Déjà vu Blogfest, Emily Hobhouse and her Open Christmas Letter …

A letter “To the Women of Germany and Austria” was a public message for peace signed by 101 British women suffragists at the end of 1914 as the first Christmas of World War 1 approached.

Emily Hobhouse authored the Open Christmas Letter and circulated it for signatures.  For now I leave you to read more at the Wikipedia page on the Letter … and I will draft my post about Emily next year.

The paragraph titled “Message” is worth reading …

Emily Hobhouse
(1860 - 1926)

One hundred and one years ago life was not much different ... wars were going on ... the genders were not treated equally ... food was scarce ... peoples from all over the world helped (and hindered) each other, ideas were sewn to improve the world ... and so it goes.

Déjà vu blogfest – I am afraid I failed … but I had a look at my posts – and you are all so generous in your support, and your thoughtful comments … that I felt you'd all come by  and read with elegant sufficiency! ... 

A hedgehog igloo

… except perhaps the Hedgehog and Harvest Mouse post earlier this month … with now the added question when cometh winter? … and how will flora and fauna adapt to these warm conditions …

… today is the shortest day of the year - tomorrow the light increases (yeah) in the northern hemisphere … becoming apparent in the middle of January.

Winter Cyclamen

So for now a very happy Christmas to one and all … and as Emily and her fellow suffragists from the UK, America, Germany, Austria, South Africa, India, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and many more sympathisers wished … 

… “Is it not our mission to preserve life?”

… today with our knowledge broader, I would add … we need to cherish all life … from a humble bee, to an innocent insect, to  creeping, clambering plants, to the elephantidae …

… the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea … and back to the chongolo – the renowned African millipede …

And as a respected member of Hilary’s society – Hardwick sends his 'bestest' wishes to you all for a very Happy Christmas and hopes you will have lots of happiness at all times …

Remember others … smile lots … think of the planet as you go about your Christmassy days and each of the 365 to follow as 2016 approaches …

Happy Christmas and/or Happy Holidays ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Hip Happity Hop … and I get to grow – how cool is that?! Hardwick makes a requested visit …

St Hilary’s Day has rolled around … another year has passed … and life is hip hip hipping forwards very fast.

African tea lights

I am hip-hopping off to hospital for a hip op on Saturday … it’s all go round here!  Birthdays where do they feature?  Hospital visits today – such is life, when they fast track you.

I suppose I could convert the rhyme: 

told on Friday

partied on Saturday

worried on Sunday

dusted on Monday

rushed on Tuesday … 

     ... just so you can’t think about getting a year older

or greyer!

moved furniture on Wednesday

dashed about on Thursday

panicked on Friday and ...

collapsed for op on Saturday

Dancer - hands on hips by
Antonio Canova 1812

I’ve been in some pain for a few years … decades … but as I’ve always played fairly serious squash – not at the top level, but next level down … and was always playing leagues, or different friends, or in tournaments … a hip problem?  No!

Anyway having exercised, tried various therapies, checked out my back – eventually I had my hip x-rayed early last summer;  it obviously wasn’t serious as I wasn’t called in and was happy to wait – I wanted to take Jenny (86) round England in October and to visit relatives etc

Saw the doctor after Jenny had returned to Canada, got sent off to the consultant – with the words … well you’re not taking pain killers and you can walk … my comment: well I need to know what’s happening -  I’m in pain and it’s getting worse.  The doc is not unsympathetic … and I don’t do pills, if I can avoid them ... and I cope usually – so I’m an 'unusual bird’.

My colourful sofa!!

Consultant’s visit – I eye the two hips on the x-ray screen: right one looks solid and nice, left one looks flaky and pittedly weak.  Brief discussion: it is congenital – I told him about my 67 years of life (as of today) – and how much squash I’d played and how I’d always been happy playing ball games – tennis in those early days. 

That seemed to stop him in his tracks … a brief silence ensued … his arm reached in his drawer, extracted a yellow form … sign here and we’ll give you a new hip.

Did you know, by the way your left leg is an inch shorter … and we’ll give you an extra inch!!  Yay – life improves I get taller – everyone else gets shorter!!  Sadly, I was brought back to earth … it balances out and it’s only half an inch.  Then when I had the early pre-assessment last year … I’ve already shrunk an inch – must be blogging … all the blame is on you lot?!

