tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post3536596332281094408..comments2023-07-18T07:27:08.516+00:00Comments on Siren Voices: a pattern of circlesSpence Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-52133189503434066692011-03-08T19:54:37.240+00:002011-03-08T19:54:37.240+00:00Thanks UHDD
I read your lovely post about Mr John...Thanks UHDD<br /><br />I read your lovely post about Mr Johnson. It's always so poignant when people like this die. On the one hand, there must be a sense of celebration for a long life well lived, but on the other, there's the feeling that people of such bravery and grace are not so easily replaced. <br /><br />A special breed, for sure.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-90387905927693607512011-03-08T18:57:09.654+00:002011-03-08T18:57:09.654+00:00Simply beautiful Spence
It so brought to mind a ma...Simply beautiful Spence<br />It so brought to mind a man I once knew. They were something special, those guys.<br /><br />http://uphilldowndale.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/rosemary-for-remembrance-part-two-the-obituary/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-12603675674049318432011-03-08T15:10:23.018+00:002011-03-08T15:10:23.018+00:00One of the (many) things that impressed me about h...One of the (many) things that impressed me about him was that despite his advanced illness and age, he was still asking questions and still interested in the answers. Lovely guy. One of the perks of the job, meeting people like Geoffrey.<br /><br />Interesting to hear about your relative, Stonehead. It's the first time I've heard the acronym WAG in this context - which is what my relative must have been. I should do some research...<br /><br />Cheers for the comment.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-32295434248992495062011-03-08T10:34:10.587+00:002011-03-08T10:34:10.587+00:00My family lost 10 in WW2. One of them was a WAG, k...My family lost 10 in WW2. One of them was a WAG, killed when his Halifax was shot down by a German nightfighter over Belgium in 1944. It's always a pleasure to read about the ones who made it back to a peacetime life and a dignified farewell after 65 years of understanding.Stoneheadhttp://stonehead.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-1665796229790745462011-03-07T08:16:24.758+00:002011-03-07T08:16:24.758+00:00Thanks Karen. The hospice movement is so vital. I ...Thanks Karen. The hospice movement is so vital. I think you do an amazing job.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-70970109110939613342011-03-07T03:42:03.781+00:002011-03-07T03:42:03.781+00:00Thank you for this wonderful post. I volunteer fo...Thank you for this wonderful post. I volunteer for a Canadian hospice and you express so well the need for caring, dignified final days.karenmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15577838278773545163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-11142180809725575382011-03-06T21:44:52.585+00:002011-03-06T21:44:52.585+00:00Thanks TVH. It was a terribly sad thing - but even...Thanks TVH. It was a terribly sad thing - but even worse was thinking about Maggie carrying on after him. They've got a lovely family though - as you might expect - so hopefully she'll find some peace in the months following.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-47114582093744537982011-03-06T20:07:16.402+00:002011-03-06T20:07:16.402+00:00Humbling, I got a lump in my throat reading this b...Humbling, I got a lump in my throat reading this but don't tell anybody.<br />Oh, shit.Tony Van Helsinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08879258913766153068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-61537166582801346522011-03-06T17:25:04.034+00:002011-03-06T17:25:04.034+00:00Mike - (sorry for the delay replying - caught in t...Mike - (sorry for the delay replying - caught in the crossover...)<br />That's what I thought when I met him. A rare breed - backbone of the nation. <br /><br />I read a little about bomber command recently. It said that the mortality rate for aircrews was worse than for a WWI soldier - almost fifty/fifty survival chance. The crews would've been aware of the high death rate, yet they went out in those crates time and time again. Incredible to think of that. <br /><br />Thanks v much for the comment.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-60014702120120139842011-03-06T15:36:46.683+00:002011-03-06T15:36:46.683+00:00Thanks v much Philip & Crimson. As so often...Thanks v much Philip & Crimson. As so often's the case with these pieces, there were lots of other interesting details that would've fleshed it out a bit more, but I had to resist using them to disguise the identity. Frustrating - but I suppose it makes me focus on what I <i>can</i> say! Glad you liked it - and thanks for commenting.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-85860315790452596132011-03-06T15:32:58.754+00:002011-03-06T15:32:58.754+00:00They don't make them like that any more.
