Another year older, a twelfth year of being ‘here’,
and onto my 1005th post … seems to be good for all things …
… January gloom was upon us yesterday, today there’s a
little blue … better than the unenviable reputation of St Hilary’s Day, January
13th being the coldest day of the year …
 |
| Age ... probably 4 or 5 ... playing with lego |
… and that I can confirm happening quite often in the
past seven decades, or as my uncle would have said … your eighth my dear!!
 |
| Ellis Evans - his real name: c 1910 |
While looking around for something slightly erudite to
write … rather than Happy Birthday to me, and aren’t I clever: 11 full years
and one day with 1005 posts since starting this journey …
… I came across a Welsh poet born on the same day in
1887 … who sadly died in WW1 … but I’ll leave you to read more.
 |
| The film released in 1992 - I must try and find a copy |
Hedd Wyn, his bardic name meaning ‘blessed peace’, worked on the family farm – where, as a shepherd,
he composed his Welsh language poems, dominated by themes of nature and
religion.
 |
| An Englyn appearing on a gravestone, in Christ Church, Bala |
A Canadian novelist, Robertson Davies, wrote this
English-language englyn, which is more appropriate than the others shown:
The Old Journalist
He types his laboured column – weary drudge!
Senile, fudge and solemn;
Spare, editor, to condemn
These dry leaves of his autumn.
 |
| Bistrot Pierre ... should be good! - newish restaurant and seems to be the in thing - I had a society lunch there before Christmas (150 of us!!) |
So this old blogger, is walking to a lunch,
with a couple of girlfriends, by the sea looking out over the
white cliffs of Beachy Head and English Channel …
Happy Birthday to me and many more ahead for us all … thank you for being such a supportive community – it’s encouraging to be around …
'Hedd Wyn' … to
you, your families, friends and the world …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
48 comments:
Thirteen has been a very good number for Miriam and me, Hilary. We met on Friday the 13th, got married on the 13th and closed the deal on our house on the 13th - there are other thirteens that have been significant too but I won't recount the whole litany. And now I learn that 13 January is the birthday of one of my favourite bloggers to add to the significance of this conventionally maligned day. A blogger who cites Robertson Davies is meritorious beyond reckoning! Happy birthday my dear Hilary. May you have many, many more, so that we can all wallow in the pleasure of your erudite contribution to our lives. Birthday hugs and kisses from Canada, a land that gave you much happiness and fond memories I know.
Hi David - just before I dash out ... thank you for the wonderful comment. 13 is definitely my lucky number ... proper reply anon. Just wanted to acknowledge I'd read your thoughts ... definitely hugs back to the two of you - Hilary
Happy Birthday to you. Enjoy your "eighth" on the 13th. Laugh and enjoy time with friends by the sea. I wish you well from across the pond.
Happy birthday! Still going strong here and in the real world.
Hil
Have you found that years of blogging have changed you at all? I am finding that my writing is as good or as bad as it ever was, but my reading is more focused. If a topic looks interesting, my mind stops wandering and the facts settle in. Despite the increasing age :)
Hel
Hari OM
I do hope you have been enjoying your day, Hilary and that the lunch was suitably celebratory! Thank you for some interesting links. May there be many more years of blogging ahead of you!!! YAM xx
A big happy birthday, Hilary!
Happy birthday to you!
Erudite - no wonder most of your blogs are over my head (true).
Englyn - another word I had to look up.
Happy blog day anniversary too.
sandie
@ David – thanks for the lovely comment and yes being born on the 13th takes one out of the triskaidekaphobia clan! I’ve lots of 13ths too … so lucky me I think.
Literally by checking out Hedd Wyn … I came across the Robertson Davies link, via ‘englyns’ – which word I’d never come across. Then Davies wrote the authorly verse … and now you mention he’s a special person in your literary journey … I will have to find something of his to read – any suggestions … ?
Yes I do have many happy memories of Canada – it was an interesting learning experience … it really helps living in more than one country – broadened horizons.
@ Joanne – thank you … I hope you meant eighth decade – which is what I was referring to … I’m not at that end of the 70s just yet!! We had a lovely lunch … and managed to get back before the rain and gales totally kicked in …
@ Alex – yup … yes still going strong in both places – I’m glad to say …
@ Hels – yes most definitely. I was never a writer … but I’ve learnt to write more succinctly … including snippets of historical interest.
Reading is another matter – I’m not a good reader of books – so think I must take a few hours a day of reading and not being on the net.
I need to take notes when I’m at various ‘classes/talks’ … I do tend to remember most of what I scan read … as you say despite the increasing age, but do worry that perhaps I need to cut back slightly!
@ Yam – yes having a lovely time … and now got tomorrow off, as someone has a bad cold … I suspect I’ll be blogging for a while ahead …
@ Diane – many thanks …
@ Sandie – I think I pretend to be erudite – the words just seem to appear in my brain … but ‘englyn’ … appeared in Wikipedia and the interconnectedness of Cornish poetry etc … and Hedd Wyn being born on the same day – not the same year though!
