"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure." ~Anonymous
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| Les as a small boy with his dad about 1953 I think.Here is link to my all time favorite blog post written by Les which tells of his childhood on the Paddington Arm of the canal into London. |
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| Les and Valerie on their wedding day. |
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| Les holding his new granddaughter Kiera 2006. He adored babies and children and they seemed to feel the same about Les. |
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| Les in stocks at Hatton, 2007. |
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| Les with a handful of lovely grandbabies (Teo, Kiernan and Kiera), October 2007. |
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| Les in York, 2008. |
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| Granddad with Jordan and Jack, Warwickshire, 2008. |
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| Les' helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon, USA. October 2010. |
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| Two friends who have no clue what lies in store for them, Cloudhouse, Pullman, Washington, USA. October 2010. |
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| Les advertising a free chair to a good home to make room for two new chairs for us both, May 2011, Great Linford on the Grand Union Canal. | |
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| Les and I at daughter-in-law Bev's home in Watford. A family party held in honor of our upcoming wedding, May 2011. |
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| Cruising May 2011 before returning to the USA to get married. My favorite boater. |
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| Our American family on our wedding day, June 2011. (Left to tight: Grandson Michael, me, grandson Matthew, daughter Shiery -AKA Sparky, Les, Son-in-law Ben, daughter Jesse with baby Connor. |
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| Our wedding day. Les is peeking at my new tattoo, June 2011. |
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| The happiest couple in the world. Newlyweds hiking up at Kamiak Butte where we were married a month previously. July 2011, Pullman, WA. USA. |
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| Les attempting to make my broom fly! Cloudhouse, Pullman, WA. USA. August 2011. |
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| Les with a small mouth bass caught on a Snake River fishing trip with friends, Washington, USA. July 2011 |
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| Grandpa Les playing in the water with grandsons Matthew and Michael who is out of the photo shooting at Les with a water cannon while my daughter Jesse and baby Connor look on. July 2011. |
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| Les taking a spin on our friend Karen's Segway. the hat was mandatory gear for the ride. July 2011, Pullman, WA. USA. |
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| Les with our dear friend Sandy Field, August 2011, Pullman, WA. USA. |
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| Les enjoying a moment on our honeymoon drive West from Pullman to Seattle on our way to fly home to England, September 2011. |
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| I loved taking pictures of Les first thing in the morning. Les not quite awake yet... |
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| ...until presents appeared! Birthday boy, March 19th, 2012 with his new Kindle. |
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| Les taking the mick with me for taking his picture first thing! Mwah! |
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| Best Beloveds on the packhorse bridge at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey canal, March 2012. |
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| I reckon this look means "Cheeky woman!" March 2012 |
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| My baby doing his next favorite thing to cruising: chopping wood. The Shroppie canal April 2012. |
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| Les posing for me at Dunham Massey estate on the Bridgewater canal, summer 2012. |
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| Les smelling a freshly baked Kahlua Chocolate Cake, Cavely, the Shropshire Union Canal, May 2012. |
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| Les doing his bluebird of happiness impression, flying down the lane. Llangollen, spring 2012. |
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| Me and Les in Portland, Oregon for our daughter Sparky's wedding, November 2012. |
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| Les cuddling me while I fix dinner for our family. Daughter Jesse is working on wedding favors for her sister's wedding. Portland, Oregon, 2012. |
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| Daughter Jesse sharing pictures of her boys with Les. Portland, Oregon, November 2012. |
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| Mother and father of the brides preparing for a whirlwind day before the wedding, November 7th, 2012. |
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| Les looking so handsome and proud of our daughter Sparky and our daughter in law Kelli. Les walked Spark down the aisle and handed her over to Kelli on November 7th, 2012, Portland, Oregon. | | | |
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| Les and I playing in the snow, Blisworth, 2013. This is the essence of our marriage and who we were with each other. We had so much fun together. I had his wedding band engraved with the words "You are my joy". |
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| Son Kevin and Dad cleaning up after a family spaghetti dinner aboard NB Valerie, March 2013. |
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| Les opening his birthday gifts, March 19th, 2013. |
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| Les' distinctive stride. I could always recognize Les by his walk long before I could see his features. Weybridge, The Thames, May 2013. |
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| This series of three photos were taken on the Lee and Stort near Waltham Abbey, June 2013. What you cannot see is what Les saw when turning to look outside: the water was low so the boat was sitting quite low in the water and the towpath was about half way up the window. Outside a couple stopped to talk with someone and the woman was standing with her back to Les. She was wearing a pleated skirt which was waving precariously in the breeze, nearly sharing her Victoria's Secrets with us! Les' facial expressions spoke volumes. |
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| My hero! Les in grandson Kiernan's Captain America mask, 2013. |
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| Les holding up the Jubilee beacon on the top of Crack Hill overlooking Crick, Leicestershire, September 2014. |
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| Les working the locks on the Hatton flight, September 2015. |
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| Les still collecting firewood for us, October 2015 above the Lapworth flight. |
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| I love this picture of Les and two of our grandchildren Kiernan and Kiera, taken at Campbell Park, October 2015. |
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| July 2016. The love in Les' eyes as he looks at me is so deep and sweet. I see it in every picture I have taken of him when he is looking only at me, even if he is in a photo with others, like the one I took just above. I know he he is telling me with that look, "I Love you Jaq and I always will." |
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| Les, our grandson Jack, daughter in law Bev and me, Cow Roast, August 2016. |
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| August 2016, Cow Roast. From Left to right: Granddaughter Lena May, Les, Grandson Kiernan, granddaughter Kiera, daughter in law Joanne. |
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| Granddad having a moment with our two grandsons Teo and Battu. Cow Roast, August 2016. |
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| August 2016, Les and I on our last day of cruising ever.