Beaut...They don't make them like that any more.<br />Beautifully and sensitively written Spence. Thank you.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-65762251116863407502011-03-06T13:01:04.539+00:002011-03-06T13:01:04.539+00:00Beautiful stuff Spence. And so wonderfully detaile...Beautiful stuff Spence. And so wonderfully detailed as always. I particularly loved the image of grey hair as 'picked out with silver thread.' Just marvellous.Crimson Ebolghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09980522480303126393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-74725726315003034282011-03-06T11:31:00.821+00:002011-03-06T11:31:00.821+00:00wow. that was good. Beautifully poised bit of writ...wow. that was good. Beautifully poised bit of writing. Thank youPhilip Doddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13164671362164285231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-17866601225397904592011-03-06T10:37:58.045+00:002011-03-06T10:37:58.045+00:00BB - One of the bravest and most poised human bein...BB - One of the bravest and most poised human beings I've met. Great dignity and courage. I wish I'd had more time to talk to him.<br /><br />Baglady - Every hospice I've been to has been fantastic, but this one is especially good. Very homely and bright. <br /><br />By the way, I still can't believe that the vast majority of hospice funding comes from charitable donations. I don't understand why they aren't fully funded as an integral part of the NHS.<br /><br />Karla, Nari & Martine - Thanks v much for reading & commenting. Much appreciated.<br /><br />Andy - Don't worry about picking me up on these mistakes. *blush*. It's important to get it right. <br /><br />***<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone for your lovely and encouraging comments. :)Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-8024876330186331722011-03-06T09:46:21.046+00:002011-03-06T09:46:21.046+00:00that was so poignant, it bought tears to my eyes.
...that was so poignant, it bought tears to my eyes.<br />thank you<br />martinemartinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260048849955077472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-61812731025484378322011-03-06T03:20:54.252+00:002011-03-06T03:20:54.252+00:00A wonderful, wonderful piece that captures the dig...A wonderful, wonderful piece that captures the dignity of a generation fast leaving us. Thank you for this, and for all your writing.<br /><br />(Tiny, tiny pedantic point - it's Stirling after the city, not Sterling. But I promise that's not why I commented!)Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519766252522983800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-45012382024426428892011-03-06T00:51:35.506+00:002011-03-06T00:51:35.506+00:00That was beautiful. Just a short conversation ove...That was beautiful. Just a short conversation over tea that reveals so much and touches my heart so deeply. It's a mystery to me how you are able to relay such depth with an economy of perfectly placed words.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810246558284580306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-60478887863908401602011-03-06T00:00:57.796+00:002011-03-06T00:00:57.796+00:00Touching. I don't comment often, but I wanted ...Touching. I don't comment often, but I wanted you to know I read every word. Anything I would have to say just seems so inadequate after reading your "poetry".Karlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814636977155763601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-59812971274524426372011-03-05T23:53:11.517+00:002011-03-05T23:53:11.517+00:00This is one of the most beautiful things you'v...This is one of the most beautiful things you've ever written in my humble opinion. The details you pick out the the way your writing has such a heart to it is incredible. Fantastic stuff.<br /><br />I hope the hospice is a fitting end for Geoffrey, worthy of someone like him.Bagladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03997388396773480963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-11172469673275460242011-03-05T23:46:07.585+00:002011-03-05T23:46:07.585+00:00That is a beautiful yet sad story. It's time ...That is a beautiful yet sad story. It's time to go and they both know it. Yet he's so aware of it all and has dignity. Very beautiful.BBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432729957196570774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-28712215043879456122011-03-05T23:25:48.419+00:002011-03-05T23:25:48.419+00:00Thanks v much CMAN. It's a privilege to witnes...Thanks v much CMAN. It's a privilege to witness these things. I know it runs the risk of being intrusive or voyeuristic, but I can't help wanting to record what I see. Of course I change lots of detail, but the essential truth of it stands.<br /><br />Thanks again for reading and commenting.Spence Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11183848895584919812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27691111.post-57611527503714797082011-03-05T21:52:04.001+00:002011-03-05T21:52:04.001+00:00As always you are bringing across a slice of life ...As always you are bringing across a slice of life many of us don't usually (want to) notice. This is hitting home. Thanks for such careful and loving detail.Sabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09015827501648296977noreply@blogger.com