Halloween And A Skull

In our modern world Halloween has become associated with witches, ghosts, ghouls, the undead, and all sorts of supernatural things. It is supposed to be a night when evil spirits stalk the earth to torment the living.

However, Halloween has been misrepresented and misunderstood. There is widespread belief that this night is a pre-Christian pagan celebration of the dead. This is not historically correct.

The festival of the 1st November, called Samhain, was by far the most important of the four quarter days in the medieval Irish calendar. There would be tribal feasts and gatherings and , to the ancient celts, this was a time of year when is was possible that magical things could happen. However, in Wales the days for these same celebrations were the 1st May and New Year. In Scotland, there are very few mentions of the 1st November until centuries later and in England hardly any.

It was, however, a very important time of year in the Catholic church. Halloween is the Eve of All Hallows or All Saints Day which along with All Souls Day on the 2nd November constituted Hallowtide. The festivals were confirmed at these dates between 800 and 1000 A.D. All Souls Day on November 2nd was considered the most important.

Hallowtide was for the commemoration of the departed faithful and the day when prayers were said and bells rung to enable souls to be released from purgatory so that they could enter heaven. So, the connection between the dead and this time of year was a Christian invention and not pagan and instituted so that the dead could find eternal peace. The reforming Protestant church abolished these ideas but they continued in Catholic areas and in popular mind and tradition.

It was only when folklore began to be recorded in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that there was any mention of witches, brooms, games, tricks, practical jokes, apples or anything similar. Robert Burns helped to make the current view of Halloween popular in his poem "Hallowe’en" published in 1786. A generation later, Hugh Miller described the games that took place on All Hallows Eve - fortune-telling being the most prominent. This fortune- telling was mostly to do with love and marriage. Young girls would cover mirrors then remove the covers on the stroke of midnight and hope to see the faces of their future husbands. Young men would pull cabbages and kale stalks from the ground and from the size of the vegetables and the amount of earth sticking to them would be able to tell whether their future wives would be tall or short, rich or poor.

So, Halloween of old was mostly a night for love games and divination but mainly for praying for the souls of departed Christians.

It is only in comparatively recent times that it has come to be associated with witches and broomsticks, the devil, demons, mischief-making spirits, ghosts and hauntings, bats and things that go bump in the night.

Illuminated pumpkins came about because of the old tradition of Christians placing a lighted candle in their windows so that any faithful departed who were "lost" would be attracted to the houses where prayers were being said for the repose of their souls, thus making it easier for them to find their way into Heaven.

Halloween nowadays is also the time for telling stories of the supernatural so I thought I would share this one with you.

Bettiscome Manor (above)

This is the strange story of the skull that is kept in Bettiscome manor, Dorset, in the south west of England.. The manor is known as the 'The House of the Screaming Skull'. It has belonged to the Pinney family for hundreds of years and it is a member of this family that is connected to the ghostly tale surrounding the house.

According to legend the skull is that of a black slave. In 1685 Azariah Pinney was banished to the West Indies for  his part in supporting the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion. He soon became a successful businessman and eventually returned to England. With him he brought one of his black slaves but soon after they arrived in England the slave became ill and died. His last request was that he be buried in his native home, but instead Azariah buried him in the local churchyard. The slave had told his master that if the promise was not carried out a curse would  fall on Bettiscombe Manor.

Almost at once terrifying screams and moans came from his grave and doors and windows banged and rattled in the Manor. Finally, Azariah had the body dug up. In the process however, his head became separated from his body, but for a time all the noises and activities ceased. Nobody knows what became of the body but eventually only the head - the skull, remained.

A few years later a new occupant of the Manor was so appalled by the sight of the old skull that he threw it in the lake. As soon as he did so piercing screams and groans filled the air and only stopped when the skull was brought back into the house. On another occasion the skull was buried in a hole nine feet deep. Within three days the skull had, apparently, burrowed to the surface. The owner of the house, hearing screaming, went to look and found it waiting to be taken back inside. Ever since, the skull has screamed whenever it is removed from the property. The present owner keeps it in an old box locked away in a bureau. It is also said that the skull sweats blood if England is in danger of war and that if ever it is taken from the house, not only will it scream but the person who removes it will be dead within the year and the house itself will fall.

