Sunday 18th November
.
I spend time
Looking to the sky
As I know
That’s where you fly
.
I see you
High above the clouds
No one notices
As I mingle with crowds
.
But I know
That’s where you are
My sweet child
You’re the brightest star
.
With the angels
Wrapped in wings of love
Looking down
From your new home above
.
Missing you
And I always will
Loving you
Gently, I hold you still
.
xxxxxx
Chilly and breezy on Porthmeor Beach
Choppy seas in the harbour
Saturday 17th November
.
Your smiling face
Your cheeky grin
The only way
I’ll see them
Is photographs
Albums within
Happy days
Searching therein
For all the times
When love did reign
Heartbeats begin
Happy again
.
Love you forever
My darling Angel son
xxxxxx
Your cheeky grin
Friday 16th November
.
Not just today
But every day
My heart breaks
My body aches
Out of the blue
We lost you
Darling son
Forever young
xxxxxx
An Easterly wind blows across Porthmeor Beach
Cold and grey in the harbour
Thursday 15th November
.
It’s been five years since my surgery
Five years of visits to oncology
CT scans and dermatology
Clinical trial and epidemiology
.
A melanoma on my toe
Found to be malignant, though
Cancer spread as it did grow
In my lymph system it did flow
.
A skin graft, biopsies and excisions
Left with making difficult decisions
Change in circumstances and conditions
Conversations with surgical physicians
.
Up my leg, to the top of my thigh
A lymphadenectomy made me cry
But five years on, I can’t deny
Happily giving cancer the ‘evil eye’
.
I leave the hospital feeling relieved
For the positive news I’ve received
There is ‘no evidence of disease’
A great big outward sigh is breathed
.
I wished the same for you
But that was not to be
Your life cut short too soon
Angel son, my sweetie
.
xxxxxx
Wednesday 14th November
.
Back home again, finally
After being together, happily
Sharing days as family
Precious moments, thankfully
‘Though time passed so speedily
.
And every step of the way
You were with us each day
Beneath the warm sun’s ray
Enjoying a foreign holiday
With angels you do play
.
Love you sweetie
Miss you forever
Precious Angel son
xxxxxx
Driving home through Somerset
Some leaves still on the trees, but many turning golden brown
The ‘nearly there’ trees, on the border between Devon and Cornwall
Frank’s carnations still looking fresh
Almost all the leaves have fallen
Bright flashes of colour
Sweetheart
Tuesday 13th November
.
Homeward journey begins
Our short holiday does end
Saying goodbye to
Luke and girlfriend
.
Time went fast
The trip was short
To see how they’re doing
All’s good to report
.
Through the countryside
Towards Lisbon
The sun shines down
On everyone
.
A little free time
To wander around
Then off to the airport
Flying north bound
.
And you’d have fun
My darling Angel son
Heavenly loved one
Now forever young
.
xxxxxx
Waving goodbye to Luke and Ana
Portuguese town hall
Portuguese church
Crossing the 25 April Bridge into Lisbon
Inside Centro Vasco da Gama
Nations Park
Looking back towards Vasco da Gama
Homen Sol statue
A funky blue man
Flags of Nations
Warm and sunny
Homen Sol again
Christmas decorations
Four floors of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants with views over the River Tagus
Monday 12th November
.
Our last full day
The sun comes out to play
Blue skies chasing away the grey
Really wish we could stay
.
Enjoying the warmth while we may
Off down a narrow alleyway
Drinks at a pavement café
Tourists on their holiday
.
What would you say?
Your intentions to convey
Your want for ice cream or sorbet
Delivered without any further delay
.
Just because you’ve gone away
You’re with us now and everyday
Though my heart does heavy weigh
Memories with love, replay
.
Love you forever
Forget you never
Always together
Forever and ever
.
Precious Angel son
xxxxxx
The view of the River Guadiana this morning
Parque de Castelar
Plaza Soledad and the Giralda
Narrow streets and colourful buildings
Retablo de Jesús de la Espina… Altarpiece of Jesus of the Thorn
Plaza Alta in the afternoon sun
Few people about
The Convent of the Adorers
Another narrow walkway
Interesting balconies and wrought ironwork
A colourful abode
Calle San Juan
Cathedral tower
The view to the River Guadiana after sunset
Sunday 11th November
.
A Sunday for families
Church then socialising
Generations together
Happy thoughts, vocalising
.
A medieval market
Olivenza old town
Out-door museum
Wandering up and down
.
Music and food
Tantalising the senses
Castle and keep
Historical defences
.
Again, you were here
With us all day long
Enjoying the day
Caught up in the throng
.
Love you
Miss you
Sweetheart
Angel son
.
xxxxxx
Held up in traffic by the Elvas to Badajoz half marathon
Inside a small local bar in Badajoz
The walls of the old city of Olivenza
Luke and flamenco dancers
A statue in the Plaza Santa Maria
Archway through to the museum
Ancient artifacts
Plaza Santa Maria
The Homage Tower, or keep, begun in 1488, 37 metres tall
Parroquia De Santa María Del Castillo
Beautiful archway
Wandering around the old town of Olivenza
Outdoor museum displays
A colourful scene today: tapas, music, street entertainers
Old artillery
Medieval weaponry
Swords and shields
Armory
The real thing, not reproductions
Medieval food
A noisy samba band
A huge, circular barbecue
Almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sweetly honey-coated
Later on, a pretty sky
Vodka caramel shots following lunch
A splendid Rioja
Saturday 10th November
.
Cloudy and grey
With a little rain
Off to explore
Driving out of Spain
.
A Portuguese town
Castle on the hill
Ancient buildings
Where time stands still
.
Homes in disrepair
Old dogs barking
A Shetland pony
Near the car parking
.
Stopping for a coffee
In the old town’s jail
Inside these walls
There’d be many a tale
.
Roads and pavements
Most buildings too
Are made of marble
And Queen Isabel’s statue
.
Lovely spending time
Amongst our family
Talking and laughing
Together so happily
.
And you were here too
Running everywhere
Exploring and wandering
Out in the fresh air
.
Love you poppet
Missing you like crazy
My dearest darling
Precious Angel baby
.
xxxxxx
A very friendly Shetland pony
One third the height of Luke
Free to roam and eat the grass
Many derelict buildings
Roads leading to the castle
Through the old city gates
Quite windy and starting to rain
A facade without rooms and ceiling
Estremoz Castle, with a medieval tower made of marble
The old city square, with castle, church and chapel
Statue of the Queen Santa Isabel
Chapel entrance
Old road and walls made of marble
Seated in the 16th century jail
Bars on all the windows
Heavy metal door and keys to the jail
Walking back down to the car
The sun came out for our journey home
Friday 9th November
.
Thought I’d have
The rest of my life with you
Instead you had
All of your life with me
.
Forever and always
You’ll be with me
My darling Angel son
xxxxxx
A sunny morning walk to breakfast
Plaza San Francisco
Sitting in the sun, people watching
Parque de Castelar
Many shades of green
