Not Forgetting!

A World Apart

I wrote this on Monday, and now it’s Friday, and wondered whether to share. it. Obviously, I decided to.

As a British subject, living on the other side of the world far from Queen and country, I have always been totally in awe of The Queen. I remember when we watched her marry her prince; when we learned of her accession to the throne; a day off from school for the coronation. So many memories over 70 years. And yes I am a Monarchist. But…

9/11 passed by here with hardly a murmur. 21 years and have we forgotten? There was little coverage in our news media, and I read no comments about the day on WordPress. Maybe there were posts on blogs I don’t read.

Most of the news here was about the Queen‘s passing. I agree she was a very good Monarch and somebody to look up to…

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Alliteration

A World Apart

Chris has recently been entertaining/educating us with new words. Well you know I like playing with words, and I love Alliteration.  

Several years ago I read a novel by Sean Chercover, calledTrigger City.I remember nothing about the book but I made a note of this alliteration“Flower-boxes displayed dying dwarf dahlias in differing degrees of decay”Isn’t that wonderful?

Alliteration is defined as “The repetition of the leading consonant sound in each word throughout a sentence or a phrase. Alliteration is commonly used in poetry and tongue twisters. It is also sometimes used in advertising taglines and business names to make them more memorable.” according to wiki-answers and “the use of the same consonant or vowel at the beginning of each word” according to my Collins Dictionary which goes on to give the example of “round the rocks the ragged rascal ran” Alliteration in literature, prose or poetry…

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Diaspora

A World Apart

I came across this word a couple of times through news articles reporting on events concerning the Royals.

CBC said, In the Caribbean diaspora, some mourn the Queen while others challenge the monarchy

Essence said, The Caribbean has been ‘a focal point of challenging the … remnants of colonialism,’ says historian

How is it I have not come across this word before?

Wikipedia defines Diaspora as -A diaspora is a population that is scattered across regions separate from their geographic place of origin. Historically, the term was used to refer to the mass dispersion of groups of people from their indigenous territories—specifically the dispersion of Jews from the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

There will be changes that probably would have taken place anyway, but a new monarch is also the opportunity for any number of changes.

But I am confused by the diaspora thing. The population that is scattered.

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Saturday Contemplation

A World Apart

A sunny Saturday afternoon and while visiting my friend in total care, I was pleased to see that while she looked tired, she was obviously more like her old self. Asking questions and joining in the conversation.

She said she wanted me to help her with something; to produce a memo covering her life and that of her late husband. . But then she was asked by another visiting friend who was organising her finances, why she wanted this. We were told it was for her funeral and for the two distant, hardly known people who held her Powers of Attorney.

Having no relatives apart from a brother in the UK, she had turned to the son of her late husband’s cousin, a man she hardly knew. Keith, the accountant friend, and I agreed that it was odd for somebody who hardly knew her to arrange the funeral. Keith then…

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Eye contact and The Queen

This is the post that should have been reblogged wth No words. Only great memories of our gracious and graceful queen

A World Apart

Long live the King

A promise made. A promise kept.

So we all know by now that the Queen of England has died,

She was a bigger part of my life than most young folk.

My mom was a war bride (and there is a whole other story there). What I remember, when I was about 5 or 6, is that my GrandmainScotland (Yes all one word) would send newspapers from Scotland regularly.

At the age of 5 I would look at the pictures in those newspapers (course) and remember seeing pictures of the royal children, Princess Anne and Prince Charles.

What struck me as odd, at that tender age is that they wore rather ordinary clothes. I fully expected them to be in gowns and crowns. Well, certainly Anne in gowns.

Of course that did not stop my imagination. I was pleased to see he was about my age…

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IF and Inner Peace

No words, only memories of our graceful, gracious monarch

A World Apart

11.00 pm and I am supposed to write a post today. As you know, my alter ego Chris and I, write on alternate days.

But what to write? On and off during the day Rudyard Kipling’s stirring Victorian Era stoic poem IF has been running through my head. Then I remembered writing a blogpost playing on/with this poem way back as a new blogger in 2012. So with little time left in this day, I will reprint it here –

Inner Peace: 
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat plain food every  day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved  ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and  blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension  without medical…

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My Father’s Hands

A World Apart

Firstly a big thank you to all those who read, liked or commented on my Fathers’ Day post. Yes, a special man to be celebrated every day even though he is no longer here in body he is always in my mind.

So another tale of this man. Way back in 2013 I wrote about his hands. I would like to share that post here today.

”I have said before that I read and use Judy Reeves’s “A Creative Writer’s Kit” As part of this kit there is a book called ‘Prompts and Practices”. Each day of the year has a suggestion for what to write. And today’s was “Write about your father’s hands”.

Well if you have been reading or following me for a while now you will know that I consider myself the luckiest person alive in that my father was a fabulous person. I wrote about him…

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Struggles of A Dreamer – the novel

Chris, walking and reading – but not at the same time.

A World Apart

Well, that JB wrote a lovely sentimental post yesterday about her Dad. Touched my heart as well as my ducts.

Today, I want to tell you about my day – yesterday.

It may be September but we are still experiencing some 30ish days with humidity. Too hot to walk outside for any length of time.

So, as we do, my SIL and I met for coffee with two others at our Cafe then we headed off to one of our malls. Lots of room to stride in a cool environment. On the way into the mall I noticed an eatery (read Pancake Breakfast place) I was not aware of previously.

So we decided to do one round of the mall (2500 steps), go in for breakfast/lunch, then do at least another round post dining. Then she was off home and I went for another round.

One of my favourite stores…

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Father’s Day 2022

A World Apart

Alfred Robert Rita
1911-2007
RIP

The first Sunday in September is Father’s Day here in New Zealand. I don’t need a particular day to remember my Father.

What does Fathers’ Day mean to you and your family? Do you celebrate with gift- giving and special dinners or is it just another day to you? Growing up in Englandwedidn’tcelebrate Fathers’ Day – I don’t remember when people started celebrating Fathers on a particular day. We were very lucky in that our Father was worth celebrating each day.

My memories of this man are many and special. It was he who taught his three girls the appreciation of the English language and shared with us his love of words. He taught us to be tolerant and to accept people as they are and he showered us with love. He it was who told us that more could be accomplished with a smile…

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Five Word Friday – Take Two

A World Apart

By now, most of you know that our Five Word Friday that occurs on the first Friday of each month actually has two First Fridays of the month here at AWA.

Yesterday, JB talked about the anticipation and joy in Spring approaching after their ‘winter’.

As I read I began to feel a little sad that summer was departing here. And then. And then. I remembered my own anticipation of approaching Autumn.

I know that plants blooming is a wondrous sign that winter is departing. But it’s different going from Summer to Autumn. It’s a much more graceful segue from the hazy lazy days of summer to vibrant bright clear cooler air of autumn.

Autumn approaching here – Eye Candy!

These photos from Shutterstock are not exaggerated. These are photos from my province Ontario. In Autumn.

I can’t adequately explain what it feels like to wake up to this sight…

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