Always Remember, Never Forget, learn from your past, but move on!

Thursday morning, still glorious sunshine, but much cooler thanks to a very strong and lively wind.

Going to Belgium today, Flanders, based in Ypres.  

At the moment in Ljiasenhoek Military Cemetery, the second largest British Military Cemetery on the Western Front with almost 10000 British soldiers, and many German, French Chinese and American.  A place I have never been to!

This was a cemetery used for those who died not on the Battlefield, ie where they fell, but from wounds some time later, wounds sustained in action. 

This gave it a totally different "feel" to the usual places we visit, because some of the headstones were dated in a few cases 2 or 3 years after the war had ended.

This place also made me think, of the pain I am in, and as hurting it is for me (after all i have my friends around me to help me) I think of how awful it must have been, and the pain must have been for all these men and some women in conditions far from ideal, and so far away from family and friends.

A very  impressive place!

Our next stop is Hooge Crater Museum.  When we got there my back was hurting so much that I wasn't able to get out the car and have a walk round the Museum.  But others  told be that it was an excellent experience. 

In the car I ate the pack-up which our host the bed-and-breakfast kindly provided for me free of charge each day.

When Mark and gang came back, he discovered that his ignition to his car had been left on, and this had flattened the battery.  He and Kathryn had to go and search for and purchase a jump lead, which they soon did, and we were  on our way again !

Now into the city of Ypres.  Some shopping (a ring bought for Sue, something equally as nice for Charlotte, some  Belgian Chocolate), a visit to another museum, a sit in the car for those whose bones hurt!!

We then had a lovely meal in a restaurant on the Market Square, before moving to the Menin Gate to experience the moving ceremony which has taken place every night, with the exception of the Second World War years, since the end of the 1914-18 war.

As moving as ever, this was the 17th the I have experienced it!

Then back to BB - a 90 minute care journey under difficult circumstances, but sadly completed.

Today is Friday - staying local in Peronne and Albert!  Again because of pain, stayed in car while the others went to the town's WW1 museum.  They really enjoyed it, and got much out of it.

Great excitement on the way from Peronne to Albert - a massive aeroplane passed overhead - a Beluga Airbus - Airbus  has a large factory in Albert.  Car stopped, cameras out, great photos!

Afternoon spent in Albert, then Hypermarket, evening at le Poppy.

Tomorrow we sta the journey home at 10.00am French time, getting home around 10.00pm British time.

Nous sonnes ici a la France, encore un fois

Next Blog

Setting sail on my 17th trip to the First World War battlefields of France and Belgium, and the 13th trip with people from our various churches.  

It was of course from my first visit to this area in 1985 that I felt God speaking to me in Paschendale cemetery which eventually led me to offer myself for ordination to the priesthood, for the second time, having been "turned down" on my first quest.

So these next few postings will be a narrative along with some reflections on this latest trip/pilgrimage. 

We arrived at Hardcore-aux-bois which is near Albert on the Somme region of France, after an excellent journey - although the ferry was very tatty - nothing the the cruise ships of the past 2 years.

As usual we are having our meals each night at "le Poppy" which is a traditional French cafe which serves a five course meal plus either wine or beer for less than €15 – what a bargain!

A great evening followed by a wonderful night's sleep.

Woke up the following morning, that is Tuesday, to a lovely French breakfast, along with some excellent company and  discussion, Diane and Vic who own this wonderful BB are now real friends, and welcome us as such.

This was followed by a visit to Delville Wood  – a memorial park and centre for the South Africans who fought in the war.

This time I stayed in the car, as I was in considerable pain - the result of the long journey yesterday, I think.

All around us here, are the preparations for next year being the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Wedneaday today, and glorious sunshine and 18degrees.  Driven for an hour and three quarters taking the scenic route, to Ors, a village near Le Cateau,  but much more importantly where the grave of who I consider to be the Greatest  War Poet, Wilfred Owen is the be found.  

I am sitting in the said sunshine, beside the said grave, as I write, and it is wonderful.  Many of our group have not been here before because Wilfred Owen was killed within the last week of the war when the Allied Forces were advancing at speed, and action here in those last days of the war is some considerable distance from where the "usual" sites and cemeteries are to be found.

I can't believe the weather - now 23 degrees!

Moving off now to a museum nearby, where Wilfred Owen  wrote his final letter home to his mother before he was killed.

this will be followed by a trip to one of the largest German Military  cemeteries on the Western Front.

