My family and other animals..

Some of these piccies are for real,but some are anim's which I rather like,and I hope you do too.

Our Grandson's wedding day 28th June 2003......Sean and Caroline.

........

Sean,his best man Dermot, and Nana Maureen .....al lot of history behind this photo .....

As my own Mum was a Dolly,I dedicate this poem to her 1913 - 1969 RIP

I'm the dolly on the dustcart,
I can see you're not impressed,
I'm fixed above the driver's cab,
With wire across me chest,
The dustman see, he noticed me,
Going in the grinder,
And he fixed me on the lorry,
I dunno if that was kinder.

This used to be a lovely dress,
In pink and pretty shades,
But it's torn now, being on the cart,
And black as the ace of spades,
There's dirt all round me face,
And all across me rosy cheeks,
Well, I've had me head thrown back,
But we ain't had no rain for weeks.

I used to be a 'Mama' doll,
Tipped forward, I'd say, 'Mum'
But the rain got in me squeaker,
And now I been struck dumb,
I had two lovely blue eyes,
But out In the wind and weather,
One's sunk back in me head like,
And one's gone altogether.

I'm not a soft, flesh coloured dolly,
Modern children like so much,
I'm one of those hard old dollies,
What are very cold to touch,
Modern dolly's underwear,
Leaves me a bit nonplussed,
I haven't got a bra,
But then I haven't got a bust!

But I was happy in that doll's house,
I was happy as a Queen,
I never knew that Tiny Tears,
Was coming on the scene,
I heard of dolls with hair that grew,
And I was quite enthralled,
Until I realised my head
Was hard and pink... and bald.

So I travel with the rubbish,
Out of fashion, out of style,
Out of me environment,
For mile after mile,
No longer prized... dustbinised!
Unfeminine, Untidy,
I'm the dolly on the dustcart,
And there's no collection Friday.

This is Mum,Dad and me in 1938,a studio photo in Blackpool.

This next one is of Mum and me in 1939 at Christmas.

As my Dad was a Frank,I dedicate this to him,,,,, 1910-1985 RIP

I told you last week about Claude and his sword,
How with generals he would try and swank;
But to-night I must talk of a great friend of mine,
So I'll speak about Frank and his tank.

When he first joined, the sergeant said,
"What can you do?" And Frank said, "Well, all kinds of things.
I can ride a girls bike, and I play draughts a bit,
And I've also an auntie who sings.',

Then the sergeant says, "Well, now we're all satisfied,
Although I ain't found out a thing;
I ask you a query, and you tell me nothing
Except that your auntie can sing."

In a very few words said the sergeant,
"You're here to help win the war driving tanks.
Would you like to drive one?" Frank said, "Well, I don't mind.
Says the sergeant, "That's settled!" Frank said "Thanks!"

Then they walked out together, tho' not arm in arm,
To where one of these monsters was stood.
Says the sergeant, "D'you think you could cope with this 'ere?"
Frank said, "If you did-well, I could."

"After you,". said the sergeant, so Frank hops in first
In his overalls well-pressed and dapper;
But before the sergeant had got properly settled...
Frank lets down the lid on his napper.

Then to Frank's great surprise the tank started to move,
And his hands got all sticky like toffee.
At that moment they got to the officers' mess,
Where the colonel was just taking coffee.

Well, a tank running wild doesn't think of those things,
And as Frank started thinking of mother,
The tank pushed its way through the side of the mess
And pushed its way out through the other.

Then Frank said, "Blue pencil, blue pencil, blue pencil!"
And his hands were much stickier than toffee.
Besides the unconscious sergeant and the tank running wild,
He had the colonel on top with his coffee!

Well, they went down a ditch and the colonel got off
'Cause he'd finished his coffee by now;
Then the sergeant come to, and said, "We going somewhere?"
Frank says, "Yes, I think so, and how."

Then the sergeant shouts out, "There's a pond over there
On the far side of that grassy bank."
So they both hops out quick and let the tank go,
And when it got to the pond Frank's tank sank.

Frank said, "Well, I'm sorry, but what could I do?
I know I said I could do lots of things."
Said the sergeant, "There"s one thing you'd better do quick,
That's go back to your auntie what sings!"

My Dad serving his Country 1947 in Austria

In memory of my Dad.....

“Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Mary our dear sister-in-law passed over April 7th 2006...this was played at her funeral....

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

And now on Thursday 15th May 2008 we sadly lost our faithful little rescue dog,he was in his 16th year...

I have done mostly but most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can't forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through----
Wherever my road inclined---
Four- Feet said, "I am coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round,---
Which I shall never find---
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

A Simple Message From Your Pet

by Ken D. Conover.....
To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and
returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you. For the care that you gave to me
so unselfishly. For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve
not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each other's lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I am
as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among fthe flowers and
the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump and play
and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints
and no regrets and no aging. We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know
that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such
as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies,
and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.
Your pet in heaven. xxxxxx

Meet meet Fudge..
We have rescued this little lad this day Monday 23rd April 2007.....here is what the CPL had to say about him......
Fudge: 5 to 6 year old (or maybe older!!) Ginger tabby male. Came into us as a stray. Very affectionate and just wants to be stroked and stroked and stroked.....if only he could talk I am sure he would have quite a story to tell - very fussy fella. Whoever can give a home to this cheeky chappie will get back more than they could ever imagine !!

Fudge was sadly put to sleep 15th December 2007

Sadly we lost Fudge Decemeber 2007....a great loss indeed :(

A few ! Catty piccies

The above is Chester who we rescued in 1993,he is so placid and lets all the others have their own way.......and now I have to add that our dear Chester had to be put to sleep this day Saturday 21st April 2007,he is already missed.

