tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post5042735008908952804..comments2024-03-29T00:11:30.648+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Mr TCP and the Star Inn, Waldron ... Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11872959515145373622015-09-23T13:22:39.037+01:002015-09-23T13:22:39.037+01:00Hi Debbie - yes I will remember Mr and Mrs TCP .. ...Hi Debbie - yes I will remember Mr and Mrs TCP .. .though Mr TCP very much as I spent so much time with him, after my aunt died. So glad you enjoyed the tale ... cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-42739785782353927572015-09-23T11:20:05.885+01:002015-09-23T11:20:05.885+01:00Ah, what a lovely tale Hilary. Mr TCP indeed! :-)Ah, what a lovely tale Hilary. Mr TCP indeed! :-)Deborah Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261449936843388583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-19371285499288901312015-09-21T14:55:43.448+01:002015-09-21T14:55:43.448+01:00@ Susan - yes ... a bittersweet experience and as ...@ Susan - yes ... a bittersweet experience and as you say another memory to add to my bag of them.<br /><br />@ Joanne - it was lovely meeting up with N - he was and is always so cheerful. I'm sure I'll get to Suffolk sometime soonish ... it'll be fun to spend some time up there ...<br /><br />@ Ana - lovely to see you .. and good to know you felt you were with us.<br /><br />@ Val - it was a touching day ... made special by the pub and their remembrances of those early days when they used to meet regularly. The TCP bit I thought would make a great story line ... and I see it has resonated with one and all. My uncle's initials weren't TCP ... but they certainly could be ... while your sister will retain hers!<br /><br />@ Friko - good to see you ... and yes N and I had an excellent farewell lunch ... we'd have been sad if we hadn't fitted it in ... <br /><br />I was bemused when they said they'd been wondering about Mr TCP - totally endearing ... <br /><br />@ Sai - I'm just delighted you felt you were with me as I wrote the post and told the story ... it was a tale that needed to be told and blogging gives one that opportunity.<br /><br />The food is good out there ... and the creme brulee wasn't bad either!<br /><br />Thanks to you all ... I'm so happy to read all your comments .. cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-40672380507765661682015-09-20T16:05:49.290+01:002015-09-20T16:05:49.290+01:00A fond farewell, and a nice new look on your blog....A fond farewell, and a nice new look on your blog. Have a great week, Hilary!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-52771683134565444402015-09-19T23:51:20.387+01:002015-09-19T23:51:20.387+01:00I am so glad you were able to meet your uncle'...I am so glad you were able to meet your uncle's friend and that you had such a nice visit. It definitely sounds like a memorable visit and I am sure the people at the pub were happy to see you and find out what had been going on too. I feel like I was right there with you. Thanks for sharing!<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-55681657166571120392015-09-19T20:27:20.907+01:002015-09-19T20:27:20.907+01:00Hilary, this post is very heart touching, farewell...Hilary, this post is very heart touching, farewells are hard but reminiscing the good old times bring back all the happy times spent together. I love the way you have explained your meeting - very well presented with pictures and the story flows so nicely, you have taken every reader on that trip with you and through your memory lanes :)<br /><br />Your Antipasto Grazing Board Italian meal looks delicious, I'm sure you enjoyed it and the dessert :) <br /><br />Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!! <br /><br />Take care my friend,<br />Sai :)<br />Sai Charanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922029711707519134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-90631944776188970122015-09-19T18:33:01.830+01:002015-09-19T18:33:01.830+01:00What a lovely tale.
These occasions when old frie...What a lovely tale.<br /><br />These occasions when old friends meet, when some of them have already passed on, are bittersweet and apt to bring on a little tear. It’s good that you had this lunch together to remember each other by.<br /><br />I love these pubs where they know you and greet you by name, even if it’s a nickname.<br /><br />Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-5778301570618085322015-09-19T08:27:52.266+01:002015-09-19T08:27:52.266+01:00I almost had tears myself, Hilary. Very touching. ...I almost had tears myself, Hilary. Very touching. Still, there's hope you will see each other again. I love the TCP bits. TCP are my sister's initials too!Vallypeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309284606572565277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-59452503271966769512015-09-19T07:27:48.743+01:002015-09-19T07:27:48.743+01:00Your description Is so vivid I felt that I was rig...Your description Is so vivid I felt that I was right by your side....