tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49914139485328949792024-03-19T03:48:17.230+01:00My clouds have silver liningsTrying to see the positive from life, not matter what it throws at you!!!My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-5117265605009458752017-03-02T20:45:00.000+01:002017-03-04T22:20:10.455+01:00Fête de 100 Jours - Money does grow on trees!!!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here in France as part of a numeracy drive the children in my daughter's class were asked to bring in their collections of one hundred things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We took a cheap canvas, bought in Lidl, and painted it in green, blue, and turquoise acrylic paint, then when it was dry we painted on a tree trunk and branches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isabelle counted out one hundred coins, fifty two centimes and fifty one centimes. Then she split them into piles of twenty-five and put two of the piles into two bowls filled with Vanish OxyAction to shine them up. It didn't work as well as we would have liked, cheap cola would probably have had been a better choice, but we didn't have any so we made do!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the coins were dried Isabelle stuck them to the tree, and then she painted on some flowers to bring it to life a bit. Here is the final picture, and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> she is quite rightly proud of it!</span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-86687855463379687132016-12-06T15:10:00.000+01:002016-12-06T15:10:26.471+01:00The Ghost of Christmases Past.....(Food and Drink)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span>ck in my childhood, Christmas food was spe<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cial be<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">cause <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it was only available at <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that time of year.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
food we have now we can get all year round, want a turkey for Sunday
lunch? Sure! Go to the supermarket and buy one any day of the year.
Want the trimmings? Go ahead! Also available 24/7/365! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was
little there were foodstuffs that were ONLY available at Christmas
time; <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">juicy, sweet c</span>lementines, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bitter sweet c</span>ranberry <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s</span>auce, Quality Street choc<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">olates</span>, Roses choc<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">olates</span>, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t</span>urkish <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d</span>elight covered in icing sugar, that created sweet clouds when you <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">essed the lid <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">down</span></span></span>, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d</span>ates, syrupy and sticky, with a strange fork in the m<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">iddle,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tins of </span>Cheesy <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">B</span>alls, cheese paste<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> surrounded by wafer and shaped into a football</span>, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">c</span>hocolate <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">c</span>oi<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ns i<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n net bag<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s, tubes of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jelly Tots, Fruit Pastilles or Smarties, </span></span></span></span></span>the list goes on.... Nowadays most of
this stuff is there. All. The. Time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><img alt="MrStanleysTurkish" class="pinImg fullBleed loaded" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2f/c9/bc/2fc9bc38aa5e64e3c2e2143edccb633f.jpg" /><img alt="Image result for clementine" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-sz="f" name="nJc1X4BWdAtclM:" 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<img alt="Image result for chocolate coins christmas" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-sz="f" name="BVu-svAtO8pxDM:" 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" style="height: 154px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -4px; margin-top: 0px; width: 192px;" /><img alt="Image result for tubes of Jelly Tots" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-sz="f" name="MjQW32wK0c2YLM:" 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gCAIAgOFAVmP4zHRwulfrb2Wjck6BaLb4wfHya7ZquPJmEw+imr6n8bU35bf9zHd1tDobH62sub1bUo1QcU95P8AYywsaUpevb+i/ua0lcU25Pdlsjye9ZR+TYkV2K4XRVbhJUxPc9oAuxzmhwGwcARddfh65V6aV0XujZVbk0xcKpdGUvHHEP4WnbBE0Rue3LGxv/Djtb6kfQfFXMLvUirGtt+y+ESdLwfVsc59Uv3Z8/4TxGnp6xlRUte9rCS0sscrzs9w6ga7LKmajLdlzqdFt9PCpmw4mwGTEgKmhkiqGO/3kbHAEHuAdvINtVulXKa36FVgZsMT8O9NbeRQ8M15a1soktGLB07/AEs72ufssJJxXuey+5JlnYkG5Q7v4RoKHD2QNIBzOcLPkta4/Kwb287lc7qGp8/wcfz5IFt8rnyl0S7L+5qMHwvLaSQer3Gfl8nz9lZaTpCp/Ft+rx9ioycnm9o9i5AXQkM6gCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgIlfWtibra52CrtR1GGJXu/qfZG2qp2PoZfE8VhYbzXdc6nLdrTa9vp0XGxxszOk7357FnHH3g9uy6lVWcXxNH7KMv8u9I/VTaf+N2WPldPY5fI/wCQ1xk41x3ZRy8Y1j3BkTI8zjZrWtcSfqVPf/H8KmHKcnsv9+CLXreXbLaKX+/qaTDKibLaoex0hFzkFgPA7/Fczl11cvwV0OowZ2SW1nclPeFFSLEq8bwCjrnMfUGZj4wGnlEAPaNg7Q/UWXWYWq0enFXdGv3FWRfQpQr22fyRsS4Toaz2IzSPboyRgGVwAsM7P/h8rfHVcW2fGXt+5sx8zJxu75Lyv8FfScH1lC4OiDnk7TQHf4gahWcF03g919idLUsXJjtZ0+zNZzZuXGych07bmR2npB9lhtoXbbKk1y9TUaoveXnYqa4wU5Sgto+C+wjDLESyD1e6z8vk+VL0jSVQvUt+r4+CvyMjn7V2LgBdARDq9AQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEBFrawRi+56D+Z8Ku1HUIYkN+8n2Rsrr5v7FVHlk9TiHE76g/LwuJyLbbp+pb0Jalx6RPmWLzOHPDnF3Kke1tz1LiB/AfwXY42zjBR7bFlHJjDAnOXdJlQ5xIawAlziGtaOribAfUhWh8nhW7LOhquF4IIC+Odr4qtotI2T2v8ABbQt8jdc9qUZym1d9Pjb+51GDRCmOzXu87npU1RBBB2I/Rc9Cvfoy3w7Px4ntRVBJtdabIJI6CyKS6Foxt1Fb2IxLijstLe5i2ft8xaLAkX7XUmm6+Psrk+phwi+rLPCMLy2kkHq91n5fJ8rsdK0lVbW3dZfwQcjJcvbHsXICv8AYhnV6AgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCA4gI1dWNiaSSL9AoObmRx4/L8IyjHfv2MbjNa8kl7SWuGjQTmJ13A6W6dOvilxcSeTPm+sn+xNpyqox+/wAfJR4PirY6lpu5gdm5gdsWhpIN+tiP4qXqWnWelxkuvg1X5VcpKW3Fvv8ABlKurM0huQ0SSOe4u0GZxOUE+AVOoh6cE/KRX6vmxdUcOnu/qZeYPgcM1I+WSolYHzGJr4mtyxlp9D5dMwBdY3uLXHxUpQT2m11K7FxIxrfXySZcVM0D4K6mjqanD5GxznNy5OW8hrJ4pem4vqBY30WclGfdbkuLbW0lu0VvE0BoHU5bNI+Kpdb8PUZTPHbW+cH1N6a333VTmafTxc4rZkmhcbYtfJfYUy7lx972R1tnYvxlYLuIA7lRI0W2LeMWQ+reyOipY5t2ODhtdpvrtbTqsPRmpcGup44uP1dC5wnDLWlkHq91p93yfP2Xa6RpCoXqWfV/BXZGRy9sexcLoSGdQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQEWuq2wtLnH4BRMvLjjw3ffwjKMdzOzyucebJv7jD08nz9v4rmFKV9nKXX/AH+DXdaooy+NVzmuL2yBvpLTfUb3+fTTwF02n2+jBx49yqjqTrk4xju/BnqekkqphCXSNIBklkmDxy47XdIQ7YEbDY6KY7JzXuNK/qcifG7pHuSeEgIX09dOwCkc6aNlS4tNnuOWN7xb0AZSL7arXGDUm2++2xvorjDaW3Td9S7x52J00sUtLCKl0zXNqxGy8Upa4CJ7rew4sOp20tqAFn1RMkpppx/UznGmPNllnpKemiE8sbIqura7NpZpdEzSxtYNv42UXIyI1IWWIqcLwVgkYTd79BckmwHTXoqO/KtnFvweYcueTCP3Po+Gw5RfqqajF/qLlF9jsrpeCl4p4ge5raOn9U0ul2anXpoT9dl0/sqgq4LZI2YuNGG91j2SNjwPwx+DgYJTnl1cb7BztSfitmLgp2evYuvhfH/spdQzfXsfHsauytSuOoAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAICPV1LY25iQomXlwx4cpd/CMox5FAXmQ86T/tsPQfmI79h0HlcrbbO+e8n/vwZTkor7FLi1bvqrHFqKLNyDFYvW6aGzszcpuBZ2YZTc6AA2NyrmlbNFPROUrlxPoTsRLmtgbUUv9qGKNzyGgslym5jv2Pq22uTZTH9jquXRLfqZyq4kDopYJ6NsYhDzXUI9oxuNzUQO0vY3JGntXvovG0avUbXFr8zNY7j0b4qejwyorOWzmcxzjIw5HG7WF2hNrkC2w0uomTkKuO6Ycko7RP1hOBBjLjQHTObmxOt3dbeVTcbL/cyPPtuy5wKm9d/y/dMxKulR+SboVXPIdj7I0VXC50RbG7K87OsT4tYKgoypV37wW/g6tTUZby7FlwhwjHSE1EnrqH7ucPZHYDouwxMaWyss7/HwV2fqEr3wj9JrArMrDqAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAj1dSIxc79AoeZmV4tfOb/JfJnCDk9kUUzjI85jo2xePOhDPgNCfl5C5S66y1+pZ9T7L4X+TZJrfiuyIOJVdlvx6yuyrtjF4xX6kK8pgorc5fJsc5bI5hdDO7mMjpxI+zWTSzOaI4Q9ub1N9o2bqbeAtfoTynGyMtor9y5wcX0Y7te5/sX1XgkH9nRMqZ2gUgH4evguAxumV5PQaNB6aA3HS4+5PdScEm/1M1xDxG+NsdNHLS19Q6GVklYGgujDzlFi02uWHY9r9VHvvVa3Z45bJLfdkPAsHdHE05Q4A2N7i9txf+jv2VDJSunz26bmiT6blvV1BsGC9hp0ufBturWqDS6kHIucvbEt8KgyNDfeOrrdz0C5jUsp3WcYfkdnpWJ/S4y5d31ZtMHwvLaSQev3W/l8nyrnSdJVC9S36v4NGTk83tHsXAV+QzqAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAj1dSIxc6noFDzc2vFr5z/RfJnCDk9ikqaggOmf6i0elvdx0a35kgLiYXzz8n1LfpRKs2qhsiHLJy2BpNzu53dx1cfmSVKW9lnJkC2fGJksbxQC7Q5ubtcX+iuaKX8HP5lstiswxjWg1c1+XGQGNAuXvJAAA66kAeVhm2ynJY1X1Pv+Q0zF3frz7LsWWB4dLMJXxyT0uJxvL5GT3DJoyTy2uj2yW9OmxuryilVVKEfBbRi5NtdGVddiVVhT2vZD/dasvbNQTH0RzW9bY3a+h18zSLgi4OyynZwXXsEpQe/wA+Cr4ZwdznucWNja5xcGguysaSSGh1j8AT2VFdL+ontHsa90aerkay7WX1ADtTbToB0F76KZVSvBDyLuPRETDGGR+b3Wmw8nx3UfUchpehV1kyZouF6kv6m76Y9vuz6Vw9g3LAkkHr91n5fJ/e+y2afpcaPxLOsv4LvJy5Wvp2L4K5Ih1AEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAR6upEYv16BRMzLrxq3Of6GcIOb2RSveXnM43uvnGfnWZdvOX6IsIRUFsiDikvqhj7vdIfhG3T/M5n0U3TVtVKX6f9kTKfVIpK3PV1DKKJ5ZnBknlbvHC0gEtOwcSQB8z0XR6Xiqfvl2RXP3yPOGg4drS6ipxEJ2A2lY17ZCRu5srh+0I66ldDwQaqnvEpMHwvOyobW1EsbMMkYzJBYC7XB3OeLEkWsbeColWJXXJ2eX5MIxT9vZI0Vfj8UTxPOY5aCYkQVkfq5RcLOiltrld0PyOwUvs+pt5L80fP8AEXvqq59P+Jmnpqd55AlJ9NxqNRc22BO4Crs2c0uKNNkupqKeUQMytABA0frmF1Hxq9o7EKy/giqDn1MnKjva/reP9I8lbMnIVEeMesn2Rhg4Usy3d9Iruz6fwxwy2nDZJGgvA9DOjPPl3lZYGE616ln1M6S6cdlXX0jHsaUKzNB1egIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAj1NQGA6i/b+ajZGXVRFym+xlGDl2KWWQvOZ3yXznUtQnmW8n28Isa4KCPwSq82bFBjlRlqI/+jLb/AM4le6avwJfmVWoPjKJVYSx80dcWPEclRLFRRyn3GmNrnEef2j/mAu0wK+NC28kOrrFsytPRSYZMyGaPLUNnhdBKPZe3mNaeW7y1zgRvqjVv9TFr6fJrVah37lpX1lbT4vUy09JNPFK4MljEchZI0MaDZ9rAg31+KkqTUttuhm01Y2kWkPCQmglgghqKWGsdG6aKoMZZFleHOMTAScxAy62A+Vls4mxQ6dF3IvEjIDiAdT2PKjayZ7di5twBfqQLAn5dFHvSfQjZU4x7FdNJJUScmEE62c4a28DuVDuvjRHZdWyDjYlmbZ8RXdn07hDhdlIwOcBzLaA65b9b9XeV7h4bUvVt6yf7HSNwqr9Gr6V+5pwrQ0nUAQBAEAQBAEAQHEB1AEAQBAEAQBAfl2ywm2otoIzhcXHM43JXy3MyLLbZObLWKSWyOFyimWx5vevUjNIy/FjsskMncSx/UNeP9BXQaR7ozh+TKjWFtGMjOudzcMrmdYqmKc20OTLGCflkd9F2dTax1x8FZjSU62SuG+J4w0sxGWOWKBrJaZ8zc0ucOIyt3L3CwNxrqvcfI9RPl3RITUXs+wxhuKyXqqCvfV0riTlh5YfEN8uS2tvr4W6Ts29pjJSfuizyoZpZo80lZVSA+00yFoPybbRQ5X277MjWWuPdn5ipHTEQwNytvYuA/g3uVEuzOHtj1kxjYFuZLlLpBeT6VwlwvHSNDnNHM6DfL8+rvK34eG4v1Lesv4LmUoQgqqltFfuaZWhpOoAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgOLwFJiVNyzmHsuP0PZcLr2muqz1oL2v9mT8ezktmV7nrntiYkeL3rNI2bGf4xjLqVzx7UBEg+DdHf5S5W2k2cMhJ9n0K7VaXbjy27rqZyjtCwSQvhlc9jmVML3jJNG7UsJF8pHQ26nuujpzp12yjOL4soselV1Jb9fJVYRTiMkSujay5LI3vY8tF9Bm6m3VaspuyX4SZm5ryaCjgDXZ6UyxyO9qSD0tcP3swyu/ittOXLGj75GdWPda/wAOLJ2H4GGNDOmgyi5+V9yVXZGqTtlwqXctadKrj773u/jwb3h3AmwASOAzkelv5B+qvNPwPRXOzrJnmTk8/ZHpFF9ZWpEOoAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIDzljDgWkXB3Wq2qNsHCS3TPVJxe6MziNK6F1jq0+y7+XxXz/UtNli2f8Ai+zLei5TX3K58igJG88JCHAgi4OhB2PxWcW4vdHj2fcqJeGaV5v+HhB/5GqatRvS+pmtY9HmKJ1Dw7DH7EbAfDRda5Zt1nTds2KFEO0UWLqdselruOgHW/ay0fiznw8mTu6b+DQ4PhXL/aSAczoOjB+q7PStKWOvUmt5fwVWRkux7LsXFleEQ6gCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIDxqadsjS1wuD/VwtF9ELoOE10MoycXujHYthz4Drqw+y7+R8rh87Tp4suvZ9mWtN6sX3IcbbqtkbiZGyy1N7mRLfWNhZtd77W6kk7AD6K9xXCmvhCO8mRZRc5deyLDA8JLDz5tZnbN3EY7eT3K6LTtNVC5z6yf7ETIyOftj2LuytiKdXoCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCA85omvBa4Ag7grXZXGyLjJbo9i2nujO12DGO7owXM7dR+oXIajok6/fT1XwWNOUpdJFdI4WyjUnSw3v2VBXTY5qOz3JnNL3FxgGBcm0krjJKBZua1ox2Hnyu907T1THnJe4rMnK9R7R7F8FakQ6gCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgCAIAgOFeA8+S2+bKL97C/wBVh6UOXLZbnvJ9j0C2Hh1AEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQBAEAQH/9k=" 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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, being in France, I get
to revisit my childhood to a certain extent, because my memories of
Christmas fare are not available here, so I can source them in the UK
and either persuade my son or another willing victim to bring them
over. The lack of ready availability has re-elevated seasonal fare to
its rightful position<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> on top<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of the list of preparations and all things Noël.</span></span></span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-53416931893898560832016-11-29T21:29:00.000+01:002016-12-06T15:14:16.551+01:00A time for presents and trimming the tree....Part One<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSMpIVe1toWylaIGDSa_XK1jXFJ77Z1WogDPH38nCZkiZGr6KUMhI7Bsw9pOwqYQxcY9u5f7sxh9gyVmQCLmoAhzMam6A9z-BVAFLjW55iNWvVQqz1rBotoKcLh463G-Qgq-uq6QC709M/s1600/christmas-cliparts-ecMyErMcn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSMpIVe1toWylaIGDSa_XK1jXFJ77Z1WogDPH38nCZkiZGr6KUMhI7Bsw9pOwqYQxcY9u5f7sxh9gyVmQCLmoAhzMam6A9z-BVAFLjW55iNWvVQqz1rBotoKcLh463G-Qgq-uq6QC709M/s200/christmas-cliparts-ecMyErMcn.png" width="158" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is my favourite time of the year, I love the preparation and anticipation of Christmas, I do not, however, like the expense and the obligation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year I will be adding some trimmings to my tree that my daughter and I have made ourselves, thanks in the main to the social media application Pinterest. I am not a fan of social media, I only have an account with LinkedIn (for business purposes), WhatsApp (so I can keep in contact with my best friend and my son) and now Pinterest. I use a nickname for the latter and find the creativity and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">generosity</span> of the people that use it inspiring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The gift giving this year will be frugal, my twin boys are going back to the UK to spend Christmas with their father, whilst their older brother (who is at university in the UK) will be crossing the Channel to spend Christmas with me and his little sister. There will be token presents under the tree and we will spend the day itself mainly eating lots!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">France is a secular country, the schools do not perform Nativity scenes and the religious aspects of the festival are not highlighted within the school curriculum. However, nearly all the communes will have a Nativity scene near the local town hall or church and Nativity <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">crèches</span> are sold in all the shops that sell Christmas decorations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I was brought up in a Christian family, was baptised and even went through confirmation. I love Christmas carols and I will bring out the Nativity crèche each year. Nowadays, in light of the mess that religion on the whole is in, I would say I was more a spiritual agnostic than ardent Christian. Although with the way things are turning out with other less flexible religions in the world seeming to dominate there may come a time when all agnostics have to choose a religion in order to survive, but I will save those rant<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ings for the Ne<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">w Yea<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r</span></span></span>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me Christmas isn't about the day itself, it's about my clo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">se </span>family and friends. I love the preparations, the present buying, the decorating, the food, all of it, alt<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hough not so<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> much the </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the card writing (this year will include the making of the cards which may, or more than likely may not, go according to plan!!)</span></span></span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wr<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ite a post about my idea of a perfect Christmas versus<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> the reality in <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">part two.</span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/98191-what-does-being-agnostic-mean-5-things-to-know-about-those-of-us-who-keep-our" target="_blank">https://www.bustle.com/articles/98191-what-does-being-agnostic-mean-5-things-to-know-about-those-of-us-who-keep-our</a></span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-62361350190177288962016-11-29T18:00:00.000+01:002016-11-29T18:00:03.256+01:00Entente cordial has been severely diluted!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am putting this in writing for two reasons, first I need to get it off my (rather generous!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) chest! Writing is supposed to be therapeutic. Second, I am making a sociological statement on the declining social fabric that is happening all to quickly here in France (it's just my opinion and is not based on any scientific research, just non-empirical observation!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not sure whether I have mentioned it before but, in an effort to supplement my meagre income, I work as a teacher, teaching English as a foreign language. With my private one on one clients it is a dream and the most rewarding thing ever. With the primary school children I teach every Friday afternoon it is a nightmare!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday a particularly odious little boy decided to ruin the class for everyone else and I asked him to write out the words "I must not play around in class" in English ten times. He was told what the words meant and I asked him to take it home to have his parents sign it, thus drawing his appalling behaviour to their attention. Now, if that had been my child, I would have been mortified, I do not see my children as little deities who can do no wrong. However, here in France, there is a new breed of parent, the Snowflake parent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "snowflake parent" is part of the social justice movement, except in France they have little Napoleonic syndrome too. Their little darlings are just "expressing themselves". NO. THEY. ARE. NOT. They are disrupting the other children in the class and preventing them from learning a language that could expand their horizons. