• What made me

    Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

    The first eight years of my life. It’s when my dad was alive, and he was a wonderful man. He treated me like I was one of the family. 😊

    After he died, my mum took up with a fellow who was emotionally and physically abusive. So my life then was pretty miserable for about five years until I left home.

    But what makes me what I am today is a combination of good and bad influences. I believe in having compassion for others, for strangers. That we can treat each other like brothers and sisters.

    So, for God’s sake, treat your rellies like they’re members of your family, and strangers also.

    Me and my dad

  • Et in Arcadia Ego

    If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

    I would love to be the best version of myself.

    At Cap Gris-Nez

    Photo was taken in 2009 while on honeymoon in the north of France.

  • Solar shed

    Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.

    I’ve renovated several houses, so they’re the most ambitious projects. But my favourite project was building a solar powered garden shed.

    Solar shed

  • The limits of language…

    If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

    I wouldn’t ban any language, that’s all a bit 1984 and George Orwell.

    The philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein,said “The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”

    But the way language is used can and does hurt. So some language, I claim, should be used carefully, judiciously, and with a a healthy dose of circumspection.

    I would class hate speech in this category. It’s nearly always unnecessary. Sometimes all you need is the truth. If, for example, someone is being a bully, call them out on it. Speak truth to power.

    Choose the truth. If you have difficulty doing that (and who doesn’t?) follow Jesus’s example. He not only told the truth, He was the Truth.

  • My Diana

    Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

    1964, when I was six years old, my dad bought me a working toy camera. It was called a Diana and I believe it came from Hong Kong. I had great fun taking photos with it, and my dad developed the negative and enlarged the prints. I’ve been into photography ever since.

    Diana Camera

  • In retirement

    Write about your approach to budgeting.

    Just as I was approaching retirement, my mum died, and she left me enough money to buy a two bedroom apartment, so we pay no rent. We also don’t run a car, and we have free bus passes. So we just have to pay domestic bills and buy food.

    I pay for most of the bills and missus pays for most of the food. If we eat out, I usually pay for that.

    We keep separate income streams and bank accounts. Our main source of income is the UK state pension, which is just short of £1,000 per month each.

    I donate to three charities by bank mandate, and any surplus cash goes into tax efficient savings accounts.

    I thank god that we have more money coming in than going out. It would be a different story if we were paying rent.

  • Brothers & Sisters

    Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?

    Ideally, I’d like to be a citizen of the world. I believe in the brotherhood of man and woman. I think we should focus on what we have in common rather than what we have that’s different. After all, Jesus said it, that we should love one another as we love ourselves. Peace! ✌🏼👋🏻🙏🏼😊🌹

  • Tenacity

    If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?

    Tenacity is a quality I believe I have. Some may say stubborn. I once was in the passenger lounge in Perth (W.A.) Airport, and I got chatting to an Australian woman. I tried describing where I was from by saying I went to the same school as the cricketer, Geoffrey Boycott. My mother , who was listening in, interjected and said I was like him. I said, oh, how so? And she replied with one word… “stubborn.” I prefer to think “tenacious,” though I suppose it depends on your perspective.

  • Back in Blighty

    The missus and I are back home. We planned to cross the country from Newcastle by train, but my tickets disappeared off my phone. I bought a second set of tickets, but then the train was cancelled. We ended up getting a taxi back, which is about 70 miles and cost us £150. Ouch! Still it’s good to be home, and I intend taking it easy for the next few days.

    Yvonne reading on the ferry.

  • Amersfoort Tower

    Inside the brick built tower in Amersfoort in the Netherlands today.

    Amersfoort Tower