Hanover Square
Can it really be sixty-two years ago that I first saw you?
It is truly a lifetime, I know. But as I gaze into your eyes now, it seems like only yesterday that I first saw you, in that small café in Hanover Square.
From the moment I saw you smile, as you opened the door for that young mother and her newborn baby. I knew. I knew that I wanted to share the rest of my life with you.
I still think of how foolish I must have looked, as I gazed at you, that first time. I remember watching you intently, as you took off your hat and loosely shook your short dark hair with your fingers. I felt myselfbecoming immersed in your every detail, as you placed your hat on the table and cupped your hands around the hot cup of tea, gently blowing the steam away with your pouted lips.
From that moment, everything seemed to make perfect sense to me. The people in the café and the busy street outside all disappeared into a hazy blur. All I could see was you.
All through my life I have relived that very first day. Many, many times I have sat and thought about that the first day, and how for a few fleeting moments I am there, feeling again what is like to know true love for the very first time. It pleases me that I can still have those feelings now after all those years, and I know I will always have them to comfort me.
Not even as I shook and trembled uncontrollably in the trenches, did I forget your face. I would sit huddled into the wet mud, terrified, as the hails of bullets and mortars crashed down around me. I would clutch my rifle tightly to my heart, and think again of that very first day we met. I would cry out in fear, as the noise of war beat down around me. But, as I thought of you and saw you smiling back at me, everything around me would become silent, and I would be with you again for a few precious moments, far from the death and destruction. It would not be until I opened my eyes once again, that I would see and hear the carnage of the war around me.
I cannot tell you how strong my love for you was back then, when I returned to you on leave in the September, feeling battered, bruised and fragile. We held each other so tight I thought we would burst. I asked you to marry me the very same day and I whooped with joy when you looked deep into my eyes and said "yes" to being my bride.
I'm looking at our wedding photo now, the one on our dressing table, next to your jewellery box. I think of how young and innocent we were back then. I remember being on the church steps grinning like a Cheshire cat, when you said how dashing and handsome I looked in my uniform. The photo is old and faded now, but when I look at it, I only see the bright vibrant colors of our youth. I can still remember every detail of the pretty wedding dress your mother made for you, with its fine delicate lace and pretty pearls. If I concentrate hard enough, I can smell the sweetness of your wedding bouquet as you held it so proudly for everyone to see.
I remember being so over enjoyed, when a year later, you gently held my hand to your waist and whispered in my ear that we were going to be a family.
I know both our children love you dearly; they are outside the door now, waiting.
Do you remember how I panicked like a mad man when Jonathon was born? I can still picture you laughing and smiling at me now, as I clumsily held him for the very first time in my arms. I watched as your laughter faded into tears, as I stared at him and cried my own tears of joy.
Sarah and Tom arrived this morning with little Tessie. Can you remember how we both hugged each other tightly when we saw our tiny granddaughter for the first time? I can't believe she will be eight next month. I am trying not to cry, my love, as I tell you how beautiful she looks today in her pretty dress and red shiny shoes, she reminds me so much of you that first day we met. She has her hair cut short now, just like yours was all those years ago. When I met her at the door her smile wrapped around me like a warm glove, just like yours used to do, my darling.
I know you are tired, my dear, and I must let you go. But I love you so much it hurts to do so.
As we grew old together, I would tease you that you had not changed since we first met. But it is true, my darling. I do not see the wrinkles and grey hair that other people see. When I look at you now, I only see your sweet tender lips and youthful sparkling eyes as we sat and had our first picnic next to that small stream, and chased each other around that big old oak tree. I remember wishing those first few days together would last forever. Do you remember how exciting and wonderful those days were?
I must go now, my darling. Our children are waiting outside. They want to say goodbye to you.
I wipe the tears away from my eyes and bend my frail old legs down to the floor, so that I can kneel beside you. I lean close to you and take hold of your hand and kiss your tender lips for the very last time.
Sleep peacefully, my dear.
I am sad that you had to leave me, but please don't worry. I am content, knowing I will be with you soon. I am too old and too empty now to live much longer without you.
I know it won't be long before we meet again in that small café in Hanover Square.
Goodbye, my darling wife
the”worst” father In the world
I didn't realize that it was father's day until my wife texted the message.Then a second message from an old friend from Shanghai came reminding me that it was real father's Day.
To be honest, I secretly admit that I am not a good father, seldom do I take great interest in playing games or reading fairy tales to my children.Not once did I accompany my children to those extra classes which are aimed at developing childrens' interests, personally I doubt that they do more harm than good to children.
Once , I clearly remembered that, acting on a sudden impulse, I decided to take them to fly kites, unfortunately it turned out that It was I who broke that nice kite my wife bought, causing my son crying wildly.My holiday ws spoilt, though I had the good intention to entertain my son!A clusmy father, right?
