Doctorbob1's Inbox

Thank you for this blog Drbob. I thought I'd contribute by saying that I've visited war cemetaries in the UK, but also in Holland, France and Thailand. Every one I have visited has simply blown me away in its scale. But each one is just so beautifully cared for and maintained. Rows and rows and rows as far as the eye can see of spotless white stone crosses, manicured lawns with not a blade out of place, flawlessly clipped hedging, rows of rose bushes in deep and somber colours. The last one I visited was in a small town in Thailand near to where the infamous 'bridge over the river Kwai' was constructed. Thousands of graves. I walked along the endless rows reading the ages involved. Heatbreaking. It's impossible to grasp the magnitude of tragity involved. I have always found these places to be well visited and well respected by the locals. I just thought that would be comforting to those who know they have war graves in far off lands that they have never been able to visit.

I lived on 2 RAF camps with my sister who was in the RAF also her husband who was an officer, so I know the minds of soilders who go to war also listening to my mother, how they are either shell shocked how people do not realise, how most soilders soil their selves when going into battle and especially when they observe their friend being shot to death or blown up, then have to continue to fight in soiled clothing as all their body functions go.

Well said Cliffo .....and Morgana. The youth of yesteryear made the ultimate sacrifice for us....let nobody ever forget that.
And those who did survive many theatres of war are still too traumatised to talk about what they saw and were obliged to do...all in the name of world peace.
My late husband was an RAF pilot in WW2 and refused to talk about it....as he said..."The hanger doors are closed" ..and many of them said the same.

This morning on the news I heard they are sending even more soilders out there, yet most people I chat to all want our Soilder back home it should be the mojority rule.

Come back Bobg we are missing you, I fully agree as you know with Bonkersbons words above.

it is nice to see sutch a responce to your blog on this subject, and it is specal to me even though my father and six uncles came through the secod world war , just after the war we had a chap lived by us who was not so luckie, he sufferd with shell shock, and yes they knew all about it they just did nothing about it, w had some waste land in front of our house and you could sea this chap reliving his experances, we kids thought it a grate laugh, and even the adults thought it quite funny,when ever I think about it now I cringe with shame,not for me I was just a kid and knew no better , but this country wrer it is the tredition that when we need the forces, they are hearoes but when we do not need them, they are nothing, so let us rember them all, all the lads that are maimed for life mentaly as well, and when the fight is won they are still the hearoes they were when we needed them.

Thanks from me too DocBob. A lovely and moving blog. :o)
....I just found out about Bobg too......It has really upset me to think that our good old Bob has been the latest target in the "witch hunt" movement.
The spirit of GoY really is changing isn't it? Such a shame.

Seconded, Alz.

I am sure that he will know how we are all feeling at losing such a fine member of GOY... A number of us have PM'd him reassuring him.... and I hope he knows how much he would be missed if he didn't return BB

Hopefully through this poignant and thought provoking blog ..Bobg will reconsider and think its sadder to lose the friends you ve made than the ones you havent.

I did not see the blog but feel confident it was submitted with Bobs usual concern and compassion sad indeed that on a day such as this , someone unable to extend that in return.

Thank you from me too...I have only just found out about bob & I'm really saddened this can still happen.xx

Sorry, I'm late to comment on this blog too. I found it especially poignant this year, now that there were no WW1 veterans at the ceremony - so sad.

Hear, hear Alz. Thankyou Dr Bob x

Thank YOU DrBob....it has been a privilege to join in here and I applaud you for thinking of it......something which affected and still affect us all. .
Goy - most of the time - encourages sharing. Your blog here has been a moving example.

I agree, I read Bobs' blog and felt quite shocked at the response. He will be sadly missed.

On this already sad day I for one feel extra sad that Bobg, a very valuable, funny and above all caring member, has been made to feel it necessary to leave. This is a big loss to GoY.

good bog doctorbob, i will always rememeber, my great grandad lost his life in ww1 and never got to see his son, my gran was left to bring up my nan alone, i pass his name on war memorial where i live, i never met him but i feel the loss as many many more do with each war and all the younge men and women who die to protect us,
i would like to say i also feel sad to know that bobg has gone, he`s a good man and i feel he doesnt deserve anyone having a go at him, im glad i didnt get involved in the bad feelings yet again,

AMEN

Lest we forget.

