My Dad really DID deserved a medal!

Today, my Dad would have been 91 years old.  We lost him 17 years ago next month, and all still miss him terribly.

Here he is in a school group - Middle row 3rd from the right.
(Dudley Grammer School around 1935.)

 Dad - my favourite photo :o) that some of you may remember me posting before...

Dressed as a pirate for a local carnival float long before I was born.

And finally on our wedding day 34 years ago - far right hand side.

During the war Dad was in a 'reserved occupation'.  A job that was deemed vital to the war effort, and because of this he didn't serve in the armed forces.  He did however join the Local Defence Volunteers Force, which later became The Home Guard (otherwise know as Dad's Army!)  Which was in fact part of the British Army.

In truth, I know very little about this part of my Dad's life as it was before he and Mom met ( they met on V.E. Day) other than he was a signaller, but I recently found out that he was entitled to the Defence Medal during family history research.  I down-loaded the relevant forms and filled them in on behalf of my Mom, and after she signed them we applied.  There was no certainty that Dad would get it as many of the Home Guard records have been destroyed.  I have got a couple of certificates that he was awarded during his service with dates and his service number on though.

We waited with crossed finger for many weeks, and them received a letter from the MOD (Ministry of Defence) asking for more details.  I was able to furnish them with copies of his certificates, and again we waited and waited.....

Then, finally on Saturday Mom received a letter package from the MOD.

So here's to you Dad on your Birthday....it's just so sad that you aren't here to receive it in person.

All my love.

Rose 

xxx

Here's a link should you wish to look into applying for the Defence Medal from Home Guard Service for a relative.

(Click on question 12 for help and links.)

The Eleventh Hour, The Eleventh Day, The Eleventh Month

We will remember them.

My thoughts are again with all the lost souls from periods war....

Taken yesterday at Cannock Chase War Cemetery.

Commonwealth war cemeteries are common on the Continent, this one at Cannock is quite unusual as it is one of only a very few military cemeteries in the UK.
It was built by and is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and was originally established during the First World War when a large military camp nearby became the base for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.  There was also a POW hospital with 1,000 beds.  Both the camp and the hospital used the burial ground.  This cemetery is open all year round and there are 97 Commonwealth burials (most of them are New Zealanders), along with 286 German burials  from the First World War.
There are 3 burials from the Second World War.

It is one of the three War cemeteries/memorials within 5 miles of my home, set in the area of outstanding natural beauty which is Cannock Chase.

Here are links to the German War Cemetery post from last year, and also The Katyn Memorial.

May they rest in peace.

A reminder to UK Bloggers...Guy Fawkes night(s)

Sorry it's askew, but you get the message...

Thank you on behalf of the hedgehogs :o)

xxx

Welcome to new followers!

Part two of the catch up.

Hello folks!  

Thank you all for your lovely comments, you ARE a super bunch :o)

As promised I'm back with more catching up.  I have of course been out and about bargain hunting, here's a few of the things I found.  (Photo heavy post)

This delightful little Masons Cathay trinket box caught my eye amidst a shelf-full of boxes.  It stood out as quality and cost £6.  It seems to be a modern piece.

Then I found this linen Autumnal doily, around 5" square.  I loved the sweet acorns and oak leaves.

Can you believe it was only 20p?

A stoneware 'Dripping' lidded jar.

Made by Moira Pottery, who were established in 1922 and sadly closed in 1972.  £1.50.
I've only 'discovered' how much I like Stoneware fairly recently and have found it to be very useful in the kitchen.

The colour of this Royal Norfolk jug is a beautiful cobalt blue, sadly the light was not very good today and it looks almost black.  I think it will hold around 2 pints and its cost?  £1.75.

I spotted the next up last week.

This beautiful crystal handled cake knife and server, obviously made for the happy couple to cut the wedding cake was on offer for £3.  I just cannot imagine why you'd want to get rid of them after the wedding...maybe it didn't work out as happy ever after?

Then I found these two pieces of Arcadian crested ware for £1 each

If this had of been made by Goss it would have bee SO much dearer...

I have a few pieces of crested ware I will share with you another time.

I have finally found and affordable cloche, that I have got a bit carried away with!  So here are some photos of some Autumnal vignettes I've had a play with.  Most of the items I already had stashed away  Oh, the cloche is a bell shape and cost £12.