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The particular "snowflake parent" of this child felt that it was acceptable, not to excuse his son for his parlous behaviour, but to write on the bottom of the written punishment that the "course was not an actual lesson but a non-obligatory peri-scolastic activity". The written punishment this particular child received was not his first that day and the other staff member was also taken to task for reprimanding the "golden child" in such a fashion. This parent was recently elected as a "Conseiller d'Ecole" (effectively a "governor") so is now so full of his own perceived importance he feels compelled to criticise the disciplining of his child instead of dealing with the child's behaviour. But then what did I expect from a family where the mother can criticise me for riding my bike, without lights, at dusk on a little used country lane, in order to get home because a sodding school meeting has taken two hours to dissect problems that could have easily been resolved in half an hour! Yet her own husband (he of governor status) can roll up outside school on his Ducati motor bike to collect his (then) five year old son (who was (and still is) well below the 25 percentile on the height chart) to ride pillion on the back of said Ducati with nothing but a BICYCLE HELMET to protect the precious one's head!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had it!!! These ridiculous, self-important mini Napoleons with snowflake tendencies are going to be the death of France.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-68491876538218911822016-11-14T16:02:00.001+01:002016-12-12T11:52:59.802+01:00Murphy's Law? or the Law of Sod? - Take your pick!!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyone who is lucky enough to live in a rural environment will understand that the need for reliable independent transport is not a luxury, it is a necessity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My darling car broke down at the end of July, at the worst possible time financially. The absolutely worse thing happened, the clutch went, spectacularly so, even if I do say so myself. Fortunately for me, I was at a friend's house and not on the open road.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Number three son is, again fortunately for me, doing a mechanics course specialising in heavy goods vehicles. My go-to mechanic was mired in family problems and cars were piling up left, right and centre at his place so he couldn't help immediately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, fortunately for me, my other half had his car and we were mobile, for a while.... Then it happened, a suspension spring on his car snapped and in August!!! Dun! Dun Dun!....anybody that lives in France or has dealings with anyone in France knows that August is the month that nothing gets done. Nada, Nichts, Rien!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As mentioned, our go-to mechanic couldn't be gone to and he didn't have the tools to do the specific job required (Sod's Law came into play here, the part that broke rarely fails, therefore, the tool required to remove said part is expensive and not all mechanics have them!! - Joy!) So off we went to the next village and enquired at the newly taken over garage whether they could repair the spring. It took the owner four days to get back to us with a price and availability. At this point, I must point out that we ourselves were looking on-line for a replacement spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We tried VW in St Lo, who tried to convince us that both springs needed to be replaced and he would call me back, that was never going to happen!!! When the village mechanic came back to us he said it was nigh on impossible to find the part for my partner's VW Golf in France, because the sports chassis wasn't sold in France!!! He quoted a 200% mark up on the part and factored in eight hours of work!!! And we had to agree then and there or there would be a four-week wait because (you guessed it!) they were going on holiday!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thankfully my next door neighbour gave me the number of his go-to mechanic. In this case, he really was "go to", he has been banned from driving so we had to limp there with the car!!! We ordered the part from Euro Car Parts (a fantastic company in the UK see link below) it was with us within a few days (delivery companies in France appear to work on a skeleton staff also during August). Was the sorry saga over? Nah! Don't be daft (remember Murphy's Law? Well it turned into Sod's Law!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We dropped off the car, making plans for the rest of the summer, trips to the beach etc, only for our hopes to be dashed!!! Told Ya!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently, we needed another part (stabilising bar) which we ordered from a French website with a 24-hour delivery. Redemption?! Nope!! It didn't turn up the following day, we chased it and were informed that it takes up to 48 hours to action the order (remember we're in August!?). So I cancelled the order and ordered the part again through Amazon France, again <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a </span>24-hour delivery<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span></i></span>due <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>on </i></span>Saturday morning. The Saturday morning came and went, we checked on th<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e</span> on-line delivery status and guess what?! The driver had tried to deliver in the morning with no response (according to the system), this was, of course, absolute bollocks! Amazon France delivery notice stated that the address couldn't be found! So needless to say I was not amused!!! Call me pedantic ("You're pedantic!") but one cannot state that no-one was home when the address cannot be found in order to ascertain whether anyone was home or not!!! Amazon France was brilliant, they refunded my express delivery charge because it was anything but and the part was delivered to a nearby DIY store for collection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I will digress a little here, I have always looked at motorbikes with a degree of fear, why would you want to bowl along at 90+ miles per hour without a shell to protect you?! Necessity being the mother of invention (and in our case lack of transport) we were forced to use John's motorbike. He has been a motorcyclist for nearly four decades, so he gets it, loves it even! Me? Petrified!! But I donned Number three son's crash helmet and manned up!!! Wow!! I loved it!!! It was amazing!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, back to the sorry tale of two cars...second part found, ordered, delivered to the mechanic, who.....went away on a four-day bender with his new girlfriend!!!! When he eventually came back (and sobered up) he then told us ANOTHER part was needed! Back we went on-line, Amazon France again came up trumps and delivered the third part express delivery to the DIY store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John's car fixed, the last week of the summer holidays, it rained!!! We managed two days on the beach, two wonderful days!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Number three son volunteered to strip out the engine and clutch on my Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. It was going to be under the watchful eye and mentoring of our go-to mechanic, but the latter was still dealing with personal family and work issues. So Number three son had to go solo. With the aid of a manual, he started dismantling the engine. I would say at least two-thirds of the engine had to be dismantled in order to get to the clutch. But before that, we needed to take off the two front wheels. Easier said than done when you have locking wheel nuts that have worn and refuse to budge!!! Seventy euros poorer and with the new key and some expert advice gleaned from the wondrous invention that is the internet, the two wheels were removed. Then the brakes, then the suspension, then the drive shaft, then the particle filter and turbo, not to mention the battery and all the electrics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, to cut a long story short, it's fixed!!! Three and a half months without a car and it starts, it goes into all the gears and it stops, except....it is now belching black fumes, lacks power when the accelerator is depressed (I could very well be depressed myself at this moment in time!) and it will most definitely fail its emission test for its French equivalent of a MOT!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be continued..... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.murphys-laws.com/" target="_blank">http://www.murphys-laws.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.michael-scannell.com/jottings/journ2.html" target="_blank">http://www.michael-scannell.com/jottings/journ2.html</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sods%20law" target="_blank">http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sods%20law</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eurocarparts.com/" target="_blank">http://www.eurocarparts.com/</a></span><br />
<br />My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-35783893974554979212016-11-09T12:45:00.002+01:002016-11-09T12:45:11.091+01:00Historic Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TRUMP WINS!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> COMMON SENSE WINS THE DAY!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WELL DONE USA!! </span></div>
