Tags
'The Company', Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, Berwang Holiday Music Course, Candlemas, Christmas Cactus, church, family, flowers, funeral, hellebores, house improvements, Kerry Camden, Mozart, phalaenopsis orchid, renovations, Serenade for 13 Winds, snowdrops, wet weather
As the title of this post states, this is about nothing in particular. Since Christmas we, as a family, have been nowhere and have done nothing except the usual chores of housework and shopping and driving – and in Elinor’s case, going to college. Richard has just returned from three nights away in Manchester staying with his brother and enjoyed a visit to a mining museum and a trip to Bury Market and the East Lancashire Railway. Elinor and I stayed at home.
We have found the changeable weather a little trying but fortunately for us we haven’t had to deal with flooding, just lots of deep puddles and mud, mud and yet more mud! My car was half brown and half blue and the mud had oozed into the car round the doors, so just before he went away Richard hosed it down for me and restored it to its original blue-all-over colour.
The next two weeks will be very busy as we are beginning on our house renovations. The new garage doors were fitted today and most of the windows and doors in the house will be replaced next week. I am not looking forward to the disruption at all but when it is done the house will be warmer and more secure.
One of my aunts died last Sunday 24th January and I will be travelling to Kent with my brother tomorrow for her funeral. Richard will be staying at home and will be driving Elinor to and from college. It will be good to see my cousins again despite the sad occasion. My aunt was my late father’s older sister and she was the last of Dad’s siblings. I have six first cousins on Dad’s side of the family and I am hoping to see most of them tomorrow. Andrew (my brother) and I will be meeting up with Francesca (my sister) when we get to the church.
I am also going to visit Alice in Sheffield on the 12th of February and I will be watching her perform in another play, ‘And Then There Were None’ – an adaptation of the book by Agatha Christie.
Here is the trailer they have made for the play. I think you will be amused!
It is Candlemas today. We had a Eucharist service at Rumburgh on Sunday and celebrated the festival early. At Candlemas we remember three things; the presentation of the child Jesus, Jesus’ first entry into the temple and the Virgin Mary’s purification. Traditionally, candles are also blessed at Candlemas and Richard our priest gave us two new altar candles.
My choice of music today is Mozart’s Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat major. My first introduction to this piece was when I was nearly 14 years of age and I was on a music course in the Austrian Tirol. I was lucky enough to be given the first (lead) clarinet part and I loved the whole experience – the great responsibility, the team-work, the music itself. I will never forget that feeling of euphoria as we played through the whole piece together! As soon as I hear the opening bars of music I am transported back in time to Austria, I am 13 years old and full of hope and excitement. This was my first ever trip abroad and I and a friend travelled there with our clarinet teacher and Kerry Camden the bassoonist who drove us from London all the way to the Tirol with a stop overnight in the Ardennes. I had a one-year passport and my parents had given me £15 spending money!
Thanks for visiting!
Lisa G. said:
Oh, my – so, so dramatic! Hmm; I just had dinner. I’ll distract myself now with the Mozart. 😀
I hope next week flies by to find you nice and snug on the other side!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Lisa! I hope you like the music and thank-you very much for the kind thought. Next week will be a challenge as not only will we have the workmen in the house but my daughter has two maths exams, my mother needs taking to the doctors for a blood test and then next day to the hospital for a check-up. I also have a meeting with one of the staff at my daughter’s college about the support my daughter gets and at the end of the week I am off to visit my elder daughter. Why is it that some weeks are so quiet and calm and others there is scarce time to draw breath?
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Gallivanta said:
The play looks as though it will be excellent fun. A little relaxation after a hectic time. My sympathy to you on the death of your aunt. Aunts are special. 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Aunts are very special. Thank-you Ann 🙂
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Gallivanta said:
LOL, I just realised how funny my comment was. Because of course I am an aunt. Hope I am considered special. 😉
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clarepooley33 said:
I would like to think that I might be considered special by my nieces and nephews but I doubt whether I am! My own aunts are/were special to me.
