11.11.11

n Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Today I have learnt something - that the Scottish poppy is different to those sold in England and Wales. In Scotland, about five million poppies are distributed each year by Poppyscotland, but they look slightly different. Unlike the standard two petals and a single green leaf, the Scottish ones have four petals and no leaf and "is botanically correct" There's also a financial reason for the difference - adding a leaf would cost an extra £15,000 ($24,000) a year.

This is the more usual poppy sold in this country:



And this is the Scottish version:













I will be wearing mine with pride today. I like the idea of these wristbands which have also been on sale but haven't been able to find one: