Monday Blues - Me & my Hero AND Barkday Greetings Mollie!

All friends know I once had a Spaniel, a Springer Spaniel called Hero, who was the doggy love of my life, who's never been replaced in my heart, except maybe marginally by a pup like dear Jackson - a link to another love, my childhood WFT sister Judy!

Regrettably, back in the 1980/90's I wasn't into photography, so have very few images to remember Hero by.

The ones I do have I've posted before, except one taken in the Summer of '89, this is me in my favourite blue dress, teasing my boy in a rare photo shoot...
I love all gentle pups, but because of Hero have a special fondness for Spaniels.

And with eyes like these who couldn't/wouldn't...Today is a special day for this sweetheart - it's Mollie's 1st Barkday [photo courtesy of b].

Love, pats & pets to you!

This isn't really a meme, more a personal prompt to help keep me blogging.

But if anyone wants to join in, please feel free too - anything blue related goes.

Saturday Photo Hunt - Framed!

tnchick's prompt for this week 'Framed' has two definitions...

"Nown - encasing of a painting/picture."

And...

"Slang - concocted false charge etc"

I've gone for easy traditional option, a framed image!

This is a much treasured, original oil painting, done by my late Mother's old school friend At Joan, framed in a Copper Gilt frame - sadly, my photograph does not do it justice...

The setting is the Highlands/Lochs of Scotland where she & husband Uncle G. holidayed regularly.

I, of course love it's depth of atmospheric blue shades.

But it's the fisherman & his dog that win my heart and make it special to me!

The former with his boat & rod, always reminds me of Uncle G who loved to fish.

This gentle man was the Father I would have wished for & was so grateful to have in my life since he showed me nothing but love & kindness, even to his own son's annoyance re preferring me over his daughter-in-law!

The Black & White pup in the painting looking to see what the catch was, is of course, in my mind, my beloved Spaniel Hero who adored freshly caught fish!!!

True Colours Thursday - BLACK & WHITE and Early Barkday Greetings!

As a certain cute little BLACK with a wisp of WHITE bird doggy, told me it's his special day soon, I decided to take animals as my theme for this weeks TCT.

One of the few regrets I have about being car-less is not being able to visit Millet's Farm anymore, where I found these guys a couple of Summers ago...

But closer to home I have a friendly BLACK & WHITE horse...

Critter figurines...

My personal lap-top dust collector...And, finally this pouch baring my beloved BLACK & WHITE Springer Spaniel Hero's portrait - it's his spitting image...

A gift from my birthday 'twinny' Snowball, it was painted by her clever Jie-Jie, who to raise funds for Snowball's health care & a new camera is looking for commissions now - details can be found HERE on her special blog for this project.

For my cake this week, have a smug graduate in his predominately BLACK subfusc attire on a WHITE cake...

And, last but not least, I have the up & coming Barkday boy [photo courtesy of his b]...

Greetings for the 4th Doyle!

To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either site, so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT Roll Call in that blogs side bar.Next weeks colour LAVENDER!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

True Colours Thursday - PEWTER!

This weeks colour is really just another take on Grey, Silver; the very shades seen in this digital artwork entitled 'Two Moons of Saturn' - designed by Angie, it's one of the cards she recently sent me [photo does not do it justice]...

Now per Wikipedia real PEWTER is...
"A malleable metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth and lead.
But it is a ancient component, used for cutlery and jewellery too - the earliest piece was found in an Egyptian tomb from 1450 BC."

I've nothing that old but I do have several pieces of this Grey/Silver coloured metal.

There's these two small PEWTER photo frames enclosing magical memories - a rare shot of my beloved Hero & I together, and my Mother looking so happy pottering in the garden in the Summer sunshine she loved...

Despite how young we all look, it's hard to believe they are taken nearly twenty years ago.

I still miss them both sooo much, as nothing ever quite replaces ones Mother & that special pup!

Polish Proverb...

"The greatest love is a Mothers; Then comes a Dogs..."

How true!

Quickly, moving on - amongst my jewellery, these pieces are all PEWTER - the top two broaches both feature Celtic designs - their symbolism via never ending knots represents the the circle of life; the pendants stone is metallic grey Hematite, believed in 'crystal magic' to enhance mental awareness, reduce stress, dispel negativity & encourage optimism - much needed@ the moment; and the lower Goose pin is from the days of Canadian Airlines, it was their logo...

