Two days post in one so it will be a long one....first of all I forgot to post this photo taken Friday night before we went to the concert...they look great don't they??
The concert was so wonderful very professionally orchestrated and his voice is truly amazing as were the guests soloists he had..... just a fabulous night and a lovely way to pre celebrate their Golden Wedding!!!
So now we are at Saturday morning but some history first.....Malc and I were raised with the Salvation Army as our church we are I believe 3rd or 4th generation......I opted out of the Army when I was 18 years of age but have always maintained the upbringing I had there and the people that spent time with me forged me into the person I am today.
Janet and Malc still go to the Army and it is a huge part of their life and they devote many hours each week on the social and charity side of the church.
I was born in Doncaster but when I was 12 years old the family moved to the big steel city of Sheffield and until I was 18 I played in the Army band there.....this year it is the 135th Anniversary of the Army band in Sheffield and yesterday they had a concert in the evening with a band practice in the afternoon so Janet and Malc along with Sam and myself we went there for the celebrations.....
Janet and Sam went and met a friend and had an early dinner and Malc went and attended the afternoon practice...I was offered to go and attend but I have not touched an instrument in over 50 years and did not want to do this so I went and watched a football game!!!
Sheffield is the city where I worked for 5 years as a Police officer, first as a Cadet and then a Constable......lots of changed in these years and this is a shot of one of the main streets....
It was easy to get to the stadium on this fast tram..
which was packed....
Now this stadium also has memories for me because it is exactly 50 years ago that I was last here working as a Bobby and the game I remember was a World Cup match involving Switzerland and I don't remember who...it is also the stadium where a terrible tragedy took place in 1989 when nearly 100 people lost their lives a game because of issues with crowd control....
I had a fabulous seat and the game was quite exciting...
In the shot below it looks like there are no crowds but because of safety issues and for crowd control they leave those vacant there was actually 27000 people at the game!!!
I took the tram back to the city and spent an hour walking around the areas where i spent my first years as a Police Man on the beat...
This box is where I used to ring on to start my shift and also had my meals when working...
Neat sign!!
Walking down the main street which now only for pedestrian traffic are there amazing colored elephants and you know I think that after my experience in Kruger national park elephants hold a special place in my heart!!!
This lovely park never used to be there..
Check out this one my favorite!!!!
This is the building where the Army was when I attended...it is has not been used for nearly 15 years but as it is a Heritage building it cannot be knocked down!!!
I then walked a bit to the new building a little out of town....
It was lovely to be able to go and meet people I had not seen since 1968 and I was warmly welcomed and the concert was uplifting
Malc is below next to the man in the blue shirt and he is playing the Cornet which is the same instrument both myself and my Dad played although I readily admit my Dad and Malc were accomplished players and me......not so much!!!!
the end of the concert!!!
This photo and others were on the walls not clear but I am in there...on the long back row third from the right..and my Dad is 2 down from me and Malc next to him...
It was a really good day and I am glad I went........we had a good drive home and when we got back Malc and I watched some soccer highlights!!!!
Now we are at today and this morning I went with Sam to her church and I enjoyed seeing a different kind of service but one which I was again warmly welcomed.....after a light lunch went for my walk but went a different way this time...
I wanted to see if I could find some kids playing soccer but I guess I was too late so walked up and then over one of the highways...
and then to here
and finally back into the village...
about 5 miles I reckon!!!
I bought some sea salts yesterday and had a really great long bath and then Janet did her magic again in the kitchen a chicken dinner fit for any 5 star restaurant........this evening a quiet night at home....
The quotation in the header is a good Yorkshire one!!!
Before you go some work for you to do...you do not have to be a country fan to enjoy this and I love Dolly...Google You tube and then enter "Country music video of the year forever young" listen and enjoy!!!
Hope you enjoyed the stroll down memory lane and that you had a great weekend too!!
Yashi Kochi!!
