Page 40 Bob's Blog Page 41 Page 42
You are reading Page 41 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 84 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever -
at the time of writing!
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Wednesday 1st November 2023.
Yesterday, I flew out of LGW to SPU, I was elected skipper of a yacht sailing around Croatia, or was it a dream?
Thursday 2nd November 2023.
Yesterday, I flew out of LHR to PMI, I was elected skipper of a yacht sailing around Menorca, or was it a dream?
Friday 3rd November 2023.
Yesterday, I flew out of LHR to LAX with my son Dan for a fly/drive around California, or was it a dream?
Saturday 4th November 2023.
Yesterday, I learnt to fly, or was it a dream?
Sunday 5th November 2023.
Yesterday, a Luftwaffe bomb aimer pressed his release button a millisecond too early and missed me, or was it a dream?
Monday 6th November 2023.
Yesterday, I dreamt up another idea to save the world, or was it a dream?
Tuesday 7th November 2023.
Yesterday, my design for The Oxshott Village Sign won the competition, or was it a dream?
Wednesday 8th November 2023.
Yesterday, I discovered great grandparents, Annie and John's, marriage certificate. Phew!
Thursday 9th November 2023.
They were married on Sunday 8th February 1880 in The Roman Catholic Church in Rathmines, Dublin. John was 'a soldier' stationed in the local barracks which was known as Portobello Barracks but now it is Cathal Brugha Barracks. He was serving in the Queens Royal Surrey Regiment 2nd of Foot Battalion. They had been sent there from their base in Stoughton Barracks, Guildford. John had signed up for 9 years, a requirement, in about 1870 when he was 19. John's father was William the 'scavenger' from Peaslake, he died in the Guildford workhouse.
Annie lived round the corner from John's barracks in Cambridge Road, Rathmines, she was 26, they probably met in the local disco. John and Annie returned to Stoughton and had three children, John Percy born in 1885 (my grandfather), Agnes Anne in 1889 and Daisy in 1891. In 1891 they were living in Little Heath Lane, Oxshott, John was a brickmaker in the Oxshott Brickworks. In September 1891 Annie, sadly, died leaving John to bring up the the three children. In 1892 he married Eliza Pullen from Ockham. They all lived in The Brambles (now 36) Little Heath Lane. John and Eliza died within three days of each other in February 1929. Annie, John and Eliza are buried in Cobham Cemetery and I will be marking their graves this morning. My father Reg was a gravedigger and probably dug the graves for John and Eliza, Reg's grandson Dan is also a gardener who looks after the garden at The Brambles, Little Heath Lane as I write.
Friday 10th November 2023.
I spent a wet morning successfully planting memorial plaques amongst the weeds in the cemetery, I think John, Annie and Eliza appreciated it. Correction, I know John, Annie and Eliza appreciated it.
Saturday 11th November 2023.
Sunday 12th November 2023.
Monday 13th November 2023.
Yesterday, I had the last waltz with Hartley, or was it a dream?
Tuesday 14th November 2023.
Yesterday, I trailed Nicey down to Poole Harbour for a weekend sail, or was it a dream? (Scenes of a sexual nature might offend!)
Wednesday 15th November 2023.
Yesterday, I trailed Nicey to The Norfolk Broads for a weekend sail, or was it a dream?
Thursday 16th November 2023.
Yesterday, I spent a couple of weekends aboard a yacht earning my 'Competent Crew' ticket, or was it a dream?
Friday 17th November 2023.
Yesterday, I thought I'd better learn to sail, or was it a dream?
Saturday 18th November 2023.
Yesterday, I took a ferry ride and a bus to Brest, jumped aboard a yacht and sailed from Brest to Ushant across the channel (at night) to The Scillies and back around The Lizard (at night) and into Falmouth, or was it a dream?
Sunday 19th November 2023.
Yesterday, I jumped on the night train from Euston to Inverness and drove a camper around the west coast of Scotland, or was it a dream?
Monday 20th November 2023.
Yesterday, I produced 3 pages of exquisite artworks, or was it a dream?
Tuesday 21st November 2023.
Yesterday, I wrote a story, or is/was it a dream?
Wednesday 22nd November 2023.
Yesterday, somebody bought an Oxshott Village Sign tee-shirt and mug, or was it a dream?
Thursday 23rd November 2023.
Yesterday, I spent all day in the shed building a bus, or was it a dream?
Friday 24th November 2023.
Yesterday, I bought a fishing boat and tried to catch a fish, or was it a dream?
Saturday 25th November 2023.
28 years ago I dreamt up an amazing idea for finding local jobs, or was it a dream?
Sunday 26th November 2023.
Today, for me, is a very special day and it is not a dream. Amazingly, I have discovered, or confirmed, where the bomb came from at 4am on 1st April 1944. It came from a German bomber that was being chased by a Mosquito flown by Rosalyn's father. Rosalyn posted this on Exploring Surreys Past web site. She posted it on 18th August 2020.
I was brought up in Oxshott and certainly one bomb was dropped in what was then Aylings Farm. My father was a fighter pilot and chasing the bomber. the German bombers used to release the bombs aiming at fields very often and escape – poor Dad saw the bomb whistling down right near the house. The people survived. My mother was a radiographer and the night the bombing of Brooklands happened she took off at night on her bike to go to the hospital that was taking casualties in. Sadly one casualty happened in the 1950s when two boys found a land mine which had been left behind by Canadian soldiers.
Monday 27th November 2023.
Today, I'm off to school.
Tuesday 28th November 2023.
I would like to thank The Royal Kent School. Oxshott for inviting me to chat to the children of Year 6 yesterday who were studying WW2.
I hope the experience for the children wasn't too boring, most of them seemed to stay awake, especially when I played a recording of an Air Raid Siren. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I tried to answer all of their searching questions but my memory failed occasionally. I don't remember celebrating VE day but I do remember the school dinners!
In fact, I enjoyed the experience so much I've decided to become a teacher when I grow up, which means it probably won't happen any time soon. I wish all the children well.
Bob at war in 1939
Wednesday 29th November 2023.
If you would like a Robert Harrop hand painted figurine of Magic Roundabout characters Zebedee, Ermintrude, Brian, Dylan or Dougal for Christmas let me know. They are discontinued, collectable moulded resin mixed with marble dust delightfully unmarked examples, except Brian the Snail who has only one antennae on his head and the other one in his pocket! You might find them on eBay.
Thursday 30th November 2023.
Somebody said, 'Blessed is he who expecteth not an email shall never be disappointed'. So, that tells me that I will always be disappointed not. Honest!
Page 40 Bob's Blog Page 41 Page 42
You have read Page 41 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 84 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever -
at the time of writing!
HOME PAGE ABOUT and BLOG INDEX CONTACT