39th Wedding Anniversary

19th September 1970 was my wedding day - a wonderful day often recalled by me as the happiest days of my life. 19th September 2009 however has been a totally different experience - our first anniversary since my darling husband passed over.

A 'girls day out' was organised by my Niece and Sister which included, massage and pampering, lunch and then a night out - it was a good day, and I am so fortunate to have so many loving people around me, who love and care about me to organise such a great day.

I miss David every day, I love David every day and I still feel that half of my heart is missing without him to look at, touch and talk to.
39 years ago I made a decision which was to change my life and I don't regret one thing about it. I married a man I loved more with each passing day, my pride for him, for his stoicism during his deadful illness will be alive as long as I am.

David, my darling man, I have loved you practically my whole life and nothing will ever change my feelings for you.

xxx Von xxx

A Wonderful Entertainer

I had the pleasure of meeting this man,talking at length to him, sharing a drink or 3, listening to his powehouse of a voice and laughing with him during 2 shows I was fortunate to see and enjoy whilst in Scotland.

This proud Scot is a terrific entertainer and seems he can sing any song he wants to having a vocal range not often heard.

I'm happy to say Kirk is a friend and I hope to see a show of his in Australia one day.

Power to you Kirk James xx Von

Whatever made me do it?

West Bay - a place never visiited before so why oh why did I agree to go on a jet boat ride - it was for 15 minutes only - not too bad I thought - but what a memorable experience.

£8 cost - was it worth it? I'm still not sure yet as I still ache from the experience.

9 people plus the pilot in the boat, life jackets in place, instructions given on how to react if we should be thrown overboard (very comforting you must agree) it was at this point I was beginning to have serious doubts about my sanity.

It was a sunny day, light cloud and a little breezy - this was how it looked from the harbour. However, as we reached the mouth of this aforementioned harbour things changed drastically. To say the waves were choppy is an understatement, they were 'white horses'. Within seconds we were into it - the boat seemed to be suspended in mid-air for seconds and then the 1st landing - OMG!! that seat came up to meet our backsides a lot quicker than we thought and dipped away again just as quickly only to return just in a split second - quite a few times!! I've heard of white knuckle rides but this is my first experience. Hold the seat like a saddle he said - but never mentioned the saddle was on a bucking bronco. We went further out to sea and then the 'darling' of a pilot decided to make doughnuts in the water, leaning over, trying to stay in the boat was the most difficult task and he kept turning round, possibly to make sure were were all still 'IN' the boat but grinning every time.
I lost count of the times he did this. He then lulled us into a false sense of security by idling along - but not for long as we soon had another meeting of seat against backsides.

The harbour entrance came into view, with a sigh of relief x 9 we headed toward this haven of peace and tranquility only to dash past at a rate of knots not to be believed and more foamy doughnuts ensued. Wet hair, wet face, and not daring to let go of the 'handle' of the seat in front we held on for grim death, then he stopped, sigh! - turning to me he said: 'Did you get wet'? he must have been blind as well as a nutter, I answered 'Yes', 'Good' said he and took off again with a very evil glint in his eye.

We did eventually enter the harbour and the boat of course slowed to walking speed and trust me if I could have walked on water I believe I would have, - if of course I could walk.

As we entered the mooring area he looked at me again (what was it with this bloke) and stated 'You enjoyed that didn't you?' 'Yes' I lied and had to be helped out of the boat as my legs felt like jelly.

Would I do it again? I can be certain that would be a resounding 'NO' to that question. Did I enjoy the experience? In some ways yes I did as I proved to myself that I still have a sense of adventure in my veins.

It seems much funnier in the telling but to my sister and brother in law waiting for us to come back with the camera it was absolutely hilarious. :)

From North to West

I'm now in the West Country, Weymouth, Dorset. It's a combination of rolling hills, farms, cattle, yachts, harbours, history and beautiful scenery.
My Niece and her Husband live here. We visited Abbotsbury on Sunday afternoon to the hills there. I'm told it is lovely scenery from there but as the mist was low, very low and the wind howling I didn't get to see very much :) However, we had a great walk, Molly, the Golden Spaniel had a marvellous time running around, sniffing, doing what dogs do and the only one amongst us who didn't feel that her ears were being slowly frozen. the mist was being blown across the hill before our eyes and it was an amazing experience, I almost expected a tall man wearing a long black cloak to appear ahead of us. there are usually cattle and sheep up there but not so this trip - only their evidence - if you know what I mean?

There are old lookouts up there, dating back to WW2 - enemy aircraft were seen flying toward the coast I'm told and there were underground radio stations to report back to the Ministry of Defence in Portsmouth and Gosport.

This area of England is of course where the bouncing bombs were trialled and tested - There are forts along the coastline built to keep an eye on invading French many years ago too.
King Henry VIII's ship 'Mary Rose' sank in Portsmouth Harbour and is now housed in a temperature controlled tank with plans to rebuild her exactly to original plan.
Thomas Hardy the Poet lived here and the is a monument to him here too.

It's certainly a diverse and interesting place and later in the week I will visit the grave site of Laurence of Arabia and also visit a 'haunted pub'.

I'll be back xxx Von