Nostalgic November 5! 1957... Nostalgia

Howde Folks!

This is my last week with you before 'she' returns. I hope you've enjoyed my trip down memory lane. I thought the perfect place to finish would be with 'her' nostalgic look back to when she was 6 and life as she remembered it in 1957. Also, I liked her pretty pic of the old bus in Malta! (originally published 03/03/2011)

Sofia!

Hello Everyone!

After declaring my new age as '6', I thought I would roam down memory lane to 1957 when I was 6 the first time round and better behaved! This photograph was taken in Malta but the bus brings back memories of the old school bus chugging down the lane of our little village to collect us and take us to the junior school in the next village at a speed of about 20mph. These buses still operate in Malta and you wonder if you are ever going to arrive at your destination but like so many things of yesteryear they are more reliable than modern day ones.

1957. . . milk was delivered in bottles by the milkman - not bought in a carton at the supermarket. . . there was a conductor on the buses called a 'clippie' who gave you a ticket and the driver just drove. . . there was no second class mail . . . the moon was a place of romance and mystery, no one had walked on it. . .

Computer? What's that?

Mobile phone? Pardon? Nintendo DS? iPod? Microwave. . .

Televisions, fridges and cars were luxury items.

So, 1957, what can you remember or are you too young?

'January: Sir Anthony Eden resigns as prime minister because of ill health. He's succeeded by Harold MacMillan...

March:The treaty of Rome is signed in an attempt to cement relations in Europe...

October:THE SPACE AGE HAS ARRIVED! The Russians have launched Sputnik 1 into Space; it's the first time anyone has attempted to place a satellite in orbit round the earth. The first "flying saucer" has travelled round the earth at 17,000 miles per hour. The Victorians would never have dreamed of such an event but now the race between America and Russia to put a man on the moon has begun...

In South Africa and America the black communities continue with their struggle for equality with whites. Martin Luther King has impressed people with his successful bus boycott and has founded the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) as the focus of his civil rights movement...

In the USA, nine black students attempted to enrol at the all-white Little Rock Central High School; initially, they were barred on the orders of the State Governor...'

Taken from Charlotte's diary in Time and Tide.

Personally, when I think back, the main thing I remember is that everything was much slower.

Today, we are obsessed with speed. Also, in those days, goods were made to last. Now, we have become the 'throw away' society. Goods are not made, either to last for years or to be repaired, but to be recycled and replaced with newer models. The fifties in Britain were austere years in the aftermath of the war and times were hard but there was a community spirit which seems to have got lost somewhere along the road of progress.

Do you hear me sigh for the 'good old days'? I will leave you with this thought...

Thought for the week: Tomorrow, today will be 'the good old days'!

So, bye for now from myself and Donald. I guess we can disappear and enjoy ourselves again. Have a great Christmas next month and all the best for 2014. I'm sure we'll be with you again then.

All our love, Sofia and Donald xxxx

A Capital City... PARIS

Hello Everyone,

Lady M still here and for one more week before she hands you back to Sofia and Donald for the summer holidays. She's been through the archives and thinking back to three years ago when she hopped into her private jet and took you on a tour of some of the world's capital cities and has chosen to recapture Paris, that city of romance and the home of dear Edith who sang 'No Regrets'. Lady M certainly agrees with her on that one. When it's done it's done and regrets are a waste of time. It cannot be undone. Anyway, here are a few facts about Paris.

1. Paris is the capital of France; the largest country in Europe and a member of the EU (European Union).

2. It is on the River Seine.

3. You will find such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Louvre.

4. The national language is French.

5. The religion is mainly Roman Catholic (Christian), Protestant are in the minority.

6. The currency used to be Francs; it is now the Euro.

7. The Underground transport system is known as the Metro.

8. The Opera House is the one which Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical 'The Phantom of the Opera' is based on.

9. It is the city where in its surrounding area you will find the magnificent Palace of Versailles.

10. Paris is also renowned for its fashion houses - Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, Givenchy, Nina Ricci and Yves Saint Laurent.

11. It is famous for its food and gastronomic treats - bread and cakes, chocolates, cheeses, snails, truffles, smoked salmon, foie gras. . .

12. One of the most famous worldwide nightclubs is Paris' Moulin Rouge and the birthplace of the cancan.

13.Paris is also the home of Europe's Disneyland.

14. Its Left Bank has numerous cafes where eminent artists and writers have met including the American writers Hemingway and Fitzgerald.

15. For art lovers Paris has around 200 art galleries and more than 80 museums.

16. Queen Marie-Antoinette was brought to the guillotine in Paris and beheaded in 1793.

17. Voltaire, the eminent philosopher was born in Paris in 1694.

18. Bastille Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the storming of the prison on July 14th 1789. This was the start of the French Revolution.

19. More recently, in 1997, Paris was the place where Diana, Princess of Wales was killed in a car accident.

20. Paris is associated with music and romance. Edith Piaf was born in Paris in 1915.

Ah, Lady M visited Paris twenty years ago... such memories of the city of romance!

Back to the present and tomorrow, Saturday 13th July, she will be at the Gedling Book Festival, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 6LU. Free parking and admission and lots of excitement so if you're in the Nottingham area do pop along and say Hello! http://www.newwritersuk.co.uk/gedling.html  
There will be pretty pics on next week's blog.

Until then I leave you with a Edith Piaf's thought for the week: Non, je ne regrette rien. (Have no regrets)

Lady M

All roads lead to ROME!

Hello people,

Well, Donald and I are just getting ready to leave for Rome; the last stop this summer. What a journey it has been! So, come aboard with us and let us see what fantastic facts 'she' can come up with for ROME!

