Thursday, August 31, 2017

20 Years Ago Today


Where were you, what were you doing 20 years ago when you heard the news that Diana, Princess of Wales, was dead?  I was asleep in Florida; Vic was deployed on a cruise circumnavigating South America and when the phone rang, I thought it was him calling but it was my friend Denise from California, another staunch monarchy fan, calling to tell me.  I turned on the news and didn't really move far from it for the next week until after her funeral was over.  The People's Princess, such a tragedy.

Her legacy lives on in her sons.  What an amazing grandmother she would have been.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Wednesday Hodgepodge Volume 320


1.  Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend?  What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

I'm continuing the Great Job Hunt.  I never imagined it would be so difficult to get back into the civil service after it was SO easy in Washington.  If nothing happens on that front, I'll continue to work through my scrapbooking backlog.

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

My stint as Office Manager for Guam Cable TV started out as my job with the best perks.  I was recruited from the mainland so the pay was amazing and when I got to my new location, it was a tropical paradise.   Throw in a company car and great travel benefits because I traveled back and forth between the Guam and Saipan offices quite often until I was transferred to Saipan permanently.  There I met and married Vic and Sophia was born so the title of job with the best perks most definitely became that one!

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC? Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?


I've never been to South Carolina.  I would love to explore Charleston, visit Greenville, and visit Fort Sumter but I'm with Joyce, the Monkey Island does not appeal to me at all!

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? What's a dish you enjoy that really 'sticks to your ribs'?

I love ribs, any style!  I cook country-style often in the CrockPot smothered in barbecue sauce and they come out fork tender.  I haven't ever cooked spare or baby back ribs but I love to eat them in a restaurant, with plenty of napkins and wet wipes!  


A dish that 'sticks to my ribs' would be Mum's macaroni and cheese - ooey, gooey, amazing!

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?


Basic math - the younger generation don't seem to be able to do a simple calculation without whipping out their phones.  20% off?  That used to be a quick exercise of the mind.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.


I heard on the news this morning that Harvey dropped a record 49 inches of rain.  I can't imagine.  So much devastation and the recovery process will be long and very difficult.  Continued prayers for all those affected and praise to the first responders and the crews and medical staff who are traveling from all over the country to help.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #76


Book your tickets now for the Braemar Gathering, always the first Saturday in September (September 2nd this year). The Braemar Gathering is the place to be to see the British Royal Family in kilts and tartan and tweeds. The Braemar Gathering's programme of events has something for everyone - Highland dancing, piping, tossing the caber, putting the stone, throwing the hammer, sprinting, relay race and hill race, long leap, tug of war, and the children's sack race. Every gathering is a memorable occasion.

Craiglea
"Tranquility comes as Standard"

And if you're looking for a quaint place to stay, look no farther than Craiglea, a family run bed and breakfast in the heart of Royal Deeside. A quick browse through the former guest's comments will show that this is the place to stay.

Got your kilt and your bit o' heather? Let's go!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday 8/28/2017



It's time for another Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Click here if you'd like to join in .

The weather:::
Temperatures range from the mid 70s to the mid 80s - I'll take the lower range!  Fall is coming.


On my reading pile:::

Finishing up It Happened in Scotland by Patience Griffin, it's slow going.  Set up a Goodreads account to keep track of books I'd like to read - I snap photos of covers when I'm at Barnes and Noble and this seemed the best way not to lose the list.

On my TV:::
Army Wives is my current marathon while I'm scrapbooking.

On the menu for this week:::

Vic's home so it's back to regular meals - in our new NuWave Brio Air Fryer - first try last night and loved it!
Monday - Salmon
Tuesday - Lamb Steaks
Wednesday - Tilapia
Thursday - Grilled Shrimp
Friday - TBD

On my to-do list:::
  • Weight Watchers - dreading it after a week with Sophia here and all the eating out and eating in we did!
  • A daily trip to the local consignment shop which is accepting consignments ahead of reopening next week (they close for the summer) - I have lots of listing and labeling to work on before I take in my items.
  • Gearing up for the Holiday Grand Plan - this week is List Week and the target area is the Front Porch.
  • Decorate for fall!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Vic's Career Album is finished!  I have the Disney album spread out on my craft table and I also have to get a project together for a crop scheduled for September 9th.

Looking around the house:::
Laundry, mop floors.

