Wednesday 12 September 2007

Just A 'Twinkle' In Their Eyes.

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We all had to start somewhere, even if it was just a
'twinkle' in both our parents eyes, but it is worth
going back and checking the circumstances and cond-
itions before and AT the time of our birth.
(Maybe it says a lot about us, maybe nothing, who
knows?).

In my case, my Mother was recovering from losing
her second partner in an industrial gas blast in the
late 1940's. The war was over, and everyone was
struggling to 'survive' let alone 'live'. She found
herself living back with her parents in a small
bungalow at Finchampstead, Berkshire with 7 kids in
tow. A bit of a squeeze, but plenty of countryside
for the young ones to get lost in adventure during
the day.

Before moving back to the small bungalow, my Grand-
parents had taken in a lodger to help ends meet. He
was a local gardener, odd job man, fresh from the war
and needing a place to live. Little did he realise just
how THAT was going to change his life forever.

With my Mother freshly grieving her loss, and strugg-
ling to support herself and her kids, the lodger took
her under his wing and became very protective of them
all. So much so, that one day they 'both' developed
that 'twinkle' in their eyes and 'I' was conceived.

Well actually, not just me, I had a twin brother
growing beside me, keeping me company.

After a few months of struggle in very cramped condit-
ions, Wokingham district council awarded my mother,
her kids and now of course, 'My dad' a Nissan Hut to
live in at Hare Hatch, near Wargrave, Berkshire.

At the time, they were over the moon. A brand new,
shiny tin hut to live in alongside several other families
in similar circumstances. A smashing little community
that would last for three or four years.


However, while cooking some bacon & eggs in the
frying pan, my mum accidentally knocked the pan OFF
of the stove and onto her foot, scolding herself very
badly, and inducing labour as a result.

She was rushed to St marks Hospital in Maidenhead
where my twin and I were born very quickly.

The big downside was that my twin died because of
the lack of oxygen brought on by the shock of the
accident. The outcome being, that somewhere out
there in the 'ether' is another part of me. A kindred
spirit that will be forever a part of me until the day
we arrive at the same destination together.

A coincidence maybe, but nearly twenty three years
ago now, my wife gave birth to twins three months
prematurely, both weighing just two pounds each.
Both were kept in the 'Special Baby Care Unit' at
the Royal Berks Hospital in Reading for a couple of
months. Very touch and go at that time, with one
of them keep stopping breathing regularly, and staff
having to jump into action to resuscitate him often.

Modern technology EH? But both lads are fit and
strong these days. You'd never guess they had such
a dodgy start. But that's a different story for a diff-
erent time.

Please call back.

Cheers, Pete.
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PS.
It's the Twelfth of September 2007 today, and I'd just
like to acknowledge the fact that it's my wife 'Sharons'
Second anniversary of her passing over to 'The other side'.

The whole family is thinking of her.

PS. Please Click The Header Above To Visit the Main Blog.

'Total Eclypse Of The Heart' by Bonnie Tyler was a song she would play over-and-over again to herself as she fought her depression. Still an amazing record; Click and Enjoy :-)




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3 comments:

bint alshamsa said...

I am so glad that your twins were able to survive their rough start. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you when they were born given what happened to your own twin.

I know we don't know each other well but I wish you and your children peace in spite of the loss of your beloved Sharon.

Pete Moring. said...

Thankyou for that Bint.

Your comment is very much appreciated.

Pete.

goldabidz said...

I felt sad reading about your losses, your twin, your wife...I haven't lost someone so dear to me and yet I could empathize with you. I just wish that if such dreadful thing inevitably happens someday (and I hope NOT in the near future), I would be ready to face it.

Anyway, I also dropped by to say thank you to you for such a wonderful comment. Actually, I am not really expecting readers, if any, to leave comments, what's important to me is that my blog serves as an outlet to revive the dormant writer in me.

However, you took time to leave such kind words on my blog and it's such a touching gesture for me. I do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart...:) Thank you so much.