“Grow old with me…

“Grow old with me! The best is yet to be”  

                                   Robert Browning (1812-1889)

I borrowed that beautiful line and wrote it on Babe’s card. Our love gets stronger with each year we are together. I’m so blessed that although this love came late into my life, it was truly a wonderful gift. To know that Babe wants to be with me for forever and a day, made me feel very special, and valued beyond measure…Nothing can ever beat that warm feeling. I love you Babe!!!

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, the most beautiful feeling in the world. Lucky are those who are loved and cared for. My thoughts are for those who no longer have their loved ones with them. This is especially for my brother-in-law, P.A. Trish is still missing…

We went for an early morning stroll at Brandon Marsh.  When we arrived, we were greeted by this handsome kestrel hunting near the visitor centre. Isn’t he gorgeous?

It started raining and we decided to seek shelter in the restaurant. We ordered hot steaming chocolate and Cornish pastries to warm our cockles. We sat by the window and observed the antics of the birds feeding at the bird-feeder. I was engrossed with this lovely pair of Great Tit and Blue Tit who were having a bath by the stream. They were having a splashing time :-)

We walked towards the Wright Hide cos we knew the other hides would be heaving. Not many waders about cos the water had risen again.  It was beginning to get dark and flocks of Greylags and Canada Geese were starting to fly in to roost for the night. Sweet dreams my friends…

Valentines Day coincides with Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger. A wonderful double celebration but we didn’t feel like celebrating. Babe got me a pot of orchids and asked me choose a perfume, which I hadn’t done yet (!). I got him a big box of Thorntons Classic Chocolates and From Dusk-till-Dawn trilogy. Nothing ostentatious…

On Saturday, I attended a day school on Islamic Architecture in the University. Loco or what??? Honestly, it was really interesting and very informative. The photographs were to die for and the places are now in my  list of the 100 things to see before I die.

Dr. Richard Yeoman, the tutor, was so passionate about his subject. He not only spoke about the buildings but also the history behind each piece of architecture. As a Muslim, I felt so ignorant on this subject and I’m so glad I signed for this day school. Couldn’t wait for my next day school on Islamic Art in early March also by the same tutor.

I’ve also made and met new friends with the same interests. There were 16 of us, from different walks of life. I met one who was doing an MA in European history, another one an MA in Art and the one sitting beside me was a lawyer from Warwick.

As usual, there must be a Mr Know-All who kept on interrupting the flow of the lecture. I guess he must have been there recently cos at nearly every slide he would start with “When I was there…”, Grr…you could hear the groans and the sighs until one participant just told him to shut-up.

I really pity Dr. Yeoman who was trying to keep the peace. But honestly, this guy was really a pain in you know where… Worst still, he’s also attending the Islamic Art day school. I just hoped he’ll be able to zip his mouth up :-)

Anyway, I left on time cos I need to take the bus home. I think I’ll be seeing the same people in the next session. I’d to leave early cos there was a football match at the Ricoh and I don’t want to be caught in the stampede when the fans were heading home.

I was pleased that the Sky Blue boys defeated QPR 1:0. Now they are 10th in the Championship. Well done guys and keep the momentum going.

Sleet and snow is predicted for Coventry. There was a flurry or two and could more –on and off- for the next few days. I say bring it on…:-)

Happy Valentine’s Day and Kong Hee Fatt Choi. Whatever you’re doing, and however you are doing it, I hoped you had a wonderful double celebration.