Thanks to you all … words and interesting curiosity seem to drive me ever onwards … so I am shocked that I’m still here blogging after eleven years … cheers for now – I need tea … after my lunch!! Happy week - Hilary
Happy birthday!
I hope you had a lovely birthday, Hilary! Many happy returns.
Belated birthday wishes from me too - and huge thanks for introducing me to yet another poetic form and poet I didn't know. You so often contribute to expanding my grey matter and I am endlessly grateful.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
thanks for all the wonderful and educational posts.
love you bunches!
Happy birthday. I hope it's filled with cake.
Happy B Day, Hil. Enjoy your celebration, your girlfriends and the sea.
Cheers
Many happy returns Hilary :)
Thirteen has popped up many times in our life and always been a good sign. Hope you had a good lunch and a very happy birthday. Now have a good week as well Diane
Happy birthday, Hilary, and I hope a happy lunch with lots more 13th of the months to look forward to! Thank you for your lovely blog over all these years too! I’ve been on Blogger since 2006, so 13 years and some too :)
Seeing some Robertson Davies always makes my day. :-D
I hope the day was happy-happy and that lunch was the sort that is dreamed of for months!
I hope you had an enjoyable day Hilary. You've survived quite a few Friday 13th's over the years - well done! Here's to another 11 years of blogging and more beyond!
@ John – many thanks …
@ Anabel – yes it was relatively calm down here …
@ EC – no worries … always happy to have belated birthdays too! That’s great to see you hadn’t heard of an ‘englyn’ … or the poet, who sadly died too young; and the author/wordsmith from Canada … I must look into Robertson Davies’ works and see if I can get one from the library … so glad you’re happy with the learning here …
@ Lenny – wonderful to see you … so glad you enjoy the educational/informational posts …
@ Liz – many thanks … no cake or dessert at all – savoury and vino!
@ Sandra – thank you in your circumstances for coming over and being here … we had fun … lots of laughter …
@ Fil – thanks so much … you too – I’ll be over shortly …
@ Diane – yes 13 has always been a favourite number and a good sign – and we had a happy day and time … and will have a happy week …
@ Val – yes I hope to have many more 13ths ahead of me … but you’re into your 13th year of blogging – a year ahead – and you’ve got two blogs … I can manage one! It was a happy lunch …
@ Jz – oh that’s wonderful … I’d never heard of Robertson Davies … so to have three commenters acknowledge his work … I must now see if I can get something from the library …
It was a happy day … the lunch was fine – not thrilling … but the setting makes it worth it …
@ Keith – I have survived a few 13ths and Friday the 13ths over the years … how many more blogging years I’ll survive – we shall see! But I enjoy it and it keeps my brain going …
Thanks everyone – so lovely to see you all here – it’s calmer here at the moment, so am settling in to a peaceful week only a year older! Cheers and enjoy your week … Hilary
Hi again Hilary: You had asked for recommendations for Robertson Davies works. You can do no better than to start with his trilogy, Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders. Also, I don't know whether it's possible to find the interviews he did with Peter Gzowski on Morningside (before your sojourn in Canada) but they are well worth listening to.
The happiest of birthday months to you! Hope you celebrate all month long - they only come once a year, after all. 🙂 May you enjoy great fellowship with friends and be blessed in the years to come. Congratulations on your blogging milestone, too. You are a treasure!
Happy birthday!
A very Happy Birthday!
I want to join you for lunch! I always come away from your posts feeling good about the way things go. Thank you.
So much to celebrate here Hilary! Birthday wishes and blogging kudos. I look forward to much more to continue to delight about from your presence.
Hi Hilary, Sounds like you had a lovely birthday lunching by the sea with close friends! 11 years and 1005 blog posts is quite an accomplishment! I’ve learned so much from you over the years and truly appreciate your friendship. You grow wiser every year, and I wish you many more years of good health and happiness. Oh, and what an adorable photo of you!
Julie
1005 posts is awesome the more we blog the more most of us love is
Happy birthday, Hilary! and more ink to your pen - 1005 needs some serious blogging mojo! Wishing you many wonderful years ahead and here's to the next thousand. Stay well and happy.
Hi Hilary! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday! I spent mine volunteering at a primary school last year, and when the class birthdays were announced, I told them it was mine too!
You were such a little cutie and of course still are:)
Happy Belated Birthday as it seems I am a day late. I hope you enjoyed your lunch. Oh, and that is a lot of blogging and posts.
Cheers to you!
Happy Birthday, Hilary! And happy 12th blogiversary!! I'm not even sure that I was aware of blogging 12 years ago! :) Wishing you a fabulous year ahead!
Happy birthday Hope you had a fantastic day on your birthday and wow 1005 posts and 12 years well done Wow you posted a lot I had about the same time but posted only 1/3 of what you did
Good to share your birthday with a poet :)
Happy (Belated) Birthday, Hilary! 🥂🌹 I hope you had a lovely day. Best wishes for a fabulous 2020 and beyond. And hearty congratulations on 12 successful years of blogging! That is quite a feat. 👏👏👏
@ David – oh thank you so much for the recommendations – I’ll get to the library and see if they’ll be able to order me a copy. I’ll also check to see if I can find the interviews with Peter Gzowski … I’ll let you know re both.
