MULTIPLY Creative Challenge #27: A Long Process

Have you ever thought the length of the process for a tree to grow. One of my hobbies was growing them. The seeds lay all over the place, whether an acorn, horse chestnut or walnut, you just need the patience. Many of my trees have grown and disappeared over the years.

At Christmas we all like to eat oranges or dates. Plant an orange pip in a pot, or a Date stone. Cover the pot with transparent plastic wrapping making it air tight and just wait. Usually within a month the first leaves appear. What you do with it afterwards shows whether you achieve a result or not. I planted many over the last 50 years; some grew, and some eventually died.

At the moment I only have three examples of my trees. We have a small garden and about eight years ago I planted a horse chestnut. Remember chestnuts only grow if they are put in the ground in Autumn to ensure that they can develop during the Winter months. In the following spring the first two leaves appear. I decided to plant it in a pot as it would have been too big for my small garden. After the years it has grown to quite a stately tree.

You can see the chestnut tree in the background on the left of the picture. Up to now I have had no flowers or chestnuts, but who knows. I had to replant it in a bigger pot as the one it had got to small and broke. This Autumn I have cut it down and hope to have a nice bushy tree next year.

I am quite proud of my apple tree. I usually eat an apple after lunch at work and tossed the pips into a pot I had on my desk with another plant. some time later the seeds started growing. I took them home and when they got bigger planted them in the garden. I already have an apple tree, but now after six years my apple tree from the pips has grown quite tall and I hope to one day have some nice "Gala" apples from it.

The apple tree I planted from a seed is in the middle of the picture and now about six years old.

And now for my final pride and joy, my walnut tree. We have a few wild walnut trees growing here and I picked up one of the nuts that had fallen on the ground and planted it in the garden in Winter. When Spring came the first leaves had appeared so I planted it in a large pot. Usually you have to wait about ten years for the first fruits, but last year I actually had two walnuts.

They actually ripened on the tree and when they lost their green coats there were two quite edible walnuts which we ate and found to be quite good. This year there were no nuts, but the tree is quite young. Perhaps by the time I am retired from work, I may have a larger harvest. At the moment the tree is in a large pot as it would be too big for planting in our garden. So bear in mind, growing trees is a long process but also a rewarding one. And here is my walnut tree looking a bit leafless, but during the summer it gets quite leafy.

Creative Challenge

MULTIPLY Writer's Forum Find Your Muse #8: Secret Rendezvous

The smog lay thickly over the streets of London. Mackenzie hated it. That the meeting had to be arranged at eleven in the evening on a night like this did not suit his plan, but that was the way she wanted it and who was he to disagree. The yellow thick air was hanging around when he woke up in the morning. Driving with the car to the office did not come into the question so he took public transport. He was glad to arrive at work safe and sound although he was not sure whether he was safe or not. When he sneezed into his handkerchief he saw the black sooty residue left in the cloth and wondered whether he would survive another foggy winter in London.

“Good morning Mackenzie” said Smithers, his fellow clerk “here is the morning paper”.
“Anything interesting?”
“There seems to be some problems in the Soviet part of the world again. The cold war is not getting any warmer.” and Mackenzie decided to read through the latest news himself. In the 1950’s, ten years after the war, the enemies of his country seem to have shifted from Europe to their so-called allies in the North, now known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, although you could call it what you wish, thought Mackenzie, but Russia stays Russia. “Just remains a big question mark on the map of the world” he thought to himself.

He looked out of the window and noticed the yellow strands of the smog becoming thicker and engulfing everything on the street. He usually had a wonderful view of the near bye river Thames, but today even the water seemed to have coloured itself yellow. He was awakened out of his “smoggy” thoughts by his telephone.

