The Gallery - Lost Friend #thegallery

The theme for this week's Gallery Post is: Friends.

As no one in their right mind would ever admit to being my friend, I shall tell you instead about a fleeting acquaintance.

There's always something a little forlorn about a child's lost toy. We'd passed this little fellow, let's call him Burt. We'd passed Burt several times last week on the school run, in all weathers. He looked cheerful none the less.

Part of me wanted to pick him up, take him home, give him a wash and the love he so rightly deserves. The other part of me thought, 'Ooo, skanky.

But don't be concerned for Bert. Bert was conspicuous by his absence on the school run Friday morning. Seems someone much more gracious than myself has rescued him, or binned him. Yeah, probably binned him. Have a nice day!

For more Gallery posts, please stop by Sticky Fingers.

Taphophile Tragics - Misty Morning

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.

The mist shrouded angel monument of Philip Limbrach Townsend and his second wife Louisa Townsend nee Banger. All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.

Philip Limbrach Townsend died March 21st 1927 aged 71 years.

Lousia Townsend died 19th December 1936 aged 70 years.

Philip Limbrach Townsend was born in 1856 in St Anns, Soho, Middlesex, to parents Philip Townsend and Jane Townsend nee Sims. His unusual middle name comes from that of his paternal grandfather, Limborough Townsend. It seems that over the years Philip's middle name was incorrectly recorded before becoming the name that adorns his grave, Limbrach. Philip Snr was listed on the 1861 Census as being a Dairyman and Cow Herder, a career that his son was to followed him in.

In Westminster in 1878 Philip Limbrach married Elizabeth Weston. Their marriage was to be a tragically short one. In 1884 they were blessed with the birth of their son Owen Stanley Townsend, who was to sadly die aged 12 in 1896. January 1886 saw the arrival of their second child, a son Aubrey Edward Townsend. Sadly Elizabeth died that very same month, possibly through childbirth or complications afterwards.

In 1888 in Abingdon, Berkshire Philip Limbrach marries his second wife Louisa Banger. In 1901 Philip Limbrach is a Dairy Man living in Paddington London along with his wife Louisa and his son from his first marriage Aubrey, by now an Apprentice Electrical Engineer, and his other children Elsie Margueritee born 1889, Cecil Philip Limbrach born 1892 and Dorothy May born 1894

by 1911 The family had moved to Lawnfield House, Bath Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. But another tragedy was set to befall the family. Aubrey joined the Royal Fusiliers and sadly drowned on 14th June 1919 aged 33 while stationed in Huntingdonshire. He left behind his widow Nellie Lavinia Townsend nee Clarke and is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Brampton Cemetery Huntingdonshire.

Philip Limbrach passed away in St Martin London in 1927 and Louisa in Maidenhead in 1936. Why was Philip away from home at the time of his death and how had losing his first wife and two sons before him affected his life? We may never know.

Macro Monday - Crumbs #macromonday

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Shadow Shot Sunday - Rebels

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Silent Sunday #silentsunday

Saturday is Caption Day #SatCap

Simply post up a photo and ask your readers to come up with a caption for it. Enjoy.

For more Saturday is Caption Day posts, please stop by Mammasaurus's blog.

Photo Story Friday - The Nude

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

It's really rather sobering how your children see you.

I give you a picture of myself in my 'Sunday Best' drawn by my five year old daughter, Amy.

Note if you will, the shifty piggy eyes situated far too close together for anyone's liking framed by the smug knowing smile. Also notice the rotunded body devoid of waist and the skinny stick like legs, because of course, nothing grows in the shade.

Please, do not pass up a fleeting glance at the saggy odd shaped 'boobies' complete with large lopsided nipples. She even has my flicky hair right.

However, I seem to be standing on some sort of giant pink surfboard. I don't know what's going on there. I have never expressed an interest in surfing, nude or otherwise.



For more Photo Friday posts, please stop by My Chaos My Bliss.

Wot So Funee #funee

Amy has been invited to a party of a little girl she doesn't really get one with.

'I can't possibly go,' she swooned, 'I feel ill.'

'But it's not until the end of March,' I reasoned, 'you may feel better by then.

'No, I think I'm going to be sick forever.'

Amy: Why did the apple and the banana cross the road?

Me: I don't know, why did they cross the road?

Amy: *in a sinister voice* Because they wanted to get run over. Why aren't you laughing? It's funny.

For more Funees, please pop over to Actually Mummy's Blog

The Gallery - Landscapes #thegallery

The theme for this week's Gallery Post is: Landscapes.

The above picture was taken on a freezing morning on 1st February when the temperatures dipped as low as minus seven, despite the brilliant sunshine.

Myself and Amy pass this line of oak trees on our way to school every school day. It's great to see the ways in which they change during the seasons.

They form part of the original oaken grove from which this park takes its name -

"Oaken Grove Park covers 8 hectares and is located in the built up area of north west Maidenhead.

The area covered by the park was once part of Pinkneys Green Farm Estate which was sold for housing in the 1920's. The Borough of Maidenhead purchased the land in 1935 for use as a public open space. The Park is thought to be named after a grove of oak trees situated on the Farm Estate.

