Yesterday and this morning my pains were really bad. I’d ran out of some of my painkillers and couldn’t pick up my prescription for some more until today.
This morning I had to go to two banks, pick up my prescription and then go to the chemist. Parking at all of this places is usually horrendous and given my pains I really couldn’t do with walking very far.
My Guardian Angel must have been looking out for me as I got parked no problem at all of the places, plus both of the banks were empty so I didn’t have to stand (which is something that really hurts) and there was only one person in front of me at both the doctors and the chemist.
If that wasn’t enough, my electric garage door worked first time *
Thank you Guardian Angel.
Marie
* the remote is temperamental at the moment so most of the time it won’t open the door, which means I have to park at the front, then wait for John to come home to open the door. Most annoying…
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Home alone
John's away on a course for work and won't be back until late tomorrow night so I've got the place all to myself.
Sadly no raves are planned for tonight. It's just me, a glass or wine (or two...), possibly some yummies from my birthday hamper, a DVD or two and some sewing.
Marie
Sadly no raves are planned for tonight. It's just me, a glass or wine (or two...), possibly some yummies from my birthday hamper, a DVD or two and some sewing.
Marie
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Birthday present
For my fortieth birthday my lovely friends bought me a gift experience. There were so many things to choose from, however I decided on a day cookery course at Swinton Park in Masham, North Yorkshire.
Because of my knee I decided to wait until the New Year to book the course, as I expected my knee problem to be something simple as a damaged cartilage which could be fixed pretty easily.
However as you know things didn’t quite go to plan with my knee. The course entails standing which is something my knee can’t handle at the moment and whilst I could dose myself up with loads of painkillers, it’s not really practical given the side effects of the tablets.
I then thought about going on a wine tasting experience also at Swinton Park. However that has a lot of standing as well, plus because of my tablets I’m not supposed to drink that much. A glass or two of wine is fine but definitely not the quantity involved in wine tasting and I’m a drinker, not a spitter…
I had a look through the companies website and there were non-standing experiences that caught my eye. However as the best time for me to partake in them would be the summer, that’s out of the question again because of my knee. I could either be in hospital or stuck at home recuperating from my operation.
Yesterday I took delivery of this.
As you can see it’s huge. John very kindly offered to help me drink the wine seeing as I can’t have that much. Isn’t he so thoughtful…
I hope my friends aren’t too disappointed in what I’ve chosen. I would have dearly loved to have gone on the cookery course but sadly it isn’t wasn’t meant to be at the moment.
I have made a promise to myself that once I’m fit and well I will go on the course so I’ll then dedicate it to my friends.
Marie
Because of my knee I decided to wait until the New Year to book the course, as I expected my knee problem to be something simple as a damaged cartilage which could be fixed pretty easily.
However as you know things didn’t quite go to plan with my knee. The course entails standing which is something my knee can’t handle at the moment and whilst I could dose myself up with loads of painkillers, it’s not really practical given the side effects of the tablets.
I then thought about going on a wine tasting experience also at Swinton Park. However that has a lot of standing as well, plus because of my tablets I’m not supposed to drink that much. A glass or two of wine is fine but definitely not the quantity involved in wine tasting and I’m a drinker, not a spitter…
I had a look through the companies website and there were non-standing experiences that caught my eye. However as the best time for me to partake in them would be the summer, that’s out of the question again because of my knee. I could either be in hospital or stuck at home recuperating from my operation.
Yesterday I took delivery of this.
As you can see it’s huge. John very kindly offered to help me drink the wine seeing as I can’t have that much. Isn’t he so thoughtful…
I hope my friends aren’t too disappointed in what I’ve chosen. I would have dearly loved to have gone on the cookery course but sadly it isn’t wasn’t meant to be at the moment.
I have made a promise to myself that once I’m fit and well I will go on the course so I’ll then dedicate it to my friends.
Marie
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Fabric to go
I’ve made a start on my dress for Blackpool conference gala dinner. The toile* is finished and ready to be scrutinised by my mam tomorrow.
