Toby Anstis' Blog

Happy Valentine's Day!

I bet if you're single you just couldn't wait for today to arrive! All that lovey dovey nonsense on Valentine's Day. And anyway, if you are loved up, it isn't just about ONE day in the whole year when you're supposed to be romantic.  It's whenever you want to be! That's every day for some.

So what's the next "special" day the card and chocolate manufacturers are looking forward to......Mothers Day on 2nd March. And again, surely you can treat your mum more than once a year.

I was back at my parents the other day actually. Always take my mum flowers when I go back home to see them. She always beams when I arrive clutching a bunch of lovely bright flowers. Had a very tasty roast chicken, with potatoes done in dripping. Wow, how much more delicious are they when they're done like that instead of in normal sunflower oil or whatever. Not quite as good for you, but pots as they should be done. A proper mum way of doing them. Anyway, they were telling me they're off to Krakow in Poland in a couple of weeks time, for a wedding. The son of good friends has a Polish fiancee so that's why they're going.

So I asked them if they were planning on a visit to Auschwitz when they were there. The sight of Hilter's horrific concentration camp. No doubt an incrdedibly poignant place for anyone to go. But in my mind I would want to go. It's a place we've all learnt so much about and been truly shocked by what happened there. It's so extraordinary, I feel I need to see it to really understand. My mum and dad on the other hand have absolutely no compunction to go.

I was surprised at this. We started chatting about it, and I think the difference is, they lived though all the news reels at the time, as young children during the Second World War. They know first hand just how awful it was. Their families and the nation were witnessing it as it happened back here in England. So I think it's a generation thing.

My having not, makes me curious to see it and learn more.

Anyway, they're off there in a couple of weeks and I'm sure will find plenty of other things to see. Just before I left, mum tried on the new dress she's bought for the wedding. It's shimmering silver and grey, with very swish new black boots. She looked great!

Toby

Posted by Toby Anstis on February 14, 2008 at 18:29PM

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