My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-17904043545842872402016-08-31T19:54:00.002+02:002016-08-31T19:54:19.720+02:00Strictly Come Dancing - Royal Special<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here 's an idea for the BBC to get back into the good graces of the normal* British viewing public. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When normality returns to Britain, maybe a panacea could be to screen a Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing from Windsor Castle? Promoting everything that makes Britain great, traditions, culture, history, you know the type of stuff the leftist wankerati want banned from our TV screens only to be replaced with multi-culti, gender non-specific rubbish that I wouldn't want to watch with someone else's eyes let alone my own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It could be scheduled to run either side of the Queen's Speech, thus ensuring a dedicated viewing public. Minor and major royals could partner with, suitably vetted, celebrity dancers and the judges could be the the usual four with the addition of Her Majesty herself and the Duke of Edinburgh to add his acerbic wit to the occasion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Properly produced it could be the apology programme that the BBC will need to broadcast when the multi-culti, feminist, LGBTQ, BAME, diversity rhetoric is shown for what it is. When the trustees and employees of this once bastion of television are hauled out of BBC Headquarters and publicly stripped of their jobs, to be replaced by loyal, traditional, open minded, patriotic personnel previously removed from their posts due to the rabid rantings of aforementioned wankerati.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One can but dream.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*<i>those of us who have all but given up on the BBC ever being able to produce non-partisan fact based news and not the leftist propaganda currently being disgorged on the nightly news and dedicated news channels.</i></span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-21387280744787458642016-08-31T19:35:00.001+02:002017-03-02T20:54:29.039+01:00Update to my girl crush heroines<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes in life, we have to confront disappointment, in ourselves and in others. Today is one such day and it is with sadness and regret that I am removing Christine Lagarde and Meryl Streep from my list of female faves!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fear we believe and strive for different things, I believe in honesty and democracy, Christine Lagarde obviously doesn't (Project Fear promotion from the IMF during the run up to Brexit). As for Meryl Streep, well she is a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton and seems to be able to overlook the egregious catalogue of sins that the latter has been party to; Benghazi, emails on private servers, corrupt dealings at the Clinton Foundation, the list is endless. Personally, I think the only way the USA is going to halt its rapid decline is to vote in a business man first and a politician second. All countries should be run like public limited companies, with the citizens as the shareholders and that is what Donald J Trump brings to the table. A business acumen that may well be the saving of the U S of A!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S. I am sure neither woman is going to loose too much sleep over this fall from my graces, but never let it be said I am incapable of changing my mind!!!</span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-28152232740305309922016-04-17T15:58:00.002+02:002016-04-17T15:58:50.139+02:00Gender Neutrality - the myth.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The link below will take you to an article about a set of twins who are being brought up in a "gender neutral" environment to the extent that they are encouraged to wear princess dresses when playing make believe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my personal experience, my three sons and my daughter have been/are being brought up to be proactive, empathic, polite and productive members of society. Don't get me wrong, angels they are not! I won't go into their many personality traits that I don't appreciate and believe me there are many (I should know they inherited many them from me!!)!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children play dressing up all the time, if you give them a trunk full of dressing up clothes (including dresses etc..) and tell them to get on with it then that's all well and good. The virtue signalling of the parents is, in my opinion, more of a concern than the behaviour of their children. <br /><br />Gender neutrality does not exist when applied to humans, except in the rare cases of hermaphrodites. That is science, IT'S. A. FACT. No matter what sex you "identify" as being when you are an adult, it's your chromosomes that determine your gender and it is a parent's job to raise and nurture you accordingly. If, at a later date, you find you are sexually attracted to the same sex, then so be it. It means you are a homosexual not "trapped" in the wrong body. The need for these parents to declare the gender neutrality of their children is a crass attempt to conform to the moral ambiguity prevalent in the p.c. world we have the misfortune to live in today. <br /><br />Amongst the comments made was one made by a poster who, in their role as a councillor stated they "<i>have seen very confused men commit suicide over the desire to wear women's clothes. As much as TV shows acceptance, it's still a battle everyday for them if they go outside....some of the agonized "cross dressers" mention that the trigger for the involuntary aspect of it comes from a specific trigger, i.e being in a dress and being told they are pretty by their mother is a continuing theme (nurture). Gender identity and finding a role in life as a male/female is a very delicate thing</i>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the term "gender neutral" has been hijacked by some third wave feminists and social justice warriors who are keen to highlight the perceived inequality within society towards women. The fact that these people are being given a voice and a platform, completely negates their argument.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />As parents it is our role to ensure our children become stable, polite, productive and empathic members of society, which is only possible when boundaries are set. Too much ambiguity has created the narcissistic, celebrity obsessed, virtue signalling, regressive society we are now living in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://uk.style.yahoo.com/video/gender-neutral-parenting-why-shouldn-100352837.html" target="_blank">https://uk.style.yahoo.com/video/gender-neutral-parenting-why-shouldn-100352837.html</a></span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-25735046539605465022016-03-25T11:28:00.001+01:002016-03-25T11:28:48.049+01:00A little late but.....Yeah we won!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm a little late in posting this, but my heart felt congratulations go to Eddie Jones and Dylan Hartley for their epic deliverance of the Six Nations trophy and the Grand Slam last weekend. As previously posted I was somewhat sceptical of the choice of coach and captain of the England Rugby Squad, but I was forced to eat humble pie and I am woman enough to admit when I am wrong! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://e0.365dm.com/16/03/768x576/england-six-nations-grand-slam_3434390.jpg?20160319222828" imageanchor="1"><img alt="See original image" border="0" height="480" id="il_fi" src="http://e0.365dm.com/16/03/768x576/england-six-nations-grand-slam_3434390.jpg?20160319222828" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /></a>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-17403476935903997712016-02-21T21:23:00.004+01:002016-02-21T21:23:59.781+01:00I still don't get it!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hi0BzqV_b44/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hi0BzqV_b44?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I saw this on YouTube this morning, it is hilarious but I still don't get it! Is there a book on Physics for Dummies, factor chess into the equation and I'm lost!!!</span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-28960051415063413182016-02-21T13:09:00.000+01:002016-02-21T13:09:03.683+01:00My daughter loves Dr Stephen Hawking!!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was remonstrating with my little girl the other day over a particularly bad case of constant misbehaviour and we started to go down the road of the "demons on our shoulders" (you know the angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other, or in Izzy's case the Good Izzy and the Bad Izzy!). When out of the blue she said that "Dr Stephen Hawking must be a really good man because his head is always listening to his Good Stephen!!" Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings never rang truer!</span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-9063476590360568052016-02-15T15:02:00.001+01:002016-02-15T15:02:50.697+01:00Social Media Good or Bad? Discuss!!