Happy Birthday Serendipity

 

Eight years ago today... September 1st 2005 ,I posted the very  first edition of Serendipity on AOL  ,and became a member of a very unique group,this group entitled me to go on magical trips to J-Land ,I also received visits from so many people who also came  from J-Land ,so many people turned into friends , from all over the world ,and my what wonderful friendships were formed ,how well we all bonded ,we shared our glad days, we shared our sad days . we shared pictures, family news, mundane stuff ,exciting stuff some very clever ladies amongst us would make graphics and signatures personal to us to make our entries more themed and interesting ,Among them was Donna,Chris and Sugar and lots of other talented ladies A Huge thank you ladies  .....We talked about  our pets  too,oh and our hobbies ,but if you belonged to this fantastic on line family ,you know all this ,So if I'm boring you ,by telling you" the road you know" ,sorry . Have some more cake  

The next year I woke one morning,turned on my computer and found myself on the AOL  welcome page,promoting 'Silver surfers ' and of course our journals ,another valuable friendship was made with a lady who lived nearby ,she had turned on her PC  only to see me ,looking back at her , she saw me in the street and asked 'Was that you  etc etc ',yes says I, and Debbie and I have been best buddies ever since !

And then ,I was  voted' Lady of the blog 'by fellow journalists all over j-land ,one of many such awards ,I remember my dear friend Jeannette Locorriere won the travel blog award ,such pride for us UK  journalists

You will notice I have called us journalists throughout .We decided that's how we preferred to be known ,journalists from J-Land ,I seem to think it was a lovely friend Jeannette Oakley who started this ,another prolific quality  journalist ,who encouraged and helped so many of us get started .I know I could't have done it  without her patience  encouragement and help in those early years , Below is a picture of me taken around that time ,at Old Hunstanton on the Lincolnshire coast

 

Do have some more cake

 

 

Here is what I wrote on my journal,in 2007 

 

Over the last two years I have introduced you to my lovely family, and you have shared many of our gatherings, I have taken you along with Maurice and I when we have gone out and about .I have shown you knitting, sewing and patch work I have done, I told my Mothers life story, told you about all the Vicars I had the joy of knowing, Like so many of you I did a tribute to a victim of September 11th

I was honoured to get to know and mourn John Santore ,this for me, like many of you was a moving thing to do ,and I will always keep a place in my heart for this brave young fire-fighter. You shared our joy when we got our puppy Kizzie; I have told you about my ironing, and when I have cleaned my windows! (Guess what; we haven’t had our Summer duvet on yet!)

I have told you what books I have read .all about Maurice’s shifts and what I have for my supper .and you have faithfully commented and given me so much pleasure with your reply’s and your own journals ,So thank you all for sharing the last two years  with me ,sharing your journals/blogs and lives with me  ,There I wrote that in 2007...

Then bomb was dropped ,well we had heard rumours but it couldn't be right? could it ? we thought !!!Huh!
AOL  took away the journals facility...
 

                                                           

 

 

 

 

AOL Journals ended on 31 October 2008. AOL and Blogger cooperated to migrate our blogs,

   Thankyou to Guido for these facts

I was lucky ,because I was able to migrate my' blog'{weblog} from AOL to blogger ,without losing my early entrys ,following the instructions given at the time  ,Phew !

 

Oh yes Happy Birthday to Sara Smiles her blog is nine today ,

So I continued to blog ,about all the things I had always posted about ,saw no reason to change !The only difference that I can see is ,not many comments nowadays!!!! hint hint !!! ,though checking on the statistics page I see I have many page visits .In the begining I used a tower PC  now I am onto my second laptop I still pick and peck using one finger ,sometimes two to type ! ,I still sew and knit and crochet ,I have just retired as chairman of our residents group and resident board member  ,though I am still on the exec team and committee,of A.R.F, Axiom Residents Forum.

And although I can't now  walk far I still get around on my buggy and am still enjoying life to the full even if it is at a much slower pace . 

Here is the latest item I knitted , it's a minion hat for my Grandson

And it was my sister Jeans  bithday last week so I made her a cushion

Here I am in her gorgeous garden ,after spending a lovely day with her

And at a Family fun day ,for the children of Axiom Residents ,The fire brigade attended for the kids to check out the fire engine ,Granny Jan checked out the firemen ! well it had to be done !

 

I will close this entry as with many others

 

With love from Jan xx

Family Party in Ferry Meadows

 

Hello again Folks ,I'm getting a bit bogged down with blogs yet to be posted ,but I'm sure I'll catch up one fine day !

