I think my winter coat from last year still has the pin poppy on it. I'll find out when its cold enough to get it out the wardrobe but I wont take it off all winter. The paper ones are a nightmare.
Wonderful sights in London yesterday - so many poppy sellers and service men/women around. Bands etc in all the major stations. The wives choir thing were in Waterloo.
Bought mine yesterday from the Millwall chap outside Cannon St. There were also a lot of servicemen and women collecting and was nice to see so many people already wearing poppies still digging into their pockets.
I've sold poppies at my local station for the past several years, so far - touch wood - with hardly any problems. And I live in area with a very high Asian population. (The only problem I have had was with a couple of Irish "gentlemen" who give me some lip but at least they walked off without problem after doing so). I find many Indian people are very happy to contribute - but often less keen to actually take a poppy. Strange. But it has to be said there are people from other Asian backgrounds who do very rarely buy a poppy.Unfortunately these days - and perfectly understandably -many people are now frightened to collect in public (because of the fear of attack). And that goes some way to explaining why there are less collectors on the streets these days. Truely, that is a very sad reflection on our times.
I've no service background but think this is such a wonderful appeal I'm very happy to give up some of my time to help out with it. I urge everyone if you see a poppy seller, put a few coins in his/her tin - believe me, there's nothing worse standing there for hours and just watching everyone pass you by!
People who object dont mind living in our free and democratic country that affords them freedom of speech, protection and the Queens £ in their pocket though, their values and morals are not that strong.
A free and democratic country with freedom of speech means that they are entitled to decline purchasing a poppy.
Wonderful sights in London yesterday - so many poppy sellers and service men/women around. Bands etc in all the major stations. The wives choir thing were in Waterloo.
The reason I buy a poppy is as a remembrance to all the brave poor souls, left in unmarked graves / fields / forests etc oversea, who gave their lives, so that we might live in freedom, below is a brief snapshot of fathers life, which some may find disturbing / interesting etc. it was part of my farewell speech at his funeral.
My father fought out in Burma and was in the royal engineers, he had a fantastic life and lived it to its full extent, he came from the wrong side of Dartford, but got on. He never really mentioned Burma, but the few things he did say was horrific.
First day they got out there they where taken to a hospital that had been overrun by the Japanese a couple of days prior to their arrival, they where shown crucified nurses still nailed to the crosses, and British soldiers that where bayoneted as they laid in their beds, as he said that made you grow up.
He and a few others used to go behind enemy line to disrupt the Japanese communications and he was an expert with explosives so they below up the odd bridge mostly when the trains where going over, they would disappear for 6 months at a time with very limited rations, when they run and assuming there where no air drops they used to eat there mules, there biscuits where contaminated with weevils which he said was a bonus, still certain if that part was true, for those months while they disappeared they didn't know who was fighting in the next valley, some natives where friendly and other where pro Japanese so they couldn't risk getting food of them.
He was involved somehow in the battles of Imphal and Kohima, both where horrendous and anyone interested should read these stories, after the break out from Burma through India he teamed up with British and Aussies soldiers they never took a single prisoner the hatred was that great. When he came home he met his son of 31/2 for the first time, he didn't even know that his wife was pregnant when he sailed away.
When I was 21 I was not allowed a Japanese watch for birthday present and never allowed a Japanese car. His last trip was back to Burma wargraves to say goodbye to his long lost friends, the old Gerkhas who fought with him walked for 2 days to be with there old comrades, they where all in their 80's. some of his last words to the vicar was restating his hatred of the Japanese race.
A different generation of men of men and women. Hopefully the wavers will now go and by a poppy.
If anyone is near Chatham Dockyard on Sunday, get yourself down there. 8am-1pm. Adults £3 or £4 quid to get in, kids free. I think the weather forecast is good for Sunday.
There is a monthly military fair there, loads of military stuff to look at and vehicles too, and on remembrance day at 11 they have the silence and bugler, also there are normally quite a few veterans there as well, so you can say 'thank you' in person.
I have mentioned elsewhere that I coach a kids football team. The 25 year old cousin of one of the boys came across an IED in Afghan last week and is in a bad way.
Comments
Nice to see the Tube train covered yesterday, and the large one at the front and back of all tubes and DLR
Great effort
The reason I buy a poppy is as a remembrance to all the brave poor souls, left in unmarked graves / fields / forests etc oversea, who gave their lives, so that we might live in freedom, below is a brief snapshot of fathers life, which some may find disturbing / interesting etc. it was part of my farewell speech at his funeral.
My father fought out in Burma and was in the royal engineers, he had a fantastic life and lived it to its full extent, he came from the wrong side of Dartford, but got on. He never really mentioned Burma, but the few things he did say was horrific.
First day they got out there they where taken to a hospital that had been overrun by the Japanese a couple of days prior to their arrival, they where shown crucified nurses still nailed to the crosses, and British soldiers that where bayoneted as they laid in their beds, as he said that made you grow up.
He and a few others used to go behind enemy line to disrupt the Japanese communications and he was an expert with explosives so they below up the odd bridge mostly when the trains where going over, they would disappear for 6 months at a time with very limited rations, when they run and assuming there where no air drops they used to eat there mules, there biscuits where contaminated with weevils which he said was a bonus, still certain if that part was true, for those months while they disappeared they didn't know who was fighting in the next valley, some natives where friendly and other where pro Japanese so they couldn't risk getting food of them.
He was involved somehow in the battles of Imphal and Kohima, both where horrendous and anyone interested should read these stories, after the break out from Burma through India he teamed up with British and Aussies soldiers they never took a single prisoner the hatred was that great. When he came home he met his son of 31/2 for the first time, he didn't even know that his wife was pregnant when he sailed away.
When I was 21 I was not allowed a Japanese watch for birthday present and never allowed a Japanese car. His last trip was back to Burma wargraves to say goodbye to his long lost friends, the old Gerkhas who fought with him walked for 2 days to be with there old comrades, they where all in their 80's. some of his last words to the vicar was restating his hatred of the Japanese race.
A different generation of men of men and women. Hopefully the wavers will now go and by a poppy.
I wear my poppy with pride
There is a monthly military fair there, loads of military stuff to look at and vehicles too, and on remembrance day at 11 they have the silence and bugler, also there are normally quite a few veterans there as well, so you can say 'thank you' in person.
Best regards
Kerry
Stick on Poppies for the team's shirts this week.