“Mackenzie, foreign office” he said and was surprised to hear a female voice at the other end of the line.
“Mr. Mackenzie, I have to talk to you in private, please do not mention I am calling.”
“I will not tell anyone that you are calling, as I don’t know who you are and what you want. Could you please be more explicit” he said, wondering what this was about.
“My name is Valentina and I am calling on behalf of my brother Igor.”
“I don’t understand?” Mackenzie did not know a Valentina and even less an Igor, but realising that the caller spoke English with a broad Eastern accent, he became interested.
“I am Valentina Novikova and my brother is Igor Novikov. He works for the Russian nuclear science authorities and contacted me to say that he will be arriving in Germany tomorrow morning and wishes for political asylum. He mentioned that he met you at a reception in Moscow earlier this year where you exchanged visiting cards.”
Mackenzie thought back and the name struck a chord in his memory. It was one of those “getting to know each other” receptions and he saw a tall slim young man in his memory who told Mackenzie they would meet again very soon and he should remember these words. Now it all came back to him and a Russian nuclear scientist is always a interesting plus for the British secret service.
“Yes I remember our meeting”. Where are you calling from and how can I help?”
“I do not have a lot of time” answered Valentina “I think they have found me and I have to move quickly. I arrived in London yesterday evening on a false passport, but the Soviets have their ways and I can be thankful for the London smog that they have not found me yet. Please let us meet this evening at eleven and do not tell anyone of our appointment – the walls have ears, even those of the British MI6.”
“Where do you suggest our meeting?” asked Mackenzie
“Somewhere where there are many people would be best” said Valentina “I think the Piccadilly Circus would be fine, there are many lights there and we can see each other.”
“How do I recognise you?”
“Mr. Mackenzie, do not worry, I will recognise you. Igor gave me a photo of you.”
“How did Igor have a photo of me, I don’t remember him taking one.”
“Mr. Mackenzie, the Soviets have their ways of finding everything. It is not unknown in Moscow for who you work and where. Believe me there are people near to you that you cannot trust. That is why I have told you not to mention anything until after our meeting.” and then Valentina was gone. She hung up the telephone on the other side and there was just an empty silence on the line.

“Someone you know?” asked Smithers
Mackenzie was pulled out of his thoughts. “Yes Smithers, just an old colleague on the telephone.”
“You look a bit worried Mackenzie, I hope not bad news.”
“We will see Smithers, and now to the work. Anything interesting to deal with today?”
“Well there is actually” Smithers answered. “Our man in Moscow informed that one of the top nuclear scientists has disappeared and it might be that he has decided to come to us.”
“Now that is interesting Smithers. Do you know his name?”
“We have not received so much information up to now but our staff has been alerted at the airports. As soon as we know more we will go into action. I don’t suppose you would know anything.”
“No, no Smithers, it is the first I have heard. Since Burgess and Maclean disappeared and Philby went over, there seem to be spies in every corner of Europe.”
“Yes, you are right. I always thought Philby was such a nice person. It just shows you never know who your friends are” said Smithers.
“Philby was one of your friends?” asked Mackenzie
“Not really, but now and again we would play a round of golf together.”
Mackenzie decided to concentrate on his work. He left the office earlier in the afternoon as he wanted to be ready for his appointment in the evening.

The smog did not seem to improve and Mackenzie was glad that his appointment was in a place with plenty of light and people, although he felt that Piccadilly Circus would not be so crowded at eleven in the evening on such a day.

He arrived at their meeting point and saw no ladies on their own waiting. He saw actually very little as even in this well illuminated place the sight was down to a minimum. He suddenly felt someone pulling at the sleeve of his Burberry raincoat and turned to see a form in the smog, although vision was not so clear.
“Mr. Mackenzie, I am Valentina Novikova.”
Mackenzie saw a shape whose face was half covered with a black and red woollen scarf and just two eyes were peering at him through the space left between the scarf and the hat it was wearing.
“I must be quick Mr. Mackenzie, I am being followed. Please listen. My brother will be arriving in Frankfurt with Lufthansa Flight LH4780 at 10.00 o’clock tomorrow morning. Please be sure that he will be met by your man in Bonn, James Cunningham as he is trustworthy. I must now go, and please do not mention anything to your Mr. Smithers about our meeting.
“Wait a minute, how can I be sure that this is true and what does Smithers have to do with it?”
“I cannot stay here Mr. Mackenzie, please pay attention to what I have said. Smithers was more than just a friend to Kim Philby and believe me he is not your friend. Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie and take care” and before Mackenzie could ask more the apparition in the smog disappeared.

Mackenzie made his way home but he was a little worried about this meeting. How did Valentina know about James Cunningham, a man that had been working in Bonn since the war and who knew more about international British affairs than any other working in the German branch of his country’s offices. “It also seems that Smithers is a doubtful person, must have an eye kept on him, but we will know the truth tomorrow when flight LH4780 arrives in Frankfurt” he thought to himself.

The next morning Mackenzie arrived as usual in the office. He wanted to talk to Smithers, but he was not at work. He had called to say he was feeling unwell. Mackenzie looked at the morning paper, but saw nothing interesting at first. He was just going to put it on one side when a headline caught his attention.

“Young woman found dead in the River Thames.
A corpse was pulled out of the River Thames this morning. First impressions were that she had fallen into the river due to the bad visibility from the smog, but further investigations showed that she had been strangled with a red and black scarf she was wearing.”

This arose Mackenzie’s curiosity and he called Scotland Yard having good connections to the higher levels of the police department. He was told that not all was said to the newspapers and it seemed that she must be of Russian nationality as her clothing showed labels written in the cyrillic alphabet. Mackenzie felt very sad as he was sure this must be Valentina. His telephone rang and it was James Cunningham.
“Hello Mackenzie. How are things at your end?” he asked
“Things are happening fast here James. So tell me, was our nuclear scientist on board the LH4780 in Frankfurt?”
“Definitely Mackenzie, together with a lot of useful information for our people. This is a very good thing for us, but tell me do you have someone called Smithers working in your department?”
“I definitely do” answered Mackenzie “he works in my office”.
“Well place him under arrest immediately” answered Cunningham “he was one of the men that helped Philby to escape and he is in contact with the Soviets. I heard that Igor Novikov’s sister is in London and Smithers is a danger for her.”
“Yes James, I think we are too late, she was pulled out of the Thames this morning most probably.”

After the years, the so-called “cold war” became a facet of history, Mackenzie decided to pay a visit to Moscow to see how things had changed. He had a interesting evening with some one-time Russian secret service people exchanging old memories, after all times were different and it was all a thing of the past. One of his Russian colleagues mentioned a spy called Smithers and Mackenzie was listening. It seems that a Smithers arrived in Moscow saying he was the spy that helped Philby to escape. Philby at this time was quite an honoured person in the Russian hierarchy and denied any knowledge of a Smithers. It seems that the Russian government decided that Smithers was an uncomfortable person to have around and he had spent his last years in a camp in Siberia. Mackenzie found that justice always won somehow. He was sad about Valentina, a very brave Russian lady who had helped her brother to escape. And Igor: he was still living in London where he worked as a scientist. He was now married to an English lady and his eldest daughter was called ….. Valentina..

Writer's Forum: Secret Rendezvous

The Gunds of 6 AGRA - 6th Army Group Royal Artillery - 1939-1945

When my dad returned home after five years fighting in the second world war he brought a few souvenirs with him. I remember the allied forces bank notes he had, each one with a value of three to four million deutsch mark. Naturally worthless, but that was inflation at that time at the end of the war. He also had his letter of discharge from the army, a few medals and a book. He served in the heavy artillery in Egypt, Palestine, and Italy. At the end of the war he was stationed in Germany and even managed to go to Paris at the expense of the British Army.

Today being armistice day I had another look at the book and found it to be quite interesting. My father remembers an artist making sketches of the soldiers as they were in action and this book must be the result. It is about the invasion of Italy with quite a few drawings. I chose a few to show here and scanned them into the computer. The first drawing shows the British soldiers landing on Italian soil. They piled into landing craft from the bigger ships and stepped into Italy mostly under fire, my dad landed at Salerno. I had a look at the book and as my dad was in Monte Cassino actually towards the end of the battle, here is the written text from the book . I assume that the book was published some time in 1946 and on the back cover it says in print "certified passed by field press censor" and here is the text about Monte Cassino and the journey to Rome (he was there as well).

