Dudley market place

An old map near to market stalls shows us where the Castle is......
as if we cannot see it..from every vantage point around Dudley..
the Castle dominates the view..I often wonder if my ancestors
were there on the battlements hurling things at the marauding hoards..
as Dudley saw many battles..and even though I only know that my ancestors
were here since 1726..I am sure that even long before then we were
part of the landscape, as grandfather and father soldiered in the wars,
it seems likely that their predecessors also did..
maybe one day I should search this
in the Archives..
I had the first knowledge of the history of my family... from the
Chairman of Bowaters ..He had a manuscript shown to me
in Bowater House Knightsbridge on one of my visits to him

.............................................Now as I open my front door I can look up and see the Castle..

I used to visit every week as a child
so know it well.......................................................................

Dudley market

 

the old stalls do not seems to have changed since I was a child..I am sure that
they have... but at Christmas when each stall was lit... it seemed
like a wonderland of holly nuts berries oranges all the delightful things
which pleased my childlke eyes ..I never want to lose that clarity which I recall then..
it must be sad to be so world weary that these things no longer please

Dudley town

 

Dudley fountain

The fountain which stands at the one end of the
open market has not been spouting for many years..
however now as part of plans to brighten the centre of the
the town..not too much I hope as the town centre with its open
market stalls contributes to the historical ambiance of the town..
making it special for me..so water soon..seems to be a big event ..
and as long as the town is enhanced by the modifications I
expect that they will be welcomed..but I know that if we lose
one iota of its charm I will have to comment dudley
and the surrroundings Wocestershire villages are so important
to me ..that I literally returned form the other side
of the world to be back here

the ASEAN SUMMIT 2011

I was invited to the ASEAN Summit earlier this year
but the Hospital would not let me fly so I had to stay at home
then when the last Summit started I also decided that a
3 day set of Meetings in Bali would be quite an ordeal
as I am still recovering from the effects of the
second surgery on my right arm...which has not as yet healed

So..all I could do was..like many others, watch the speeches on tv
from Ban Ki Moon Sec Gen the United nations the Presidents of USA and China,
and other speakers..I am hoping soon that the situation will clear and
I will be able to travel freely as before

Rockefeller Centre New York