We know death is waiting for him in the near future but in this present
moment, this one glorious, sunny summer day, we focus solely on each
other. Every second we have left to spend together is more precious than
gold. My deepest gratitude to our daughter in law Ozlem for capturing this moment. |
37 comments:
Just a beautiful tribute, Jaq.
You know I am thinking of you, especially today, but every day.
xxoo
Wonderful, wonderful, happy, loving memories Jaq for you to treasure and carry in your heart always. Our hearts go out to you today. Carol and George xx
What an amazing tribute to such a wonderful man, Jaq. As Marilyn said, you know you are in our thoughts every day, but even more so today. Love Jennie and Chris xx
Such a great pictorial tribute to Les I really feel as though I know Les despite never having met him. It just shone through what a lovely Bloke he was and still is, it is my loss that we never met. Keep up your wonderful blog Jaq and thanks for the advice about lunges to stretch the replaced knee joint. I was not aware of your Alaskan heritage but now I can see where your pioneering spirit came from.. Have a great cruise....
Eric ..
P.S.we live quite close to the Grand Union at Watford..
Thanks for sharing your photos and memories with us. Thinking of you.X
A very poignant tribute to a man that I never met on my travels, but wish I had. I am sure we would have shared so many things in common together.
Thinking of you today.
We love you 1000 Cinnamon Bears and we’re thinking of you ❤️ Love and hugs
Dear Jaq,
What a glorious, moving and amusing array of photographs. They are wonderful, so clearly illustrating Les's character, his love of his family and his sense of fun. We are thinking of you today particularly and wishing you the very best as you rebuild your life.
With love,
Sue/ Boatwif/ nb Cleddau
You shared so many good times together, more than many do in a lifetime. A beautiful tribute to a beautiful man.
What lovely pictures and happy memories. You are in our thoughts especially today x
Sally
What a lovely tribute Jaq. Thinking of you today.
Pip and Mick x NB Oleanna
Your latest posting must have been extremely difficult to assemble and post.
It has been almost a year since Les passed to the other side.
May you find comfort that he is no longer in pain;
You his wife remain, to plant daffodils, with a bit of his ash
to remind you and others of the man I never met;
of the man that enriched your existence for a short time.
And the man that enabled many of us to follow your collective journey.
This is a beautiful generously shared tribute. Keep hold of all that precious warmth and love.x
The most wonderful photographic memories of Les and the love you had for each other. I sit here crying when looking at this lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Xxx
Beautiful tribute. I too never met Les but can see what a lovely man he was. Thinking of you especially today. Love and hugs XXX Judith nb Serena
Love it. Thanks for sharing.
A truly wonderful set of pictures and only a fraction of the memories you have for Les, great work too uploading all of those and taking time to add comment. Warm wishes for your next chapter in lifes rich roller coaster and may you be stronger each day because of it!
Thank you Marilyn, And thanks Pal for being there for me across all those miles. Your friendship makes a tremendous difference in a tough old world and so does your and David's love.
Sending you both Biggs big hugs!
Love Jaq xxx
Thank you Carol. And my deep thanks and love to you and George for your continued loving support and friendship which I treasure.
Sending you both Biggs big hugs,
Love jaq xxx
Thank you Jennie. Words don't really do justice to my thanks to you and Chris for your support and friendship. I am looking forward to seeing you both soon!