From the camera:::



It was so wonderful to see Sophia last week - we crammed an awful lot into five days - (top row) meeting Cocoa and seeing Cocoa's owners, Scott and Kelly (they haven't seen Sophia since 2006), reconnecting with high school friend Tre, clothes shopping for workplace clothes, shopping from Dad's closet (center row) family favorite Boboli pizza, doing her best to stimulate the British food store's economy, Best of British stop, Mum's fish and chips (bottom row) meeting next door neighbor Apollo, eight-week old German Shepherd puppy, two of her favorites:  Chick-fil-A and Nordstrom Rack, another shot of adorable Cocoa

Something fun to share:::


The Holiday Grand Plan started yesterday - there's still plenty of time to join in!

What I'm wearing today:::
Capris, T-shirt, flip-flops.

Friday, August 25, 2017

August Rudolph Day


What's Rudolph Day? Here is the definition according to Organized Christmas:
A few years ago, members of our Christmas community began to observe "Rudolph Day" on the 25th of each month.
On that day, we take a few moments to plan some simple tasks for the month ahead, in order to get ready for Christmas Day with plenty of time to spare. By starting early--and working a bit at a time on each month's Rudolph Day--it's easy to prepare for Christmas, save money on gifts, and cut holiday stress.
Here's the annual line-up with the sub-theme (if there is one) in parentheses:

January - Tie Up Loose Ends (gather ideas and organize your Christmas notebook)
February - Begin a Holiday Letter
March - Birthday Gift-Buying Strategy (party planning for the holiday season)
April - Plan Holiday Crafts
May - Catalog Shopping Tips
June - Recipe Round Up
July - Choose a Holiday Plan (Christmas in July celebration)
August - Craft Control (thinking ahead to Elf on the Shelf)
September - Prepare for Holiday Gifts and Giving
October - Plan Holiday Meals
November - Write Holiday Letter

The bottom line is...prepare for Christmas by doing something every month and make the 25th of each month a Rudolph Day by doing something Christmasy!

I am totally unprepared for Rudolph Day this month - Sophia has been here since last weekend; I just took her to the airport this morning and she's on her way home.  Had to make a change to her itinerary so she doesn't fly through Houston with Hurricane Harvey unleashing its wrath down there.

My planner needs some serious attention and I see from the list above that I should be thinking ahead to Elf on the Shelf.  Our elf, Edward, brought gift cards last year which were hugely popular so I'm not sure how to top that.

This month's movie is The Preacher's Wife starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston - it's available for rent or purchase from Amazon.

Have a great Rudolph Day!

Friday, August 18, 2017

RIP Bruce Forsyth


RIP Sir Bruce Forsyth
February 22, 1928 - August 18, 2017


Bruce Forsyth and Anthea Redfern

My most vivid memory of Bruce Forsyth is his role as the host of The Generation Game, a game in which four teams consisting of two people from the same family, but from different generations, compete against each other.  His co-host, during the years we watched it in England, was Anthea Redfern (think Vanna White).  I couldn't remember a lot of the details (other than the conveyor belt) so I had to turn (where else?) to Wikipedia to fill in the gaps.

In the first two rounds, two couples compete against each other in two games. One game usually involves first seeing a skilled professional construct or perform something, such as pottery or dancing. The contestants attempt to do the same, and a score is given by the professional. The other game usually involves more of a quiz element, such as identifying pieces of music. At the end of each of the first two rounds, the couple with the lower score is eliminated.
The two highest-scoring couples compete against each other in the final. This is often a big set-piece performance; in the series presented by Bruce Forsyth it was usually a drama or farce. The couple that scores the highest go through to the final 'conveyor belt'. Originally, this was scored the same way in the first rounds.
At the end of the show, one member of the victorious team watches prizes pass on a conveyor belt, and wins as many as could be recalled in 45 seconds with some items awarding a bonus prize if the contestant or team recalls that item.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Generation_Game
As I read this, it all comes back to me and I'm really giggling.  It was a very funny show.

From the Family Photo Box Friday #2


This is a photo of my Uncle Jack, taken at the Apollo Ballroom in Manchester, England in April 1941.  Born in 1919 and raised in Manchester, England, Jack was the eldest of three children, my Mum being the youngest. He married young but left his family and moved to Los Angeles, California at age 27 to follow his father, John Sr., who worked at Capital Records, and to pursue his dream of becoming a professional jazz drummer.  Uncle Jack began playing the drums at the age of 3 and music was his life's passion. Dedicated to his goals, he followed and fulfilled his dreams, playing with many famous jazz bands and traveling the world as a highly regarded drummer for more than 80 years.

