD5dQrbzjkI/AAAAAAAABFI/5_GxmX2Tffc/s1600/DSCN1264.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> . . . this board.</td></tr>
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Scuff your shoes through the dead leaves on the ground<br />
and listen for the eerie call of the birds above your head.<br />
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Walk on until at last you spot a sign for the Gruffalo<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXzFai_iHuM/VD5iWNzjxGI/AAAAAAAABF4/4whGIYBHYaM/s1600/DSCN1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXzFai_iHuM/VD5iWNzjxGI/AAAAAAAABF4/4whGIYBHYaM/s200/DSCN1269.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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and there he is standing in a clearing - The Gruffalo,bigger than a man but friendly in his own ugly way!A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-24867880804041547612014-09-15T10:30:00.000-07:002017-11-13T04:55:44.954-08:00<div align="left" style="color: maroon;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">"By all these lovely tokens<br />September days are here,<br />With summer’s best of weather<br />And autumn’s best of cheer."</span></b>- Helen Hunt Jackson, <i>September</i>, 1830-1885</span></div>
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<br />
I wonder how many people enjoyed last week's sunsets as much as I did.<br />
From the back of my house I have wonderful views<br />
of the sun going down and only a short time later<br />
I can walk to the front and see the moon rising above the rooftops.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0-ukw8Nr6Y/VBciv-k8FfI/AAAAAAAABB4/AJk8kWDdp04/s1600/DSCN1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0-ukw8Nr6Y/VBciv-k8FfI/AAAAAAAABB4/AJk8kWDdp04/s1600/DSCN1242.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7.30 pm The sun sinks lower and the sky turns orange.</td></tr>
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But on Sunday morning the swallows were swooping and diving across the sky or perching </div>
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impatiently on telegraph wires as they prepared for their long flight to warmer climes.</div>
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And in the afternoon, Raby Castle near Staindrop welcomed a crowd of visitors on their Heritage Open Day. The 15th century walled garden, with an almost unbelievable riot of colour from its display of roses, was admired by many people while others paid a visit to the castle itself or explored the extensive parkland. A day to remember whatever their choice.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-d-2N4rzkQ/VBcfowxYIyI/AAAAAAAABBc/biymnODYYuA/s1600/DSCN1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-d-2N4rzkQ/VBcfowxYIyI/AAAAAAAABBc/biymnODYYuA/s1600/DSCN1252.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-15163126050234886282014-09-04T15:29:00.001-07:002014-09-05T01:55:37.352-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few weeks ago I entered my story, “Body on the
Track,” into the Room-to-Write Short Story Competition. <a href="http://roomtowritepublishing.wordpress.com/">http://roomtowritepublishing.wordpress.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
On 27th August the Long list was announced.<br />
From about 200 entries, only 20 had reached this Longlist. Mine was one of them!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was so proud and delighted and grateful to the judges
who appreciated my work.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many thanks to all the friends who sent messages and congratulations.</span></div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-51425818467002101902014-08-31T10:49:00.002-07:002014-08-31T10:51:37.066-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_85ahFv_rdI/VANeOkuDKuI/AAAAAAAAA-0/TcQAjmqfNAY/s1600/large644523211409044529002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_85ahFv_rdI/VANeOkuDKuI/AAAAAAAAA-0/TcQAjmqfNAY/s1600/large644523211409044529002.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Welcome to Samson - he can never replace Gypsy but he's the latest addition to the long line of dogs this family have owned.<br />
<div>
A lively 2 year old now; he should enjoy at least another 10 years with the younger members of the family. Good luck, Sammy.<br />
<div>
<br />
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-67503886745523201532014-08-22T12:09:00.000-07:002017-11-11T03:00:57.428-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cold Cotes Garden at Harrogate and Littlethorpe
Manor, Ripon made a magical combination for an end-of-summer outing with a
coach full of friends on Wednesday this week.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr-2v5K2MU8/U_eTdGU0ohI/AAAAAAAAA9A/2Ank1Bm6kSU/s1600/DSCN1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr-2v5K2MU8/U_eTdGU0ohI/AAAAAAAAA9A/2Ank1Bm6kSU/s1600/DSCN1214.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Footpath at Cold Cotes</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cold Cotes is a small garden almost hidden between green hedges and twisting lanes – a delightful place where footpaths meander
through trees and flowers blossom as high as a person’s head. Be welcomed by the owner and hear how they’ve
renovated the house and developed the garden over the last eighteen years.
