THE CHALLENGE!

Lady M loves champers!

 Hello Everyone,

Lady M here. I, like all I you, watch the news and feel over emotional, afraid, disbelief, sadness and despair. As I wrote last week, I just cannot believe what is happening in the Ukraine 🇺🇦 and my heart goes out to its people who are ‘lost’. Today, I shed tears as I saw a teenager being interviewed in Poland. Her father had spent 24 hours driving her to the border and safety. He was forced to return and fight for his country. They had said goodbye and she does not know if she will ever see him again. What if this were you? Could you bear it? First Covid restrictions and deaths, now this. Sadness permeates the world. We need happiness and positivity in order to survive.

With that thought in mind I am offering you THE CHALLENGE again.

                                                       ***********************

So what makes you smile? What makes you happy? What do you enjoy? What makes you get up in the morning? What makes your life worthwhile?

Here are Lady M's favourite things that make her smile and decide that life is worthwhile and then she will challenge you. Think about Maria in “The Sound of Music”, when she is sad she thinks of her favourite things and then feels happier.

Tram riding, watching peeps and the world go by and book signing

First, beautiful books. She has the Charles Dickens collected works; the green leather bound edition bought in the early seventies. They were the first items she purchased when she started teaching, She paid for them over a period of time at £2 a month. She has not read all of them yet but they sit on the shelves in her lounge and she adores just looking at them. Then, there are all her other books amassed over the years in her upstairs library. They make her smile each morning. She loves all of her books especially the ones she writes. The proof copies all sit on the shelf by her fireside chair where she can admire them and smile at the achievement. There are peeps who say that books are a waste of money. She says, Philistines!


Then, there are childhood memories. It seems the older she gets the more she remembers them. She was brought up on a hundred acre country estate. Life in such a situation is hectic; always too much to do... livestock, gardens, the country house, land. All always needing attention and it was a case of all hands on deck 24/7. It's only in recent years that she realises how fortunate she was to have that experience and the memories.  Walking in the private woods. Rearing the pheasants (her responsibility!) Later she would hear the shooting and know they had met their fate; that was the way it was. Sitting by the boathouse reading books, (her favourite place.) Her lovely Jack Russell Terrier, Sally. Lambs taking their first bleat. Birthday parties and fun. The annual week's holiday at the seaside. Village life. Brownies. Guides. Sunday afternoon cricket matches. Chorister. Church bells on a Sunday morning. The smell of freshly mowed grass. The hum of the combine harvester.

Watching her father wash sheep here

Plants! In his latter years her father would bring her plants each time he visited. She now spends hours each spring, repotting and taking cuttings to keep his legacy alive. She still has one of the original plants from 1986 which refuses to die. It has been repotted three times, grows, is cut down and then regrows. Such fond memories of a devoted and perfect father. A man she idolised.

Other things which make her smile in her retiring years are the thoughts of ice cream, chocolate, pizza, chips, paninis, wine and more wine! Lattes, sunny days, warmth, jewellery, new clothes, bubble baths, candles, music, flowers, reading, board games, birds chirping in the trees heralding each new dawn, butterflies

What does she enjoy doing? Visiting the cinema, libraries, taking afternoon tea, tram riding, art galleries and museums. She has a thirst for knowledge and loves quizzes, learning anything new. She spends hours watching the pigeons and other feathered species feeding from her bird table. It is strategically placed so that she has the perfect view from her chair.

Food? Yes, please!

Holidays? Yes please. She hates the hassle of airports and getting to places but adores it when she reaches her destination. She loves experiencing foreign cultures. Her favourite place is Paphos and the harbour. It is her second home. Souvenirs? Oh yes. She buys fridge magnets from every place she visits. Then, in the mornings at home she can remember the wonderful places when she staggers to the fridge for milk in her coffee.

   

Paphos sunset

Another thing she likes is her little red car. It lives in its own apartment. Others call them garages. They have travelled many miles together and seen many beautiful sites.

She is a great believer in taking new experiences and adventures.

 

So, now that she has shared her personal delights with you she offers you... THE CHALLENGE!

Until next week, enjoy whatever it is you enjoy and tolerate the rest of your life.

Yours, Lady M 

                                                  

LOCKDOWN 1

Hello Everyone,

As is my custom I am preparing this blog on Tuesday 22nd for Friday. Thinking. Yesterday was Day 455. 455 days since we went into lockdown last year for a period of 21 days. Well, that was what we were told initially. I am still writing about the pandemic in lockdown although it has now become the Covid Chronicles and is around the 300,000 word mark or about the length of three novels! At least I have been active and constructive during our confinement. Had our Boris's roadmap been on course Sunday would have been my farewell and Monday 21st June, the Summer Solstice, was to be our first day of freedom. Our first day without shackles. Alas, it was not to be! We continue for another month. We have been assured that lockdown will not go on any longer than that. However, observations... cases and deaths are rising in numbers. So, what will happen next month? My guess is that there will be a new kind of tier system under another name. In that case, I shall still be writing because somewhere in the UK it will be lockdown and shackles. In 400 years time, I see myself seated on a cloud in deep conversation with Samuel Pepys. We will be discussing the diaries we have left for the world to devour. I thought this week I would go back to those first days and share my early scribing and first blog on Lockdown with you. Enjoy!

                                                            ***********************

Well, these are unprecedented and dire times which we are living through. I am a writer! So, when we heard the PM's announcement on Monday evening what did I decide to do? Write a daily log of thoughts, ideas, plans and my daily life. After the elderly and vulnerable were advised to self-isolate for 12 weeks I made a list of things to do. Keeping occupied and positive will help our sanity through trying times. I decided to change my planned blogs and do special ones on Lockdown sharing my days and thoughts hoping they will put a smile on your face. 

