All the Signs

With Autumn leaves progressively fall,

especially with increasingly,

 colder weather creeping in,

signs of the winter in evidence with

 many plants remaining  with masses of berries.

~   ~   ~   ~

Thoughts,

 certainly starting to give way,

 to preparations for

the Christmas season.

Remembrance Sunday

The Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill

'When you go home, tell them of us, and say:

For your tomorrow we gave our today.'

Kohima War Memorial

On 6 November 2002,

 HM The Queen officially inaugurated the Memorial Gates

 on Constitution Hill in London, UK.

These Gates have been erected as a lasting memorial,

 to honour the five million men and women from the Indian subcontinent,

Africa and the Caribbean who volunteered

 to serve with the Armed Forces

during the First and Second World Wars.

They also celebrate the contribution

 that these men and women and their descendants,

 members of the Commonwealth family,

 continue to make to the rich diversity of British society.

Although this is just one memorial,

 for remembering those

 that lost their life due to conflicts & wars,

Remembrance Sunday,

a day to remember everyone

 who has lost their life fighting for their country.

~   ~   ~   ~

 And, still the lost still goes on within our modern times. . . .

If only we could relish a more peaceful world!

The Month of November

A week ago, it was my Aunty's 90th Birthday!

To celebrate,

her immediate family took her to London,

to the London Eye,

providing fantastic views overlooking the capital.

Needless to say,

she was thoroughly spoilt with champagne,

numerous presents & cards,

besides masses of flowers.

Just a few featured in this post.

It was lovely to think

 she was able to enjoy her very special day.

~   ~   ~  ~   ~

And, today, is my Mother's 88th birthday.

She is such a special lady,

very kind natured & very unselfish.

During the next few weeks,

she has a succession of appointments at the hospital.

ultimately concluding with an operation at the end of the month.

Although she will be going out on her birthday,

weather permitting,

 she will be going on the steam railway at the weekend,

with a journey to Minehead.

This is the last weekend the railway will be operating

 for the season before

Christmas specials in December.

I know this is something

 Mother  is looking forward to,

as it's a journey she was very use

 to as a young girl/woman.

Further Birthday celebrations at the weekend!

It will be my Daughter's 24th Birthday!

 Birthday Wishes to them All!

The Library. . . .

A very welcoming room with warm tones,

 comfort uppermost,

 to beable to enjoy

 such a choice & wealth of books!

I just hope some of the books

 were aswell used as what they looked.

The huge desk at the back of the room,

weights at the ready to calculate the postage weight.

The wonderful marble fireplace,

flanked by a handcrafted embroidered chair.

Anyone for a game of Chess?

Table & chairs capturing the natural daylight,

located  by one of the large windows,

 overlooking some of the gardens.

A very tranquil setting!

Inviting. . . .

The interior of Dunster Castle 

 is so full of timeless character,

 & fortunately,

 the public are able to capture some

of the wonderful intricate craftmanship of this stately home,

as photography is permitted,

 providing flash is not used.

Downstairs definitely on a grand scale,

more to follow. . . .

Imposing

Although I may have featured Dunster Castle before,

I still go back to visit,

to photograph & discover

much more

Visted during the Halloween weekend,

to find actvites ongoing,

 organised for children

With Dunster Castle,

 being built on a hill,

 high above the village,

it certainly does aim to be

 very domineering & imposing

 against it's surrounding landscape!