I have just been issued with a Carelink Alarm Pendant. This emergency help system is run by the Brighton & Hove Council to enable people who are elderly or disabled to live independently. It means that when my family are away and I am in the house alone I can call for assistance if I have a fall or am taken ill at any time of the day or night. Kind neighbours and friends have agreed to have keys and the council staff will notify the keyholders so that someone can come to the house. If needed the staff will arrange for a doctor or an ambulance or the Police to come. There is a fee. Well worth it for peace of mind, but I hope I never have to use it.
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/carelinkplus
Saturday 24 March 2012
Sunday 18 March 2012
Mothering Sunday
A lovely sunny spring morning. So nice to be remembered with phone calls, chocolates, beautiful flowers and some very up-market talcum powder from my friend in Tokyo. Such a lot of nice things to be thankful for.
I am deep in a Dick Francis thriller. Almost sorry when I get to the end it is so exciting. I am having a lazy day.
Just going to make an omelette verte for my supper and then perhaps watch one of my opera DVDs. As my daughter said what a decadent life I lead.
I am deep in a Dick Francis thriller. Almost sorry when I get to the end it is so exciting. I am having a lazy day.
Just going to make an omelette verte for my supper and then perhaps watch one of my opera DVDs. As my daughter said what a decadent life I lead.
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Oxford DNB
Today's on line entry for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, which I look at most days, is extremely topical.
Arabella Hunt, a musician, married a young man named James Howard in 1680. It turned out that this young man was, in fact, a woman. The marriage was annulled on the grounds that two woman could not contract a valid marriage with each other. Both partners were declared free to marry, so long as they married men.
Arabella Hunt, a musician, married a young man named James Howard in 1680. It turned out that this young man was, in fact, a woman. The marriage was annulled on the grounds that two woman could not contract a valid marriage with each other. Both partners were declared free to marry, so long as they married men.
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Outings
I lead a giddy existence these days. Yesterday morning I went to the hairdresser at the bottom of our road. That end of the road has been closed for a time as I'm told they are going to put in a pedestrian crossing. Because of this the traffic was whizzing in all directions. I am not able to see so well these days so I asked a nice young man to tell me when it was safe to cross. He saw me safely across the road. I find young people very patient and willing to help. Then in the afternoon Mike took me on my usual trip to the hospital for a scan. I now wait to see if the consultant thinks I need another injection.
Today Mike and I went to Seaford for coffee with my friends. We had an enjoyable morning. Elizabeth has been emptying her loft and we came home with a lovely little chair, just right for Lloyd when he comes. We already have one small chair so now the two little boys can have one each.
I love words. I was describing a character in a novel and said "She was very deedy". This was a favourite word of my mother's and meant she was very earnest, very serious said in a slightly perjorative way. Does anybody still say it?
Today Mike and I went to Seaford for coffee with my friends. We had an enjoyable morning. Elizabeth has been emptying her loft and we came home with a lovely little chair, just right for Lloyd when he comes. We already have one small chair so now the two little boys can have one each.
I love words. I was describing a character in a novel and said "She was very deedy". This was a favourite word of my mother's and meant she was very earnest, very serious said in a slightly perjorative way. Does anybody still say it?
Thursday 8 March 2012
A Beautiful Day
The weather today has been bright and springlike. I went shopping this morning. It becomes more of an effort these days to climb the slight rise as I make my way homewards but the sense of achievement is worth it.
It has certainly been a different day from the 8th of March 1947. We were married 65 years ago The snow lay on the ground and it was so-oo cold. Everyone else was wrapped up warm in their winter clothes while Don and I nearly froze to death.
A buff envelope arrived today from the Inland Revenue. That is one of the many occasions when I miss Don. As I was married to a Tax Inspector I was told for years that I didn't need to worry my pretty little head with such things. Latterly I did receive some instruction. How I wish I had paid more attention! However, the letter was just to tell me my new tax code. I hope it is right.
It has certainly been a different day from the 8th of March 1947. We were married 65 years ago The snow lay on the ground and it was so-oo cold. Everyone else was wrapped up warm in their winter clothes while Don and I nearly froze to death.