Lockdown  time

Good morning. It is 11.23 Tuesday morning, 24^th March 2020. I am reclining on the sofa with my cuppa (no not wine, well in a week or two, maybe!) of coffee and watching Holly and Phillip on television. ‘This Morning’ they tell us has been declared essential in these trying times. The sun is shining, soon I shall go out and collect the bins. I heard the bin men come earlier and that is about all that is normal in this unprecedented situation.

Last night at 8.29 Boris Johnson, our PM, made an announcement. He explained the dire Coronavirus situation and desperate measures of isolation which must be taken in order to save lives. We already had restrictions in place, working from home where possible, self isolation, public places where peeps socialised advised to close, parks and open spaces staying open for exercise but we must stay two metres a part. Sadly, we have idiots in our community who decided to see the pleasant weekend as a holiday. They rushed to holiday spots and got as close to each other as they could. So now, we are in lockdown. Pretty soon, I guess most countries will be in the same situation. Some already are.

As many of you know I am a night owl. I rise late and am awake until the small hours. So, it was 10.30 when I strained myself to get out of bed on auto pilot. I walked into my library and looked out on to our little street which by this time of day is normally a car park. Today, just residents cars. No cars on the distant Tesco car park and very few vehicles on the road. At last peeps have heeded the warning and are forced to conform. Once dressed I visit the computer for email and games on FB. Was there a life before social media? Where would we be now without it?

Then, I staggered down the stairs, something which is getting harder with age. Breakfast time and turn on downstairs television and iPad. The first thing I do and have done for a week is look at the updated number of  Coronavirus cases locally. Depressing and frightening. Today, it’s 31. What will it be tomorrow?

Before the second cuppa I decided to go out at the back of my property and bring in the bins. I looked down the street and someone was taking the opportunity to clean her car but too far down to engage in conversation. Then another vehicle came round the corner, an opposite neighbour. Apparently, he had been out for essential items like milk and found it extremely difficult to find any. One of the supermarkets had an unimaginable queue of peeps clinging to trolleys at a safe distant apart. He eventually bought milk from a corner shop. Yes, we had social intercourse but were two metres apart.

After the second cuppa I returned to the library and worked at the computer while admiring the outside world. It was like being in that parallel universe I frequently talk of. So few vehicles and I observed two buses pass both without passengers. I guess the usual ones are senior citizens with passes and they are all in self isolation.

Later, I came back downstairs and opened up my porch/conservatory for the summer. During the winter months I only use it as storage. Soon, it will be full of beautiful plants with room for a chair so that I can sit in it and enjoy our glorious summer which will come at the end of this insanity.

For the rest of the day I have played games and watched television. I made one phone call. Part of my survival programme is to phone one person each day. I predict the telephone will make a come back and peeps will actually talk as opposed to texting. Right now, I’m watching a rerun of ‘Midsomer Murders’ with a glass of wine. As of yet I have not succumbed to the chocolate but tomorrow who knows?

Soon, I’m going to enjoy a bubble bath before retiring. Hey we’ve survived day one of lockdown and to quote Scarlett O’Hara , ‘tomorrow is another day’.

Day 2,

Good morning! The sun is still shining. First things first, do I have a temperature or cough? No, so thankfully I have not yet succumbed to this virus. Thank you Lord for sparing me. If you remember, peeps, I lost my insignificant other to Cancer last September. He was a medium and I recall what he said after the 911 terrorist attack. It was the beginning of many bad things, there would be more attacks, floods and disease. It was going to be like the plagues of Egypt all over again and when it’s over the world will be a better place. Is this the last of the ‘new plagues’?

Breakfast time and I check the local number of cases, it is still 31. I guess that’s some good news for now. The breaking news is that Prince Charles has contracted the virus, even royalty is not immune. I wonder what would be on the news if there were no Coronavirus?

My plans for the rest of the day? First, second cuppa. Still no wine at breakfast time but I did finish a bottle off last night. Then, I’m gonna get the car out of the garage and clean the interior, maybe the outside. That depends on how energetic I feel. Later, I shall continue repotting or taking cuttings from my plants and put more of them into my summer conservatory. Yes, I’ll be watching television and on the computer. I shall also make my daily phone call. Have made a list and will phone Shirley, someone I met on hols a few years ago. I have decided to plan each evening for what I intend doing the next day. I may not stick to it but it’s worth a try.

As a writer I am used to solitude and self isolation so you would think this lockdown would be easy for me. No. The difference is one of choice. My freedom and freedom of choice have been taken from me. In one sense we are being treated like prisoners. Loss of freedom through no fault of our own or if we are suffering new plagues maybe it is our fault for choosing materialism over humanity during the last decades. We have become selfish and greedy people as opposed to considerate human beings. Just look at the empty supermarket shelves.

I’m now thinking about prisoners. Are they thinking, 'now you know how we feel?' Anyway, we must all stay positive and united through this madness.

Here I am again. It is 7.15 and I’m watching ‘Emmerdale’. The day has gone pretty well, all things considered. The car has had an interior clean and the surplus grime has been removed from the exterior. Full wash? Too energetic and not essential in these trying times. Yes, more plants are sorted and looking pretty in the conservatory. The birds have been fed. 

I made that phone call and, I think, I brightened the day for someone. She seemed to think it was a good idea. I have another victim ready for tomorrow.

Today, we have all been aware of the best and the worst of people. Over 400,000 have answered the Governments call for help. At the other extreme there’s profiteering and those trying to steal NHS workers identity badges to get priority at supermarkets. On a positive note it does seem that the message is hitting home. Fewer people congregating and more staying at home.

Somehow, we will get through this. I have plans for tomorrow.

Day 3,

Good morning peeps,

It’s about 11.00 and I’m enjoying breakfast while looking at the sunshine. It’s not raining and that’s something to be thankful for. Each morning and actually throughout the day I’m checking my forehead. Am I feverish? Now, I had a slight cough before this pandemic. Like most things I put it down to old age but each time I cough I ask myself the question, Is it a dry cough? Then I check my forehead again. So far, I’m fine. I’ve checked the local casualty list and that’s not so good. It has gone up to 50.

