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Showing posts from July 10, 2016

Songs in a time of grief.

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When in a time of grief Christian hymns do not "cut the mustard", other songs speak to our souls, and help us to weep. e.g.(1) Somewhere along the Road (as sung by Steeleye Span) https://youtu.be/Zk8YB3lMmms e.g.  (2)  All Over The World  as sung by     Francoise Hardy https://youtu.be/rEt_2aYCPKM Francoise Hardy Steeleye Span.

Comfort Food in Bristol UK (At "The Chequers") in Hanham

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I remember "The Chequers"  as a country pub on the banks of the Bristol Avon river in the outskirts of Bristol, U.K. (There are three  Rivers named Avon in England - the "Stratford Avon, the Hampshire Avon,  and the finest,  which is the Bristol Avon! ) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ From Wikipedia] The name "Avon" is a  cognate  of the  Welsh  word  afon   [ˈavÉ”n]  "river", both being derived from the  Common Brittonic abona , "river". " River Avon ", therefore, literally means "River River" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chequers is now a very fine restaurant, (still on the banks of the Avon in an  unspoilt rural location within Greater Bristol)  a location which has yet to be "developed" - thank goodness.  It sp

Unbearable sadness .... and moments of joy.

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The eight siblings of my brother Stephen, together with his wife (Angela), his children (Lee and Nicola), and his grandchildren (Reece, Ebony, Thea, Luna and Ryan) are overwhelmed with grief at his sudden and unexpected death at aged 63. I speak for myself (and most likely for other family members)  when I confess that I cannot control the tears.  It is simply awful when I think about Steve, and know that I will never see him and enjoy him again.  Life never prepared me for the death of a younger brother or for grieving  with his marvelous wife Angela, and their two children and five grandchildren. And yet...  there were moments of happiness when I was in Bristol, U.K. for Steve's funeral.  That happiness rested in those good moments I had with my sibs and their spouses, and especially with two of  my great nieces and one great nephew. (I have nineteen nieces/nephews and twenty one great nieces/nephews). Luna (l) Aurora (r) their Mum is my niece Leah. Luna (l) Au