<br /> anahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01987846471394473841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-40633636763355456872015-09-18T19:12:52.428+01:002015-09-18T19:12:52.428+01:00I got a tad teary reading this lovely post. Glad y...I got a tad teary reading this lovely post. Glad you could "natter" on (I love that term) and have such a great visit with an old friend. Time marches on....but ah, memories. Hope you can get up to Suffolk someday soon, and continue the conversation. All the best to youJoannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604494404874408870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-50845729656238955552015-09-18T17:55:27.583+01:002015-09-18T17:55:27.583+01:00What a bittersweet experience. I'm so glad you...What a bittersweet experience. I'm so glad you were able to get together again before he moved away. One more day to add to your bag of memories. :)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-41809599400804845172015-09-18T13:45:14.259+01:002015-09-18T13:45:14.259+01:00@ Betsy - yes as you say it was bitter sweet ... b...@ Betsy - yes as you say it was bitter sweet ... but lovely to have had the chance for a final lunch together. The food is good and I do love creme brulee ... so once in a while a dessert is fine.<br /><br />@ ACIL - I miss London, yet you remind me we have good places out here too .. the countryside and the pub. I'm glad you enjoyed the post ... the sadness is just one of those things we acquire with age as family and friends pass on ... a part of life isn't it.<br /><br />@ Silvia - we had lots of memories together ... and I'd only really known the other members of my uncle's six, since I'd spent a lot more time with him after my aunt died. I'd have loved to have known them all for longer ... but it's the way of life isn't it.<br /><br />You're right we are better for these times in our life and we are emotionally richer from them - just sad we get old too! I'm so pleased you enjoyed the story .. thank you.<br /><br />@ Donna - thanks re the blog. It seems I was missed in the blogging world ... which is enormously humbling to read about - thank you. Oh yes I do like getting out and about.<br /><br />@ Jo - it's interesting what we forget if we don't come across something for donkey years - glad I reminded you! It was a happy occasion ... though for N a big change in his life ... moving away from Sussex and from where his wife had died.<br /><br />Hailsham is about 9 miles form here .. but the sea used to ingress that far back in the days of William the Conqueror ... and many times in neolithic periods. Crawley is huge now .. sprawling and just north of Gatwick.<br /><br />Pub lunches and walks are just wonderful pleasures of the countryside ... you do pretty well with going out I'm pleased to read.<br /><br />Thanks so much for coming by and commenting - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-3956251572126567082015-09-18T02:31:39.473+01:002015-09-18T02:31:39.473+01:00I had forgotten about TCP. How odd. Not something ...I had forgotten about TCP. How odd. Not something I have seen over here. What a lovely final get together for lunch. Sad memories though. Hailsham is familiar, I lived in Crawley for a few years. Love pub lunches, this sounds like one that had particularly good food. Makes me a tad nostalgic.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-37229904016407393232015-09-18T00:34:11.549+01:002015-09-18T00:34:11.549+01:00Love the new blog. I missed you while you were out...Love the new blog. I missed you while you were out. So glad you had such a fine adventure out of the house.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-31128764002361187752015-09-17T23:38:43.377+01:002015-09-17T23:38:43.377+01:00I'm glad for all the memories you were able to...I'm glad for all the memories you were able to make, Hilary. Some people pass through our lives and make a huge impression, leave us nostalgic for those moments and meals we shared, the conversation, the laughs. We are better for it and emotionally richer, even if a part of us will miss those moments. <br />A beautiful story, Hilary. Silvia Writeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14437144517262211712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-29464602228907195622015-09-17T23:19:49.514+01:002015-09-17T23:19:49.514+01:00You just reminded me of my favourite activities wh...You just reminded me of my favourite activities whenever I visit another part of the UK: paying a visit to my local. A pub lunch or dinner is usually one of the highlights of holidays spent in the countryside. Thanks, that was a nice post, although tinged with sadness somewhat.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-84049745304459704542015-09-17T14:15:31.129+01:002015-09-17T14:15:31.129+01:00What a lovely visit, although bittersweet. Looks ...What a lovely visit, although bittersweet. Looks like the food was wonderful....I loved your choices! creme brulee? yes, please!Betsy Brockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06807795605763246015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-32292661598374766822015-09-17T09:11:10.554+01:002015-09-17T09:11:10.554+01:00@ Christine - many thanks ... I'm delighted yo...