Biggs big hugs,
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Eric,
What a lovely hing to say, thank you. If you could sift Les' essence from my pictorial tribute then I did him proud. Les was an amazing person. He always looked for the best in everyone, heart and mind. His sense of humor was legendary. He didn't care if he appeared foolish for a laugh. He love to laugh and his laughter was beautiful as was his smile which started at his lips and spread to his eyes. I could myself a deeply blessed person to have had his unwavering and complete love.
I am so pleased the lunges are helping you recover from your surgery. My email is on the web page at the top left if you ever want to drop me a line about anything else regarding you knee. It will make such a positive difference to the quality of your life.
Keep going from strength to strength,
Jaq xxx
Hi Elsie,
You are mos welcome. I hope you and Eric are feeling better. I have been holding you both in my thoughts as I too have been quite ill with the flue for the past 11 days. I am recovering slowly. Good thing you've both got Bent to look after you!!! ;)
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Ray,
Thank you. I know you and Les would have hit if off gangbusters. You both have very similar sensibilities with much in common. He would have enjoyed lifting a pint with you.
Do you think you might make it this far north over the summer? It would be a real treat to see you.
Jaq xxx
Thank you Janet.
Jaq xxx
Hi Jesse! I Miss you, Ben and the boys more than words can ever convey.
Love Momma xxx
Hi Sue and Ken,
Thank you. I am so pleased Les' lovely character shined through the pictures and my captions. My deepest thanks for your continued loving kindness, friendship and support. It has been a very tough year as you both know. Your love has helped tremendously in making something unbearable a possibility to survive.
Thank you for the good wishes on a new life. I need them and I'll have them!
Biggs big hugs,
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Marie (Fun60),
Yes I did and I am eternally grateful for all of our memories. Les really like women, as people and not just for the benefits women bring to the life of men in practical terms. Les told me once, "Jaq all the really interesting and important conversation in life seem to take place among women." Les was very secure in his masculinity and never felt the need to prove himself to anyone, hence he had zero tolerance for macho behavior and no interest in engaging in pissing contests with other men to see who was the best, the biggest, the baddest, etc. etc. Les was also a true gentleman. He would have enjoyed meeting you and you would have got on well.
I hope you've managed to evade the dreaded flu!
Jaq xxx
Thank you Sally. I am eternally grateful yo and Joe had a chance to know Les and deeply grateful for both of you--for your love and continued friendship across the years and miles.
Biggs big hugs,
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Pip and Mick,
Thank you both very much. Do you reckon our bows will meet this year? Here's hoping so.
Jaq xxx
Well said Bryce, well said. I am truly saddened you never had a chance to meet in person. I think it would have been an illuminating and joyous conversation. Les so enjoyed posting packages to you and hearing from you. I offer you my deep gratitude and love for your continued friendship and caring kindness from across the pond. In many ways we are similar souls you and I. I am so glad you found our blog and have enjoyed the journey as first Les on his own, and then Les and I together traveled along.
My my singular journey do him proud and offer continued interest to our readers.
Much love Biggs big hugs to you Cousin Kindheart,
Love Jaq xxx
Hello See61,
Thank you for your kind words! I've just been to you blog and the pictures are breathtaking. Your garden must be a continual and generous source of delight and peace. I will book mark it to visit regularly so I do hope you plan to keep blogging.
Kind Regards,
Jaq xxx
Thank you Irene. I so wished you and Ian could have known Les in person. I can imagine the conversations over glasses of wine. He loved your pictures and enjoyed reading your blog. I suspect after meeting you both last summer that Ian and Les have much in common personality wise. Good men, both of them.
Biggs big hugs,
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Judith,
Thank you. If I hae managed to convey even a little of Les' fine spirit and loving kindness and his amazing sense of humor and endless thirst for knowledge then I've done all right.
Thank you for reaching out to me this past very tough year. I so appreciate your kindness to me.
Biggs big hugs,
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Shirley,
Thank you. Lovely to hear from you. I hope retirement is all you thought it might be and then some.
Love Jaq xxx
Hi Stuart,
Thank you. It took me a month to sort through pictures, load them and write the comments and it was a balm to my weary, sad soul to do it. Many thanks for your good wishes. Life continues on and so do I, so with such kind thoughts I will endeavor to go forth, build a new life and make Les proud of me.
Kind regards,
Jaq xxx
Thank you for sharing your truly beautiful memories. You've inspired many thoughts on how precious our time is together, and what should be important to us. We should cease every moment as precious! It's obvious Les is still very much with you.
In Peace.... x
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