Mum

I started this blog for my Mum so she knew what I was up to, and I never thought she would be gone so soon. She had to leave us, and it will take time to get used to her not being by our side, but in our hearts instead.

Her footprints don't tread this earth anymore and the sound of her voice has fallen silent. Mum - may you rest in peace and rise in glory..

Dear Mum

I am having a nice time on holiday. I have a ball and dinner and Stanley has to wait in bed until I make my mind up what to do first. I might have a little sleep as Stanley is going green. What fun.
Love
Boots

Sitting

I am sitting by my mothers bedside as she sleeps peacefully. My father is playing jazz which is wafting its way through the corridors. The view over the garden is glorious in the winter light. I don't suppose I will be here for the end, but I am here for now.

The house is peaceful but for the gently ticking of the numerous clocks.
The world is busy, but here we are quiet.

Quiet and peaceful.

Waiting?

I thought I had possibly heard my mothers voice for the last time yesterday, but last night I had a message to call. On the off chance someone might be able to give us an update my sister had called the house. The nurse answered and she was able to exchange a few words with Mother. She sent a message to do the same, so I did. I was also able to exchange a few words with my mother. The voice I am so familiar with that is going to fall silent.
Mother deteriorated in the night and although she is comfortable she is fading. I am torn as to whether to go to her side, or not. As my friend says, there is no right answer and I am not very good with decisions that don't involve right answers.

Waiting
Unclear thought
Flashing memories
Childhood
Family moments
Flashing by
Silence
Quiet
Peace
Agony
Screaming
Change
All change
Peace.

Slipping away?

It isn't over
It isn't past,
It's the moment of limbo
How long will it last?

Have we had
Our final conversation
Our final laugh
Probably.

It is not over.
It is not the past.
Onward.
This legacy of life
Living on.

chilled frozen over in the gorgeous morning light

Yet another glorious morning on the frozen cut.

 

 

Canal River Trust: Andy Tidy

I like this guy, his integrity and his manifesto A LOT. He is a good man.  I am going to keep putting this post up every now and again and I do hope you will consider him seriously when it comes to voting and tell others about him. You can get information from his blog where he has been writing about the the Canal River Trust and elections here and why to vote for Andy Tidy here.

Morning Skies

The sky this morning was beautiful and I know I am not alone in this because everyone says so. The skies are stunning in our country. I looked out of the side hatch to this:

As I set off from the boat I could see the sunrise on one side and the moonset on the other. How beautiful the moon hanging there in splendour, bold and large:

Across the fields the windows to the little church at Hampton Gay were ablaze with orange light as the sun peered above the horizon and as it rose the light that was cast across the fields was magical.

I walked over the fields under the peaceful sky and suddenly things felt alright.  I was reminded of a poem I wrote some 10years ago for someone very dear at the time. It is the only poem I have ever given to anyone and the only one I have ever spent time thinking and composing. That person is gone now, and the full version is here, but here is the abbreviated version as it rang around my head in the fields this morning as it often does, but this time it was in one of those rare moments when peace sweeps across the atmosphere. This moment suited it much better.

Oh distant land
Where the sun rises high
Where the birds sing of freedom
And the stars hang from the sky

Where can you be found?
Oh distant, distant land

Morning through the side hatch

Two marinas in Cropredy backed by Cherwell council

It can all be read about here and here.  I have often heard that a Marina at Cropredy would solve all the boating issues that the southern Oxford apparently has. I have never been convinced, not least because getting to work in Oxford from Cropredy  (and I have transport) is a long slog.  The news however gives the impression that the main objection was to children drowning as it wasn’t going to be far from the primary school.  The news article itself is quite calm and placid, the comments are certainly worth reading.