The above is Mallow the half Siamese we rescued in 1997,he is the naughtiest cat we have ever had,and we have had over thirty !!!...and sadly through a sudden illness,he was put to sleep 25/9/2006

The above is our Eldest rescue cat Nina,we rescued her in 1991,grumpy girlie she is,and now sorry to report that she went missing on the 8th August 2004.

Fritzie our little schnauzer

Toby he was almost human

Gyppy and Benny rescue pets......now sadly no longer with us..Gyppy left us in May 2008,and now Benny April 2009,we are now dogless,and sad. .......

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Gyppy did so like to catch up with the morning news !!!

Abbie rescued at just a few hours old...and now on this day Monday 23rd April 2007 we have had to say goodbye to Abbie,such a tough little girlie ,brave to the end,she will never be replaced..

Abbie the invincible..

At work I was busy working away when suddenly my office door flew open... We had an air conditioned office for the computers and in rushed a friend and colleague, Kathleen, who asked me if I could help with a kitten she had just discovered at the side of the bins... Of course I agreed, asking her where it was.. She replied, "I've put it out on the grass outside, I'll get a box"

A few minutes later she brought in the biggest box she could carry, came to my desk leaving the box at my feet.... Well I have dealt with kittens all my life but not one newly born !!!

It couldn't have been more than an hour old looking more like a baby rat than a kitten, pink and about as big as a bar of soap, if that, squeaking hardly moving.....what to do???

I am a member of the CPL so I rang one of the leaders, she in turn put me onto another member who had a heat pad, so I rang her and then hit a snag... The kitten would have to be fed every hour on the hour for the next month at least, and could I arrange the kitten to be transported immediately to this lady with the heat pad.

My husband was called, he gets involved if I run into snags. He promptly took the kitten to Beryl, the vicars wife, who had the heat pad, and who was prepared to do the feeding.....

But here's where fate took a hand...

Another member, Christine, had heard of my plight and as she is wheelchair bound she decided to take the job on as she spent a lot of time trying to get comfortable during the day and night. So the kitten yet again was transported a couple of miles away....

The next paragraph is almost untrue,but it did happen.....

Christine who had many problems is a lady who really adores cats, so a couple of days later, after she had taken the kitten in, a stray heavily pregnant cat walked into Christine's home and gave birth to three kittens there and then.... Christine decided to blood our kitten with the afterbirth, the mother cat then accepted it as her own.

The kitten was then suckled and groomed by her adopted Mum.

The kitten stayed with Christine and her new found Mum for the next 8 weeks, along with her adopted brothers and sisters until we officially adopted her calling her Abbie..

She is now 12, never grown much, but she is a toughy by her very nature.

We also had a mention in the Cats newsletter.

Tabitha RIP 23th May 2002

And last but not least Daisy the dog dumped in a wood,and we all know why....and now on Christmas day 2006 we had to sadly say goodbye to Daisy...

DRY YOUR TEARS

YOU CAN SHED TEARS BECAUSE SHE IS GONE OR
YOU CAN SMILE BECAUSE SHE HAS LIVED.

YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PRAY THAT
SHE'LL COME BACK OR YOU CAN OPEN YOUR
EYES AND SEE ALL SHE HAS LEFT.

YOUR HEART CAN BE EMPTY BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T SEE HER OR YOU CAN BE FULL OF THE
LOVE YOU SHARED

YOU CAN TURN YOUR BACK ON TOMORROW
AND LIVE YESTERDAY OR YOU CAN BE HAPPY
FOR TOMORROW BECAUSE OF YESTERDAY.

YOU CAN REMEMBER HER AND ONLY THAT
SHE IS GONE OR YOU CAN CHERISH HER
MEMORY AND LET IT LIVE ON...

Daisy was a rescue dog who came to us over 14 years ago with many behavioural problems.

Here is just one incident....

I was at work as was my husband, leaving Daisy and our then Border Collie Toby at home..

My husband always broke his day by calling home sometime during the morning, but this particular day he decided he had left something at home he needed, so called earlier than usual.

On approaching our home he pulled into the drive and as he did so the sound of the smoke alarm became louder.. Realising there was a possible fire he rushed to the conservatory door where he could see smoke puthering out of the kitchen..

Frantically he tried to open the door but found he couldn't as the kitchen drawers were open which in turn had the door jammed.

He then scrambled on the floor scraping his arms at the same time and gently closed the drawers, only to find tea-towels, carrier bags and spent matches on the ceramic floor, all on fire!!! This was stamped on of course.. The flames had already caught hold on the sides of the door which is/was stained, so caught fire very quickly.

You may ask what has all this to do with Daisy...

Well Daisy, in her frustration of being left alone, had opened the bottom drawer of the three, emptied the contents which included a box of matches, and scratched at the matches, thus making a fire with the dry towels and bags!!!

Toby was shivering with fright and Daisy was howling the place down with possible anticipation of what was to follow....

.R.I.P Daisy 251/12/2006

Daisy at her best .......peel me a grape Bula !!

The latest arrival in Fudges memory meet Purdy ,a gentle little girl who came from Stoke,we adopted her on 18th December 2007....

Our latest rescue dog.....meet meet Foxy Lady.....we rescued her on the 20th April 2009, has already had four homes,we just hope she will fit in with Purdy our rescue cat

And now born on the 10th January 2009,let me introduce Freddie our Great grandson,isn't he sweeeeeeeeeeeeet

Two heads are better than one,not mine only wish he was.

The Four Generations......Dad,Jayne Christopher and me...1985,the year Dad died..

And last but not least our youngest grandson Phil.....1992 !!