There are other ghostly tales attached to the skull. On one night of the year a phantom coach goes from Bettiscombe Manor, along a lonely road, to the churchyard. Local people call it "the funeral procession of the skull." The owners of the property consider the skull to be a good luck charm protecting the house from all harm.

The skull has been examined by archaeologists and has turned out to be not the skull of a black man but instead it belonged to a woman of European origin who died 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The fossilised skull is believed to have been submerged in the well near the manor house.

Skulls or severed heads were often used as offerings to water spirits in ancient times - they were placed in wells and ponds and believed to hold powers that would protect and guard not only the well but any nearby properties - provided they were treated with respect.

 

I certainly would not like to have to keep a skull in my house and I would most certainly not like to hear one scream!

So, dear readers, I wish you a very Happy Halloween whatever you are doing and wherever you are and please..........................do not get spooked!

Bird Photos

I think this is the latest I have ever done an entry. As I am posting bird pictures that Mike took the other day, I think this graphic is just perfect.

The boys were over this afternoon. Nathan is exactly sixteen months old today.  He loved our new fish tank, it was the first time he had seen it and stood entranced with his face pressed against it trying to catch the fish with a beaming smile on his face.  He even drew his first ever "picture".  He held the pen and even had a good idea how to use it, I only held his hand a little and he made some lovely squiggles.  I should have scanned it but did not think and gave it to Becky to take home and show Dean so that he could see what his son had been up to.

I got some nice photos which I will post another time.  In the meantime, here are some bird pictures that Mike took the other day.

We have no idea what this beautiful bird is, so if anybody does know will you please post in comments.

I think you will agree that the colours are stunning. The dogs have been so upset all evening as there are fireworks going on all around us even though it is raining and although it is now late.  We can expect this for days now.  It is upsetting to see them shivering and shaking and trying to get under the furniture to hide.  Years ago, our vet did prescribe tranquilisers but that was when Bonfire night "celebrations" kept mostly to the 5th of November. Now that they are exploded up to two weeks in advance and a couple of weeks after,  it is impossible.  We also get them now at Christmas and New Year. You cannot drug dogs all the time. People are so inconsiderate these days. It is now eleven at night and there are explosions going on all around us and it is nothing unusual for us to hear them until 2a.m. I do not believe that fireworks should be available to the general public, there should be organised displays only.

Well, that is about all for today or I should say tonight. Hope you all had a good Saturday and I wish you a peaceful Sunday.

Animal Antics

Well, this is not the view from our window. We look out onto the garden but the rain certainly greeted us this morning after one of the warmest October days on record yesterday.  People were actually flocking to the beach!

Today I am posting a few more pictures that him indoors took.  The monkeys, which are my favourites, were not on display because they are building a big new enclosure/housing for them.  Because of the bird flu scare all the birds of prey were locked up as well.  A pity because he had hoped to get pictures of owls and hawks.  Even the ducks from the pond were being housed inside.  Still, it is nice to know that they are taking precautions, particularly as the first reported case of bird flu in the UK is in our county and not far distant from this particular place.

The first two were taken in the butterfly house.  Mike said he did not see very many butterflies but I think it was more that he did not spend enough time in there. You have to be patient -  but he had gone wearing a heavy coat because it was a chilly day outside and the camera lens kept steaming up in the high temperature needed to keep the butterflies alive.

The first one is a little out of focus but I still wanted to use it.

Mike did not have a pen and paper with him so was unable to take down the names of some of the different creatues . Therefore, we have no idea what variety of lizard this is.

Lastly for today

Mike was very impressed with the way the animals and birds are kept and he is very glad he came across Tropical Wings because it is going to be a wonderful place for Nathan and Daniel to visit especially as, at certain times of the day, children are given the opportunity to hold and touch various creatures and are given little talks about them.

I watched a very good programme last night about the London blitz and people recalling their memories of it. Very touching and moving.  It made me realise what my father must have gone through.  Before he was called up into the army he was an air raid warden and I know that he did pull people out of bombed buildings, some of them dead and that he continued to work in the City until military service.  He never liked to talk about the war and after watching the programme, I can understand why. I admire that generation so much, they withstood two world wars and the depression.  They were tough.