At some point, he divorced his first wife, my Auntie Dora, and had only infrequent contact with their two sons, Ralph and Peter.  I think perhaps Uncle Jack and Auntie Dora's marriage was one of those wartime marriages that just didn't stand the test of time.  Uncle Jack remarried and had a second family in California.  He died in 2012. 


Uncle Jack was able to combine his two loves, music and travel, into a career as a drummer on the cruise ships.  I'm pretty sure this is taken off the coast of Hawaii with that being Diamond Head in the background.

As I dig through the Family Photo Box to write these posts, I learn not just more about my family but also about where they lived and significant places from the past.  The Internet revealed some interesting history about the Apollo Ballroom:

Located in the inner-city district of Ardwick Green, just to the south of Manchester city centre. Opened on 29th August 1938, the Apollo Theatre was built for an independent operator and was designed by architects Peter Cummings and Alex M. Irvine. The interior decorations were carried out by noted interior designers Mollo & Egan with the Holophane lighting designed by R. Gillespie Williams.
Seating was provided in the magnificent auditorium in stalls and circle levels. The proscenium was 53 feet wide and the stage was 40 feet deep. There were 12 dressing rooms for artists who appeared in the variety shows which acompanied the film perfomances. The Apollo Theatre was also equipped with a cafe and a ballroom.
It was taken over by Associated British Cinemas(ABC) from 31st January 1943. In April 1960, the World Premiere of the film “Hell is a City” starring Stanley Baker was held at the Apollo Manchester. The film was shot on location in nearby Levenshulme. The Apollo Manchester was re-named ABC Ardwick in 1962.
It was taken over by an independent operator from 30th January 1977 and began to stage pop concerts, with the occasional use for films to fill in dates. Eventually films were dropped.
This stunning Art Moderne style palace became owned by Apollo Leisure, followed by Live Nation. Now independently operated, it serves as a 2,693-seat capacity (3,500 with standing room) concert venue. The cafe and ballroom have been unused for several years.
The O2 Apollo Manchester is a Grade II Listed building.
Contributed by David Pring, Ray Martinez, Ian Grundy, Ken Roe
Source: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1238

My fondest memory of Uncle Jack is the way he always referred to my Mum as "Our Kid".  Still with the slight British lilt he never lost, it sounded so endearing. 

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #75



Happy 67th Birthday to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal

Anne is the seventh holder of the title Princess Royal, an appellation given only to the eldest daughter of the sovereign, the last holder being George V's daughter, Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood.

The Princess Royal is known for her amazing wardrobe recycling, often bringing out an outfit or hat that hasn't bee seen for thirty years.  How I wish I could fit into something in my closet that is thirty years old!

Monday, August 14, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday 8/14/2017



It's time for another Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Click here if you'd like to join in .

The weather:::
Mid to high 80s - same old story.


On my reading pile:::

I gave up on Everyone Brave is Forgiven so I'm back to It Happened in Scotland by Patience Griffin.  I started it as my Christmas in July read earlier in the year, it's now August so I haven't progressed very far.

On my TV:::
Army Wives is my current marathon while I'm scrapbooking.

On the menu for this week:::

Vic's gone again so it's snack food, Weight Watchers snack food.

On my to-do list:::

  • Went to Weight Watchers this morning and majorly dodged a bullet - I was SO BAD last week - no will power, no self control, but someone was watching out for me because my weight stayed the same - whew, back to the program
  • Meeting with former spouses' group Charities Chairperson to finalize the turnover for the position
  • Appointment at Apple to get some help with my iTunes - I don't want all my music loaded onto my phone and I'm not sure how to accomplish that task
  • Overseas Move Workshop - just curious about the whole process, nothing definite at this time
  • Airport, airport, airport - yep, that's right, I'll be there THREE times this weekend - I really need my own parking spot!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Vic's Career Album is almost finished - just need to find some of the old Creative Memories portrait sleeves - I use them to store letter-size documents like printouts of newspaper articles - I'll have to resort to Ebay and I also need two more color photocopies.  I made copies but had an incident with the paper cutter and now I need new copies.

