When I was preparing this series, I did wonder how I would split it since 101 is a prime number. There was no way I was writing 101 articles of 1 item each or 1 item of 101 ideas! I eventually concluded that it would be best to have a series of 15 items and finish with the final 10. Many thanks to everyone who has commented on the series. It has been fun to write and a chance to share some of life’s exasperations. If the series producers of Grumpy Old Women happen to be reading this, I think I could make myself available! [Read more…] about 101 Things to Put into Room 101 – Part 7 – The Final Leg
viewpoint
101 Things to Put into Room 101 – Part 6
Reaching the “home straight” on my 101 Things to put into Room 101 series, I am now at number 76. It’s probably a sad reflection of human nature that it is usually easy enough to find things to complain about rather than praise. Still on to some more of life’s irritations. [Read more…] about 101 Things to Put into Room 101 – Part 6
Part 5 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
It is ironic that George Orwell’s Room 101, which rightly in the book is associated with oppression, is used for entertainment, even with a post like this one. It is to his credit though that (a) his work lives on after him and (b) his creations have passed into popular usage. I must admit I hope the latter has led to some people checking out where Room 101/Big Brother come from originally. [Read more…] about Part 5 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
Part 4 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
Now for the next section of the things I would like to see consigned to the Room of Doom created by George Orwell. (I wonder what he’d make of social media and cameras everywhere? Not much, probably). [Read more…] about Part 4 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
Part 3 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
So resuming the next batch of things to go into Room 101, George Orwell’s famous creation, I am going to make myself mightily unpopular with some by suggesting:- [Read more…] about Part 3 – 101 Things to Put into Room 101
Part 2: 101 Things to put into Room 101
I strongly suspect George Orwell would not be entirely happy with the way his invention Big Brother has been used to create a TV show. Whether he’d be happier that the same thing has happened with Room 101, which as a show can at least make people laugh, is another matter. Still, on to Part 2 of the things I would put into the vault of doom.
101 Things to Put into Room 101
George Orwell (aka Eric Blair) has contributed so much to literature and has an accolade few other writers have (though whether he would welcome it is another thing). While it is not unknown for writers to have their sayings go into popular culture over centuries (think Shakespeare especially), how many have their phrases go on to become the titles for TV programmes? Orwell achieves that with Big Brother and Room 101. [Read more…] about 101 Things to Put into Room 101
EBC – Why Places Leisure Eastleigh?
Eastleigh Borough Council truly surprised many borough residents today, with this tweet:
“Eastleigh’s new leisure centre has been officially named as…” [Read more…] about EBC – Why Places Leisure Eastleigh?
People First? Some Thoughts on Grenfell Towers
Her Majesty the Queen was subdued on her birthday. So are we all after the film The Towering Inferno became reality at Grenfell Towers. Reality without the hero, without the Hollywood sanitisation protecting us from thinking about slow deaths due to smoke inhalation. The film was clean, vision only. There was no smell of fear, no burning of heat, no difficulty breathing, no choking or coughing. There was no edge of panic in voices and actions. [Read more…] about People First? Some Thoughts on Grenfell Towers
Ruins, what to Do with ’em?
The United Kingdom is a fusion of four old countries that have fought wars together and with others. It has had kings, princes, invaders, usurpers, pretenders, bishops, priests and parliamentarians who have fought among themselves. Going back into archaeological time and pre-history and even in legend there have been conflicts of people and ideas of which we know little. No wonder that the country is littered with old castles, battlefields, abbeys, forts and earthworks. [Read more…] about Ruins, what to Do with ’em?
Agenda of Hopes Dashed
About 14 years ago, at about the time I retired and began to withdraw from some of my commitments, I wrote down a list of some of the things I would like to see happen during the remainder of my life.
Recently, I found the notes I had written. Here they are, verbatim.
I hoped for: [Read more…] about Agenda of Hopes Dashed
Review of 2016 – by Sandra Gordon
Review of 2016
(not quite a poem)
You gave me Vice-Captaincy,
coffee with friends,
massages, the gym, weight loss.
You gave me a published poem
about a girl in white socks. [Read more…] about Review of 2016 – by Sandra Gordon
Random Acts of Kindness
We hear a lot about random acts of kindness and how little things can make a big difference to people. With this in mind, whilst shopping in Winchester and Asda today (1 January), I made a point of thanking the shop assistants who served me, for being at work today, a public holiday – a day when I and many others are fortunate to be off work and furthermore expect to find the shops open. [Read more…] about Random Acts of Kindness
Seasonal Limericks and Flash Fiction
I thought I’d finish for this year with some light-hearted seasonal limericks and flash fiction pieces. Hope you enjoy them.
I also hope you had plenty of books (in print or electronically) for Christmas and you are happily working your way through them! [Read more…] about Seasonal Limericks and Flash Fiction
How Do You Celebrate Christmas? My Christmas in Chandler’s Ford
In the past few days I have been walking up and down a few roads (Hursley Road, Winchester Road, Hiltingbury Road, Brownhill Road…), and have noticed quite a few inflatable snowman, reindeer, an amusing upside-down Santa near the chimney, and quite a lot of flashing lights in the walls in our neighbourhood.
For those who are cynical about the trend of Christmas festive decorations, or if you are worry about your road / street has become ‘common’, please just remember that festive decoration is fun. People are happy; their kids are happy; their grandchildren are happy. So, just chillax. [Read more…] about How Do You Celebrate Christmas? My Christmas in Chandler’s Ford
What I Like (and Dislike) about Christmas
I love Christmas, most of it anyway. I would love to see more goodwill being shown by the Christmas shopping crowds as we all try to buy presents and so on but that’s another story.
Being a Christian, the Christmas story and services have special resonance of course, though I know all would welcome the idea of goodwill to all men being practised by ourselves at all times of year (despite mankind failing on this count miserably so often, just look at the news for the proof, but the goodwill idea is a sound one and we shouldn’t give up on it. I don’t think it’s been given a long enough trial period!). [Read more…] about What I Like (and Dislike) about Christmas
How Do You Solve Problems?
Last weekend the zip on my jacket got stuck and I spent several unsuccessful minutes trying to release it. Eventually, my partner grew frustrated at my display of ineptitude and took the garment from me – well, she is a mum, therefore well qualified and experienced at solving all clothing malfunctions and failures.
No, she couldn’t free the zip either. After a few minutes she gave up and went to do something more interesting and useful (and there are lots of things that are more interesting and useful than freeing a stuck zip). [Read more…] about How Do You Solve Problems?
As Others See Us – Brexit Britain
I spoke with a Sri Lankan Professor called Sunil about who are the Sri Lankans. The guide books say there are Sinhala, Tamils, Burghers, Moors and Veddah. How do you tell which are which? I asked.
“Did you expect Britain to vote for Brexit?” He asked. “And did you expect Donald Trump to be elected President of USA?” I told him “No” on both counts. ” [Read more…] about As Others See Us – Brexit Britain
British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide
Someone intending to visit the UK for the first time asked me for some tips on British etiquette. This is what I came up with.
Dear Raj,
Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet once wrote A Man’s a Man for a’ That. My advice to you therefore is – be yourself and you will be fine. However, since you ask, I will jot down some thoughts accumulated over a quarter of a century on this island. [Read more…] about British Etiquette: a Survivor’s Guide
What Price Democracy?
You may have noticed in the news media that there was a Presidential election in the USA last week. You may also be vaguely aware that not everyone was happy with the result. Well, here we see an important and valuable lesson about the democratic process:
You don’t always get the result that you want.