Hope you all have a good day.

 

 

Flashback

This morning the sun is shining and the sky is blue.  They say it is going to be the warmest October day for 117 years.

I had a flashback last night, a memory that has come to me so very often down the years.  I do not sleep well and I arose to get a glass of milk.  As I sat ont the bed drinking it, I was suddenly transported back to childhood and to the kitchen of my old home.  I see it all so clearly.  There were other people present that day, but in my memory I do not see them, there is only me.  Just one memory of one day so very long ago.  There was nothing special about that day, it was not my birthday, it was not Christmas.  I do not even remember school or other things I might have done on that occasion.  It was a rainy day at the end of October.  I had walked a long way to reach our library to get some reading material.  I could only have been around eight or nine because I had recently been promoted up to the juvenile section where there was much more choice.  I walked home through the wind and the rain.  I remember nothing of getting home and eating a meal or any conversation I might have had with the family.  This memory is of me, sitting in front of our kitchen fire (we lived in the kitchen) snuggled in a comfortable armchair. 

I remember I was wearing pale blue pyjamas with tiny pink roses on them and a royal blue dressing gown. I even remember the book I was reading, yes, after all these years.  It was called "The Perilous Descent" and was about two pilots during the second world war who bailed out of their plane, somehow fell through a hole in the earth and into another world. The book detailed all their adventures before they were able to escape back into our world. Much more of a boys book really but then I always did like adventure stories.

Someone handed me a cup of cocoa.  It was in my special mug.  The mug was made, I believe, by the Ovaltine company.  A fairly tall plastic cream-coloured mug with a smiling face on it, perhaps meant to be the man in the moon.  It had a hat which was really a cover to keep the drink warm and the hat was in pale blue with a red bobble on the end of it.  This lid also doubled as a saucer to stand the mug on.  I remember having the book on my knee, the cocoa in my hand, staring into the fire. The rain was heavy outside, the wind was howling but I had never felt so happy and content in my life.

So, nothing really remarkable.  In the days like that, before the television entered our lives, this was a scene that could have been repeated in any household across the country, across the UK.  Yet, it comes back to me again and again, it has followed me down the years, staying as sharp and clear as it was in that very moment.

Last night, there it was again.  I drank my milk and settled back down to try and sleep.  I turned the question over and over in my mind. I have had many experiences during my lifetime, some very traumatic, some very sad , some very moving and others very happy.  Why is it then that this particular memory comes back over and over, so strongly, so sharply?  Then, it came to me and I am pretty sure now that I have found the answer.  It was the very first moment in my life that I remember feeling truly happy, truly at peace, truly safe. Before that I only remember feeling fearful and anxious, after that time -  the same.  But for that one shining moment, I knew happiness, I was at peace with myself and with the world.  My first impression of happiness was so strong that it lives on and comes to visit me frequently in memory.  For an instant I am that little girl again, savouring the warmth, the comfort, the peace.  I hope I shall always continue to remember that magical moment because it still gives me comfort, it still makes me feel safe.

Do you have a memory so vivid that it has stayed with you down the years?  If so, perhaps you would like to share it with us on your journal or mention it in comments.

Now on to other things.  My ever-lovin' - him indoors - was out with the camera again yesterday.  Referring to his trusty book on places to go issued by our library, he found a little place we knew nothing of and not too far from us.  A little place that houses all sorts of animals, birds and butterflies.  He asked me if I minded him going because he does not liketo leave me alone for hours on end.  I was happy to agree, I know howmuch photography means to him and everybody needs a hobby.    So here are some photographs he took.  I will  be posting more in my next entry.

This first one is an albino Wallaby

Next comes a cheeky Chipmunk

 

Finally,  two very slow-moving and creaky tortoises - just like him and me these days.

 

Have a good day everybody.

New Style Alerts

Hi all,

It seems that, like me, quite a few people are unhappy with the new style of alerts.  I have to  lean forward and peer to read the writing and I am sure that many of you are the same.

Jo of Jo's Journal  suggested something that might help to get the situation altered.

