Strange times

It's difficult enough to live a normal life as it is, but every time I turn on the news there's some horrific event, it's almost as if Demons are whispering in the ears of ordinary people, enticing them to do their bidding.

Years ago if you broke up with a boy/girl /man/woman friend, you did NOT seek revenge. You moved on. That bit of your life had played out and you moved on. 
If you had a problem with a doctor who saved your life, but hurt you during the procedure  you didn't offer to "stab them up." as I heard in the Radcliffe a couple of weeks ago.

Evil preys on the minds of the uneducated. They are the ones who skipped school, didn't need Uni, jobs were for losers.  As they roam about the streets like feral animals, they see people who have worked hard, are educated, and are reaping the rewards, and they're jealous.

They are jealous of the hard working Asians and Europeans who have carved out a life for themselves in a hostile environment against the odds. They are jealous of the Doctors and Teachers and Businessmen and women, the Scientists they call nerds.

Without these people, there would be no Benefits for them to claim, no Doctors to save their lives, no curry houses to celebrate in, no cures for their self-inflicted diseases, and no films, games entertainment, mobile phones, new gadgets.  Do they think these things come about by  accident?  No. By education and development of problem solving ideas.  You can't get that down the tanning salon or the tattoo parlour.

At work yesterday, a girl of about 15 in a sugar pink T shirt with "Don't talk to me - you're boring." slogan walked in with her much tattooed mother, and I couldn't help myself. I said loudly "EXCUSE ME!  I take issue with that - I'm not boring, I was learning to Charleston at the weekend, what did you do?"  She went scarlet from the neck up.

Later I came across them again and the ignorance of the whole family was absolutely amazing. The girl asked if the portraits of the women on the wall were of real people
because they had too many clothes on!  This comment included the notorious Emma Hamilton, Nelson's lover, lying half naked on a couch!  When I started talking about the clothes she suddenly perked up and got interested and asked how "Crinoline ladies" as she called them went to the toilet. (Why do people always want to know that sort of stuff?)

I told her how the frame was light and could be lifted and that they sat on the toilet face forwards as their bloomers were split in two.  I then said that she and her mother would have been outrageous in those days as they would look like they were walking about in their
underwear. The father said they were already outrageous and didn't need any help. We all laughed.

But the comments you hear as people walk round the Manor always show ignorance.
"I suppose this is the room he brought all his Mistresses to, they were all at it."
(It wasn't - he didn't)
"I bet the women had to kept right away from the men." 
(Some of them were married to each other!)
"Wonder how many servant girls got knocked up by the men here?"
(As far as I know they managed that amongst themselves!)
"No,none of these paintings are real - they're all copies."
(They ARE all real.)
"It's too garish - look at all this French furniture, and what's worse it's French."
(There's nothing wrong with the French!)

Some people don't even look at anything they just walk through the house talking about their friendgs or on their phone. Why do they bother to come?

It was a hard day anyway, more redundancies, the staff who are left, will be doing twice as much work. None of it made sense.

Today an e.mail request from the department got my back up. Could we turn up (on a day we don't usually work), for no pay, in our best clothes, men in jackets and ties, and could ladies dress smartly and bring children or seniors so that we could pretend to be visitors and have our photos taken for the new website.

How about they take photos of actual guests? Perhaps Arsenal T shirts over a capacious stomach and crop tops and shorts on women, both sexes showing off their unreadable tattoos are not what they are looking for!  There are plenty of other visitors, old men in age-old safari suits accompanied by their young Thai brides. 

Who I'd love to see come to the Manor are men like Hugh Grant, James Fleet, Colin Firth, dashing educated mature men nicely dressed, or Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth.  Women like Meryl Streep, Germaine Greer, Emma Watson or Adele. Mature, middle aged, young, but hopefully well turned out and intelligent.  

I want a NERDVANA!

What's wrong with bringing the human race upwards? Wouldn't it be nice if there was no terror or murders or stalkers or horrible gossips? What if there was more time for fun?
I thought by now there would at least be jet packs for everyone!  I don't want an Aldous Huxley Brave New World - I want a lovely fun, interesting, amazing world.  It's there
already we just have to find it.

What a rant - glad I got that out of my system!


 

 

Blaughhh

Got a germ!  Incredible waves of queasiness followed by stomach cramps and a visit to the smallest room in the house. Lots of times!

It's the sort of thing you get from people not washing their hands - not me - I'm OCD clean.
But I've been taking risks recently, like coffees and teas out.

