Happy 4th July

*****************************

*****************************


A quick hello from the Hovel. I cannot believe it is two months since I posted here, how quickly time goes by. Been very busy and had a bout of illness but today I wanted to say Happy 4th July to my friends across the pond, hope you've had a super day....

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

Belated Happy Mothering Sunday

***************************

***************************

Hello again, forgot to wish my friends in the US a Happy Mothering Sunday. Hope you all had a good relaxing day.....

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx


~~~~~~~

Mother

When You're a Child She Walks Before You,

To Set An Example

When You're a Teenage She Walks Behind You,

To Be there if You Should Need Her

When You're an Adult She Walks Beside You,

So That as Two Friends You Can Enjoy Life Together

~Author Unknown~

~~~~~~~

Celebrating VE Day

****************************

****************************

Phew!! didn't think I was going to make a posting today for VE day. Excuse the pun but I was listing for England. Ebay had a free listing weekend so had to make the most of it....Yes I know some time ago I commented that I was not happy with Ebay's policies and stopped selling on there but needs must. I'm am sorting out so much to make more space so thought I would.....

~~~~~~~
But back to the reason for me dropping in today...VE Day, Victory in Europe. May 8th 1945 was the day when WW11 Allied Forces formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces in Nazi Germany.....and I am glad they did because I may not have been here to talk to you today. Who knows what may have happened? Although my maternal gt. gt. grandfather was German I do not know from where. All I know was that he was a travelling musician. My other maternal ancesters were gypsies and my father was Irish. So a mixed bag of ancestors for me..lol..

Winston Churchill Waves to the Crowds in Whitehall on the Day he Declared that the War with Germany had Been Won...




Celebrations in Picadily Square May 8 1945. Photo taken by Sgt. James A Spence During his Service in WW11



Well, off to make a well-deserved coffee.
Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

May is a Month For Celebrations, Joy & Sadness

******************************

******************************

Hello from The Hovel and what a wet month of May we are having at present. So different from the May of 1984 when we had weeks of hot, sunny weather. Why should I remember the weather of 27 years ago you may ask? Well, it was on May 4 1984 that I gave birth to my son Christopher. I know I'm a day late and should have mentioned it yesterday but I was babysitting for my son & his partner so they could have a few hours break...lol.. It's hard to believe that the toddler you see below is now a father of three...Belated Happy Birthday son...

Christopher, so cute





I was a 50's baby


But today is the birthday of a special member of my family who sadly is not with us. My darling nephew Josh would have been 19 today if he had lived but alas he only stayed 56 minutes to say hello. Happy Heavenly Birthday Sweetheart, always here just not seen....

~~~~~~~
The Chinese believe that the butterfly is the spirit of a loved one that has passed and that it is smybolic of rebirth after death. I like this idea and the butterfly below is not only for my nephew but for my dear friend Alma who we said goodbye to 2 years ago tomorrow....






The begining of May is also a happy time for me although busy with sending cards. The 3rd of May was my friend Hannah's third wedding anniversary and a dear friend's 27th birthday. Yes, Lee and Christopher were born a day apart and have been good friends since they were born. His mother and I worked together and are friends to this day, seeing each other at least once a year. Would love to spend more time with my dear friends but 345 miles is a long way to go..lol..




Claude Choules 1901-2011 (photo curtisey of wikipedia)


Today also marks the passing of the last first world war veteran in the world, Claude Choules. He was also the last living veteran to have served in both world wars and the last seaman from world war 1. Claude died in Perth, Western Australia aged 110. His death marks the end of a generation of men and women who lived and died during WW1. I salute you and God Bless....

Lets hope the sun shines soon. Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

~~~~~~~

At the Going down of the Sun and in The Morning

We Will Remember Them

~~~~~~~

A Royal Wedding and Some More

*************

*************


Welcome to The Hovel on this special day. A day where the whole world witnessed the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I wish this lovely couple every happiness in their life together. It was a refreshing change to see a royal marriage so relaxed and if not for the coverage the couple were like any other. Kate is a breath of fresh air in the Royal circle with Princess Diana paving the way before her for a more relaxed attitude....Congratulations William and Kate...

~~~~~~~

The photographs below of William and Kate are curtsey of www.celebuzz.com











The Balcony Kiss


The First Balcony Kiss, Prince William's Parents 1981


A More Formal Affair on the Balcony. The newly married couple the Duke & Duchess of York 1923



A Royal wedding would not be a wedding without the traditional Balcony scene. It seems that Elizabeth and George were the first newly-wed Royals to go on the balcony to greet the public. The first recorded account of a royal member greeting the public from here took place in 1851 when Queen Victoria stepped onto it during celebrations for The Great Exhibition....

Prince George, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey

Princess Mary (daughter of King George V & Queen Mary) and Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood married 28 February 1922 at Westminster Abbey

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip married 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey

Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones married 6 May 1960 at Westminster Abbey

Anne, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips married 14 November 1973 at Westminster Abbey

Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer married 29 July 1981 at St. Pauls' Cathedral

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson married 23 July 1986 at Westminster Abbey

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones married 19 June 1999 at St. Georges' Chapel, Winsor Castle



Today's marriage brought together people and nations from all around the world and for a day we were all united. I got quite emotional when I saw so many Union Jack flags flying and it made me feel very proud to be British...

~~~~~~~

I do not wish to mar this joyous occassion but I would like to send my prayers and thoughts to the people of the US who have suffered from the devastating tornado, God Bless...

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx


~~~~~~~

A Wedding is a Fusion of Two Souls,

Two Hearts, Two Loves, Two Minds, Two Goals

Forever Into One

~~~~~~~

Remembering My Cat Mr Darcy

***********

***********

Hello Everyone, just a quick visit today. I don't know if you recall my beautiful ginger puss cat called Mr Darcy but it is two years today since he passed away. I still miss him so much and feel cheated that he died only aged 7 years. But he was suffering and I could not allow that to happen. So to mark his life I am remembering him here today....

Mr Darcy, my beautiful furry friend

The other day my dear friend Hilary had a lovely surprise for me, a photograph of Mr Darcy that was given to her by a neighbour. Hilary also used to have a ginger cat that looked very similar to Mr Darcy and her neighbour took this photograph thinking it was her cat Kevin.....how do we know it's Mr Darcy? Kevin was very reserved and would never approach children. I will admit I shed a few tears when I saw the photograph but what a special unexpected gift to have. Kevin passed a few months before Mr Darcy but Hilary and I like to think that they are still playing together in cat heaven...(I have not shown the child fully in the photograph because I have not asked the parents permission to do so...)



My gentle, sweet Mr Darcy



Thank you for sharing this day with me. People who know me know how dotty I am about my furry family who are part of who I am. To lose one is to lose part of me. God Bless Mr Darcy.

~~~~~~~

Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx

Happy Easter Everyone

***************************

***************************

Happy Easter everyone, I hope you have a lovely time with your family and friends. Hopefully my three grandees will be visiting Sunday afternoon....yep I forgot to tell you that the youngest, Blake, came home from hospital last Saturday. I haven't seen him since he's been home due to my having a cold and cough, didn't think it was wize. So really looking forward to seeing them all.....

Let's hope we don't all need our brollies & the sun shines for Easter

Oh to live in a place like this...

Until next time, take care..Hugs Chrissy xx