Go to Keyword and type in Suggestions then chose "Areas Not Listed Above" and send a message to AOL about the small text in the Journal alerts.  I have already done so.  Feel free to join me and please get as many other journallers as you can to do the same.

 

Ruins

The leaves were actually blowing around like this yesterday, the wind was so strong it was howling around our property.  Thankfully it has dropped a good deal today and there is a little hazy sunshine although the general forecast for the next few days is not good.

Him indoors has been out with his camera again. Actually, he took these shots last Sunday - not the best day to go as it was pretty crowded with people and he had to spend a long time waiting for an opportunity to snap what he wanted. This is all that remains of Hadleigh Castle.

Just the ruins of the two towers, one almost as tall as its original height. The rest of the stones are parts of the curtain wall. The castle overlooks the Thames estuary and the Essex marshes. The marshes were once full of malaria and it seemed to kill the women more often than the men. It was not unknown for men to have a large number of wives as the first would die within a year or two to be replaced by the second, third and so on.

The castle has never seen war or battle. The construction of the castle began in 1230. It was built for Hubert de Burgh, who had been Chief Justiciar to King John (of Magna Carta fame) and had acted as regent for the young King Henry III. Hubert's relationship with the young Henry did not remain amicable and Henry confiscated Hadleigh Castle. Henry continued the building work and substantial additions were made in the mid 14th century by Edward III, it is these later additions that are most visible today.

It became the custom for Hadleigh to be granted to a tenant for life, reverting to the King on their death. By tradition the tenants were usually the king's consort, most notably belonging to three of King Henry VIII's wives - Catherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr. In 1551, King Edward VI sold the property, allowing its stone to be used for other building projects and thus, bit by bit, it was demolished.

Hadleigh park surrounds the castle. The views are wonderful stretching across Essex and into Kent. It is a wonderful place to walk or picnic. Kite flying is very popular there because, being high, there is always a breeze. There are guided trails that you can follow or you canwatch Kestrels soar in the sky although none were around when Mike was there. Flocks of geese feed on the marsh and there are plenty of butterflies in the summer as well as adders, our only poisonous snake. The marshes also have others birds such as Redshank, Heron and Avocets.

Have you all noticed the new style of alerts that we are getting?  I do not like them at all -  because of the small print they are extremely hard on the eyes. In my opinion it would have been far better if they had spent the time ensuring that alerts worked properly to begin with  -  both journal alerts and comment added alerts.  New is not always better!

Hope that you all have a good day.

Only one more person on the map - but she is in Argentina!

Voting Site Now Open

Hello Everybody

I do not often do two entries in one day but I had to post this.

The voting site for the Vivi Awards 2005 is now open.

Please remember it is by journal names this time and they are already sorted into the appropriate category so I hope you all have your lists ready.  Do try and vote in as many categories as you can.  I made sure I visited all the nominated journals during the last week and kept a note as I went along.  You are required to put your name and aol. user name.  There is a drop down menu for each category listing the journals.  If you do not wish to nominate in certain categories then do not select anything under that category.  Double check your votes before you press SUBMIT.  You have until Sunday to cast your vote which gives you time to make sure you are absolutely certain.

So, without further ado, here is the site you go to .  Get voting!

VOTING SITE

I would like to wish each and every nominee the very best of luck.

Teeming Tuesday

The rain has been teeming down here and a strong wind is ripping the leaves from the trees just when the Autumn colour was really getting going.  The weather is supposed to get even worse as the week progresses. What a shame when all the children are on half-term holiday from school.

So, what has been happening in our household? Well, Joan of Stranny Dayze recently posted a picture of her illuminated keyboard and I thought it would be a good idea to get one myself.  It can be very annoying for him indoors trying to watch the television whilst I put the light on peering at the keyboard.  So, yesterday he went off to get me one.

It looked quite swish, all silver and shiny and I was impatient to give it a try.  Alas, the moment we plugged it in, the numeric pad light up like Las Vegas and then promptly went out, leaving just the letter keys lit.  We tried everything.  No use.   We telephoned the supplier to be told - no, that is not right, it should not do that, it must be faulty.   Him indoors was not best pleased that he had to drive quite some distance to take it back.  Before he boxed it up I decided to at least try it and I am glad that I did because it simply was not for me anyway.  Quite a few of the keys were in different places, it had a lot less function keys and I found it incredibly tinny and noisier than my current Logitech keyboard.  Because of the fault it had to go back but I had decided that I did not want a replacement, I will stick with the one I have. 

