Happy Birthday James!

It's my son's birthday today.

It seems like only yesterday that he was a babe in arms! And now here he is at 34 and I'm 34 years older!

Happy Birthday James.  May this day and all that follow be filled with everything you wish for yourself and more.

Here's to love, laughter, peace, joy and many, many blessings.  Love you.

James and his wife Catherine on Mother's Day 2012.

Under Threat

Mag 123

Photograph courtesy Tess Kinkaid, Magpie Tales 

Suga' lips
A've told yuh befo'

Eat my jelly beans agin

And A'll top yuh

Barbara M Lake  ©

Trinidad WI

June 2012

Children's Delight

MAGPIE 122

Puddle ~ 1952, M.C. Escher

photograph courtesy of Tess Kinkaid, Magpie Tales on Blogger

A hop skip and a jump

Over the water we go

Turn around

Do it again

A hop skip and a jump

Stand at the puddles edge

Bend down

See your reflection

A hop, skip and a jump

Back to the water's edge

Jump in

Laughter of children

Barbara M Lake

Trinidad Wi

June 2012 

My Father - Here's to You!

Major John 'Jack'Joseph Gerrard,  BEM. DSM  c 1970

Oman Gendarmerie

Name	Gerrard, J J
Rank:	Major
Regiment:	Oman Gendarmerie
Theatre of Combat or Operation:	Foreign to British-Oman
Award:	The Sultan's Distinguished Service Medal (Gallantry) SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, ISra FEBRUARY 1968

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve that the under-named be Mentioned in Despatches for Distinguished Services in South Arabia:


Captain (Quartermaster) John Joseph GERRARD, BEM (478467), Royal Corps of Signals.


Mentioned in Despatches several times




I would have to write a book to tell you about my father but what I can say in a few words is that he was a colourful character, a disciplinarian, an achiever,  never one to take 'no' for an answer, one not always easy to live up to,   compassionate, respected by his peers and loved by his family. So many words to describe this military, highly decorated man of many talents.  Hot tempered in youth, mellowed with age, adventurer, great conversationalist with a fantastic sense of humour.

My love of books and music was inherited from this multi faceted man who had a permanent twinkle in his eye and a ferocious appetite for life.  He packed a great deal into his 65 years on this earth and on Father's Day as every day, almost 26 years after his death I still miss him terribly.  Gone too early because a medical condition was not detected during a compulsory, annual company medical.

I imagine him in heaven, book in hand listening to maybe Lehar, Shirley Bassey, Tchaikovsky, Tom Jones, The Sand Pipers or Verdi with my mother at his side and his forever faithful Golden Labrador at his feet.

I will raise a glass to you today Daddy and remember the laughter, the love, the reprimands (yes there were reprimands when my best was not good enough!) the encouragement, the debates, the heated discussions,  and the time we did spend together as we got to know each other and came to understand one another over the 65 years of a wonderful if at times trying, father and daughter relationship.

RSM 'Jolly' Jack Gerrard, 7th Signal Regt, Herford Germany c 1963 

Here's to you!

Reminders

MAGPIE 121

 Still Life, 1670, detail by Jean François de Le Motte

Photograph courtesy of Tess Kinkaid, Magopie Tales on Blogger

Lists and more lists

To do

Reminders

All stuck up there

Where I can see

Bills and more bills

To pay

Invitations

Tucked behind tape

Remember to rsvp

Pieces of folded paper

To read

Through

So I will know

Which dates to keep 

Barbara M Lake ©

Trinidad WI

June 2012

 

Carmen's Hat

Mag 120

Image  by Klaus Enrique Gerdes

Photograph Courtesy of Tess Kinkaid, Magpie Tales

There once was an actress called Carmen
Who they say danced  and drank down in Harlem
She wore a huge hat
Behind which nobody sat
'Coz its topping only distracted the barmen

Barbara M Lake ©
Trinidad WI
June 2012