Hey, positivity is a must in these situations. Firstly, staying at home means staying at home but your home includes balconies, gardens, drives and patios! Also, we are luckier than in previous decades because we have television and social media. Think back to the days of bubonic plague.

What are my plans for today? Enjoy it, make the most of it and get through it. I will be spring cleaning, carrying on potting plants, washing up and I will be doing a special blog for tomorrow. Next weekend my little booklet LIFE IS… will be on free download. The book designed to cheer people up. Later today I will make the daily phone call and at 8.00 pm I shall be applauding our NHS workers.

Stay safe and well.

That is my first three days of ramblings, activities, positivity and even without ice cream. I would like to share one further thing with you from my JUST BE POSITIVE post last year.

All of my New year blogs are optimistic and offer positivity for the future. I've suggested taking new ideas and opportunities; taking each day as a new beginning. Looking at life as an exciting adventure; seeing every day as a holiday. Always looking for the good and the advantage of every situation or dilemma. So, I would like to leave you with this blog in the hope that if you are going through a difficult time you may find something positive besides a smile to help you through the dark days.

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Love to you all, Lady M xxxx

Lockdown 3

 

Hello Everyone,

The Singing Horses and I would like to wish you a Happy 2021 despite these trying times. We need to keep smiling and stay positive. Okay, maybe I am getting a little repetitive but you know it makes sense. Misery, worry, anxiety leads to depression and is a downward road. Happiness will keep us going even if, and as I fear, 2021 will not be much better than 2020. It will come to an end and so will this dreaded lurgy. As I write this, we in England are back in lockdown. We are back to square one, exactly where we were last March. How many more lockdowns? I think another two and a third wave. Hopefully, I am wrong but I have been right so far. If I am right even more reason to stay cheerful. Our Boris spoke to the Nation at 8.00pm last night, Monday, and gave us this sad news, not that we were not expecting it. Our 'R' rate is above one, our NHS is struggling. Schools must close. We must stay at home apart from essential shopping, medical reasons, exercise... We have heard it all before. Holiday abroad? Forget it. All foreign travel for pleasure is banned. Boris has a reputation for tardiness but I will say this about him, he has got balls! He has been close to death after contracting Covid-19 but survived and keeps going or thriving on energy from somewhere. He has a positivity and optimism throughout and how did he conclude his address last night? We have a vaccine. We are injecting to full capacity and hope to have the top four categories inoculated by Easter thus summer should be normal. Right or wrong Boris will come through smiling and so must we!

The Singing Horses | Book| Austin Macauley Publishers

The Singing Horses: Amazon.co.uk: Marilyn L Rice: 9781528950251: Books

Stay safe everyone. Lots of love, Lady M 💓💓💓

Covid Chronicles 5

Beautiful sunset after a perfect Paphos day 2016

Hello Everyone,  

Lady M here and looking out of her window on a very drab, grey November morning. We are approaching week three of our second lockdown and the nation's mood is one of misery and despair. We see one glimmer of happiness on the horizon... Christmas but will we be able to see our relatives? Well, I have not got any immediate family so it doesn't bother me. I did read an amusing post on FB this morning. "Last year we were looking forward to leaving the EU. This year we are just looking forward to leaving the f***ing house." I thought it summarised our situation extremely well. Stay positive my friends. I will share with you last weekend's posts. If you are on FB, and let's face it most peeps are on social media these days, please find me and you will be able to read all of the posts on my page; they are all 'public'. The pic? taken from my albums and a memory from a perfect day. It is reminder to appreciate what we have because we never know when things will change. Let's face it we did not see any of this horrendous time coming. Even, in these trying times we can make memories and happy ones.

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Day 236, Saturday 14^th November 2020. Lockdown 2, Day 10

Happy birthday Prince Charles! 72 today.

Good morning everyone. I heard some fireworks last night but nothing from either of my new neighbours. No pretty sparklers or colours illuminating the sky.

I was late rising this morning. I looked out, as usual, and vaguely remembered those lovely September sunny days when Antonio called. It was wet and grey. Three visitors’ cars on our little street. Okay. Dress. I choose to be happy. Downstairs. Alarm off. Go into lounge and smile. A beautiful lit candle brightens my day. No, I did not leave it burning overnight. It is a led one and I set it on a timer to come on about 10.00 so that it welcomes me each drab morning through the winter. I have another one set for the evenings. It is the little things that make life bearable through these trying times.

BBC news channel on. Kettle on. Brekky time with iPad. Am I having a boring day ahead or a productive, cheerful one? Well that really depends on me, doesn’t it? Temperature? 36.1̊. Weather 12̊, mild for the time of year.

First things take recycling material out to bin (blue bin) and feed pesky pigeons. Next water plants. Washing up? Nah, later! A little pampering… a face mask while I listen to some of my Bobby Dazzler’s music. It is so nice to have music recoded for you by a loved one when they have passed over, kind of comforting.

Okay, news. Sorry, (bus alert. Two. Blue and red both leaving the centre. A 16 with one passenger and an empty 46) Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper who was convicted of murdering 13 women and the attempted murder of a further 7, has died from Covid-19. Guess, sometimes it picks the right person. He was 74 and been in jail since 1981, 39 years and has cost us, the taxpayers, approximately £11,000,000. Now, I am thinking of those refugees and homeless peeps. Our money would have been better spent helping them rather than keeping him in a cosy cell, albeit in isolation. Is it time to reconsider the death penalty or maybe Covid is doing it for us?

Trump has emerged from the White House. Is his tantrum over? He has hinted that maybe his time is over, but his face says… sore loser.