Between 1938 and 1939 the land was laid out as public open space and a sports pavilion, tennis courts and a bowling green and clubhouse were constructed."

It just proves, you don't have to go far from home to find interesting landscapes. Some of the best ones are right on your doorstep.

For more Gallery posts, please stop by Sticky Fingers Blog.

Taphophile Tragics - Far From Home

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.

Angel monument to Andrew Neville Chirnside who died on 17th May 1901 aged 12 years. All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All saints Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.

Andrew Neville Chirnside was born in 1889 in Werribee, Victoria, Australia to Robert Chirnside and Alice Belinda Chirnside nee Hodges. His father Robert was a member of one of the leading families of landowners in Australasia in the 1880's and by all accounts -

"A man of kindly heart and generous disposition, keenly interested in pastoral management and everything connected with country life, and taking a pride in having everything of the best around him."

Robert Chirnside passed away on 4th January 1900 after a three year illness which had started with a bad cold, eventually leading to trouble with the lungs. He left behind his widow Alice and five children, three sons and two daughters.

It was on 17th May 1901 during a trip back to England with his mother Alice, that Andrew was tragically struck by peritonitis which quickly proved to be fatal.

An article in The Adelaide Register records -

"The passengers by The Australia have been greatly shocked at the death of Andrew Neville Chirnside, 12 yr old son of the late Mr Robert Chirnside of Carranballac, Victoria, which took place on the passage between Plymouth and London on 17 May. Until reaching the later stage of the voyage the lad was in the full flush of youthful vigour but a seizure of peritonitis quickly proved fatal."

I wonder how poor Mrs Chirnside must have felt losing her young son so soon after losing her beloved husband. How terrible it must have been for her to have to bury her child so far from home and then return to the other side of the world.

Macro Monday #macromonday

For more Macro Monday posts, please stop by Lisa's Chaos.

Silent Sunday #silentsunday

Saturday is Caption Day #SatCap

Simply post up a photo and ask your readers to come up with a caption for it. Enjoy.

For more Saturday is Caption Day posts, please stop by Mammasaurus's blog.

Photo Story Friday - Beauty in Decay

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Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Not a terribly exciting story to go with this picture.

I don't do flowers. I have enough trouble remembering to look after myself, let alone any kind of house plant. I operate a sort of 'death row' for vegitation. They come to my home with such hope and promise only to be cruelly denied their most basic of needs. The only time I really remember to water them is when they're already past the point of no return.

That where this dead Narcissus bloom was when I notcied it on the windowsill. I liked how the light filtered through the papery petals, giving them an almost see through qaulity. At least this flower can rest in the knowledge it died for art's sake.

The Gallery - Embarrassing Outfits #thegallery

This week's theme on The Gallery is: Embarrassing Outfits.

Of course, I am far too clever and sophisticated to have ever worn anything remotely embarrassing. So I will have to share with you instead a picture of my husband being a prat with a black shirt and a piece of white card. More tea, Vicar?

For more entires to The Gallery, please stop by Sticky Fingers Blog.

Taphopile Tragics - Snow Angel

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries The singular term is a taphophile.


The snow laden angel of 'The Finch Family Grave'. All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Sainst Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.


William Michael Finch died 27th July 1919 aged 79 years
Emily Finch died 29th July 1902 aged 61 years

Also of their only son William Alexander Finch died 18th August 1925 aged 59

Monument by Emmanuel Harris & Son, Monumental Masons, Beaumont Street London.


William Michael Finch was born in Hackney London in 1840 and became a zinc worker by trade. In 1864 William married Emily Prockter in Shoreditch London and by 1866 they were blessed with the birth of their only child William Alexander Finch.

In the 1891 Census William Snr was listed as living by own means at 76 Victoria Park Road, South Hackney, London along with his wife Emily, their son William, by now an Architect and Surveyor and their house keeper Emily Lee. William and Emily Finch lived out their lives and died in Hackney London. So how is it they came to be buried in Maidenhead Berkshire?

In the 1901 Census their son William and his wife Emeline nee Blundell were listed as living at Ray Road Maidenhead. Could it be that when his parents died William couldn't bare to be parted from them so arranged their burial closer to his home in Maidenhead? William himself died in Wycombe Buckinghamshire in 1925, but what became of his wife Emeline? Is she buried within the Finch family grave but not listed or does she lay elsewhere.

Also I find it odd why the memorial angel would be depicted carrying a small child when everyone in the grave passed away well into adulthood, or is there more to the story?

What a difference...

A year makes.

This time last year I was sat in a stark A&E watiting room as I had just started spotting at 10 weeks during my third pregnancy.

Many long silent hours later I was seen and told to simply go home and wait it out. Sadly any hope we had died along with the promise of our child on 23rd February 2011. We were the victims of a missed misscarriage due to a blighted ovum. A quirk of nature where nothing develops from the fertilised egg save an empty sac. An empty sac that your body clings to desperately for weeks before nature takes it's course.