First a close up of my cloche.  Approx 9" high.

I got the cast iron squirrel on the same day for £6, oh and the single antler at the front £5.

(I just love the oak and acorn plate.)

There's always plenty of spiders about ;o)

Then I had another play around.

We had a dear friend visiting last weekend, who very kindly bought me the gorgeous Spode Chinese Rose platter as a gift :o)

Thank you Reg x  A very beautiful and thoughtful gift.

Conkers (horse chestnuts) oak leaves and another new addition, a cast iron hedgehog :o)

£3.50

A cheese dome with Mom and children hedgehogs (All made by Wade)

The Autumn leaves were kindly donated by my dinky little peach tree.

An Irish Bog Oak cauldron that was always a fascination for me as a child.

And the last arrangement I made.

A bit spooky for Halloween.  Tiny pumpkins, a spooky black cat, and the antler that looks like a magic wand!

And finally, you just knew there's be news on hedgehogs.

As you know I rescued Octavia, who is now happily putting on weight at West Midland Hedgehog rescue.  I thought that she was the last visiting hedgehog, but how wrong I was...

please meet Olivia :o) another juvenile

Found in my garden on the 25th October.  Here, I've just met up with Joan on the vets car park to pass her on to WMHR.

Sooo cute.  She too is well underweight to survive the Winter hibernation.

Then, would you believe on the 27th October I found...

Otto, a very sweet, friendly young man seen here perching on my (gloved) hand at the rescue centre.

(Just in case you're wondering all names beginning with 'O' as it's October.)

It appears that these three sweethearts are all from the same litter, as they are all around the same size.  All three have been quite friendly, opening up from their curled (VERY spiky) balls quickly on my hand.

I've had long discussions with Joan about the little dears and we are both convinced that they open up easily as my gloves smell of other hedgehogs.  Once they're relaxed they seem to enjoy being stroked immensely, once the spines flatten down they feel lovely and smooth and don't hurt your bare hand at all.

 I'm a sucker for their beautiful, moist noses.  Who couldn't fall in love with a face like that?

Thank you all for putting up with such a long post.  Hope you see something you like - please leave a comment and let me know.

Happy Halloween Everyone.

Just to let you know I'm thinking of you....

I'm shocked and saddened looking at the news pictures of the utter devastation caused by Sandy.
I most earnestly hope that my friends and their families in the USA and Canada are, and remain safe.
My thoughts are with you all.

xxx

Sorry I have been AWOL.

It seems like an age since I sat down and composed a post, but finally here I am with part one of a catch up.

I'd also like to welcome two new followers, and to thank you for all the lovely comments on my last two posts - you really are a lovely lot out there :o)

HEDGEHOGS

It's been (worryingly) very quiet on the hedgehog front in the garden, there are so very few about.  I'm really wondering what has happened to our once quite healthy population?  My Hoggie homes are all vacant, and I'm only putting out around a quarter of the food that was once being gobbled up each night - some nights it's not even been touched :o( and I rarely ever actually see one visiting despite checking every hour or so.  Though  I have seen two car casualties in the lane, both sadly dead, and I'm seriously wondering if there have been more casualties in the recent flooding that we've experienced again...

Around two weeks ago I did spy a tiny visitor (and Autumn Juvenile)  and was able to catch it and take it to Joan at the rescue centre to over-winter and fatten up.  

Please meet Octavia.

You can see how tiny she is by the size of Joan's hand.

At this point we still didn't know if it was Octavia or Octavius!

But the truth was just a gentle 'roll' away ;o)

I was the wrong end to tell!  But Joan confirms a little girl.

She's now happily munching away safely and putting on the ounces.

A visit to the rescue centre is always full exiting things, like this...

Tiny baby girl!   Look, she's waving at you all.

 Who later sat snugly in my hand to keep her warm.  Her dear little feet tickled as she snuffled about my hands.  I wish I could have bought her home, but I made sure she was snuggled back in her woolie hat on the heat pad for a snooze.  She is (only just) weaned.  

o x o x o x

OWLS

The 'owl man'  has been in the village again, and of course I had to get in a few shots ;o)

A beautiful Barn Owl

A Spotted Eagle Owl

and a VERY handsome

Harris Hawk.

