“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
~Bob Marley~
It was our 15th wedding anniversary. We’d 2 ceremonies, a week apart, an Islamic akad nikah* in the mosque and at the registry office. We celebrated both days to give thanks to each other for the love, joy, care, dreams shared, strength in times of need, acceptances of weaknesses, comfort during ill-health and future promises. If a marriage was worth celebrating in the first place, it was worth re-celebrating each and every year.
I started the week by going blackberrying with HH. We were quite excited and looking forward to a blackberry crumble for tea. We walked towards the bramble bushes near the students accommodation and found out that the berries had been stripped bare. We were too late :-(. But that didn’t put us off because we knew there were several bramble bushes located all over the university grounds. We walked towards the Tocil field and again someone was ahead of us. We continued on and found that the bushes along the lakes were heavily laden with flowers and tiny fruits. This patch was quite late compared to the rest. We will give it a fortnight before coming here again. Fingers-crossed, we might be able to pick some berries.
My colleagues and I had a lovely crumpet party during our tea break. CM had just returned from a break in Belgium and bought a bottle of crunchy Speculoos paste for us to try. EC provided the crumpets. We’d took turns slathering it on hot toasted crumpets and it was yummy. Thanks a million, CM and EC.
One day during the week, I’d to take the bus to work and missed breakfast. AM too had missed hers and since we were early, we decided to have breakfast at the library cafe. We chose the Magnificent 7 which everyone was raving about. It was a fry-up and I’d the vegetarian option which comprised of 2 sausages, baked beans, fried bread, 2 hash browns, fried egg, tomatoes and washed down by a cup of coffee. All for £2.95!!! What a bargain and soo unhealthy. We found it amusing because we walked from Westwood and straight into the cafe.
Babe came over during my lunch break and we went for a walk by the Digital Laboratory. It was lovely by the fountains and the water-lilies were in different stages of flowering. What a pity that the pond was littered with rubbish. A dragonfly was patrolling the area and checking us out. We played hide-and-seek with this adorable Pied wagtail when it flew in and started hunting on the lily pads. 
I was looking forward to the long bank holiday weekend. We made many plans but all depends on Babe’s health and also the weather. On Saturday, Babe spent the day in bed with a hot water bottle strapped to his head. After doing the laundry and calling my parents, I took the bus into the city centre and decided to give myself a treat and have a hair-cut. As soon as I entered West Orchards, the heavens opened. I tried a new hair saloon that doesn’t require an appointment. It was heaven having someone fussed over me. I came out with a lighter head.
I checked out the perfume section of Debenhams for Marc Jacob’s Tropical Hibiscus but they don’t have it in stock. I tried the Perfume shop and still no luck. Hmm…where on earth can I get a bottle??? I nipped to Down to Earth for tempe and guess what, they don’t have it in stock. It wasn’t my day…But I did came out clutching a bottle of Faith of Nature Chocolate hair-conditioner. I’d bought the shampoo when I was there months ago.
While waiting for the bus, I joined the crowds outside the Coventry Transport Museum. They were welcoming the London 2012 Paralympics flame to Coventry. The big screen in Millennium Place displayed information about Coventry and Warwickshire’s Paralympians preparing for the biggest games of their lives. The Freefall Dance Company, made up of severe learning disabilities dancers, entertained the crowd. I also watched a thrilling wheelchair basketball match. They were amazing.
On the bus, a girl seated in front of me, quipped. “How could they be disabled? They have 2 legs” !!!!!! Sigh… we still have a looong way to go to educate people about disability.
On Sunday, we checked out the 27th Coventry Festival of Motoring at Stoneleigh Park, a celebration of everything to do with Coventry’s unique transport heritage. On a lovely sunny morning, we made our way to the leafy Stoneleigh village with its gorgeous thatched cottages. We need to come again and take photographs of this sleepy place. When we got closer to the venue, we came across hundreds of classic cars taking part in the historic vehicle run around the lovely South Warwickshire countryside. Hundreds of people lined the roadside waving them off.
After paying £5, we joined the thousands and parked in a huge field before walking towards the venue. We were greeted by thousands of car displays from different decades and make, all glinting under the mid-morning sun. The historic vehicle run was still leaving the park and there were 600 of them taking part. More visitors were arriving from the Coventry Transport Museum in the city centre using a historic shuttle bus service. 
We made our way to the main arena to get the best seat in the house. The show was delayed for a few minutes because more barriers were needed to be installed. Everyone was waiting to watch the exhilarating stunt shows from the Bold dog motorbike display team. The shows featured the UK’s top ranked freestyle motocross riders, incorporating the latest heart stopping tricks usually only seen on TV. There were 2 of them and they were very good. There was also an informative on board commentary by one of the riders talking to the crowd while performing tricks flying 35ft in the air.
They put on their stunning acrobatic performance every hour and we tried our best to be there. Between displays the visitors were invited to the interactive stand where they can get a closer look at the bikes, buy souvenirs, meet the riders and have a photograph taken or a signed autograph. One of their most popular stunt was the train where the riders got as close as they could and followed each other over the ramp. A pity there was only 2 of them. It would be amazing if there were more but it was still well received by the appreciative crowd.
Apart from the numerous car displays dotted all over the grounds, we checked out the 4 x 4 challenge experience, the craft fairs and market place. The Future of Transport indoor exhibition hosted a huge array of state-of-the-art engineering. And the cars were out of this world. I fell in love with this. Coventry University had a stall to showcase the products from its innovative skills base. I wonder why the International Automotive Centre from Warwick University didn’t take part??? 
Babe wanted to test-drive the simulation set but when we looked at it, there was no way he could sit in the cock-pit. A lot of children were cycling around the arena in some pretty cool-looking electric bicycles, I think. We went out in the sunshine to check more cars and despite all the expensive and innovative vehicles on display, this Reliant Robin from the popular tv series, Only Fool and Horses, attracted a lot of attention from the snap-happy families to have their pictures taken with. 
A fairground was also erected for the young and not so-young, pulsating to some very up-beat music. Visitors too can enjoy a ride in their dream car with the Sporting Bears Dream Rides and raise money for the Zoë's Place Baby Hospice. What an amazing cause. When we were there, someone just left in a Porsche Turbo. We saw a array of classic and supercars such as the Capri, Stuart Taylor (Kit car – Westfield/lotus 7 style), Aston Martin Vantage and Maserati Quatraporte.
For us the highlight of the day was the Spitfire Flypast from Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. As usual, the announcer mentioned that it would approach from the North and it flew in from the East. It made several loops, enthralling the crowd before heading off to its destination. As were leaving, I met my colleague, SP and her husband, who had just returned from their classic car run driving a Green Ford Pop 1956. It must have been amazing. We’d a lovely day celebrating Coventry’s motoring heritage.
On a wet and miserable Sunday, we just chilled at home. Babe wasn’t feeling good again. But I’ve plenty of things to keep me busy. I repaired my broken red bracelet, mowed the front lawn, made kuih keria again, read, did the laundry, ironed, more weeding and clearing the spent plants. Check out the artichoke. I’ve got 4 plants and they were growing beautifully. A pity you can only harvest them in the second year. I’d never eaten them before and really looking forward to trying them.
It had been a lovely week celebrating our anniversary.
Today as we share delightful memories of the day we wed;
It was a special pleasure to wish you many, many more happy years ahead together
Happy Anniversary, Darling
I bought this lovely Echinacea from Charlecotte Park which we visited about 4 years ago during the heritage weekend. 
* marriage solemnisation
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