After the number of times I’ve been involved with a parent in hospital and all I’ve seen and witnessed as a result, I’d be wise to curb my vices and aim to be as healthy as possible, in order to avoid being a patient myself. But I don’t. The excuse… Read full post »

I don’t know the exact date or time it happened. I remember a young girl full of hope and future dreams, yet lacking the confidence or maturity to know how to handle things. I can recall a newly-married and soon-pregnant young woman wondering what happened to those hopes and dreams… Read full post »

I joined OS last September mainly because there’s a group of writers here I wanted to continue to read and communicate with after initially meeting them on a different site. I had no idea whether or not I would write here rarely, frequently or even at all.   As it turns… Read full post »

I wish it could be Christmas every day.

That has to be one of the most ludicrous lines ever written in music.

Just imagine waking up every day at the crack of dawn to the sound of hysterical kids waiting to open presents.  Spending each morning with your hand up/… Read full post »

Strange how some days the brain cell almost explodes with topics to write about, then other days you got nothing. I got plenty of nothing right now. 

‘I love talking about nothing.  It’s the only thing I know anything about.’ Oscar Wilde. 

Amazing how many ques… Read full post »

Big Ben, fish and chips, Manchester United, Buckingham Palace and a nice cup of tea. All these things have been selected as symbols of England at some stage. Much as I agree with many things chosen to represent Old Blighty, I believe there’s one thing of a rather disparaging nature… Read full post »

I’m pretty certain most of us have a list of favourite movies of all time. Reasons for our choices are personal, be they emotional, empathy, association or just plain admiration. I imagine too, most of us have beloved lines from films etched in our hearts; words we quote frequently and eve… Read full post »

 The transition from summer to winter is one I dread and try to drag out as long as possible. The final stage involves footwear.  Despite the fact my husband calls me Imelda, I don’t exactly have a shoe fetish. I adore sandals of all kinds, but full shoes tend to/… Read full post »

Television versus Computer. It’s a frequent battle in my household since the kids fled the nest.   The opponents, Mr Square Eyes and Mrs Internet Junky.  The latter is the one who writes. After a fashion.  I can’t claim the debates are healthy ones as they&rsquo/… Read full post »

I couldn’t sleep last night, despite feeling shattered. It’s a familiar scenario and could be due to cheese intake levels, lack of alcohol, over-use of my one remaining brain cell, reflections on the meaning of life or concern over the price of carrots. Sleep is my enemy; always has been… Read full post »

In a few weeks my father will reach nonagenarian status. Quite the achievement, but there will be no big family party. He has no relatives on this side of the pond apart from his two daughters and their families. One lives away, the other close enough to be his full… Read full post »

Autumn - Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, inspiring poets, musicians and artists alike.  Crunching through leaves of gold, russet and amber as the gentle breezes of the season whisper to the branches of trees adorned in their most colourful attire.  Lazy insects buzz in the t/… Read full post »

PART ONE

So you think you need a doctor?

I’m in full agreement every person, regardless of nationality, age, gender, colour, lifestyle, religion, sexual orientation, income, personality, size, intellect, qualifications, class, profession or status should be entitled to health care. Apolo… Read full post »

It's not very often I seriously worry about my health. If I wake up in the morning I consider it a miracle.  If I wake up without a hangover it's an even bigger one. I tend to scoff at most advice on staying healthy and believe a lot of it is… Read full post »

 1.     A Fountain of Knowledge - I’m not an intellectual and my general knowledge in many areas is pathetic. I attended a Grammar School but spent most of my teenage years screaming at the Beatles, behind the bike sheds or groping boys in dark corners at pa… Read full post »

Time is something I don't have much of. Complications I can do without. My life is humdrum yet extraordinary. I come here as a friend of others who have found companionship and solace on this site.  I wish to support them and if it means joining yet another internet site then it's… Read full post »