Evergenes - Making History

Today, Armed Forces Day previously known as Veterans Day has been celebrated by many across the United Kingdom. This was an opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: including the currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to recruits.

This is a new annual event which celebrates the UK’s Armed forces (RAF, Royal Navy, and Army) –past, present and future. There were many events held throughout the UK today and I went along to show my support and had a fantastic day. I took my two young boys with me and explained to them what our soldiers do for our country. It is indeed very commendable the sacrifices these soldiers and their families make everyday for our country. It takes a certain type of person to be able to enter into this career path, a very brave person.

We have all studied World War I and II in history at school. These soldiers gave their lives for our freedom and peace. I cannot even begin to imagine how life was like for them, the pain and suffering and fear they all went through. Having to leave their loved ones behind not knowing if they will ever see them again is unimaginable. I think many of us take our lives for granted. Even though war is still ongoing in Afghanistan, due to it being so far away, it does not seem to impact on us directly. But can you imagine living in the thick of it? That thought terrifies me. We all see the images in the news on TV and we should be thankful that we do not have to live like that. I would love for people to upload their first hand accounts of their experiences on to Evergenes so we can all share their thoughts and never take for granted the sacrifices made by so many brave individuals for us.

I shall definitely be celebrating Armed Forces Day next year; it is our chance to say thank you.

I live quite near to a churchyard which in the past has been typically used as a burial ground. Every time I walk by, a number of thoughts cross my mind. Firstly, I’m struck by how quiet and peaceful this place actually is. Other thoughts include: the many different people that are buried here; the decayed bodies in the coffins; the amount of land taken up by graves and tombstones; the wildlife that now lives there; and if ghosts actually do exist?!! It is strange, but walking past a graveyard always stirs up many thoughts in my mind! I think I am fascinated with such places because I personally believe in cremation rather than burial.

This week is Cherishing Churchyards Week (19-28 June, 2009) and I wanted to write a bit about it as I can understand why there is a need for such causes. The use of churchyards as burial grounds for the deceased was discontinued between the 18th and 19th centuries and hence churchyards are full of history and it is important to preserve and maintain the heritage of such places.

Churchyards are regarded as special places by some for a number of reasons:
• They often contain a rich diversity of plant and animal life.
• They are important places for archaeology and history.
• They often have distinctive and veteran trees.
• The stonework and boundary walls provide a home for a mosaic of mosses, ferns and lichens.
• They provide a tranquil place for quiet reflection.
• They are a resource for community learning.
Churchyards are often within walking distance of local communities and can provide a focus for community involvement.

Many churchyards become the target of vandals which is completely disrespectful. It is a shame that more people do not appreciate the historical importance of such sites.
Whatever our beliefs on life and death are, we should at least respect the resting ground of our ancestors.

My husband for a long time now has been asking for a dog, to which I reply ‘if you can take it out 3 times a day and pick up its mess, then you go for it’! I struggle to get up in the mornings and take the children to nursery on time, let alone also fit in the time to take a dog out for a walk! As he works shifts, he is unable to do this. So he has turned his attention to wanting a cat. I personally prefer dogs to cats and so I said no, again. So he took me on a little ‘surprise’ trip one day and did not tell me where we were going. We went to see the most adorable kittens and it was love at first sight!

They are Burmese kittens and are 12 weeks old. The brown one is a boy and the grey is a little girl. We pick them up in a week or so after their vaccinations. We have been thinking of names, Ella for the girl, but we cannot decide on the boy cat’s name. I have never had a cat before and do not know what to expect!

To be honest, I am quite nervous about taking on two more pets. We already have a 6 year old rabbit and a 25 year old terrapin. My rabbit has cost me £100 pounds this week as he required some ‘dental work’ as the vet put it! Although I think that it would be lovely to have cats and the kids would adore them, I also read not long ago that according to the RSPCA, many cats and dogs are being abandoned every month due to the recession. My husband has recently given up smoking so the money he saves from this can go towards the upkeep for the cats.

Last month was national pet month. Britain is certainly a nation of animal lovers. Having a pet such as a cat or a dog does make a difference to your life, they definitely help to reduce stress and children learn how to care for animals. So, I think we have made a good decision and will definitely be showing photos of my new kittens once we get them in my ‘Pets’ section of my Evergenes account. If anyone has any good names in mind, please let me know.