There is one cheerful piece of news and a video that’s gone viral. ‘Betty moves into care home with Ken’. Ken has been in the care home with dementia for five weeks but missing his wife of 71 years. She had self-isolated in the care home for two weeks and had Covid-19 tests. The staff set up a romantic meal for two and brought Ken to the table before bringing Betty to join him. He asked if she was taking him home. She replied, “No, I am moving in with you” or something like that. It brought tears to your eyes. It also shows just how much (another bus gone over the bridge) care workers do for those in their care.

Off to watch two films now, “Finding Neverland” with Johnny Depp. The story of the making of ‘Peter Pan’. Should be educating. Then, an old favourite, “Dirty Dancing” and “nobody puts Baby in the corner”. Wonder how many more films I am gonna watch this winter? 100 or more.

Oh, Prince Andrew has been seen leaving Windsor Castle. I don’t get it. Why is that news? His Mum is living there and he’s probably in her bubble. He lives in a massive place on the estate. Is it because he thinks he may return to Royal duties because they’re a bit short of the HRH’s these days despite the fact that his behaviour has made such a position untenable?

 

Day 237, Sunday 15^th November 2020. Lockdown 2, Day 11 (half-way through November)

Good afternoon!

Well, I enjoyed the films yesterday before my chicken and bacon slice with veggies for dinner. Last night? Played and watched television. There were loads of fireworks. Some families were obviously enjoying Diwali even if there were no public gatherings. I did see some of the pretty colours lighting up the sky.

This morning, I sauntered downstairs after 10.00 and the pretty candlelight in the lounge warmed my heart. I choose to be happy. Television on. Kettle on. Cereals in bowl. Coffee and milk in cup. Brekky time with iPad.

Sad news. Des O’Connor has passed away at the age of 88. Wow! Dessy has gone. He will be enjoying his party with Morecambe and Wise upstairs. Three first class entertainers reunited. RIP Des!

“Songs of Praise” time. Candles lit. Second cuppa. It was Aled Jones hosting the programme from Wales. He began with my fave hymn, “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”. It has that wonderful line which brings back memories of my first visit to Israel and the Sea of Galilee. I will always remember the magical moment of standing by the shore, looking across the calm sea and singing, “O, Sabbath rest by Galilee, o calm of hills above, where Jesus knelt to share with Thee the silence of eternity interpreted by love … Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease.” Okay back to reality.

Aled is in Bangor Cathedral talking of his early days as a chorister. I remember mine in that little village of Ashford-in-the-Water. I have a pic of me, aged 9, outside the vestry in chorister robes. No, you are not seeing it. Tough! More beautiful hymns. I love the traditional ones. “Thine be the Glory”, “Guide us O thou great Jehovah” and he conclude with “How Great Thou Art”. It was lovely and brightened the grey day.

Next! I replayed a tape of a clairvoyance reading in 1998. Many of you may think such things are rubbish. Fine, you have a right to your opinion. However, in 1998 I had not published any novels, or articles. I had not even written the first published book. I was a complete unknown. He said that I would be a writer and my work would be inspirational to people in the future. Wow! Have you been inspired reading either these chronicles or my books? Peeps will want to read my work. Double Wow! It will be my legacy to the world. Treble Wow! Makes you think doesn’t it?

After listening to that the sun decided to make a brief appearance clearing away torrential rain. I ventured out, across to the post box in New Square. Had a letter to post. Yes, I still write them. It is an old art whereby you pick up a pen and find some paper, although it was, in this case, a card and scribe meaningful personal words with joined-up letters. Not impersonal typed email.

As usual, for you all, I was observant. First, I was horrified by the cruel breeze, it blew right through me even though the sun was a blinding force. My eyes were watery when I reached the pedestrian crossing. Pressed the button. Waited. Cars stopped. I crossed and walked by Primark. No goodies in the windows, just pretty display boards showing what you might buy, if you were allowed out. There were quite a few peeps around which surprised me. I guess they were walking down to Tesco’s. Walked to the little red box and posted my letter. Pandora? Closed. Peacocks? Closed with closing down sale signs still in the windows. Were they one of the companies in liquidation, meaning they will not reopen? One sign of normality. A Christmas tree already up, waiting for decoration but with a sign, “Merry Christmas”. I looked at the other shops, all closed apart from Vodafone and Specsavers. They must be essential this time. Normally, on a Sunday in November all the shops would be bustling as crowds shopped for Christmas. This year, I suspect that peeps are watching the pennies or shopping online. I returned home. Opened my door. Switched off the alarm and counted my blessings. I have had my share of misfortunes and life has dealt me some cruel blows, but I still have so much in comparison with many others. I have worked for what I have but I was fortunate to receive an education. I could be homeless with that cruel breeze biting through me and I would have nowhere to rush home to. Be thankful for what you have, my friends.

Lunchtime followed by phone call to my new-found second cousin. Each time we talk I am amazed at how much we have in common. By the time we had finished it was passed 4.15 and the darkness had made another appearance. So, I have come up to my computer and am writing all of this for you. You lucky peeps. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening wherever you are. I have the film “633 Squadron” on and I am going to give it my full attention now.

Choose to be happy and positive. Stay occupied and thankful. This nightmare will pass, as all things do.

Okay just before dinner which is chicken with mushrooms, onion, pepper and tomatoes with vino, I thought I would give you the weekly update on Covid-19. It is not good. The global figure is 54,621,689. Last Sunday it was 50,387,605. That is a rise of 4,000,000+ in one week. To be precise 4,264,084. My friends, it is on the rise and deffo in control! President Trump thought he could control it. I don’t think so. Here, in the UK we have moved up to 7 in the league table and today our total figure is 1,369,318 with 51,934 deaths.

Love to you all, Lady M 💓💓💓

The Game of Life

Lady M kite flying in Paphos. A happy day in her game of life! 

