George Arthur Newman remembered

I lost you eighteen years ago today Dad, I can't quite compute that I've been on this earth longer without you than with you. How can that be? It feels like you left me yesterday. I can still remember that night when they put you in the ambulance and told us we couldn't come too and not to worry and that it was just for observation and that you would be back tomorrow...and a few hours later when they called...and that shock that hit so hard in the solar plexus neither Mum nor I could breathe...and I had to hold her upright whilst she couldn't stand for sobbing...and then listening to her call Paul to tell him his Dad was dead, sat on the carpet, holding your hat in my hands like it was made of crystal like if I held it and myself ever so quietly and carefully that it might not have happened at all...but it had, and it did, and that all feels like it happened minutes ago, not eighteen long years since. I miss you everyday, every time I look at my son I see you, and wish you were here to tell him his Grandad loves him. I love you Dad, part of my heart is always yours.

George Jacob Newman is TWO

Our lovely little man is two today - we got him the above card and a Brio train set. A quiet day all told after the Birthday Open House on Saturday. We did try to take him to the myplaycafe and he fell asleep in the car!

George's Birthday Open House

Possibly the worst photographs i've ever taken, but the best I could do under the circs due to feeding and watering a LOT of people in the pop up cafe that was our kitchen.

BIRTHDAY MENU

Leek and Potato or Carrot and Caraway Soup with Granary, Wholemeal or White Bread

Shaz's Tomato and Pepper Quiche or Morrison's rustic pork pie

Vanilla Sponge Birthday Cake, Coffee and Walnut Cake and Shaz's Carrot Cake

Lavazza Filter Coffee or Yorkshire Leaf Tea

My dearest thanks to all who came...
Mum+Dad B, Shaz, Dot and Brian Williams, Wendy, Phil and Dylan Gray, Claire and Justin Smith, Suzanne, Tobias and Abel Byrne, Caroline Campbell, Rachael and Stanley Gwilliam, Trevor and Sandra Peach, Ellie Pollock and to my beloved husband Jon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!! - You're a very lucky and much loved little boy.

Remembrance Sunday

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

Guy Fawkes Night

Burnley was out in force, and I mean force. I believe the capacity was 5000 and I think they hit it and then some. We had tickets including parking in the nearest car park to the fireworks and after a short walk, various hi-vis clad steward checks and a tango with the barriers we were in a fairground area on hard standing. This was busy and bustling, full of dry ice and strobing lasers, thumping dance music and screaming kids being flung around the waltzers. Is it only me who can never walk through a place like this without thinking of Dire Straits 'Tunnel of Love'?! Into the field adjacent to the firework setting, we met such a scrum of people, children and buggies and not to mention mud underfoot that it was impossible to go much further. I blessed the rucksack carrier George was in, trying to keep his hand or push the pram would have been horrible. We stood a while then went back over the bridge into the fairground, more people, more lights and sounds, George coped admirably; sitting merrily in his perch looking this way and that. Then the rain came down and we tried to hop from place to place for cover, finally sheltering next to the dodgems. I used to love going on this ride. My Dad took me often to the space themed bumpers on St Anne's pier as kid, the sounds and smell took me back there and I was five again. The rain had stopped now, but we soon discovered George had reached his zenith in the perch, shivering through four layers and desperate for freedom. Jon took him back to the car to watch in the warmth while I queued for coffee with Sharon. The music by the bonfire played Burn Baby Burn and we giggling and bobbed and It felt like the old uni days. Our feet in the mud the fireworks began, small at first then higher and louder and bigger and brighter. Some i'd never seen before, like catherine wheels in the sky, spinning off again and again. [Do they invent new fireworks Shaz? I mean is there a man in a lab somewhere making these?] by the time the biggest hit the sky we were back on the path and heading for the exit. Finding the best vantage point of the night outside the pay zone on the path amongst many other families. I got two decent shots, the rest, a mass of blurred light and strobed fire due to shaking hands and slow shutter speed. Then there was Jon and George and we were back in the car park again. 

Majestic autumn

We've had some awful stormy weather over the weekend. Late afternoon yesterday was fierce, with thunder, lightning and so many hailstones the roofs and road looked like snow. Last night was a complete washout, so much so that the bonfire we were thinking of going to near Walsden didn't even happen. The tremendous gales and hail made me think that today might be one of our last chances to get out and enjoy the changing colours on the leaves and see the glorious autumn coat before it falls.