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Messages - Gillg

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1
The Common Room / Re: 1939 Register free until 8 May to commemorate VE Day
« on: Yesterday at 12:25 »
Rather worried about giving my financial details, as I'm not aiming to stay on FindMyPast and there's only a short free trial time (and I'm a bit forgetful).

2
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 11th May 2025
« on: Monday 05 May 25 16:23 BST (UK)  »
My father, a modest man, never collected his service medal, but as his nearest relative I was able to apply for it just a few years ago.  It was simply a medal for having fought in the war.  He was a private in the Marines and with other older men (mid 40s) he was not sent to the front, but guarded the fleet in Scapa Flow.  He did say what a desolate place it was and suffered what we called his "war wound" - a broken arm after a fall in stormy weather!

I also have his service record and curiously he was sent from his home in Lancashire to train in Lympstone, Devon, just a few miles from where we are now living.

3
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 11th May 2025
« on: Monday 05 May 25 10:09 BST (UK)  »
I'm old enough to remember details about life during the war, but curiously don't remember anything at all about the celebrations at the end of it.  I was just glad that my father would be coming home, though I had hardly ever seen him during the war and had to get to know him all over again.

4
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 11th May 2025
« on: Monday 05 May 25 09:54 BST (UK)  »
Sunny but a bit chilly here in Devon.  Things are growing rapidly in the garden and OH has lots of trays of veg seedlings scattered around the place which have to be brought inside at nights in case of low temperatures.  It looks as though we shall have a good crop of strawberries this year - the plants are covered in flowers.

Today our village is celebrating with an afternoon tea on the green (marquees in case of showers).   On Thursday 8th, the real day of celebrations, there will more serious matters arranged by the church and we shall gather round the war memorial, bringing tealights in jam jars and singing "I vow to thee, my country", remembering those who didn't come back (including my uncle, lost somewhere near Arnhem, but sadly never found).

5
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 4th May
« on: Saturday 03 May 25 12:45 BST (UK)  »
On this lovely morning I was indoors attending an informal talk and discussion about hypertension! The speakers were one of the village GPs and the surgery pharmacist, both of whom gave interesting, informative and well-illustrated presentations.  This is the first of a series of such meetings aimed at keeping patients (around 5000 of us) well informed and, I suppose, not needing to make appointments unnecessarily.  We even got tea/coffee and biscuits half way through.  Well worth the effort - I'm looking forward to seeing what future topics will be.  Balance and falls, maybe?  Many of us are somewhat elderly. :)

6
The Lighter Side / Re: Who Do You Think You Are (UK) - series 22 announced
« on: Wednesday 30 April 25 16:52 BST (UK)  »
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and found Mishal's surprise and delight as her ancestors' history was revealed really entertaining.  Though her travels took her both to India and the USA, she didn't seem to do a great deal of research herself, but was supplied with information by other researchers. 

I did find it annoying that Phil Davis in his commentary seemed to be pronouncing Mishal's name as Michelle.  I guess this happens to her a lot.

7
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 4th May
« on: Wednesday 30 April 25 16:43 BST (UK)  »
A beautiful hot day, so I washed my thick cotton bedspread and left it out to dry while I went off to the garden centre with my daughter to buy a present for her husband's birthday next Monday.  Apparently he wanted it a large decorative terracotta tub to put his olive tree in and luckily we found one pretty quickly, so looked round at all the different kinds of stuff on sale there - clothing, sandals and sports shoes, kitchenalia, stationery and more, and of course there was a café, so we had coffee and rather large fruit scones. 

The bedspread was dry when we got back and we found my husband sitting out in the garden with a long cool drink.   Don't feel much like cooking in this heat, but I must make an effort and feed the brute!  Last night we had Greek salad, which was delicious, though I found the lettuce (Sweet Gem) a bit tough.  Tonight we will have Chicken Kyivs (thanks M&S) with new potatoes and broccoli. 

The peace of the garden has just been disturbed by our neighbour, who has just started to mow his lawn with his ancient and extremely noisy mower.

Viktoria
You really should not have to put up with the kind of service you have received from the motor suppliers.  >:( Do let your daughter deal with them and shame them into dealing with you properly. 

8
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 4th May
« on: Tuesday 29 April 25 09:58 BST (UK)  »
Roobarb, you mention the large number of dandelions around and there certainly are huge numbers of them everywhere at the moment.  I won't tolerate them in my garden, however, and have had lots of advice about how to kill them.  I pull off all the flower heads before they go to seed, but also treat them with a mixture of white vinegar, washing up liquid and salt, which certainly is effective.  My husband says they will be come back, as they are not so easy to get rid of, so I'm keeping a close watch on them.
Off to a charity coffee (and cake, of course) morning now.  I expect some of us will  be sitting outside, as the weather is so exceptionally lovely.  My washing is already on the line and will be ready to iron when I get back. 
Enjoy the day, everyone.   :)

9
The Stay Safe Board / Re: Diary summary week ending 20th April 2025
« on: Monday 21 April 25 17:03 BST (UK)  »
Whatever the rules, your little poem was a thing of beauty, Mowsehowse.  :)

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