Leisure by W. H. Davies What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows: No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass: No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night: No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance: No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began? A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

Thoughts and messages to the family from folks who knew and loved Elsie Message received by email from Alyson and Murray; Bryan and Mary’s niece and her husband in NZ Hi Wendi Mum has just told me about your Mum’s passing, I am very sorry to hear this sad news. Elsie shared her birthday with our daughter Vanessa so I always thought about her around that time of year. She was such a gentle lady and I'm sure that you will miss her greatly. Will be thinking of you and the rest of the family in the coming days, I guess that you will travel back to be with everyone. Take care, love Alyson and Murray xx ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Roy and Jan; Mary’s sister and husband in NZ Hi Wendi Sorry to hear that your Mum has passed on, but so pleased that she went in such a peaceful way. Thinking of you, Love Unx and Jan ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Peter and Glenys – second cousins (with Sylvia) to Peter Barbara and Wendi Hello Pete We were so sorry to hear that your Mum has died. Good that you were all able to be with her to celebrate her 90th birthday. Yes, I’m sure I must have met her at some time long ago, but it is actually your Dad I do remember quite well. When he had died my Mum kept in touch with yours, then in due course I took over. I appreciated the family news exchanged with the Christmas cards. I'll certainly let Sylvia know - probably ring her tonight or tomorrow. We do wish you and Hazel, Barbara and Wendy well at this time. With our love and sympathy, Peter and Glenys ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Ute and Wolfgang, once Pete and Hazels’ neighbours in Germany, who met Mum several times Dear Peter We would like to express our deepest sympathy to you on the death of your Mother. It must have been a shock to you both as you had just gone into [town] and certainly hadn’t expected [the news] as suddenly as that. Your mother was however still able to travel, even into old age, which not everyone is able to do and you were all able to give her a nice surprise for her last birthday with your visit that she didn’t know anything about. And she will anyway live on in your memories. With best regards, also to Hazel, From Ute and Wolfgang ~~~~~~~ Message received by email from Kurt, one of Peter’s school exchange partners. Mum first met him when he stayed in 1970 and has seen him since Dear Pete, dear Hazel I was pleasantly surprised when I saw your e-mail in my inbox ... but your message was unfortunately a sad one. I can still very clearly see your mother in front of me with her friendly and endearing manner. She was always a fundamental part of the English spirit for me. Francis of Assisi once said: Death is always the light at the end of a path which has become toilsome. With that I wish you much positive energy for your grieving process. Heartfelt greetings to you both Kurt ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Martina; Pete & Hazel’s neighbour and house-sitter in Germany Good morning Peter That’s not good news. My deepest sympathy to you and your family! I wish you a pleasant journey. See you then & best regards Martina ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Peter and Valentina; Pete & Hazel’s neighbours in Croatia. They did not meet Mum so it was especially kind of them to write this lovely message Hello Pete and Hazel We’ve just been speaking to Lydia on the ’phone and heard the sad news that your mother, Pete, has died. This is a really difficult time for you. Our sympathy... We can empathise completely with how you feel at the moment - our parents have no longer been with us for 20 to 35 years. We had to say farewell to them very early and we were very young - God, how we’ve missed them in our lives; I don’t think there is a stronger bond than mother-child, there is no substitute for it. At age 21, I thought that I would never find my way in this life again without Mum. Until I one day had an enlightening thought: “I don’t have to say farewell to Mum. After all, she is still alive in my heart and no-one can take that from me, not even death.” And that’s how I’ve been living for 34 years, it has given me strength and support in many difficult times, and when I dream of Mum, I always wake up happy and feel as snug as I did back then when I felt her embrace. “That which you possess in your heart, you can never lose through death”. What Goethe said in one sentence, I have experienced throughout my whole life. We wish you much strength and cohesion with deepest sympathy... Kind wishes, the Wagner family ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Terry who worked with Pete at Panavia. He and Tricia met Mum on many occasions, mainly at weekly bowling events and meals afterwards Hi Pete and Hazel How very sudden for you. We both send our condolences and wish you a safe journey back to UK. It must be comforting that you had a family gathering recently. Take care and our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Tricia and Terry ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Hazel's brother-in law, John and wife Gay. He is a retired vicar who jointly officiated at Pete & Hazel's wedding blessing where they met Mum. Dear Hazel We are both very sorry to hear of Pete's mother's death. 