Another drizzle day, and Jackie’s cold, kept us inside today.
One of the consequences of retirement for me is that I often don’t know what the date is. That is my excuse for what follows, and I am sticking to it.
When I descended from our bedroom this morning I found this photograph had been moved from its shelf at the window and placed on the table between my chair and a sofa in the sitting room.
“What’s that doing there?” I asked Mrs Knight.
“It’s the second of March today”, was the smiling reply.
“Ah”, said I, rapidly realising that it was the 54th anniversary of our first wedding in 1968. Jackie won’t be well enough to dine out today, so we’ll have to take a rain check on that.
I also have the second one, on 17th October 2017, to remember. Life can become complicated.
This afternoon I began scanning the pages of Charles Keeping’s illustrations to Charles Dickens’s ‘Bleak House’.
The Frontispiece ‘Fog everywhere’ and the next two illustrations demonstrate Keeping’s masterful depiction of elemental precipitations.
‘That leaden-headed old obstruction, Temple Bar’ invites the viewer to peer into the fog.
‘The place in Lincolnshire left to the rain’ makes me wonder whether the artist was inspired for this image by the sight of his car wing mirror on a rainy day.
‘We drove through the dirtiest and darkest streets that ever were seen’
‘Nobody ever was in such a state of ink’
‘A large grey cat leapt on his shoulder’
I will comment on the book as soon as I have finished the task of scanning the rest of these pages, which I hope to achieve by the beginning of June.
Last Saturday, thinking she would be going to Elizabeth’s event without me on account of my indisposition, and that I would have wanted something bland left for me, Jackie had begun preparing a pot of chicken stewp. In fact I accompanied her to my sister’s and she retained the gentle meal for another occasion. Now she had a cold it was just the job for her. I was on jankers today and got off lightly because all I had to do was heat it up and prepare the crusty bread. I finished the Malbec that had been open for nearly a week. It was still drinkable.
It’s bad enough having to remember one anniversary………
🙂 That made me smile, Sheree. Thanks very much
You’re very welcome Derrick
As atmospheric as the “bleak” illustrations, ‘Nobody ever was in such a state of ink’ is my favorite. It’s so much better than “Nobody ever was in such a state of keyboard.’
That’s my favorite, too!
Writing minds think alike!
😊
It is indeed, Liz. Thanks very much
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Happy 54th Anniversary. I’m sorry to hear that Jackie is ill — but a postponed dinner will be a nice celebration!
Thank you very much, Janet
Happy Anniversary. At least you remembered the second nuptials. Hope she feels better shortly. Can you get food delivery where you live?🤞😉
Thanks very much, Pat. We can get delivery, but Elizabeth has offered to shop if necessary
Lovely payback for providing her with hospitality when she didn’t have power.
Thanks again
Happy first anniversary you two!! I look forward to hearing about that dinner when the sniffles allow!
Happy Anniversary you two. For my part, I count not caring what day it is as one of the benefits of retirement.
Thanks very much from us both, Keith. I agree
Happy Anniversary, guys! And get well soon, Jackie. 🙏🏻☺️🇬🇧
Thank you very much from us both, John
Happy Anniversary for your first wedding, Derrick and Jackie. I hope Jackie is feeling better soon–though it’s clear she’s still sharp-witted! 😀 “on jankers is a new term for me. Perhaps a special dinner next week.
I appreciate “Keeping’s masterful depiction of elemental precipitations,” but the “state of ink” was my favorite.
Thanks very much from us both, Merril. A good choice of drawing
🥳Happy Anniversary 🥳
Thanks very much, Donna
A most Happy Anniversary to you both! Get well soon, Jackie.
Thanks very much from us both, Maj
Happy Anniversary! I’m sure you will celebrate ‘properly’ (now that your memory has been jogged!) once Jackie is better… in the meantime, the happy day of your first Wedding Anniversary doesn’t seem the appropriate time for working on Bleak House!?!
No surprise that the Culinary Queen had inadvertently prepared perfectly, despite the changed plans… 🙂
Thank you very much, Emma. We were not bleak, but the weather was, and Jackie was cheerful enough considering that she did feel rough.
Jackie is a trooper! Hope she is on the mend now 🙂
Not too good today. But insisting on driving me to shopping.
Look after yourself Jackie…
That’s what I say.
Whoops!
Thanks a lot, Andrew
If you have two different anniversary dates to remember, you should expect to miss one from time to time. You’re only human !
Thanks a lot, John 🙂
Hope Jackie soon feels well enough for a meal out. And my philosophy is celebrate early, celebrate often. A very happy anniversary to you and Jackie. Clif and I also have an anniversary in March.
Thank you very much from us both, Laurie. Another similarity between us
Yes, yes!
Anyone can forget an anniversary . . .or at least that is my experience.
Mine, too, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much
Happy Anniversary to you both. And that Jackie is soon her usual self, thank goodness for prepared food on hand.
Thanks a lot from us both, Catherine
What an exquisite line, that bundles together so many mysterious images Derrick …
“Nobody ever was in such a state of ink”
It is, Ivor. Thank you very much
Happy anniversary, Derrick and Jackie! Two anniversaries a year sounds like an opportunity for two celebrations, and twice as much good food and wine. 🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Lavinia. 🙂
Life can be complicated.