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This morning I was trawling through the "news" on the internet, when I came across an article about Rebel Wilson and her speech at the BAFTA's last night. She was asked to present the award to the Best Supporting Actor and, in my opinion, she was hilarious. She made a risqué remark about the gorgeous Idris Elba and how she was "socially programmed to want chocolate on Valentine's Day" (which it was). At the time I thought "Oh no! The liberal lefties will not like that" and I was proven right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/post/139317073431/rebel-wilson-steals-the-show-at-the-baftas-with" target="_blank">https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/post/139317073431/rebel-wilson-steals-the-show-at-the-baftas-with</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now the question is two fold, we are all entitled to our opinion, Freedom of Speech, is the tenet we should all live by. Indeed there are many armchair warriors (and I am fully aware I count as one!) out there more than happy to give their opinion on any and all topics. The irony is these very warriors who stand up for their idea of social justice are the same ones that want to stamp on the Freedom of Speech for others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The liberal left appear to be the worst of hypocrites. They condemn something said by someone to someone else, as in the case above, then they go about labelling the speaker fat, talentless, ugly etc... YOU CANNOT BE OFFENDED THEN SEEK TO OFFEND.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The world wide web was the brain-child of Sir Timothy Berners-Lee, the idea of being able to share information being the ultimate goal. The ability to be able to look for a piece of information on the web is far easier that searching through a mass of encyclopaediae to find something only to find, subject to the date the book was published, it was out of date! Such easy access to this knowledge has enriched everyone lucky enough to be able to access the web.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, the dark side of the web, in my opinion, is the social media aspect. The ability of people to insult others under a cloak of anonymity and the obsession of people to constantly update their profiles has imbued them with a sense of false self-importance. I know of quite a few people who's self esteem is based directly upon the number of "friends" they have on Facebook. Yet this very same social media, and Facebook is just one of many, is responsible for a inordinate amount of cyber bullying, indeed Daesh have been known to attract and recruit from their various Facebook accounts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I respect the right of others to have their point of view, only in as much as they respect my rights to my point of view. Unfortunately, in this day of political correctness gone mad, the sane, level headed, rational people's voices are being drowned out by the agenda driven, politically correct, mob mentality. </span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-73891551368662964412016-02-07T20:46:00.002+01:002016-02-07T20:46:49.997+01:00I'm eating Humble Pie and it doesn't taste so good!!!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay. I will admit that eating Humble Pie can stick in the throat. But I am big enough to admit when my opinion is proved wrong. I wasn't the only one questioning the choice of the captaincy of the England Rugby Union team, but that does not hide the fact that I was wrong. Dylan Hartley handled himself with a maturity that impressed me greatly. Eddie Jones's two weeks in charge of the England team has appeared to sharpen their set pieces. They were better in the scrum than they ever were under Stuart Lancaster and the passing was crisp. Billy Vunipola was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match, he has acquired a fleetness of foot that has previously been missing, his normal lumbering physique replaced with a toned and agile one. Now. Swallow.....Yuck!!!!</span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-78695827251214219052016-01-25T23:35:00.001+01:002016-01-25T23:35:20.748+01:00Bring back Stuart Lancaster all is forgiven!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eddie Jones has yet to manage the England Rugby team on the field of play but, in my opinion, the retracting of the Captain's armband from Chris Robshaw in order to give it to Dylan Hartley is quite frankly disgusting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymseND0dA2CH7QtrkYpdpSlN3MAVYm-p6bUqk745wVG76U870KZFFeaScWq4uIQ2TkRys31sOgt_oWV8CEuXRcW4matDgbLvXlHa3f5u_0vomrm5f1ui-uiawLL9NBEGnHwdlk0w5Rd0U/s1600/robshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymseND0dA2CH7QtrkYpdpSlN3MAVYm-p6bUqk745wVG76U870KZFFeaScWq4uIQ2TkRys31sOgt_oWV8CEuXRcW4matDgbLvXlHa3f5u_0vomrm5f1ui-uiawLL9NBEGnHwdlk0w5Rd0U/s320/robshaw.jpg" width="263" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dylan Hartley is the king of the penalty (giving them away due to lack of discipline) and is in not worthy of the armband. He is not a leader and I am disgusted that Chris Robshaw's dedication and sacrifice for the team has been repaid by Eddie Jones in this manner. Dylan Hartley is not a good ambassador for the game nor a suitable role model for young players coming through the ranks. One of the many things that sets rugby union apart from the yob culture of today's soccer is the respect players show the referee - their word is law and you do not abuse them (see Hartley's appalling disciplinary record below).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnsAWHOA3TEFLuszfyTSfQupvQF3jQtC3LuE8_QPPtLgRLsFatBRoDvsqSQEICxwFtABGIOc_bOWLE0E4AZjjaV75xrpAut1Kl8gZP017ZxghuOcGibvGiZj1tRryoO-NFFkj2j17nasF/s1600/dylan-hartley-england-rap-sheet-bans_3404867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnsAWHOA3TEFLuszfyTSfQupvQF3jQtC3LuE8_QPPtLgRLsFatBRoDvsqSQEICxwFtABGIOc_bOWLE0E4AZjjaV75xrpAut1Kl8gZP017ZxghuOcGibvGiZj1tRryoO-NFFkj2j17nasF/s320/dylan-hartley-england-rap-sheet-bans_3404867.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ6o8jSD0XG9x3dnQsUT5CCImKgev-1RvNxav9_oZKjsyfjsmtD0JvIIWZp1e5RDEUZAaBmAD_p6ph3QM4B_izRF97NqZZlBAGbv-6bbG6leKqwh3gl2uZa5I3e51AiNtPUYAdOh524v4/s1600/jones+hartley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ6o8jSD0XG9x3dnQsUT5CCImKgev-1RvNxav9_oZKjsyfjsmtD0JvIIWZp1e5RDEUZAaBmAD_p6ph3QM4B_izRF97NqZZlBAGbv-6bbG6leKqwh3gl2uZa5I3e51AiNtPUYAdOh524v4/s320/jones+hartley.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An Australian should not be the coach of the England Rugby team, we have many English ex-rugby players and coaches that should have been picked over and above Eddie Jones. Australians would not be happy having a non-Australian coaching their team. Eddie Jones was their coach when we lifted the trophy on their turf in 2003. The England Rugby Team has never had a coach that wasn't English, not even prior to the game going professional in 1995. Australia has never had a coach that wasn't Australian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We'll see on Saturday 6th February at Murrayfield. It will be interesting to see the result.</span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-2367998587160069482016-01-24T23:36:00.001+01:002016-01-24T23:36:01.808+01:00This is beyond cute!!!!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://on.rt.com/72mr" target="_blank">http://on.rt.com/72mr</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is beyond cute - this sloth was found clinging to the central reservation barrier in the middle of a road in Ecuador!!! Full story in the link above.</span><br />
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<img alt="© Comisión de Tránsito del Ecuador" class="media__item " src="https://cdn.rt.com/files/2016.01/original/56a5426cc36188c9368b462b.jpg" />My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-34807793294784210382016-01-21T19:58:00.000+01:002016-01-21T20:02:22.644+01:00I've gone political!!!Events here in Europe are unfolding in an alarming fashion. I am trying to maintain a positive outlook despite the worrying storm clouds looming on the horizon...<br />
<br />
To this end I will be posting as irregularly as normal (see last year's resolutions!) but I will be regularly venting my metaphorical spleen about the current state of affairs in Europe and across the world as a whole...<br />
<br />
My other blogsite is at<br />
<br />
http://politicalmaman.blogspot.fr/<br />
<br />
It will contain my thoughts from the point of view of a migrant, a mother and someone with an agnostic view to religion. I will no doubt offend some people (it seems to me that there are more and more people in the world as a whole who seek to be offended) but that is not my aim. My aim is to add my voice to the increasing number of people who are overcoming the suppression of the socialist multicultural ideal and are putting their heads above the parapet to question it's success.<br />
<br />
I do not consider myself to be a right or left wing (do bingo wings count? If they do I've got 'em!) but someone who is starting to question why?<br />
<br />
Ciao for now!<br />
<br />