 As you will remember if you have read my blog over the years ,as many of the family as can get, gather on Fathers day ,in Ferry meadows in Peterborough {we got rained off last year ,}for our picnic in the park .

And though our Dear Dot wasn't with us this year {Stan begged us not to cancel ,Dot so loved this day }Many of us turned up and had a brilliant afternoon ,after our morning in Thornhaugh ,see my previous post ...... 

 

 

My Dear little baby Great Grand daughter Bella Rose ,and here we are together.

Here is Bella with her Nannie Sharon {my daughter Sharon }

She really enjoyed her day,as the youngest member of the clan ... 

Here is Bella wth Great Uncle Dougie,Doug is the brother of Bella's late Great Granddad Mick .who sadly never met his Grand children ,and now we are Greats !

Bella and her Uncle Stuart, Nephew Greg's dogs Bronwyn and I forgotten the brown one's name ,a few of us !And My Kate's son Matt....

Same pic !

Oh Stan swing those hips {Stan is 80}what a boy !

My Dear Granddaughter Charlotte

Bella with her Uncles.. her  Dad Paul's two brothers ,my Lovely Grandsons Stuart and Iain

This man is a paramedic and a local photographer Chris Porche{apologies if I spelt your surname wrong Chris }  ,who takes many pictures for our local paper{he has had a great book published } he was delighted when we invited him to join the fun,he explained he was working on a new project ?and many of the pictures of  family stuff would be useful to him ,so on this picture we turned the tables on him  ,photogragher being photograghed !

Here is June ,one of my many gorgeous neices

 

Yes Stuart we can see you ,'We know what your doing '!

Now Aunty Charlotte joins the group ,

Here is nephew in law Chris with good friends Carol and Julie

I think I have warned ,you before about BUGGY NAPPERS !! ,

hee hee boys will be boys

.

Have  A Blessed Sunday Everyone

 

    As ever love Jan xx

 

Party In The Park...2013

Every year on Fathers day ,our family and friends get together in Ferry meadows ,a beautiful vast country park in Peterborough.The idea was born, when we realised we only get together at Funerals!!I think the party gets bigger ,a great chance to meet up and catch up , as you know my Dearest sister in law Dot died in May ,we hesitated about calling the party off. But Stan, Dot's husband said no please don't cancel Dot so loved the Party in the Park ,so with Dot very much part of the day we carried on...........

Before going on to Ferry Meadows, we all met at Dot's family home and birth place,in the picture above are just some of us ! ( I am at the back ,just behind Joyce who is wearing a lovely turquoise tee shirt)The house was the family home ,next door is where Mick and I lived for a while ,then next door to that is the church ,whilst posing for our picture the Lady who lives there now invited us back ,to see the changes she had made to the garden,it was always kept Beautifully by my Mother in Law ,but I have to say it is now awesome . As is the house ,its make over has been sympatheticaly  done but there were still many features lovingly kept.But before we went to see Marina and her lovely house and garden ,We went around to the church yard ,to inter Dot's ashes on her parents grave,my late husband also rests in that grave as does Dot's baby sister Margaret,there are a few other dear family graves around that church yard ,so that at the end of their lives they are still together . 

 

 

   

Some pictures  inside the Church(very much the family church  ,Christenings,confirmations ,weddings and funerals )

Years ago before the days of Electricity,the boys in the family would in turn be resposible for "pumping the organ!using a sort of wooden bar "to while away the boredom ,maybe a long sermon tut tut ,can be found carvings the boys had done ,on the wood work on the back of the organ ,I remember there was a spitfire ,and test match scores  amongst other things

We always called this called this tomb "The old Man " it is in fact Lord Russell,I can remember when Main Street 's name was changed to Russell Hill .I must google him to discover his claim to fame !

Many of our babies were accepted into the church and received their names at this font .

St Andrews Church 

I am  ashamed to say I have forgotten this dear old Gentlemans name,he is in Fact a Canon ,he gave Dot a lovely little service in her family church where she was christened .A really lovely old Gentleman  Man,in the true sense of the word ,  

 

 

Here is Stan at his beloved Dot's resting place . ,

 

After all that was over, we went round to have a cool drink and Pimms with the lovely Marina,and Steve,who had welcomed us all to their home and garden ,after finding us all outside their home earlier .Hows that for hospitality?May the good Lord protect them always for their kindness ,and continue to Bless This House .

Marina is the keen gardener ,as was Mother before her .