Howde Peeps,

Donald and I are still with you and trying to find posts to cheer you up. This Covid thing is still with you and causing chaos. We know that Lady M see life as a game in which we can never win but she  always remained positive when the dice throws her low numbers. Right now, it's throwing everyone low numbers. So please enjoy rereading this, stay positive until the dice begins throwing double sixes again. Love S and D xxxxx

                                                          *******************

Hello Everyone,

Lady M still here and is feeling philosophical, positive and nostalgic while working on the present theme for her blogs, namely Life.

It all started on that day when she thought about her age. Life is definitely a game which we all play. We have no choice. We are automatically included on the day we are born rather like being the car, dog, top hat or other token placed on Go on the Monopoly™ board. Someone else threw the dice and decided on our starting number. However, unlike Monopoly™ there are no winners in the game of life. (The pic of daffs on the left? Lady M likes it).

So, we are born, and we begin to move around the board of life. If we are lucky we may find ourselves living on Mayfair or perhaps our destiny is to remain on The  Old Kent Road.

 Our first memories are of that so called glorious period of childhood or the age of discovery. We discover the difference between right and wrong, we discover that we have needs like sustenance, we learn how to communicate, we learn that humans wear clothes, we learn how to behave. Our gathering of knowledge begun in those early months before we even walk is the beginning of a lifetime of learning. There will be talk of that place called school where education is drummed into the brain; much essential learning for what follows childhood... adulthood. The dice will be thrown again. Where it lands will determine our education. We will go through this stage because Time and Tide wait for no man. During those years the dice may be thrown again and throw things into confusion. Maybe, one of those factors determined by fate of the dice like moving, redundancy, death, divorce, or other changing circumstances will change everything. As children we are not in control and cannot change where the dice lands. Of course, other factors play a part in the lives of different individuals. The country and place of birth will have an effect on opportunities and chances.

Lady M likes this place

 We move round the board of life. If we break the rules it is Go to Jail. Alas, unlike Monopoly™ there is no get out of jail free card. Sometimes. it may seem as if life is easy or we are on the Free Parking spot. This will not last for long.

 Another  throw of the dice and we are either in higher education and still learning for some career or other or we are in the work place and struggling to pay the bills. At some stage we will pass Go and have a windfall. Hopefully, more than £200. For others, it will be a low score and a sad lot in life... homeless, refugees, poverty, poor health.


A few more years pass by and we move on to another phase after another throw. What has the dice given us... a partner, a marriage, children? We are parents but we don't feel prepared. It all seemed so easy in those lazy, hazy, crazy days of childhood. What do we do? We muddle through and do the best we can.

 The pic? One of her memories from afternoon tea at The Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. Another happy day for her. It reminds her of a German phrase she learned, Abwarten und Tee trinken. Simply means, wait and drink tea. When the dice are conspiring against us all we can do is wait and hope. Or, many find consolation, support and hope in their faith whatever it maybe. Our faith or religion is a personal choice. We may be born into a specific one but in later life it will be our choice or determined by the dice. Those children grow up and throw their own dice. Our lives have changed again. We are moving faster round the board. We question why we are playing this game. Could or should we have made different decisions? No! We wait for the inevitable.

A good attitude to the game of life!

Those final throws determine how we spend those last days of mortality. The final waiting game. I have a friend who lives in a retirement village. He said that they referred to the village as 'God's waiting room.'

Yes, I confess, although I do not reside in such a village yet I am in that waiting room. The dice has given me some good numbers and some bad ones over the years but somehow I have survived. They say that wisdom comes with age. I don't know. I was born a genius! But what I do know is that we will never win in this game so the best we can do is enjoy it, particularly the good times, and be happy as we float round the board.

Next week, Lady M will be challenging you!

Until then, just remember that you cannot win. It is impossible but have a great week anyway! If the dice throws a double six and you win the lottery my number is... 😃😇😉😊😁

Yours, Lady M

Happiness!

Spring flowers make her feel happy!

Howde Peeps,

Donald and I are still here looking after you for a while. We have popped into her archives and liked her selection of the 'Just' ones, 'be positive', 'smile' and 'be happy'. We have selected the one about happiness as we feel you all need cheering up. This pandemic is not going to get easier anytime soon. We can see how unhappy you peeps are about your jollies being spoilt. We say, 'stay safe, positive and happy'. Enjoy the following.

                                                *****************************

Lady M still here and admits that most of the things in her life happen by accident or do they? During the last few weeks she has been moved by the tragedy on Easter Sunday and then disillusioned with our international situation declaring that we are in a third world war. The only way to fight negativity, depression or despair is to fight back with positivity. She realised that she has begun her last two postings with the word 'Just'. She has decided it should be the current theme. Just smile, be positive and now happy.

Happiness does not solve problems anymore than smiling or positivity but combined with those two it makes the day brighter. Each morning, when she wakes she thinks of each day as a holiday and a blessing. To be more precise, she doesn't wake up until mid-morning, brunch or coffee time. She is a night owl and seldom goes to bed before the bewitching hour. She finds it difficult to sleep before two a.m. 

Her father had a phrase which she frequently recalls, "there's always someone worse off than you." You may feel like disagreeing if you are going through hard times, bereavement or some form of distress but if you are reading this then presumably you have either a mobile/cell phone, laptop or computer. What about all of those refugees, homeless or peeps who do not have access or cannot afford it? 

She remembers those good old days of the sixties and her life in Derbyshire. One of the annual events was the Bakewell Show; the family went along. Sometimes her father exhibited livestock  and won many prizes. He was so proud of all the rosettes he acquired over the years. There's one long lasting memory of the year he took her into the flower tent and stood for some considerable time admiring the blooms. He smiled and was particularly moved by the beauty of the chrysanthemums, gladioli,  hydrangeas and nature. He radiated happiness as he said, (I paraphrase because it was a long time ago) "Just look at that beauty, think of how its grown, it makes you think about what is beyond the universe and doesn't it make you glad to be alive."

