The Blog Pages of Kitty Brightwell

To everyone reading this I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

May you all have Good Health and Good Fortune.

From Kitty Brightwell

Oh the surge of life.The lambs gambolling in the fields
Every species reproducing

All of nature and humanity blossoming in the warmth
after the long Winter

The Gods pledging once again the promise that life never
ends. It only changes

Just a thought by

Kitty Brightwell

No body took any notice of a young WAAF struggling through the crowds in Kings Cross railway station on the evening of that fateful day in 1941.Every body else was struggling too.
Katy had just come back off leave and had arrived in London late at night in the middle of an air raid.Suddenly she heard a voice asking "Give me your bag kid where are you trying to get to"
Taken by surprise she could only stutter "Uxbridge"
" Good oh" he said " so am I this way to the tube station".
Soon they were boarding the train to Uxbridge.
When they found seats he said" thank the Lord we don't have to change anywhere,we don't have to do we I coudn't bear it"."No" "said" "Katy Its a straight through train".

She had began to wonder if he ever stopped talking. By the time they reached Uxbridge he had got the story of her life out of her, and she had learned he was a Londoner. His parents and only sister had been killed in the Blitz. He was a Spitfire Pilot. His name was Jamie,and his brother Michael was in the Royal Navy serving in a submarine.Katy was curious too and asked " why are you being sent to Uxbridge instead of one of the fighter stations".
"Well I did something daft a couple of weeks ago.I managed to get myself shot down into the Channel. It was a while before I was picked up. when I was and they got me to hospital I had a bullet in my shoulder and a nasty wound on my head I have been sent to Uxbridge for a couple of weeks to recuperate before I go back on ops".When they arrived at their destination Katy had a chance to have a good look at her good Samaritan who incidentally was still carrying her bag as well as his own.What she saw was a tall dark haired young man with blue eyes.And she decided there and then he was very attractive, and when they had checked into the guardroom and they parted to go to their own quarters She had no hesitation in accepting when he suggested they should spend their freetime together while he was at RAF Uxbridge.

Katy woke up next morning looking forward to what the day would bring.She suddenly remembered it was the first day of spring.and as she made her way to the ops room where she worked she noticed how colourful the station looked.Everything had blossomed and sprung to life while she had been on leave.Even the squirrels and birds were busy gathering the abundant food supplied by a bountiful nature.She wondered why she suddenly felt like singing. Anyway she put that idea out of her head when she spotted the Corporal waiting at the entrance to the Bunker with the permanent scowl on her face.
" come on hurry up you aren't on leave now.".
" and a good morning to you too" Katy said under her breath.
She went down into the ops room to be greeted by her workmates, and was soon hard at work as the daytime air raids had started,but although she was so busy she kept thinking about those kind blue eyes.

2pm. The end of the shift. They all turned their headsets and plotting sticks over to the relief crew,and made a beeline for the exit. Katy couldn't wait to get out of the Bunker (the hole as they called it) and she ran up the 75 stone steps, dashed out into the fresh air and there he was.Of course all the other girls ran up the steps as well.They wanted to see what Katy was all excited about.They all stood silently gazing at this vision "where on earth did you find him" to Katy, and to Jamie" will you bring some friends with you next time".Katy and Jamie made their escape to the cheers of everybody in the vicinity. Laughingly holding hands running at full tilt towards the main gate. The guards joining in the fun.

The next two weeks were the happiest two weeks of their lives. The weather was lovely.The air raids were less frequent for some reason.Perhaps it was just that thay were too happy to notice them.They danced, they walked, they talked. They visited every place they could in the Uxbridge area. Just happy to be together. The day came when he had to go back to his fighter station.
Katy had never felt so lonely in all her life.

They still met of course. At a prearranged spot near Marble Arch just inside Hyde Park.When he was free Jamie would phone and quickly say " same place, same time ,day after tomorrow"
When she went to their meeting place after his latest call she had a premonition. She didn't know why. She just felt uneasy. After an hour waiting trying to decide what to do she suddenly saw two of Jamies friends hurrying towards her.She knew before they told her that Jamie was dead.His Spitfire had been shot down and had burst into flames before falling into the Channel. There had been no time for him to bale out.

Going back to the RAF station she found her favourite spot where she usually sat to watch the wildlife. Looking around watching the squirrels, rabbits, birds, trees and flowers. The whole area was teeming with life. She thought to herself. This is what resurrection is all about.Life does not end.It just changes.

This all happened a long time ago,but memories linger.
Katy is a very old lady now, but every time she walks through Kings Cross station She hears a voice
saying "Give me your bag kid where are you trying to get to"
She smiles and answers "Uxbridge Jamie Uxbridge.

Remembrance of a Springtime

Long ago

Kitty Brightwell.

In days long ago we met my friend
When I was alone and sad you were there
you welcomed me into your family and home
I do not forget my friend

Your kindness, thoughtfulness could never
be surpassed
I could never repay
I do not forget my friend

I travelled to the end of the rainbow
a crock of gold I did not find
I found you my friend
God bless.