@ Karen – thanks … a birthday month sounds like a good idea – and yes they do only come once a year. We had a lovely time … but more importantly thank you for being here …
@Kelly – many thanks …
@ Damyanti – you’ve had an excellent year … thank you for being supportive to me too …
@ Jacqui – I’d love to have you join us for lunch; just delighted my posts give us all positivity – it’s kept me going through some challenging times …
@ Deborah – many thanks … lovely to see you here – the blogging world continues on …
@ Julie – yes … it was a fun time – and I never thought I’d keep blogging for 11 years, let alone keep the posts rolling in – better than waves! I’m not sure I’m wiser, but I am more knowledgeable and hope the health keeps up with the brain. Glad you enjoy the photo …
@ Jo-Anne – yes blogging keeps us engaged and energises the brain.
@ Nila – if these posts had been ink to my pen you’d have never been able to read them! But I’m glad I learnt to type early on … makes life distinctly easier …
@ Sue – oh I’ve worked over my birthday before many a day … bet the kids enjoyed you sharing your birthday with them – it’s the kind of snippet that will stay with them for ever …
@ Sandra – cutie at that age probably … now – not so sure?!
@ Truedessa – never mind … I’m usually tagging along behind – good to see you here, and lunch was enjoyable.
@ Donna – I got in reasonably early, not intentionally wanting to write, but to get to know my way around the net – but I’m still here, to my surprise.
@ Marja – it was an ideal birthday … lots of laughter, reasonable food – raging seas to watch. I haven’t been working during this time … doing lots of other things particularly with my mother for those first years.
I’d never come across Hedd Wyn before, nor the form ‘englyn’ … I have some homework to do …
@ Debbie – no worries … I quite enjoy birthdays trickling along. It’s been a good couple of days so far, and am looking forward to today. I hope 2020 is kind to us all – and more slow blogging to keep me going.
Cheers and thank you all so much for being here to send me happily on my way in 2020 … I’m off for another birthday lunch today – should be very interesting and delicious … take care all of you and with happy thoughts - Hilary
Happy birthday, Hilary, and many more to come.
Keep writing and delighting us with your beautiful posts.
Cheers.
Happy Birthday to you! Lunch with friends overlooking the water sounds like a lovely way to celebrate.
I hope you enjoyed your birthday! Spending it with friends while looking at the water sounds wonderful to me! Have a fantastic weekend!
Elsie
I hope you had a wonderful day Hilary. Happy 12 years and here's to many more!!! <3
Late again! Happy Birthday Hilary.
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So glad you had a nice birthday. Amazing to think you have been blogging for so long. I always love reading your posts.
Hope you had a lovely lunch with your friends and thanks for the introduction to the Welsh poet. :)
~Jess
@ Silvia – many thanks … I will hope to keep enlightening you with my posts …
@ Linda – yes it was a good chatty time and fun to sit by the sea …
@ Elsie – many thanks it’s been a fun week … and I’m not sure how much we looked at the crashing waves – but it was a good time …
@ Debby – thank you … taking all week so far – but fine by me! I hope there’ll be many more …
@ Bazza – ne-er mind! I’m happy with late thoughts too …
@ Jess – thanks … have had a good week … and, I know I honestly never ever thought I’d still be here blogging away – it’s the camaraderie of friends that keeps us around …
So glad you noted the Welsh poet – now I must find out more about him and the others … and the form ‘englyn’ …
Thanks for all your birthday wishes and for being here – cheers from a beautiful sunny day in Eastbourne town! Hilary
Happiest of happy birthdays to you, Hilary! A week late but no less sincere.
Thanks Lynda - lovely to see you ... and always delighted to receive happiest wishes! Cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary!
Happy Blogger birthday and birthday~ How amazing! The years do fly, don't they? For me it's almost 11 years blogging. So I am not far behind. Such a different blogosphere now from back then. I remember posting daily for the first few years as so many of us did back then. Now I am lucky to post once a month. We have all been torn in different directions and life has become so tiresome and complicated...but every time I visit your blog, I don't feel that way at all~ You live you life so beautifully bopping around the British Isles and keeping us all agog from your many adventures and historical accounts. BRAVO! Let's hope and pray you continue to do so because you do bring a bright light to the blogosphere whether you realize it or not.
Happy new year and new decade to you, too! May it be as wonderful and exciting as you wish it to be~
Thanks Michael - excellent to see you here ... and yes the years do fly. Good for you ... any long-distance-duration blogging is pretty amazing I think - but it's such a great way to get to know other parts of the world and people with different voices.
So glad you enjoy your visits here ... in fact I don't travel that far now-a-days ... but am always happy to know I've pleased with the stories I tell.
Thanks - I really appreciate the complement ... I try and stay positive and outward looking ... and yes a great year for us all - and I hope happy and healthy too ... take care and thanks so much for popping by - cheers Hilary
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