Time for a Picture

Hey there .... did I meet a generous bunch of people or what? You gave the sum of

£2737.65 (not including Gift Aid) to the RNID.

Well I said to my son the other day...." Did I do that"? No, you all did, I was just the messenger....so thank you once again.

My son school's has asked me to talk to 1,600 boys next week about languages and travel. Reckon I can give back something you all gave me.

Still not donated ?? then the www.justgiving.com/mervyncooke
closes 5 December -could we make £3000?

Coming soon - next BIG project - (any ideas? ) how much would it take to build a School from scratch in a poor part of the world? Answer on the back of an envelope....coming soon

Jan 2009 -first publication of " Recollections of an Irish childhood" Let me know if you want a FREE signed copy.

School Talk

Royal Grammar School - my son Richard is in Year 10 and little Mikey will be joining him from September 2009 --well done on getting his 11+ exam .

The school has asked me to do a short presentation to 700 boys of the lower school and 900 boys of the Upper School on Wednesday 3 December.

Thanks boys, in anticipation, of a great welcome and attentive audience.

The theme is imagine-explore-engage-give-awaken.

Hope you like it - comment below.

Lest We forget

" time like an ever-rolling stream
Bears all its sons away
they fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the opening day"

Remembrance Sunday is heavy like a cloud burst
Micheal (10) my son was flag bearer at the Naphill Village Hall service.

There is something quintessentially British about a packed village hall,
a hall full of ages,
full of fears and years forgotten,
of lost sons,
of wars long gone,
of ones still on,
of strained voices of Abide with me
and the offkey piano accompaniment.

The cloud bursts in our hearts,
our tears well up
and we remember them.

" they shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
at the going down of the sun and in the morning
we will remember them"