DVDs, hosses and memories

27 May 2012

When Jan got home on Friday evening I was relieved, as usual when she is off on a long journey by herself.  What I didn't expect was the for crisp boxes full of DVDs she has been loaned by Trish.  We sat and watched one of them last night, Bridge to Terabithia its called.  If you haven't seen it, it is well worth looking out for.  We really enjoyed it.  I've just been looking though one of the boxes and there's loads in there that we haven't seen.  We shall be having some decent movie time for some time to come methinks ;-)))

I sat reading my copy of Writers Forum Magazine yesterday too.  On page 29 Paula Williams writes about her mum dying of cancer, "far too early," says Paula.  She then goes on to tell about some of the funny times she had with her mum.  That got me thinking about my mam as well and some of the daft things she has done in her time.  Like the time we all sat around the dinner table eating a trifle she had made.  Nowt wrong there then ... except that mam took a spoonful and sat blowing it.  Dad noticed first and started chuckling, then brother Dave and finally me.  Mam finally asked what was so funny - she also started laughing when she found out what she was doing.  Another time she got back from the Co-op with her shopping and put it all away.  She sat with a cuppa and smoked her last fag and then went to the cupboard to get another pack ... but there wasn't any there.  She hunted the place through and through and got find them.  She sent me back to the Co-op to try to find then in case she had dropped them - fat chance of that in our village!  If they had been found then they wouldn't be seen again- ever again.  Mrs Knight from two doors down came up for her cuppa and found mam upset and angry.  "Sit down Phyl," she said, "I'll make the tea and we will look for them again."  Kettle on, pot ready off she went to get the milk from the fridge.  She came back with the milk and a 100 pack of menthol fags.  "Talk about them being cool Phyl, now they're bloody frozen!" she declared with a laugh. 

Mam didn't live that one down either.  Now I see her in her current state in the care home.  She has no idea where she is, what she is doing or why.  She remembers the house Jan and I now live in and the neighbours but she has put it in Gadsby Street where she lived 65 years ago.  It's heart breaking to see it and that's why O don't go as often as perhaps I should.  Dementia is such a cruel condition.  It's cruel on the person affected and cruel on the family that has to sit and watch what is doing to their loved ones.  

Have any of you been to an exhibition at Earls Court in London?  The London Book Fair was on there recently and the mag carries a report on it.  I didn't get there this year, in fact it was 1975 when I last went inside there.  Actually, I lived there for a month that for the second time; 1971 was the time before.  Somewhere I still have the little plastic tags we were given to let us in and out.  Both time I was there cooking for the service personnel who were there for the Royal Tournament; not me by myself, I was one of around 80 cooks there.  What a great time we had too.  The whole experience was just magical to me.  The main hall is a huge great space and sounds seem to echo all around; the smells of packed earth, horses and food concessions; the general feel of an old building that has seen so much; the excitement of the Tournament itself, kids running around excited at the static displays, marching bands at their very best, mock battles, racing horses, service men and women in uniforms of different sorts; so many different languages being spoken by visitors.  The whole thing was just magical. 

Oh for the days of the Royal Tournament to return in that format.  Each year massed bands of either the Royal Marines, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Air Force or Infantry would be finally set piece.  In addition there were the massed Pipes and Drums of the Highland and Irish regiments.  The Royal Navy Gun Team races, Pompy, Fleet Air Arm, Devonport, each with two teams taking it in turns to race for a coveted trophy.  The Royal Horse Artillery Musical Ride - oh the magic, the atmosphere, the memories ... ... ...

Now I sit a write a bog every day, read newspapers, magazines and books and of course try to write books.  Not much difference eh!

A photo is called for but sadly I have nothing from that period of my life so maybe this one will go down OK ... 

It's another of my motorbike shots.

No funny today - just a guide to knowing when you are old ...  

 WHAT IS OLD ???

"OLD" IS WHEN..... Your sweetheart says, "Let's go upstairs and make love," and you answer, "Pick one, I can't do both!"

"OLD" IS WHEN.. Your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you're barefoot.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... A "sexy young thing" catches your eye and your pacemaker opens the garage door.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... "Getting a little action" means you don't need to take any fibre today.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... "Getting lucky" means you find your car in the multi-storey car park.
"OLD" IS WHEN..... An "all-nighter" means not getting up to pee