 

Fun wrapping paper -
present still to be opened!

Normally we are given 4 – 5 week’s notice … Friday I was rung up – by the time I rang back – the hospital lady, I needed to speak to, had gone for some lunch.  I was partying on Saturday and needed to go out to shop ... so said I’d be back by 3.45 or so …

Late Friday pm … would I like to have my hip op on 17^th November … this somewhat non-plussed me … laughingly I said “November” … she, I think, was quite pleased I’d laughed … said "oh no January" … I said “Saturday”?  Yes – we operate on Saturdays.

So I’m going to the posg hospital – when I replied to the text message I’d had – of course I realised what posg meant: posh!

 

Hardwick resting ... 

So today is hospital visits and assessments … and chaos reigning … they only phoned me after lunch yesterday … so as I’m on my own – life is interesting to say the least … working out what’s needed.   Some things have slotted into place – others still need to.

Their system is different to the general hospital, and to the other private clinic (that does National Health work) that I have some information on … so now I need to adjust to the way their method of process works.

Hardwick's nose

This will be my last post for a while … I’d like to do the Ubuntu blog-hop if Michelle Wallace organises, and I thought there was something else, but brains are addled at the moment, then the A-Z theme reveal in March … so I may just quietly stay on the side-lines til the A-Z rocks around.

Give myself time to completely recover and get my hip working fully … and be ready for the future …

Hardwick with his Santa hat - Christmas 2010
in my mother's room

Betsy of My Five Men … asked about Hardwick, so he’s come out of retirement briefly … he needs some air … and it’s good to have him around for my birthday … and the many memories of him on my Mum’s bed for all those years.

Right that’s me done … I will happily hip off to sort this motley life out … and get the post up – so please go gently on me re commenting and being around … I’ll be here – but a break will do me good …

Mandela Apron

… the A-Z will kick me back into gear (hopefully not breaking the new hip!!) … and Ubuntu will remind us of who we are and what we should be embracing in life … “I am; because of you” or the Zulu word ‘Londolozi’ meaning “Protector of all Things”  - my post ishere, which includes a TED talk.

Hip hip hooray to me … and to all of you for nurturing my blogging interests … I might even be looking to get a little into FB and Twitter … now that will be a shock to one and all!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Lenny, Lenny, Lenny – how you pull my heart strings.....

I had this wonderful card ... I opened said envelope .... to find a Valentine!  With memorable words ...

2/5 of Lenny's card! showing
message and critters!

Lots of love

and big hugs

from Lenny

and all the critters ...

.... hedgehog, mousie, rocky the racoon, groundhog, mices various, squirrel, rabbit, birds and butterflies ...

I emailed Lenny and back came:  wow! that valentine card got there sooo fast. i sent it early cause for sure i wanted it to get to you in time for valentines day. and...guess what!!! theres a box flying cross the pond to you but you gotta not open it up til valentines day. ok???

Showing 'orange onions' box and
the expanded card ...

So I did as I was told!  that was a surprise to a few!!  but look what I found in the box of orange onions!!!

Happy Valentine Day’s heart shaped box of choccies

M & Ms box containing 3 mini packets

Dark chocolate marshmallow heart

‘Peeps’ Marshmallow hearts

Just some of the
choccy selections and
the Save the Chimp bag

Whitman sampler box of chocolates, in a valentine’s wrapper

Raspberry Cream Buttons

Miniature peanut butter cups

Swiss chocolate Ghiradelli Squares – raspberry, caramel, dark chocolate

Milk and Caramel Ghiradelli chocolate slab

A pencil and a wildlife notepad

Wildlife stickers

Book marks

Save the Chimps.org bag

And a Valentine puzzle ...

Hardwick looking after Rocky, Muddy
Hippo peering through and the
new kid on the block: Zdena

And .... Zdena Zebra ... so called because she is a follower of Dionysos – the God of Wine!!

Made my little heart sing – and everyone has commented ... what a lovely thought and how wonderful of you, Lenny, to send those over to me ...

... the card in particular pulls at our heart strings – everyone thinks it is "fab", "absolutely fab!!!" ...(the word as Neville describes the card ... a great friend of my uncle, with whom I had lunch on Tuesday - pancake day - yummie!!)