1. Rome is the capital of Italy and is in Western Europe.


2. It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula on the River Tiber and in the Lazio region of Italy.

3. Italian is the official language.

4. The main religion is Roman Catholic.

5. Italy is a member of the European Union and so the currency, like Athens, is the Euro. Prior to 2002, it was the Lira.

6. Rome, like Athens, is an ancient city, founded by Romulus in the 8th Century BC on what is now known as Paletine Hill in the Ancient Centre of the city.


7. The Capitol, the southern summit of the Capitoline Hill was the symbolic centre of the ancient Roman world and home to three of the city's temples, dedicated to the god Jupiter and goddesses  Minerva and Juno Moneta.


8. Below the Capitol is the Forum which was the focus of political, social, legal and commercial life.


9. Also in the ancient city is the Colosseum, Rome's greatest amphitheatre commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. This Colosseum could hold 50,000 people.


10.On the north west side of the centre lies the Piazza Navona; this area has been inhabited for at least 2,000 years.


11. In this area the Pantheon can be found; it has been a temple since AD 27. It was a temple to all the gods and is Rome's best preserved ancient building.


12. The areas best time was during the 15th century when the papacy returned to Rome. Princes, popes and cardinals resided in this area and commissioned the building of lavish and extravagant  palaces, churches and fountains.


13.On the west side of Rome lies the area known as Vatican City; the world capital of Catholicism.


14.It was the site where St Peter was martyred in AD64 and buried. It has become the residence of the popes who have succeeded him.


15. Rome is also a city well-known for its fountains which provide both drinking water and decoration in the piazzas;  the most famous being the Trevi Fountain.


16.The city contains eight ancient Egyptian obelisks and five Roman ones.


17. Rome has  a large number of ancient catacombs or underground burial places.


18. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world due to it large number of archaeological sites and artistic treasures and the beauty of it panoramic views... and then there is the Vatican, the Colosseum, fountains, statues....


19. Rome enjoys the Mediterranean climate.


20. And what better place to end our tour this summer than in Rome, the Eternal City!


"Wow, Donald, I can't believe how beautiful this city is. A week is not long enough."
"Never mind Sofia, we can come back any time. . .because..."
"WE ARE DEAD! Guess, I had better tell them about 'her' latest interview."
"Yep, go on Sofia."
"She has done another interview, see it at http://SellingBooks.com "

Thought for the week: Rome was not built in a day!

All aboard for ATHENS!

Hello People,

Well, our time in Moscow has come to an end. Awesome experience. . . Bolshoi ballet, the circus and Red Square not to mention ST. BASIL'S!

Anyway, come and join us on our flight to ATHENS. We love you all, Sofia.

1. Athens is the capital of Greece; it is in Southeast Europe and one of the European Union countries.

2. Greece consists of a mainland area and several islands. Athens is situated on the south part of the mainland.

3. The main language is Greek, although English, French, German and Italian are also spoken by those in tourism and many of the young people.

4. Since 2002 the currency has been the Euro; prior to that it was the Greek Drachma.

5. The religion is 97% Greek Orthodox, with Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.

6. Athens sprawls across the central plain of Attica; often referred to as Attica Basin which is surrounded by four mountains.

7. It has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years.

8. It was chosen as the capital of the new State of Greece in 1834 after the Greek War of Independence.

9. In ancient Greek, the name Athens  relates to the goddess Athena. There is a myth regarding this name. Both Poseidon and Athena, requested to be patrons of this city. They competed for it by each bringing a gift. Poseidon produced a salt water spring by striking the ground with his trident thus showing naval power, whereas Athena created the olive tree symbolising peace and prosperity. Athena was chosen by the people.

10. Athens has hosted the Summer Olympics three times in 1896, 1906 and 2004.

11. Perhaps the most famous landmark in Athens is the Acropolis. Originally built in 5th century BC during the 30 year leadership of the Athenian politician, Pericles. It was the most sacred place for worship in Greece.

12. The term 'Acropolis' in Greek, simply means 'High City' and translated as 'Citadel' in English. Today's visitor to the Acropolis takes a steady climb up to the Parthenon, the great temple situated on the top. While walking up one can only think and marvel at what the original city of Athens surrounding this magnificent temple must have been like.

13. This Acropolis is nominated to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

14. Athens, steeped in history, has numerous museums and is one of the world's main centres for archaelogical research.

15. It has 148 theatrical stages including the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus which hosts the Athens Festival from May to October every year.

16. At the centre of the city is Syntagma Square, where the Parliament and most of the Ministries can be found.

17. The magnificent 15.5 hectares of The National Garden of Athens,  completed in 1840, is a green refuge in the heart of the city.

18. The old quarter of the town is known as Plaka, which is around the Acropolis. It is picturesque with winding streets, tavernas, craft shops and a famous flea market.

19. Athens has a superb transport system; a large bus fleet, trams,  metro and railway service. Take a tram ride from the centre to Paleo Faliro, just 30 minutes to the outskirts of the city and see a different side to Athens. It's the coast!

20. Its nickname is 'The Glorious City' and if you live there you are an Athenian!

"Well, here we are Donald in Athens. Let's do the Parthenon first. Do you remember the last time we were here?"
"Sure do, Sofia. It was that naughty weekend, paid for by Derek. It's all in 'her' book."
"Next week, 'she' is finishing this touring lark in Rome."
"Guess, we had better enjoy ourselves then before the show is over."
"Did you know, Donald, that Mother Teresa would be 100 on 26th August, this Friday?"
"Wow, I wonder if she will be celebrating upstairs?"
"No, shouldn't think so. . .she's not the type."
"You're right, as usual Sofia. So, are you going to leave them with a thought for the week and then we can hit the Parthenon."
"Yes, but don't forget you can still view 'her' interview at www.SarahButland.com "


Thought for the week: A true friend is one soul in two bodies (Aristotle, Greek Philosopher 384-322 BC)