February 2010 Archives
Milton Keynes Open Market…
Despite the bitter cold of an easterly wind on Friday, Marilyn and I, made a visit to Milton Keynes open market in search of VHS tapes and DVDs. It’s a wonderful myriad of a market set near to the enclosed shopping area of MK and offers just about everything from fruit and veg to Chinese food, tins, pots, pans, coats and jackets, and there is even a hairdresser for the disconcerning lady or gent. The market wafts with intriguing smells from the citrus to the hamburger and hot dog, steaming coffee and rich ripe teas. Aside from a dozen or so DVDs of Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Marilyn and I, came away with lovely sense of having stepped back in time to our childhood days!
Uncle George’s Wake…
I had always called it The Jolly Toppers… When in point of fact I was to learn it’s known as The Jolly Topers… But never-the-less Uncle George’s Wake went beautifully and swingingly well. There were oudles of food carefully prepared by Daniel, far too much in fact, that amounts had to be carted home afterwards by several of the mourners… And it was a good wake, after an equally good memorial service in Stopsley Green. Those there to mourn the loss of Uncle George, Grandad George, Great Grandad George, and relative and friend George was the entire Callaghan family and friends, the proceedings being conducted with enthusiastic traditional valour by the Canon Phillip McDonough and with assisted poetry from Marilyn - Wordsworth ‘Daffodils’ and Christina Rossetti’s ‘Remember’
Quote of the day from 7 year old Rhys Callaghan in the back of the Limousine… “Which Pub are we going to!”
The Rat Pack’s in Town…
Proving that The Crooner’s are still alive and kicking, the Grove Theatre in Dunstable Bedfordshire gave Marilyn, Zena, and me, the sweet taste of success in the shape of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jrn, and Dean Martin. The Rat Pack live from Las Vegas were in town at The Grove on Thursday evening. These were names that have been immortalised on the silver screen and in popular music, simply put they are legends of the 20th century and icons of American history. It was an fantastic show packed with professionalism and glamour, and I must admit to a fetish for The Burelli Sisters!
Saying Goodbye to Uncle George…
For those of you that knew and loved George Callaghan (Uncle George), his funeral service is to take place on Wednesday the 24th of February at noon in the Luton Crematorium. Afterwards, there will be a luncheon reception for the family and friends at the Jolly Toppers in Round Green, Luton. Money donations are preferred, rather than flowers, and sent to Neville’s Funeral Service, Leagrave, Luton, for the benefit of St. Mary’s Nursing Home.
Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no longer hold my hand, Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay, Remember me when no more day by day, You tell me of our future that you planned: Only remember me; you understand, It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while, And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave a A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile, Than that you should remember and be sad.
Christina Rossetti, English Poetess, 1830-94
The Olde Water Mill at Barton-Le-Clay
This lovely old bus sits outside the Dickensian village and olde water mill at Barton-Le-Clay in Bedfordshire, England.
Adrian and I made a visit to this Bedfordshire community on Saturday and found there an excellent eating house with an even more excellent menu.
After lunch we took a step back in time and entered the world of a Dickens Victorian village. Here we embraced the sounds of hustle and bustle walking its cobbled streets. We strolled on to a garden centre and relaxed by a beautiful mill pond of Mallard and Carp. We visited some twenty shops of clothes, jewellery, candles and crystals, chocolates, antiques and collectables, a farmshop, hair and beauty, a photographic studio, and an arts and crafts and gallery, and for the children a pirates and mermaids recreation park. Adrian and I were too late for the mince pies and mulled wine handed around during during Christmas, but our January visit was truly original and worthwhile.