Even though my mam keeps reminding me over and over again how she hates dressmaking and doesn’t want anything more to do with it, I’ve still got to take it to her for inspection.
Once she has given her approval (more like – you’ll have to let it out a bit more as it shows up your spare tyres….) I can then cut the dress out in the proper fabric. Or should I say my mam cuts the dress out and I become the scissors passers mate…
She’ll graciously allow me to sew the dress at home however I must bring it back to her for the final inspection.
I did once buy a dress pattern and some fabric without her being there and she still hasn’t forgiven me ! ! !
Marie
* test garment
Even though my mam keeps reminding me over and over again how she hates dressmaking and doesn’t want anything more to do with it, I’ve still got to take it to her for inspection.
Once she has given her approval (more like – you’ll have to let it out a bit more as it shows up your spare tyres….) I can then cut the dress out in the proper fabric. Or should I say my mam cuts the dress out and I become the scissors passers mate…
She’ll graciously allow me to sew the dress at home however I must bring it back to her for the final inspection.
I did once buy a dress pattern and some fabric without her being there and she still hasn’t forgiven me ! ! !
Marie
* test garment
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Only something your mother would say II
On Friday my mam and I went to Dainty Supplies (local haberdashery and fabric store) to find a pattern and some fabric for my Blackpool conference gala dinner dress.
I’d already made a short list of 10 having looked at the various patterns online so it was just a matter of choosing which one I liked the best.
As you know my mam is quite opinionated so she told me exactly what she thought of each pattern:
‘it’s too slutty’
‘you’re too short’
‘you’re too big busted’
‘you’ve got fat arms’
‘it’ll make you look old’
‘it’s a school prom dress and it was a long time since you were at school…’
‘you need to lose at least two stone in weight’
‘you’ve got fat knees’
and the best one ‘it’ll make look like a pregnant duck’ ! ! !
Marie
I’d already made a short list of 10 having looked at the various patterns online so it was just a matter of choosing which one I liked the best.
As you know my mam is quite opinionated so she told me exactly what she thought of each pattern:
‘it’s too slutty’
‘you’re too short’
‘you’re too big busted’
‘you’ve got fat arms’
‘it’ll make you look old’
‘it’s a school prom dress and it was a long time since you were at school…’
‘you need to lose at least two stone in weight’
‘you’ve got fat knees’
and the best one ‘it’ll make look like a pregnant duck’ ! ! !
Marie
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Busy, busy, busy
Sorry for the lack of blogs but things are starting to get busy, busy, busy for Blackpool conference.
Last Thursday we had snow ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
It started with a few flurries mid morning then came down really heavy around noon and didn’t stop for several hours. Thankfully by the evening most of it had turned to slush.
Friday we were in Blackpool for a meeting with the hotel to finalise things for the conference. Then after the meeting we drove to Doncaster as we had a conference team meeting the next day.
We had arranged to meet with Emma and Paul, who were also staying at the Premier for the team meeting, at 6.15pm as the Beefeater Pub had a special priced three course meal for £9.99 each, but you had to be seated by 6.30pm.
We were running a little late having got caught in traffic on our way to Blackpool, which made us half an hour late for our meeting, then we hit rush hour traffic big time on the M62.
At 6.00pm we were only four hundred yards away from the Premier when we hit yet more traffic jams. The police had closed the very road we needed to get to the hotel...
It was dark, we were in the middle of a huge business park with no divisions signs, and a railway line in the way, and we had no idea how to find the hotel.
Eventually, with more luck than anything else, we stumbled on the hotel, and finally made it into the restaurant at 7.30pm. The restaurant staff had very kindly let us have the meal for £9.99 as Emma & Paul had been seated at the table at 6.15pm.
Blackpool conference, like the last time, is a complete sell out, and unfortunately the hotel can’t give us any more rooms. Apparently there’s an aerobic convention taking place somewhere in Blackpool and they’ve taken up the rest of the rooms.
