The past and the young

Evening all - said the fool.

I spend some time reading to my children part of a short book that my mum wrote about being evacuated from London in the 2nd World War. Its an odd feeling, getting an insight into the life and mind of my mother when she was a child and reading that story to my own children.

It is a sad story in many ways. They are all so sad being taken away from their families and placed with strangers who, very often, did not welcome what seemed to be wild city kids. Sad too as a couple of the children are killed in accidents and others, including my mum and her sister are treated badly.

Fundamentally though, its a story of life, of children growing up and growing and above the horror and the hardship of the war. For my mum, me and my children, its a good story - we are all here to tell the tale and live the life.

Take care, Px

On the ramblings of a fool

"Evening all" said the fool thinking that his voice carried around all of the world.

There are times when things change - the weather ... and probably some other things too.

My kids are supposed to be trying to get to sleep - that is not what they are actually doing though. What they really want to do is to chatter and giggle - I don't blame them for that but I do want them to have had enough sleep so that their brains work well enough tomorrow.

Enough ramblings of a fool.

A week or two my Great Aunt Phyl died - I went to the service for her cremation and it was as enjoyable as these things can be. Several of her nearest and dearest gave accounts of her life and how they had enjoyed being with her.

I had only met Great Auntie Phyl a few times. I sent her a letter once, she replied telling me that she was Phyl and to ditch the fancy title. I loved her for that - she lived up to the image that I have had of her. The accounts of her life matched the fleeting glimpses of that life that I had seen - Phyl was an excellent person - an atheist, socialist with a big heart and love flowing over for her family and friends.

Definitely not the sort of person who would ever want to be on a pedestal - but certainly an inspiration and a life to watch and be pleased that people like that crop up and brighten the day.

So good on you Phyl - you are only in the memory now of the people who's lives you have touched but a good person's influence lives on through those people and everyone they come across.

Be the fish. Px