Different things radiate happiness to different people. If the sun is shining it is easier to feel the warmth and happiness. Still, thinking back to the sixties where Lady M seems to live, the great late Ken Dodd had a hit record Happiness, to quote just a few of his lyrics, got no silver, got no gold, but happiness in my soul; happiness is the greatest gift that I possess; I thank the Lord that I've been blessed with more than my share of happiness.

There are no winners in the game of life so do whatever makes you feel happy and enjoy this short sojourn which we have on the earth. Make time for yourself … walk in the rain, enjoy the beauty of nature, visit the cinema, go to the beach, read a book, take up a hobby... or do whatever puts a smile of your face.

Until next week... be happy, smile and be positive. 

Lady M xxxxx

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Well, you may find it difficult getting into a cinema at the moment, but you get the gist!

All our love, Donald and Sofia  xxxxx

Lockdown 14

Sunset,  darkness will follow, then sunrise heralding a beautiful new day

Hello Peeps,

I hope you enjoyed the slight change last week and found Lillian's newsletter with my interview a refreshing interlude.

As I write this, here in the UK, most of us are looking forward to phase 3 on our Boris's roadmap. Many places including hairdressers, much to the relief of many, are reopening after three months of darkness. July 4th heralds a new beginning for us. Our own Independence Day.

We are all going through difficult, challenging times but there will be an end to this global pandemic eventually. We will look back on these dark days and realise how we have grown stronger and more united across the globe. Hope always evolves from despair. Stay positive, my friends.

As has become my custom, I'm going to share three of my daily logs with you.

Day 94, Thursday. 6 months to Christmas Day.

Morning Peeps. It’s so, so, so hot here. It’s beautiful. In the 80’s again. Fantabulous. There may be thunderstorms tonight. Who cares? Let’s enjoy the day. I’m trying to get used to my lounge; it looks peculiar now that my old friend ‘dust’ has been removed.

What to to do today? Go out. After brekky, I made my phone call. Alas, the lucky recipient chose not to answer. Next, popped out to the local shop for a few provisions. It’s great outside but I fear it precedes tragedy. The volume of traffic is back to normal. You may remember, peeps, two months ago I described the centre of West Brom as resembling an eerie ghost town but not today. There are buses in the station and lots of human beings. There’s a jubilant air as if the prison sentence is over. To most, it seems as if easing lockdown restrictions means total freedom. It’s not over!

I arrived at McColls and the first thing I noticed… the notice on the door saying only four peeps in at any one time had disappeared. Mind you, there was only me anyway,  but you can see what is happening. I left with provisions, meat, ice cream (for the days when my darling does not visit), fruit and a tv magazine.

Back home it was a pottering afternoon before my siesta. I just love a siesta on a hot afternoon. It’s so European. Reminds me of all those many happy days in Cyprus. This afternoon I heard much screaming and merriment. Ventured to the window. There was a water fight between my neighbours; they both had hoses and were showering each other over the communal wall. Hazy, crazy days of summer. Happiness prevails for now.

Had an email from the Odeon cinema. They’re reopening. They give details of all the arrangements they’ve made to make the cinema a safe place to visit. Alas, as I suspected there are no Silver Screen films for senior citizens. No nice cheap tickets which include coffee and bikkies. However, they are providing specials for kids.

Evening news. Wow! The idiots rule our country. Once again, I cannot believe my eyes. It looks like the entire British population has rushed to the south coast; the most popular destination is Bournemouth. You couldn’t even stick a pin anywhere on the beach. All  police were on patrol. Cars were parked anywhere as madness prevailed through desperation to hit that beach. A reporter interviewed a black man. In the light of current events I have mentioned the individual’s colour. His reply was that he was not bothered about Covid 19, he didn’t have it, it was a nice day, he was happy and enjoying himself; he wasn’t worried about social distancing. So, let’s look at the figures. New cases today, 1,118! Almost double yesterday’s figure. It’s also a month since George Floyd’s death and the beginning of protest marches. It doesn’t need a genius to see what’s happening does it?

There’s much excitement as we prepare for the great opening up next weekend. Will it happen? If so, how long for? Or, are we going into regional lockdowns? Maybe, Boris will continue with his ostrich approach and roadmap.

Dinner time, chicken, jacket potatoes, veggies plus vino. Soon, there will be another bottle to throw into the sea. Then, the highlight of my day Downton Abbey. It’s series 4 now. There are only 6. What will I do when it’s finished?

It’s 8.30 and I’m watching Martin Lewis talking on his money show. Once again, I can’t believe it. He’s talking holidays abroad. Apparently, the U.K. is arranging air bridges with 11 European countries. Insurance companies will be covering Coronavirus and our European Health cards are still operative even though we’ve left the EU.

Okay, enough for today. Bed calls. Goodnight.

Day 95, Friday, 26^th June, Groundhog Day 30,462.

Morning Peeps,

“And lo there breaks a yet more glorious day.” I was happy to leave the boudoir this morning. There were no thunderstorms last night. Guess, we still have that to look forward to. Tv on. Computer on in the library. Emails before brekky. Normality in my humble abode.

It’s second cuppa time. Loose Women are on the screen. Thinking about what to do today. Have fun folks, be back soon.

Hey, he’s delivered. I’m delighted. So it’s almost 4.00 pm. I’m listening to music. Have made my phone call, kept the washing machine occupied. Now, in a position to watch the mountain of ironing growing.

The data. Globally, 9,800,000+. It’s taken six months or so to reach 8,000,000 and just a week to add almost another million! Here, in the U.K. new cases are at 1,380. That’s 200 higher than yesterday. In my local area there are a few new cases each day. These figures are probably lower than the actual ones. Scary! I think the truth is that we are going backwards in this virus not forward. I’m also thinking the R figure is probably higher than 1. I’m not convinced that we are at 3 on the famous 1-5 system where 1 means it has even eradicated in the U.K. Okay, positivity time. There are 28 countries who have all cases resolved. It will be nice when it’s all 215 countries.

Dinner and television. Bonne Nuit.

