Sun, Pressies and a Leg Wax.....What a Day

Hello from the Hovel....yes I know twice in less than a week, amazing....The weather has been lovely here today and being hubby’s day off we went into Penzance. Mind you Andy had to wait around for an hour while I had my legs waxed!!! By hanging around I mean he sat on the salon’s steps outside sunning himself while I was gritting my teeth inside...lol....

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I dragged poor Andy around my usual establishments...the charity shops and glad I did. I managed to acquire a doll’s house and doll’s pram for Korenza at only £3.29 each, bargain. She’s still a little young for them yet but it will give me time to make accessories for the pram and add anything needed to the house. I hope it’s all there but will check it over the next day or two. There’s furniture, dolls. Etc too.....

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Won't this be fun!

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Why there's Mr. Darcy Puss Cat

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It seems that some little furry animal also liked the pram. It had only been on the landing five minutes and it was already occupied.....

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'I can see you Willow'

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I also managed to get from the same shop a cross-stitch bookmark kit based on a Charles Renee Mackintosh design. I haven’t done any x-stitch for a while so this will be a simple one to do....

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While in the Oxfam charity shop I spied a stand of cards with vintage images but with some very funny quotes. Two I particularly liked are seen below. Just because they are purple didn’t have anything to do with my choice!!!.........

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But what I’m really happy about are the beautiful gifts and card I received from my very dear friend Ann in Australia. I was over the moon and very surprised when I received the package. I feel really bad because it had been in this country for over two weeks and I didn’t realize....The usual card had been put through my door from the postie and you know what it’s like and the days went by and I still hadn’t been to collect it. I thought it was a dvd I was expecting so thought there wasn’t any rush, if only I had known. Eventually a friend offered to collect it and dropped it in on Monday. Imagine my delight when it was not a dvd but these beautiful packages inside.......

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And the parcel smelled divine. There was a lovely card welcoming my grandson, baby boy confetti, toy, socks and top for Dylan and a dress for Korenza. How kind and thoughtful is my friend.......

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And there were two gifts for me, a blueberry scented candle on a ‘rusted tin’ and three tubes of cookies. It was like Christmas and birthdays rolled into one. Thank you so, so much for these beautiful gifts Ann, they mean so much. Christopher and Jane were so pleased with them.......


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'mmm'm'

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Over the years we meet many people but only a few remain true friends. Ann is one special lady who I am proud to call a friend.........

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Sinking of the Titanic by Henry Reuterdahl,
drawn based on radio descriptions. (Source: Wikipedia)

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Another reason for my posting today is the date. Some 97 years ago RMS Titanic made a tragic place in history by hitting an iceberg and sinking, resulting in a great loss of life.......

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On the night of 14 April 1912, during her maiden voyage, RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank two hours and forty minutes later, early on 15 April 1912. Many men, women and children from all walks of life lost their lives, some of who came from the county of Cornwall. One such couple was John Henry and Sarah Elizabeth Chapman nee Lawry of St. Neot. John and Sarah had married on December 26 1911. Sarah’s brother William was living in America and so the couple decided to emigrate to live near him. The trip on the Titanic was also seen as a honeymoon. They travelled 2nd class under ticket number 29034 which had cost £26, purchased from White Star agent George & Co of Liskeard....

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While on the ship John and Sarah befriended other people from Cornwall, who they were with when the lifeboats were being launched. Sarah was behind a lady called Emily Richards as she entered lifeboat 4. When Sarah realised that she had to go alone she turned away saying to Emily, 'Goodbye Mrs Richards, if John can't go, I won't go either'. Both John and Sarah died in the sinking. The body of John was subsequently recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and was buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 10, 1912......

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NO. 17. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 30-40. HAIR, DARK.
CLOTHING - Grey overcoat; brown suit; handkerchief, "J. Chapman."
EFFECTS - Lady's hand bag; gold watch, chain and locket; gold watch, chain and badge; £63 10s. in gold; 13s. 7d. in silver and copper; $2 in paper and silver, ect.; letter; baggage receipt; keys; tie clip; pipe; nail cleaner; baggage insurance; marriage certificate.
NAME - JOHN H. CHAPMAN.

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There is a memorial to the couple on Sarah's aunt's gravestone in St Neot Churchyard, Cornwall.....
(Information from http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/)

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There has been many films made about the Titanic but the one that is most memorable to me is A Night to Remember made in 1958, an adaptation of Walter Lord's book of the same name, recounting the final night of the RMS Titanic. In this film a newly married couple are portrayed, who were based on John and Sarah Chapman. There are many such accounts of the people on the Titanic this couple’s story is just one. I mentioned this couple in particular because of their story but also because we viewed a tearoom in St. Neot before we moved here. It is a lovely community village on the edge of the moor. I at that time did not know about this couple but found out later on researching the Titanic. I will now plan a visit soon to visit their memorial......