Drink coffee before exploring the garden; sit on wooden benches in shady
corners; read poems written by Ed Loft and soak in the peaceful atmosphere
before enjoying a really delicious lunch in their pristine café.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In complete contrast the second garden Littlethorpe Manor is a large estate offering 22 varied gardens and walks. Stroll under
the arches hanging heavy with ripening apples; gaze at the fountain between statuesque
trees; discover the pets’ graves in a small wood; walk round a lake with the
clearest reflections of the building and trees beyond it and wander by the river that
forms a boundary.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Already in August conkers are on the ground. A
gardener explains how one of the ancient trees was almost blown down in a gale but some
of it was saved and the damaged trunk is now a home for wild bees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Continue across the grass and back to the Cut-Flower
Garden; listen to the gasps of surprise and appreciation as people look at the
beauty and colour of its beds. Even well known flowers are twice as high here as
in other gardens and the colours defy description. Congratulations to the head Gardener and his
wife with their very knowledgeable assistant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We came away with memories of a wonderful day and a
coach full of healthy plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-19358332186734565932014-07-16T08:24:00.001-07:002017-11-13T05:01:03.529-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><u>Favourite Devon Cafes</u></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tables with a Sea View at the Angel cafe at Babbacombe..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Plain Cooking here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouth-watering Sandwiches - Overlooking the Sea at Torquay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seen inside the Crab Shack on the Back Beach at Teignmouth.</td></tr>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-38445374218257683942014-05-08T12:26:00.000-07:002017-11-13T05:01:58.390-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Auckland Castle in the centre of Bishop Auckland, is fast
becoming a museum rather than the home of the Bishops of Durham as it had been
for centuries. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Yesterday as part of their Tudor exhibition they </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">presented a lecture on costumes </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">worn by Henry the Eighth a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">nd the ladies of the Court.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julia with her husband</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grandeur of Queen Elizabeth 1st</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It turned out to be a spell-binding account of their
clothes and their lives, given by Julia Soare-McCormick, a real enthusiast who
had graduated in Theatre Design from both Sunderland and Nottingham
universities and had also sewn every garment worn by the four </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">manikins</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> as
well as by her husband playing the role of Henry the Eighth; who at 6’1”tall had
towered above the rest of the population.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The clothes were all magnificent; perfect in every detail from the jewels and gold-thread that
decorated the rich top garments to the cotton chemises worn against the
skin. Interwoven with all this, Julia
told of their lives </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">and executions </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">with details surely not heard before.</span></div>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-34452945148438393782014-05-01T01:42:00.002-07:002014-05-01T07:17:01.947-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can now recommend two more delightful cafes. One in Craster; the other in Alnmouth, two
beautiful villages on the Northumbrian coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even on damp spring days these places are picturesque and
entrancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Fish restaurant, overlooking Craster’s tiny harbour,
offers unusual and delicious meals. With
a view of the harbour outside and artists’ impressions of the sea inside, it is
well worth visiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dandelion café close to the sea at Alnmouth is light and
cheerful and serves tea in individual green pots complete with strainer and
striped cup all on a wooden platter. Also soup and sandwiches and light meals.