Day 96. Saturday 27^th June, Armed Forces Day!

Morning Peeps,

I woke up. It was dull, drab and dismal. Pitter patter! Raindrops on the window. Much needed refreshing, life-giving rain. Pour Moi? Stay in bed. Then, sunshine radiated through the drapes. Yea. I’m out of bed and already dreaming of my darling delivering (hopefully) later.

Today is the Armed Forces Day in the UK. Last year, and in previous years, I remember listening to the celebratory music from the park over the road. Cheerful, happiness, memories. Today? Silence. I think Her Majesty will give one of her messages later. Soon, she will have given more messages through this pandemic than through the rest of her lengthy reign.

What is going on around the UK? We’ve had more stabbings. Last weekend there were stabbings in Reading, Manchester, Birmingham and Walsall. Now, in Glasgow. Football  matches started last week and  Liverpool have managed to win the Premier League behind closed doors. This has caused massive celebrations, fireworks and parties in Liverpool. Peeps have gone mad and last night the fire brigade were called to a fire at the Liver Building, started after a firework was thrown at it. So, peeps, we know which city is going to have the next surge of Covid cases, don’t we. I recall Oliver Dowden, a couple of weeks ago, saying how important it was to restart football matches for the mental health and welfare of our society. Pardon? Football is also associated with hooliganism and a win after thirty years of trying has brought the worst out in Liverpool supporters. Please don’t tell me stabbings, parties etc are all down to pent up frustration after lockdown.

I can’t see any protest marches this weekend. Yet! But there’s been a massive moving party in London. Why?

It’s raining again. No! No! Will my darling come later?

Holidays are now being encouraged in order to boost the economy. Staycations are expected to be popular in the next couple of months. I’m thinking of Bournemouth beach a couple of days ago and I hope peeps will be sensible. I’m also thinking of the ever changing pandemic situation. Last week we had an air bridge agreement with Portugal. Now Portugal has had an upsurge of new cases that has gone. So, presumably the agreement that we have with other countries, at present France, Spain and Greece, can change at any time, even mid flight.

Someone on the box is pointing out that the holiday experience will not be as it was before. Why are peeps so desperate to go abroad or for any holiday? It’s clear to me that the hotel on foreign shores will not be as it was. I’m trying to imagine Paphos and the hotel where I’ve spent many happy weeks over the years under new restrictions. Peeps wearing masks, breakfast served in rooms, no socialising in the bars or restaurant, no sharing of lifts, any entertainment at all? Swimming allowed? Will the leisure centre be open? Then, the whole experience will be fraught with wondering about the dreaded lurgy lurking. Has anyone in the hotel got it? Are you really going to enjoy the experience? Be patient and stay safe.

Sunshine! Yea! Temperature today 67, a drop of 15 degrees. It’s supposed to stay fine until 4.00 pm. Hope my darling comes in the next hour. Ice cream is better than going on hols at present. My temperature 36.4. Unusually high for Moi but still classified as low.

Yes! Yes! I hear him.  I rush to the kitchen door, collect my coins, and go out to greet him and pick up my beautiful, delicious, ‘99’. A neighbour came out and joined me. She had been dubious. Hell no! If/when we go into lockdown again he will disappear. Let’s enjoy his joyous visits while we can. There’s an appropriate proverb, “make hay while the sun shines”. As a farmer’s daughter I know exactly what that means. Memory lane. I remember those summer nights when the whirring of the combine harvester could be heard well into the early hours of the morning.

Had a little siesta,  played a few games and participated in an online party before dinner.

This evening there has been a short service in Reading where those peeps lost their lives last week with family members lighting a candle for each of the victims.

I’ve put it off long enough. Let us face those horrendous figures. The US has seen a surge in cases. Today, they have 20,000+ but yesterday it was 40,000+. Florida and Texas appear to be the worst hit states. They are going back into lockdown. There’s a curfew in Houston in an attempt to get it under control. What is illuminating is that half of the new cases are people under 35. It was thought that youngsters were the least affected. Many have had a cavalier attitude, it won’t affect me. Looks like they were wrong. This virus doesn’t do logic, rhyme or reason. Also the global figure is over 10,000,000. Yes, that’s an increase of 1,000,000 in a week. Could it be the result of protest marches and genuine stupidity of people rushing off to beaches and acting as if the whole thing is over?

Enough, back tomorrow.

Lots of love, stay safe. Lady M xxxx

Lockdown 3

Hello Everyone,

Well, we are now in our third week of lockdown. Sadly, some have not survived it and I send my sympathy and condolences to those who have lost loved ones. It is our Easter weekend and normally we would be excited and looking forward to sunny days ahead and much activity. Churches will be empty this Friday morning, the time for remembering Christ's crucifixion, and on Sunday for his resurrection. If there was ever a time to look after or look out for each other it is now. If there was ever a time to be positive, smiling, happy and hold on to hope it is now. My pics this week are of my book showing the apt title and a candle. I would like to ask you all to join me this Eastertide and light a candle for all those who are suffering. We must also remember those front line soldiers who are still working and putting their lives at risk for the rest of us. They deserve our respect and our weekly applause. I am going to post a section telling the Easter story and two of my Lockdown passages. I hope they will help you or maybe even inspire you to do something positive through these Groundhog days.

The Easter Story

Today is Good Friday in the Christian Religion. It is the day when Christians remember how Jesus died on the Cross outside the Jerusalem City Wall. 

On Sunday the church  will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. That first Sunday morning, when the women went to the tomb where Jesus had been hastily lain only to find the stone removed and the body missing, is celebrated. The women were anxious to anoint the body, in accordance with Jewish tradition, at the earliest opportunity. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and other women arrived at the tomb, expecting to find it secured by a stone. Imagine their surprise, the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Inside, a young man, wearing a white robe, spoke to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter, that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him as he told you."

(Mark ,Chapter16, vs 6 & 7.)