xxxxxxxxMy Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-65318741875050125912015-11-18T12:16:00.000+01:002015-11-18T12:16:01.024+01:00Why?<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living in France the horrors of last Friday's terrorist attack in Paris had a huge impact. People were out with friends and family have a drink or a meal, some were at a rock concert, none of these people were advocating any political ideal, they were doing what all of us in Europe and the wider world do, minding their own business and enjoying themselves. But some barbaric humans decided that this was something to be destroyed and they decided to kill and maim hundreds of people. Why? In the name of Allah? Who is this god that demands such a sacrifice of humans? Religion is a highly personal thing. I myself would say that I am more spiritual than religious. But I do not hold anything against anybody who has a strong commitment to their faith. Indeed there are times when I admire the faith that some people hold and turn to in moments of dire need, if this is what comforts, soothes and heals you then why not? I do not in any way shape or form believe that any one person's faith is better than someone else's or that those of faith are better that those without.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How can you murder and maim people in the name of your god? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are countless articles defending the Islamic faith, but the Koran has countless verses contained within it that espouse the killing of non-believers. Have they been interpreted incorrectly from the original language they were written in? Why do some extremists follow the Koran to the letter and others not. I would love to sit down with a follower of Islam and ask their views on these verses and Sharia Law. I do not believe in having an opinion about something so overwhelmingly important to some people without gathering the facts first. However, based on the turmoil that is happening in the world at this moment in time, one cannot help but be wary of such a religion. I remain to be educated.</span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-69642229586529454732015-09-08T19:23:00.000+02:002015-09-08T19:23:01.502+02:00My naive little bubble is in danger of bursting!Things here in Europe are at crisis point. Migrants and refugees are coming over to Europe by whatever means necessary and the infrastructure of Europe is buckling under the pressure.<br />
<br />
It has long been said that the mainstream media has a liberal agenda, but in my naivety I couldn't quite bring myself to believe this.<br />
<br />
However, today I read an article posted on Yahoo! UK news by a "journalist" called Lee Moran. I have put the word journalist in quotations because, in my opinion, he debases the title journalist in the worst possible way.<br />
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<a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hijab-wearing-woman-filmed-being-112207475.html#E5icvxX" target="_blank">https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hijab-wearing-woman-filmed-being-112207475.html#E5icvxX</a><br />
<br />
This article was posted today entitled;<br />
<br />
<h1 class="headline" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1441730669792_2412">
<i>Hijab-Wearing Woman Filmed Being Knocked To Ground As Hate Crime Soars Across London</i></h1>
<h1 class="headline" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1441730669792_2412">
</h1>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What this article
implies is that this happened recently, when in fact it happened in
November 2012. The ambiguity of this piece is astounding. This kind
of sloppy journalism just feeds the politically correct agenda and is
tantamount to inciting even more disharmony in society than already
exists. Michael Ayoade, from Nigeria, was the perpetrator of this
attack in November 2012 and he was jailed in March 2013 for this as
well as another on Daniella Monteith in 2011 (who was not wearing any
head-covering garment). This would suggest that this was not an
racially motivated attack as the first victim was black as was the
assailant and the second victim was a muslim.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The above paragraph was posted by me in the comments section after the article, it had six replies and numerous thumbs up... this doesn't bother me, what does however, is the fact that my post, despite not infringing any of the "comment guidelines" was deleted by a moderator at Yahoo! News UK & Ireland. It is not defamatory nor is it slanderous, it merely points to the fact that the photo, headline and opening paragraph of the article refers to an crime that occurred in 2012 and the assailant was brought to justice and jailed in 2013.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
POP!!! That is the sound of my naive bubble bursting! The mainstream media is being manipulated by an unknown entity to pedal a politically correct agenda that does not want the masses to know the true state of the situation.</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This same article drew a comment from someone called "@Videonaut" they drew attention to a Polish blogger called Kamila Bulonisa who last week encountered some unrest on the border between Austria and Italy. The link below will take you to his Facebook page (all in Polish) it has been translated into English - I use @Videonaut's translation here, but have translated his acccount myself using www.translate.eu and it has come out in a similar fashion.</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>" Following is an account by Kamil Bulonis, a Polish citizen who is about a liberal as <br />
one can get. He writes a blog alled “Obywatel Swiata” [Citizen of the World].</i>
<i><br />
The translated excerpt:<br />
One and a half hours ago, on the border of Italy and Austria, I saw with my own eyes <br />
massive incidents involving immigrants… in all my solidarity with people finding <br />
themselves in a difficult life situation I must say, that what I saw breeds fear…<br />
This great mass of people — sorry that I write this, but it’s an absolute horde. Vulgar <br />
words, thrown bottles, loud cries of “We want Germany” — is Germany at present <br />
some kind of paradise? I saw how they surrounded the car of an older Italian lady, <br />
pulled her out by her hair and wanted to drive off in that car. The coach I was on in a <br />
group, they attempted to overturn. Excrement was thrown at us, they banged on the <br />
doors, so that the driver would open them, they spat at the window… I ask, for what <br />
purpose? How can this wild horde assimilate in Germany? For a moment, I thought I <br />
was in a war…</i>
<i><br />
I really feel sorry for these people, but if they were to reach us [Poland] — I don’t think <br />
they would receive any understanding from us… For three hours we waited at the <br />
border, which ultimately we did not cross. The whole group was escorted back to Italy <br />
in a police cordon. The coach looks destroyed, covered in excrement, scratched and <br />
with broken windows. And this is the idea to solve our demographic issues? These <br />
great, giant regiments of barbarians? Among them, there were almost no women, no <br />
children — the overwhelming majority were young aggressive males…<br />
Yesterday, reading the news on all the websites, I was still subconsciously caring, <br />
worried about their destiny, but today, after what I saw, I am simply afraid, but happy at <br />
the same time that they do not choose our nation as their destination. We Poles are <br />
simply not ready to accept these people — not culturally, and not financially. I don’t <br />
know if anyone is ready. A pathology is entering the EU, which up until now we never <br />
had a chance to see. And my apologies to anyone I may have offended anyone with <br />
this entry.</i>
<i><br />
Finally, I’ll add that cars arrived containing humanitarian aid — first and foremost, with <br />
food and water, yet they simply overturned these cars… through the megaphone, the <br />
Austrians announced that they agree for them to cross the border — they wanted to <br />
register them, and allow them to go further — but they didn’t understand these <br />
announcements. They understood nothing. And in all this, that was the biggest <br />
horror… among a few thousand people, nobody understood Italian, English, German, <br />
Russian or Spanish. The power of the fist was what mattered… they fought for the <br />
right to proceed further, and they had this right — but they didn’t understand this! In <br />
the coach of the French group they opened the luggage compartment — everything <br />
that was inside, in a few moments was stolen, a few of the items were strewn across <br />
the ground… in my short life, I had never had a chance to witness such scenes, and I <br />
have a feeling that this is only the beginning. On a final note I’ll add, that it’s good to <br />
help — but not at any cost."</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://pl-pl.facebook.com/kamil.bulonis/posts/10153602955940818?" target="_blank">https://pl-pl.facebook.com/kamil.bulonis/posts/10153602955940818?</a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm getting off my soapbox now. I fear that I am far more cynical now than I was when I started this blog and it only took a few minutes </div>