He also got me a laser mouse, the first cordless mouse I have ever had and I am struggling with it at the moment, it seems to have a life of its own!  I have been so used to old faithful, but I will get the hang of it eventually I am sure and wonder what I ever did without it.

I watched a documentary programme on t.v. last night about The Amytiville Horror.  Arguments are still being raged over it.  George Lutz still says that everythingthat happened tohim and his family was true although the film makers did exaggerate in the original film, the neighbours argue that the whole thing was a fabrication to make money, various psychics came on and showed grainy  photographs and were adamant that the house is haunted, sceptics argued otherwise.  Apparently, they have just filmed the story again and this time George Lutz is suing them as he does not like what they have done with the story. The current owners say that nothing has ever happened to them and they feel no air of evil about the place.  So, who knows!

Here are the latest pictures of Nathan and Daniel.  Daniel first - he seems to be really laughing in this one:-

And Nathan

The voting in the Vivi awards opens today  - 10 a.m. U.S. time so early evening for everyone else.  Voting is going to be much easier this time, no copying and pasting of URL's but simply voting for the name of the journals that you wish to win.  So, I hope you have all been reading the nominees and making your final selection.  Do not forget that every vote counts whoever you are voting for.

All Hallows Eve is fast approaching so I thought that you might like this Halloween game to while away any spare time you might have

HALLOWEEN HANGMAN

Well, I had better get off here and get some work done.  Hope you all have a good day despite the weather.

Signature made for me by the delightful Sara of Sara's Days

A Cornish Legend

Cornwall in the far South West of England is a beautiful county . The coastline is spectacular and rugged but that very coastline has taken many a ship to its doom. Cornwall once had its own language and it is a place alive with myths, legends and superstitions. It is a land of giants and mermaids, fairies and mysterious stones, smugglers and wreckers, of Jan Tregeagle who was “called back from the grave” knockers (spirits who haunted the tin mines and maybe still do). King Arthur of round table fame is said to have been born here. Land’s End was supposed to be the gateway to the lost land of Lyonesse. Over nine hundred years ago this land was suddenly engulfed by the sea and all the inhabitants were drowned. Only one man escaped riding on a swift white horse. Old Cornish fishermen say that the “drowned” buildings can still be seen beneath the waves when conditions are right.

Stories abound in the county and  although no book was ever written in the Cornish language, the folklore and superstitions have been passed down by word of mouth from generation unto generation.

Today I am going to share just one of those stories with you.

The Pekingese dog originated in China and was highly prized. Only the Royal Family were ever allowed to own them and to kill one was punishable by death.

The Imperial family carried their dogs around in their robes and very often in their sleeves. Their worth was considered  to be above gold.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st,  the Chinese Emperor, wishing to honour her, could think of nothing better than to send her a pair of his dogs. Of course, they had to be accompanied by a person of royal bearing so he sent one of his own daughters along with them. The dogs were placed in a carved ivory box.  It was a long and very difficult journey from China before the ship finally docked in France. During the voyage the bitch gave birth to five puppies and the little dog guarded his family in the ivory box and also guarded his princess.

                 

On landing in France, the princess was able to find a Cornish ship to take them on to England. However, the Cornish crew were very superstitious, having never seen anyone Chinese before. In their quarters they began weaving stories about her and became convinced that she was a slant-eyed demon and that she was carrying jewels and coins in the ivory box. As the ship approached the Cornish coast a terrible storm arose and began driving the vessel towards the murderous cliffs. The crew were terrified and blamed the demon princess. They burst into her cabin, seized her and one man tried to grab the box. He recoiled in horror when he felt a sharp pain in his hand and saw blood. The seamen were even more frantic, their crewmate had been bitten. There had to be another demon inside the box.

In sheer terror they threw both the princess and the box overboard. Shortly afterwards the wind changed and the storm abated, thus confirming their beliefs.

