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..... but on Saturday 7th November I will be fulfilling one of the ambitions of my life.

Thanks to an extraordinarily generous gesture on the part of an associate of my youngest son Stephen, Anne and I will be attending the evening performance of The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at The Royal Albert Hall, London.

Not many years pass that we miss watching this Festival on television, but it is an event that I have always wished I could actually attend, although never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever get the chance.

I'm sure it will be a very moving and emotional evening, but for many reasons I regard it as an enormous privilege to be able to be there to commemorate and honour all those who have lost their lives in conflicts.

A privilege indeed Mike and an evening that I am sure you will never forget.

Relevant to this Mike, how pleased I am that the half baked idea of selling white poppies came to an abrupt end after just one year.....even that was one year too many?
    Glad that you finally get to realise an ambition Mike. Watching on the telly is moving enough for me. I don't think I'd cope well with being there in person.

Thank you for posting these Mike. As long as we remember the heroes of the great wars of the 20th century and those conflicts will we have a reminder of the importance of keeping the peace.

I am much more confused when it comes to celebrating heroism in recent conflicts. The courage of today's service men and women is without doubt, but I really don't believe we should be playing policeman to the world, and if a war isn't a just one, is it right to commemorate the actions of those that choose to take part in it, regardless of their courage and sacrifice? It would take a far smarter brain than mine to resolve that.

Super stuff, Mike, and i'm glad for you that you were able to attend.

They still sell white poppies here in Ireland, but you see red ones too.
Don't want to go off topic, just want to say it's good that most people can stop being selective about the past & show their respects to those who fell, that others may live.

Heroes, one & all.