Looking around the house:::
Laundry, mop floors.

From the camera:::



Just downloaded all my pictures to my computer and the most interesting one was this - my old Home Interiors candle topper fits perfectly on my Spiced Apple Cider Melaleuca candle - I can't wait to light it!

Something fun to share:::


Does anyone have one of these?  I'm dying to try it.  It's priced considerably less than the Philips model.

What I'm wearing today:::
Sun dress (what I'm currently calling my Weight Watchers dress because I wear it to every meeting - once I go down a size, I'll have to find a new Weight Watchers dress!) and sandals.

Friday, August 11, 2017

From the Family Photo Box Friday #1


I found this picture of my Mum's cousin Tom in a box of photos that Mum gave to me. I called him Uncle Tom by virtue of his age and I had kept in touch with him and his wife, Auntie Edna, for many years. Unfortunately, Mum and Auntie Edna had a bit of a falling out a number of years ago that seemed to trickle down to me and we lost touch. Little did I know that Auntie Edna was in the beginning stages of dementia about that time and that was the reason that her letters to me stopped. She passed away in December of 2008.  Uncle Tom and I reconnected after her death and when I found the picture, I made a copy and dispatched it to him with a request for more details and a bit of family history. Imagine how delighted I was to receive a four-page letter from him saying, "I shall now try and give answers to your queries".

This photo was taken in the spring of 1938. Uncle Tom even remembered the location of the photographer's studio. Not bad for someone who would be 90 that summer! It shows Uncle Tom in a uniform great coat with the badge of the First Battalion, Royal Engineers. He began his active service on September 3, 1938 and was discharged in September 1944 due to a leg wound.

The photo is inscribed "To Da, With Love and Best Wishes, Tom". It was given to my Mum's sister Grace (who we called Dado, pronounced Day-doe, and shortened to Da). I always thought we called her Dado so as not to confuse her with Auntie Grace, who was Mum's and Grace's aunt. However, Uncle Tom explained that Dado was not just a term in our family, it was a term used by many small children for their aunts and uncles but he wasn't sure of the origin. Amazing what you learn when you ask. He also said that he and Grace were very close because of their closeness in age (Uncle Tom was born in July 1921 and Grace in September 1921). Tom was closer to Grace because she married and continued to live locally, whereas Mum went off to Egypt and then Paris with the NAAFI (a bit like the US military exchange and commissary systems) and then after she met Dad, to the States. Sadly, Grace died in 2002. It was so hard for my sister and I and for our two cousins, Grace's daughters, to lose Dado in 2002 and Mum in 2003.

Uncle Tom went on to give me the names and birth dates of his mother and brothers. His mother was my Mum's Auntie Dorothy (Dolly) but she died in 1937 aged 38, three months after the birth of her son, Geoffrey. Mum would have been 11 and she often mentioned Auntie Dolly's early death. Tom would have been 16 but I'm assuming that the other aunts stepped in to take care of Dolly's boys. There's no mention of Uncle Tom's father, not sure why, and not quite sure how to ask the question in case it's a sore subject.

Flash forward to 2012 and Uncle Tom's brother, Geoffrey, contacted me by email (our email address was on our annual Christmas newsletter) to say that Uncle Tom was also suffering from dementia and had been moved to and was being cared for at a care home near Geoffrey.  In June of this year, Uncle Tom died and Geoffrey sent me the order of service and details from the eulogy.  It added a few more details to the picture above.  Uncle Tom spent two years as an army engineer in support of the Royal Marines in Scotland.  In 1942, he went overseas with the British Army under Montgomery and served throughout the North Africa Campaign.  Following victory in North Africa, Uncle Tom's next stop was the island of Sicily.  Following the Sicily Campaign, it was on to the Allied invasion of Italy where Uncle Tom was badly wounded at the battle of Monte Cassino to the extent that he was evacuated via a hospital ship back to the UK.  I wish I had been able to talk more with him, if he was willing, about his time during World War II.

It brought a tear to my eye to read in the order of service that the congregation sang what we call our family hymn, Jerusalem by William Blake (1757-1827).