Another special place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tiny harbour opposite the Fish Cafe.</td></tr>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-82468032394796990292014-04-18T11:57:00.002-07:002014-04-19T14:43:51.297-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good Friday today</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been a perfect spring day here in County
Durham. A day for driving through
Weardale with its awe-inspiring scenery of hills and rivers; fields divided by
stone walls and sturdy cottages that have withstood the extremes of winter and
summer for generations. The trees are beginning to show their foliage in a variety of greens;
blackthorn bushes are a mass of white blossom; daffodils and celandines light up
the verges and even dandelions add to the show while new-born lambs frolick round their tired mothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When people talk of the north of England it is often
Yorkshire and Northumberland they’re thinking of, forgetting that Durham comes
between the two. If they do mention Durham it is
probably only the city they know with its cathedral high above the other buildings or
perhaps Auckland Castle, home to the Bishops of Durham in the small town of
Bishop Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, venture beyond the towns and out on the country
roads and you will discover Teesdale and Weardale, each very beautiful, following the county’s main rivers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today we chose Weardale, through the village of Witton-le-Wear and on to
Wolsingham and Stanhope, the main “towns of the dale” then on again through the
villages of Eastgate and Westgate, popular for caravanners; Daddry Shield where
hills rise steeply from the road; and on to St. John’s Chapel to leave the car
and walk along a narrow path by the river then to stand on a wooden footbridge
and look down on the brown water spanned by substantial stepping stones and
a ford that cyclists and cars were splashing through.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As we retraced our steps we passed a very well-kept
primary school and more cottages until we reached the church and the centre of
the village. Opposite was a most welcome café – Chatterbox Café – run by a
friendly young couple and serving delicious scones with jam as well as mouth
watering meals. I can definitely
recommend the café and the whole trip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sun continued to shine as we drove
the 26 miles back home. Only one regret - I'd gone without my camera!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-75124634904591752902014-03-29T11:23:00.000-07:002017-11-13T05:02:56.147-08:00<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Lines Written in Early Spring</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">by William Wordsworth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The birds around me hopped and played.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Their thoughts I cannot measure:-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">But the least motion which they made</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It seemed a thrill of pleasure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span>
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<b>Earlier this week my garden birds decided that Spring had arrived.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hA0XBUFZ9GI/UzcMNfHliSI/AAAAAAAAAww/j2SSium-Agg/s1600/DSCN1067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hA0XBUFZ9GI/UzcMNfHliSI/AAAAAAAAAww/j2SSium-Agg/s1600/DSCN1067.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite pigeon enjoys an early morning bath . . . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">. . <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6msM25EZoL8/UzcK9x_yC9I/AAAAAAAAAwk/_JkXl6eANJA/s1600/DSCN1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6msM25EZoL8/UzcK9x_yC9I/AAAAAAAAAwk/_JkXl6eANJA/s1600/DSCN1076.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> . . . . before he rules the roost</td></tr>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-41154708874354789652014-03-14T03:13:00.000-07:002014-03-14T03:13:36.468-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it possible that a giant aircraft can vanish without
trace?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The obvious answer would be “Certainly not.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet last Saturday, March 8<sup>th</sup> 2014 a Boeing
777 did just that as it flew between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>
with 239 passengers of various nationalities on board.</div>
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There was no distress call from either of the pilots; no
debris strewn across the waters below them or even within a wide range of their
flight path. When two passengers were revealed to be travelling on stolen passports it was
immediately presumed to be the work of terrorists. However it seems these were asylum seekers,
not terrorists – one a boy of 19 whose mother claims he was planning to start a
new life in <st1:place w:st="on">Germany</st1:place>;
a criminal act, yes but not on the level of terrorism, and probably it would
