Now, where was I ?

I know Easter has gone but you can't blame these little girls for continuing to wear their charming Easter bonnets,thank you again Sugar for todays graphic ,I really couldn't wait a whole year to use it . Some of you asked what I have been doing all these months,so to address this I will make some random posts ,In order to catch up a bit.

In September Maurice had a Birthday

Then later in the month,Jean my sister and her husband Pete ,(Maurice was at work )and I went to plough Sunday,at the Rural museum in our town 

Beautiful Shire Horses ,with the ploughmen vieing with each other to plow the straightest furrow,these two handsome beasts enjoyed some Fox's Glacier mints ,I found at the bottom of my bag ,brave on lookers were invited to have a go at driving the plow and team,only to realise how difficult it could be .

This little chap was with the farrier

 

Look at the beautiful array of horse brasses

No queue for this loo !

Whoops!

A lovely country dance team ,we spent ages watching these ladies and Gentlemen

They were called the 'Heartsease dancers ',hence the pretty hand embroidered Pansies on the front of their Aprons

And here is Jean trying her luck at hoop la ,unfortunately she didn't win one of those flying pigs

Well I guess that is a few high lights from September ,I will be back soon to catch up on my absence .

Mean while, as ever my love, and for now  byeee

Jan  xx

My Good Friday,The Day they crucified our Lord

 Good Morning,Easter Blessings to every one,and my thanks to dear Sugar,over there in Texas USA for the amazing graphic and I might add ..the inspiration to post this entry on my blog,

As you will probably remember from last year ,The silent walk of witness,that takes place in our town each Good Friday,once again I joined, I imagine about two hundred people,me on the trusty Buggy,I couldn't possibly walk right through the town to the Church ,St Thomas a Beckett,we were so blessed the sun shone (though nippy)so we were able to enjoy the open air service on the green in front of the church (if wet the service would have been in Church )       

Who remembers Serendipity ....and Jan ?

Hi Every one ,   Hmm blogger has changed ,and since I havent posted since last September, I feel as though Im in a strange place ,I am doing a little trial run,so bear with me! I'm not sure how this will look ,its all so confusing ,why oh why do people need to reinvent the wheel?.

As I say I havent posted for ....oh dear! seven months ! So if this works then I will do a fuller account of the last few months within the next few days ,Hey I might find I like the new method ,mean while Have a Blessed Easter day tomorrow ,and enjoy all those choccy eggs

       With Love Jan xx

TEN YEARS .....

  When journalists were invited to do a dedication,to a victim of 9/11 to mark the aniversary five years ago,I thought about it and decided I would like to pay a tribute ,to one of these brave people ,It , however become a very moving thing to do ,and as I  researched this my heart  become heavier and heavier ,John has become so real to Maurice and I, of course we couldnt know him ,but it so important,to bear in mind ,many people did know and love him and be mindful of their grief ,then and now.
 Nearly 3000 people perished on that awful day...... John was one of,that number  !  And now ten years on I still hold this man in a very special place in my heart

He was a married man,with two daughters ,how they must miss him .He was fourty nine.

Here is part of my entry....

There has been alot of TV coverage ,on the disaster that started the millenium off. and we have been watching it all ,The New york fire Brigade had been featured on a film some Rooky firemen were making at the time ,and as it coincided with the disaster they decided to carry on ,and as you see from the above pictures John's picture was also featured .Here is the tribute left by his wife
John Santore

World Trade Center

Spoiling the Girls

When the Santores traveled, a few things always accompanied them: candles and two Champagne glasses wrapped in a towel. The candles were store-bought; the glasses were a relic. They were the same glasses John A. Santore and Frances Scarselli used to drink to their happiness the night he asked her to marry him. Mr. Santore asked the waiter if he could keep them.

Both the candles and the glasses were necessary tools for Mr. Santore, a firefighter with Ladder Company 5 on Staten Island, the father of two girls, 20 and 13, and a romantic.

"He would set the table with the candles and the flowers and the wine and then cook for us," Mrs. Santore said. "We are three girls in the home, so he would always spoil us."

On weekend mornings, Mr. Santore would run to a deli to buy coffee and croissants for the family so they would not have to cook. During the week, he would often surprise his wife with a bunch of wildflowers.

When someone mentioned the need for a maritime museum on Staten Island to honor John Noble, a famed local artist, Mr. Santore, 49, formed what he called the Noble Crew to build it, his wife said.

"He was wonderful with his hands," she said. `There was nothing he couldn't do."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES

John it was my honor to be assigned to you ,as my victim you became my hero,and I shall think of you often ,and I send very special love to your wife Frances and your daughters

......Jan xx

  

Petanque and...The Forties weekend

A busy week end,which in honour of The J-Land aniversary I want to share with you all. On Thursday evening I had my annual Board member assessment ,which went well .

