17 April 2010

Today on the 3rd anniversary of my mother's death, our personal loss is deepened by the tragedy that has enveloped the Polish nation. On the flight to attend the commemorations of the Katyn massacres was a large section of the country's political and social leadership. Amongst them were also respected representatives of the Polish community in Britain.

Those of us who were born in this country after the war have lost those who were a link to the independent Poland that existed between the two world wars. We were brought up to believe in a country of romantic idealists, to believe that courage, honour and integrity were the most important of human virtues. Our heroes were passionate, colourful and, invariably, doomed individuals.
This country bore little resemblance to the post-war state that we visited when some of the restrictions to travel were lifted or to the current re-incarnation of an independent Poland.
Perhaps the tragic accident that occurred this week will make us reflect on what it means to be Polish, to re-evaluate what we hold dear and to embrace as our true Polish heroes those that have shown those noble qualities that we believed in. May their memory guide us in the way we live our lives.

we are sad

Our beautiful cat, Bella, was diagnosed as having severe kidney damage the other day. She had started showing symptoms of ill health about 3 weeks ago, but had seemed a bit better, so thought she might be recovering.

Bella was 2 1/2 years old. We bought her for Caia as a birthday present 2 years ago and she was the sweetest cat ever. She was very sociable and inquisitive, and at any social occasion would come in to see what was going on.
The vet rang me on Thursday morning to give me the results of the blood tests, and said the kidney damage was so advanced there was very little chance of recovery. Caia's birthday was on Friday, so I thought I would tell her on Saturday and then we would take Bella to be put down. However, watching her discomfort was so upsetting that I couldn't go on with it. On Friday I told Caia and although we were both very upset, decided it would be best to have her put down as soon as possible. We arranged it for that afternoon, 2 years after we had got her.
Goodbye Bella, we will miss you.