My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-1317053232853306372015-07-28T20:29:00.000+02:002015-07-28T20:29:28.696+02:00One down three to go!<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First of all let me make this abundantly clear, I love all my children to the moon and back several times...but my role is to bring them into this world, give them values and principles to live by and then let them go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My eldest, Oscar, has now left the nest and has moved back to the UK to continue his education. He will be studying Architecture at South Bank University in London for the next three years. I have read many articles about parents who are devastated by the departure of their children. So why I am I not devastated? I know he will be okay. He knows how to wash his own clothes, knows his way around a vacuum cleaner (although he has not indulged in this particular pastime very often - the state of his recently vacated bedroom will attest to that!) and he can cook a mean cottage pie and spaghetti bolognaise. So armed with these basic skills he will be all right in that big bad world out there and the most important thing he can take with him on his journey into independent adulthood? Is the knowledge that I love him and will always be there for him if he needs me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Will I feel this way when the twins, Jacob and Louis, leave home, or when Isabelle finally flies the nest? Who knows? But I will spend the next few years before this happens enjoying their company and preparing them for their adulthood (but I'll have a box of tissues to the ready just in case!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">XXXX </span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-10603099487237849232015-06-10T20:18:00.003+02:002015-06-10T20:18:39.331+02:00Prince Philip - the perfect example of a closed mouth gathers no feet!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Prince Philip is 94 today and I've just read the link below detailing his top 20 gaffes. He is hilarious and such a huge credit to the royal family. I will admit to being an unashamed royalist!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKurPwNxT2Q-tFpdft5eFC3QuVbRoWkhgeRzEsY2WW74YC-f_frmkPXw-Fai0Yx6C5lzhKtTJu27Ddc5qrcP8ybiYilSfvBZNSXvr81jvjVzrZV6I1GS9ZyZsSnXAgz9iXCsSD_L5epOf/s1600/prince+philip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKurPwNxT2Q-tFpdft5eFC3QuVbRoWkhgeRzEsY2WW74YC-f_frmkPXw-Fai0Yx6C5lzhKtTJu27Ddc5qrcP8ybiYilSfvBZNSXvr81jvjVzrZV6I1GS9ZyZsSnXAgz9iXCsSD_L5epOf/s1600/prince+philip.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/king-of-clangers--top-20-prince-philip-quotes-124329196.html#lw3dbLk" target="_blank">https://uk.news.yahoo.com/king-of-clangers--top-20-prince-philip-quotes-124329196.html#lw3dbLk</a></span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-48693025009886599842015-06-05T20:16:00.007+02:002015-06-25T10:46:42.961+02:00Graignes 71st Anniversary Commemorations<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we had the annual commemoration service to pay our respects to the paratroopers who died trying to defend our village, as well as the civilians who lost their lives helping them, and to pay homage to the veterans who survived those terrible experiences and whose numbers decrease year on year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The service started with speeches paying homage to the fallen and the veterans and culminated in the laying of wreaths by the invited dignitaries, whilst bouquets of flowers were laid by the children from the local school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My family now has a special reason to pay our respects, not only on our behalf, but on behalf of the family of Flt Sgt Stanley K Black. We now have the great honour of being the adopted family of Elissa Liggins (Stanley's Great Niece) and it is an honour we take very seriously indeed. This one's for you Liss!...</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSycjvqZoaVBCiQRQMlMmbfrU9VAsJP0gZo-fknRmVwDNCFBNQiNrWE74VxhAJbAEshZ_VPotXQh2EtHZj3UBTVWbbY6vCOCu8hZOzZF6QJwN-5zUgPLH6YmbumN1MgdWajaJveYI8ldc/s1600/CIMG0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSycjvqZoaVBCiQRQMlMmbfrU9VAsJP0gZo-fknRmVwDNCFBNQiNrWE74VxhAJbAEshZ_VPotXQh2EtHZj3UBTVWbbY6vCOCu8hZOzZF6QJwN-5zUgPLH6YmbumN1MgdWajaJveYI8ldc/s320/CIMG0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Paratroopers from the US Army and representatives of the US Navy</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Members of the Royal Dutch Armed Force</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our Tribute to Stanley Black</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji57ruC7tT8Gy-haRKzfUkIS6gpc2-I8M-JtwNQsOP0bzHP9Ac1jB89DgGWOELO10c-rFSLx3pe_r7xSLTFqWPvSx9SN5eNLsyZormE0KQgfL8loANtIznBiuPZY6hyphenhyphenLo5KwMsGe0q2jTq/s1600/CIMG0295.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji57ruC7tT8Gy-haRKzfUkIS6gpc2-I8M-JtwNQsOP0bzHP9Ac1jB89DgGWOELO10c-rFSLx3pe_r7xSLTFqWPvSx9SN5eNLsyZormE0KQgfL8loANtIznBiuPZY6hyphenhyphenLo5KwMsGe0q2jTq/s320/CIMG0295.JPG" width="320" /></a>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-40516634748000236212015-05-27T15:01:00.001+02:002016-08-20T17:32:16.946+02:00Chronopost are doing my head in!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pace of life here is slow, but it almost comes to a stop when you are waiting for a delivery from Chronopost. We waited in all day Saturday because our parcel ordered from Amazon France was supposed to be delivered between 9.30 and 18.00, guess what ? It didn't turn up. Fast forward to Tuesday (Monday here was the last of three bank holidays this month) and we check online to find that they "tried to deliver but there was no reply" at 9.30 on Saturday morning. Rubbish! Poppycock! and several other words that are considerably stronger!!! We were here at 9.30 Saturday morning and no-one even attempted to deliver. This is not the first time we have had this problem and should we be stupid enough to us<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">e</span> a company that uses Chronopost, it won't be the last time either. The drivers for that company are bone-idle and if they can't find the address, they return the parcel with "no reply" to the depot, who then attempt to send it out again. They were supposed to deliver today (Wednesday) between 09.30 and 13.30 Nothing. Nada. Rien... Bet you anything the system will show that they tried to deliver and didn't get a reply. So I have issued a big note to self....AVOID CHRONOPOST LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!</span>My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-89161217813788721272015-05-21T23:37:00.000+02:002015-06-16T10:49:22.188+02:00Graignes D-Day 70th Commemorations 2014<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are last year's commemorations in Graignes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They started with a BBQ in the back garden</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We were joined by a C-47 practising its fly past (which was to be part of the official ceremony)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We meet the Australian Federation Guard in a field near the memorial!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The C-47 dropped some parachutists (the first to drop over Graignes for 70 years) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The memorial plaque was covered in readiness for the unveiling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The great and the good were there and speeches were made.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The veterans</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Representatives of the German, American, Australian and Dutch military with Mr D Small, Mayor of Graignes-Mesnil Angot</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I even read the English version of the mayor's speech! (I'd lost my voice so it was touch and go!)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Monsieur Denis Small - Mayor of Graignes-Mesnil Angot</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Colonel Frank Naughton's family unveiled the new memorial - they worked hard collating the all the names</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxuBQRf-M8INMo3-8q7yppahlB8uUHKEs8pHSS99XF-61geBT9nTpMyCCGg7PPs2hZ673PeQG9QL0hmutRk74VpUS6YfLms9Vn-yQmBupv_T0XjTZ4Kfr0hqkXPrtgLzVtYyaqSKu-tkN/s1600/Graignes+2014-76.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbapOy5Wr6BQxAHsdTEnYATr8_V2DgoyR5IaQGi7kFQsnjX-yoK5GROiczjpGHveiTv4pU4kC8LINJgiYRvza-pd5TbnUGN_25Nybl_f0JUAX7DJi9Mjnlm-o8rM_Pbqj1R16lhBPcvPbx/s1600/Graignes+2014-53.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The wreath laying was poignant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Elissa and Flt Lt Mark Schmidt AFG)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The children from the local school laid their floral tributes</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6nF8SA5B-dO3lgfOsqMbaAT7ENb6s0aVqbIU9mgNSx4C4Sr5E0WuN2GWEm3TegwjrUUvOP5WnBZk3qpFGaMtrPSTq_qOyVfsf5NTW7CIBxzzkmfmx7t3qp3qiF-7Kpz5dwnl_rCIUhB7/s1600/Graignes+2014-56.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6nF8SA5B-dO3lgfOsqMbaAT7ENb6s0aVqbIU9mgNSx4C4Sr5E0WuN2GWEm3TegwjrUUvOP5WnBZk3qpFGaMtrPSTq_qOyVfsf5NTW7CIBxzzkmfmx7t3qp3qiF-7Kpz5dwnl_rCIUhB7/s200/Graignes+2014-56.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPQkBvVMnqk81ZSaWYNFJxJ-zgraPqtKqRRxKvngUUhyphenhyphen0sELmNe94Fjbw7PcARmMnrDQVk3oRTt8VdLQRDDT3PzdzGBJ4tYxWERc8vyOMoEF2oNmhXgp4br3CF3bXyED14g_ZD3pv48hI/s1600/Graignes+2014-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPQkBvVMnqk81ZSaWYNFJxJ-zgraPqtKqRRxKvngUUhyphenhyphen0sELmNe94Fjbw7PcARmMnrDQVk3oRTt8VdLQRDDT3PzdzGBJ4tYxWERc8vyOMoEF2oNmhXgp4br3CF3bXyED14g_ZD3pv48hI/s200/Graignes+2014-54.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the ceremony there was a "Vin d'honneur" laid on by the village and hosted by AFASEC Jockey School during which there was another parachute jump</span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4991413948532894979.post-89295611745980226022015-05-21T21:59:00.003+02:002016-12-06T17:58:30.379+01:006th June D-Day 70th Anniversary.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 71st anniversary of the D-Day landing is fast approaching and it would be remiss of me not to mark it. However, I have yet to write about the 70th, for no other reason than they were some of the most amazing days of my life and I wanted to really do justice to them!