We both know that, Rosaliene. Thank you very much
One of my family members married in the early 80’s. Divorced after 6 children; two passing in early weeks. They started dating again years later when the daughter wanted to meet her father after many fathers day school celebrations with no father. They married again in early 2000 and they’ve been together ever since. Now Derrick, don’t forget October 17th. You need to jump in first. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Chrissy. We are not unique, then
Happy anniversary to you and Jackie, Derrick. I do hope she’s feeling better soon. We all have our “senior” moments. At least you have an excuse!
Thanks a lot, Jill.
I recently forgot my only aunt’s birthday, The good news is that I remembered before a week had passed. The better news is that my forgetting made her feel better about her ‘forgettings.’
So you gave her a present after all
Hope that she soon feels better. Maybe once she feels better you can go out and celebrate.
We will, Mrs W. Thanks very much
Your welcome.
Cool drawings, especially the faces in the fog and the view in the side mirror. I hope Jackie feels better soon and you get off jankers. Here’s to celebrating every chance we get!
Thank you very much, JoAnna. Cheers
Hope Jackie gets better soon, and then, you might be in trouble!
Thanks very much, Sylvie.
Happy anniversary
Thanks very much, Gary
Phew. Close call there. If Jackie had been feeling better, you may have been in the Bleak House yourself. Congratulations on this anniversary, ours was last week.
Thanks a lot, Gwen 🙂
Happy anniversary!
Thanks very much, Byung
How thoughtful of Jackie to move the photograph to jog your memory! It seems that your penance was not a heavy one and that the two of you have done well. Enjoyment to come in the future celebration of that event is all the better for the anticipation.
Thank you so much, Anne
Happy anniversary! 54 is an impressive stretch of time. So sorry Jackie is out of sorts – hope she recovers soon, so you can celebrate with a nice dinner! Fab illustrations as always. I had my own case of “state of ink” today, when a pen started leaking all over me. LOL!
A happy, inky, coincidence, Anna. Thanks very much
Jankers:
MILITARY SLANG•BRITISH
punishment for those who have committed a military offence.
“the sergeant put me on jankers”
I jested, of course 🙂 Thanks very much, Yvonne
And, how is the sergeant today?
She hasn’t got up yet, so I guess she is sleeping well. 🙂
I think you had a ‘Man moment’ you just forgot!
Happy Anniversary to you both. I hope Jackie gets well very soon.
Oh, 1968 was also the year I got married too.
Thanks very much from us both, Sue. A happy coincidence
Derrick, I like connecting your anniversary thoughts to Dickens’ Bleak House. I suppose your wife’s illness and not the state of your marriage is the reason for the comparison. We’ve celebrated our 54th and looking forward to the emerald celebration in August. (No gems involved on our budget!) Best wishes for Jackie’s recovery. 😀
Thanks very much, Marian. Just the weather was the link 🙂
Your first anniversary is like vintage wine. I hope you are all waiting for Jackie to recover for the celebrations.
Thanks for starting a new Charles Dickens book with Keeping’s illustrations.
Much appreciated, Uma
Happy Anniversary! A bit late, I’m afraid. And I can relate to “One of the consequences of retirement for me is that I often don’t know what the date is.” 🙂
Thanks very much, Joycee. 🙂
Happy Anniversary, Derrick and Jackie! 💕
Thank you very much from us both, Eugi
Nice one, Jackie. 🙂 … happy anniversary to you both. 🙂
Thanks very much from us both, Widders
You both were meant to be together. Wishing you both good health and happiness.
Thank you very much, Rupali
Congratulations on your 54 years together! What a great milestone! Hope Jackie feels better soon!
Happy anniversary. Going strong despite intermediate heartache. Good for both of you! I hope Jackie overcomes the cold she has soon enough so you can celebrate
Thank you so much, Geetha
Welcome Derrick
Well, Derrick, I am sure a celebration of the 54th anniversary of your first wedding in 1968 can wait until Jackie is feeling better. She was well enough to put that picture as a reminder right where you would see it, though. Yup, a woman after my own heart! Don’t give the guy a chance to forget. Post a picture in front of his nose. Yes!! I love it!! I’m sorry she was under the weather, though. She’s better by now, I’m sure. You’ll have to determine to beat her to the punch on your original 55th and do something to surpise her a day ahead!!
That means I have to remember this, Jan 🙂 Thanks very much
Yes, do remember!!
What a dilemma, perhaps if you each choose an anniversary to cook for?
Thanks a lot, Lindsey 🙂
Happy anniversary 😉
Thanks very much, Ribana
Perfect quotes and a lovely memory of two joined chapters of love
Thank you very much, Candy. A perfect phrase
I was delighted in that state of ink. Which made up for the impact of your statement that “life can be complicated.” Ugh. It CAN be complicated. Hugs to both of you for all the emotion behind having two anniversaries. Being a human is such an adventure.
Thank you so much from us both, Crystal