Remembering Dad

It's a year ago today since I lost my Dad - so much has happened in that year, but a day doesn't go past where I don't think of him. When I see his photo's I smile, as he always had a smile on his face, and when I think about him it's always fondly, as I have so many happy memories, and that's the way he would want it to be.

He told my Mum that she had to carry on with her life and that she should still enjoy going on holiday, as they always liked to travel together. Fortunately she has found a nice travelling partner in my cousin Lynda, and they're going to Moscow and St Petersburg together in September.

However, today is a very special day - Mum & Dad loved the Dutch composer Andre Rieu and Dad always wanted to go and see him play live in the open air in Maastricht, in the Netherlands. Tonight he's playing there, and Mum & Lynda have travelled to see him - such an amazing coincidence that it's on Dad's anniversary, and I'm sure he'll be there in spirit watching with her.

This morning Alan & I went to the monument near the Butte du Lion where we scattered some of his ashes, and I took some artificial Poppies to place there. I intended to blip the monument, however, very close by there were some poppies growing wild, and I spotted this singular one all on it's own. The sunlight was shining directly into it and there was one sole bee hovering near it - I didn't think I'd manage to capture it but I did, and I think this is a perfect image to remember Dad today. It looks better still viewed large.

It's my last working Saturday today, so after we'd been to pay our respects, we came into town and had breakfast sat outside a local cafe before I started work. Tonight we're going to friends for a BBQ and it's the last time we'll all be together before we move. We'll make sure we raise a glass to Dad while we're there :-)

I'm not a gambling person, I don't even do the lottery, but I've put a bet on that the Royal baby will be born today, a boy and that he's called Arthur - my dad's name :-). I doubt it'll happen, but I had a notion and wanted to follow it through...

Anyway, I hope you're all having a great weekend and the sun is shining!