@ Christine - many thanks ... I'm delighted you felt you were with us ... goodbyes are hard ... <br /><br />@ Crystal - good memories but I'd love N to still be around here .. still we had some fun times when everyone was alive. Your Great Grandma Bea sounds amazing ... how lovely: homemade choccies ... and you were able to play Christmas songs ... a beautiful memory for you all ... but sad when the tradition has to end, as she passes on ... and yes that reunion ahead.<br /><br />@ Suzanne - ebb and flow of life - good description ... but we had some very happy memories and great remembrances. TCP is very distinctive isn't it .. I guess it was always part of my uncle's life - for his scrapes, colds, snake bite! etc - after my aunt had died ... that I didn't really realise TCP ruled quite so strongly! This story is a good one though ... <br /><br />@ Susan - thanks so much ... N and A were extraordinarily kind to my uncle - helping him a great deal through those early days. They'd known each other for over 50 years.<br /><br />I hope your lunch was a happy combination of catch up and many remembrances of happy times of yore ... and we do think of our blogging friends don't we ... <br /><br />@ Janet - that's wonderful to know you feel like you came with us ... it is in a glorious setting. We all face these losses don't we - and I'm sorry about yours ... with thoughts to the family.<br /><br />@ Patsy - I don't mind TCP smell ... and yes aromas from our childhood do ring true don't they. Yes N was such a help and so cheerful and happy - we were always laughing.<br /><br />@ David - well we'd love to see you here ... anytime!<br /><br />@ Nick - thanks ... it was a lovely time - talking about family, friends, their homes and then Africa ... with good food! D and D will be remembered for many things.<br /><br />@ Annabel - yes the era has gone - yet those memories are just wonderful. Glad you enjoyed the story - thank you.<br /><br />@ Paula - how great to read that Richard was also reading Clive Cussler ... the plot was quite involved ... and knowing Africa and that coastline certainly helped me dash along with the story! I hope he enjoyed the book: Skeleton Coast.<br /><br />Cheers to you - so glad you all want to come to the pub with me! One day let's hope we meet up ... all the best - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-90612887172309169692015-09-16T23:25:12.467+01:002015-09-16T23:25:12.467+01:00Richard was a Clive Cussler fan and I can remember...Richard was a Clive Cussler fan and I can remember Skelton Coast spending quite a bit of time on the night stand next to our bed!Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17406717262345866373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-32967974067961404262015-09-16T22:09:39.743+01:002015-09-16T22:09:39.743+01:00What a lovely story! The end of an era, yes, but i...What a lovely story! The end of an era, yes, but it sounds as though you have good memories.<br /><a href="http://anabelsblog.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Anabel's Travel Blog</a><br /><a href="http://anabellibraryworld.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Adventures of a retired librarian</a>Anabel Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15643196773717977697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-13807735242436044412015-09-16T21:19:21.247+01:002015-09-16T21:19:21.247+01:00Glad you could have a nice day out reminiscing. It...Glad you could have a nice day out reminiscing. It sounds like your uncle will be remembered for a long time to come.Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-4263321123043012922015-09-16T19:45:31.185+01:002015-09-16T19:45:31.185+01:00All great places I wouldn't mind visiting. Esp...All great places I wouldn't mind visiting. Especially the pub! :)David Powers Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942728197352977520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-37618486510553587332015-09-16T17:18:54.923+01:002015-09-16T17:18:54.923+01:00I like the smell of TCP - I suspect it's conne...I like the smell of TCP - I suspect it's connected with half remembered things from my childhood.<br /><br />I'm glad you were able to meet up with your friend and enjoy each other's company, especially as you won't be seeing him for a while.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-57334099463102489632015-09-16T17:05:13.488+01:002015-09-16T17:05:13.488+01:00I felt like I went on that pub visit with you. You...I felt like I went on that pub visit with you. You paint such a delightful picture. And what a beautiful memory. <br /><br />We just faced our own passing of an era, and it really is hard to believe. Love and all my best!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-20305989883375996662015-09-16T16:30:36.587+01:002015-09-16T16:30:36.587+01:00What a touching story. Those long friendships are ...What a touching story. Those long friendships are so important to keep intact. I'm having lunch with my oldest friend today and doing so catching up. I'm sure I'll think of you during it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.susangourley.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Susan Says</a>Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.com