HAPPY NEW YEAR

Its approaching midnight here in the Philippines and time to wish readers of this Blog the happiest, healthiest and most prosperous of years in 2009.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everybody! We hope you all have a great holiday and a Happy New Year!

With lots of love

Abi and Joe

THE GENOGRAPHIC PROJECT

A Landmark Study of the Human Journey

Where do you really come from? And how did you get to where you live today? DNA studies suggest that all humans today descend from a group of African ancestors who—about 60,000 years ago—began a remarkable journey. Read more about the project at this link and learn how you may take part in the study.

Graham's Father

I just wanted to send my best wishes to Graham, whose father had a stroke recently and is experiencing internal bleeding. I hope that he gets better very soon and makes a good recovery. Also to let Graham know that we are thinking of him and his family too.

***

Belated

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

TO

AUNT MARGARET

IN

PORTSMOUTH

for 21 November

***

Belated because I have been offline for 10 days or so.

Still, I am not the only one that can post on here.

Dad's tree

This is long overdue, but here is a photo we took of Dad's tree when we visited his grave in March 2008 and planted some daffodils. As you can see, it was not the dryest of days!

Congratulations Joe!

You are now an official qualified teacher of English! Rather you than me!

Abi xxx

BBC REMEMBRANCE WALL

Add a soldier from your family to the BBC's Remembrance site.

RNVR

I contacted the Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve (RNVR) about grandfather when there was no record of him in their 

list of officers. He has now been found and a record can be seen at this link. Some of the information gathered 

came from the obituary that I attached with my email (a copy appears in an earlier post on this blog). Below is the text of the RNVR's reply:

Re: F.J. Houghton RNVR‏

From:	J.N. Houterman (j.n.houterman@wxs.nl)
Sent:	Sunday, November 09, 2008 5:38:53 PM
To:	Nicholas Houghton (nic_houghton@hotmail.com)

Found him as Temporary Lieutenant (Special Branch) at HMS Victory III in late 1941. Will gladly add an entry for him.

Regards,

Hans Houterman 
www.unithistories.com

If anyone has a photograph of grandfather it would be nice to let the RNVR have it for their site.

* * *

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY

DORIAN

* * *

Born Santiago, Chile

6 November 1978

Houghton - The Cumbria Outpost

Don't know how many Houghtons there are in the UK but it would be good to have pictures of Houghtons at Houghtons . Sally x

LITTLE SHIPS

Dad used to speak of his father's boat taking part in the Dunkirk rescue. I did ask him the name of the boat, but stupidly I did not write it down and I have forgotten it. Does anyone have any recollection of the name? Is there a photograph anywhere?

The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships has a website and the list of craft taking part can be found here:http://www.adls.org.uk/

MY BIRTHDAY

My birthday yesterday, was spent on the beach. The dogs loved it and were plain tuckered out last night. You can see why....

Blooms from the trees along the shoreline

A grand day out and a lovely way to celebrate my 54th birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SALLY

26 September 2008

ANOTHER GENERATION

The news is in Karla's Facebook area and so firmly in the public domain:

We are to become a grandfather early in the new year.

* * *

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

+ T A N I A +

28 August 2008

* * *

Congratulations

Joe & Abi

To see Nic & Elvie's message from the Philippines, follow the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHvF21jngCE

ABI'S WEDDING

If like me, you cannot attend Abi's wedding this coming Friday you may like to know 

that Jonathan will be posting "live" images of the event as it happens (more or less). 

View the images on Flickr at the following website:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelos-knight/

ANNIVERSARY

4 May

Its come around again folks.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

TIM & MARIA

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Maria too

VISITING DAD'S GRAVE

On Saturday 15 March Abi, Joe and I met at the Rose & Crown pub at Calverleigh (tel: 01884 256301, EX16 8BA). We held the wake for father here. It was a wet miserable day, so it was nice to have a leisurely lunch sat in the cosy surroundings by the fire and chat over a few drinks.
Eventually we ventured forth. I had bought some rainwear from Mole Valley Farmers at Cullompton that morning and was glad of the protection. However my footwear got soaked in the long grass.
We planted the daffodils left by Linda. I retied the support strap lower on the rowan tree so that it can flex. If this isn't done the trunks grow weak and the tree will not grow strong and straight.
Joe took a photograph of Abi and I. I remarked that I had yet to see a photograph taken at the site where the subjects are not clad as if arriving at the summit of Mount Everest or the North Pole.
Returning the trowel and fork to the receptacle at the gate we said our farewells to Dad and to one another.

To find the buriel site from the pub:
Leave the car park and turn right. After a few minutes take the road leading off to the left. Climb the hill all the way to the top. At the top take the right fork and look for a 5 bar gate facing you on the left. This is the small car park.
Leave the car and walk through the other gate keeping right near the hedge, Dad is about 40 yards down on the left. Look for the Rowan tree. Each grave is marked with a discreet up-turned plaque.
Tools can be found near the entrance. Please remember that this is a green buriel site, so only leave bio-degradeable material.
Take fotos and post them here - especially if it is sunny!
Thank you.

NIC IN UK

I am in UK for a while. I have been staying with a good friend in London whilst I sort out some personal admin. Tomorrow I journey down to Devon. I am meeting Abi in the afternoon at our Father's grave. Thursday marked 2 years since his death (two days after his 75th birthday).
I shall stay at my Mother's home which is currently on the market following her recent admission to a nursing home.
I shall return to London after Easter and prepare to fly back to The Philippines.
If family or friends wish to chat they can call me on mobile telephone no.: 07958 400 122.