Most people my age taking risks go for parachute training like my dear hubby, or a safari across the African savanna like my old school friend, or even flying a vintage aircraft, going to New York for a weekend's shopping in Designer shops.

Not me, it's having a cup of tea made and given to me by a stranger in a tea bar. I have to trust that stranger as I have severe allergies and intolerances.

So while out at the weekend I had not one, but two cups of tea at a Festival, getting cocky I thought to myself. No blood blisters appeared in my mouth, so all well and good. The following day however the germ raised it's ugly head in my direction!

Also yesterday, germ on board, and trying to fight it, I had visual disturbances when a friend and I were discussing awful things. I got a flashing light semi circle and drifting oblong blobs of semi-transparent white stuff that pulled my optics out in both eyes.

Quick visit to our lovely doctor who saw me in her lunch hour and told me I had an optic migraine and high blood pressure.

I can see well again now, I've still got the germ but the cramps aren't so bad, and I have to go back to the Doctors today to see if my BP has gone down.

Blaughh - what a wreck. Probably because I am really busy, socially, mentally, and physically -I do all the things I do - because at my age, I may never get another chance.

I'm trying to make a scratch on this world before I leave it. With my books, my blogs, my
mad shananigans, my fight for women's rights - that should have been done and finished
in the 1970s - yet it still goes on.

I still think I'm thirty three - the same age as my son - I'm frustrated in trying to do countless things in a body that doesn't work - after years of keep fit classes, starvation diets, and badminton in the lunch hours to try to keep well. 

This year in two weeks I walked for 58 hours. I have climbed to the highest point on Kenilworth Castle and St Michaels' Mount, I have taken part in 4 or 5 Sealed Knot events
I have learnt to dance the Charleston, and rush about a Manor House of 120 rooms as a guide.  You think I would be be fit after all that!

Anyway hope you are all fit well and feisty - do something today to make you smile - xx


 

 

Time Travellers Ball

It was 30 degrees in the shade at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes, and in a huge Victorian Speigeltent fun was being had - provided by Harry and Edna - the Vintage Sweethearts.

1920s Flappers taught us how to dance

So we gave it a go

Hubby a bit confused before we got going!

Sis and me getting in the groove
 

Proper 20s flappers - twins doing it properly!

Bye everybody!  Such fun!
 
Paying for it today tho' won't sent a photo of me lying prone on the sofa unable to move!
Have a good week everyone!

 

Fame at last!

I have a letter published in the BBC History magazine!  Hooray and thank you !

I wrote because of an article in the magazine which discussed history books, and a couple of the panel didn't think that self publishing History books was a good thing.

The panel consisted of a tv presenter, whose father was a tv presenter. A historian who had wealthy parents, and other well connected famous people from priviledged backgrounds.

While they were fully supported in their endeavours and had doors opened for them. I'm not saying they didn't work hard. I imagine they did. I did not have any doors opened for me, so while they stood in front of the cameras - I was behind them - earning a living to support my family.

Here is my letter: I had originally called it The Right to Write, but they have retitled it

Salute to Self Publishing - which I approve of.

I have just finished reading your 200th issue from cover to cover and I'm pleased to say it is as controversial and informative as ever. To add to the controversy I wish to take issue with your "Books Interview" and Andrew Roberts comments about self-published books. Without the aid of famous or affluent parents, I have written a book about my passion: 17th-century and, specifically women's history. After 20 years research, and living in the 17th century as a re-enactor, my book, The Women of the English Civil War is selling well in bookshops and on Amazon. 

I realise that Andre Roberts dislikes self publishing, but if I hadn't written this book, the history of these women's unrewarded bravery and suffering would remain untold. Hidden away for 400 years their voices would have been largely lost. So I decided to speak for them.

I now work in the heritage industry and realise that the only thing the general public thought
they knew about women in the English Civil War was that they were whores and baggage,
so it was time to redress the issue.

Also this week I have been invited to take part in a TV programme called "Come Dine with Me."  My butcher Henry, thinks I should do it as I could be the difficult one who can't eat anything.  I said there was little point, as I was busy enough, and still allergic to quite a lot of food.

Dear Hubby agreed while laughing, that I shouldn't do it. When I asked why, he said, "Well, lets face it - you don't take criticism well - they'd have to bleep out all the WTF's and the
rest of the contestants hair would be standing on end and you'd probably finish the programme with a punch!"

I have to say he has a point - I'm not as magnanimous as I think I am.

Have a good day everyone!