Then back to BB for a brief rest, and then "le Poppy" - Diane and Vic are eating with us tonight.

A great week, with great people, and plenty of new stuff to experience, even after 16 previous visits.

I will post now.  Written this on my iPhone so please forgive the typos, and possibly different style and size of writing.

       

     

 

Better than Easter Eggs

Easter Day 2013 sees me in Hucknall Parish Church, and what a wonderful service it was!

It had everything – things which when I was an active Vicar would lead me to despair – like noise, children running around everywhere, indifference by adults.   But also all that is so good in worship - and which outshone everything else – it's friendliness, it's holiness, it's sincerity, it's joy, and so many glimpses of God being so active in today's world, especially in Hucknall Parish Church, and the community it servies. It really was a great Easter day service and celebration. Thank you everybody for allowing me to be part of it.

Did I feel that Easter Day 2013, after all that had happened in the months before it was a day of celebration and that Jesus had truly risen for me – you bet I did! 

Easter week itself saw me involved for much of the time with our family, including Easter Day after church.

On Wednesday I went with Mark to his sister Wendy's and husband Simon's farm on Anglesey. And that is where I pick up my notes.

Usually I come here for the New Year's eve celebrations, but this year events dictated otherwise, so here we are for our Easter trip!

It really is beautiful and all the farm animals are making their appropriate noises round the car where I am sat, by way of welcome.

Mark is busy unloading the car and saying his hellos – but his hellos seem to be taking longer than unloading the car at the moment as he hasn't unloaded me yet!

It has been a topsy-turvy sort of day – it started off with my four weekly visit to the oncologist at Kings Mill Hospital.

The eagerly awaited report regarding my lung function hadn't arrived, but because I have lost a further 5kg in weight due to my loss of appetite, he has decided to take me off the cancer drug and let my body recover from the onslaught of the medication.

This will hopefully sort out all the side-effects which are happening – funny things with my bowel and other parts of that region, my sore mouth, and a genuine tiredness at times.    A CT scan is to happen before next visit, and if drug still appears to be working, he will put me back on it.

The couple of days in Wales have been wonderful.  I slept so well in one of their caravans, although I have to admit when I got up in the morning my back and muscles hurt a great deal.

On Thursday we all went to Bangor, where we shopped, and I was dispatched on my boot scooter.  But despite me having freedom, it wasn't the best experience as it was bitterly cold,  and the pavements were far from even.  

Saw a coat in Debenhams which I had looked at in Mansfield's Debenhams, but I had been put off by my eldest son saying that  it looked a bit young for me.  What excites me about it was its colour dark orange – and it has also got a hood.  In Mansfield the said coat been reduced from £75 to £52, but as Daniel didn't particularly like it I moved on. 

Anyway there in Bangor was the same coat this time reduced to £37.50. The problem there was they hadn't got it in my size.  Well, on our visit to Llandudno on Friday, and making a beeline for Debenhams, there was the coat I wanted in my size. 

One problem – there was a button missing. So off I went with the coat to the check-out to see what could be done with the price and I eventually got the coat for £30. Not a bad reduction £75-£30 – at least I haven't lost my touch.

Our day in Llandudno was bitterly cold and again the pavements were terribly uneven. We didn't really make a walk along the front, or as I really wanted to, the pier, because of the cold.  But we did have a nice ice cream and coffee before returning back to Wendy and Simon's farm.

In the evening we went to a lovely restaurant at Rhosneiger on the coast.  It was quite an upmarket restaurant which specialised in fish. I had a lovely crab starter, followed by Welsh lamb – but I'm afraid the Welsh lamb beat me totally and most of it went back uneaten!

Saturday saw us on our way home having had an absolute wonderful time. Despite some muscle pain I have to say the short trip away has done me an immense amount of good.  The oncologist was right on Wednesday, the change of scenery and the change of has done me good.

I am only back just over a week, because a week on Monday I go with Mark and Kathryn and a few people from the parishes on our French trip. Once again the oncologist said I can go because he feels it will continue to be good – and that makes me feel good.

Sunday's only once again at Hucknall parish church – and I was amazed how many people were there with it being what is traditionally known as low Sunday. Again it was an excellent service and ended a wonderful Easter week from me.

I will put another posting on here before the weekend, and then it will be postings from France.

Blessings to you all.