What will it say in years to come? What will it tell the folks who pass by and glance, reading the words I’ve chosen. How I wanted to tell a story on this tablet of stone. How I wanted to place so many words. Words that would have filled this oblong of granite. Something much more, about the special man who rests here.

The rules are strict for the Diocese of Lincoln: Monuments should be of natural stone (with no reflecting finish) and a list of recommended stones is given to help with choice. The stone must not be polished, nor finished in any way to give the effect of polished stone. I agree with all this, keeping the beauty of this peaceful resting place is so important and garish shiny headstones would look out of keeping, here amongst the grey.

Inscriptions should be simple, reverent and with an appropriate epitaph but how difficult in a few words, when I wanted to say so much about the wise, kind and caring man who lies here.

I could have added angels to keep you company, or lilies in ornate decorative splendour carved across the stone. I could have added copious words in gilt, flowery sentiments of love. I wanted to say so much. For in my heart I desired the biggest and the most elaborate memorial stone of them all. A pharaohs tomb. For in my world you were the very best of them all.

Instead I knew you would not have liked that. For you were most humble, for you were too elegant for showy symbols. You would have wished to mingle unnoticed amongst the others, although you never went unnoticed.

Just a simple plain stone you said, like most of the others in this quiet lovely place of rest. Just my name you said, I will be proud to rest here you told me.

Keep it simple, keep it simple echoed in my ears but my heart wanted so much more, as I stood before the selection of traditional stones. Let it be elegant for this most elegant of men.

I made my choice, only once biting the inside of my mouth to stem the tears as I realized this would be the last task I would perform for dear Hamada.

So we shall see in early September when we stand together once again to honour this beloved man. I believe I’ve chosen the simple words well. Hamada would be pleased.

It is right and fitting.

This has been a very busy and some what exciting week! It started  when my sons Jo and Matt invited me to join them all on their summer holidays in August. They usually arrange something about this time of  year but I have not been able to join them in recent years, as leaving Hamada for a fortnight in the care of others would not have been something I would have considered. This year they had their usual grand debate about having a villa in Tuscany or the South of France.  They really love villa holidays and a large crowd all went together last year, having much fun. They are also lovers of the “All Inclusive” deals that  take all the hassle out of  arranging flights, accommodation and all the extras that go with a really good holiday. So this year we are all going to a very nice hotel near the Red Sea in Egypt. Both of my sons have been there before  and do select well from the Hotels they know. This particular Hotel has a large casino,  so I must put aside a little for that. What fun!  Also Shisha and a nice Spa which Mummy likes very much. The recent troubles in Egypt have not reached this far, having a nephew in this area he assures me that all is calm and much the same as always. Egypt relies so much on it’s tourism that they must get back to normal as soon as possible. So lets hope it stays calm and peaceful and we get to go later in the year, I can’t wait!

So having then really got the holiday bug I  booked a sneaky week away in May. Taking a page from their notebooks, doing the “all inclusive” thingy. This time a nice looking  hotel about a mile from Denia on the Costa Blanca in Spain. I’m going back to a place I first visited in 1968. Denia was only a small port village then but is now a large rambling  town. Set at the base of Mount Montgo, it has a very pretty Marina and I chose a hotel  near to the sea-front and a room with a balcony.  I shall look forward to doing a little walking  in the May sunshine and also catching-up with an old friend while I am there too.

What a hoot! Two holidays booked in one week! Get me,the lady who has hardly left her village in five years, with only one exception, a short holiday in 2008 when we managed to take Hamada to Minorca, so he could dip his toes in the Mediterranean once more.

And so my exciting week continued…when attending a local auction I bid successfully on several lots, coming home with a much battered 1920’s writing desk. Needing much restoring but won for a ‘song’.
I may leave this desk with it’s busy past alone, as it seems to tell a story showing well it’s providence and what life has done to it, much like me really!

Then with a really silly bid,  I managed to get a  lovely picture  that I fell in love with on the preview day. This picture shown below, called “Oranges and Lemons” was in a lot of two old pictures, well knocked about. I have cleaned and restored them  and one  now hangs in my sitting room the other, a sort of old Art Nouveau print is in a guest bedroom.

There was a few other little things but needless to say these also needed some restoration work, this will give me  much pleasure to attempt and with little cost  turn these bargains into something worthwhile. It was such an exciting day as  my Sister Jenny and I were also bidding for another friend and I loved watching what items sold for, what we could manage to achieve and the antics of the whole procedure. We plan to make this a regular event, it’s such fun even if you don’t spend a thing. It was warm and cosy,we had lunch and even made new friends. Our local Town of Horncastle is well known for it’s antiques shops and with many house clearances that make-up the majority of these auctions. I am planning another little foray into this unique world of  the local Auctions . Exciting it was! 

tents and stalls were assembled by dawn,

a bustle took over the village

and in their own unique way

all manner of games, raffles and prizes

appeared for this, the  Annual Village  Fete.

“Teeny tots with sparkling eyes

As all around delights they spy

Laughing faces full of joy

Gleeful girls and skipping boys

Little children with winning toys

Raffles and tombola stand

Bouncy castles and a splendid band!

Sunlight streams through covering trees

A Village Affair for you and me

Jars of jams and chutney to buy

Balls to throw and win a prize

Just to be in summer glow

And watch this Village come and go

Fifty pence will bring a chance

To win the lotto in a glance

Pretty dresses, summer hats,

Throw the balls and make a crash!

Time to sit for cup of tea

Cakes to choose, now let’s see?

Strawberries and cream on scrumptious scones

No coffee walnut will be the one!

