Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be

Sorry to bang on about the carnival, it is special so I have got a link to a Youtube video of some of the best carts. You can find it here. It just gives a better impression of the size, noise and action on the carts.

The other reason to for going to North Petherton is nostalgia. Pethey is my spiritual home, I wasn't born there, that honour goes to Somerset Bridge nearby, but I did spend most of my youth there so it is in my soul. My mother and father, uncle, grand parents and great grand parents are all buried there. I always take a chance to have a good wander round.

It's strange going back to places you once loved, change always happens, everything is a little smaller and you never bump in to anyone you know. Where were David Carter and Mike Hellier? Moved away like the rest of us I expect (although at my age some might be in the graveyard, more of that later). Anyway I took my usual walk around the town with my kids, Livi's boyfriend Sam and Lyn's son Sean. It's always nice to have them bring you down. As I walked dewy eyed past my old primary school my eldest son said "I suppose your going to tell us about how the boys were separated from the girls and infants in the playground dad, again. You always do". He must be psychic because I was. Do I really repeat myself year after year? It's just practice for my dotage.

Well after that set back I decided to let the kids look after themselves for a while as I charged on towards the cemetery. Sean played with all the big kids and I kept out of the way. It was about 4 and people were already starting to line up.

Sean and Adam, never parted

When we got to the cemetery I immediately headed for my parents grave. I am not a maudlin person, I don't need to visit at regular intervals, I don't need to place flowers but when we have time the whole family enjoys a quick shuffle around and to check all is in order. Apart from needing a good spruce up it was fine. It's a little cremation plot.

Tinsley resting place

We moved on to my uncle Gilberts grave and had a little look at the others nearby. These are all recent graves and it is uncomfortable to see an old school friend amongst them. Not a close friend, someone I played football with in Primary school. I suppose it's just a reminder of your own mortality and I don't think that that is needed right now.

Anyway we continued around the churchyard. I know my gran and grandad graves are no longer there. Not sure what happened but they just no longer exist, there was a stone but now it's gone. But my grans father and mother are there, the Petersens. I never knew John but have some vague recollections of granny Petersen.

There is a good view from the cemetery, after a few moments Looking up to Dancing Hill and Kings Cliff we started our walk back, specially designed to take in my grand parents house at   1 Butts Corner. What a great name, no idea why it's called that but it keeps the kids happy. Of course it looks much smaller than it used to and the garden has been cut in half to put in another house, but I still like it.

Yes it's part of a bottom

After this we visited my uncle Michael and Aunty Val for a little and of course jean was there. I don't get to see uncle Michael nearly enough and it is lovely to talk to him.

My last special treat was the final part of the walk back to Lyn. I took a detour past my old house (much to Sean's chagrin). The street looks a little like Beruit and the houses are all tiny. There are cars everywhere. How did we ever play cricket and football up and down the street? Any way here's me in front of 14 Millbay, the porches are new.



Is it little or am I just bigger?

 The final part of our walk took us past one of the best back street boozers around, the Globe. I don't know how it is still there but it is. It was never my pub in Pethey, that was the George, but it has always held a place in my affections and there's a picture of some of my relatives pushing a pram by the brook, taken when they were children in the 1930's on the wall.

Drink here

So there you are, a little nostalgic visit to my past.

Chris x