"The Spring came and the 8th army moved across to Cassino. The group deployed for the final battle of Cassino and its fire power was enormous. 76 (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment R.A. and 75 (Highland) Heavy Regiment R.A., became the final members of the basic AGRA. 76 Medium which had been in Syria with 78 Medium, was the sister regiments of 75 Medium - a unique instance of two halves of one Yeomanry Regiment fighting in the same Brigade. 75 Heavy had fought with 51 Highland Division in France, as 75 Field: they were now converted with two 7.2" How batteries, and two 155 mm gun batteries, and keen to get their revenge. 2 Medium Regiment R.A. a regular gunner regiment, also came under command. In addition 6 AGRA had 1 Canadian AGCRA under operational command and the operational support of 194 US Field Artillery Group and a HAA regiment, the London Scottish. The total weight of shell from one round gun fire was 7 tons.

The story of Cassino needs no repetition. It is sufficient to say that the monastery had been twice attacked before without success and was now a heap of rubble providing complete protection to its garrison. Detailed preparations for Counter Battery, Air support, Arty/R.Air O.P. and Close Support were made for four feverish weeks before the battle.

On 12th May 13 Corps attacked across the Rapido: 4 British Div and an Indian div established their bridgeheads. Polcorps fought magnificently round the back of the monastery. 78 Div and 6 British Armoured Div were brought in: Canadian Corps advanced to the South of the Aquino line. The Americans and French came in from the left. the communications and Artillery tie-up worked perfectly, and 6 AGRA who were in the middle, can justly be proud of the support they gave at the crossing of the Rapido and the capture of Cassino. Brigadier Holbrook received the CBE for his successful coordination of the artillery in this attack.

One word of thanks and appreciation to the American 194 Field Artillery Groups which left us after this battle. Both on the Gustav and the Hitler lines they had been magnificent: the 240 mm bonus concussed Cassino whenever retaliation was required, the 8" bonus shattered the station and Aquino in spite of the proximity of our own troops, while the long toms and 8" rifles effectively harassed communications and bridges as far away as Pico (a range of 33,000 yards).

The advance swept on and the regiments were out under command of Divisions. AGRA followed gently behind with a small reserve, while the CAGRA travelled long distances each day to see that all were well. They were but they took a lot of catching. The Heavies, thrilled by getting their Long Toms past an RHA Regiment on the road, moved with the armour. On one occasion, the Battery Commander, sent forward to recce a more advanced position reported over the air that he had found a good gun area but an infantry battle still in progress. "Move them up" said the Colonel "the battle will be over by the time the guns arrive" - it was - just.

So to Rome and beyond the River Tiber. Here some regiments got a breather and saw the sights of Rome. The Headquarters, either through loss of firection or at the whim of their Commander, saw most of Rome on their march through the town. The advance continued until Lake Trasimene where it was balted by increased resistence. Brigadier Holbrook was borrowed from us to be C.R.A. 78 Div and Lieut Colonel Thuillier (66 Medium) took over the temporary role of CAGRA with the regiments returning to the fold to concentrate resources and break down the defence."

The book itself is bound in cardboard and held together by string tied through two holes, something like a file. My father served in the heavy artillery and was one of the lucky ones. His only war injuries came from dropping a shell on his foot (he was lucky as the ground was muddy and his foot sunk into the mud) and a bout of malaria in Italy, which repeated itself after his return to England, but luckily only once. He is now 93 years old and still has a few memories of what happened then, although he never really told me the dark side of the war, just the brighter side. Something like when they found a complete celler full of wine hidden by an Italian farmer (there was not very much wine left afterwards) or hiding behind donkeys on his way up the cliffs at Ravello in Italy (for protection against enemy fire).

MULTIPLY Poetry Posse: Week 7: Memories revisited

Look at that baby Isn’t she sweet
big blue eyes, Oh, so neat
Sucking her thumb and looking around
She is so small and still homebound

Look at the little girl going to school
Head up high and grown so tall
Reading and writing comes with age
The classroom is ready the world is her stage

Now see the teenager ready to go
to the dancehall with the boyfriend her face all aglow
The first high heels on the shoes she wears
Her parents full of worries and saying their prayers

There goes a woman who has now become a wife
Her man stands beside her a partner for life
Look at the babies they are so fine
She says blue and brown eyes they are both mine

Now she is older but life wasn’t a bowl of cherries
Time has gone past and now she has the memories
She sees it all fly by and revisted them all
And now she has to go, the grandchildren call.