I am looking forward to going through the old photos and I hope I can decipher the handwriting on some of them, or enlist the help of my cousins in England to identify the who, what, where, when and why.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #74


This week is the anniversary of the premiere of Outlander (9 August 2014), the award-winning series on STARZ based on Diana Gabaldon's books.  If you are a fan of history, Scotland, and men in kilts, don't miss Outlander.  Seasons 1 and 2 are available on demand or on DVD and Season 3 is coming on September 10.


Outlander spawned a huge industry for clothing, jewelry, and other collectibles like this mug below and has done wonders for the tourism industry in Scotland.  There are countless tours and private tour guides to take you to all of the Outlander sites.


If you don't know Jamie Fraser, Google him.  You will not be disappointed.


Monday, August 7, 2017

Happy Homemaker Monday 8/7/2017



It's time for another Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Click here if you'd like to join in .

The weather:::
Temperatures are cooling down a little - low 80s with some rain and thunderstorms.


On my reading pile:::
Still working on Everyone Brave is Forgiven but since I haven't picked it up all week, this is likely to be what you will read here for a while.  Diary of a Working Mum posted about the Agatha Raisin series, which I had just watched on Acorn TV, 20 books for an amazing price so I couldn't pass that one up (even though the postage from the UK was almost the same as the books)!


On my TV:::
Worked my way through four seasons of Downton Abbey while I was scrapbooking last week.  For some reason, I started with Season 3 so I guess I'll go back to 1 and 2 next time Vic is away.

On the menu for this week:::

Vic is home this week so that means I have to cook - ugh!
Monday - Roasted Veggie Meatloaf
Tuesday - Chicken something
Wednesday - Lamb something
Thursday - Steak, roasted potatoes, mushrooms
Friday - Date night - dinner and the movies
Can't you tell I'm so excited about the week ahead (insert heavy sarcasm here)?

On my to-do list:::

  • Weight Watchers
  • Spouses' Group Board Meeting
  • Volunteer shift at the gift shop

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Vic's Career Album - while he was gone last week, I really got a lot accomplished.  It should be up to date in a few days - just need to get a few newspaper articles photocopied.

Looking around the house:::
Laundry, mop floors.

From the camera:::


Dinner on Sunday - Shrimp, Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, Tomato and Cucumber - 11 Smart Points was a bit high but that included the olive oil for roasting and the lemon/garlic dressing that I used to marinate the shrimp - it was really more like 8 Smart Points


3 Smart Points Caramel Cappuccino - I need to work on my barista skills

Something fun to share:::


My latest find at the gift shop - the Flint retractable lint roller - perfect for your purse

What I'm wearing today:::
Still in my pjs - off to shower and get ready to face the day (and the scales at Weight Watchers this morning)!

Friday, August 4, 2017

Story Time Friday #3



I completely missed July so we'll pick up where I left off in June.  We lived in Revere, Massachusetts from July 1961 to August 1962.  I don't remember much about this time, being only 15 months old when we arrived and 2 1/2 when we left but I do remember my Mum telling me a story about Halloween.  The area we lived in, the suburbs of Boston, had a very large Catholic population and nearly every yard had a statue of the Virgin Mary.  On Halloween 1961, a small child knocked on our door to trick or treat wearing a sheet over their head in an attempt to be a homemade Casper the Ghost.  I turned to my Mum and said, "Look, it's the Virgin Mary!".

I am very fortunate to have had a father who kept, with his important documents, every passport that had been issued to members of our family.  I was able to go back and recreate our comings and goings over the years.  Dad always kept his documents in a tin box, a tin version of the plastic storage totes that are available today for document storage.  I have no idea what happened to the tin box but I remember the sound of it as he opened it to file away bills or bank statements.  Funny the sounds you remember.  I also have to thank my dear friend Janet's son, Ian, who interviewed my Dad on the subject of his career in the Army for a school project in 1992; it is from his report that I can fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge of Dad's work and assignments.

We arrived at our next duty station, AFNORTH (Allied Forces Northern Europe), Kolsas*, near Olso, Norway.  In the case of war with the (then) Soviet Union, AFNORTH would assume supreme command of all Allied Forces in northern Europe (Norway/Denmark/parts of Germany) and adjacent sea territory.  During the time Dad was stationed here, he participated in exercises above the Arctic Circle which explains why many of the trips documented in our passport (Mum and I were on a joint passport) were not listed in Dad's passport.  She must have headed to England with me to pass the time while Dad was away.

