A few of my precious moments….

@ Jamala, oh how nice to read about your fabulous trip, the things
you have shared are so very special, you have some very beautiful
memories in your life :)
 
In 1963, the Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez wrote a mass composed on popular themes from South America. The Misa Criolla consists of the five main parts of the Catholic liturgy (Kyrie, Credo, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei) but includes a number of instruments from Andean folklore.


Misa Criolla means Creole Mass and was one of my Father's favourite pieces of music. He used to sing this beautifully and in Spanish (not him in the video). Today, I am thinking of him.
 
Our lives are made up of so many cherished moments and mine is no exception. Spending time with family members and dear friends is always the highlight of my life. I normally live in the UK, but for the past few years have travelled abroad with my husband and enjoyed some amazing adventures.

Last visit was a year ago, so when we returned home for a few weeks recently another precious moment was added to my book of memories which I’ll share with you!
There may others to follow later.....
Thanks for the post, made my day looking around, so much to lift the spirits.
 
Psalm 130 begins with the words, “out of the depths, I have cried to you, O Lord.”
The prayer “de profundis,” (out of the depths) has been one of the most powerful expressions of our reliance upon God.

Terry Oldfield one of my favourite English composers was inspired by the awesomely moving song of the humpback whales and the amazing creatures that swim in our Oceans. The whale song you are hearing is real.


To record whale sounds…a hydrophone array can be towed behind a ship or placed on the seafloor. It contains at least three hydrophones that pick up sounds in the ocean.

Sounds, such as whale calls, are received at different times because the hydrophones are different distances away from the sound source.
 
David Fanshawe, British Composer of African Sanctus and one of my favourites.
When I was in Primary school, we sang Our Father from the Sanctus and I am so happy to see some school choirs in the UK are continuing to do this...

 
The Tale about the Blanket….

During my last visit back home to the UK…our daughter announced that hubby and I were going to be a grand-parents again and asked whether she could have the baby blanket she had as a baby.

Well…that was a difficult one because like all good mothers (lol) I put this treasure safely away and couldn’t remember where. So before I left home, I gave her a list of places where it could be and since her father and I were pressed for time, she would have to hunt it down herself.
Last night I received a phone call that she had found it! Here’s the story behind the blanket…

My husband was present at her birth (as he was with all the children)… after they had cleaned our daughter up and she had bonded with me, she was wrapped in a pretty little shawl, the nurse then handed her to my hubby...he was only meant to hold her for a few minutes, but he sat there, and sat, and sat… staring down at her with this silly grin on his face, while she slept peacefully in his arms.

Finally, Sister said Mr…. time to go, baby and mummy need their rest (you know how firm they can be). Then she gently but firmly, took baby from him and sent him packing. You don’t argue with a British hospital sister!

Hubby came to pick me up a few days later and just as we were about to leave the hospital, Sister gave him a parcel tied with a pretty pink ribbon…with a big smile and a wink she left.

The parcel contained the shawl used to wrap our daughter in and a note saying: “keep safe, she might need it one day.”
As it turns out, Sister was right!
 
The Tale about the Blanket….

During my last visit back home to the UK…our daughter announced that hubby and I were going to be a grand-parents again and asked whether she could have the baby blanket she had as a baby.

Well…that was a difficult one because like all good mothers (lol) I put this treasure safely away and couldn’t remember where. So before I left home, I gave her a list of places where it could be and since her father and I were pressed for time, she would have to hunt it down herself.
Last night I received a phone call that she had found it! Here’s the story behind the blanket…

My husband was present at her birth (as he was with all the children)… after they had cleaned our daughter up and she had bonded with me, she was wrapped in a pretty little shawl, the nurse then handed her to my hubby...he was only meant to hold her for a few minutes, but he sat there, and sat, and sat… staring down at her with this silly grin on his face, while she slept peacefully in his arms.

Finally, Sister said Mr…. time to go, baby and mummy need their rest (you know how firm they can be). Then she gently but firmly, took baby from him and sent him packing. You don’t argue with a British hospital sister!

Hubby came to pick me up a few days later and just as we were about to leave the hospital, Sister gave him a parcel tied with a pretty pink ribbon…with a big smile and a wink she left.

