LIFE: 29th OCTOBER - 4th NOVEMBER 2018
I began the week still hobbling around (sprained ligament), missing my walks and fresh air, and no doubt putting on weight with lots of cups of tea and biscuits. But by the end of the week, the pain had eased and I am getting slowly out and about up to the Square.
Still it was amazing what I got done with more time at home, on top of the usual domestics and a major updating of the household files and papers.
BLOGGING BOOM
Wrote three posts for my blogs - Family History Fun, Auld Earlston and Journal Jottings
- W.W.1 Military Tribunals in Earlston
- Auld Earlston on Show - report on our recent exhibition
- My bearded great grandfather - for the “52 Ancestors in 52. Weeks” prompt of "Beards".
- Journal Jottings for October - update
I am still dithering on whether to carry on with this online journal. I began it a year ago and in many ways I enjoy trying to make it interesting to others with catchy headings and attractive photographs. But I struggle to come up with effective titles for the posts,and the number of page views is dismal - despite a handful of loyal readers.
Might I be better composing it on Word just for myself, which has the advantage of giving me more freedom of expression? Watch this space!
Drafted two other articles - for posting this coming week:
- Famous Men Remembered in Stone (statues in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders) - for the next Sepia Saturday prompt of "Statues".
- How Earlston marked the Armistice in November 1918
November 2018 - Earlston's Fall of Poppies in commemoration of the end of the Great War.
- Strictly Come Dancing - remains the best light entertainment show on TV - not that there is much competition! Even N. has been watching it. The fact I only knew 3 "celebrity" contestants at the start is immaterial, as you soon get to know them and pick out favourites. I am less fond of the production team's choice of good music with the emphasis on modern pop, which just does not work a lot of the time. The best dances are always danced to the appropriate music e.g. 50's/60's rock for the Jive, 30's/40's Ginger & Roger style for the Foxtrot & American Smooth, classic for the Viennese Waltz.
- Great British Bake Off - We were not going to watch this when it transferred to Channel 4, without Mary Berry, as I don't care for any of the presenters. But again it is easy to get involved with the contestants and admire their skill. Any of the three finalists would have been worthy winners, but I was pleased to see the Indian doctor take the trophy.
- Discovering Dirk Bogarde - N. is the film buff, but we are both enjoying a Sky Arts series, profiling film actors from the past, with clips from films and measured comments from critics. This week - Dirk Bogarde who I had a major crush on in my teens, from his early days as a light comedy matinee idol (Doctor in the House), to more classic roles (Tale of Two Cities where I wept buckets at the end), and then to very much more serious, often dark roles, in his later career. He proved to be a very versatile actor and I enjoyed this nostalgic look back.
- The film of “An Inspector Calls” by J. B. Priestley, starring a sinister Alistair Sim. I remember first seeing this play in my teens with my parents, and was impressed with it then. G. studied it when it was a set text for her Higher English and saw it at the theatre in Edinburgh.
Set on one night in 1912 in a well-off middle class home, the Inspector questions the family about the suicide of a young working-class girl. It was regarded as a criticism of the hypocrisy of Edwardian English society and an expression of Priestley's socialist principles. Brilliantly acted and very thought provoking. - The Apprentice (UK) - one of those programmes which is so awful, it is watchable. The candidates are so arrogant and full of themselves, which is probably why they got through the audition process I stage. The format of the challenges has hardly changed over the years and could do with being updated. In one, the two teams were being sent to Malta for the "treasure hunt" task In the car taking them to the airport, one girl remarked "Does anyone know where Malta actually is?" AGH!
I just wish that the two panelists who closely monitor the teams were given more opportunity to air their views. The start of each programme is irritating and time wasting, with a candidate dashing down stairs in their nightwear to answer the phone at an esrly hour (surely a large London townhouse would have a phone connection upstairs?), to be told "The taxis will be with you in 20 minutes". I defy any girl to shower, wash, dry and style her hair, put on make up, dress in formal business wear and be out of the house in 20 minutes!!
The best part is everyone back in t he Board Room, where Lord Sugar lets them talk themselves into one person being told "You're Fired".
AUTUMN GOLD
Weatherwise this has been a good month, colder, with little rain and bright, sunny days. I am just sorry I have not been able to get out and about with my camera. But there is still colour in our garden, with these photographs taken last Monday.
Journal
Jottings
Recording my everyday life for future family historians
This blog developed from the "Genea-Pourri" prompt yon Randy Seaver’s blog Genea-Musings. I decided to change his title for my own version of this regular online diary.
Banner Photograph:
Looking down on the Earlston High School from the Black Hill,
taken by my daughter
Looking down on the Earlston High School from the Black Hill,
taken by my daughter
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