My favourite times of the year are autumn and winter. Although I do love spring…and there’s a lot to be said about summer 😉
I’m an autumn person – I love the rich golden patchwork of colours, the misty mornings, the chill in the air, the crunch of crispy leaves underfoot, the smell of bonfires, that extra hour in bed as the clocks go back, and the lateness of sunrise.
Golden Autumn colours
In fact autumn and winter are pretty much the only time I get to see the sunrise – for no other reason than that I love my first cup of tea in bed with a biscuit. I’m not an early riser.
Between assignments I’ve been staying at the new guest house I’ve found, a mere 3 minute walk from the cliff tops above the sea….and facing east.
I love sunrise and I love walking, so I’ve been getting up early to make the most of the free time available (except for the last few days when I’ve been poorly and just didn’t have the energy to get dressed, never mind drag myself out the door).
But last week, before the shock of losing my pending assignment (due to the absolute dishonesty and sneakyness of the current carer), jumped up and smacked me in the head and laid me low, I got up early for 3 days in a row and went out for a sunrise walk.
Here are some of the images….is there anything more privileged than being alive to watch the sun come up? Except perhaps still being alive to watch the sun go down
I’ve been unexpectedly stuck at the B&B since last Friday and bored with TV and reading, my daughter suggested I download Netflix and watch a couple of movies.
I first watched a remake of ‘Rebecca’ – a classic that seldom disappoints.
Then I spotted ‘The Two Popes’. I’d so wanted to see this when it was first released and it didn’t disappoint.
It’s an intimate portrayal of two men; one the Pope and the other a Cardinal, and a supposed conversation they had at a momentous time in history.
Based on true events, although the conversation is imagined, it is incredibly feasible. Since no-one, besides the two real life characters themselves know what was said during their brief time together, we can but only imagine.
The ‘conversation’ is beautifully written and the characters sensitively portrayed by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce – both exceptional character actors who were totally convincing as the people they portrayed.
I’m not at all religious and believe in evolution, but I found myself drawn into the drama of the situation and their story. It was so very poignant and I found myself sobbing during some of the scenes.
A most enjoyable film, the story of which has lingered well past the last scene….
I love a film that leaves you thinking about it for days and raises questions like: if no-one is to blame, is everyone to blame….
A very deep and thought-provoking film. I’m definitely going to watch it again. I’m also going to do more research on the current Pope; Francis ( Jorge Mario Bergoglio). I’ve always liked him and think he’s a breath of fresh air.
The question he raised at his speech in Lampedusa is going to haunt me ….
Usurping the US election news (thank you thank you thank you 🙏🙏🙏👴🏻) is the latest news of a Covid-19 vaccine; an apparently successful vaccine.
In terms of timing and according to previous reports, a vaccine usually takes years to develop, test and have approved.
So whilst the market shares have shot ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I’m somewhat sceptical, especially as it comes from a pharmaceutical company of a particular name.
Conspiracy theories aside, and I am a bit of a theorist myself, I am not that enthralled by the news. These companies are all about making money and being the ‘first’ to find a successful vaccine is going to make them a whole ton of money (I was going to resort to my South African roots and say shitload of money but that would be rude 😝😝).
Meanwhile time will tell if it is indeed that effective.
My question is this: would you have the vaccine?
Personally, I had a flu vaccine in my first year in the UK and it made me horribly ill for nearly 2 weeks. I have since declined any further flu vaccines. So for me it’s a no.
Now, I know this virus is not a flu, or a type of flu and is something quite out of the ordinary, and in general I believe in being vaccinated against diseases…..as children in South Africa we were all vaccinated as a matter of course, my daughter had all her vaccinations in the 80s and 90s and my grandson (born in the UK) has so far had all his required vaccinations.
However, these are all long-term, tried and tested vaccines and despite the ‘conspiracy theories’ 😉😉 on the whole are very successful.
But I worry that the competition to be first to produce a vaccine for Covid-19 is more about the money than any form of altruism or care for the wellbeing of humanity.
The next question is: who do they vaccinate first? My thoughts are that it should first be provided to the 30-60 age group (I’m 65). But I’m sure everyone has a different opinion on that…out of 65 million people if they’re (the UK government) buying just 10 million by Christmas, who is going to benefit? If it is indeed a benefit? 10.11.20 *correction – its 100 million vaccines the government are ordering *.
Supply it for free, and then we can look at it from a different aspect. These pharmaceutical companies are mega-wealthy, growing obscenely rich on the unwellness of their target audiences, they can absolutely afford to provide the vaccine for free for the benefit of humanity….
I believe he’s been told to accept defeat gracefully….seriously 😝😝😝 the trumpet and the word gracefully do not belong in the same sentence….
It’s going to be veryyyyy interesting to see what he does now. It’s going to be even more interesting (and frankly very enjoyable) to watch his face at Biden’s inauguration. If he even pitches up.
It won’t be bigger than his though, his was the ‘biggest’ the ‘best’ the ‘mostest’ and ‘huggggeeee’….crowds.
I will be counting the days till 20th January 2021. 2️⃣0️⃣/0️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣✅✅✅
Now like I said in my previous post, I’m not that charmed by Biden, I think he’s too old, too establishment and even though, to his credit, he behaved impeccably during the campaign and subsequently, I really wish the Democratic Party had put forward a younger nominee.
But if he’s the best they’ve got….well there it is, at least he’s beaten the present incumbent of the White House. Oh to be a fly on the WH wall..
And just like in 2016 when Americans voted for tRump, it was a case of ‘ANYONE’ but ANYONE other than Hillary, now in 2020 Biden is the ‘anyone’ better than the orange swamp thing…
OMG! Seriously, how tense are the blessed US elections.