 

Hot Stuff

9.40 am and it's 30 degrees already. Being a Celt - this is not the weather for me.  Cool yes, soft rain yes,sunny days with a breeze off the sea - yes please.  So before it got too hot this morning I made some strawberry jam from our strawberries. Cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the house.

I don't feel brilliant today - something I ate/didn't eat don't know.  Anyway sunshine.....

 At St Michaels mount

Through a window

In Overbeck in Devon
 
 Have a lovely day in the sun everyone - and for those of you in the rain have a lovely day as well.
 

Worky Worky Work Work!

It takes me ages to get into the headspace to work. I have so much to do I get overwhelmed and think - I'll do something else instead!  Bad move!

But  today I have given myself the day off  - not exactly a duvet day - but a I have been so busy I have to stop for a moment to breathe day!  Last couple of weeks have been frenetic.
So here's a nice photo

 A lovely gull on a Lyme Regis rooftop.

I have been trying to find who has used my Coppernob Design logo and sold it to Getty images.  Take a breath and relax ahhhh....

Surf boards lined up and ready to go.


Hubby had exploratory surgery and his stomach is twisted like a squeezed dishrag.

View from our caravan in Illminister. Keep relaxing it's all going to be fine...aahhh.

Sunday one of our cats was seriously ill to the point of it's the vets and goodbye.

 Luckily he made a quick recovery, this is him playing with some grass later on the same day!

In between times, I have had my costume book under review from the publisher and will
hear the results about that in a month or so.

I have cut out my regency dress and am ready to go to put it together, once I cut out the lining fabric.

http://www.homefrontfriends.org.uk/events/index_files/Page1708.htm

Going to be 40's at weekend and learning to Charleston at the Time Travellers Ball!

and finally a few words of wisdom from Henry James
 
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.

Have a lovely day everybody.



 

Dorset dreaming

I woke this morning wanting to go to our granite window to see the cows grazing in the field opposite and the glittering silver atlantic on the horizon.  Instead I am on the Dorset/Devon borders watching the daylight grow over the dusky green of lush summer fields.

Cornwall has gone from my life for the moment, I still miss it, our nice neighbours, our windy garden. Driving through the narrow Cornish hedges to Penzance to go to Tescos, and coming over the hill to see St Michael's Mount sitting proudly in the jelly green sea.

On the Penzance seafront over the 1930s brilliant white swimming pool brightly coloured flags flap in the sea breeze. What the Cornish lacked in money they made up for in coloured flags and crepe paper costumes. St Pirans Day, Lafrowda day, but every day was a holiday to them. Most shops, even in the tourist season, closed at 3pm even on a Saturday. 

Driving down the motorway to the south west yesterday brought it all back for moment. But it's gone and I have to get used to that.

It's early, half past six, and the day is full of promise. Some of the world is awake, farmers on tractors, lorry drivers, the stunning view has a soundtracck of vehicles making their way to work. Last night was silent enough.

Little white cottages nestle between the dark green bushy trees on the hill and a slight mist is disappearing over the horizon. Down the road is Lyme Regis and the sea.
I love the sea, the colours of it, the white foamy breakers as they curl and burst onto the sand. I love the sound it makes as it rattles the sand and shells on the beach as it moves to and fro.

Whenever I have moments of distress I take my mind back to that gloriously sunny day a year or so ago on Godrevey sands. Where paddling in the cold blue waters on a hot day made me smile. Listening to the wind in the marran grass as it moved in waves like the sea.
Hypnotic, comforting, the way it has always done and always will do.

Turning looking out to sea and on it's own little island stands Godrevey lighthouse, tall sparkling white, against a deep blue sky.

I may be in Dorset but my heart and mind are still in Cornwall. Dorset we have yet to discover. Like a box of secret treasures waiting to be opened, even if it rains, we will be by the coast, exploring, chatting, laughing,bickering. Eating picnics and being with each other, because after all that is a huge part of life. Holding your lover in your arms, walking together hand in hand, spending time together, because time flies so fast you have to grab the
precious moments as they occur.

 

Holdenby Hall

A Sealed Knot Major over a two day weekend. Normally they're on Bank Holidays. Unable to get there on the Friday, we started off from the caravan storage place early Saturday. It was only an hour away so we'd left plenty of time.

As we drove out we saw a couple with an enormous caravan stuck across the entrance which was also the exit to the caravan park. They were trying to get it into a small space without the help of a truck. The space was also on gravel which made it pretty impossible to push as the wheels stuck. 

