COWROAST CHRONIC(le)
Hi Everybody-It's been a while. I wouldn't say I'd been particularly busy. Busy isn't really a concept I've ever grasped;but let's at least try and convey the message that lots has been going on. Some good. Some not so good.
First-something very good.
The month of June has seen the gathering of chums from all over the place to celebrate an anniversary.
Fifty years ago Pam and her contemporaries commenced their nurse training at Hillingdon Hospital and as they have done on other decades they gathered for a reunion initiated by friend Lynn.
Daphne and Duane flew in from Canada (by plane of course) and stayed at the Greyhound in Aldbury where they were joined on Wednesday by Ann and Graham from Guernsey.
We dined with whoever would have us at the Greyhound twice; once on Monday with Daphne and Duane and and once on Wednesday with all four. Excellent food and service on both occasions. |
| Welcome to Berkhamsted! Ann and Graham arrive |
 | |
| A lunchtime tincture in the sunshine....with chocolates from |
On Thursday the main event. A lunch at Per Tutti in Berko with eight of the Hillingdonians plus six partners
An opportunity for an anniversary portrait but first some order had to be imposed. No chance on this lot! Like herding cats.
 |
| At Last. All in a row, Ann, Linda, Graham, Daphne,Lynn, Maggie, Eileen, Pam, Diane, Trevor, Duane,Tom and Mark. All lovely people and good company. |
 |
| Time for another photo if they can stop jabbering |
 |
| Marvellous |
 |
| Photos from the past are shared. Such lovely memories. |
 |
| The Cake! Complete with the correct uniform and badge |
 |
| Back to Pam's for the Cutting of the Cake and the odd libation including ceremonial bubbles. |
A cracking week celebrating eight wonderful women who trained together and played together and used their skills over the next 50 years to provide care in abundance as they pursued their careers.We salute you and look forward to another Reunion in 2029!
=========================================================================
 |
| An old picture of the G & D I came across the other day |
The following Saturday Pam, Nat, Joseph, Lauren and I went for a celebratory dinner at Per Tutti's which is very much our favourite restaurant in Berko.
What were we celebrating?
Three reasons. Nat's birthday, Joseph has finished his Exams and The Cowroastafarians won the George and Dragon Quiz, a feat of which we (Ady, Geoff H., Kev and myself) were inordinately proud.
Joseph off to his Prom. How's that for a suit!
==============================I'm attempting to publish a wee book and have sought help from people more expert than I in such matters. One asked who would play my role in the film version (being silly of course) and someone suggested James Robertson Justice. Apart from the fact he is dead, Natalie told me she'd never heard of him which is understandable so I dug out this photo. There is a resemblance I suppose.....except he seems to have had hair.
=================================
And then to
Faversham for a Sunday dinner at Posillipos, a great restaurant (Italian what else?) and the Conneller Clan in great form.
=========================================================
Back at Cow Roast and work on turning my overloaded shed into a place of prayer and contemplation, serving drinks and cold snacks during times of stress.
 |
| This is about half the junk that came out of the shed! |
 |
| Getting better |
 |
| Nearly there |
 |
| with a glorious garden to enjoy |
 |
| A table for one |
 |
| Roy thought Crazy Golf might be an additional attraction |
 |
| Meet Melville the Bird Scarer |
We often have an auction to recycle various bits and pieces in aid of some charity or other. As the opportunity for such an event does not present itself in the foreseeable I decided on an online auction to shift the
========================================
Pam's former workmate Chris on a working visit from Australia joined us for lunch at....you've guessed it- Per Tutti but first Pam, who is off to Wimbledon this week, needed to visit the Highwayman where by the simple act of purchasing a couple of glasses of champagne she got herself these stylish sunglasses and a sun visor!! It was good to meet up with Chris again, he's an interesting and much travelled man (aren't all Aussies?) and he returns in August with his mother for a trip down her Memory Lane near Stevenage where she was born.
Two sad losses that I've heard about in the last 24 hours. A former workmate and friend, Brian Stratton who worked at Harrow, mainly in Public Relations and as you'll appreciate anyone in PR for a local council would have needed a sense of humour and Brian had it in spades. One example. Brian and I were both attending the same "Pre-Retirement" course. It was, in fact, a "Pre-Redundancy" course but we didn't want to be picky. We, along with a good few over 50s had been selected for deselection so to speak and the course was to prepare us for life after the chop. It lasted a week and was great fun because whilst knowing our fate we all had a sense of relief that the threat of redundancy no longer hung over us. One part was run by the Occupational Health Team-though in our case it should have been the No-Occupational Health Team. Anyway we sat listening to the advice that would help maintain our fitness into ripe old age and were advised that one in ten of us would suffer from osteo-arthritis. Brian let out an audible (and somewhat theatrical) gasp. "Oh no" he wailed" I know nine people that haven't got it. It must be me!"
We worked closely on Civic Ceremonial stuff like Civic Funerals, Remembrance Sunday, VE/VJ Commemoration that sort of stuff. He was always cheerful, resourceful and alert to visitations by Mr Cock-Up. He suffered from ill health soon after he finished work but kept his humour. Sad Loss. Lovely Bloke.
==========================================
On Wednesday I heard that June Pearce who used to live on our moorings on narrowboat June Rose had died that morning. She was 87. She was a true heroine. Her husband Sid died a few years back but despite having a supportive and loving family June knew where her duty lay and insisted on remaining on the cut.Her son David who suffered with a number of disabilities from birth loved the boat life and June's role for many years, despite her age and health steadfastly was to see to Davids' needs whilst coping with life aboard. Never complaining, always cheerful and philosophical about her lot; there are people strutting this earth with honours and rewards galore. Very few of them are in the same league as June Pearce.
Cheers M'love. RIP.
(June's funeral is at Amersham Crem on 16th July at 2.45.
Family flowers only and the suggestion is donations to the Ian Rennie Hospice.Apart from individual contributions we shall send the proceeds from the current online auction (see above).
Cards may be sent to June's daughter, Sheila Hazel, c/o 19, Barratt Place, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1XS)
=========================================
Bear with me whilst I report two more not quite so sad bits of news.
Bob and Jennifer have sold Cyprus and are giving up their mooring. Always supportive of the events we held and two very different but likeable characters, I shall miss them both. However,they are only living in Shropshire near the Shroppie canal so hopefully we'll meet up now and then. Similarly John and Bridget off River Dance are selling up. They don't moor at Cow Roast but visited us often and donated lots of stuff to our auctions. Best wishes to all four and we'll be sure to keep them in the Cowroastian Loop.
No comments:
Post a Comment