Category Archives: Friendship
A mother’s love
We could learn a lot from Ozala the Gorilla at Twycross Zoo in Warwickshire. Her latest baby was born on 2nd January as a result of a successful primate breeding programme but so far keepers have been unable to determine the sex of the newborn since the 16-stone Mum won’t let anyone near her precious infant.
This is the 4th baby for 18-year old Ozala, and it may well be that she is over-protective since her 1st offspring, Matadi, born in 2003, was taken away from her and is now being cared for at Paignton Zoo in Devon. Her 2nd, a female called Ndoki sadly died aged 3 months in 2007 and her 3rd, a male called Okanda was born in April last year. Okanda survived after some initial health problems and is now being cared for in Stuttgart Zoo in Germany.
I do hope she is allowed to keep this new addition. It seems extremely cruel to me that she should be parted from her babies when she so clearly has extremely strong maternal instincts. I accept that Gorillas are a critically endangered species, but come on! How could you separate these two?
Not Santa’s Grotto … but the Pope’s Grotto!
There used to be a pub in Twickenham called the Pope’s Grotto. About 100 yards from where I lived, it played a huge part in my life since the age of 17 until I moved to Glasgow in 1996. I met my ex-husband there (probably best to skip over that!) and it is somewhere I will always find someone I know, even to this day!
In recent years it has been transformed from a friendly local pub to a modern hotel, now called the Alexander Pope, with a reputation for good food and a family friendly atmosphere. It just isn’t the same but this picture, taken c.1981, is just how I remember it! One main memory that stands out for me is that it was THE place to be during the power cuts in the 1970’s. Instead of sitting at home in the dark, people flocked to the pub in their droves where candles provided the lighting and there was a “blitz type” spirit and atmosphere that seemed somehow magical. I also remember it was a meeting place for many on Christmas lunchtime – the chance to catch up with friends before heading home for the obligatory turkey dinner!
Happy memories indeed. I hardly recognise the place these days but one of my customer’s has asked me to write a piece on their blog about a job they’ve just done there which made me very nostalgic for those simpler, happier times!
A mother’s love
I thought that today I would share with you this heart-warming video of Members of the Amboseli Trust, an elephant welfare and conservation group, rescuing a baby elephant trapped in a water well in Kenya. Before they could get anywhere near it they had to deal with the elephant’s anxious mother, who was pacing around nearby. They moved her away so they could help the baby.
Be sure to watch till the very end – it will melt even the hardest of hearts!
And now for After
Sorry Martin, couldn’t resist posting this! We had a brilliant day on Wednesday catching up after such a long time – lots of laughs and memories of those innocent days of our youth! Hope to see you again soon – lets not leave it another 30 odd years this time!!!
After something like 35 years …
Tomorrow is a big day! After something like 35 years since this photo was taken, I am meeting up with Martin again – I’m so excited I’m not sure I’m going to sleep tonight!
Martin was the “boy next door” when I was growing up in Twickenham (except he actually lived round the corner!) and we were extremely close for a very long time. Circumstances were such that we eventually drifted apart and so it will be very interesting to catch up after all these years. I know he is now happily married and living in Lincolnshire somewhere (and he’s a grandfather!). I’m pretty sure we’ll soon revert back to those 2 carefree 17 and 18 year olds when we start reminiscing though! This is the “before” picture – watch this space for the “after” picture – it’s probably going to be emotional!!!
Would a friend?
Would a friend do this
do this to me at all?
Would a friend deliberately hurt another
to make them feel two foot tall?
Would a friend forget to mention
that they’re friends with you?
Would a friend forget to say
by the way this is my friend too?
Would a friend abandon you as if you were a contaminated disesase?
Would a friend stare at you like you’re a stranger
saying you don’t know when your new friend asks you who’s she?
Would a friend toss you aside like an old toy he’s got bored of?
Would a friend forget to pretend he’s yours? yes, a friend would because mine does.
Tessa's Blog 