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susanpoozan said:
That trip to Austria sounds like every young musician’s dream never to be forgotten. Do you still play?
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Susan, it was wonderful! I went a few more times but subsequently travelled on the train from Victoria to Dover, across the Channel, train to Paris and then the sleeper to Munich where we had breakfast. We were then picked up by a coach and were driven to the little village of Berwang. Such memories! Unfortunately I don’t play any more.
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unionhomestead said:
Mozart is a Homestead favourite, mainly because The Goat Herd fell for him as a young clarinettist as well – no trips to Austria for her though! What a wonderful memory to have.
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clarepooley33 said:
Mozart wrote such fabulous tunes for the clarinet.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Such beautiful photos, Clare. The snowdrop flower is gorgeous. I’m sorry to hear about your aunt. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. xo
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much Jill. The snowdrop would have looked much better without the cold, red finger. I will have to invest in Photoshop in order to erase unwanted digits.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Ha ha! I think it adds character to the shot. xo
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clarepooley33 said:
Hmmmnn…. 😀
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colorpencil2014 said:
I love these time filled with what my friend Jane Austen would call: ‘Important Nothings”. I love your flowers and I also immensely enjoyed watching ‘And then there were none”. Best interpretation of Agatha Christie ever, in my mind.
However, I am very sorry to hear about your Aunt and my thoughts and prayers for you and the family. Take care dear Clare, xo Johanna
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clarepooley33 said:
You are so kind Johanna, thank-you.
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Julie said:
Sorry to read of your Aunts passing Clare, I hope the funeral goes as well as these occasions do. It sounds as if you have a lot of folk to catch up with whilst you are there. Good luck to Alice too with her play, you’ll be a very proud mum in the audience!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Julie. The funeral went very well and it was a good family gathering. I love watching Alice in her plays!
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tootlepedal said:
One of the earliest records that I ever bought was by Archie Camden.
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clarepooley33 said:
I visited Kerry took me and my friend to visit his father Archie. I was in awe!
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tootlepedal said:
I wanted my parents to buy me a bassoon when I was young but they didn’t think I was worth a bassoon and brought me a cheap trombone instead.
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clarepooley33 said:
What a shame! However, I do like trombones too 🙂
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
It’s nice to see some flowers. The hellebores are beautiful and the orchid spectacular!
I hope the home repairs aren’t too disruptive. I have little patience for such things so I usually do them myself when I’m in the mood and have the time.
That’s too bad about your aunt but as you said, at least you’ll get to see your cousins. If they’re anything like my cousins it has probably been a while since you’ve seen each other.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Allen. The funeral was today and all went very well. I saw five of my six cousins on my father’s side of the family as well as my brother and sister and we all really enjoyed each other’s company. This was the first occasion where we were the older generation. My mother is the only parent surviving and she decided not to attend as she can’t travel far these days. The last time I saw these cousins was at my father’s funeral in 2010 though there has been a funeral and a wedding since then that I hadn’t been able to go to. It was a sad but also a satisfying day.
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quietsolopursuits said:
I’m sorry to hear of your aunt’s passing.
I loved the photos of the flowers, they really brightened up an otherwise grey day here for me.
I hope that the home improvements work out well for you without too much inconvenience.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Jerry. The early spring flowers are quite special; so much colour everywhere. The birds all think it’s spring too – when I went out before dawn this morning the birdsong was really loud and so many different birds joining in too!
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Jane said:
You called the post, Nothing in Particular, but there was a lot of news and lovely photos in this post, Clare. Firstly, I’m sorry about your aunt’s death. It can bring up strange feelings when the last of one generation passes on.
I loved the flower shots, especially the tiny snowdrop. How lovely they are.
Thank you for sharing the trailer for And Then There Were None. You’re right, it did amuse me. I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie novels, having read them all a few times. I wish someone could find an undiscovered manuscript.