90 is a good age and the service should reflect on thanksgiving for her life. The set form of service has gone out of the window to some extent. The old book of common prayer was very rigid and has been given much more freedom with the successive prayer books. The current Common Worship which is the standard for the C of E today has a very flexible service. I hope all this is helpful. Best wishes, John ~~~~~~ Hello Hazel and Pete Please let us know the date and time of Elsie's funeral so that we can be thinking of you all. A sad time, but full of many happy memories of her life, especially when she came to stay with you both in Germany. Not forgetting the family get together for her 90th birthday last year. Love to you both Gay ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Hazel’s hairdresser Chris who’d also done Mum’s hair Hi darlin, I'm very sorry to hear about Pete's mum, please send him my condolences. Cya x ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Robin who worked with Hazel in Germany Hello Hazel I was very sorry to hear about Pete's mum. I'm sure you have a lot of organising to do. My sympathy to you and to Pete. Love Robin ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Jasna and Dubravko ; neighbours of Pete & Hazel in Croatia Hello Peter Really sorry to hear about your mother. We are grateful that there is hope to see our loved ones in a better new world here on Earth, after resurrection. We want share youre pain. (Peter, please I'm sorry, maybe I'm not best expressed my feelings in English words.) Dubravko i Jasna ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Richard; Pete's last boss in England who met Mum many times in Germany and Croatia. They shared an interest in classical music Hello Pete Have just read, with great surprise and sadness, your email. At the same time Jasna came through on FaceTime to let us know about Elsie. We always had a soft spot for her; a lovely lady. We are very sorry Pete. It was good to hear she died relatively peacefully. As I am somewhat ahead of my own 'sell by date' such thoughts come to mind more often now than is comfortable. Love to you both from us both. Richard ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Lynn and Pete; Lynn’s' ex-husband worked at Panavia with Pete. They met Mum many times. Hi Pete and Hazel Oh Pete, I am so sorry to hear about your Mum, she was a lovely lady and I remember her fondly. Hope everything goes OK with the arrangement and that you can send her off in style. It was 12years ago last week since I lost my Mum and the anniversary of the cremation is tomorrow, but at least now I can look back at all the good times we had without the awful grief. It's still hard but you will get there. Thinking of you mate! Love Lynn and Pete x ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Bob and Carol. Bob worked with Pete at Panavia and met Mum on many occasions, at weekly bowling events and meals afterwards Hola Pete & Hazy Very sorry to read about Mum. Hope it was a peaceful end that we all hope for. It was always a pleasure meeting her and I always remember that when I was making my usual stupid remarks she coped with them brilliantly. A sharp mind!! Condolences. I know how close you were. Bob & Carol ~~~~~~ Message received by email from John, a colleague of Pete's who’d met Mum on many occasions, mainly at weekly bowling events and meals, and also at Pete & Hazel's wedding Hello Pete, Really sorry to hear of your news. Not the best of reasons for a return to the UK. I remember on many occasions meeting with Mum either in Notzing or around Muenchen. She was a delightful lady; never short of a word and she'’d tackle anything. Thinking of you in your loss. J C ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Mike who worked at Panavia with Pete and is a good friend of Pete and Hazel. He knew Mum very well, as did his late mother. I was deeply saddened by the news of Elsie’s passing. It was always a great pleasure to be with her when she visited Germany. I shall have many fond memories of the times we all spent together. She was so full of life and was always ready for a good laugh. “What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.” I shall miss her very much as will everybody who has had the fortune to be in her company. I offer my deepest condolences to the whole family. Mike ~~~~~~ Message received by email from our cousin Marjie on Dad’s side Hi Wendy So, so sorry to hear that your mum has passed on. Thank you so much for letting me know. I shall remember her with much affection and she was so much in my thoughts. It must have been quite a shock for you all, I hope you are 0.K. Love to you Marjie xx ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Deb, Wendi’s (first) sister in law My dear friend - Our thoughts are with you at this deeply sad time. I know how much you loved your Mum. That there's comfort in having been with your Mum for her 90th is wonderful; may she rest in peace and may you find calm amidst the 'busyness' of the coming days and weeks. As my Buddhist friends say, may you be well, may you be happy, may you find peace. So sorry for your loss my Sis-thing. Your Mum was an amazing woman. Thoughts with you - love you. Deb ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Pat, a friend of Wendi’s from Winchcombe area Oh Wendi I am so very sorry to hear about your Mum. I was always very fond of your Mum and felt it was she who gave you such spirit. I remember she had a great sense of humour and just a little cheeky glint in her eye. Although it's been many years, I still think of her quite often. She was a lovely lady. I have no more words, but my thoughts are with you. RIP Else PC xx ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Chris, (aka Chrysalis) a friend of Wendi’s from Winchcombe area Dearest Bendilong So sorry to hear about Elsie. I will always cherish the time we spent together in 1988! Sending all my love and a big Chrysalis hug to you darling girl. xxx ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Dawn, a friend of Wendi’s from Ashbury Hi Wendi Fond memories of a lovely lady. Love to you & your family at this sad time. Dawn x ~~~~~~ Message received by email from Mum’s friend Jenny, originally from Winchcombe, now in Canada Dear Barbara I am SO sorry to hear of Elsie’s death but thank you for letting me know. She was such a dear friend to me and all those years ago, to my mother as well, and we shared so many memories – good and not so good. Even when I came to Canada she was so supportive and visited us here once which was lovely. Since then we have enjoyed long, chatty phone calls and I can’t tell you how I will miss her. Please let me know about the funeral and if I can make a donation to something in her memory. My love and condolences to you, Peter and Wendy Jenny. ~~~~~~ Messages received by Barbara from her friends on Facebook. Aww bless you hun. Thinking of you and your family at this sad time. xx Donna Oh Barbara! I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. Thoughts and prayers are with you. Xx Elissa Aww bless, sending my love to u and all your family. x Leanne So sorry to hear, hope u are managing ok. x Tracy You’re all in my thoughts and prayers. Xx Claire Bless you so sorry. Phil and Jackie xx Big hugs x. Jam Anne Dear Barbara - I was very sorry to hear about your mum. I'll be praying for you and the family today. Joseph Just seen this…hope the funeral was a fitting service and helpful for you. Will be praying for you. X Mary I have been praying for you all. Ian ~~~~~~

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