Why you should buy a poppy

ga - I just saw your daughter on News at Ten - how proud, how sad, how full of love you must be......................xxxxxx

Apparently Scottish poppies have four petals and no leaf but English ones have two petals and a leaf. Apparently you're supposed to wear your poppy above your heart and, if it has a leaf the leaf should point to eleven o'clock. I was at a Remembrance Service Scout flag-bearers' rehearsal last night and was told these things by the Guide Leader. My poppy was attached to my coat collar, on the right!

grannyactivist your beautiful daughter on the front of the Times today brought a tear to my eye. No young woman should have to be in that position.

What do we all do with our poppies after Remembrance Sunday? I can't bring myself to throw them away and have amassed quite a few over the years. They are now in a box in the loft! We used to put one above each of my husband's collection of regimental shields (you seem to come away with one from each posting, bearing the badge of the unit), with two for Northern Ireland, which has particularly sad connotations for us, but now we have nowhere to display them. This year I bought a wrist band, and a lapel badge which I will wear all year, but DH always has a traditional poppy. Like Ariadne, my husband felt lucky to have come away from Ulster in the early seventies with just a couple of near misses, but we lost friends and colleagues and they were very tense times for all the families. My heart goes out all service dependents (we tend to forget about the ladies serving there) with partners in theatres of conflict.

I have mine on a photograph of DSs when they where both in Irag at same time I have the same poppy every year now at it holds memories for me but I give to the appeal and take a poppy for one of my DGCs.

grannyactivist Your daughter has reminded me that there are many different kinds of courage. Your grandson is a joy.

Grannyactivist The lovely photo of your beautiful, brave daughter on the front page of The Times left me tearful. My heart goes out to her and the many like her.

Grannyactivist Your daughter is a credit to you and your wonderful mothering skills. How proud you must feel, and rightly so.

Just got a few minutes to say a heartfelt THANK YOU for all your many kind messages, poems and tributes to my incredible daughter - and most importantly for supporting the RBL's Poppy Appeal.

I've spent my time since Thursday accompanying my daughter to several events in different places. If you saw her on Daybreak it's hard to imagine that we'd had only three hours sleep due to hiccups in travel arrangements the previous night. Immediately following that interview we travelled to the Wootton Bassett 11.11.11.11 service. (That's where the newspaper photographs were taken.) Last night we were in the Royal Albert Hall - then a taxi through the night back to the Southwest so that she could attend the Exeter service of remembrance this morning and be reunited with her son. We're both exhausted, physically and emotionally.

Three cheers for Grandad who took wonderful care of a very lively and vocal grandson whilst we were away!! I'm off to Edinburgh for a couple of days tomorrow for some R&R and to reacquaint myself with my husband. Will catch up when I'm back.

Had a wonderful afternoon yesterday on Mothecombe beach with the dog and all I could think about was you and your lovely family. Bless you and enjoy your break.

Enjoy your break, GA. You and your lovely and brave daughter need time to draw breath after the week - and year - you've had. Not to mention your DH who is obviously a rock for all of you. .

Have a nice break and sending ((hugs)) to you and your lovely brave family x

You deserve some R&R ...well done to you all GA ...including DH who had to hold the fort in isolation...away from you and DD

Artygran ...like you will wear lapel pin all year. For all thos paper ones ...I liked the idea that was used in Swansea this year ...floating in water. Understand that not a long term solution ...but if you took the stalks off ...arrange in a small dish ...that could hold a candle in the centre??

GA happy holiday. Wore my poppy and thought about your lovely daughter and all the bereaved partners left to carry on. Got very excited when I saw her on our local news and was able to share her story with my sister who was staying.
Jacey... liked the idea from Swansea a reminder, no doubt, of those who served in both the the Royal and Merchant Navies.

Just watched your daughter on Songs of Praise grannyactivist. You must be so proud. What a lovely girl, inside and out. Lovely grandson too.

I think she has done much this year to remind people that poppies are still relevant.

Love from me too, GA. Edinburgh is lovely so enjoy your break. xx