One incident stood out in my memeory. That dates back to 2003, On the National holiday,my wife and I planned to take our daughter to visit the zoo. Inexperienced as I was then as a parent ,I deeply understoood that how important it was to widen her horizon at an early age.People in China attach great importance to children education, there is a persuasive slogan that goes" never let your child lose at the starting point".We did enjoy ourselves at first, watching all kinds of rare animals,feeding bananas to monkeys, fishing in a clear small pond.I was a bit tired,though, by my daughter's endless questions concerning the names and characteristic of the caged animals.But everything changed when we came to see the bears. There were fences all around, my daughter stood beside the fence, holding the metal rails. To see the bears more clearly, she mysteriously reached her head inside metal rails.The most frightening thing of all was that she could not get her head ou of the metal rails no matter how hard she tried. she cried and screamed , attracting almost all other visitors.Everone was watching and offering advice, my daughter because the centre of attention. I rushed to the animal keepers for help.Two of them arrived on the scene with a ladder. They climbed over the fence, led the bears into the cave and finally saved my daughter.Tears in eyes and sweats all over, I thanked themfor their timely help.I was to blame for I failed to watch her closely.A conscientious father could never ignore her child only to amuse himself.You may laugh your heads off by such a funny experience, but what comes next may not be so light-hearted.
Last Spring I returned to my hometown just before Spring Festival. As you know, there was a heavy storm last winter,so the it took a littlt longer to complete the trip.That didn't not bother my 2 years and a half son, who kept on eating and singing all along the way, amusing the passagers around and making the trip not so boring.After we said bye to the friendly paassengers and got off, I decided to buy the return tickets. I told my wife to look after all the luggages. When I returned to the place, to my great horror, my son disappaeared!My wife face turned pale, I simply couldn't know how I felt, or maybe I felt nothing. We crazily looked for him, screaming and shouting him name. And pictures of children being kidnapped and smuggled flashed in my mind like movies. My wife was crying, I decided to call the police.As you know, that was a peak time for people to go back home, it was hard to find a little child among all the passing crowds.Five minutes passed, ten minutes passed, and fifteen minutes passed, we got into despair. All of a sudden, my son appeared out of nowhere, calling "Dad, dad!"
My tears ran down and I held him tightly in my arms, murmuring:"Where have you been, my dear son?'
Even today, I can't imagine what my life will be if my son got lost !One thing is certain I will feel guilty all my life, a happy family will be broken, or worse still, my marrige will end...
I thank Almighty God who generously sends me two lovely children who make our house our home, I thank Almighty God for all the blessings he bestows me! I even thank Almighty God for all the suffering which make me stronger ,tougher, and a more loving person.Now I treasure what I have more than I used to.
To me, happiness, is simple but real.
My dear children, I love you, I really do!
Come back,my love
I am extremely happy to find that the site of the blog has retuned to normal!
As you might never know how I felt during the past three months, It is something like you love someone ,yet there is a deep gap in between, and no way to reach her.I have a burning desire to keep a record of what ervents are happening to me.
My pent feeling accumulates all the time, which makes me feel uneasy.I want to write down something , I want to express my feeling, and I need a space which belongs totally to me where I can murmur to oneself.
When it is not availabl,I can turn to nowhere to express my feeling ,thoughts,thus many beautiful essays disappeared before they were ever written. What a pity!Provided there were no blocks of the site, I would have produced many high-quality English essays, there is no doubt about that.
I came to realize that Time waits for no one, nor does inspiratioin.Once lost, it will never come back to you. I think there are a lot of things which has the same quality,youth, love, chance, to name just a few.One beautiful sentence which stands out in my memory is "Pick the flower when it is the right season, otherwise, you will only break some branches when the blossom season is over,sighing deeply.So it is advisable to treasure the moment!
Samsung and Adidas Introduce miCoach Phone
Wanna loose that UGG weight you gained over the winter in style? Are an UGG 09 Latest Boots Adidas fan and want to show your love of this brand? In any case here's the first true sports music phone from Samsung www.myugleahy.comand Adidas !
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading provider and innovator of mobile phones, and German sportswear giant Adidas have joined forces to launch miCoach phone - the first true sports music mobile.
The launch of this unique www.goodchocie.com gadget comes amid growing public awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This is the perfect device for people who want to work out and enjoy music and other multimedia functions at the same time.
The miCoach phone will be available in Germany and other European countries from mid-March.
“The miCoach phone opens a brand new "sportronics" market created for active users with multimedia tastes” said YH Lee, Vice President, Marketing of Samsung’s Telecommunications Business. “We know what consumers want from their phones, and we are adding a wider choice of mobile phones to get closer to individual consumer’s lifestyles.”
“miCoach is the most advanced interactive training system in the marketplace, blending sophisticated mobile technology with the most advanced in sport innovation and training” said Eric Liedtke, Vice President of adidas Brand Marketing. “The uniqueness of miCoach is that it collects and analyzes personal data and then customizes training plans based on your fitness level and specific goals, while giving you real-time feedback during your workout via the miCoach phone.”
