Dingbat woke me at first light this morning. That’s when I discovered that I was barely covered since “someone” was hogging the covers! The electric blanket usually hangs at least a foot or more over the side of the bed but it barely covered me. When Bill got up for a few minutes to turn on the heat and put on a pot of coffee, I took advantage of his brief absence to adjust the covers. I didn’t get to enjoy it long, however, because my nose started in and I got up at 6:45.
As it turned out that was a good thing because I got a chance to chat with my internet friend Bev who lives in Sheffield, England. She works at the university there and also plays the bagpipes. Bev will be going to Belgium at the end of the month with The City of Sheffield Pipe Band to perform at the laying of a wreath at Menin Gate in Ypres (Flanders, Belgium). “The Menin Gate is monument dedicated to the missing 54,896 British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the fierce battles around the Ypres Salient area in WWI and who have no known grave. Even to this day, bodies are still very occasionally being found. They receive a proper burial and, if they can be identified, the name is removed from the Menin Gate.” (Wikipedia)
I can remember over the years hearing my Dad read the poem “In Flanders Field” but I didn’t know about the gate until Bev mentioned it this morning and I looked it up. “Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the citizens of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium's freedom. As such, every evening at 8.00, buglers from the local fire brigade close the road which passes under the Memorial and blow the Last Post. Except for the occupation by the Germans in World War II when the daily ceremony was conducted at Brookwood Military Cemetery, in Surrey, England, this ceremony has been carried on uninterrupted since 2 July 1928. On the very evening that Polish forces liberated Ypres in the Second War, the ceremony was resumed at the Menin Gate despite the fact that heavy fighting was still taking place in other parts of the town.” (Wikipedia) I think it is awesome that this tradition continues in such a “me, me, me” society. Bev is a member of the Pipes and Drums of Royal Air Force Waddington. She sent me this picture of her in uniform playing the pipes.
Deanna called just as I stood up to go get dressed at six o’clock. I managed to get my slacks on with one hand while holding the phone in the other hand but that was about the extent of what I could do. We covered what we needed to know from each other and then I hung up and finished getting ready to go. I picked up Nadine at 6:30. When we arrived at church there weren’t but about six cars in the parking lot and it was 6:42 by then and the concert was due to start at 7. Burley Bible folks are definitely slow moving. They are the same way on Sundays so I should be used to it by now.
The concert featured Resonant which is a versatile music ensemble from Briercrest College-Seminary in Saskatchewan, Canada. They have a wide repertoire ranging from the classics to today's music. There nine of them and they performed acappella and were fantastic. One girl raised the rafters with her high notes! They sang for an hour and Nadine also thoroughly enjoyed it. I dropped her off in time to go pick up Hector who was at Joyce’s house. She has to pick him up before Ted goes to bed, otherwise the three dogs barking wakes Ted up.
Now I’m off to watch the third episode in my private detective series. When I finished reading the “Key West” book I gave it to Nadine. She read it in a matter of days compared to the weeks it took me. Of course, she wakes in the middle of the night and that was when she was reading.
In Flanders Fields IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-191
- Canadian Army
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Hi Diane. Was finally able to get out cyberwalking again and wanted to check on you and see what you were up to ... 
Hi Carol, I get a "lump in my chest" reading your thoughts that you share .. thanks for reminding us how life is a 
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