Remembrance Sunday

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

November is the time of the year when we wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars. Today's Remembrance Sunday is especially poignant because its 90 years since the end of WWI. To be exact, Tuesday will be 90 years to the day. The 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918 marks the signing of the Armistice, to signal the end of WW1.

I'm also wearing it in memory of my late father-in law who served in Malaya during the Emergency and my 2 late grandfathers who served in the Congo and during the construction of the Burma Railway respectively. I respect and admire the sacrifice that they and the others had made, those who gave their tomorrow for our today.*

WWI was supposed to be the “War to end all Wars“, but it was anything but. More have given their todays, in the wars since then, and are still doing so today, in various armed conflicts around the world. One day there will be no more war cos there will be no world left to fight in.

Also please Buy a poppy. It was nice to see young and old with a poppy on their lapel.

Today, take a moment to reflect, a minute of silence, at 11am, wherever you are (I was at home), whatever you’re doing (I was watching the ceremony from the Cenotaph on tv), to remember their todays, and honour their sacrifices who gave their lives for their country. And a prayer for their souls. Amen.

Yesterday, DB joined CC and I for our noodle fix at our favourite Noodle Bar. We'd a lovely time discussing the menu for DB's benefit before I settled for my usual, Fried udon with seafood special and Chinese vegetables. Delish. We'd a lovely time talking/laughing about everything except work.

We browsed in M&S before going our separate ways. I went to checked out the £20 million revamp Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. A contemporary photography exhibition from the V&A "Something That I'll Never Really See" is on.

The exhibition, drawn from the V&A's permanent collection, includes some innovative works created during a pivotal moment in photographic history. There are works by Richard Billingham, David Hockney and Corrine Day. But it's no fun on your own cos I was itching to discuss some of these photographs with someone.

Then I went to checkout the 17th century Bacchus and Ariadne painting by one of the greatest ever Italian painters, Luca Giordano(1634-1705). This massive painting had to be boarded up when the refurbishment was carried out. It was great to see it restored to its pride of place in the Old Masters gallery.

There was still so much to see. I'll definitely drag Kevin the next time :-).

Also walked past Lady Godiva who is finally naked. The much-maligned Cathedral Lanes canopy had finally gone. I think she looked a bit cold and lonely...

Then popped into Primark for a bit of shopping. I bought a pair of black suede gloves, 2 pairs of weather sensor (?) tights and a white long-sleeved cotton tee. Thankfully, the queue to the till wasn't that long.

I bought Danish pastries at Sainsbury before boarding the bus. I need to get home before the football fans leave the Ricoh. What a pity the Sky Blues lost 2:0 to Crystal Palace.

*from “When you go home, tell them of us, and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today” - The Kargil Memorial.