Poppies, Peace & Poplar

This week we talked about bonfire night and firework displays. We made chocolate covered apples with sprinkles. We talked about the statue of an angel that stands in our local Poplar Park where 16 young children lost their lives in the first ever daylight air raid in 1917. We talked about the poppy being a symbol, even in Ancient Greece, of life, death and rebirth - able to lie dormant in the ground for years and burst into life like in Normandy. We talked about the different types and colours of poppies and the meanings in recent times of remberance, peace and 'never again'. We talked about how sad it is to lose people like a grand parent, mum or uncle. We made different colour poppies with hearts for petals to show our love for those we have lost. 

The Smell of Apples

The smell of apples
Dirty potatoes
Carrots
Stew
Cabbage water
Bacon, cabbage & spuds
Lavender
Honey suckle

A woman I know, suddenly, without explanation and for no apparent reason, stopped talking to me. I tried to find out why and she ignored me. I would walk in the room and she would turn the other way. For a year I waited patiently, still including her in my general greetings but never pushing for an engagement she seemed to abhor. Today, the smell of a fresh bag of country apples broke through the silence.

These are the smells and tastes and words which made up our first conversation in a year.

Isn’t the smell of apples lovely?