Went to a lecture on Tom Wintringham and a music event by the International Brigades Memorial Association last night - excellent. More commemorative stuff today. It’s curious how nowadays the legacy of the Home Guard (in which my maternal grandfather served) is defined by the whimsy of Dad’s Army and not by its roots in the experience of ( Read more... )

I dedicate this song to my dear Pattie, whose anniversary is on Saturday, and to my maternal great-grandfather Jack. Pattie had mercury treatment for the pox, but died of what might be best described as "lead poisoning of the solid variety" (x a dozen or so) in 1780 in South Carolina. Jack, a Hull dock labourer, died in 1924 of what was (perhaps ( Read more... )

Met up with cousin for coffee in town today. She noticed my jewellery and asked about my romantic attachments…
"How old is he?"
"How long's he been dead?"

I popped in briefly to the monthly Merchant Navy Association meeting in one of the town pubs. I like to go now and then for Dad’s sake, as he liked to meet up with the guys there. Bunch of old rascals. One of them, who’d been the Honour Guard at the funeral, said he was now hooked on one of the songs we’d played for Dad, and loved it and the story ( Read more... )

Had a charming day at the Bridlington seaside amusements with the extended family! Yes, we went in the Haunted Pirate Ship, and I watched the youngsters (aged 10 and 5) on the dodgems and big wheel… All delightful, simple fun, and  a refreshing break!
And Madonna on the soundtrack in Steve and Andy's car. I like this one, Beautiful Stranger:

Click to view

Re: the previous post with Marianne: I should explain that I am, indeed, named at one remove after the French Republic. My Mum worked with a Dutchwoman called Marianne, and liked the name, so when I appeared prematurely, it was a toss-up between "Marianne" and "Vanessa", and "Marianne" won out. (I dread to think how much worse the bullying would ( Read more... )

Still chaos in preparation to move ( Read more... )

My Dad died on Max's birthday.

I have difficulties dealing with family members who profess to care about me, but who have spent decades voting for a party that ransacked the professions in which I wanted to work, destroyed my hopes of any career stability, screwed up housing and the social security system and persecutes people with disabilities ( Read more... )

I'm feeling pretty positive. I went through a lot of the grief while Dad was still alive but rapidly failing. I hadn't realised how much anxiety I'd been carrying around for months, if not years, before, worrying about him getting older and frailer while so far away. In a strange way, that's now lifted.