have been undiscovered had the flight gone according to plan.</div>
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Now officials in several countries are in desperate
consultation to uncover the cause of the disaster and find the remains of the
plane and its passengers. While heartbroken relatives wait for answers to this
unique mystery we can only hope that the crew and passengers on this powerful plane
did not have time to comprehend what was happening and so were saved at least
some of the distress at the end.</div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-64192209301024275052014-02-16T03:54:00.001-08:002017-11-13T05:03:34.045-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RuSl9GUawsQ/UwCaqBVDbMI/AAAAAAAAAns/1QU-QnFfg78/s1600/DSCN1011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RuSl9GUawsQ/UwCaqBVDbMI/AAAAAAAAAns/1QU-QnFfg78/s1600/DSCN1011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Locomotion Museum at Shildon is making history by bringing together for the very last time six famous steam engines from around the world.<br />
They are The Mallard; the Sir Nigel Gresley; The Bittern;<br />
the Union of South Africa; the Dominion of Canada and the<br />
Dwight D Eisenhower.<br />
75,000 enthusiasts are expected to visit and yesterday, many had already arrived . Elaborate cameras were much in evidence and it was touching to see elderly men instructing their small grandsons in the mystery of steam engines and reminding them of how Shildon had been involved in the growth of the railways and enjoyed employment and wealth as the industry thrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_cafzcru9I/UwCap9siGCI/AAAAAAAAAnk/r6hVNTV2WJI/s1600/DSCN1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_cafzcru9I/UwCap9siGCI/AAAAAAAAAnk/r6hVNTV2WJI/s1600/DSCN1004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mallard with its Five Surviving Sister Engines.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bittern</td></tr>
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<br />A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-85551805075382029612014-02-03T09:44:00.002-08:002017-11-12T04:18:14.215-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> Extreme Weather.</o:p><br />
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People who live here in <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Durham</st1:placename>,
in the north-east of <st1:place w:st="on">England,</st1:place>
are prepared for extreme weather when winters last twice as long as those
in the south. The temperatures are lower; the snow thicker and the ice on
the roads more treacherous. However, this winter we are counting our
blessings. Already at the beginning of February, there have been no snowfalls
and while we listen to talk of desperate flooding in the west of <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> we have
escaped it here. This may be because of our steep hills and extensive moorland
– our beautiful scenery that is not widely known or appreciated.</div>
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We can only sympathise with the
people who live on the Somerset Levels where flooding has been extensive since
Christmas. According to Radio 4 the
rainfall has been the most unusual for 100 years so that the land below our
island is a saturated sponge and it was feared that the Severn Bore on Saturday
would intensify the problems. One farmer reported that 95% of his land is under
water and a lady told how her house is now surrounded by a moat and she has to
clear the sludge that is full of dead earthworms! </div>
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Meanwhile in Aberystwyth
mountainous waves crash over the sea front damaging the promenade and flooding the elegant houses there.</div>
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And still the rain continues. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 13.05pt; text-align: center;">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 13.05pt; text-align: center;"> </span><b style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 13.05pt; text-align: center;">Somerset
Levels</b><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 13.05pt; text-align: center;">, </span></div>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-1451404193715544372013-12-31T09:55:00.000-08:002017-11-13T05:03:57.114-08:00"The Curious Incident . . . "<div class="MsoNormal">
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I remember reading Mark Haddon’s novel, “The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” when it was first published. In fact I once wrote a review of it as part
of a competition entry and was fortunate to be amongst the winners. </div>
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A story where the main character was a boy with learning
difficulties, was a brave thing to attempt in 2003 and might well have been a
complete disaster. Instead it became a
best seller and its followers are now flocking to see it live on stage. Had I
been in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>
last week I might well have joined the 7000 people at the Apollo Theatre in <st1:street w:st="on">Shaftesbury Avenue</st1:street>.
