Maytime

It's now lilac time in our neighbourhood.  The blossom has just about survived showery days.   

Most of the tulips and other Spring flowers are over now.

The seedlings have been put outside to harden off as the frosty nights are no longer happening.  Mr P continues to sow seeds and tend the developing plants.  Colour is back in the front and back gardens.  The tomato plants are doing well in the covered yard. 

We've had May Bank holiday and a Bank holiday for the Coronation so many people have been out and about enjoying the mild and sunny weather.  We've stayed around our locality as I had plenty to watch on television and library books to read.

Ornamental cherry blossom in the park was attracting one family who were out for a walk. I watched for a while as a little girl was hoisted up on the father's shoulders to take a closer look at the blossom on the lower branches of the cherry tree.

The great grandchildren are happy and enjoy our attention (either the little girl who lives locally or from internet photos that our Berkshire Daughter D sends during baby sitting sessions). Berkshire Baby A goes to a mother and baby musical sensory group and local Baby S also enjoys her soft toys and dancing, musical  'friend'.

On Coronation Day our local daughter M and her friend came around for lunch.  We had tuna, cucumber and mozzarella sandwiches, salad and a lemon drizzle cake that I had made.  

I'm still reading the supplement pull-out magazines included in the weekend newspapers that Daughter M bought for me to keep as souvenirs and watching recordings of the Coronation ceremonies and evening concert.  Everything went off well considering the logistics and number of participants. I'm sure the television companies who were involved were pleased with the result.  A day to remember indeed.

Remembrance

Armistice Day is on the 11th November and is also known as Remembrance Day.  It marks the day when World War One ended at 11 a.m. on the 11th month in 1918.  A two minutes silence is held at 11 a.m. to remember those who died in wars.  Remembrance Sunday is also marked each year and falls on the 2nd Sunday in November. It's a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states to remember the armed forces who have died in the line of duty. In the United States of America Armistice Day is known and marked as Veterans Day.

This year because of the coronavirus and the fact that England is in lockdown commemoration gatherings in large numbers are not possible.  Instead those who wish to show their support have been asked to remember in a different way.  Suggestions include standing on the doorstep to observe the two minutes silence, watch the dedicated programmes on the television and wear a poppy which is now a symbol of remembrance on this special day.  This is what Mr P and I did on Sunday and will do so again today. 

The above collage is of the World War One Memorial in the local parish church yard where there are other Commonwealth War Commission graves and poppies displayed at the moment by the schoolchildren at a school in my home town - (photo taken and sent to me by our daughter). 

We will remember them