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 The simplicity of my day to day. |
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This is where I write my thoughts, feelings and my daily trials, tribulations and happy things
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| Megan Markel, the Dutchess of Sussex is the media it seems like every day. If you were to meet her in person and you could ask her questions. What would you ask? Well, for a start I’m not a fan of Megan Markel. First I would ask her why, if she despises England and royalty so much, does she still hang on to and use the title of Duchess of Sussex? Why did she marry into the Royal family and not take up Royal duties? Why didn’t she remain in the UK as she promised after she married? Why didn’t she feel safe? Why did she take Harry away from everything and everyone he has ever known? Why does she use her new found fame as a royal to promote herself and her many money making projects? Why has she never brought her children to the UK to meet their grandfather and cousins?  |
| Prompt: Food Which food you eat that makes you remember something happy or sad? Or what food do you eat to feel happier? My husband and I were just speaking about childhood memories of food. I suppose like every country each district/county/state/region have their own special/weird food likes or dislikes. My favourite childhood memories of food back in England were of being sick in bed. Those were the days before immunisations and all kids got everything. Measles, mumps, scarlet fever, Chicken pox etc, so I was often really poorly and not eating. My mum used to try everything to make me eat. I remember she made what she called ‘pobs,’ which was simply bread torn up into manageable size pieces (thinking sore throat) with warm milk poured over the bread, to soften it, and a sprinkle of sugar. But my favourite thing to eat was a soft, sliced, white bread tomato sandwich with lots of salt. Both those things made me feel cared for, loved, safe. |
| The elephant in the room: (a topic that everybody is thinking about but nobody is talking about.) Let this metaphor inspire your entry today. I’m sure everyone must be thinking the world is being overrun by men who crave ultimate power. Men, who by any means possible have forced their way into the top positions in their countries and have no intentions of leaving. They watch as their people starve whilst they accumulate indecent wealth. Women are considered inferior to men in many countries and it’s absolutely beyond comprehension that the world is turning a blind eye to the subjugation of girls and women in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. Civilian dictatorships: Examples include China, North Korea, and Eritrea. Military dictatorships: Examples include Chad and, historically, Chile and Brazil. Russia’s President Putin has decreed himself to be President for life and I feel as if a certain American President has the same aspirations. What I’m asking is, ‘Where are all the women?’ |
| Let this quote inspire your entry: “Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.”- ― Pierce Brown I’ve always wondered about the word ‘home’ and its meaning. As an import in the country I’m living in, I called another country home for many years. We talked about “going home” and the people we left “at home” About ten years after leaving England I took my children ‘home’ for the first time. I wanted them to see where their father and I came from. I took them to see where I was born, my schools, the houses we’d lived in before we left. We took them to London, showed them historical buildings, talked about the long history England has compared to Australia. And yet on the flight back to Perth, as the plane circled, ready to land, my ten year old son stared out of the window and I hard him say longingly the word ‘home.’ That was the moment I realised Australia was now my home. |
| Prompt: Veterans and Heroism Today, November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, the anniversary of the 1918 armistice that ended World War I. For the US writers, what is the best way to honor our veterans? Then, what can we, civilians, do to better understand the experience and challenges of the veterans? For WdC's writers not from the USA, what is heroism to you and who would you call a real hero? When I was born in England in 1944, the Second World War still hadn't ended. I grew up always knowing the 11th November as Remembrance Day. Everyone wore a poppy on that day. Poppies are worn on Remembrance Day to commemorate the sacrifice of those who have died in war, a tradition that stems from their profusion on the battlefields of World War I. Inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields." The red poppy became an international symbol of remembrance, representing both the blood spilled and the hope of renewal. Even at school poppies were sold for a small price and all the money raised would go to the returned soldiers or the wives and families of those killed. You would often see injured soldiers selling the poppies on street corners. Remembrance Day started in 1919 as Armistice Day, one year after World War I ended on November 11, 1918. Originally established to commemorate the end of WWI, its name was changed to Remembrance Day after World War II to honor those who have died in ll wars and conflicts. First observance: The first Armistice Day was on November 11, 1919, with a two-minute silence observed for the first time at 11 a.m. to mark the end of the war. In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. |
