Beyond the Call of Duty

When I was choosing my ‘O’ Level options a very interesting, life-changing thing happened. I wanted to take Religious Studies. However, RS was in the same option column as French, and the RS teacher thought French would be more useful so recommended I did that! Our Headmistress agreed, but as she was a keen Christian, and the school could only provide ‘CSE’ RS anyway, she suggested teaching ‘O’ Level RS to my friend and me during our lunch hour, two days a week. So that’s what we did.

She teasingly called us Tweedledum and Tweedledee. We took our lunches and ate as we studied; my friend, Anne, with her beautifully prepared packed lunch, and me, sometimes with just a packet of crisps!

Why Saturday?

When I started blogging I considered how often, and when, I was going to post something. I’ve now decided that if I’m able to post, I will do so on Saturday. This is why…

Is it all your own work?

I don’t have many regrets in life, but this is one of them.

I had to sign to say it was all my own work. It wasn’t, but he reassured me and I signed anyway. It was a mistake.

Which is the Most Important Job?

Over the last two years I have spent a lot of time visiting friends in hospital. It has been fascinating watching everyone do their jobs.

It caused me to wonder which role is the most important: consultant, surgeon, receptionist, porter, nurse, healthcare assistant, cleaner, or those selling confectionary or distributing hot drinks.

I expect it could be made into a game similar to a hot air balloon debate, where an audience is invited to imagine that the balloon is sinking and people must be thrown out if everyone is not to die. Who is important enough to still be there at the end?

What did you say?

‘What did you say when you saw his hair?’ It was what everyone wanted to know. I didn’t know how to reply. How could I? It was all very embarrassing as it was almost me who had cut it – not intentionally, you understand.

Consider the Flowers

Daffodils have appeared in the shops. How I love them. One pound. It’s wonderful to be able to buy so much joy and pleasure for such a small sum.

I haven’t always felt like this about daffodils, or flowers in general. I have grown to love them. I have probably yielded to the inevitability of my genes and conditioning, having had plant lovers on both sides of my family and then marrying a botanist, Dr Simon Retallick. A double dose – nature and nurture!

Thoughts on Writing: Cake

I was helping a friend sort through his books and papers today. It was depressing – so many books; so much writing.

It made me wonder about the point of it all. Why should I struggle to write when so much has been written already? The bookshops are full of colourful, attractive literature, and new books are published all the time.

A Ramble about Classical Music

I’m listening to Classic FM. It’s lovely when the house is quiet and I’m able to get on with jobs to the accompaniment of classical music. Some people think that Classic FM is boring and repetitive, inferior to Radio 3, but until I can name all the pieces and composers, rather than just singing along, I will keep listening.

It’s a Kettle

A friend bought me a kettle for Christmas. I was not happy.

Spinning Plates

Today was a good day.

I had some time to myself. There wasn’t anything major I had to do. True, there were a huge number of things I ought to do, but nothing pressing.