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My I have rambled on today so I will leave you in peace. Until next time...lol.....

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Happy Easter......

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Hello from the Hovel this Easter weekend.....Sorry I’ve been ‘missing in action’ these past two weeks but it’s been hectic here as always. I have had a few visits with my darling grandson who is doing well despite some setbacks. He has had two bouts of a viral infection and two weeks ago needed a blood transfusion. He has been now transferred to a side-room on the children’s ward because of the present virus he has. So our little man is now in a cot and hopefully will be going home soon. The good thing about him being on this ward is that Jane and Christopher can take it in turns to sleep in the room with Dylan as a bed is provided. Our little princess Korenza is gradually getting to know her brother and the photograph below says it all.........

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'Hello Dylan, I'm your big sister'

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Now as any proud nana would I am going to bore you with photos of my family. The photos are a bit blurred due to being taken with my son’s mobile. The latest photos are about three weeks old as my son has not sent me any recent ones. I daren’t use my camera in the hospital as the flash is so bright.....

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The Proud Parents

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'Tiring work this feeding'

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A smile from a tired but happy mum


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One proud nana

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Can you see our little man wrinkling his forehead? When I first saw Dylan it was uncanny how much he looked liked my son, who as I mentioned before looked like my dad. Another family resemblance is the forehead, my father used to do exactly the same with his forehead. I held a baby born in 2009 who strongly resembles his gt. Grandfather who was born in 1924. And judging by the photograph of my grandmother in my previous post she also wrinkled her forehead. The magic of family genes which are passed on, each of us have a part of who passed before, an invisible connection.......


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Another event that happened at the Hovel was that I was visited by a young policeman......why you may ask. Well I was a suspect in a supposed catnapping case.....hehe....I ask you, aren’t six cats enough for me.... It all began in February when Christopher and Jane began feeding a tabby cat which appeared to be a stray. I advised them to make enquires to see if it belonged to anyone. The cat did but the owner didn’t want it any more so Buffy, as named by C& J, went to live with them. A few days later however the owner demanded her back. End of story or so you would think. Fast forward to March and the owner suddenly appeared at their door accusing C&J of stealing her cat as she had not come home and if they didn’t have her then ‘one of your mothers must’. This lady was shortly followed by two WPC who asked for their mother’s names....one being me. So enter one very polite PC who not only took my details but asked to see all my cats, especially ‘the tabby one’. Millie’s always been a spitfire and can be a bit naughty at times but to be wanted by the police...tut tut...lol......

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Mind you this is not the first visit I’ve had from our local constabulary but on that occasion it was not a jovial one. It was in 2007 I think and was in connection with a statement my sister had made in 1983 while living with me in Nottinghamshire. As you can imagine I was surprised to find a PC on my doorstep, especially when he knew my maiden name and previous address. The Nottingham police wanted to talk to me and I suddenly realised that it was in connection with the brutal murder of Colette Aram in 1983, which happened not many miles from where I lived. Extensive door to door enquiries were made then, including at my home, even Andy was called in to give a statement although I didn’t know him at that time. Unbeknown to me my younger sister had told the PC that she suspected my then boyfriend of the crime!!!! Hence the Nottingham police wishing to talk to me, which I later did that day. Talk about a blast from the past. Thankfully a man was arrested this week, 26 years after he took the life of this young girl. And no it was not my ex. but Andy was shocked to find that he had been in the same year at school with this person but cannot remember him......At least now Colette can rest in peace........


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Do you have any plans for Easter? Andy will be working so apart from visiting Dylan & co on Sunday I will be at home. The weather was sunny today and it’s quite busy here with holidaymakers........

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As a child Easter was a busy time regarding church and a procession. What I do remember though was my mum always bought my sister and I a new coat, bonnet and white lace gloves. I remember one time in particular when it was a blue coat and white hat, the hat was very stiff and I kept fidgeting with it, much to my mother’s disapproval....lol....

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RMS Titanic. Taken Good Friday April 5 1912
(Curtsy of Wikipedia)


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Besides Good Friday, today marks the anniversary of the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic. It was on April 10 1912 that this majestic ship set sail from Southampton, England, a journey that was to end with the tragic loss of 1,522 lives. The Titanic story is another interest of mine and we are lucky to have the Titanic exhibition here at the Maritime museum in Falmouth. I will be visiting it but will wait until after the Easter break.......

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Hope you enjoy your weekend and take care...until next time...lol...