Today's Post

Wednesday Morning - On Monday evening we went to Lony and Jemp's for a lovely supper with a friend of theirs - Claude - whom Holly met last summer. We had (I think that's how you put it) a raclette. Absolutely delicious. This is not the best pic of me but this is the table with the device you heat your cheese with bits of things on the top.

 

They have been just the best friends on this trip. We spent yesterday touring Luxembourg, Echternach and along the Sure River down to the Moselle and back to Jemp and Lony's for a drink and off to a really nice Italian restaurant where we had pizza (delish) and spaghetti (also delish they said).

Here are a few pix I have now downloaded/uploaded:

Jemp and Lony having a look at the Y-32 Ophoven book we brought from Opglabbeek for them.

This shows just part of the walls built on top of the cliffs surrounding the old part of the city of Luxembourg. It really was a major engineering feat many hundreds of years ago.

This is the house we lived in in Echternach from 1954 to 1956. Both Weese and I remember this well.



Today's agenda includes: Weese is presently shopping - she had to get out of the room; I am going across to the Christmas Market one last time; a walk up to the Cathedral and possibly the museum; and then we will be meeting with Germaine, Josee's sister, around supper time. Germaine went to school with Weese and I am very glad to meeting up with her again. We stayed at her house for a couple of days last summer.

And then, it's up really early to catch our flight to Frankfurt, Montreal - Weese then to Ottawa - and Halifax. It will be another long day but I think we will both be glad to get back to our routines and our own beds.

A bientot!

Monday PM, November 24

Shopping with Weese! I haven't been in this many stores in many, many years! As I write this, she's still out there looking in all the REALLY upscale shops. I called it quits.

I have done the Christmas shopping with one or two exceptions. Grand Hotel Cravat is an interesting old hotel right next to a plaza which has a war memorial on it and the Gelle Fra - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%ABlle_Fra. We can see her from our 6th floor window - photo to come.

That plaza is also where the Christmas Market - Part I is. We did a circle today and saw Part II up near the Ducal Palace and Chambre des Deputes (Parliament - sort of) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Deputies_(Luxembourg).

Here are a couple of "official" photos of the market. We were on the 6th floor of the Grand Hotel Cravat in one of the corner rooms and could see this every day.





There are some absolutely fabulous places to see, for sure. We sat outside (Weese said it was too cold but I was too warm) and she had lunch.

New friend at the Christmas Market.

The seats all had fake sheepskins on them with red fleece blankies to keep warm outside drinking one of oodles of different kinds of hot chocolate. Weese tells me that inside was wonderful. This was right across from the palace.

And here is Weese with the guard at the palace. 

We are going out to friends' for supper this evening. And tomorrow we may be going to Echternach. One friend is sick with a bad cold and we're not sure of the other 2. I'll know later.

Here is the last photo for now - the front page of the newspaper from the big occasion on Saturday.

The Book Launch

Saturday afternoon was a very special time for the daughters of Phil Tripe.

We were picked up around 1:30 at the Hotel Mardaga and taken to the big new community hall. We met the mayor of Opglabbeek. I remembered him from 2010 and he remembered me. There were all the members of the society getting everything ready in the big hall.

 This is in front of the community hall.

At 2 we went to the exhibit and officially opened the gate. Back to the hall where people were coming. I estimated about 150. The was music from the 40s playing and a slide show of old photos of the Y-32 Ophoven airfield.

William, Me, Louise and Karel getting ready to open the gate.

The ceremony had a local councillor who was in charge of cultural affairs bring greetings including a small really nice piece in English welcoming Louise and me. Karel spoke about the history of the "why" of the book. William spoke about society and these memories are so important. And then William's father and I went up on the stage to receive the first two books.

We also received book stands which have replica of the steel "planks" which were used to build the airfields as the allies moved the war towards Germany.

This was the start of the afternoon.

Louise, Karel, William and I spent the rest of the afternoon signing books. They did print run of 450 and 170 or so were sold by the end of Saturday. The exhibit was being held again on Sunday so I imagine more were sold.

We met Frans again, the man who found pieces of Dad's plane. He presented us with 2 RAF brass uniform buttons he found.

We met Jean-Pierre Wuyts who lives very close to the crash site behind the Mardaga who brought us some more bits and pieces of Dad's plane which he has found over the years.

And everyone was so friendly and thanked us. We never expected such a warm afternoon.

This is part of the "Hell on Wheels" re-enactment group who were at the ceremony and parked their Jeeps outside! You can read more about the US 2nd Armored Division at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Armored_Division_%28United_States%29

                                               

Two of Karel's models - a Spitfire and a Thunderbolt hanging in the lobby of the exhibit.

Karel and Weese looking at the aerial photo of the Y-32 Ophoven airfield in the lobby.

  

And here is our official, intrepid photographer.