Lenny's rays of sunshine

 Lenny – you are so kind and thoughtful ... putting together such a guzzly box for me for Valentine ... I shall enjoy and will be thinking of you more often than I normally do ...

Hardwick’s quite pleased to have a new playmate – he approves of Zdena ... she brightens up their lives ... Muddy Hippo is a bit muddy, Hardwick himself is a little bare – he knows he’s showing his age, while Rocky is a little tiny to shine out between Hardwick and Muddy ... but he keeps an eye on all things ...

Valentine cupid puzzle

They quite like chocolate ... so I can see the critters having a tuck in as well ... we’ll have a good and happy night tonight ...

I’m tempted to go out and see the film Les Mis ... but these critters might eat much of my chocolate ...and I might have eaten too much, so may need to rest my tum!!

To all blogging buddies ... I am not going anywhere – but I’m just going to take a month off and not participate or blog much – to get myself on track with all I want to do – new projects, sorting some technology out, spring cleaning and being ready for the future.

Tuesday Tea with Mistress Snark

Jezebel summoned me to Mistress Snark’s for tea... so I shall keep that appointment: Tuesday 12 March – I don’t think I could get away with missing it – I’d rather like my afternoon tea healthy and not bloodied ...

... but with Jezebel, she of the long projectile nails that can scrabble under the ocean to draw a poor unsuspecting English girl in to her parlour, we never know what might be floating in her punch – yugh!, or spread on those bloodied sandwiches ... eeeks .... 

Anthology launch 4th March

Then there’s Nick’s Overcoming Adversity anthology launch .. and I shall join in the fun for that ... scheduled for Monday 4^th March – what a great fundraising idea that was ... brilliant Nick ...

Well that’s me ... now to tuck into those choccies with a cup of tea methinks ... Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone ... may you have lots of love in your heart ... as young Lenny does for his family, friends, bloggers and them critters!!

See you very soon .... back by 16^th/17^th March ... all ready and raring to go for the A – Z challenge ....

... and on this note ... I am a minion ... so some of you may see me around doing some ground work for those amazing organisers ...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone ....  and as you can see from the photos - the sun has been shining ...... bliss!!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Hardwick’s Nose ... smells a party – a BIRTHDAY PARTY at that ...

The little, but rather aged, wire-haired, fox terrier rests on his haunches, as he has become accustomed to, sniffing the air to see what is afoot ...

Hardwick's Nose!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to LENNY LEE – that is what is afoot ...

Afoot – Afoot ... what on earth is that ... why can’t she write properly – Lenny always does – Hardwick mutters to himself ..

Marshmallow cakes, Fairy cakes, Jam
tarts, Cherry Bakeswells, chocolate
swiss rolls

Shhh Hardwick ... didn’t you know Shakespeare used the word in 1597 – I thought your prodigious brain would remind you about Henry IV Part 1 

“Before the game is afoot, though still let’st slip”

The little dog decided he’d better keep to himself ... but

Hardwick guarding the cakes

.... HE DID LIKE A PARTY ... so instead he went off into Eastbourne bought lots of cakes ... took them up to the old folk so they could share in THE PARTY.

Oh boy – oh! and you too Lenny – those good folk were so happy to have a cake or two and to share in happy memories ...

Hardwick, Muddy Hippo with Lenny's
photo of Rocky the Raccoon resting
before that tube ride .....

... actually – Missus Hilary I’m having a dream ... foxy-dog dream ... I’m spiralling out of control through a tube, I’m clutching our cakes to my bosom, will they won’t they, will they won’t they be crushed to smithereens before I can join the party ... for sure I will get out of this tube ...

I’ll alight into Lenny’s beautiful home wish him Happy Birthday, say hello to Rocky and to Lenny’s family ... share my cakes with one and all ... and travel back under the pond – all in the twinkling of an eye.

 

Hardwick, Hardwick ... wake up boy ... Muddy Hippo says we must sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to LENNY LEE – who has attained that magical age of becoming a teenager ...

Congratulations to Lenny and Happy Birthday from all his friends in Eastbourne ... Happy weekend with your family and friends ...

Hardwick and I are going to rest now!  Muddy Hippo sends a big muddy hug – the weather’s been suiting him recently ... Mud Mud Mud Glorious Mud ....

Just have so much fun and enjoy reaching 13 ....

Big hugs and XXXOOOXOXOOXOXOXOOOOXOXOXO to you!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories