Who saw 'Birdsong' then ?? The newspapers gave mixed reviews but I must admit that I thought that the adaptation was very fine. I have read the book twice but still forgot the end. I remember very vividly the war scenes, the grim reality of the trenches and the tunnelling.

I think the story was made more poignant for me knowing that my grandfather, who was 20 when WW1 broke out, spent 4 years in the trenches in France and was 'commisioned in the field' because of his knowledge and experience. Understandably, he never talked about his war experiences or wore medals on Armistice Day. He did talk about the horses and the terrible smell as they lay decomposing in no man's land, that was when I was nine and we were on a family holiday on the 'Continent'. We never went to France; his 19 year old brother was blown up there and his body never found.

I sat in the back of the car with him driving through Germany, Italy, Switzerland and so on and seeing still the results of the bombing around us. One sunny day with his sleeves rolled up I saw these scars on his arms and touched them and on asking what they were he just replied mildly, 'oh just bullet wounds!' I never forgot that. I wasn't shocked though. When I taught War Poetry, along with the history of the  Great War years later the impact of that war hit hard and the further we move away from it the worse it seems to get. I was shocked then. I am shocked now.

What struck me was the phenomenal courage of ordinary blokes facing such massive challenges and doing it. It doesn't take much imagination does it to contemplate our own menfolk facing the horrors their ancestors had to confront, And they would do it wouldn't they, sometimes against their will and against their beliefs? Well they did, with the outbreak of the Second World War, it was the sons and daughters of those who fought the first time round picking up the baton. And not only the blokes with the courage, how about those left behind waiting; can you imagine being that twenty something sweetheart having to see your loved one suddenly taken from his ordinary, maybe mundane, life looking forward, in many cases, to the challenges ahead and then when he returned going through it all over again with him, if he was young enough still, as my grandfather was, and watch your own son sign up to fight in another war, as my father did, and yours too probably ?? I cannot for the life of me imagine the courage of those wives and mothers to part again with those they loved. But yes I lie, I can imagine it and my goodness do I count myself lucky not to have had to face it - but I really, really hope that I would have had the courage to do so. We have seen the survivors and do you know what - we have heard them laugh and enjoy life again - what an amazing thing this is the resilience of the human heart. Remember it.

Well, life in Lancashire is as sweet as ever but must report that spide has been lying low for a few days. BLB has been taking to the streets again worrying the neighbours. However, a big dose of ballroom dancing today has spent his energy, yes BLB can trip the light fantastic along with the rest of the mediocre, which is what we are - but Blackpool Tower Ballroom will not shut the doors on even such as us. Yes, we can cha, rumba, tango, foxtrot,waltz and quickstep along with the rest. Just about. Fun and good for relationships, like therapy. Today we were encouraged to get a bit closer. Imagine, our teacher said, that you have a vinyl 78 between you and you mustn't let it fall to the ground !! BLB finds this level of intimacy a bit worrying, he is a  reserved sort of chap as his offspring will testify. The wife holds her own counsel.

Tomorrow I am off on a vest hunt - the ones without sleeves. Friends, they aren't sexy but just think a clean one every day!! I have noticed that the same one goes on each day - I was taking a little more notice after my reflections on our early married 'vest encounters'. 

The pyjamas are something else. BLB inherited some lately, pristine in their St Michael sellophane packets. Large. Well BLB is not a LARGE chap. What a fine spectacle he made with the pale blue PJs edged in navy, wide baggy legs, dainty collar and buttoned nearly to the neck - was there a vest on as well ? Cary Grant is some steamy bedroom scene came to mind. Well, I thought if you're coming to bed in those decorum demands that you sleep with one foot on the ground don't you agree ? BlB has always been keen on being warm in bed; not altogether unreasonable I suppose but there are many among you, I know, whose chaps fling themselves into the matrimonial pit with barely a pair of boxers on. But, on reflection maybe not a brilliant idea. It is a bit embarrassing putting out the, can't spell this next word and too lazy to look at the dictionary, wynceyette (??) stripey PJs on the line as well. I shall have to move the rotary down the garden under the trees, but then the birds will poo, ah well ...................Next stop, The Underpants, well father and  son used to share the same economical approach to UPs. One a week. The things that can be passed down genetically are astonishing. Anyway, before we get even more smutty let's say fairly quickly that the boys have been beaten into submission and now have healthier undie habits.

Pressures friends, what are you trying to do to me. Anyway, it's been fun to chat. I really don't believe that there is a real world out there !! Ciao for now x