Dan congratulations hope everybody doing well.
Ranger 1 well done we can all do with broadening our horizons and if you have never been introduced to something you will never know if you like it.
Ebbie keep going we need all the pleasant mental stimulation we can get as we get older otherwise like a poster that used to be up in our local library "Use it or lose it"

I Remember

I remember a warm summer's morning, sparkling dew strung on gossamer threads across the garden. I stood at the back door in my cotton nightie sleep splashed eyes blinking in the sun. Warmth enfolded me a safe place and a warm embrace. Two strong arms came over my shoulders and the safe place became a wonderful unassailable fortress against the cares of childhood.

Her voice flowed to me a gentle stream of sound guiding on an adventure of exploration of our new magical morning. She whistled and we laughed at the sleepy response from a nearby blackbird, as we listened his song awoke his neighbours each adding their whistle chirrup or caw till the sound of morning swelled around us in the great symphonic rise of dawn.

Still holding me we stepped out of the door as she whispered how special this morning was, how it would stay with me on dark days my summer place where we could always talk together no matter how far apart we were.

The hard gravel path nibbled at our bare feet like the small mouse dad had caught eyeing up his raspberries. Then cool soft grass washed away the grit I broke free and danced around the lawn leaving small damp footprints among the crystal sprinkled emerald grass.

Many years later my dance would take me hundreds of miles away from this place and time. Mum would finish her dance in this garden and move on to dance on the wind of my memory. Yet still when the grass glitters with the dawn and the sleepy birds begin to waken we can once more share time in our magical place. When I go there I know I will hear her voice and bask in the warmth of her love and wise advice once more.