A buff envelope arrived today from the Inland Revenue. That is one of the many occasions when I miss Don. As I was married to a Tax Inspector I was told for years that I didn't need to worry my pretty little head with such things. Latterly I did receive some instruction. How I wish I had paid more attention! However, the letter was just to tell me my new tax code. I hope it is right.
Sunday 4 March 2012
Weddings
Talking of weddimgs I have been to more than a dozen - all different. Mostly Protestant services but two of my friends were Roman Catholics which meant a very long chuch service including Mass. My mother worked for a family of Polish Jews. There the bride had to sit all day in her finery receiving guests until the evening when the groom and his friends arrived to take her to the synagogue. In 1981 in Sri Lanka our hotel was full of wedding guests. The magnificence of the groom's outfit and headdress far outshone that of the bride!
One memorable wedding Don and I went to was in December 1983. Our friend's daughter was marrying her Jewish fiance in a London synagogue on a Sunday. We decided to spend the weekend at the Grosvenor Hotel next to Victoria Station. On the Saturday afternoon we had booked seats at a Carol Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, to be led by Rolf Harris. We got a crowded bus to Kensington. At Harrods many Christmas shoppers left the bus. We debated doing so but decided to stay on the bus and go straight to our destination. A minute or so after leaving the Harrods bus stop there was a loud"Crump" and plumes of smoke rose from where we had just been. Don said "That's a bomb". The IRA were still active. A car bomb had been left outside Harrods and six people were killed and dozens injured. We were shocked. We went on to the Royal Albert Hall in a subdued mood. We found our seats and we were somewhat worried when a lady next to me left her bag on her seat and disappeared. We had been warned about unattended bags. We were relieved when she came back having been to buy a programme! The Concert proceeded but during the whole time we could hear the wailing of ambulance sirens. When we tried to get back to the hotel the tube and buses were disrupted and we had to walk most of the way. We arrived at Victoria to find the staion roped off as there was another bomb scare. We did not sleep easy in our beds that night.
The next day we joined our friends at the synagogue. All the men had to wear a yarmulke, a Jewish skull cap, including the bride's father and Don, both non-Jews. The cantor was a lady. The couple stood under a canopy to make their vows. This wedding was certainly one to remember.
One memorable wedding Don and I went to was in December 1983. Our friend's daughter was marrying her Jewish fiance in a London synagogue on a Sunday. We decided to spend the weekend at the Grosvenor Hotel next to Victoria Station. On the Saturday afternoon we had booked seats at a Carol Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, to be led by Rolf Harris. We got a crowded bus to Kensington. At Harrods many Christmas shoppers left the bus. We debated doing so but decided to stay on the bus and go straight to our destination. A minute or so after leaving the Harrods bus stop there was a loud"Crump" and plumes of smoke rose from where we had just been. Don said "That's a bomb". The IRA were still active. A car bomb had been left outside Harrods and six people were killed and dozens injured. We were shocked. We went on to the Royal Albert Hall in a subdued mood. We found our seats and we were somewhat worried when a lady next to me left her bag on her seat and disappeared. We had been warned about unattended bags. We were relieved when she came back having been to buy a programme! The Concert proceeded but during the whole time we could hear the wailing of ambulance sirens. When we tried to get back to the hotel the tube and buses were disrupted and we had to walk most of the way. We arrived at Victoria to find the staion roped off as there was another bomb scare. We did not sleep easy in our beds that night.
The next day we joined our friends at the synagogue. All the men had to wear a yarmulke, a Jewish skull cap, including the bride's father and Don, both non-Jews. The cantor was a lady. The couple stood under a canopy to make their vows. This wedding was certainly one to remember.
Friday 2 March 2012
Sadie Hawkins Day
I have just been reminded that 29th February in America is "Sadie Hawkins Day". Sadie was on the shelf so her father challenged all the local unmarried men to a race and after giving them a start Sadie would run after them and whoever she caught would be her husband. During the war my friend, Marion, was despairingly between boyfriends so she said she was going to declare a "Marion White Day". It must have worked because I went to her wedding!
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