In need of some fresh air, I set out in the cold and wet to buy a few groceries from the local store. As I waited in the distanced queue, an elderly gentleman in a cloth cap paused at the doors and waved at the checkout lass who was looking after us all. She was busy serving and didn’t see him, so he talked to me. I couldn’t hear him through his mask and I hope he could see the smiling eyes above mine and my hand reaching out towards him, without touching. I was next in line and told the lass as soon as I got near and pointed towards the gentlemen as we watched his back go through the doors. She knew him and shared how they always chat and how this is the only human contact he has at the moment. I mentioned how smart he looked with his shoes polished to a high shine. I choked up and couldn’t speak. I looked at her plastic face shield decorated with unicorn and star stickers and our eyes locked as we both paused for a few moments till I had recovered.
During the evening on a train recently, I sat knitting a sock with the tiny circular needle I love to use. I glanced up to see a young lad mesmerised and looking sad. All the loving hours in the past spent with the woman in my family and with friends, go into each stitch now. ‘If you are thinking of making me a birthday pressie, could I have some socks?’ is becoming a familiar refrain from loved ones. I regret not having the courage to reach out to the young lad and offer to knit him a pair.

Mum and I have started to tackle the sale of Dad’s beautifully made model steam engines, tools and parts in his workshops. This is a lifetime’s collection; some complete, others part-built or part-assembled and not all necessarily in the same place. ‘Us girls’ are flying a bit blind on this, yet loving energy is building momentum and we nurture ourselves with laughter, pausing to acknowledge each step forward and rewards with absorbing films and yummy food. Fudge may also feature…
We are hugely grateful to the souls we are connecting with and the stories that are being shared. Loving grace is flowing and these beloved pieces are going to new homes where they are appreciated and will bring many happy hours of building, painting and running on steam. Photos and videos are being shared, memories made and new friendships built. It is all underpinned by trust, kindness and patience. A large and heavy engine was being collected recently and through our masks and across the workshops, we managed to locate the items needed to complete it. I have a heart memory of three engineers as we paused for a cuppa outside, with their mobiles phones held out so they could share photos of their latest projects. Two full-sized engines (think Fred Dibnah) were on home driveways, one was in a workshop and the one being collected was destined for completion in a dining room. My heartfelt empathy for the women in these homes.
Many blessings being shared and loving energy created.

Oh my, Jane… I can feel the love. Bless you and ((hugs)) across the miles. xo
Natalie, your validation is heartfelt from across Our Pond. <3 always and hugs flowing to you. <3 Xx
Awh, such heartwarming stories, Jane. The fuel the love for each other on this planet, most of all these days. Thank you!
<3 Erika, much <3 flowing to you and the upliftment you naturally flow and share. <3 Xx
Thank you for your lovely words, dear Jane 💖
Thank you for sharing and evoking so much love with this post Jane. I felt it in your words, loving actions, and the images. I loved my train set and would love to see your father’s collection. Hugs…
Brad, you’d love to see all this and I am sure it would evoke happy memories for you. Much <3 and hugs flowing to you, always. Xxx
I’m sure it would Jane. Maybe you’ll share more photos? 😋
I will try, Brad. Much love flowing to you. <3 Xx
No worries or pressure.
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It is the responsibility of all of us to look out for one another, whatever our skin color, religion, age, ethnicity, gender, economics, or every other way that society tries to divide us into the haves and have nots. Your positivity always shines through, Jane.😊
I wholeheartedly agree, Pete and thank you. It is always good to hear from you. <3
I would also feel quite sad in this same situation, Jane. It is so very hard for people to be isolated on their own.
Yes, very much so, especially in these times. Much love flowing to you and yours, Robbie. <3
Thinking of that old man made me tear up too, Jane. What a loving post. ❤️
Thank you, John. Much love flowing to you and your girls. <3 Xxx
Beautiful post, Jane. Thank you for sharing these heart centered moments! 🥰
Thank you, Nicole. Heart centred are lovely words. Much love flowing to you and yours. <3 Xx
I was very touched by your post, Jane. It shoulds as though you’re doing well?
Thank you, Liz and yes, I am managing. I hope you are doing well? Much love flowing to you. <3 Xx
You’re welcome, Jane. Yes, I’m doing well. Very, very busy with work and my own writing!
Liz, that is so good to hear. <3
🙂
It is a joy to read of your everyday loving moments. Thank God that you find them and share!