This means that the ‘Innkeeper from Hell’ has had to make an appearance as would-be delegates complain that ‘there’s no room at the inn’ and are not happy bunnies….
This afternoon I had to go to the doctors to get some stronger painkillers for my knee as the others weren’t doing anything. I’ve now got four different one to take, each with their own various side-effects.
Wonderful ! ! ! !
Marie
Last Thursday we had snow ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
It started with a few flurries mid morning then came down really heavy around noon and didn’t stop for several hours. Thankfully by the evening most of it had turned to slush.
Friday we were in Blackpool for a meeting with the hotel to finalise things for the conference. Then after the meeting we drove to Doncaster as we had a conference team meeting the next day.
We had arranged to meet with Emma and Paul, who were also staying at the Premier for the team meeting, at 6.15pm as the Beefeater Pub had a special priced three course meal for £9.99 each, but you had to be seated by 6.30pm.
We were running a little late having got caught in traffic on our way to Blackpool, which made us half an hour late for our meeting, then we hit rush hour traffic big time on the M62.
At 6.00pm we were only four hundred yards away from the Premier when we hit yet more traffic jams. The police had closed the very road we needed to get to the hotel...
It was dark, we were in the middle of a huge business park with no divisions signs, and a railway line in the way, and we had no idea how to find the hotel.
Eventually, with more luck than anything else, we stumbled on the hotel, and finally made it into the restaurant at 7.30pm. The restaurant staff had very kindly let us have the meal for £9.99 as Emma & Paul had been seated at the table at 6.15pm.
Blackpool conference, like the last time, is a complete sell out, and unfortunately the hotel can’t give us any more rooms. Apparently there’s an aerobic convention taking place somewhere in Blackpool and they’ve taken up the rest of the rooms.
This means that the ‘Innkeeper from Hell’ has had to make an appearance as would-be delegates complain that ‘there’s no room at the inn’ and are not happy bunnies….
This afternoon I had to go to the doctors to get some stronger painkillers for my knee as the others weren’t doing anything. I’ve now got four different one to take, each with their own various side-effects.
Wonderful ! ! ! !
Marie
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Snow
We haven't got any.
Not a bit.
OK, it's plenty cold but the ground is bare and dry. No chance of a day off work round here.
And before I close, here's something I meant to post last Thursday. If the date means anything to you, so will the cartoon.
John
Not a bit.
OK, it's plenty cold but the ground is bare and dry. No chance of a day off work round here.
And before I close, here's something I meant to post last Thursday. If the date means anything to you, so will the cartoon.
John
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
I’m racking my brain…
… to try and think of something to blog about.
A very long pause
Sadly I can’t come up with anything.
We really do lead exciting lives….
Marie
A very long pause
Sadly I can’t come up with anything.
We really do lead exciting lives….
Marie
Monday, January 26, 2009
Nothing to report
I'm afraid life in the BOGOF household hasn't been that exciting hence the lack of blogs.
The side effects from my painkillers have worn off but not before it decided to set off my IBS for a few days. Thankfully that's settled down too.
So that's about the sum total of the news.
Marie
The side effects from my painkillers have worn off but not before it decided to set off my IBS for a few days. Thankfully that's settled down too.
So that's about the sum total of the news.
Marie
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Less (Than) is More (Than)
Insurance renewal. It’s always a bit of an odd time, but this year was even odder.
My insurance renewal arrived from More Than and it was for £374. Given the kind of car I drive this wasn’t such a bad price. If you drive an Alfa Romeo, some companies won’t even quote.
Of course no-one would accept the offer without looking for a better price so off to the internet I went.
Marie decided that she didn’t want to drive my car anymore, so we decided to see what price I could get without her on the policy. Best price offering like for like was £250, from More Than …
Silly me thought that all I had to do was ring them and get Marie taken off the policy and all would be fine. How wrong I was.