| On this day in 1731 Benjamin Franklin opened the first library in the North American colonies, the Library Company of Philadelphia. Are libraries important? What other services do the libraries in your area offer The Library is very important. In my town it offers so much. On Thursday morning, there is story time for the little ones. On other days there is help for seniors having difficulty with computers or printing. They offer book clubs, one of which I attend on every fourth Monday morning. We discuss the book and share coffee and biscuits all provided by the library for a small annual cost. They also provide a space and opportunity for speakers to put on a free talk which might be about a book they’re trying to promote, or a talk about community events. At one time, not so long ago, there was talk from our politicians about closing some small libraries and amalgamating them with larger ones in the district. But people power ensured that never happened. During Covid when everything was closed our library provided a delivery service ensuring people in lockdown still had something to read. Long live the library. |
| Prompt: Have fun with these quotes: "November’s dress code: sweater in the morning, regret by noon, blanket burrito by night." — Unknown "This month I’m thankful for elastic waistbands and friends who understand second helpings are non-negotiable." — Unknown The biggest difference between hemispheres for me is that the seasons are opposite to each other. November to me, in the Southern Hemisphere, is the start of shedding clothing and sorting out Winter/summer wardrobes. Gone are the opportunities of hiding behind expanding waistbands, now warm clothes are to be shed and packed away. I love dressing for winter, long sleeves hide less than beautiful arms, sweaters and baggy numbers hide a plethora of sins and I love my baggy jeans, socks and sneakers. Summer is not kind to us who no longer can wear swimwear with pride, or rock a pair of short shorts as we used to back in the day. |
| On this day in 2018 a study was done by data from 400 million people from Ancestry.com stating- Human longevity is less than 10% dependent on genetics published in the journal "Genetics.. Looking at your own family genetics: what is the eldest family's member age, is this a typical age for your relatives. (Like for instance, my grandparents on both sides died in their mid 80s and my parents both died in their mid 80's, is my life expectancy also in the mid 80s? The question is are genetics a denominator in our life expectancy or do you believe environmental factors have more to do with life expectancy than genetics? There are so many factors influencing the age a person will reach. I remember we were taught at school three score and ten were the years we’d been allotted as human beings. Nowadays 70 sounds young to me. I was in my forties when my parents died, both early seventies, I was devastated of course, but that wasn’t because I thought them too young, I didn’t think that at all. But now when anyone under eighty dies I always think how young they were. Surviving childhood is the first major hurdle—perhaps not so much these days with so many curable diseases, or have a vaccine to prevent any life threatening illnesses. Then surviving being a teenager: a tricky stage of life. Fast cars, inattention when driving, alcohol and drugs. After those two stages we can do so many things which will shorten our lives. Smoking, over eating the wrong foods, alcohol, working too hard, lack of exercise and lots more destructive habits. If you do manage to get to old age then thank those good genes and good luck. |
| Prompt: What is your favorite November tradition? Write about this in your Blog entry today. In Australia there doesn’t seem to be anything happening in November. We do have Movember though. That’s a fund raising activity where people sponsor men to grow a moustache in the month of November. If I was back in my country of birth I would be enjoying Bonfire Night. How I loved this night when I was a child. We’d have built an effigy of Guy Fawkes—the man who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament way back when— and placed him on a huge bonfire in the back yard. Then we’d have fireworks, treacle toffee, baked potatoes and maybe hot chestnuts. The nights would be frosty and our breaths could be seen in the darkness. I remember the smell, the taste, and the excitement. |
| We’ve always had daylight saving in Australia, well certainly since I arrived in 1972, but before that I was brought up with it in the UK. Personally I’ve never been a fan. In the UK when I was a mother trying to get kids to sleep, whilst it was still daylight until 10.30 pm or even later, I disliked it. During World War One it was a way to save energy resources such as coal, using fewer electric lights and less heating during the lighter evenings and being more productive. Weeks after Germany introduced DST, other countries adopted the idea, including the UK, where it was named British Summer Time (BST). We live in Western Australia which means the sun sets here over the Indian Ocean, which in turn means we get the most sunlight. Eventually the West Australian people voted not to have DST here. Every so often someone brings up the idea again but the answer is a resounding NO. Of course some of the reasons given are ridiculous, such as, ‘it’ll fade the curtains’ or ‘the cows will be confused,’ but really? Do we need more sunshine late into the evenings? I’m sure lots of people will say a resounding Yes, but after weeks of temperatures in the high thirties, most of us can’t wait for the sun to sink beautifully, serenely over the ocean. |
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