Thank you, Jane. Much love flowing to you and yours. <3 Xx
I can feel in your words the gamut of emotion running through the lives of those around you and of course within your own heart. We often forget that many near us my well be alone, and have only the postman, shopkeeper, or other attendant to connect to, to feel alive, in touch with the world. Yes, we forget our connectedness, and reaching out through the heart is a gift we can all give… I truly hope all the engines and parts of your fathers lifetime find a place to live on. What a wonderful legacy! Wishing you the best, stay well … Hugs ❤️🙂
Thank you, Peter. Yes, feeling connected is so important, especially during these times and for those who live alone. Dad’s legacy will live on and it’s lovely for Mum to see the photos and videos of his engines in action. Flowing much love to you, Marje and your loved ones. <3 Xx
What a lovely, HEARTfelt, beautiful post. Oh dear. I read Mary’s (Smith) post and cried, and now yours brought tears. But as I said to Mary, better that as we age, we feel MORE, not less. You hold so much love in your heart, and I can feel that from here. Blessings. xo
Thank you, lovely Pam. I too wept when reading Mary’s post. Much love flowing to you all. Xxx 💕🌸
<3
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Wonderful memories, thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you, Ian. Much love flowing to you both. Xx ❤️
What a lovely, heartfelt post, Jane. I enjoyed your About page too. We have some things in common. Hugs on the wing.
Thank you, Teagan, for your kind words. It”s lovely to connect with you. Much love flowing across Our Pond to you. Xx ❤️
You had me at unicorn stickers! I loved that story in the lineup and that sweet old man. You and I are magnets for sure. We attract the same kind of people and we both need to make sure we don’t take in all the other energies with our empathy. That used to be my downfall. I’m still working on it.
Good luck with the sorting and reminiscing with your dad’s thing. Great time to reflect with your mum.
Unicorn hugs flying your way. <3 <3 xxx
My buddy, I thought of you as soon as I saw the unicorn stickers. 🦄💜 We’re all a work in progress aren’t we? 😘 Your progress in loves glitter…… Much love flowing to you both, always. Xxx ❤️😘❤️🦄
Sparkling all the way my Lovely. Love flows back to you <3 <3 xxxx
It is so difficult to remain unaffected by this part of the grieving process, when everything you touch evokes a memory. It is an act of love to ensure that items that were treated with such passion and respect get passed to others who feel the same way. As to the other moments that you shared, so many times these are unnoticed as we become more and more self absorbed by what is happening around us… lovely that you did notice and cared. hugs ♥
Ohh, Sally, your words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your understanding. What is happening in the world could be so divisive and we need to nurture our connections more than ever don’t we? Much love flowing to you both and I hope you’re cosy and dry? Xx ❤️
Lovely post Jane.. and we actually have a bright day but very cold and it does make a difference having a bit of sunshine..♥
Yes, it does make a difference and it’s very welcome. The birds sing more in the sunshine. ❤️
They do..♥
thanks for such a re-assuring post, Jane.
and fudge should always be featured… 🙂
On the same page, Jim and I hope you are feeling better? Hugs Xx
thanks, Jane. I am feeling much better 🙂
That is good news, Jim. Xx
👍
Oh, Jane, what a loving and emotional post. Your words took me back to sorting through my dad’s things after he had passed. Memories of him and mom and those days so long ago. I got a little teary, but you also exude so much love pouring from your writing and your heart. The elderly man reminds me of my father-in-law who lives in a retirement facility, but currently, they’re quarantined to their apartments because some staff and residents have the virus. So, we’re heartbroken that we can’t visit him and he can’t socialize within the building. He stays positive, and we stay connected via phone calls, but it’s still tough. Anyway, thank you for sharing the love you feel and show to others. Much love to you! 💗💗💗
Thank you, Lauren, for your loving words. ❤️ It must be so tough for your father-in-law to be contained like this and for you all to only have phone contact. Loving energy pours from your family and I am sure that helps him. ❤️ Much love flowing to you all, always. Xxxx ❤️❤️❤️
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A beautiful post filled with love, Jane. Your father’s steam engines are amazing. Toni x
Hello lovely Toni and thank you. Much love flowing to you and yours. Xxx ❤️
Thank you for sharing such beautiful heartfelt stories, lovely Jane. Much love flowing across our creek for you and your mom xxx <3
Thank you, my lovely. Much love flowing across our creek to you. <3 Xxx
I popped in to thank you for following CarolCooks2, Jane and the love which flows through your words and from the comments humbled me yes I did have to reach for the tissues…Did I hear fudge? I do hope you relive many happy memories while sorting through yur fathers train sets etc and hope it brings healing and peace Hugs x
It is lovely of you to visit and thank you for your thoughtful words, Carol. Coconut water is being delivered today. <3 Fudge is also helpful.. Much <3 flowing to you and yours. Xx
Lovely, Jane enjoy the water and the benefits.. Hugs x
Your words remind me of going through my parents things that they made and loved – crafts, woodworking projects….. I know this is a mix of strong feelings and glad you and your mum can comfort each other through the process. We don’t know how much time we will have with a family member or a stranger. I believe empathy and kind thoughts make a difference.
Thank you, JoAnna, for your loving energy. As this flows through I am mindful that you have walked the same path. Much love flowing to you both. Xxxx ❤️😘
Much love received and returning to you. <3 Xxxx