Sorry I'm late to your blog DrBob ,it is what many of us were brought up with-to remember and show respect for others sacrifices.
My Dad fought in the 1st war,surviving with shapnel wounds, which prevented him joining the 2nd one. He was 16 when he enlisted and must have lost so many of his pals.
I did not see Bobg's blog but cannot imagine what would be so inappropriate at this special time in the year. Surely a reason for the filter if some don't agree !
The last 'tommy' may have gone but still there are those making sacrifices for us.
Lest we forget !

I too came on here at 11am this morning - to be together as we were on Sunday - with, as I thought - a tolerant community of like-minded people - in memory of all who have fallen - that we might have freedom - and above all freedom of speech. Something we in the UK have always felt passionate about.
Now - it would appear that our freedom of speech is in jeopardy and I am sickened by this. I too would have liked to have read what BobG said and judged for myself.
As others have said - Life is politics...politics with a small "p" ...and compromise. I am disappointed that so little compassion has been shown to a good and caring member of this forum whom I had come to know and respect.
I agree that this episode has tarnished what has been a very fine show of unity and remembrance and I am sorry Doctorbob that your beautiful blog in tribute to our War Heroes has been blighted in this way .and sincerely hope that those responsible will see the error of their ways.

But why Arlene? the filter system is there to give you the choice over what you want to read or comment isnt it.I came on to this blog specially to observe the two minute silence as I knew you all would be here.

~ they are fully aware Mavis but don't want to have to use it~ as I said tolerance towards others does not exist here on GOY!
As David also said, all the things that put the Great in GB,tolerance,compassion and community spirit appear to be in very short supply!

its ironic that Ipicked up on this blog as I was waiting to observe the two minute silence.Are people not aware or not using the filter system?

Doctorbob... It is 11 am. and I'm here. xxx
Thank you again for the remarkable photos.

I, too, would have liked to see what Bob G had to say. I would have drawn my own conclusions as to whether or not it was political but if it was in context with this highly respectful stream at this time of remembrance (the very core of the blog) then we might have been permitted to judge for ourselves. If it was flagged by “garden only” contributors, why didn’t they use the filter? It was they, it seems, who prompted its introduction. DrBob’s efforts to bring us together at this special time has been blighted. Shame!

There appears to be no such thing as tolerance these days!
~ to all those out there celebrating the fall of the Berlin wall and the Stasi get over here quick because they are alive and well on GOY!

I to would like post my DISGUST at those involved in yet another witch hunt. Whether the blog is gardening related or not the ONLY way to deal with it is to FLAG IT. DO NOT take things into your own hands and write unsupportive comments.
Bob always posts RIP type blogs and very welcome they are to, as it reminds us all how vulnerable we are. It is a sad day on GoY today, we have lost a very good contributor to our forum and all for a technicality.

RIP GoY

I agree Dr. Bob. I've only been a member since August and I already feel that I have made some firm friends. I really thought that when the filtering option was introduced, it would please and benefit everyone. Apparently not.

I didn't read the blog either but feel that this isnt politics...... its compassion...

I'm with you, Sue. I've just found out about BobG and it's not on, it really isn't. I KNOW the guidelines say 'No politics' ( impossible, life IS politics, no escape, not even in a garden...) but there are people other than BobG who REGULARLY make political statements and are never 'pounced' upon by the gardening purists. Whether this is favouritism, or fear I really couldn't say. To post a blog about British soldiers ( any soldiers...) being shipped home from a war zone ( any war zone ) on the eve of November 11th is to show concern, respect and deep sorrow for the lives that were lost....after all, if it weren't for our armies fighting our corner, none of us would enjoy the freedom to play out in our gardens, would we? Think about it. Politics, yes.

If GoY is becoming a site for people who have no interest in anything OTHER than gardens, then I'm out of here too, Sue, and they can have their way, and I will be the first to wish them well of it.

A sad day.

Brenda
xxx