I gave up on that post; you're gonna have to settle for this one.

I had plans.  All sorts of plans to write one of those month-by-month summation of the year past posts.  

I would have written the post as much for me as for you, as I think you know by now that I do not remember my own life.  There are no pictures in my head to help me remember.  When Sandy or Pat come for their annual visit, I pull up photos on my computer from their last visit to show me what we did.  Otherwise when one of them arrives I might declare "just wait till I take you to Hall's Harbour, you're gonna love it!".   To which they of course will respond, "Oh I loved Hall's Harbour when we went there last year."

Exhibit A:  Pat at Hall's Harbour.  Tide in.

Exhibit B: Sandy at Hall's Harbour.  Tide out.

 If I haven't taken a photo of it, it never happened.  And even then when I look at a photograph, it just proves that it happened, but my mind doesn't fill in anything surrounding that photo.  No conversations or memories of other things we did... worse still ... no feelings.

The Old Burying Ground in downtown Halifax

Last March I flew to Ontario to visit family and friends.   I'd booked the flight many months in advance.  My timing was either appalling or fortuitous.  I was due to arrive on March 12 and leave on March 19, BUT Covid-19 became "a thing" mid-visit. Still,  I got to see but not touch many folk I love and care about.

A message from Porter airlines telling me to "return home immediately" meant that I flew home two days early. So I got to spend my 70th birthday doing something I love more than just about anything; flying.

Birthday lunch at 25,000 feet !

So, no annual visit last year from my chums in 2020 and let's face it, they won't be able to come again in 2021.

And it's been a year since I was able to celebrate birthdays with Sara and Kelly.

Daily walks in the woods with my dogs are still my sanity savers.

Not to forget gardening, and exploring this glorious little province.

Happily I can still get together with a friend from a distance.

And life goes on.

I'm not sure what I set out to tell you.   

Life is different and the same.  I think more than anything I miss hugging.  Covid has changed the distance between us but not between our hearts.  Sounds schmaltzy but it's true.  

When it's all done in a year or so will we appreciate so much more the things we took for granted before or will we quickly forget ?

I'm so glad spring is coming.  How about you ?

There was a little girl ...

Perhaps you know the rhyme:

"There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead; and when she was good she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid."

I think that pretty much sums up my relationship with the inter web.  It can be awful.  It can bring out the worst in others; and in me.

BUT it can also be marvellous and bring people together and lead to wonderful things.

In May I will be visiting my cousin Louise in Exmouth.  If it wasn't for a FaceBook group on the Tupman family history I wouldn't even know that I had a cousin in Exmouth.  Louise and I share the same great grandparents.  Her grandfather and mine were brothers.

Louise and me by the sea.

Like many folk interested in learning more about their family tree, I have joined Ancestry, which in itself is a double-edged sword.  I love it when I use it but I'm not sure I use it enough to merit the $300/yr charge.   But I'm hooked as I couldn't bear to close the account and loose all the easy to find information I have collected and have access to.

On the positive side I got message from a stranger (S.M.) on Ancestry regarding my Great grandmother, Elizabeth, pictured below with her husband and children. 

Elizabeth with her husband James and their young children.  My grandfather, Bertie is between them and Louise's father is one of the twins on the laps.

Tragically Elizabeth died of consumption (TB) in 1903 at the young age of 34 leaving James and the children alone.

We think this may be a photo of the three youngest after their mother's death.    Louise's grandfather is on the right.

The Ancestry message from S.M. read:

I would be very interested to see the photographs you have of James and Elizabeth Tupman. In the mid 1980s I was in Penzance, Cornwall and in an antique shop bought a framed memorial to Elizabeth Tupman (died 23 December 1903) and have recently used Ancestry to find out more about this lady. I can provide you with a photograph of this, if you wish.

Wowsa !

I immediately wrote S.M. back granting them access to my tree so they could see the photos I had of Elizabeth and James and their children.

In turn they sent me an image of the framed fretwork memorial.  Knowing that fretwork was a hobby of James, it is clear that he created the memorial.

I wrote back to S.M. thanking them profusely for making contact and sharing the image and timidly asking if I might buy the memorial and got this response:

I certainly feel that after enjoying the Elizabeth Tupman picture for a few decades it would be very fitting to pass it on to you and your family, so perhaps we can meet when you are in the UK and I can give it to you then?

WOWSA !   AGAIN !   WOWSA !   A stranger is going to give me a piece of family history !

Here's James with a large fretwork piece that he did of Aberystwyth which now hangs on the wall in my cousin's home.

When I think of dumping FaceBook I remind myself that I control the experience of where I go and who I talk to.  FB has allowed me to stay in touch with my wonderful English "rellies" (relatives) over the pond and I treasure those small smiles, nudges, winks and hearts that occasionally pop up in my feed.

And those hearts will lead me back to Bath for my beloved aunt Audrey's 90th birthday celebration.

Audrey's 80th birthday with as my dear ol' da' would say, the "whole fam damly"

I am so looking forward to being in the next group photo switching from virtual to REAL hugs and kisses.

And meeting up with a kind stranger who reached out with a special gift and hopefully treating them to a pint at a local pub.