The miCoach phone, equipped with a stride sensor and heart rate monitor, provides a comprehensive on-the-go personal training system. The phone provides training tips and time updates, and encourages users with music tailored to the workout.
Adidas Acquires Reebok
When I was a kid www.airmaxonlinesite.com I was like every other kid, stupid. UGG 09 Latest Boots I was fickle and brand names meant something to me.www.myugleahy.com Brands were so tightly incorporated into www.webuggonline.com the social structure of my early teen years that I would not be happy with clothes from Target, it had to be surfware from the “cool” brands like Blillabong or Quicksilver. Thankfully I grew out of this stage of my life and am happy enough now to wear secondhand clothes from an op-shop if I like the style, brands matter little.
I remember when it came to shoes there were two companies that were cool enough to be worn at school, Reebok and Nike. I was interested in business back then and I thought of these two companies as waring sides fighting for people’s feet. I really didn’t care too much which brand I wore, but it HAD to be one of those two.
Uggs get Ugglier
Just when you thought UGG boots couldn't get any worse, UGG 09 Latest Bootsthese Ugg-style boots by Love from Australia www.myugleahy.com show up on shelves. Not only has Love "painted" these already ugly boots pink, but they have www.timbesema.com added matching feathers. This is boot insanity at it's finest.
I feel that it is my civic duty as a fashionista to warn everyone against these hideous boots. Don't wear them because you will be viciously mocked by anyone that passes you on the streets. Actually, scratch that. You won't be mocked; your child will be mocked. These $125 boots are for babies, poor innocent babies. Don't mess up your child's reputation by placing these boots on their feet they may never forgive you.
Styles that Stick: Ugg boots
Pretty impressive huh?
No matter how UGG-ly these boots may be, they sure are UGG 09 Latest Boots warm. Then why are the so popular in Los Angeles and other warmer climates you might ask. Perhaps www.myugleahy.com because the inside fibers allows air to circulate giving them a cooling affect as well. adidas online shop You don't even needs socks with Uggs because they are designed to be worn without them. Gee, these boots sounds pretty magical. Oh and don't go for the knock-off, they are made of cow and not sheep so they don't have the same breathable qualities.
Celebrities love Ugg boots too. Pamela Anderson kicked them off for us in the U.S by wearing them between takes on the set of Baaywatch. That is until her blond moment came and she realized Uggs were made out of animals. Kate Hudon, Sienna Miller, Kate Winslet, and many others.
The story of Uggs coming to America
In his first year, UGGBrian sold 48 pairs of boots, mostly to the crazy California surfers UGG 09 Latest Boots who grasped the genius of this sheepskin footwear - the warmth, www.myugleahy.comcomfort and coziness of sheepskin.
In recent years, ugg boots turned into a hot fashion article, thanks to American celebrities, although it was www.weblacoste.com a Canadian, Pamela Anderson, who started wearing them during her Baywatch show shooting, to keep her feet warm. The boots suddenly became the trendy footwear statement among celebrities. Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paris Hilton have all been photographed wearing the boots. Oprah Winfrey featured the uggs in blue and pink color on her show, which skyrocket the popularity in America. You will find them on beaches from Santa Cruz to San Diego, as well as in ski resorts from Vail to Tahoe.
New T-Shirts From Emerging Designers?
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue Magazine have held a fashion designing contest for five years now including this year. The joint venture gives emerging designers a chance to showcase their styles and recently ten finalists were announced. The name of the contest is the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Initiative. Young or emerging designers send in design collections that include everything from dresses to t-shirts to sweaters.
The Fashion Fund is used to provide much needed financial support to young designers while also managing a mentorship program. The Initiative was started in 2003 and has already awarded $1.8 million in grants to a number of fashion design companies. Some of the ones listed include Alexander Wang, Derek Lam, Phillip Lim, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, and Vena Cava.
According to FashionUnited.com, the Fashion Fund Initiative is generously underwritten by Gap, underwriters American Express, Appleman Foundation, Barneys New York, Coach, Evgeny Lebedev, Hudson Bay Trading Company, Juicy Couture, Kellwood Company, Liz Claiborne Inc, L’Oréal Paris, Nordstrom, Theory and VOGUE.
Young designers
Young designers creating new fashions from plain t-shirts to footwear get assistance learning business related activities such as press relation and show organizing. There are six finalists competing for this major award and they have met some specific requirements. For example, to be considered for the top prize you must have had your own label in the fashion industry for at least 4 full seasons. In addition, the designs must have been displayed at a recognized fashion centre located in Paris, New York, Milan or London.
An international jury chooses the winner. The event will have special guest Isabel Toledo present. Ms. Toledo has earned recent recognition because US First Lady Michelle Obama wears her designs regularly. The new Rodarte collection will also be presented.