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Imagine the shock they must have felt when the ceiling
cracked and rumbled and fell on top of them, covering everybody in dust and
debris; injuring 70 people, with seven severely hurt. Amazingly there were no
deaths but that audience will always remember Mark Haddon’s “Curious Incident
of the Dog in the Night-Time.” </div>
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An extra if unexpected flood of publicity.</div>
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-31135636069068242292013-12-20T15:19:00.001-08:002017-11-12T04:14:28.454-08:00St Mary's Parish Church in Barnard Castle held a magical Christmas Tree Festival last weekend.<br />
55 trees of every shape and size; decorated in ingenious ways by the town's businesses; organisations and schools, brought light to the shadowy interior of the building.<br />
Mulled wine and warm mince pies added to the occasion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTIhJxv8s_s/UrTGjFkEtAI/AAAAAAAAAl0/GTGjfz0BxQY/s1600/DSCN0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yTIhJxv8s_s/UrTGjFkEtAI/AAAAAAAAAl0/GTGjfz0BxQY/s200/DSCN0973.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A View from the Altar.</td></tr>
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<br />A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-53557986413741315072013-12-06T03:36:00.000-08:002017-11-13T05:06:48.605-08:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Knitting</div>
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I am not a great lover of knitted dolls or the knitted scenes that have suddenly become very popular. However I do admire
the skill of the knitters and I can imagine the pleasure they must get from
choosing wools from the vast array of colours and types that are available in
the shops these days.</div>
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Last weekend the Darlington Stitch Bombers crept into the town
centre in the middle of one night and decorated the High Row with their
wonderful work. Intricately-made dolls were everywhere; colourful bunting flew
high and even the bollards had brightly coloured covers to add to the
atmosphere of Christmas in these cold December days. </div>
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But before I’d had a chance to see it, vandals had destroyed
the whole display – nothing but a bit of bunting and two tiny knitted mice
remained to show the hours of work that must have gone into that display.</div>
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And yet in the little Victorian town of <st1:city w:st="on">Saltburn-by-the-Sea</st1:city>, the same type of knitting has decorated the pier for several years. The work depicts
local activities and even the Olympic Games and in contrast to <st1:place w:st="on">Darlington</st1:place>, this attracts visitors, not vandals.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympic athletes with their gold medals.</td></tr>
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It’s hard to imagine the senseless behaviour that led to the Darlington destruction.</div>
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Were they drunken louts or simply ordinary citizens with a
grudge against knitting?<br />
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A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-13846268599993699972013-11-11T08:38:00.001-08:002017-11-13T05:08:51.922-08:00The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month.<div class="MsoNormal">
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Once again the dead of the Great Wars have been honoured; first on Saturday evening with a ceremony in <st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city>’s
Albert Hall where much of the emphasis was
on children, with the Poppy Girls, a group of 5 charming little girls who sang
together beautifully followed later by a young boy chorister and finally by a
nine year old girl who spoke up in a loud and clear voice that could be heard all
round the Hall while her 7 year old sister stood near by.</div>
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Armistice Day was celebrated at the Cenotaph in London yesterday; the Sunday closest
to the 11th.November and it was remarkable that the Queen and Prince Philip were both well enough to lay
wreaths followed by several other members of the Royal family and public
dignitaries.</div>
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Now the government has decided that for every man who
won the Victoria Cross, a golden paving stone will be laid outside his home, 100 years
after it was awarded. </div>
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A wonderful and fitting tribute for all to see.</div>
A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594258923825535510.post-71175786838026599252013-10-28T01:18:00.000-07:002013-10-28T01:20:24.449-07:00Children in the News<div class="MsoNormal">
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In a week when children have filled the news there has been both
joy and sadness.</div>
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Joy when royal baby Prince George Alexander Louis was
baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury
in the historic Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace. It was a quiet ceremony – photographs
afterwards showed George to be remarkably like his father, Prince William and
yet I caught a glimpse of the Queen’s determination in that small face. He wore a christening gown of magnificent
cream lace; a replica of one used by Queen <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria</st1:place> and he was supported by seven
godparents, carefully chosen to guide him through life.</div>
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The Queen and Prince Philip looked proudly on, as three male
heirs to the throne ensure the continuity of the Royal Family and renewed
popularity from the people.</div>
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In contrast the McCann family continue their six year search
for Madeleine, with a photograph of her in a pink floppy sun hat that would
melt the hardest of hearts. </div>
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The Portuguese police have re-opened the case while Scotland
Yard also focuses on the abduction.</div>
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By co-incidence a little girl with blond hair and blue eyes
was removed from a family of Greek gypsies and proved to belong to a Bulgarian
family of a similar type. Was she given
away or was she sold? Either way it is a
sad start to her life and we can only imagine how mystified she must be feeling
now. No wonder her press photographs
show her looking so forlorn.</div>
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Good luck to them all in the years to come.A Notebook for Eileen.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16429764005091292192noreply@blogger.com2