The body of the poor princess and the box were washed ashore, into a lonely cove very close to Land’s End. The crew reached port and told their story. Nobody would approached the body of the poor girl until one man, the village simpleton, decided that something must be done. After all, she might still be alive. He went and tended to her. She was most certainly dead as was the little bitch and her pups. Only the dog had survived and he was dying.

The simpleton, out of pity, dug a grave for them. He placed all the bodies together in the grave, covered it over and then collected as many daisies as he could find and laid them on the grave in the shape of a cross. He placed the dying dog in amongst the daisies. The little creature licked his hand and then died.

Tales of the supposed “treasure” in the ivory box spread along the coast and people were talking of digging the box up again to obtain the riches. One thing stopped them. The crewman who had been bitten aboard the ship died suddenly and everyone was too terrified to approach the daisy strewn mound on the beach. It was rumoured that a ghost dog defended the grave of his mistress and his mate and that the dog’s bite was fatal. So the princess and her little animals were left in peace.

However, time did not dim the story. It is said that during the 1850’s a young boy found a piece of carved ivory near the base of the cliffs. As he bent to lift it up to examine it he felt himself stung or “bitten”. There was only a tiny mark on his hand but nevertheless it is said that he died shortly afterwards. People were convinced he was doomed as he had been attacked by the ghost Pekingese.

That,  my dear readers, is the legend of the Daisy Dog.

Latest update on the map (click logo at bottom of All About Me). There are now 135 people on there including Marie from Stockholm, Sweden.  Thank you Marie, so nice to see you and to know that you read journals.

A Subject Close To My Heart

Well, here we are, Sunday again.  At least it is for us in the UK and I am living up to being a night owl.

A different sort of entry for me today but one which I care very deeply about.  Christmas is only a few weeks away.  Do you buy charity cards at Christmas or donate in some other way?   I do and this year, as usual, I shall be supporting  the NSPCC (The National Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children).

I was thinking about purchasing cards and gifts from them only today and by a strange coincidence I was on a site that I belong to and one of my friends, Tom, had posted a poem that he had come across. It moved me so much that I could feel the tears pricking my eyes and my throat tightening. I asked his permission to use it on my journal and he readily agreed.  We both feel that it should reach as wide an audience as possible.

If any of you have a son called Jamie then please do not take this personally, it just happens to be the name of the poem.

My name is Jamie
I am but three,
My eyes are swollen
I cannot see,

I must be stupid
I must be bad,
What else could have made
My daddy so mad?

I wish I were better
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy
Would still want to hug me.

I can't speak at all
I can't do a wrong
Or else I'm locked up
All the day long.

When I awake I'm all alone
The house is dark
My folks aren't home.
When my mommy does come
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just
One whipping tonight.

Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car
My daddy is back
From Charlie's Bar.

I hear him curse
My name he calls
I press myself
Against the wall.

I try and hide
From his evil eyes
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.

He finds me weeping
He shouts ugly words,
He says its my fault
That he suffers at work.

He slaps me and hits me
And yells at me more,
I finally get free
And I run for the door.

He's already locked it
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me
Against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor
With my bones nearly broken,
And my day continues
With more bad words spoken...

”I'm sorry!", I scream
But its now much too late
His face has been twisted
Into unimaginable hate.
The hurt and the pain
Again and again
Oh please God, have mercy!
Oh please let it end!

And he finally stops
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless
Sprawled on the floor.

My name is Jamie
And I am but three,
Tonight my daddy
Murdered me. 

There are thousands of children out there just like Jamie. Children living in every town, in every city, on any street  -  there could be one right near you or right near me. Children who live in constant fear, children whose lives are a living nightmare, children who cannot defend themselves, children who should be able to trust, who should not have their innocence destroyed  ~ so often by those closest to them. Children who should not be scarred for the rest of their lives  physically and mentally.  Children who should not die.

So, dear readers, if you care as much as I do, if this poem has touched you as it has touched me, then I ask a favour of you all.   Please copy and send this poem to all the people in your address books, use it on your journal if you wish. All I ask is that you do please pass it on to others and , when you are thinking  about which charity you might  support at the festive season, think of your own children and grandchildren who are so fortunate, remember to count your blessings and  then spare a thought for all those young ones who live in darkness, pain, fear and despair.  Give generously.