I was informed that to get a policy for me only would cost £391, an increase of £17. You could have heard a pin drop when I told the “Customer Manager” in the call centre the price I had been quoted on his own companies web site. He went to consult with his manger and offered me a “loyalty bonus” of £45, reducing the cost to £339.
Eventually he had to admit that my best option was to cancel the existing policy and take out the new one.
Same company, some policy, £141 price difference.
My insurance renewal arrived from More Than and it was for £374. Given the kind of car I drive this wasn’t such a bad price. If you drive an Alfa Romeo, some companies won’t even quote.
Of course no-one would accept the offer without looking for a better price so off to the internet I went.
Marie decided that she didn’t want to drive my car anymore, so we decided to see what price I could get without her on the policy. Best price offering like for like was £250, from More Than …
Silly me thought that all I had to do was ring them and get Marie taken off the policy and all would be fine. How wrong I was.
I was informed that to get a policy for me only would cost £391, an increase of £17. You could have heard a pin drop when I told the “Customer Manager” in the call centre the price I had been quoted on his own companies web site. He went to consult with his manger and offered me a “loyalty bonus” of £45, reducing the cost to £339.
Eventually he had to admit that my best option was to cancel the existing policy and take out the new one.
Same company, some policy, £141 price difference.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I don’t know what’s worse…
…the pain in my knee or the side effects from the tablets.
The first lot started on Friday – and that was before I had anything to drink ! ! ! Shortly after taking my tablets I felt a bit ‘funny’. It was like I was on the outside looking down on things. Thankfully that only lasted about half an hour after taking the tablets.
That stopped on Sunday afternoon to be replaced by a constant feeling of wanting to throw up. Consequently I hardly ate anything that day.
Monday the sickness was still there and that was joined by bloating, stomach cramps and trapped wind pain.
Tuesday the sickness has gone but has been replaced by diarrhoea and eye wateringly strong smelling farts…
Today I’ve still got diarrhoea but it’s not as bad. The bloating is still there but the stomach cramps and trapped wind pain aren’t as severe.
I’ve had a look at my tablets to see which one of them is causing the side effects and two of them have the above symptoms.
I’ll perceiver for a few more days in the hope that things will eventually settle down.
As for pain relief, they’ve hardly made any difference ! ! !
Marie
The first lot started on Friday – and that was before I had anything to drink ! ! ! Shortly after taking my tablets I felt a bit ‘funny’. It was like I was on the outside looking down on things. Thankfully that only lasted about half an hour after taking the tablets.
That stopped on Sunday afternoon to be replaced by a constant feeling of wanting to throw up. Consequently I hardly ate anything that day.
Monday the sickness was still there and that was joined by bloating, stomach cramps and trapped wind pain.
Tuesday the sickness has gone but has been replaced by diarrhoea and eye wateringly strong smelling farts…
Today I’ve still got diarrhoea but it’s not as bad. The bloating is still there but the stomach cramps and trapped wind pain aren’t as severe.
I’ve had a look at my tablets to see which one of them is causing the side effects and two of them have the above symptoms.
I’ll perceiver for a few more days in the hope that things will eventually settle down.
As for pain relief, they’ve hardly made any difference ! ! !
Marie
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Rattling
Yesterday morning I went to the doctors to get some painkillers for my knee. The pain is getting worse to the point where I simply can’t put up with the discomfort any longer.
I saw a lovely lady doctor, who hasn’t been working at the surgery long, and who must have only been in her twenties. Made me feel so old ! ! !
She’s given me three lots of tablets to take and spent ages explaining in great detail everything there was to know about each tablet, even down to when they were first introduced into the medical world.
To be honest I would have been quite happy if she had just said ‘I’m prescribing you X,Y and Z. Here’s the prescription’.
Don’t get me wrong I was quite happy with the full history of the tablets, but she did bamboozle me a bit, when all I wanted was something to stop the pain.
Given that each prescription item costs £7.10 it was cheaper to buy a pre-paid prescription certificate, especially as I’d only been given a one month supply of tablets, plus the doctor said I had to go back after two weeks for something else if they didn’t work.