The lady of the couple was laughing hands on hips, not helping at all. So desperate to get underway, I suggested that they get the site manager and his little tow vehicle. In the end my dear hubby went and got the manager, as they stood about like headless chickens wondering what to do next.  Then hubby helped push the massive van with the owner finally deciding to do something to get his caravan out of our way.

My darling man is very very kind, he's also very skinny. He's quite strong though, in his wiryness! However, it took nearly an hour for them to do this. 

Anyway late, we set off again, stopped for a quick coffee and a biscuit, and arrived at the site around two.  It was a ridge and furrow field. In case you don't know what that looks like
take a look at this. We weren't told it was ridge and furrow. We were told it was "challenging"


Photo By Matt Neale from UK

Pretty lumpy is what I'd call it. Caravans were getting knocked to bits, we lost the back feet off ours which was common, loads of people had done that. Some poor devil lost the back off his £20K six week old caravan. Some had their clutches burnt out.

Parking angel, I pleaded, can we please have a good place to set up? We drove to the end of the site which was full, and had to turn round, by hand, then drive out again, we went to the gate guards to tell them that the bottom of the site was full and people were parking in the roads, so it was getting impossible to turn round and loads of Knotters were getting stuck.  Knotters are a good crowd, for every one that will stop and laugh at your predicament, there are twenty others who'll pitch in and help.

The gate guards and the Parking Angel were WONDERFUL we were put on flat ground by the Traders fayre, and as lots of our friends are Traders we had a really pleasant stay. We had lots of visitors, strangely where years ago wine or beer was the thing, our friends drank tea coffee and fruit juice!  How times have changed - well we have all changed I suppose - now on more medications that clash with alcohol!!

Holdenby House was open and interesting, I wanted to clean the paintings though, some good ones, but all needing the dirt and old varnish taking off. The weather was heavy rain intersperced with burning sun. I didn't get to the battle which was on yet another "challenging" field, but hubby did -he musketeered and I living historied.

All in all a really fun weekend, our German guests enjoyed the battle and the house, our
resident aged and most honorable cavalier became a flag bearer, and many photos were
taken of everyone. There was even a film crew - but we missed them somehow.

As I picked up my Holdenby Hall medal, there's a pewter medal for each SK Event usually,
I think this is no.240. I have a box full of medals and memories attached to each one. Each Sealed Knot event is an adventure, each one is different, each one is terrific fun.

Off to the seaside now - have a good week everyone.

Trolls and not the type who live under bridges and really like Goats!

What a week, I put my head above the parapet and have to keep ducking!  Honestly you really have to laugh sometimes or you'd go bonkers!

I happened to mention on dear old Twitter that I thought it's about time we stopped beauty competitions and started to value women for their skills, intelligence and what they brought to the world.  I've never thought you should have been judged on how you looked. First impressions however nice, can be wrong.

Apparently I was "body shaming" these girls and told to "F**K off by many American rednecks!"  Who rather liked to see women paraded around for inspection like cattle or horses.

In my BBC career, quite often I was passed over for prettier girls, or girls who were related in some way to one of the bosses. They stayed for a month or so, couldn't do the job properly, if at all, and left with the BBC on their CVs to further their career.

At the Beeb, in Engineering, I worked with a Swedish blonde. Long legs, thigh high boots, extremely pretty. But quite the engineer, she got her job on looks, but was absolutely brilliant at it. Apart from being really good looking, she had just left a famous girl metal band where she'd been bass guitar. She knew how to balance sound, and could edit while drinking coffee and painting her nails!

I'm a redhead, always have been, always will be, if I have my way! I'm tall, I'm built. I wear glasses and have freckles. Also clever. Apparently that was enough to hold me back. Geek was not chic before The Big Bang Theory came along! So no one believed I could do anything. I had to work harder than everyone else to get to do a job I was excellent at and loved.

AND ANOTHER THING!  I had a photo of Sting in my office, and also a photo of Ade Edmondson in his "Young Ones" get up. They made me smile and got me through the day,
other male engineers had a busty topless model called Sam on their walls.  Guess who was asked to remove their photos?  Yeap ME!!

I was always judged on how I looked and not what I could do. So I went for countless interviews for promotions to be passed over for pretty girls who weren't interested in the job. Trouble is about getting by on your looks is that they don't last forever.  Strangely I think I've got better looking as I've got older. 

Anyway Trolls, been there done that, burnt the bra, fought for women's rights, used my brains, and got along fine - in the end, and because you seem to think otherwise, I will tell you - I have had some lovely men in my life as good friends, lovers, and husbands.

Put that in your Goat and smoke it !!