Nominated ~ Thank You!

I would like to say a great big thank you to all who nominated me for Duchess Of The Blog.  It is a nice feeling to know that your journal is appreciated and that people like it enough to vote for it.

I have no idea when the final voting is, no doubt it will be announced in due time.  You are going to have a hard time deciding.  The other nominees in the same category all have excellent journals and I know that I am going to find it extremely difficult to chose one over another.

However, I am happy to be nominated. That is an achievement in itself when you consider just how many journals there are.

Not much news on the home front. Becky had a really enjoyable Birthday.  Dean took her out to dinner last night and she had a lovely time. He gave her a beautiful gold locket with a picture of Nathan and Daniel inside and today he is taking her out to buy some new clothes.  I was not able to look after the boys because I felt a bit under the weather but there will be lots more opportunities.  The fish are doing really well in the new tank, so well that we already have babies!

Once again a big thank you to all who voted for me. I was up most of the night. I just could not sleep (I can assure you it was nothing to do with the awards). Like I said, I was feeling under the weather  - so this signature is very appropriate.  Also because I am often on the computer until the early hours.  It was made by the lovely Jessica.  I have put a link to her journal under Favourite Sites so that you can all see her beautiful work.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

There are now 131 on the Journals/Friendship map.  I am astounded. For anyone who still wants to add themselves, please click on the little logo at the bottom of All About Me.

VIVI AWARDS

The nominees have now been chosen.  Nice to see so many British journals up in different categories.  Special congratulations to our Sara of Sara's Days who has been nominated in two categories.

For full details of the results, please visit:-

VIVI Awards

Good luck everybody.

 

 

21st October

21st October. Trafalgar Day.  Today we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death, during the battle, of Lord Nelson, still considered to be Britain's greatest maritime hero.  In truth, events have taken place earlier in the year to commemorate this victory but today is the actual day.  Beacons will be lit across the country (rain permitting) there will be many formal dinners where the toast will be to "the immortal memory", the Duke of York will be laying a wreath and there is a gathering in Trafalgar Square.

But the 21st is special for another reason, a very much more personal reason.  This is the day that I could never forget. This is the day I brought a baby girl into the world.

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!

                 

Yes, today is the Birthday of our wonderful daughter who has always been our pride and our joy. She is loving, kind, considerate, fun , a great mother and so much more.

So, Becky, Dad and I would like to wish you a "computer" Happy Birthday and many many happy returns. May your day be filled with joy and happiness. We love you very much xxx

P.S. Glad you all liked our new tank (pictures posted yesterday).  111 on the map now including me.  Truly wonderful.

Tank Done

We had a tremendous storm yesterday evening, rumbled on for hours. The rain was so hard during the night that it actually woke me up.  Today the sun is shining brightly and the sky is blue.

All has returned to normal in our household.  The new  tank is up and running well, the old tank has gone, everything has been cleaned and tidied, the room looks bigger. All in all a good job.  Now we are getting so much pleasure in watching our little finny friends in a vastly improved environment.  But oh, do I ache today, in muscles that I never knew I had from my neck to my hips and a soak in the bath has not helped!

Here are the pictures I promised. The first one shows the aquarium in the corner of our living room

We tried to get some closer shots of the fish

We now watch television by just the light of the tank. In the darkness the acrylic top and stand disappear and you just seem to have the tank suspended in mid-air. Magical.

We are certainly very pleased with it.  We have added a couple more plants since these photos were taken and four more fish, Swordtails.  The only thing I have to decide now is where to put the Christmas tree this year.  That was the corner our small tree always sat in - our main tree is in the sunlounge which we look directly out onto.  Still, that is a small price to pay for something that is going to give us enjoyment and relaxation the whole year through.

I will enjoy it even more when I stop aching!

I checked the map last night before logging off.  I was stunned. There are over 100 people on it, I just could not believe it. I had hoped for quite a few to take  part but this has exceeded my wildest expectations.  I have given it a new heading if ever you go back for a look or want to give me a "shout" which you can do at any time.

Well, dear readers, I am going off to get my alerts and e-mails done and then rest my poor body.  Oh the joys of getting old.  Have a good day and may the sun shine on you wherever you are.