In some respects it feels as if it only happened yesterday and in others it feels like it happened 10 years ago.

Yet here we are, a year later, expecting the arrival of our third daughter by elective c-section on 9th March this year.

One thing that loss cruelly took from me was ignorance. The innocent belief that every pregnancy ends in a baby and that everything would be okay. Of course I knew about misscarriage and loss, but those were terrible truly sad things that happened to other people.

I will never believe that my unborn daughter is safe and well until she is here and in my arms.


25 days to go...

Macro Monday #macromonday

For more Macro Monday posts, please stop by Lisa's Chaos.

Silent Sunday #silentsunday

Saturday is Caption Day! #SatCap

Simply post up a photo and ask your readers to come up with a caption for it. Enjoy.

For more Saturday is Caption Day posts, please stop by Mammasaurus's blog.

Photo Story Friday - Uncooperative

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Uncooperative little madam.

Honestly, I don't know why I bother. All I ask is that she sit there and gaze at the scene before her in an arty farty sort of way. YOU'RE FIRED! Good models are so hard to come by these days.

There's still snow on the ground, with more forecast for today. That's it, I'm going into hibernation. Wake me when it's over.

Reasons to be Cheerful #R2BC

Today I received a cheque in the post. A Council Tax Rebate of £30.57 for paying too much. Right now I don't know whether to cash it or frame it. Part of me is waiting for the letter that will say it's all been a huge mistake and in fact I owe them.

More snow is forecast for tonight or Friday. While I do not find snow a reason to be cheerful and quite honestly I can do with out it, it's half term next week and at least the snow (if it hangs around) will help occupy the girls at a stage in my pregnancy when I really cannot get out and about that much.

Tomorrow I finally have my physio appointment to get some splints to help with my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have been in agnoy since around 29/30 weeks. Unfortunately my appointment is at 9:00am, the time when I would usually be dropping Amy off at school. I am unable to rearrange due to the fact the lday I am booked to see will be going on maternity leave the following week and there will be no one to see me until after Jessica is born. Thankfully wen I explained the situtation to Amy's school they stepped in and offered to look after her early in class so I could make my appointment.

Today is 9th February. Exactly one month to go until we greet Jessica. I am so looking forward to no longer having feet in my ribs and fists in my kidneys.

To see more Reasons to be Cheerful, please stop by Mummy from the Heart's blog.

The Gallery - A Family Story #thegallery

The theme this week: A Family Story. This is my family's story.

Above is a photograph of a child's drawing. That picture was drawn nearly six years ago by my autistic daughter Ana in 2005 at a moment when we were all embarking on our new life together as a family.

I had Ana in 1998 at 18 years of age and soon became a single parent. For the first six years of her life I lived with my parents and threw myself into solely looking after her needs. Then in 2004 I met my then partner and now husband. A moment I never ever thought would happen. What man would want to take me and another man's child on, let along a child with problems and as for having more children? Well, you could forget it.

2005 was a busy year for us, we had just moved into a place of our own. A big change for Ana, but one she took in her stride as well as the fact she was expecting a new brother or sister.

In the picture is myself, complete with baby in tummy, my husband, our cat Thomas (back when we only had one cat) our dog Shen and Ana broken hearted at the fact our old dog Rex had recently passed on to doggy heaven, but still very much a member of our family in her eyes.

Seven years on here we are, expecting anpother addition to our family. We're not perfect, we have our ups and downs, there have been very good times and there have been very bad times. But we have got through them all, together.

For more Gallery posts, please stop by Sticky Fingers Blog.

Taphophile Tragics - Behind Every Stone Is A Story.

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries The singular term is a taphophile.



Recently restored memorial Angel to Jessie Outram, born 7th December 1884 - died 17th October 1912 aged 27 years (after much suffering) and of Private Alexander Robert Outram of the 22nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, born 9th October 1879 - died 17th February 1917, killed in action in France aged 38. For years this beautiful memorial had been nothing more then a mound of ivy and brambles.

All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saints Avenue, Berkshire, UK.

Such a tragic loss of two young lives, leaving behind their son Alexander Joseph Harold Outram who also died at a young age, 32 in Westminster London.

Alexander Sr was born in Tanca Peru in 1878 and Jessie nee LeSueur was born In Jersey, the Channel Islands. They were married on 23 October 1904 in Jersey and by 1907 had moved to Maidenhead Berkshire and had their son Alexander Jr.

In 1904 Alexander Sr joined the Volunteer Reserve and later The Royal Fusiliers on 7th June 1916 . He served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 1st December that year and was reported missing in action on 17th February 1917 after fighting near Petit Miraumont. He was later known to be killed in action on that date.

Jessie died at a very young age after much suffering, possibly from an illness.

I wonder what brought them from Peru to Jersey and then to my home town in Maidenhead? Why were they and their young son all fated to die so early and were they happy during the brief time they had together?





For more Taphophile Tragics please stop by the Taphophile Tragics Blog.

Macro Monday #macromonday

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Silent Sunday #SilentSunday