I was a little concerned as one of the tablets had a warning on the box saying alcoholic drinks had to be avoided. To my great relief the pharmacist said that I could still drink alcohol but not to excess.
It’s bad enough being in pain, but it would have been too much to go without my wine ! ! !
Marie
I saw a lovely lady doctor, who hasn’t been working at the surgery long, and who must have only been in her twenties. Made me feel so old ! ! !
She’s given me three lots of tablets to take and spent ages explaining in great detail everything there was to know about each tablet, even down to when they were first introduced into the medical world.
To be honest I would have been quite happy if she had just said ‘I’m prescribing you X,Y and Z. Here’s the prescription’.
Don’t get me wrong I was quite happy with the full history of the tablets, but she did bamboozle me a bit, when all I wanted was something to stop the pain.
Given that each prescription item costs £7.10 it was cheaper to buy a pre-paid prescription certificate, especially as I’d only been given a one month supply of tablets, plus the doctor said I had to go back after two weeks for something else if they didn’t work.
I was a little concerned as one of the tablets had a warning on the box saying alcoholic drinks had to be avoided. To my great relief the pharmacist said that I could still drink alcohol but not to excess.
It’s bad enough being in pain, but it would have been too much to go without my wine ! ! !
Marie
Saturday, January 03, 2009
There’s always one
This morning we took down the Christmas decorations.
Nearly every year we usually find a decoration or two that has been hiding in the kitchen dresser or on a bookshelf several weeks after they have been put away in the loft.
This year we double-checked all the usual hiding places and as we found no stray items, John put the decorations in the loft.
After lunch we did some house work and guess what I found – a jar of baubles that had been in the bathroom.
Before you say anything, I know it seems strange to have Christmas decorations in the bathroom. However we had some spare baubles and a nice looking jar and thought it was a shame not to put them to good use. We then realised there was nowhere downstairs for them so decided to put them in the bathroom.
Marie
Nearly every year we usually find a decoration or two that has been hiding in the kitchen dresser or on a bookshelf several weeks after they have been put away in the loft.
This year we double-checked all the usual hiding places and as we found no stray items, John put the decorations in the loft.
After lunch we did some house work and guess what I found – a jar of baubles that had been in the bathroom.
Before you say anything, I know it seems strange to have Christmas decorations in the bathroom. However we had some spare baubles and a nice looking jar and thought it was a shame not to put them to good use. We then realised there was nowhere downstairs for them so decided to put them in the bathroom.
Marie
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy new year…
… and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too.
It’s customary to make New Years resolutions but as I’m not a resolutions person here’s my wish list.
1) I wish to win the jackpot lottery. The Euro would be preferable but I won’t look a gift lottery in the mouth if it’s the normal one.
2) I wish to lose weight.
3) I wish to complete the second draft of my novel and start writing my second one.
4) Santa very kindly brought me lots of books and as I’ve loads of half-read or never got round to reading them books, I wish to spend more time reading.
5) I wish to get back to playing the piano and clarinet.
6) I wish to complete all unfinished bits of needlework and sewing.
7) I wish to blog more as we’ve been pretty poor in keeping things up-to-date.
Marie
PS regular readers to this blog will probably have realised that 1, 2, 3 and 5 come up every year….
It’s customary to make New Years resolutions but as I’m not a resolutions person here’s my wish list.
1) I wish to win the jackpot lottery. The Euro would be preferable but I won’t look a gift lottery in the mouth if it’s the normal one.
2) I wish to lose weight.
3) I wish to complete the second draft of my novel and start writing my second one.
4) Santa very kindly brought me lots of books and as I’ve loads of half-read or never got round to reading them books, I wish to spend more time reading.
5) I wish to get back to playing the piano and clarinet.
6) I wish to complete all unfinished bits of needlework and sewing.
7) I wish to blog more as we’ve been pretty poor in keeping things up-to-date.
Marie
PS regular readers to this blog will probably have realised that 1, 2, 3 and 5 come up every year….