Above is a picture of Humphrey,introducing what was to be a marvelous afternoon . But I'm getting ahead of myself ~One of the committees I am on, decides how a community fund ,set aside by the company, can best provide something that would better the lives of the residents ,this must have been one of the biggest projects so far ,but what a success ,it has proved to be .....At one of our sheltered schemes for the elderly,(a beautiful old property ,converted into flats and set in the most beautiful grounds)

A few years ago a resident there saw an advert for a set of Boules in the local paper ,they were as new,so Ruth bought them ,and since then they played on the grass.....until their scheme manager suggested they apply through community grant system for a boule piste to be built ,we in due course approved the idea,.....So below you see a picture of Ruth on the left,next to the Mayor of Huntingdon who cut the ribbon to officialy open the piste On Friday afternoon,Next to him is Stella who is their teacher and trainer ,and then the head of the council .

We all had a little turn,and it proved to be so much fun we all want to learn and play ,Hmmm I forsee some matches coming up ......

I was proud of this picture see how the boules have just left their hands !

Below see Stuart ,our ops Director ,trying to beat Ruth

Isnt it great ?

My sister Jean had a birthday yesterday so of course I made her a cushion Now every year at this time our litte Market town turns back the clock ,and we have a fortys weekend ,so as I was shopping yesterday I'snapped' a few people ,who I encountered

An American officer and his lady

This chap told me he was riding a Belgium Amy bike called a monarch .

And here is his lady who was happy to pose for me

And here is my friend Jane getting into the spirit of things .

Jane is the chair person of the Ramsey intiative ,and works hard for our town .And below the ladies in the charity shop having lots of fun ,lots of fortys music playing

So there you have it !Have a Blessed Sunday everyone ,with a good week to follow,and as ever love from Jan xx....and Kizzie!!

Beauty,really is only skin deep.....

Hi there everyone ,I hope you are all well .I am fine ,busy as ever ,and like the cow's tail all behind as usual,lots of meetings and some sewing .....Because I am a board member ,I was invited to the staff conference .I love this I meet up with old colleagues,as well as other staff members .The theme this year was 'Challenge ',so due to the changes government are making ,in the housing sector,it was appropriate , so mindful of cut backs and everything else this year is going to be challenging .However Alan our chief exec is confident that we are able ,for what ever presents it self .

After all the facts and figures were explained to us ,by the different departments ,we went on to play some really interesting quiz games .before a delicious lunch ,where we could again chat to our friends .

After lunch more corporate stuff before our guest speaker .....

Yes it was Simon Weston O B E ,what an insiration ,this man is ,handsome inside and out !! I remember watching the programes on TV about his ,struggle with all the surgery he needed when he returned from the Falklands conflict of 1982 horrifically burned,(he is a similar age to my second son!).....and boy has this man accepted the challenge ,he helped to form 'Weston Spirit',helping disadvantaged youngters ,build their lives and believe in them selves .He has worked tirelessly for the Star and Garter homes ,as an ex Guardsman with the Welsh guards ,some thing close to his heart .Now happily married to Lucy with three young children,he campaigns,for many charities,-he has jumped with the Red Devils -run the New York marathon-to create a better future for the young people and veterans alike......Of course he has had his dark moments,some of which he spoke,and as many of us wiped the tears from our eyes ,he would have us all roaring with laughter , he has a fantastic sense oh humour ...A great Man ,God Bless you Simon ...

I went home feeling very humbled ,greatful ,inspired ,and clutching a copy of his latest book that he signed for me

A trip to London

I cant believe it is 12th June.since I put these pictures on here ,and never got back to finish this post. . Ah well Im here now

Before I start I want to introduce you to Debbie ,she has been blogging for about a year but doesnt have many readers SO~ shall we see if we can change that ? pop over ,you will be pleased you did http://notcompulsary.blogspot.com

Now what are those people doing below ? you may ask ....perhaps not ! We are a group of residents ,who participate in the Residents Inclusion Group,or RI.....I am involved in The News Letter ,written by the residents,for the residents.I am vice chair of ARF ,Axiom Residents Forum , and a resident board member ....Axiom Housing association involved in social housing ,who value residents input and we work closely with them ,(I was a scheme Manager,on a sheltered scheme for the elderly ,until I retired seven years ago .)The picture below is us working on 'The Annual Report 'some thing the government want housing associations to do with the aid of residents .....getting boring now isn't it ? (nearly done now with the explanation)Last year we were,highly commended by TPAS (tenant particiption advisory service) and went for a lovely Lunch at Solliehull near Birmingham ....Then ......we were invited to give a work shop ,in London last month

Angela, who is PA to the Chief Exec,and communications Manager ,booked us all on a train to London,(she asked for assistance for us as we dont walk far !)So Angela Jackie Ann and Jan off to the big smoke

Not a good picture but this is where the meeting was to be

Bit of interest, you will need to click to make it big enough to read

Here we are at the side of the stage, assisting Angela as she gave her presentation which included us too .

Pheew we did it ,and with such aplomb,though I,say it myself ,we were a hard act to follow

Oh and I made a bag to go with ......

As ever love from ..Jan xx