Also, have the perfect bookmark for a dog lover - a gift from doggy 'family' Molly & Taffy...On my visit to the Covered Market, found these PEWTER looking Herrings - don't their glassy eyes follow you...But, the Celebration Cake Shop there failed me again!!!

However, this photo of a [Silver] Wedding Anniversary cake, was sent to me by a past TCT player because of my regular cake image feature here, so only seems right to share it today when I need help...

To join True Colours Thursday, whose dedicated home is HERE, all you need, is to post with photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt', as I do now, with many memes, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the Roll Call on TCT blogs side bar.

Next weeks colour is CINNAMON, a spicy suggestion from humorous & loyal participants Doyle & Mollie!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Hero's Celebrity Connection!

I'm a keen radio listener!
BBC Radio 2 for early morning wake-up music and Radio 4 is my later day sound track for drama & source of news.
There's rarely a morning I miss 'Women's Hour' - a magazine programme, originally as it's name suggests, aimed @ women but now with a huge mixed gender following as its remit is wide & varied.
But last week I didn't hear two shows, so played 'catch up' today via the Internet & am so, so glad I did so, because last Wednesday's guest was celebrity chef, noted cookery writer and authority on Italian food & culture Valentina Harris.
She was talking about Spag Bol. & how, what most of us know/make as this ever popular dish, bares no resemblance to a a true Bologna Bolognese sauce served on Tagliatelle not Spaghetti - our version is just a Ragu'!
Anyway, that's not the reason for this post interesting as it is - access to the said programme is HERE!
I've always keenly followed Valentina's Radio & TV appearances because we have a slight, if very tentative connection, having actually spoken on the phone & her Springer Spaniel Onslow Jet known as Toby was my beloved Hero's Sire!!!

Valentina arrived in London from Italy in the mid/late 1970's as a young chef, she married softly spoken DJ Bob Harris, 'Whispering Bob' from the cult Seventies BBC television rock music show 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and @ a party met a young Jewish man, Simeon - Hero's original master & my business partner.
The three of them became firm friends, and when Bob started work for Radio Oxford in 1981 & subsequently moved his family into rural Oxfordshire, Simeon followed suit.
In May '83, Valentina's Springer Spaniel Toby & pedigree dam Abbisu Lady became parents.
Valentina's 'stud fee' was to have pick of the litter of puppies, but she didn't want another pup & Simeon, although he knew nothing of dogs, expressed an interest.
As a result, he selected Hero [Kennel Club name - Toby's Son of St James].
When I came on the scene 18 months later, the Harris's had returned to live in London.
But, Bob was a regular guest - he was hosting weekend local radio shows in Norfolk & Peterborough and Oxford oddly was a good middle of the road free over night stop for him.
I meet him frequently, went out to supper with him & Simeon & shared my wine with him in the flat when S was away.
Valentina use to phone regularly hoping to catch her husband or to talk to Simeon - Bob was usually somewhere the road & Simeon away in London, where he returned to live in '87 leaving Hero with me - so we talked and I found her bright, friendly & funny.
Bob & her eventually divorced as he had a 'wondering eye'; she went on to really build upon her cookery career; Simeon & I eventually lost contact, but as Hero brought me years of pleasure, I still feel a link to Valentina.
I own her first published book 'Perfect Pasta' from 1984 - just wish it was signed.

Camera Critters Sunday - The Beach Pup!

Some things will never change, no matter how many times I move blogs.

One is having a tribute corner to my Springer Spanial, my 'One True Love', Hero.

Dogs are so faithful - they only break your heart, when they cross all too soon, to the Rainbow Bridge!

This photo was taken of Hero, by his original owner Simeon, when he was just a scrawny eighteen month old pup...

Simeon introduced him to the beach & sea swimming early on - he loved it!

When Hero became my boy, we actually swam together @ Brighton - he'd doggy paddle along side me.

And like WFT Jackson, he'd regularly select a special pebble to bring home.

The fact, he ate one which very nearly took his life, proves he was as accident prone as me - we made a good pair!

The Pet Folder Tag!

Guess, I'm getting a little bit - well, a lot, more stir crazy than usual, due to the constant localised rain, that's keeping me bored, frustrated & restricted indoors - Grr!!!
But, seeing this 'open' tag on The Rocky Creek Scotties blog I thought, I'd play along for the nostalgia fix!
The rules are:-
1) open the folder that has your pet pics in it
2) choose one you haven't posted before
3) tell it's story
4) tag 5 friends

Most of my late beloved Springer Spaniel's photo's have already featured on my blogs, yet, I'm unsure about this one?
Here is Hero, in Springtime with 'Percy Penquin' his all time favourite 'squeaky' toy...They/we had great fun together.
Percy Penguin, minus his hat's top [nibbled away] & squeak [lost some where???] still lives on today, sitting on my kitchen window sill in remembrance of Hero, as sentimental me just can't bare to throw him away...Re tagging, as so many have already played, it is hard!
But here goes:-
BJ,
Pansy,
Dina,
The Professionals ie Brodie & Doyle
Hero in the Azores!

