A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE.....

George was a rescue cat, we were never certain of his age, but think he was about two when he came to live with us 11 years ago.

Everyone in the village knew George, he was a country cat by nature, a hunter.... he enjoyed the freedom of the woods and the riverbank. During summer months he was a free spirit often staying out both day and night, returning only when he wanted feeding, but, as the days grew colder, his love for creature comforts turned him into a home loving cat.

When George went missing over a month ago, we weren't unduly concerned at first, but after a few days of noticing his bowl of dry food remained untouched on the bench, we began looking for him, thinking that maybe he been locked inside someone's garage or garden shed. I made posters with his picture and pinned them on village notice boards, but still heard nothing. Then after a month of searching, we heard the dreadful news that next door's gardener had discovered the remains of a cat in dense overgrowth. By the time we got to hear about this the gardener had disposed of the body. I took a picture of George along for identification..... the gardener felt pretty certain it was George... but added what remained was in a pretty bad state.

It was news we didn't want to hear, but at the same time, it was best to know the end, though it was tragic and not continue to live in hope of his return. We miss him terribly and we often kid ourselves that we hear him meowing at the door, or feel we've caught a glimpse of him in the garden.... I'm sure his spirit lives on, so in our hearts he is with us still. I know Kenzo misses him too, just the mention of the name 'George' and his head and ears perk up all expectant.

George was featured in many of my posts over my years of blogging and so I feel it is fitting that I devote a post of his pictures as a tribute of the happy times and the love we shared.

In memory of dear George.....

.........our beautiful cat.

who loved to snooze on a comfy cushion in front of the fire

I shall never forget that look....

He was a free spirit.....

but loved his creature comforts.

He had his ways of letting you know he wanted to come indoors

Let me in please Mummy....

He was my constant companion in the garden....

.....always at my feet.

.....loved to sun bathe.

......happy to keep me company in the summer house....

....or on Grandma's bench.

....and despite him feeling somewhat put-out when Kenzo came to live with us 16 months ago, they did become friends.

We miss you George and remember you fondly when we see the scratch marks on the fence where you sharpened your claws, the little sleeping nests you made under the bushes for summer snoozing and your dish, still awaiting your return that I haven't had the heart to remove yet.

EVENTS IN RECENT DAYS.....

Mother’s Day, or as I prefer to call it ‘Mothering Sunday’ is celebrated in UK and Ireland on 4th Sunday of Lent, a day to honour Mothers and Motherhood. However, I think in most parts of Europe and US ‘Mother’s Day’ is observed in May.

For those unaccustomed to our Mothering Sunday tradition the following link may be of interest......


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/easter/mothers.htm

John and I celebrated Mothering Sunday in the traditional way and enjoyed a lovely service at our Church. It was good to see so many of the children participated in the service, reading passages from the Bible and paying tribute to their Mothers for all they do for them. The children carried baskets of posies, handing one to each member of the congregation. Our posies are shown in the picture above.

This picture was taken in our church last year when John and I, together with seven others were confirmed by the Bishop. A beautiful and memorable occasion

Our Mothering Sunday posies

George.... Whose bed are you sleeping in?

In recent days I finished embroidering this little cloth.... it is one that my Mother had begun years ago.

Days of glorious sunny weather tempted me into the garden. There is much work to do clearing away the winter debris that has collected in and around flower beds, collections of dead leaves had to be raked out and of course re-potting a number of congested tubs. This bamboo is a fine example of one that was completely pot bound... just a mass of roots that had grown round and round with hardly any soil left to sustain it.

George love days like this.... he is my constant companion when I'm in the garden.

Work continues on our sea defences, more huge boulders are being carried to our shores by road and ship.

As I walked along the promenade last week I found this interesting sight. You may recall a picture I included in a recent post dated 2 February showing how the force of the waves had eroded away the steps going down to the beach..... so I was surprised to see how this part of the beach recently excavated, shows how the steps have been protected over the years by deep sand... they look as good as new at this point.

Despite the wall to wall sunshine we've had in recent days.... it has been bitterly cold early morning. Our conservatory is north facing and first thing in the morning it feels like an ice box.
This has been a frequent temperature in there until the sun moves round......

.....but, quite a different reading when the thermometer is placed outside in a sunny spot.

Have a good weekend everyone and may the sun shine wherever your steps take you.

Marion