Povey Prattle

May 10th is observed as Mother’s Day in these United States. Mother’s Day is not to be confused with “Mothering Sunday”, which is observed on the Fourth Sunday of Lent in most countries of the former British Empire. “Mothering Sunday” has a quasi-religious origin (Google”Mothering Sunday” for more information), though, at least in the United Kingdom, it is nowadays referred to as “Mother’s Day” – yet still observed on Lent IV - which means that it is on a different date each year. The American “Mother’s Day” is rooted in a proclamation by Julia Ward Howe the author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. It was a plea for peace after the carnage of the American Civil War. (I have included it below). Julia Ward Howe’s plea for peace has been all but forgotten. So it is that our stores are filled with Mother’s Day kitsch, and the restaurants will be filled on May 10th. I suppose that the sentiment is alright in its own way, but “Mother’s Day” can be a less than great time for thos...

You'll not get a peep out of me today

Thank you to my friend D. in Maine for forwarding the following to me. It is a speech made by Patrick Flood, a Republican Representative in the Maine Legislature. I attach it not only because I am in favour of same sex marriage. But also because I see this speech and decision by Rep. Flood as a most fabulous and exemplary instance of why we elect Representatives. We do so in order that they will vote, not from a narrow and ideological base; but from a deep conviction as to what is best for our States, and for the United States. Kudos to Rep. Flood. I have written him to express my gratitude. I hope that you will also do so. His e-mail address is at the foot of this entry. When you write him, do be sure to use the subject line to indicate that yours is a friendly e-mail. jmp ========================================================== His Floor Speech in Maine on LD 1020 (Gay Marriage Bill) May 5, 2009 "Thank you Madam...

Thanks Pals I am grateful for your responses. It is good to know that I have faithful readers. I will persist in my “all over the map” blog. I will NOT major in religion or politics since so many other blogs do this so well. But I WILL continue to be quirky. TODAY: WORDS. When I was a baby, my twin and I were hauled around in a perambulator – a.k.a. “pram”: (see yesterday’s blog). No-one perambulates these days. But it is a decent enough activity. I also love to “ peregrinate ”. The cool thing is that consenting adults can peregrinate together in public. (Please do not tell Repuglicans about this. I know that they would instinctively be against public and mutual peregrination.) (When you are bored, check into the connection between “peregrinate” and “pilgrim”) And, unless you are saving the world , wonder with me why the words “gubernatorial” and “solon” have disappeared from newspaper headlines. Giggles! jmp

My realisation that my new printer is also a scanner has led to an “all too many” inclusion of old photo’s on Povey Prattle So I’ll end my current “memories” series today, with a few more photo’s. ------------------------------------ But I also wish that I knew whether or not “anyone out there” reads my blog. If you do so, please use the comments feature on the blog, so that I will know that I have some readers. PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE use the comments feature on my blog: - (i.e. do not send messages directly to me). (You can, if you must, use the comments feature without revealing your personal identity.) A (probably 1944) photo. L- R Great Aunt Maud; My Uncle Albert's girlfriend (name not remembered) - Albert was killed in Normandy in August 1944; Great Aunt Ada; Unrecognised person; Maternal Grandmother Kate Finch; Maternal Grandfather Francis "Jack" Finch. My twin and I in a "perambulator" (pram). Mum is second from right. My maternal Grandfather Francis ...

GREAT AUNTS ADA (left) AND MAUD (right) I knew but two of my mother’s aunts – Great Aunt Ada and Great Aunt Maud. I first met Ada when I was eleven years old. Mum took me from Bristol where we lived to Lowestoft in Suffolk, where she had been born, and where Ada yet lived. We went by coach (‘bus) from Bristol via London, and the journey of some 240 miles took over 12 hours. There were no motorways in 1955. As we drove out of London a gentleman on the coach began to point out places of interest. I was determined not to like them, (after I was a Bristol boy, and what was London to me!) and I all but ignored this kind man. Mum was rightly vexed with me! We arrived in Lowestoft to be met by Great Aunt Ada and her husband Uncle Jim. We walked to their little terraced cottage at # 13 Gun Lane. It was a very modest home, little changed since the Victorian age in which it had been built. By now I was entranced, for after all, Mum had filled me with tales about Lowestoft, the nirvana of her ...

Follow up from yesterday. The first photo’ is of my maternal grandparents, Francis and Kate Finch. Grandmother Kate died six months after my birth. Grandfather Francis died when I was between two and three years old. I have a very shadowy memory of being taken to see him when he lay in bed a-dying. The second photo’ was taken in Sep 1946 when my mother’s brother Wally married Irene Parsons. It is the only remaining picture of my mother’s family. You’ll see me aged 27th months on my Mum’s lap, and my twin Elizabeth on the Bride’s lap. Immediately to my left is my Aunt Phyll (married to my mother’s brother Fred). On her lap is my cousin Rosemary, who died in her early 20’s. Right behind me and my Mum is my cousin Sheila, daughter to my mother’s brother Harold, and his wife Doll. In her adulthood Sheila, (after the death of her parents, and her divorce) became very close to my Mum and to me and my siblings. Sheila also died, all too soon, from cancer when she was in her 50’s. To the bride...