I do hope the replacement of windows and doors goes smoothly and quickly. I certainly don’t enjoy the disruption of renovations myself and with your weather it would be even more difficult so I am sympathetic.
Thank you for the Mozart piece. How special it must have been to go on that music course in Austria. I’m glad you have fond memories. I regret not having learned to play an orchestral instrument.
Kind wishes. x
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clarepooley33 said:
What a wonderful comment Jane! Thank-you! The funeral went very well and it was really good to see all my cousins and their families. Just one cousin was missing and he is living in Hong Kong at present so it isn’t surprising he wasn’t there.
I am glad you enjoyed the trailer! Each time I watch it I can’t help laughing. Alice my daughter said making it was quite difficult because they couldn’t get the foaming mouth sequence quite right and she had to repeat it about four times and felt so sick by the time it was right. She had a tablet in her mouth which foamed and dissolved and was extremely unpleasant.
I love reading Agatha Christie too – not just for the mystery but also for the insights into what life was like during the first half of the 20th century. I think she is still under-rated as a novelist.
I’m sure the renovation work will be okay – it’s much worse thinking about it before it starts. The weather isn’t meant to be too terrible next week so we shouldn’t be too cold. They are starting upstairs so the bedrooms and bathroom will be done during the first few days (3 windows a day apparently).
I hope you are keeping well.
Best wishes – Clare x
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Charlotte Hoather said:
I love winter flowers, the play promo looks excellent, i could just imagine doing that scene at one of these Murder mystery events, good luck to Alice and enjoy your trip to Sheffield (I used to do karate black belt special lessons there) great shopping centre.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Charlotte. Sheffield is a great place to shop, I agree – a lovely place to live.
Karate black belt special lessons! You constantly amaze me 😀
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KerryCan said:
Isn’t it fascinating how a bit of music can set off a stream of memories? Just transport you to another time and place, and maybe mood? Your “nothing” post is actually pretty chock full–all the stuff of life–from spring and new growth to loss and fond memories.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much! Yes, music and sounds are so evocative.
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Draws Shoots and Leaves said:
Good luck with the renovations, it will be lovely when they are done and the house is snug and draught free. Love the snowdrops, such modest little flowers, so hard to draw though because they are so delicate looking and of course white on white is tricky.
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clarepooley33 said:
I have never tried drawing them – I don’t think I’d know where to start! Thank-you Sue.
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thehappymeerkat said:
I really love your photos, and your title for this post.
I’m so sorry to hear about your aunt. I hope the funeral went okay…As well as any funeral can go.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much for your really kind comment. The funeral went very well and it was a very satisfying day being with my large family. Only one of my cousins was missing (he lives in Hong Kong now) so we were quite a crowd!
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
First my condolences on the loss of your aunt. I lost my father’s sister a little over a year ago. She was the last of his nuclear family. I miss them all so. I am in close contact with her daughter, my cousin Shawn. She lives in Portland, which is close enough for a visit every few years for us. She’s a sweetheart, and we connect on Facebook all the time.
I hope you enjoy the time with your cousins even in the shared grieving.
The flower photos are gorgeous, and it’s refreshing to see color at this time of year.
I love the bit about your experience in Austria. It’s so wonderful you were able to travel at that age. And I didn’t know you played clarinet. I played it when I was younger too, though I prefer flute now. I can relate to your description of the euphoria when you all play together. It’s a unique feeling to create music as ‘one instrument’ with a band or orchestra. I never played a solo, but we did a piece in concert with band, and it featured the clarinet section. We had to leave our seats and stand out in front, and I’ll never forget shaking with the nerves. But I did well, and I was so well practiced I can still play the small section of the piece if given an instrument.
I’ve been enduring the upset and noise of removal of the old shingles and addition of insulation and new siding on our building at work. It was a house built in about 1920 that was converted to a business about 16 years ago. It’s very homey, but we also would like to bring it to a more updated ‘professional’ look, so renovations are in progress. It will be nice when it’s completed.
