The title which has just popped into my head seems appropriate for Remembrance Day.
I’ve decided to retire this blog. Here’s why.
Mainly it’s because I have noticed some strange activity. Most of my posts are read, or opened and not read, by less than 100 people. This does not bother me in the slightest - it’s mostly for me, family and friends. But the last one has had over 3,000 viewings during the month of September. What’s going on? I can’t imagine why my ramblings about the garden etc would be of interest to any commercial venture or dodgy organisation. Anyway, it has spooked me. Perhaps someone is trying to steal my identity or something like that. So I am off to Substack where I intend to write more serious posts about writing and reading. I’m not posting a link but will email loyal followers - you know who you are. And whoever/whatever you are suddenly stalking me, please go away!
I also have found my posts have become a bit repetitive. Another series of photographs snowdrops, primroses, dog roses, dahlias and holly wreaths and another year passes. I started this blog in 2012 when my daughter was still at school and now she is a primary school teacher. Time flies.
Another reason I have been putting off writing this post is because I have to report sad news. We made a very tough decision at the end of the summer. I have written before about our lovely dog Alfie (pictured above) who suffered from epilepsy. His condition had deteriorated over the past year so that the quality of his life (and ours) was severely affected. On the vet’s advice we decided to let him go. This was back at the end of August. He was only four years old and physically strong. Looking at him running across Chester racecourse where we often walk, you wouldn’t have thought there was anything wrong. But the frequency and intensity of his seizures had increased to the level that there was no option. It was so sad to say goodbye to him. I got off lightly - it was Paul who was with him. I stroked his lovely velvety ears for the last time the morning before I set off on holiday with Kate and it was that week that Paul took him - he wanted to do it that way.
Nothing much else to report - couple of trips. Palma with Kate, Seville/Cadiz with my sister Diane. I’ll do summary in photographs.
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I loved the Gaudi windows in Palma cathedral. Reminded me of kaleidoscope patterns
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| Evenings were the best - eating tapas and drinking sangria. |
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It was blazing hot in Palma so we took shelter in an art gallery one day I loved this version of the Velazquez Las Meninas painting set in a 1970s home.
Seville |
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| Me on one of tiled alcoves of Plaza D’Espana, Seville. There were huge numbers of noisy green parakeets fly in between in the trees in the park. |
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| Seville Cathedral. We climbed the bell tower and hadn’t much energy left to look around. |
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| We took a day trip to Cordoba by train - a bit of rain that day and cooler after that which suited me. |
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| We avoided the crowds inside the Alcázar place and spent most of our time visiting the gardens |
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| We stopped off in Jerez for a sherry tour complete with tasting |
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| Cadiz was quieter than Seville and cooler. Until the cruise passengers descend for the day. |
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| There was a fabulous market in Cádiz |