I wish they’d just get it over with now.
I was determined to NOT watch the coverage because I really CANNOT stand the orange swamp thing and usually switch off when he appears on screen.
Whilst I don’t think Joe Biden is the best candidate, and I’d love to see a younger person, less establishment, stepping up to contest the position of President, I hope he wins – I will thoroughly ENJOY watching the current encumbent get his marching orders.
I’d love him to refuse to leave, just so we can watch him being removed, preferably kicking and screaming.
Meanwhile, its fun to see how he’s scrambling and screaming already …so many useless legal challenges, keeping the litigators busy, and he is an expert in criminal charges.
Its fascinating to hear him screaming ‘fraud’ – of course he’s an expert in that area too, I’d say something of an expert really.
Ugh. Come on….get it over with and lets see him disappear into oblivion, preferably at the bottom of that swamp…
This is a bit of a rant, so if you’re not in the mood for someone else’s rant….😉
One of the people I follow on Instagram shared these two images today and frankly it just made me mad 😠😠
Warning???? Seriously???DON’T ruin it for everyone else?? Seriously??
That’s a bit much!! That’s assuming that everyone who sees this is responsible for the spread of the virus, and let’s the government off the hook. I replied….
Wrong. Its entirely the fault of the government: slow to act, slow to make responsible decisions and they defy their own rules.
Lets consider for example: Boris Johnson back in March ” I shook hands with everyone” …..in a Covid-19 ward!!! No surprise, he got the virus AND passed it on. His top adviser, that sneak Dominic Cummings, defied the lockdown and the government rules to drive up country WHILE ILL with Covid-19 and then drove to Barnard Castle to test his eyes???
Seriously???. Then we have a top scientist who defied the rules and had his mistress over for tea (?)…at least he had the grace and decency to resign. Unlike Johnson and Cummings.
Then a couple of months and a lot of pain later, we have a Scottish MP also breaking the rules, travelling with full knowledge of her positive test results and when found out, refusing to resign.
The masks are ineffective for preventing the virus. At least the majority of masks worn are ineffective ….there’s been more than enough evidence, and they haven’t stopped the spread of the virus. Besides which, if the virus is that contagious then why don’t we have biohazard bins for disposal?
Yes, (some) of the public are feckless, yes, many don’t believe there is a virus, refuse to follow the rules and that its dangerous, but look at their leaders….stupid and criminally feckless. Brilliant leadership….
To post such inflammatory memes, and blame the general public (whoever reads it) for the spread of the virus is incorrect. The buck stops with the government with their lies, mixed messages, lack of action, destruction of the NHS with their drastic funding cuts…yet they can afford to pay their pals £9billion for a test and trace system that doesn’t even work.
No, the responsibility lies right in the hands of Johnson and his ministers. You can’t be the leader of a country and then wash your hands of any responsibility when things go wrong. The buck stops at the top. And like his twin in the USA, he loves to fling blame at any target he can rather than take responsibility for his own actions.
To blame the public is too easy and lets the government off the hook. The majority of the public obey the rules, do their very best in a very bad situation, self-isolate and in many many cases have little or no contact with another human being or watch helpless from the sidelines as their loved ones die, and our children and grandchildren are going to carry the cost of this for decades to come.
Even this latest lockdown – in the words of our ‘esteemed’ (?) PM “we must take immediate action, starting next week Thursday” – 5 days hence.
What part of ‘now’ did we misunderstand??
….ffs!!
I’m willing to bet, that as it was in March and April’s lockdown, there are planes and trains and foreign vehicles still entering the UK…..
And this evening I learned that I had lost my next job due to the new lockdown. Amongst thousands of others. I’m not in any category for financial relief from the government, amongst thousands of others.
Still, I’m not as badly off, I have savings, and there is still the possibility I ‘may’ get another job, being self-employed in an essential services industry, there is a possibility, but the reality is that the jobs are few and far between and I may end up having to draw down my savings; savings for my retirement which is right on the horizon.
So I’m unimpressed with the government, not that I had any respect or regard for them prior to the virus….when you have a clown in office….
Update 04.11.2020 15:00
Forgive me while I 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 hilariously. Latest government U-Turn 😝😝😝😝
Pubs, bars and restaurants will be permitted to sell takeaway alcohol during England’s second national lockdown if it is pre-ordered online, or via phone or post, according to proposed regulations.
If I remember correctly, I think there is a band with a similar name….Smashing Pumpkins?? Which sounds just as much fun, albeit a lot messier than carving pumpkins 🎃
Its amazing how many British traditions we have been introduced to since living here for the last 19 years.
Although we came late to the tradition and have only carved a pumpkin once before, now that my grandson is older we’ve introduced him to the tradition and the fun of carving a pumpkin for Halloween.
Growing up in the UK, I’m pretty certain that this won’t be the last time we carve a pumpkin, and it will become a new family tradition.
My daughter bought the pumpkins a few days ago and yesterday we sat in the garden, thankfully it wasn’t raining, and carved our pumpkins.
Daddy of course honoured the boobee with his name and I went for the more traditional scary face, and for good measure and keeping it contemporary, I also carved out the word Covid…🤪🤪 Its current news, so I had to.
We left them outside to start drying out, a hopeless endeavour since the weather is so grim, but they were sufficiently dried by evening. Daddy sourced some candles and lights off, candles in and we had our ‘scary’ Halloween.
The boobee was more interested in retrieving the candles and ‘blowing’ them out than the actual pumpkin faces….🤔🤔
Not Just a Granny 
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