Sorry about the muddy conditions there. It sounds a mess. It’s still been bouncing back and forth between very wet and very clear and cold here. Makes lovely mist in the transitions.
Thanks for sharing an update on how things are with you and yours. Take care.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Sheri! Trying to work while building noise is going on is so difficult! I hope it comes to an end soon.
The funeral was very comforting and being surrounded by all my cousins and their families was wonderful. I am very fortunate in having 15 first cousins (6 on Dad’s side and 9 on Mum’s) and two aunts still living. We do seem to be meeting quite regularly at funerals now – none of the next generation are marrying so no weddings to go to 😦
I don’t play music any more because of a number of reasons. I do regret not being able to do it any more as it was such a source of pleasure to me but I hope to join a choir again as soon as I get a little more freedom and leisure.
Best wishes – Clare
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sherijkennedyriverside said:
That’s wonderful that you have so many cousins and enjoy their companionship. I have 15 on my mother’s side but haven’t seen them since my grandmother’s funeral many years ago. I have about 9 on my father’s side, but have only been close to the one in the last years. I was invited to her son’s wedding this past August but wasn’t able to travel to it, so I had to share it via Facebook.
As we get older it seems the occasions become more funerals or visiting ill friends and family, but it is still good to be close. My close family has become very small, and I treasure each one of them. I also have adopted a family I’m friend’s with as ‘family of the heart’ and they are very special to me.
I rarely play music. Sometimes my clay flute. It’s a pleasure when I do. But having played let’s me enjoy what I hear to a higher level, and I could definitely relate to the elation you felt in hearing the piece you shared.
Best – Sheri
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clarepooley33 said:
I wholeheartedly agree with you when you say that having played music makes one appreciate music more/better. I also appreciate how lucky I am to have a family with whom I can be comfortable 🙂
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Lavinia Ross said:
Late winter here too. Loved your Candelmas cactus and orchid! I have never had much luck with orchids myself, but had a friend you used to grow them.
The weather here has been wet and cool, but daffodils and snowdrops are blooming and all manner of green shoots are coming up now.
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clarepooley33 said:
No daffodils in the garden yet but I have some miniature ones in a tub that have begun to bloom.
The orchid is one I won in a raffle at a church coffee morning three years ago and it has been in almost constant flower since then. The individual flowers last for months and just as they begin to fade another stem begins to grow. I also get new shoots growing out from the old stem after the original flowers drop off. It is an amazing plant and all I do is neglect it!
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Lavinia Ross said:
I will plant some perennials here for your Aunt
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clarepooley33 said:
How very kind Lavinia. Thank-you.
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greytabby1 said:
Many condolences Clare on the passing of your aunt. I hope the funeral was at least an occasion to reflect on her life and also the opportunity to connect with other family members too. I can’t help but reflect that when older members of the family pass on, how much history passes on with them – they lived through very difficult times. Very envious of your lovely hellebores as they are such a beautiful spring flower. Yours are gorgeous colors too! I loved the trailer for the play – how fantastic and dramatic! They are all very good actors and must have had so much fun putting that piece together.
Good luck with the renovations!
– Kate
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Kate. The funeral was a sad but also a most satisfying experience. We talked endlessly about my aunt who had lived to 90 years of age and was always such a busy resourceful woman. The last few months of her life had been quite dreary for her as she had become virtually housebound. We all were able to be together for the first time in ages and catch-up on all the news. The hellebores were new last spring and have settled in quite nicely. I love them too – they hang their lovely heads shyly like most spring flowers so are difficult to look at and photograph but they are also quite hardy too and I like the way they self-seed.
My daughter has such fun with her drama group and they enjoyed putting the trailer together very much. The only problem Alice had was she had to repeat the foaming mouth sequence a number of times because the shot wasn’t quite right and it made her feel quite unwell! She suffers for her art!
