Beautifully sunny day - perfect for the drive through Wensleydale for my Covid top up jab. .My taxi driver contacted my carer yesterday to say that his taxi had broken down and to ask if I could manage to get into his minibus. The answer to that is no - there is no way I can climb steps that deep so he is 'borrowing' his wife's car. I hope the sun stays out because it is such a lovely journey to Hawes.
It is pleasing to see from The Times this morning that King Charles and the Queen Consort are already in Balmoral where they intend to spend a week in Private Mourning before taking up any royal duties.
"Mourning" is such a strange thing isn't it - Matthew Paris discusses it in his weekly comment column in today's newspaper and I largely agree with him. Certainly as far as our late Queen is concerned - the death was by no means unexpected. The signs of seriously deteriorating health have been there for some time in fact for a less determined character it would have meant total retirement from public life at a much earler date. The fact that she 'invited' our new Prime Minister to form a Government only a couple of days before she died shewed the sort of person she was. But although we can all feel sadness at her passing I am not sure any of us can 'mourn' in that sense - rather feel a sense of profound admiration that she kept on to the bitter end. And so up there in Balmoral I hope the King and his Consort get out on the moors they so love and walk and just relax with their dogs (do they have dogs - if not then I am sure there are plenty around that they can 'borrow').
To those of you who suggested I turn the heating up a notch - thank you - I have done so. I have no intention of being cold - it just seems so early to turn the heating up. My carer who is a what my dear old dad would have called a 'dab hand' on Facebook has found a shawl which fastens cleverly (I have several. all wool and very warm but all suffering from the same fault - they have no fastening other than tieing round the shoulders) with a buckle and she has sent for one for me (I will report back with details if it is as good as it looks).
In the meantime breeze is increasing and some rather big black clouds are appearing.
See you tomorrow.
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15 comments:
I like how you differentiate between being "sad" at someone's passing and "mourning" someone's demise. Mourning being intensely personal and done at our own pace.
The first time I met death was when I was eight years old. Pulled the rug from underneath my feet. To this day I miss a woman who, by now, would be old beyond feasible if she were still alive. Her husband's, my grandfather's demise was easier to live with. He was a wonderful man. Most certainly a very funny, loving, caring, sweet Opa. He died much later, when he was in his mid eighties, and that, somehow, made acceptance of losing him easier. Yet, I still miss him something rotten. Occasionally he makes himself known to me, when walking in the woods and the fields, something he and I did a lot and I still do - not least with my son, by birds chirping. On special occasions a red robin will show up, sitting still, cheering me on and up.
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I hope too that they get out for some of that Balmoral fresh air and switch off for a few days. I can't think of a better place for them to be. Funnily enough, I've just posted near enough the same thing myself, albeit from a different angle.
I hope you had sunshine for your drive to Hawes today.
As you say, mourning is a strange thing and means slightly different things relative to the person who has died. In our Queen's case we are mourning our loss of her, though we are possibly pleased for her that at last she is at rest, free of constant duties and responsibility. I imagine that her entire family will be enjoying some rest and relaxation this week.
The King and Queen Consort have two Jack Russell terriers. The dogs were adopted from Battersea Dogs’ Home. This is per a dog blog.
Electric throw fantastic. I used one before I moved to Florida
Also how are you liking the book?
Electric throws sound like a nice solution! My joints stiffen up in the cold, and I am not 90!
I am not English but what I do feel is a profound admiration for her and her service. It feels like the end of an era.
I turn 50 in a few weeks, so I'm due a second booster at some point.
I thought it should be more of a celebration and less mourning.
A drive through the countryside on a Fall sunny day sounds lovely. I like 100% wool for warmth. That said, I also find thick fleece very warm. Fleece is soft to the touch as well as machine washable making it easy care. The warmest fleece (in the US) can be bought at Winter sports clothing stores. The key for warmth is to buy the thicker higher quality fleece.
I watched the whole thing (got up at 5:30----way before my normal getting up time) and found it fascinating. The precision of all the moving parts was particularly amazing----moving that many people around and keeping everything in it's proper place at the same time. Whoever arranged and kept tabs on the whole spectacle did a marvelous job. I found the information given by the newscasters from the US to be very interesting in that they explained the symbolism of various things and also they why of the way things were done which gave added meaning to the production. It was wonderful to see the crowds lining the streets and roadways as the cortage passed by and was a testament to the love and affection that the British people had for the Queen.
I think it's exactly what they should have done. It's where his mother died, where she was happiest, and where he should be able to shed all those tears that he couldn't in public.
think the funeral gave us time for reflection and I believe the Queen knew it was going to be a massive affair. In fact it was a wonderful production of how the royal family is the titular head of the country. And who can be sad as the bands play, the horses toss their heads, the soldiers line up with such neatness that it makes you gasp. And for once all those leaders of the world they had to keep quiet and respect one person for a time.
"Happy and glorious" Queen Elizabeth II went out with those words ringing out.
Our two daughters have just bought my husband, who feels the cold, one of those heated throws as an early birthday present, and it is brilliant. A wide range of temperatures and he is as snug as a bug, but doesn't need it really until it gets colder. One of our cats discovered it and thought we had invested in a heated cat bed!!
I managed to sign a Book of Condolence for the Queen today, but what to put? Hopefully I found the right words to say thank you.
That new shawl sounds like it is made in a clever manner, you can report to us how you like it. It is important to stay warm in your home. It is 72 in my house today in California with no heat on, but one of these days I will need to turn on the heat again. Energy and all costs are rising here, I put the blame on our president's mad policies. I do feel sad that your Queen is dead, it is the end of an era.
National mourning is the phrase used for sorrow at the passing of a monarch. It doesn't mean we are all walking around weeping and distraught. As for not unexpected, her age alone made us all aware of when not if and it was likely at any time. Because she had reigned for so long it is right and proper to have and respect national mourning.
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