Exercise Northern Trail - June 1963
Group picture of Visitors' Bureau personnel and staff of the Allied Press Information Centre
Photo: NATO UNCLASSIFIED

I'm not exactly sure what was involved in Exercise Northern Trail - I found two references to it on a Google search, in the UK National Archives and in this book which translates to Bundeswehr Special Case?: Armed forces in national perspectives and in international comparison.  I can't find a translation for Bundeswehr.  I also don't know what my Dad's assignment was at AFNORTH, I'll have to dig a little further to figure that out.

Anyway, we arrived at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, on 16 August 1962 and then promptly left for England.  According to the passports, the three of us left on 20 August via ship, arriving in Newcastle, England on 22 August but the joint passport Mum and I held doesn't have a departure stamp from England until 6 October, arriving back in Norway on 8 October.  I assume that Dad left us in England, perhaps until our household goods arrived from the States and he found us a house.

Fred Olsen ship, SS Blenheim, Dad and me and a friend playing shuffleboard while getting ready to sail from Oslo to Newcastle

Taken onboard SS Blenheim

Mum and I went back and forth five or six times during 1963-1965, all trips without Dad.  There is a five-day trip in 1965 that was just Dad and me - not sure why, it was about three months before we left Norway so perhaps Mum was at home preparing for yet another trans-Atlantic move.

During the time we were in Norway, we lived in an old farmhouse in Sorkedalen*, a valley located in the northwestern part of the Oslo municipality.  I remember it as an isolated area, you turned off the main road onto a long drive, our house was on the left and on the right was a British Air Force family (Jeff, Jenny, and their little girl about my age, Fiona).  If you continued on in front of our house, there were a few other houses and that seemed to be it.  In front of our house was a huge yard with the forest in the distance, and there was a river somewhere behind us because I remember my cousin coming for a visit in the winter one year and there was ice skating there.

Jenny, Fiona, Jeff, me, and Mum in front (or maybe it was the side) of our house

Fiona and me with someone (neighbor, perhaps?) with the main road behind us (and the forest in the distance) - if we continued walking, our houses would be on the left and right of the road where we are standing

My most vivid memory of our time in Norway is of the night/morning Dad woke me up to see a moose in the field - it's the land of the midnight sun so I'm not exactly sure if it was night or morning but it was light and the moose was clearly visible with his enormous antlers.  I'll never forget it.

It's been interesting digging through the old photos and trying to figure out the dates.  I hope that if you are reading this and you take photos of your family and their adventures, that you clearly mark them in some way (photo-safe pen on the back of print photos or details on the digital files) so that your children and grandchildren won't have to guess the who, what, where, when, and why of each photo.  OK, I'll get off my soapbox now.

This photo has no information on the back but I'm in the cabin of a ship so it was taken on one of our trips between Norway and England - I'm wearing the same dressing gown as the photo below so I'm going to guess that it was taken in January or June of 1964 - the one below was taken in October 1964 and I think I looked a little older than this shot

One of the few photos with a detailed description mostly in German but with the help of Google, I've included the translation in parentheses:
Schone* Madchen (Beautiful girl)
Pamela Gail
Prestwich, Manchester, England
Gut Jule 1964 (Merry Christmas 1964)
Zum Oma Mitt Viel Lieb (Ach! Mein Deutsch!) (To my grandma with lots of love - Oh, my German!)
Schlaffen Kleider (Sleeping clothes aka Pajamas)
Oktober 1964

Interesting to see that my parents (my Dad at least) still in contact with my biological grandmother.  I'm sure my Mum knew about the contact but I doubt she ever really participated in any letter or photo sending.  She would get very emotional whenever the subject of my birth and adoption came up.  I don't know if she was just consumed with overwhelming gratitude to my biological mother for giving me to her (them) or whether it was just one of those things that British women of that generation just didn't talk about - like politics, religion, or sex!

I'll see if I can fill in some of the gaps as Story Time goes along but that's about it for Norway.  Next stop, San Francisco, California.

* Forgive the omission of proper Norwegian and German symbols above some letters - I just can't figure out how to include them and keep everything in the same font size and style.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

RIP Robert Hardy


RIP Robert Hardy
29 October 1925 - 3 August 2017

Siegfried Farnon, Prince Albert, Winston Churchill, Robert Dudley, Sir John Middleton, Cornelius Fudge - a man of incredible talent who will be greatly missed.