Saturday Morning

November 22 - The big day has arrived. This is the day that The Book will be revealed. More on that later.

Yesterday was just as hectic as the previous ones - different but hectic just the same. We got up at the Hotel Metropole and went to bed at the Hotel Mardaga. After a lovely breakfast in the Indian Room, complete with umbrellas and a couple of stuffed peacocks, we packed up and waited out front for Karel Baeten to pick us up. The traffic in downtown Brussels is wild! We were told that Rome and Athens are worse. I may never drive there - ever.

We got As and checked into our hotel here - a charming place. Then we were whisked off to the Ichter which is a brand new cultural/meeting/community centre built last year. It is right next the hall we were at for the exhibit in 2010. We were toured around the exhibit which is in 3 rooms. They have already had classes of school children through and even put a quonset hut model building contest together. The children are quite fascinated apparently.

And then we headed off to Hasselt to the TVL studios where we were interviewed about the exhibit and about Dad. I hope to have the YouTube link soon for those who missed it and will post it here. It went very well.

William, me, Martin Cox (show host) and Karel after the interview. The book and Dad's log book are on the table in front of us.

 

This is Karel and William looking at Dad's log book while we were waiting in the "green room" before our interview.

We did some touring around to see the airfield - or where the Y-32 Ophoven airfield was. And we went to see the memorial stone and plaque that the historical society has erected.

We came to the hotel and had a fabulous meal with William and his wife Caroline and Karel and his wife Hilda. The food was great and the company even better.

We got up late this morning so we'll have to get a move on here as we are being picked up to go to the Ichter for the ceremony and the displays again.

Catchup Friday!

November 21 - We are at the Hotel Mardaga in As. I left you in Chester  and we had hired a cab to drive us around for an hour. Like everything else on this trip, it was fast. We saw the Roman walls, the gates, St. Mary's Without the Walls (my christening below),





 Lots of lovely building and the chimneys.

There will be more photos but that gives you a taste of Chester, the city. It really is quite charming.

Then we went to Blossoms for supper to celebrate Mom and Dad's wedding supper which they had on March 6, 1940 with Grandpa Rannie and the Pickmeres. The place was quite lovely, the food was great and we were the only ones there. Here is Weese checking out the menu.

 

We had a great visit with the owner, Chris Caunce, of 12 and 13 Deva Terrace and his wife Maria. They were so welcoming and so interested in the story of our family and the story of Belle and Fanny Grey. We were staying in the Greys home and as a way of thanking Chris, I gave him one of Fanny's watercolours of the River Dee with rowers. And here we are.

 Please be gentle when you look at this photo. We didn't sleep on the plane (redeye) and this was around 9 at night and we were just wickedly tired.

The next morning we flew to Brussels and I'll tell you all about that next time. We have to get ready for dinner with our Opglabbeek friends here at the Hotel Mardaga with Dad's plaque in the lobby and two pieces of his plane wall-mounted.

Later.





The Trip So Far

November 19 - We are a tad tired! There were a few delays etc. with flights yesterday for me but we got to Manchester in good time - around 8 this morning. A really nice young man, Chris Jordan (from Chris Caunce's office) was there to meet us and drove us to Chester in his BMW! Sports car type thing! You should have seen Louise getting in and out of the back seat and me standing on the driver's side going to get in but reminded that... My in and out did not go any smoother. So the two of us are a bit gibbled up from sitting on the plane and getting old.

Enough of that.

Chester is quite lovely. We are in a townhouse with an entrance out to the front garden along the River Dee, a main floor with kitchen/dining area, living room and a half bathroom downstairs and 3 bedrooms upstairs and a full bathroom. The whole place has been beautifully renovated. This is the house that Belle and Fanny Grey lived in - two great friends of Mom's when we were here. I do remember looking down from the upstairs window in #13 Deva Terrace down into this house and seeing Mom having tea with Belle and Fannie.

Louise went out with Chris J. and bought a few items for lunch.

And then we went next door where I lived from 1940 to 1945. I really don't have much memory of the inside but it has been nicely redone. I do remember looking at the river and swans and rowers (we've seen some already) and the garden.

So we have now contacted the cab company which is taking us to the airport tomorrow morning and we are going on a cab ride around the city with a few strategic stops for photos.

Itinerary

November 16 - Two more sleeps!

I have now been in touch with the nice people in Chester and that part is as good as it's going to get. I should have booked one more day but it's OK. Louise and I are going to try to go to Blossoms Hotel for supper. This is where (I may have mentioned this elsewhere but it bears repeating) Mom and Dad and company had their wedding supper.

Watch this space for photos and updates. I may also be putting photos on Facebook for those of you who are followers.

And now here is the itinerary as I know it!