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Eye eye again
While I was in the bathroom this morning I noticed that my left eye looked a little bloodshot. On closer inspection I found out why – my old friends the colds sores had once again made an appearance.
So it was yet another trip to the A&E department of the Eye Infirmary. Even though the A&E is open 24 hours, people must have been putting off from going over the weekend as the place was crammed.
However true to the assessment nurses word I was seen well within the hour as they had at least four consultants dealing with patients.
As this appears to be happening quite regularly I asked the consultant, if instead of going to A&E each time, could I just go to my GP for the usual ointment. Sadly it has to be a trip to the A&E every time just in case the virus spreads further into the eye.
A bit of an annoyance but still it’s better than losing an eye.
Marie
So it was yet another trip to the A&E department of the Eye Infirmary. Even though the A&E is open 24 hours, people must have been putting off from going over the weekend as the place was crammed.
However true to the assessment nurses word I was seen well within the hour as they had at least four consultants dealing with patients.
As this appears to be happening quite regularly I asked the consultant, if instead of going to A&E each time, could I just go to my GP for the usual ointment. Sadly it has to be a trip to the A&E every time just in case the virus spreads further into the eye.
A bit of an annoyance but still it’s better than losing an eye.
Marie
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Only something your mother would say
While I was at my mam’s yesterday she mentioned she’d bought some stocking fillers when she was shopping in Newcastle.
“One of them was for you”, she said “but as it doesn’t have a sun factor of 15 in it, I’ve decided to keep it for myself”.
“Oh what is it”, I asked.
“Some anti-wrinkle cream”, she replied….
I know I’ve just turned 40 but there’s no need to rub it in ! ! ! !
Marie
“One of them was for you”, she said “but as it doesn’t have a sun factor of 15 in it, I’ve decided to keep it for myself”.
“Oh what is it”, I asked.
“Some anti-wrinkle cream”, she replied….
I know I’ve just turned 40 but there’s no need to rub it in ! ! ! !
Marie
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
We really are still here…
…honest ! ! !
Things have been very quiet in the BOGOF household. Ok when I mean quiet I mean not much happening, not no sound quiet.
The past few weeks have been any thing but quiet, sound wise.
We’re both still suffering from the flu* lergy so the house is (and has been) pretty deafening with sounds of coughing, sneezing and nose blowing…
Normal service will resume shortly.
Marie
* it wasn’t man flu, it was the real thing…
Things have been very quiet in the BOGOF household. Ok when I mean quiet I mean not much happening, not no sound quiet.
The past few weeks have been any thing but quiet, sound wise.
We’re both still suffering from the flu* lergy so the house is (and has been) pretty deafening with sounds of coughing, sneezing and nose blowing…
Normal service will resume shortly.
Marie
* it wasn’t man flu, it was the real thing…
Sunday, November 30, 2008
We’re still here
Sorry for the lack of blogs these past few weeks. Things have been a little manic in the BOGOF household.
John’s computer decided to die on him. Thankfully he managed to bring it back to life. Pity the same couldn’t be said for mine which too decided to die earlier last week. Sadly it couldn’t be revived so John had to completely rebuild it.
Still on the subject of computers. Our internet network is playing up so getting a connection is extremely hit or mostly miss.
Last weekend John got the lergy so spent most of the time either in bed or curled up on the sofa, being kept warm under the blanket I finally finished crocheting – it only took me 2 ½ years to complete…
John being the lovely husband that he is passed on his lergy to me so since Tuesday it was my turn to be in bed or on the sofa.
Monday was my appointment with the knee specialist. Having had eight lots of x-rays taken, I now know what the problem is. It’s not what we thought, damage to the cartridge. Instead it’s Arthur and his Ritis in both knee and right hip. The solution to this problem is practically the same as the solution to my computer problem… So it’s on the waiting list for a new hip and new knee – in that order.
The medical ailments continue. On Thursday morning my eye was itchy, which usually isn’t good news, and it wasn’t. Sure enough, a family of cold sores had moved in, and as cold sores on the eye can cause blindness, a trip to the A&E department of the eye infirmary was call for.