The parcel contained the shawl used to wrap our daughter in and a note saying: “keep safe, she might need it one day.”
As it turns out, Sister was right!
What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing!
 
David Fanshawe, British Composer of African Sanctus and one of my favourites.
When I was in Primary school, we sang Our Father from the Sanctus and I am so happy to see some school choirs in the UK are continuing to do this...

Reminds me of Libera, the English boy's choir. I used to listen to them often. This is peaceful.
 
Somehow words seem inadequate to describe my Father. He adored his children and I feel so blessed that being the youngest, I got more attention than the older siblings.

We were a team…we played the piano together, we danced, we talked about nature and travel. He made up the most ridiculous stories at my bedtime and would send me off to dreamland giggling.

He always explained why there were rules and always ended his rare lectures with the words “remember Butterfly, you will always have my heart.”

What more can I say except I had a secret dream that one day I would like to marry a man just like my Father.
Little did I know that dream would come true…


I miss you not only on Father’s Day but every day…

Diary entry: 17th June 2023
 
We have travelled extensively and have had many adventures. However, the one which I can only describe as phenomenal is a two-night stay at the Zagora desert camp in the Sahara. Not a fancy hotel but a Berber style camp. The main thing was not the accommodation (which was basic but good enough) …we were there to see the night sky.

During the day not much happened, we learnt to cook Berber style and listen to stories about the desert, ventured a little way into the desert with our Berber guide on camel back, marvelled at the endless sand dunes and at any time I imagined Lawrence of Arabia to appear from behind one

When daylight began to fade we were taken further into the desert… the darkness overwhelming, except for the lights of the guides’ lamps we couldn’t see a thing.

Then the lanterns were extinguished and the magic began… visions of the night sky… ethereal, so beautiful you wanted to drop to your knees (and did)…I started crying, I was overwhelmed by the beauty above me (I was not the only one) no one spoke…we lay on our backs and drowned ourselves in this incredible sight.

I felt as if I was being drawn into it…scary, but wonderful at the same time. There is nothing I can really say that totally describes it…this video (youtube) will give some idea of what we saw during those two nights.


This is a 360 video: you can change the angle of view on the top left hand corner.

My husband made a movie of the whole spectacle…one of our most treasured mementoes.
 
We have travelled extensively and have had many adventures. However, the one which I can only describe as phenomenal is a two-night stay at the Zagora desert camp in the Sahara. Not a fancy hotel but a Berber style camp. The main thing was not the accommodation (which was basic but good enough) …we were there to see the night sky.

During the day not much happened, we learnt to cook Berber style and listen to stories about the desert, ventured a little way into the desert with our Berber guide on camel back, marvelled at the endless sand dunes and at any time I imagined Lawrence of Arabia to appear from behind one

When daylight began to fade we were taken further into the desert… the darkness overwhelming, except for the lights of the guides’ lamps we couldn’t see a thing.

Then the lanterns were extinguished and the magic began… visions of the night sky… ethereal, so beautiful you wanted to drop to your knees (and did)…I started crying, I was overwhelmed by the beauty above me (I was not the only one) no one spoke…we lay on our backs and drowned ourselves in this incredible sight.

I felt as if I was being drawn into it…scary, but wonderful at the same time. There is nothing I can really say that totally describes it…this video (youtube) will give some idea of what we saw during those two nights.


This is a 360 video: you can change the angle of view on the top left hand corner.

My husband made a movie of the whole spectacle…one of our most treasured mementoes.
How wonderful your adventures and writing, @Jamala ! I could picture the majestic night sky with your descriptions (and especially the visuals from the video). Becoming emotional truly shows how moved you were. Thank you for a memorable evening reading this.
 
How wonderful your adventures and writing, @Jamala ! I could picture the majestic night sky with your descriptions (and especially the visuals from the video). Becoming emotional truly shows how moved you were. Thank you for a memorable evening reading this.
Thank you dear Patty....
This will be my last post for quite a while
It was so nice to play back your reading of Helena's Choice.
🤗
 
Thank you dear Patty....
This will be my last post for quite a while
It was so nice to play back your reading of Helena's Choice.
🤗
We will miss you, but I hope you'll be back soon to share more of your adventures! BTW, thanks for stopping by and visiting Helena's Choice! It means a lot to me!
 
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