Saturday Photo Hunters - Rock(s)!

This weeks prompt from tnchick, took me down memory lane!

There are rocks & rocks & rock!

These are three of my favourite examples!

Firstly, the incoming high tide meeting the rocks @ Qualicum Beach...

This coastal spot is on Vancouver Island, Canada & is where I could have easily settled.

Next, these are two heart shaped, sea tumbled rocks, I found symbolically @ my feet after scattering my loved ones ashes, ie my Mother & Springer Spanial Hero, @ the waters edge in Hove, November '07...And, lastly, this is Brighton Rock, not the Graham Greene novel of the same name or the film!
But, the sweet peppermint kind as holiday makers still, take home to friends & is sold on Brighton's seafront...

Flowers of Rememberance!

As I'm heading back to Dreamingspires later today, there only remains one more ritual to perform.

It involves a visit to a local florist, who will again make up a small bouquet of two flowers for me - a Rose for my Mother & a Gerbera for Hero...

Then it's a long to a particular quiet stretch of the Hove espanade...And, down by a certain wooden breaker, from where I'll place the flowers on the waters edge & watch as the waves take them take out to sea.

For any new friends curious about this act of remembrance, my post HERE will explain more.

Monochrome & Odd Shot Monday - Hero!

Nearly everyday of Hero's eventful life with me, saw him go swimming.
He was one, water crazy spaniel - just hope, over @ the 'Rainbow Bridge' that there's a huge lake for his enjoyment!
Here's he is, with his amazing, undocked tail acting as a rudder, crossing a petal strewn Hinksey Stream, with me taking the shot, reflected in the water...
Monochrome Maniacs is Aileni's conception.
Odd Shot's home is with Katney.

Camera Critters Sunday - Hero's Portrait!

It's a week today since my ??? birthday!
But, being away, meant I didn't un-wrap my parcel from my B'Day twinny Snowball in Singapore, till a few days ago.

Imagine, my absolute delight @ receiving this denim pouch, hand painted on, by her talented Jie-Jie, with the image of my late beloved Springer Spaniel Hero, @ his happiest...

It is perfect in every detail, including his wonderful feathered tail, that does not show up on the original photograph, that the reproductions based on...The gift is just too precious to use, I want to frame it instead!

Camera Critters is the concept of Misty Dawn, the dedicated site is HERE!

An Easter Greeting!

Yesterday, close friends will have noticed that I missed out, possibly the most import BLACK & WHITE in my life, from my True Colour Thursday post.
Yes, my much loved, lamented Hero!
That's because I wanted to blog this today...Several years ago, I used this Spring image of my late boy on an Easter greetings card & sent it to my friends.
Now, I share it here, and wish you all a Happy Easter!

Two fer Tuesday - The Little Bridge!

This was the scene last week on one of my regular country walks - the Devils Backbone, with its bridge across Hinksey Stream, a tributary of the River Isis...Guess, I could have used the image for Saturdays Photo Hunt re Bridge [s]!
However, am glad I didn't; as over the weekend, sorting through my Archives, I came several other takes, making it perfect for Jonna's idea - where you need two or pairs of photo's!
Here's looking back from the other side of the bridge, Spring 2008...The Floods of August 2007 produced many odd sights including this one...And, for real nostalgia, Hero enjoying his final Summer in 1997 - he's about to head down the bank into the stream to swim..

ABC Wednesday - X, Y & Z is for...!

It's a case of playing catch up here, as for one reason & another, have missed posting re the previous two weeks letters!!!

Re X - it's xtraordinary, how one tends to ignore the most the obvious!
I struggled to find an entry for this letter apart from Xmas.
Then, it struck me that X marks the spot in my city...
This cross, to be found in the middle of Broad Street - doesn't look very impressive but it has great historic significance.
It marks, the exact spot, where three Church of England bishops - Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley & Hugh Latimer; the Dreamingspires Martyrs, were tried for heresy & subsequently burnt at the stake for their religious beliefs & teachings, per Catholic Queen Mary's orders in the 1550's.
And, of course, X has to stand for xtra special Xmas pup too.
Who else, but my late boy sitting up, on his last Xmas...

