The Quest for The Truth

Nice surprise yesterday one of my stories published on Postcard Shorts

I'm keen on conspiracy theories and love the song by Kirsty MacColl

THERE’S A GUY WORKS DOWN THE CHIP SHOP SWEARS HE’S ELVIS

I hope he really is Elvis too 😉

The Quest For The Truth

He promised his wife, his children, Sister Mary Daphne who danced to his songs that he wouldn't return. He promised himself that last year would be the very last time. He travelled on the cross country train listening to the rhythm of the wheels on the track, music spurring him on. He'd walked the three miles from the station disbelieving where his feet were heading. He tried to change direction, he tried to stop at the artisan coffee shop and eat a bagel that was unique to the locality. Had fish eggs in it or some weird speciality, probably one of his better decisions to give that a miss.

Sitting in the middle of the field crammed amongst the devotees, he looked around. Everyone seemed so much younger than him. His quest had begun on August 16th 1977. He remembered the sombre moment it was announced on the BBC news. He couldn't believe it, he wouldn't believe it. It was a hoax.

The first one started to sing. It wasn't him. He'd sat through so many renderings over the years that he would instantly know the real one. Sister Mary Daphne tried to persuade him that his quest was ungodly, Elvis was dead. He knew that one day amongst all these impersonators the King would walk again.

Highs and Lows of Life

This Friday June 17th 2016 I'll be saying a final goodbye to my mum. She celebrated her 90th birthday on April 18th three days before the Queen celebrated her 90th birthday. A week later after falling at home Mum went into hospital and died peacefully on June 2nd, the anniversary of the Queen's coronation. She never really recovered from my Dad dying a week before Christmas 2015 and my elder sister dying in 2014. I miss them all so much.

A photo of us in Trafalgar Square feeding the pigeons circa 1963 (I'm the littlest one.)

My mum was very proud of all her grandchildren and her great grandson. On May 21st 2016 my son Kevin married Adelina in Poland. My mum would have loved to have been there. She loved family occasions and gatherings.

I look at my five year old grandson and marvel at the love I feel for him. This is what life is all about, the rites of passage. We'll be celebrating my mum's life this Friday with her family and friends and saying goodbye. She'll remain in our hearts and memories with love.

Heroes

David Bowie died January 10th 2016, I felt shocked that one of my musical heroes had died. no more Ziggy Stardust. Two days early I'd buried my true hero, my Dad. He died on 19th December 2015 aged 89, the same day as another legend, Jimmy Hill. For the last 3 years my Dad had been suffering with Alzheimer's, a cruel and horrible disease. Luckily my Dad still recognised me and responded to my name when people talked about me, right up to a week before his death.

Several comments he made shows how cruel dementia is, he told me how proud he was of me but couldn't remember why. My dad was asking why my sister hadn't visited him, she died in 2014. I explained that she had passed away and he replied "You'd think someone would have told me" That still makes me smile as I told him we had. Humour kept me going alongside anger, guilt and tiredness.

The Vicar paying tribute to my Dad said he was a fine and true gentleman, one of the old school, that was so true, my Dad was an honest and caring man. I will miss him everyday of my life as I do my sister.

Condolences to the Bowie family and every other family that loses a loved one.