10th November 2013

      Today was Remembrance Sunday. D went to the service at Ashcroft and I went to the one at the war memorial by Cirencester Parish Church of St John. It's been a lovely autumn day and the setting by the magnificent church was beautiful and very atmospheric. I felt strongly a sense of the continuance of history. I've seen so many sepia photographs of others at the same ceremony in earlier years. History runs through time like a stream, and we each go with the flow for our allotted time. These days I feel like an old trout wondering if he'll make it again next year.

      Remembrance, or Poppy Day, means a lot to me. Apart from the old sepia photographs, I can remember taking pictures myself of the war memorial service in Burford back in the sixties. My father, all six feet six of him, was always there too. He was easy to spot in the crowd for obvious reasons. A wonderful man, he was loved by all the family and many others far beyond. He was a great role model for us and one we try to emulate, especially my brother and I. Whether we succeed to any degree is for others to judge.

      I try to wear both a red and a white poppy at this time of year, the red one lest I forget, and the white one because I believe that most, but not all, wars are unnecessary and we should strive more for peace.

I don't believe that red poppies are in any way a glorification of war. I knew many men and women who experienced the hell of war, most in WWI or WWII, and almost all thought it was wicked madness. In my experience I believe at least two major wars have been fought, falsely, in my name to my everlasting regret. They should never have happened and have been a terrible waste of lives. 

      Money raised by the British Legion through the sale of red poppies is used to help military families who have suffered as a result of war through death or injury. And I understand that they help them for life, not just while there's a vote in it.

      I feel that wars have made us more enemies than friends. I vote, I tweet, I wear two poppies, I could and must do more.

Enough of war.

Today has been a good day. My old uneasy companion Angina has been largely absent and I have managed to walk both into and back from town. I've taken a picture or two. Here's one ...

Every autumn this tree in the Abbey Grounds in Cirencester is glorious and I take a picture of it. This year is no exception.