Then, we come to the letter Y - err!
Dreamingspires has many hackney cabs ie Taxis.
Most are Black like those in London, but some are sponsored like this Yellow Cab, waiting for a ride in Gloucester Green last Summer...Now, I don't have a Y doggy, i.e. as in yellow Golden Labrador.
But, I do fortuitously have Yogu again...
All of which brings us to the very last letter of the alphebet, which has to be the toughest - Z!!!
But, I did have a plan - a Zebra road crossing; knew where to find one in my locality too, only fate took a hand, so never got there to photo it!
So, I confess to having zilch.
There is though, within the Univercity of Dreamingspires, a department of Zoology - a branch of Biology concerned with the study of animals, so maybe a Zzzzzzzzzzzzing Taffy gets me of the hook...
Denise is the host here, whose zeal keeps this challenge zinging along.
To zoom in on more ABC'ers do visit HERE!

Now, I have to ask myself, can I really do this all over again???
This ABC Wednesday round - Round 2 for me, Round 3 for others; I tired to keep local to Dreamingspires!
So, need a new theme for the letters of the alphabet to play again.
Can I find one?
You'll just have to wait & see.

Camera Critters Sunday - Dreaming of Santa Paws!

I never had Reindeer antlers or a Santa hat for Hero.

But, come Christmas time, he did wear a tinsel collar & have a festive basket...

Camera Critters host is Misty Dawn & the site is HERE!

Saturday Photo Hunters - Favourite!

I'm a person who always has favourites.
Can't help myself; whether it's a favourite drink, food, person, place, or thing, which is why on my previously blog 'Behind Kyanite's Door' I came up with the personal weekly photo meme 'Favourite Things Thursday', based on the song from 'The Sound of Music'.
But, I never did get round to writing a post on my all time very favourite dog, because I'd written his story many times before.
So, to put things right, there can only be one favourite for tnchick's subject this week, my 'One True Love', Hero..."Dog, n.
This Divine Being in some of his smaller, silkier incarnations, takes in the affection of a Woman, the place to which no human male may aspire"
Ambrose Bierce - 'The Devils Dictionary'
[1842 - 1914]

Happy Barkday Hero!

Back in April, when doing a regular visit to the Dogs With Blogs website to look for new doggy friends - sad case that I am; I made a discovery that left me speechless & in sentimental tears!

Another Hero, and he was a Spaniel too...

Okay, he's a Field Spaniel not a Springer!
But, never the less, an adorable handsome fellow & like my late beloved boy, he too loves water & the beach.

So, can't let his second Barkday go by without a mention!

Todays Flowers - The Poppy!

Not my finest flower photograph ever, but there's no other possible choice, with tomorrow being Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day.

It has many names but only one meaning!

This year, it's 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 1918; the war that was supposedly to end all wars, and yet here we are today with conflicts are still ongoing - 121 young British men & women have lost their lives in Afghanistan, another 177 in Iraq!

Countless others, from other countries across the world have done like wise!

Which is why I feel we should remember.

In the UK, we have no public holiday, Remembrance Day, is just commemorated on the Sunday closest to the 11th of November, which was yesterday.

The Queen, laid a wreath of red poppies @ the Cenotaph War Memorial in Whitehall, London.

Followed by by The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prince William & leading politicians.

Then, war veterans, many elderly & frail, proudly wearing their medals & regimental berets marched past the Cenotaph.

Tomorrow, the actual day that marks the end of World War I; i.e. on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the moment will simply be observed by a minutes silence by many business's, shops & individuals including myself!

But, why is a Poppy the symbol of this act of Remembrance?
During the First World War, the red poppies were seen to be among the first plants that sprouted from the devastation of the battlefields of Northern France & Belgium.

Soldiers folklore had it that the poppies were vivid red from having been nurtured in the blood drenched ground, where their comrades fall.

In truth they grow naturally in conditions of disturbed earth, which why we see them growing in corn fields.

My Hero loved to race through them...

The shells & shrapnel of World War I's artillery stirred up the earth & exposed the seeds, that could have lain dormant in the soil for years, so causing them to bloom profusely in the trenches & craters of the war torn land.

It was the sight of the prolific red poppies on the battlefield at Ypres in 1915, that moved Canadian surgeon Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write this moving poem:-

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

And, from this, the Poppy came to represent the sacrifice made by his comrades; and quickly became a lasting memorial to those who died in that war & later conflicts.