November Trip Itinerary

Tuesday, November 18 – 4:12 pm – United Airlines – Halifax to Newark, NJ – arrive 5:39 pm
Tuesday, November 18 – 7:35 pm – United Airlines – Newark to Manchester – arrive 7:30 am Wednesday (Louise on same flight)

Wednesday, November 19 – Chris Caunce picking us up and driving us to Chester to stay at Deva Terrace – touring Chester – hope to have dinner at Blossoms Hotel

Thursday, November 20 – 10:40 am – Brussels Airlines – Manchester to Brussels – arrive 1:00 pm
Thursday, November 20 – touring Brussels – staying at Hotel Metropole

Friday, November 21 – Opglabbeek folks picking us up from Brussels and taking us to Hasselt where we will be interviewed on TVL about Dad; then we will go on to As where we will be staying at the Hotel Mardaga

Saturday, November 22 – Opglabbeek for the big exhibition at the Community Hall of WWII memorabilia and the launch of the Y32 Ophoven Airfield book – staying at Hotel Mardaga

Sunday, November 23 – Opglabbeek friends will drive us to Genk
Sunday, November 23 – Genk to Brussels to Luxembourg – we have open tickets so we can leave on a late morning train and arrive in Luxembourg in late afternoon
Sunday, November 23 – taxi to Findel Airport to pick up car
Sunday, November 23 – drive to Hotel Cravat where we will be staying until Thursday morning

Monday, November 24 through Wednesday, November 26 we will be driving around and seeing friends and visiting Echternach and so on

Thursday, November 27 – EARLY – drive to airport to return car
Thursday, November 27 – 6:45 am – Luxair to Frankfurt – arrive 7:35 am (Louise on same flight)
Thursday, November 27 – 10:30 am – Air Canada to Montreal – arrive 12:35 pm (Louise on same flight)

Thursday, November 27 – 1:50 pm – Air Canada to Halifax – arrive 4:20 pm

Remembrance Day, 2014

I watched the Remembrance Day ceremonies from Ottawa on TV today. It took me back to the late 40's when my Dad and I went to the War Memorial for the ceremonies then. I remember the walking, holding his hand.

And today brother Don sent out an MP3 file of his musical arrangement for John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields. I hope I can embed it here so you can hear it. [It may have to wait until I'm back from our trip.] Here are some comments from family and friends -

From our friend Allan Hillman, England -

Hello Don

Thanks - much better with the music!!

A very timely e-mail – I have just been watching the ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres, and then the BBC switched over to the Tower of London where the last of the special ceramic poppies were put in place, and the final 150 names were read out.

Now we await 11.00

If you all haven’t seen the 800,000 plus special ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, visited by over 5 million people,  covered by your media I recommend you look here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28658498

Kind regards

Allan

From brother Gordon Tripe, North Bay, Canada

Wow. I am very glad to have heard this at the start of this very, very important day. Well done big brother. Well done. Gord

From Me

Thanks Don, it is a wonderful arrangement and the choir has done a masterful job.

Thank you.

Anne

From Allan again

Hi Anne

I totally agree – the a capella was lovely, and although I cannot read music the actual arrangement completed things, Don and the choir have done a wonderful job, and the dedication to your parent’s shows the love you all have for them.

Kind regards

Allan

From Cousin David Hall, Ottawa, Canada

Wonderful, Don.

Here in a bright sky Ottawa the Remembrance Day gods heightened the drama for me. They delayed the beginning of my day until just before 11 and by the time I unlocked the secrets of the zip file the a capella ended just at the hour. Then the cannon boomed from Parliament Hill and at 11:11 the flypast roared by followed by the quieter drone from the rotary engine of the yellow biplane that flies out of Gatineau, Quebec.
Today, I honour in particular the memory of Major Harry John Hall, MC, 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), wounded at Ypres, killed in the Battle of The Somme October 1916, veteran of the Boer War, Lieutenant Seaforth Highlanders, wounded at Magersfontein, again at the battle of Jagersfontein, father of my father Kevin. 
A dram or two will be raised at the going down of the sun for all who served and all who suffered whether in the field or at home.
David

From our friend Karel Baetan, Belgium

Hello Don,

I love your version of "in Flanders Fields", my compliments to your church choir, what a beautiful performance.

It certainly brought me up to speed, next week we present our book on Y-32 Ophoven, your father is appearing in it as you know. In fact he and his comrades are more or less the reason why I wrote the book. We still have a lot to do, there will be an exhibition of WWII memorabilia , we've invited the primary schools from nearby villages so they can keep the remembrance alive, we will be interviewed on local television,I will meet Anne and her sister Louise, etc….

Kind Regards

Karel

From brother Rob Tripe, India

Don

Nice arrangement - a fitting "in memorium" tribute to Mum and Dad. How big is your choir? Pass along my congrats on a job well done to them. 

Thanks for sending it along.

Rob

P.S. - OK if I pass this along to my chorus director?