Lockdown

Day 14,

Hey, we are almost at the end of week two in the UK. Other countries are further into this. After our monarch’s inspiring address yesterday we can do a few more if we have to. Maybe, we should see each day as an adventure. This is different from anything we’ve ever known before, horrendous as it is, if we look at it as something exciting and with new opportunities it will seem easier to endure.

It’s 12.19 and I’m on my second cuppa. Yep, late today but I was reading until the small hours and was still awake at 3.00 am. These things don’t matter now do they? Night and day have become kinda synonymous. Oh it was a Sophie Kinsella book.

I know some peeps are getting bored. Well, bored peeps are boring. If you’re bored you need to do something about it. Take this time to learn a new language, take up a new hobby, catch up on reading, catch up on odd jobs. The choice is yours and with the Internet you don’t even have to go out.

I’ve just been sent a message about prayer. If ever there was a time for prayer it’s now. Whatever your religion or beliefs never underestimate the power of prayer.

What am I doing today? Not sure yet but I will not be bored.

Now, let’s take a look at the figures. Be brave. Locally, the number has risen to 316. Not good. The UK number of cases is 48,000 where as USA is at 336,000+. Worldwide the figure is 1 ¼ million. Deaths 70,000+. It wants me wanna have a lot of duvet days but we must be positive. Always remember good will conquer evil. We will win this war.

Will watch the goggle box for a while and then maybe face the mounting dishes in the kitchen. Have fun. Normally, I would be going to the library for afternoon tea on Monday. Yes, it’s deffo Monday, yesterday was Sunday! Routine had disappeared but not down the black hole. It’s just taking a rest and will return. I’ve also noticed that library books have all been dated for return on June 30th. Do they know something we don’t?

It’s 6.30 pm and the day has sort of drifted by. I went out for a walk. Well, to be more precise I walked about two hundred yards round the block. There was not a soul in sight. A helicopter hovered above. I’m assuming they were monitoring the situation particularly in the nearby Park and Sandwell Valley ensuring peeps were not congregating or sunbathing. I can’t believe peeps are actually doing that. I did notice a change on our Tesco’s car park . No cars. It looks like it’s been set up as a Covid19 testing centre.

I’ve just had the great experience of the week…I put the bin out. I waited all day until 6.00 pm. I took my grey household waste bin out of my back gate and my neighbour brought her bin out at the same time. It was really exciting. I never thought the day would come when putting a bin out would be so exciting or the highlight of the week. Garden rubbish and food waste collections have been suspended so we only have recycling and household rubbish collections now and for the foreseeable.

What next? I shall watch the soaps and then the last episode of 'Liar'.

So, stay safe folks.

Day 15,

Oh dear, our PM, Boris is in intensive care. His symptoms persisted while in isolation and now it’s serious. Should we all learn from this? The virus is demanding. He insisted on working and leading the Government while in isolation. Should he have rested?

Something has just been delivered. Dare I pick it up off the mat? I’ll put gloves on first. Well, it was the letter from the Government on Coronavirus. I guess in about a hundred years time one or two of these remaining letters will be sold for a fortune on a kind of eBay equivalent unless we have destroyed the world by then.

The weather is brill and we’re having a kinda mini summer leading up to Easter. So, this afternoon I’ll be in my little garden working on my potting plants.

I keep feeling my forehead. Do I have a temperature? Well, I could only guess as I don’t have a thermometer. If I tried to buy one they’re probably scarce or cost a fortune now. Anyway, I don’t have a dry cough. Curiosity has got the better of me. Just had a quick look at thermometers at Boots online.. not only expensive but many out of stock, coming soon. We are not only a country in chaos but a world in chaos.

Normally, I would be planning day trips and listening for Antonio’s melodic sound heralding the arrival of ice cream at this time of year. Many would be packing ready to hit the skies for holidays in foreign climes. Recently, a relatively new word became popular…staycation. The idea of holidaying at home as opposed to abroad. People would take a holiday somewhere in the UK rather like the days of my youth when a holiday was an annual event, not a monthly one, and a trip to the seaside. Usually, it was a week. If you could afford two weeks you were really lucky. Now, a holiday or staycation means stay in your home!

Yesterday, I saw an article by Simon Calder on travel. He predicts that overseas travel will take around five years to get back to where it was before this pandemic. Many are still stranded abroad as flights were cancelled and borders closed last month. Are peeps going to want to fly abroad or go on a cruise after this? How many airlines or businesses, hotels, restaurants etc will survive?

So, let’s look at the figures for today. Note, I’ve put it off today. Worldwide, 12,000 new cases. USA well ahead of any other country at 360,000+. Alarming. We have had more than 5,000 deaths.

On that sobering note it’s time for my second cuppa.

Back for the news at 1.30. No, it’s not good. Tremendous noise in the skies… two helicopters going round today. Have sorted some of my plants out this morning. Relaxing for a while. Thinking about what to do next.

Listening to the update on BBC and learn that I shouldn’t take much notice of the statistics. The listed ones here are hospital deaths only. They do not take into account care homes where many are losing their lives to this virus or deaths elsewhere like homes. So that may mean twice the number shown. Also, the case figures may well be fiction. So, I guess when all this is over we’ll just round it up to the nearest million or so.

Something exciting to report today. I’m learning how to post on Instagram. How many people will acquire new skills during this sad time? Ingenuity and creative skills? Afterwards will peeps have learned never to take things for granted particularly as they look at the mountain of toilet rolls stored in the corner of the lounge (the only room in their property large enough to accommodate them).

A car came round today. I rushed to the window. Movement outside. It was only a council van.

Only one soap opera on the box tonight. Then I shall have my third game of Scrabble and attempt to beat my score. Finally, a nice relaxing bubble bath before I retire. Stay safe peeps and well.

And stay safe my friends. Have the best Easter you can and please light a candle.

Lady M xxxxx