(Okay, I KNOW it's not an owl, but you have to admit it's sunning.)

WASPS

A couple of weeks ago I went into the loft to find something that was stored up there (more about that in another post.)  Our loft has a ladder, floor and lights, I heard something hitting the light bulb, and when I looked it was an enormous wasp.  As it wasn't bothering me I left it until I went back down stairs, by which time it had landed so in time-honoured fashion I killed it and thought no more about it.

Next day (Sunday) I went up the garden and as I went to put my hand on the gate saw a dopey wasp, and on closer inspection quite a few dopey wasps in the garden.  Hubby has a very bad reaction to wasp stings, so I went back in to warn him to be cautious.  He came out with me and looked up to the eaves of the house and there were hundreds of the blighters buzzing in and out of the wood!  I went back up into the end recesses of the loft, and sure enough there was one enormous wasps nest...EEK!

I had to leave calling the local authority wasp exterminator until the next day (Monday).  The lady I spoke to asked me the details, and if there was easy access to the loft. I confirmed there was but a few boxes were in the way and I'd go up and move them, she was most emphatic that I left them alone as the exterminator had the proper protective gear to deal with them as there was a likelihood I could be stung -  I had no problem agreeing to that ;o)

She told the exterminator would ring me directly and make an appointment.  Within an hour the exterminator called, he seemed to be a little cloak and dagger about it, which reminded me of 'The Good Life' when Tom & Barbara had fleas!  The appointment was made for the next morning, and the chap duly arrived a the time arranged.  Now, I wasn't expecting a young hunk but was rather alarmed when a gent of around 70 years turned up in a boiler suit and a beany hat.  He asked me to show him the nest, I explained about a few boxes in the way and what the lady had warned me...he seemed a little miffed :o( 

 I opened the loft access hatch, pulled down the ladder and went to put on the lights for him, he told me not to turn them on as it would attract 'them' away from the nest.  (Okay by me!)  I told him exactly where to look and  he rather painfully mounted the ladder clutching his torch.  He told me to leave him as a few wasps may escape whilst he was summing up the situation.  I heard him moving about and left him to it.  He reappeared after about five minutes and told me the plan of attack.  He'd go and get the chemical killer and spray it onto the nest inside the loft, and then he'd use a L O N G lance and spray again through the cedar wood cladding from outside.  Off he toddled to the van, I expected him to reappear all togged up in his veil and suit - but was rather shocked to see that he was still in the same boiler suit and hat, but now armed with a long garden cane and a large aerosol can.  He disappeared back upstairs and into the loft, and again I could hear 'things' being moved about.  He was up there around five minutes, and when he came back down asked me to shut-up the loft hatch.  After I'd shut it up I asked him what the garden cane was for?  He told me that he'd broken the nest apart with it before spraying!  I was amazed he didn't get stung.  He said as long as he wore a hat he was fine.  He then went outside and I could see him through the kitchen window wielding his lance!

It took him about five minutes before calling me out to see.  There were many hundreds of VERY angry wasps going berserk.  He said to be careful and warn my neighbours to close windows and doors.  We'd probably still see wasps over the next two days, and if they were still about by Thursday to give him a ring and he'd return for a second dose free of charge, but it was highly unlikely we'd need a second visit, and to be very careful of the dead bodies as I swept them up as I could still get stung - I didn't know that! 

Over the next couple of days the bodies mounted and the 'live wires' lessened.

I'm happy to announce that we are now a wasp free zone after only one visit :o)

Just in case you find yourself in a similar situation (in the UK) try the local authority first, our eradication cost £55 inc. VAT, with no further charge for a second visit, I did try other companies and the prices ranged from £65 - £77 all plus VAT and with another slightly lesser charge for a follow-up treatment....

I just have to pluck up the courage to open up the loft and clear away the nest and dead bodies - any volunteers out there?

Well, I'd better close now, but I'll be back very soon with part two of my catch up and show you a few 'finds'.

I hope I didn't bore you to death?

Best wishes to all.

Leaves for Leontien

I'm Joining with Nancy at Rural Journey 

These Autumn leaves are for Leontein, to let her know that I'm thinking of her and her dear husband while she battles cancer.  Sending {{hugs}} across the pond.

Love

x x x