The Royal British Legion's annual Poppy appeal raises thousands & thousands of pounds to help ex-servicemen young & old. They said this year, the need for funds is greater than ever!

Young would-be soldiers & Territorials were selling the Poppies @ the finish of the London to Brighton Veteran Run, which is where I proudly bought mine.

"Lest we forget!
They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them"

~

The link to all Todays Flowers can be found HERE!

A Birthday Remembrance & Monochrome Monday - My Mother!

This long weekend away is very much about re-visiting!
And, not just WFT Jackson.
Today would have been my dear, sweet Mother's 91st birthday!
This cherished Birthday 2004 photo, is her with 'pet' Tatty, before the Cancer took hold...Mother very happily, spent many of her birthdays, on a late holiday here or rather, in Hove, the more refined resort, adjoining Brighton.
We'd celebrate her special day together @ the Dudley Hotel, where all the staff know her well.
I'd organise a Birthday cake & we'd have a champagne toast to go with it!
And, the day wouldn't be complete without a promenade along the seafront, even if, in latter years it was in her wheelchair.
Last year in memory of these events, I came to Brighton to say my final 'Farewell'!
I naturally blogged about it @ the time but because it's important to me, and for friends old & new to understand the significance of the day, I'm repeating the posts words...
"3rd November 2007 - Saying Goodbye!
This morning I had an important secret mission to accomplish!
As I've said, my Mother loved being by the sea.
It wasn't just her birthdays she spend @ the coast, each Summer she'd be down, for her annual 2 or 3 week long stay.
Mother & I never seriously discussed her death, or her wishes regarding it, and it was too late to do so when she became ill as the Cancer accelerated her Alzheimer's

But, I had always teased her, that I'd keep her ashes initially with me on the mantle-shelf, then scatter them along the seashore as she wasn't, in anyway religious.
I've done the former for the last two years, today, it was time for the scattering, as the time & place seemed appropriate.

I'd also, brought along Hero, aka my 'One True Love''s ashes, as he too loved the sea.

He could detect the change in the air, that ozone salty smell, as soon as we drove into Brighton town & would became all excitment- just couldn't wait to race down to the beach, where he'd run & run, pebbled pick and swam no matter how choppy the sea.

So, it seemed fitting that Hero should accompany Mother on her final journey.

Now, in truth I wasn't too sure about the legality, of what I'd planned to do; so, not wanting many, if any by-standers looking on, I headed out straight after a early breakfast.

Made a quick visit to the the barely open Florists for a single rusty red Rose for Mother & a yellow Gerbera for Hero.

Then, it was along the Hove Lawns.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect morning.

Blue, blue clear skies, bright sunshine and hardly any breeze, consequently the sea was a mill pond calm, a rarity; with the waves just gently lapping the shoreline.

Also, the tide was on the turn outward - an important factor in ashes scattering!

I carefully, chose a favourite, much frequented section of the beach.

And, went down to the waters edge between one of the wooden groynes.

Sat there for a while in the sunshine, with my two loved ones for one last time & reflected.

I thought of my Mothers song, the Sixties piece 'Stranger on the Shore' by saxophonist Acker Bilk.

It's wistful melody summed her up perfectly, which is why I had it played @ her cremation.

Eventually, I discreetly scattered, first Hero's & then Mothers ashes on to the wet pebbles and watched them slowly wash away.

When only the flowers remained, I cast the small floral bouquet out to sea & it gradually drifted off on the ebbing tide.

I watched till the suns reflection on the water & my tears obscured my vision totally.

Letting go was extremely hard, I only hope it brings some sort of closure.

It was then that, I found two symbolic heart shaped pebbles @ my feet!"

Enough said, my plan this morning is again to place flowers on the sea in remembrance.

Sentimental as it is, to me it's far better than visiting any graveyard!

And, the following images are appropriate for Aileni's Monochrome Maniacs feature.

All are original B&W photo's of my Mother.

A bonny 1917 baby...

The young girl estranged from her Father - this was the photo sent to him circum 1924/25...

A rural snap - my Mother is on the left with the Cocker Spanial, the other girl maybe Aunt J...

The teenager [again on the left] on a visit to Chedder Caves with her Girl Guide leaders...And finally, her professional portrait, with Mother in her ATS uniform, taken around 1941..."Photographs are precious memories . . .

The visual evidence of place and time and relationships . . .

Ritual talismans for the treasure chest of the heart."

Robert Fulghum, in 'From Beginning to End'