So not only do I feel like death warmed up I’m now the proud owner of a lovely black eye…
Marie
John’s computer decided to die on him. Thankfully he managed to bring it back to life. Pity the same couldn’t be said for mine which too decided to die earlier last week. Sadly it couldn’t be revived so John had to completely rebuild it.
Still on the subject of computers. Our internet network is playing up so getting a connection is extremely hit or mostly miss.
Last weekend John got the lergy so spent most of the time either in bed or curled up on the sofa, being kept warm under the blanket I finally finished crocheting – it only took me 2 ½ years to complete…
John being the lovely husband that he is passed on his lergy to me so since Tuesday it was my turn to be in bed or on the sofa.
Monday was my appointment with the knee specialist. Having had eight lots of x-rays taken, I now know what the problem is. It’s not what we thought, damage to the cartridge. Instead it’s Arthur and his Ritis in both knee and right hip. The solution to this problem is practically the same as the solution to my computer problem… So it’s on the waiting list for a new hip and new knee – in that order.
The medical ailments continue. On Thursday morning my eye was itchy, which usually isn’t good news, and it wasn’t. Sure enough, a family of cold sores had moved in, and as cold sores on the eye can cause blindness, a trip to the A&E department of the eye infirmary was call for.
So not only do I feel like death warmed up I’m now the proud owner of a lovely black eye…
Marie
Monday, November 10, 2008
In Flanders Fields
Some of you may know that my grandfather, Harry Hayhurst was a soldier. He was a Yorkshire man and in 1911 joined the York & Lancaster Regiment.
In 1914 he was serving in Jubbulpore (Bengal) and when war was declared the army reduced their presence to a skeleton staff and handed most jobs over to Indian troops. Harry landed back in England on Christmas Eve 1914 and was shipped to France in January 1915.
The 1st York & Lancs were positioned around Ypres and on the 8th of May they defended a ridge at Frezenberg. At the start of the day they were 950 strong, and by the end just 83 were left unwounded, the most senior being a sergeant. Harry was himself seriously wounded and cut off from his battalion. After staggering down a railway line Harry found himself in a dressing station run by the Canadian Army.
The officer in charge of the Canadian dressing station was a Major, by the name of John McRae. The following year, while serving in the Somme region the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel John McRae was moved to write these famous words :
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.
For those who want to know such things, Harry was shipped back to Britain and was sent, first to a hospital in Nottingham and then to Sunderland. There are no records of which hospital but it likely that the Sunderland hospital was a wartime rehab centre for gas victims. During his time there, Harry met and married one Mahala Primrose Francis and made Sunderland his home. Sadly he died in 1956, aged just 66. Lt. Colonel McRae died from pneumonia in 1917.
In 1914 he was serving in Jubbulpore (Bengal) and when war was declared the army reduced their presence to a skeleton staff and handed most jobs over to Indian troops. Harry landed back in England on Christmas Eve 1914 and was shipped to France in January 1915.
The 1st York & Lancs were positioned around Ypres and on the 8th of May they defended a ridge at Frezenberg. At the start of the day they were 950 strong, and by the end just 83 were left unwounded, the most senior being a sergeant. Harry was himself seriously wounded and cut off from his battalion. After staggering down a railway line Harry found himself in a dressing station run by the Canadian Army.
The officer in charge of the Canadian dressing station was a Major, by the name of John McRae. The following year, while serving in the Somme region the newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel John McRae was moved to write these famous words :
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.
For those who want to know such things, Harry was shipped back to Britain and was sent, first to a hospital in Nottingham and then to Sunderland. There are no records of which hospital but it likely that the Sunderland hospital was a wartime rehab centre for gas victims. During his time there, Harry met and married one Mahala Primrose Francis and made Sunderland his home. Sadly he died in 1956, aged just 66. Lt. Colonel McRae died from pneumonia in 1917.
John
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