Buddhist Audio Books

Above all, there was the unremembered time when my parents, Joan and I all went down with the 'flu. It must have been in 1927 or 1928, when Joan was still a baby. The four of us lay helpless in the big front bedroom together. Dr Bradlaugh came every day, and my father gave him the key to the front door, as neither he nor my mother had the strength to go downstairs and let him in when he called. Old Mrs Hartnell, who lived in the flat below, came and cooked for us, though I suspect none of us had much appetite. Not long after we had all recovered from the flu my father was away for three weeks. He had been sent to a convalescent home for ex-servicemen in St Leonard's, near Hastings, for the injuries he sustained during the War had left him without the full use of his right arm and right hand. I do not remember missing him while he was away, but I must have missed him greatly, especially at bedtime, as he always came to my room and talked to me for a while before I went to sleep. Though I have no recollection of his going way, I well remember his return. This was due partly to the fact that he had a present for me from a relative called Aunt Dick, of whom I had not heard before, and of whom I never heard again. She lived in Hastings, and was probably my father's cousin or aunt. Her present to me was a toy telephone, which gave me many hours of innocent pleasure. I derived no less pleasure from my father's account of life at the convalescent home. Afternoon tea was served out in the garden, and I particularly enjoyed his description of the birds that came to the table and pecked fearlessly about his and the other men's feet. There were not only the ubiquitous sparrows, but robins and blue tits, as well as finches of various kinds and colours. So graphically did my father describe the birds that in my mind's eye I had a vivid picture of them as they hopped on his table and fluttered round his feet in all their diverse colours.