Hi there

Thanks for popping in. We drove down to Rye Harbour for a seaside walk early this morning, to blow away the cobwebs. Well, it certainly did that! Nearly blew us away too! But it was good to breathe in some fresh air, and see something other than our four walls – even though the cloud formations were anything but white and fluffy! Check this out…

Bit dark over Will’s Mum’s house, or what?!? Plenty of people had the same idea as us. There were lots of little kids on bikes, folks walking their dogs, people pushing people in wheelchairs – it was good to be part of something else.

Then we took the scenic road home, and just enjoyed the beautiful Kent and Sussex countryside. Beauty at every turn…Picture postcard pretty…

No neighbours, and ample parking…

St Thomas Becket church here, at Fairfield. Fascinating. 12th century. Look it up if you fancy an education. Apparently, legend has it that Thomas a Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury (yes, the very same Thomas a Becket who was killed at Canterbury Cathedral by the King’s men – Henry II).. anyway, Thomas was journeying across the Romney Marshes when he fell into one of the many ditches. He prayed to St Thomas for help, and a passing farmer saved him. So the Archbishop had the church built by way of gratitude. Built ca 1162. Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. So his card was certainly marked! Living in the Dark Ages was no picnic, I bet! But so much history beneath our feet today! Made you feel, not insignificant, but certainly more like a grain of sand on a vast beach.

We had been expecting flooding, but saw nothing actually, which surprised us as we were in an area called The Romney Marshes, much of which is below sea level ! But it was perfect, driving through Peasmarsh (Paul McCartney lives there) and Appledore, enjoying the quietude, grazing sheep, stunning Wealden cottages, medieval churches standing isolated. Saw a whole flock of swans grazing in a field of rapeseed too. It was so interesting!

You just have to put your phone away, keep your eyes on what’s in front of you, and stop talking about anything other than what you’re looking at, and you suddenly enter into a whole new world – the one in front of you! I feel like I’ve had a holiday!

Just what the doctor ordered. A year ago to the weekend, my brother Steve and I were camping out in Dad’s bedroom, listening to Billy Holiday endlessly with him, and watching him slip away. I only tell you this today, because now I can say, hand on heart, that a year on, it’s better. At the time of his departure, I felt I would break; the pain and sadness were too much to bear. Now, a year on, it is ok. Not gone, never gone. But ok. Unless of course, I travel back in my mind to the days he was dying, or the weeks before, when he was so desperately unwell. Then I am gripped all over again by overwhelming grief and fear. So I don’t. I try not to go back to that oh so sad time. If I think about Dad, I try to leapfrog over the last part, and remember the better days. I am surprised how much control I actually have over where I can direct my thoughts. They sneak up on me and catch me in the throat sometimes, before I even realise where my head is taking me. But I can block and redirect so quickly now – and I’m getting better at it too.

The reason I am talking about this memory to you is because I know so many of you are also going through loss too right now. Not a year ago; a month or two ago. Or last week even. I know, I really know how you are feeling. And all I can say is that it will get easier. Just travel gently, take good care of yourself, and give Time time.

I reminded Dave of the time we walked the same walk at Rye harbour with Dad years ago. We had such a laugh, fooling around with photos…

We stayed at the Mermaid Inn, Rye.

Good times. Happy times in Rye. Yes. A lot of people weren’t lucky like us, to have a Dad like our Dad. And he was around for a long time too.

Time to stop.

Quote for today? Actually, the poem by William Blake came to mind today, and we recited it whilst driving across the marshes..

click here

See you on Create & Craft TV tomorrow. 3-5pm.

Love always

Barb xxx