And the beautiful wall and  arch  was built by the very clever Marina

 

This used to be a water  pump ,but I can never remember it working ,we did however have a water tap near the gate ,I fetched many a bucket of water from it  especially on wash day ,with three small children ,and in the winter it would freeze up,then the water from the hot water bottles would be boiled to defrost it  ,"Happy Days"

 

Gill and my Kate ,

 

Gill and Stella

 

These pics of the girls were taken earlier this year ,

Here is Stan  before we left for Ferry Meadows .

Next time I will show you pictures of our afternoon at Ferry Meadows,at our Party in the Park

 

As  ever all my love Jan xx 

Fast Falls the eventide

Here I am once more  very late with my post ,Its taken ages to do this entry adding bits as I feel strong enough ,But you see on May 5th my very dear sister in law Dorothy died ,she had spent the Autumn last year, under going the most horific treatment for cancer,and it worked!!!.On the morning of May 5th Dot suffered a massive stroke ,she was taken to hospital,where the diagnosis was not good,as well as her husband Stan  her seven daughters ,and her son stayed with her all of that day ,being visited through the day by many of her Grandchildren ,The family kept us in touch,through out that long day ,Dot never really regained conciousness .At just after eleven o clock that Sunday evening,Dot passed away ,surrounded by her husband Stan and all her children ,When the phone rang ,and I received the news my heart broke.

Us in happier times .Dot is on the right ,Joyce another sister in law on the left

 

I know you have seen  this one before ,but we always had so much fun in each others company

 

 

And it looks as though Dot and Stan are enjoying themselves in this picture too.

And in this one taken at Stan's 80th  birthday party last September .

 

 

On the 31st of May Maurice took Jean my sister and I to The Heart of England Cramatoriam,in Nuneaton where we joined all the family and friends,

 If funerals can be called beautiful ,then this one was.

The Crematorim was packed and people were standing outside outside,a testament to how very much loved Dot was.Dots six son's in law carried her beautiful wicker coffin into the Crem'   .Dots eldest Granddaughter did a reading  ,and after the prayers, hymns and the eulogy,The service ended but the curtains didn't close so we could all file by and say our own goodbyes ...The girls had asked me could Dot rest her head on the cushion I had made for her ,of course I was honoured and not a little moved by that  request , and of course I agreed

Dot's eldest Daughter Julie asked me, if at her wake, I'd like to speak about her Mum .So as I close this very sad and poignant entry{It just had to be recorded though }I will leave you with the words I spoke for Dot ..

I first met Dorothy ,when I was 16 ,when I was courting her late Brother Mick , and when I got married to Mick she came with Julie to our wedding, Stan staying at home to look after the babies . Mick and I lived next door to Mum and Dad ,so it was exciting when Nana Roffe would get a letter to let us know Stan was bringing Dorothy and the children to visit ,often the visit was to introduce us to another little blonde haired baby girl ,until we got the red haired one and a boy at last ,I saw all those dear children grow up to be the super Adults, that Dot and Stan became so proud of .and as each one had their own family’s Dot would tell me all about her Grandchildren and then Great Grandchildren ,Dot loved each and every one, and each one was so special to  her.. Dot realised too that she has an amazing bunch of son’s in law,and you guys did her proud today   ….Dorothy’s  sisters Connie in Peterborough and Eileen in Canada ,are like me going to miss those telephone calls. Her Brothers Peter Vic and Dougie will miss her too.as will their familys,I know my family are heartbroken to lose their dear Aunty Dot. Kate feels so blessed to have spent that last week, in Barwell at Stella’s ,she was able to spend lots of time with her Auntie Dot ,they had some quality time together ,and on the Sunday, Stan cooked lunch for them ,they washed up and laughed and chatted together

When my children were small Stan would fetch me and my little ones to stay with them, they were our holidays. And it was then I was told don’t call me Dorothy  …..and we were always made welcome quite where we all fitted in I’m not sure but we did…. obviously things were often tight but there was always lots to eat and endless love,I remember a whole box of cornflakes would disappear at breakfast time    .and their children would come and stay with us ….at Thornhaugh and Wansford and were a joy to  have, always so well behaved and eager to help me with my little ones ,Although one little girl who shall remain nameless… well it was Julie informed me she mustn’t be put to bed with wet hair because she would get a headache …

Dot we shared so much, over the years ,love ,laughter ,tears and fears, secrets , gossip,books ,knitting patterns, and shoes ,and once when Nana Roffe bought new fitted carpet, she couldn’t decide who should have her lovely big red carpet …so she cut it in half  bound the edge ,and we had half each ,It is these memory s and many more that are going to help me cope without you…. Dot always greeted me with a big hug and the words ‘I love you, you old bugger ‘ ..Dot I love you too  mate,Im gonna miss you so much.....

                                                As ever love Jan xx