Nino Impressionist

 Messing about in Photoshop

Lella's 43rd birthday in lockdown and a visit from Nino

I haven't posted in my blog for quite a while so thought I'd make a start today. A lot has happened in the past few months. My beautiful Mum passed away on the 30th March after suffering a fall which caused a cerebral hemangioma. She died 3 days later and I still can't believe she's gone forever. I have been trying to sort her flat out but it's hard going. I keep smelling her clothes and then have to give up because the pain is so bad. I miss her so very much and I truly don't think I'll ever get used to her not being here anymore. My heart is broken... I love you Mum ♥

Today is Lella's birthday. So sad that she's having to celebrate in lockdown but I'm pretty sure she's had a nice time. Laura made a lovely video for her, of clips that friends and family had sent wishing her a Happy Birthday. I made a coffee and walnut cake and made a little video for her.

Mario brought Nino round for a visit in the garden. They came through the garage rather than the house. How very sad is that? I wish this was all over and we could get back to a more normal way of life again. At least we got to see him play in the garden but it was torture not being able to cuddle him. Love him so very much our beautiful boy. He had fun on his slide and having a kick about with his daddy. I enjoyed being able to take some photos of him. He's growing up so fast and we're missing out on so much with him. This virus and the Chinese have a lot to answer for! 

God bless everyone and stay safe....

Starlings weather pic

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2020-02-02/sunday-evening-s-granada-weather-update-the-one-with-the-viewers-photos/

bluetits nestmaking

Hello 2019

It's been a while since I posted in my blog. A lot has happened since then, the main and most precious being the birth of my first Grandchild on the 6th November. Nino Aniello Boccaccio arrived in the world at 9.41 pm and he couldn't be more loved by us all. I've taken lots of photos already of him and will be regularly putting some of them on here this year so we can all watch him grow.

The last night of 2018 was spent as usual at my brother and sister in laws'. It was a fabulous end to a momentous year, which saw the amazing recovery of my Mum from being placed on end of life care in February, to being almost back to her old self right now. In a week's time she'll be celebrating her 85th birthday, something we never thought we'd see. I put it down to her will to see her Great Grandson!

Another fantastic event happened this year. We got to meet my brother who'd been adopted in 1950. Never thought we'd get the chance for him and Mum to be re-united but that's what happened. My nephew did a DNA test on Ancestry and one of the options was to leave his results online. He did and soon afterwards he was contacted by a girl claiming to be his first cousin. It turned out she was my niece and she'd done a DNA test too which matched them up. Simple as that we were all re-united. How wonderful it was to meet them; and for them to meet Mum while she's still here. We even got to spend my brother's birthday with him. Such a special day.

Today was a glorious sunny day and we had the family round for dinner. I got to hold my gorgeous Grandson for a while. I could look at him forever he's so beautiful. Daughter Lella had a hangover so she couldn't make it but Lucia, Mario and Kasia came along with Nino and also my Mum. Lovely family time.

Hopefully I'm going to keep my blog updated at least a few times a week now. Here are a few photos from last night and today.

Poem to mum from my Aunt

This is a poem my mum's sister wrote to her recently, about their father Jack Hughes, who was a Gamekeeper to Sir Henry Tate (of Tate and Lyle sugar)

Jack Hughes loved his job, it was his life.
Out in all weathers. Snow, Rain, Wind, Frost.
He never tired of it. Not like Hannah his poor wife.
He knew every path, every ride, he never got lost.
His favourite time was Spring when his leafy Haven changed.
Magic carpets of Bluebells and Primroses pushed through the Earth, together.
Each clearing and dell colourfully rearranged.
Proving to all. Nature will carry on whatever.
Jack always said, of all the wild crops he protected from townies intent to steal.
Were his secret places of hidden Snowdrops. That to no man would he ever reveal.

No not even to us!

By Jacky Flavell nee Hughes

A New Day

I wrote this poem a long time ago as part of an English GCSE I did at college. I didn't actually enter it as I wrote another, so I don't really know whether it's good or not. Here it is in it's original form and translated into Italian...

A New Day

The moon looks on with sleepy eyes,
As the sun begins to rise.

Stars still visible to the naked eye,
The early promise of a cloudless sky.

Wings stretch high in the trees,
A breeze rustles through fallen leaves.

Street lamps flicker as they die,
A mother responds to her baby's cry.

The cat flap opens to receive its prey,
Home to rest after a hard night's play.

A car door slams, an engine starts,
A radio blares as night departs.


Un Nuovo Giorno

La Luna guarda con gli occhi sonnolenti
Quando il sole comincia a salire.

Stelle ancora visibili a occhio nudo,
La promessa iniziale di un cielo senza nuvole.

Le ali si estendono in alto negli alberi,
Una brezza fruscia attraverso foglie cadute.

Le lampade stradali lampeggiano come il dado,
Una madre risponde al grido del suo bambino.

Il flap di gatto si apre per ricevere la sua preda,
Casa per riposare dopo un gioco di sera.

Una porta dell'automobile sbatte, un motore inizia,
Una radio blares come la notte parte.

Annette Boccaccio