Some Thoughts and Memories

Whilst I stayed in Slough my parents lived in Oxford, or rather just on the "outskirts". Initially, pater had left Stoke Poges in 1990 because he was expecting to work with a business partner in a disused marmalade factory...of all places. But as soon as he, and mater got to Oxford the proposal fell through. Anyway, they had bought a bungalow on Cumnor Hill which apparently is popular for bird watchers. From 1990 to 2005 I used to visit my parents up "north".  At first, I found Oxford rather overwhelming to put it mildly. But over the years I got to like it. I visited my parent generally during the Christmas Holidays which were very pleasant, and this sometimes involved visits from a few friends in the area. Another reason I went there was during the periods when  my parents were on holiday, and thus needed someone to keep an eye on things. My duty then was among other things notably to look after the pedigree Burmese cats..!They were fun to play with... M...

From  around 1977 to 1990 I used to live with mater, and pater at the "mansion" called the Orchard, in Park Road, Stoke Poges. Not far from where I lived there was the Monument to Thomas Gray's Elegy, a poem of some renown. Here, I reproduce it for readers. The following source is Wikipedia ".............The poem begins in a churchyard with a narrator who is describing his surroundings in vivid detail. The narrator emphasises both aural and visual sensations as he examines the area in relation to himself: The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me. Now fades the glimm'ring landscape on the sight, And all the air a solemn stillness holds, Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight, And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds; Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r The moping owl does to the moon complain Of s...