The Remembrance Poppy

I had to go to my GP this morning for my three monthly check up. She had received the Specialises letter about my Throat problem and she was a little shocked. Said to me, you haven't been putting on any weight lately, as that is another side affect of the conditions.. I told her that I have been trying so hard to loss weight without any success.  

After the GP's visit I did some shopping. I hadn't planed on getting anything much but ended coming home with all kinds of things. Not so good for my bank balance but it was great fun. John is having his 70th birthday in a couple of week and I managed to get his gift along with a girl friends gift as her birthday is on that some day. Great to get them all done now.

This poppy is from my garden and I thought they all would have finished flowering by now but now they are still coming out. You can see a few water droplets from the shower of rain we got this morning. This afternoon the sun come out and it has become warm again.

The red poppy has become a symbol of war remembrance the world over. People in many countries wear the poppy to remember those who died in war or who still serve. In many countries, the poppy is worn around Armistice Day (11 November), but in New Zealand it is most commonly seen around Anzac Day, 25 April.

In Flanders fields
The red or Flanders poppy has been linked with battlefield deaths since the time of the Great War (1914–18). The plant was one of the first to grow and bloom in the mud and soil of Flanders. The connection was made, most famously, by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in his poem 'In Flanders fields'.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.