23. Last Post at the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium

Every night at 8pm precisely the last post is sounded in Ypres to remember the dead of the Great War. It has happened every night since 1927 - the only exception was during the German occupation of the town in WWII. Traffic is stopped and silence falls on the crowds.

It is a moving ceremony where anyone can participate and lay a wreath or tribute to those who died. The names of nearly 55,000 men who died before August 1917 and whose resting place is unknown are inscribed in the memorial. I attended on Sunday 19th April 2015.

Further details are on the Last Post website

2. Purchased a Paul Cummins Ceramic Poppy

This is something that I would have probably thought was a good idea but never got round to doing - so I went and bought one as soon as I could!  

It is a fabulous idea by Paul Cummins and Tom Piper to remember the 888,246 people who died in World War 1 - and they looked stunning against the Tower of London, there were hundreds of people looking at them when we went to see them in September - and the volunteers will be putting them out until November.

My poppy is number 247,779 and the money raised is going to 6 different charities - the Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO), Combat Stress, Coming Home, Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA (formerly the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and could raise up to £15m.

 The poppy will be posted to me in January. You can find out  how to buy one or more information here
http://poppies.hrp.org.uk/