A hole where a cat used to be.

Where did the "Rainbow Bridge" concept  appear from ?   When someone's companion animal dies they say it crosses the Rainbow Bridge and will be waiting for their human when they die.

If the Rainbow Bridge exists, will the calves and chickens and pigs we have eaten be waiting for us too, but with a less welcoming demeanor than our beloved pets ?

I ask because this afternoon I took dear old Roswell to the vet and only one of us returned home.  

Snoozing three days ago in front of the fire

Over the last few days Roswell showed obvious signs of having difficulty getting enough air into his lungs.  His thin sides heaved from the effort.

The vet listened to his heart and lungs, informed me he was in heart failure and said "It's time".

I suspected when I went that that would be the outcome, but part of me hoped...  

It's at times like this that you realize what a painful thing love can be.  That silly sweet pain in the ass cat had no idea that as I held him and stroked him in his fuzzy blanket that he was about to die.  I stroked him and cried quiet tears.  My head still aches from those tears and tears.  At the time I could see how he fought to breathe -- and then he didn't. It's rare to see the reality of death.  Here now.  Now gone.  GONE not to be called back by all the love in the world. Comforting words spoken.  "Just sleep sweetie.  Just go to sleep".   Then wishing those eyes would open and gaze upon you one more time but knowing that you would not wish him back into this realm the way he was.  

Yup.   Love hurts.

Still ...

I missed his shrill "meow" as I walked back in the door; tonight I'll miss his nudges as he demands I lift the bed sheets so that he can track his litter covered paws into my bed and I'll miss his painful snaggle tooth scraping across my cheek asking for attention.

I know Roswell is out of pain and he didn't suffer fear about death.  That is left to me.  To wonder where my little friend is now and where I will go when it is my turn.

And if we will see each other again.

What do you think ?

Hey Jude ...

Dear Jude, 

Thanks for the ball.   We took it on our walk today and me and Sooki had fun swimming with it.

Here is Sooki swimming out to get it.  Since I can swim much better than her, "the boss" held my collar so she'd have a fair chance of getting it.  

I must confess that she's a pretty good swimmer for a pitbull.

Here we both are in the lake.  "The boss" doesn't usually bring a ball so this was a very special treat for us.

It was a pretty hot day and we both did lots of swimming.   

I'm sorry that you can't play with your ball any more but am grateful that you shared all your balls with us other dogs.

"The boss" picked the orange and blue one at the back right.  I don't know what "orange and blue" means but that's OK coz I don't know what "back right" means either.  We dogs don't use words much; we'd far rather use wagging tails, wiggling bums and smiling faces.  I know you get that Jude.

"The boss" read your sign with your picture, Jude.   She said it made her think how lucky she was to have me and Sooki still with her.  Well where else would we be ?   

"The boss" told us that you were clearly a very lucky dog were loved and well-cared for.  I glanced at your photo, and as a part-lab myself may I say you are most handsome fella.

Here we are posing with your sign and your box of balls.

I look forward to thanking you in person Jude and perhaps we can go for a swim together, as I have been informed by "the boss" that all dogs go to Heaven.   See you there !

Thanks again,  

Wendy

People. People who need people ...

As Barbra Streisand sang many years ago: "People.   People who need people, are the luckiest people in the World."

I am therefore by definitions of this song, a very lucky girl.

My trip to England was all about connecting with family; and what a wonderful family it is !

💕

I toured country roads near Bury St. Edmunds with Gordon and Theresa seeking out places where our ancestors lived and died.   

Theresa had packed a delicious picnic lunch which we ate while staring at pastoral fields and after tramping about we even managed to make it to a pub.  Ya gotta go to a pub; right ?

Theresa, my cousin Gordon and me

In London, Dave took me on a wander around a marvellous park created on re-claimed land.

A living shelter

Observation ports to look out at the bird life 

Later we joined nephew Andrew for dinner.

In Bath I visited the Bath Postal Museum which Aunt Audrey and Uncle Harold founded back in 1979.

                             

                                  Audrey posing with a cutout of Uncle Harold
                               directing visitors down the stairs to the Museum

Yes.  It's a "Pigeongramme" !

Evenings were spent poring over a dizzying array of family photos.

From Bath, Mike and Sylvie drove us to visit a magnificent castle in Wales.  We crossed a bridge and probably drove a mere 5 km into Wales; but still I can say that I visited Wales.

Since we were in the area we dropped in on older brother Rob and his wife Pippa in Bristol and they treated us to a genuine English tea complete with delicious scones.   

  

And I mustn't forget to mention the marvellous day we had visiting Frank and the gardens and greenhouses he maintains.

  

Fascinating fence walls.  

Frank inspecting the seedlings in one of the greenhouses.

After exploring the grounds we headed to nearby The Connie's Tea Room for lunch.

I've only been back two weeks and miss all these marvellous people already.   

And you wanna know a secret ?

I'm already planning a trip back there next Spring !    Do you blame me ?

P.S.   Would you believe there are two people still missing from this post ?  Apologies to Josie and Kae.  Still looking for photos of us  ...