Nothing less that I can see

A Village Affair for you and me…”

All Rights Reserved 2010

The Power Within can be purchased from:

http://www.susiehemingway.com/books/

She came rushing in, or though it seemed to me,

disbelief that this colourful Lady with her cloak of reds and golds had already arrived, when I glanced from my window.

I must have been looking the other way!

but then we don’t count the days pursuing more important matters now…

As the relentless stricken battle appears once more

on the horizon, had she come to distract my mind or bring colours to my heart?

This feckless stunning Lady who sheds her clothes

and scatters them where she will, like drops of tears in

a template of sadness perhaps?

A powerful change of authority as restless and now incipient to decay.

Old roses fade and fall like shattered fragments of glass from a precious mirror,

the hedgerows become bare, no  more luscious berries

but still holding onto their thin strips of  life.

Leaves, could they ever be more beautiful? 

turning to deep maroons and burnished, glinting,  jewelled colours.

Conkers appearing from their secret shells to fall in copper splendour from the impressive stately Horse Chestnut trees.   

We arrived, like we had  just opened our eyes.

Another Autumn! who would have believed we would

see this majestic Lady together, dumbstruck once more at her  beauty

but belligerently waging war on staying in our perfect peaceful Summer… 

not for us, the rushing of time…

@Copyright Susie Hemingway 2009

Photo at “Hemingway”

We decided as we had a full house at “Hemingway” for the Bank Holiday Weekend to visit a lovely beach close to our home here in the East Midlands. The weather was fair with plenty  of warm sun and a brisk breeze  that helped the colourful Kites reach their blustery heights. There were ten of us in all, so plenty of willing hands to push Hamada’s chair along the old fashioned promenade to reach our base for the day at one of the brightly coloured chalets  perched high with their watchful eyes, newly painted wood and so many memories of  families gone before. They made a stunning border along the seafront.

Hamada was thrilled with being by the sea again, such a favourite place and reminding him immediately of  his childhood growing up close to the Sea in Alexandria, Egypt, where as children they also had a beach hut. A smile seldom left his face all day. He watch intently at all about him, enjoying his family and the fun and laughter we all had. Savouring the good fish and chip lunch, nothing quite so enjoyable as eating this English delight, washed down with a nice glass of Bollinger’s. Much flying of kites , Matt, Jo and Stuart steering their garish coloured Kites high for us to see clearly at our good advantage point and our little Grandson even braving the cold North Sea!

A loving  family like many others, tucking into ice-cream, happy to be together and enjoying the banter and fun of a typical English Summer Day. Just as Hamada said “ A very comforting Day”

10561 view @ September 1 2009.

 

It was our village ‘open gardens’ day this Sunday, the morning dawned fair and after such preparation from the eleven sensational gardens that would be open to the public, we knew we were in for an exciting and enticing day. Abundant flower drenched bowers, roses dripping in splendour,  colourful arbour’s, covering walkways, plants of  such exotic delights, lawns manicured to perfection, handmade paths so clever in design.  All manner of interest and panoramic views to mesmerize, scents to please the senses and calm and serene borders and textures. Corners of interest and wonderful hidden places to sit and view awhile.  Vegetables crammed and laden, bursting full of goodness and showing skills of years of knowledge and precious tending. For many of the gardens with chickens, ducks and geese producing a self sufficiency with daily  eggs, crops of every vegetable,  fresh and packed full of glorious vitamins.  We feasted on wonderful fare on the stroll around the lanes of this enchanting village, stopping for a ploughman’s lunch with a selection of English cheeses and pickle and a cooling drink at the hottest part of the day. Then peeping into our little church to view the theme displays of flowers, some shown below.  On we went, with ice-cream in hand to end our very English day at the last garden for afternoon tea and delicious cakes and scones laden with strawberries and cream. My photos do not do justice to these wonderful gardens but perhaps will give you my reader a little idea of this heavenly day…

As most of my readers know, I am very fortunate to live in a lovely Wolds Village in Lincolnshire. Living in such a beautiful  place often  turns up rather special days. The views shown above are  from my windows which especially at this time of the year are magnificent. Always changing  like the seasons, the sheep arriving in the spring and then within a glance the spectacular Lincoln Red Cows have taken their place!  So the ‘pictures’  I see, often change by the hour. I do spend rather a lot of time looking at this  stunning change of scene. Then sometimes a little ‘extra gift’ is thrown into the melting pot of nature. Imagine my surprise when gazing with morning coffee in hand and there standing proudly in my garden was the  most exquisite Peacock. He stood surveying the scene seeming very tame.  Not wanting to frighten him I crept closer with camera in hand. He later accepted some bird seed and small nuts and enjoyed a chat staying for the day, sitting on my wall in the dark and then returning again for the next three days. I was sad to see him go but  Mr Peacock was last seen walking down the lanes of this very special Village What a  gift!

You can listen to our chat by just clicking here : interview.mp3

Or over on the BBC iPlayer site here - I’m about 35 minutes into the programme ( you may need to install real player to make that work – but I’ve had the interview edited for the link above).

Shown above: Two simple fruit cakes with a little touch of  brandy in each. One ‘old fashioned’ Apple-pie, and Two,  Ham, Mustard, Egg and Cheese Flans.

Published by United Press Ltd 2009.

It’s been a long Winter this year but today the sun shone as tender shoots  started to turn green. The vivid yellow of the Laburnum was in evidence from my windows and the air had that little hint.  As the sheep returned to the fields even the Cat came along to saviour this glorious sunny morning. Yes, I know we had heavy snow here last year  on Easter  Sunday! when it was even difficult to get in and out of  the village but although chilly today, it indeed feels like Spring has come.