Bloggy friends.. I have many things to tell you!
Does anyone recall (ahem!) me mentioning in a previous post that I have the best bloggy friends in the world? You may…. vaguely recall..me asserting such a thing?
It’s true! 
Last week I had the enchanting, amusing, charming experience of meeting Mr Richard Stevens. Richard is associated with the dainty Rustique Rose tea room at Laidley, the scene of one of our adventures last year.
What’s so special about Mr Stevens? Well! Apart from the pleasure of listening to his well modulated voice, (though we couldn’t convince him to sing for us!), and apart from his wit and sparkling conversation, Mr Stevens came bearing gifts.
The image above is from an autograph book of a young lady attending teachers college in (British colonised) India in the early 1900′s, and was one of the treasures Mr Stevens has left in my charge. Among other things was a scrapbook of collected “pretty” things – poems, cards, pictures etc.
But by far the most exciting discovery for me was the following pages..
The first time I read about the funeral for the “Unknown Soldier”, I cried. I, generally something of a stoic, wept at the thought of the collective pain of the families whose menfolk were left on foreign fields, but more so at the astounding beauty and mercy of the idea of a state funeral that could be, for each person attending, in honour of their lost.
Imagine my wonder at finding newspaper clippings on just that very subject among the collections of fancy dress plates and society pictures the young lady had pasted into her book. My very own source of primary history on a subject dear to my heart!
And because all the joyful happenings of my life seem to come in bundles, just a day later I met with another bloggy friend, who also came bearing gifts!
Super Secret Agent Chicken Little (alias, Heidi: some of you may remember Heidi? ) came with her family to visit ours! After staying at her house, swapping all sorts of interesting things through the mail, and having her as part of my blogging community for some years, I can finally report that she is real. Yes, folks, Heidi is no longer an invisible friend. ;)
And in a conspiracy that only girls with pluck would attempt, we managed to surprise Mr BB and the Chicklettes with … four chickens! Have I mentioned Mr BB likes surprises? He (cough!) certainly looked surprised.
I really like chickens.
Here’s one being adored by Miss 9.
It’s a joyful business meeting up with special people.
I am very blessed!
Jan 12, 2012 @ 20:48:12
Oh dear,
How absolutely immodest of me to be the 1st to respond to ‘little BB’s’ glowing words and explanation of the humble gift I left in her custody! Dear potential friends I ask how and where else can sentimental people like us express ourselves? Our BB has been bold and bright enough to confront a potential worldwide audience on her own because I believe she is exeptionally forthright and dedicated to her beliefs. I need to say, thank you so very much BB, !!!!!!!You’ve deservedly won a lot of hearts!
Your friend,
Richard
Jan 13, 2012 @ 21:04:58
Richard..
You’re very sweet!
Jan 12, 2012 @ 23:20:30
Hi Mrs BB,
I’m not sure who it was that visited you, because my family and I certainly didn’t leave our home all weekend! I think my identity has been stolen, and possibly that of my entire family! However, come to think of it, I am missing four chickens….
I tell you what, if the person you met was shy, demure, quietly spoken, and was in the company of a loud, brash, talkative husband, and four exceptionally well behaved children…well it may just have been us (in an alternate dimension that is!!!).
Now, Mr Richard, I had heard about the most interesting artifacts that you shared with Mrs BB. It is truly wonderful that they can now be shared through this medium with a much wider audience! Thank you. I’m sure we will all hear more about these diaries as Mrs BB devours them. They could not have been entrusted to a more deserving individual.
Bye for now,
Heidi
(AKA Super Secret Agent Chicken Little)
Jan 13, 2012 @ 21:19:26
I tell you what, if the person you met was shy, demure, quietly spoken, and was in the company of a loud, brash, talkative husband, and four exceptionally well behaved children…well it may just have been us (in an alternate dimension that is!!!).
Oh..
The children fit.. they were just right. But there is something wrong with the rest of the picture!!
I’m glad you felt the same about the unknown soldier. History in general is interesting, but there are incidents and pockets of it that hold a deeper attraction for me. This is one of them.
Jan 12, 2012 @ 23:30:02
Oh, and I must add…
I too must admit to shedding a tear at the reality of the unknown soldier, and the pain that that tomb represents. I remember reading a speech from a recent Anzac Day service, given at Gallipoli. It was from the native wives and mothers, assuring the wives and mothers of ANZAC fallen soldiers, that their loved ones now rest in a land that will treasure and remember them as their own sons, husbands and brothers. I am so fortunate not to know the heartache of such loss.
Bye for now,
Heidi