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Way back at the beginning of 2013, when I was at my absolute lowest and thinking of jacking it all in here and going back to the UK, the French equivalent of the parish newsletter arrived in my letterbox. On its back-page was an article about an RAAF airman who had baled out of his aircraft and later joined the US forces that had been miss dropped in our village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was well acquainted with the story of the miss dropped paratroopers and my family have been to every memorial service held since we arrived here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What did baffle me was the fact that this airman's name did not feature on the memorial plaque installed in the old church. So I went to see our local mayor to pose this very question in the most diplomatic way possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our mayor, Denis Small, is a passionate historian and there is little he does not know about what occurred in our little corner of Normandy. He told me all he knew about this particular airman and what happened after completely changed my life...</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flight Sergeant Stanley Kevin Black </span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(that was his name)</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, was born in Australia on 12 March 1923 and joined up on 19 June 1942. He was trained initially in Australia before being sent to the UK in May 1943 arriving some two months later in July of the same year.</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwZS6CZUgd8ZGW3PprnVvdf400IZQcFdG65eqmZtBm9jsNYGLzf2a1syJGpt1RuZVtUUkcQi9kaESwjoJZDmqLpgA0-8-BDOaGhtYSsm_KOavftzx8lTC0vUrlqPYt9f8EIKHBLaRYmyn/s1600/a+rose+for+stan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwZS6CZUgd8ZGW3PprnVvdf400IZQcFdG65eqmZtBm9jsNYGLzf2a1syJGpt1RuZVtUUkcQi9kaESwjoJZDmqLpgA0-8-BDOaGhtYSsm_KOavftzx8lTC0vUrlqPYt9f8EIKHBLaRYmyn/s320/a+rose+for+stan.jpeg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our floral tribute to Stanley K Black</span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He ended up as a bomb aimer on with 106 Squadron flying out of RAF Metheringham. On the night of the 6/7th June his squadron were tasked with the bombing of bridges in Caen, his aircraft was hit on the way back and crashed on the outskirts of St Jean de Daye near Graignes but not before he was able to bale out. He was rescued by a local farmer and taken to the American paratroopers that had landed on the 6th June in Graignes, he fought alongside the paratroopers and died defending the village from the Germans.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This amazing information was gleaned from the National Archives of Australia<i>, </i>who have digitized their records and put them on-line for all to see. For which I, for one, am eternally grateful. But I would never have found them with out the lateral thinking of John Shipton who found Stan on line in a few clicks!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John
and I gathered the salient information from the website and I made
another appointment to see our mayor to give him some more background
to the story he had uncovered. Mr Small then gave me a copy of a
local newspaper article dated August 1945 which told of the “man
that fell from the sky” and told me that the family of Colonel Frank
Naughton, of one of the key survivors of our local story, were in the
process of collating the names of those who had died in Graignes and
that a new plaque in their memory was to be unveiled for the 70<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the D-Day landings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shortly
after my meeting in May 2013 we were commemorating the 69<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the D-Day landings and made our way to the
Commonwealth Cemetery in Bayeux where the Normandy Veterans
Association had organised a memorial service. We found Stan's
grave and left a poppy cross.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the summer of 2013 I found out more information about Stan and what happened to him. I posted some questions on a couple of military forums dealing
with the RAF and it was there that I “met” Graham Roberts. He
had, serendipitously, been at the cemetery in Bayeux at the same time
as me and had seen the poppy cross and he was also a veteran of the
RAAF . We started to communicate via email and resolved to try and
track down the relatives of Stan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In early 2014 and I had a “Miss Marple” moment where I had
found some newspaper announcements from the Melbourne Argus from the
late 1940's from Stan's father and siblings, one of whom was his
sister Jean Caffyn and his nephew John. Graham, who lives in
Adelaide then tracked down John Caffyn in Melbourne by using the good
old phone directory and got lucky first time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Graham
explained the reason behind his phone call and events snowballed from
there. I exchanged several emails with John Caffyn when, out of the
blue, I received an email from Elissa Liggins, John's daughter (and
Stan's Great-Niece), expressing a desire to fly over from Australia
to be at the memorial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So in June 2014, Elissa and Graham and his wife Lorraine came
over from Australia and were joined by Elissa's friend Clare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Australian Embassy issued us all with invites to the official
ceremony at the War Cemetery in Bayeux and confirmed that a
contingent of the Australian Federation Guard would attend our
annual commemoration ceremony in Graignes on the 7<sup>th</sup> June.
We meet up with the AFG at Bayeux Cathedral on the 5<sup>th</sup>
organised the elusive car passes (another story I won't bore you
with) and looked forward to the ceremonies to come.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_O3L2wb4ybgpDtbt5Gu9cGNP3gATxPR6ORBFDlogLsYwEfmJRVkwsk2YkoQycggPSBQOluULLb_0QxfKHhAwNQnkqFzb3587teFyFcDddVZYPLMoN0Mi3SeK4meTzguMUU5JJ9dVt6iR/s1600/image%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_O3L2wb4ybgpDtbt5Gu9cGNP3gATxPR6ORBFDlogLsYwEfmJRVkwsk2YkoQycggPSBQOluULLb_0QxfKHhAwNQnkqFzb3587teFyFcDddVZYPLMoN0Mi3SeK4meTzguMUU5JJ9dVt6iR/s320/image%25282%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elissa, Isabelle and Clare</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />With
the pass securely stuck to the windscreen of our car we all piled in
and tried to get over to Bayeux. This was no mean feat as all the
roads between Isigny-sur-Mer and Caen were closed to all traffic
except those cars with stickers. We approached the N13 which was
blocked by Gendarmes and showed our passes and we were off! The N13
on most days is relatively quiet but on the morning of the 6<sup>th</sup>
June 2014 we were the only ones on the road, we felt like royalty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
arrived at Bayeux, parked and walked to the ceremony, encountering
many veterans and their carers who had made the journey back to
Normandy to remember their friends and comrades that didn't. We
located Stan's grave and bumped into some members of the Australian
Press who were there covering the visit of some Australian veterans
and the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. We recounted Stan's
story and they filmed Elissa paying her respects at Stan's grave. She even got on Channel Seven news!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the memorial there was the most amazing, moving and memorable fly past of the Memorial Flight Lancaster and two Spitfires, just watching it brought tears to my eyes and gave me goose bumps, what a sight it must have been watching squadrons of them flying over head night after night.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlbUT3jjexYFEJ7V7RU7wnClPAhabu6UOUxtYuwO3Qg8-PclGp1FdJQmV_eXNbW24eClbzEFQ1WmRqVjc0kSY61yIGlg3r-gQfRMs55oH0nZ6Bfh1wcDgFDvBHSo-sO29wUcssuNrL15J/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlbUT3jjexYFEJ7V7RU7wnClPAhabu6UOUxtYuwO3Qg8-PclGp1FdJQmV_eXNbW24eClbzEFQ1WmRqVjc0kSY61yIGlg3r-gQfRMs55oH0nZ6Bfh1wcDgFDvBHSo-sO29wUcssuNrL15J/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fly Past</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had lunch at a lovely restaurant in Port en Bessin and then made our way home via the coast road negotiating our way through the vintage vehicles that crowd the lanes, it was spectacular.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqG_z4ALSO1k9soVYvE-T83Jw8Sxoxb8B0f4XoSgmBk4Z4lq8xJEhQCkyw2bgRcDfzXKDgsDw-ME9PDgJ7ecH1b7I-quF5ZXlabsQh9Oto94RNYlYe5SDmhaQLQgMoGqB5Z6ir1SJ_Ekp/s1600/image%25283%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqG_z4ALSO1k9soVYvE-T83Jw8Sxoxb8B0f4XoSgmBk4Z4lq8xJEhQCkyw2bgRcDfzXKDgsDw-ME9PDgJ7ecH1b7I-quF5ZXlabsQh9Oto94RNYlYe5SDmhaQLQgMoGqB5Z6ir1SJ_Ekp/s320/image%25283%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From back row left to right;</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lorraine, Isabelle, Me, John and Jacob</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In front; Graeme, Clare and Louis</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we went home to Graignes to reminisce and prepare for the next day and the village ceremony honouring Stan and the rest of the soldiers that died here.</span><br />
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My Clouds Have Silver Liningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00595140511446960379noreply@blogger.com1