Clare x
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Ste J said:
I’m sorry to hear about your aunt, meeting up with the family and appreciating the people still around is at least something to take solace in. I love Agatha Christie, except for Ariadne she annoys me muchly. £15 wouldn’t get you very far these days!
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clarepooley33 said:
£15 wasn’t quite enough even then! I had to borrow a couple of quid and my parents weren’t too pleased! It wasn’t as if I drank it all away in the bar – it was ice-cream and cake mainly.
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Elizabeth Melton Parsons said:
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos, Clare. The Phalaenopsis Orchid reminds me of bougainvillea. 🙂
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Elizabeth! I have only ever seen photographs of bougainvillea but I know what you mean!
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Cynthia Reyes said:
I’ll have to avoid dinner parties like that one! For a post about nothing in particular, this is a good one, Clare. Love the flowers. Sorry about the mud, but smiling that you have a good man to wash it off the car for you. Your daughter has such a distinctive face. Please tell her I said “Break A Leg”!
Nice music – thank you.
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Cynthia Reyes said:
My condolences on the death of your aunt, Clare.
Thanks for the story of your trip to Austria when you were a teenager. I can relate to the excitement of a first trip abroad– and of course, you were there to perform! Brava.
Regarding the play: I’ll have to avoid dinner parties like that one! Your daughter Alice has such a distinctive face. Please tell her I said “Break A Leg”!
For a post about nothing in particular, this is a good one, Clare. Love the flowers. Sorry about the mud, but smiling that you have a good man to wash it off the car for you.
I’m always glad that you mention the Christian rituals that you celebrate — I have not kept up with them all, but I often wish I did, and so I think that, here again, I’m living them through you.
Nice music – thank you. I’m listening to it as I write.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you so much Cynthia for such a long and thoughtful comment. I will pass your message on to Alice when I see her on Friday. I am also pleased you like the music.
I haven’t taken part in as many rituals recently as I used to do because of the amount of other commitments I have. I used to go regularly to mid-week services but not any more. However, I will be taking my mother to the Ash Wednesday service this week. I am amazed it is almost Lent! I haven’t yet decided what I am doing/or not doing for the season yet. The sermon I listened to on Sunday was interesting in that the priest said we should try to do something that will make our faith grow because the origin of the word Lent is ‘spring’ – the season of growth. He thought giving up foods or drink could be construed as vanity!
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lundygirl said:
Sorry to hear your sad news. Sorry not to have read this earlier.
I hope you enjoy the play – did you see the BBC adaptation over Christmas? Very, very scary!
I enjoyed reading about your trip to Austria and how much the music means to you. Thank you!
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you Rachel. You mustn’t apologise – there is no need at all 🙂 We didn’t watch the BBC adaptation as Alice didn’t want to be influenced. Also their adaptation has a slightly happier ending and not everybody dies – Alice’s character doesn’t, despite the trailer!
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lundygirl said:
Glad to hear that it’s happier. I couldn’t sleep after watching the BBC’s version.
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clarepooley33 said:
It must have been awful!
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navasolanature said:
Sorry to hear about your aunt. Winter can be tough for the elderly. Sounds quite muddy for you and thanks for the drama. I used to be in Sheffield and did the lighting for a wierd play called Black Out. Hope Alice’s goes well.
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much. We have had a slightly drier week – it’s been great!
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Aquileana said:
Life is a never ending succession of changes…
I am sorry about your loss… and I hope that you have many memories to keep your aunt alive, somehow…
It seems `nothing in particular´ could entrain challenges too… I wish your daughter much success at the University….
Beautiful flowers and musical choice, dear Clare. I hope you had a nice Valentine´s day…. may you be surrounded by love everyday, my friend. Aquileana ⭐
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clarepooley33 said:
Thank-you very much my dear Aquileana! I hope your Valentines Day was a lovely one. Best wishes and much love, Clare xx
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