78 Plus One – The Next Day
78 Plus One
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
They woke in the Brick Lane Hub the day after his birthday (“78 plus one“), with the music of the Drifters still ringing in their ears.
The Drifters “Under the Boardwalk”. (more…)
78 and All That
Bertie: “Did you have a nice birthday, Bobby?”
Bobby: “Bonnet de douche, Bertie.” (Excellent) (more…)
Bobby and the 43 Steps
43 Steps
When great friend and resident artist Kate heard about Bobby’s ’43 steps’ challenge (see below), she was reminded of a favourite Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem. And also delighted us with this artwork. Especially for this story.
The Bench at Diddley’s View
The Bench
Five years ago, 17 January 2017, we welcomed something very special into our lives. The Bench. Since then it has become central to our lives. A place of pilgrimage to remember Diddley. Becoming in effect ‘Diddley’s Bench’ at ‘Diddley’s View’. (more…)
Daphne on Battlestone Hill
Daphne
If you have ‘Smellovision’, you are in luck, for this is the most highly scented blog we have ever written.
A Message from Oakley the Guide Dog
A Message from Over the Rainbow Bridge
Oakley
Hi, this is a message from Oakley the Guide Dog (retired) from the never-ending carrot patch. I am the happiest pupster ever here! I know I left a lot of leaky eyes back in life-as-you-all-know-it, but you just have to know it is a million times better here! I wish I could come to slurp your eye-drips away, but I’ll have to leave all my fellow left-behind pup-pals to do that on my behalf. Yesterday, 8 January, would have been my 11th Birthday. But now I am not getting any older! (more…)
A Perfect Day
Perfect Day
This story started as ‘Coming Home’. Then became ‘How Important is it?’. Almost declared at ‘People’. But definitely rests now at ‘Perfect Day‘.
Merry Christmas from Laurel Cottage 2021
Merry Christmas
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”
Bertie: “Bobby … Can you tell us a story?” (more…)
There is No Such Thing as ‘Never’
Never
Bertie: “There is no such thing as ‘Never’, Bobby. I told you that in 2015, when you vowed to never go back to the Royal Opera House (ROH).”
Bobby: “And I really meant it, Bertie. Years of wonderful memories had all been ruined in my eyes by the fateful night of 27 January 2014. Not ruined by Diddley, but by alcoholism. I would never go again ever. You need to read the story “The Ballet” to understand exactly why.” (more…)
Finding “Serenity”
This little Robin Redbreast is hereby christened ‘Serenity‘. Over twenty four minutes on Holmwood Common he transported Bobby to another world. A world where nothing mattered. No anxiety. No tribulations. No expectations. No exhortations. Nothing but serenity. For twenty four minutes. The time between the first and last photographs. (more…)