Anniversary and Answering Your Questions- Part Two

HAPPY 13TH ANNIVERSARY TO BECKY AND DEAN!

Our wonderful daughter and son-in-law are celebrating thirteen years of happy marriage today.  Dad and I wish you both  a wonderful day and countless happy years ahead.  We love you!

Now, on to answering the remainder of your questions.

Randlprysock asks: Have you ever been able to travel to visit the states or any other countries abroad and did you like your visit and where did you go? She also asks if I would prefer to see Charles become the next king or one of his sons?

As I answered in a previous question, no, I have never been to America. I have been on holiday to Switzerland and loved my stay in Interlaken and all the excursions I made, particularly my trip to the top of the Jungfrau. Switzerland is a beautiful country. I spent several days in France and saw many of the WW1 and WW2 cemeteries which was truly heartbreaking and the memory of those thousands of graves has remained with me. I have also had two holidays in Spain and really loved it but that was in the days before all the huge new hotels were built and everything was geared totally to tourism. We stayed in a small fishing village on the Costa Brava and I have great memories. I would not like to go back and see how much it has all changed and become commercialised.

My own views on Charles becoming King? I think that because of all that went on in his “marriage” all the scandal about his mistress who is now his wife and the fact he is getting on in years, I personally would like to see the Queen reign all her life and then the crown pass directly to Prince William. I think the monarchy needs a younger approach these days with a King who is more in tune with his people and as William is so like his late mother, I think he would be a good monarch.

BobandKate asks: Did you ever have long hair in the past and if so why did you cut it?

My hair never grew past shoulder length. Do not ask me why. My hair has always been thick and always grown extremely fast but it stubbornly refused to grow longer than that. I would have loved to have really long hair reaching down my back. My mother got tired of combing out all the tangles so took me to have it cut short during most of my school years. Later on I wore it shoulder length and had it permed. I had the best of both worlds wearing it either down or pinned up. However, as I got older and the aches and pains set in, I could no longer cope with all the perming, having to put rollers in my hair several times during the week and all the fuss that goes with hair styling. So, one day I asked my hairdresser to cut it all off, as short as possible. In fact I asked that she used clippers like they do on men. I have never regretted it. It takes no maintenance at all now. Just wash it every day when I am in the shower and it is done. I have also stopped colouring and I am just growing old gracefully and naturally.

Astoriasand asks: If you were able to get out more, where would you love to go on a regular basis and who with?

As in a previous answer, I would love to take regular walks on the beach or in the countryside and also visit many of the historic places that I still wish to see. I would want to be with my beloved Mike. Another thing I would like to do is attend night school and do a course in PSP and learn how to make graphics.

Z7snowflake asks: Where do you get your pretty graphics? Do you make them?

As above, no I do not make graphics but I greatly admire the talents of those that do. Some I collect from the web, others are made for me by people like Donna and Angel and I also belong to a graphics group where we exchange graphics. Sometimes friends just send me graphics knowing I will like them.

 

Colleen and Chris have both asked this question: Do you and Mike have a special song, maybe one you danced to at your wedding or one that is special for you both?

No, Mike and I do not have a special song. We did have a DJ at our wedding but he just played his own selection and he never asked us if we wanted something special to dance to. Mike and I both like romantic country and western songs though but we have no particular favourite.

Chris also asks: What type of camera do you have?

Mike and I each have a digital camera. Mine was originally his and it is a Nikon Coolpix 2000. I took his camera when I bought him a new camera last year for Christmas. His is a Fuji FinePix S7000. So sometimes I take the photos but often he does. Glad you think the pictures are good.

 

jmoqueen  asks: What book have you read that you feel changed your life and how?

There are two books that I can say changed my life. The first is “Self Help For Your Nerves” by Claire Weekes. When I was in my twenties I used to suffer appalling panic attacks many times per day, so bad that I was frightened to put the light out at night or be left on my own. Drugs did little to help. Then my parents bought me this book. I learned that the more you fight against panic attacks, the more you hang on to yourself, the worse they become. The secret is to let them do their worst, they will reach a pitch beyond which they will not go and then subside. By trying to stop them, by tensing yourself against them , you worsen them - “fear breeds fear”. I learned to see them through, to accept them, however unpleasant and understand that I would come out the other side. I still have panic attacks from time to time. I can cope with them now.  They are still unpleasant but no longer scare me as they used to years ago.  I still have and treasure that book. I have read it over and over and it has stood me in good stead.

The second would be The Bible. I did not have a particularly happy childhood either at home or at school where I was bullied. I found my solace in the church by joining the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts), joining the church choir, the church drama group. I became a Sunday school teacher and loved teaching the little ones. I was very involved in the church. I found that my faith helped me through many a difficulty and many an unhappy time. I know that my faith helps me to this very day. It has been tried and tested many times, sometimes I have been tempted to cast it aside but it is so firmly part of me, I was never, thankfully, able to do that.

My faith is still helping me through hard times.

Wldconnie asks: As a grandmother, how do you handle things going on with the way your grandchildren are brought up if you do not agree with it? Do you keep quiet or say something?

I have no qualms with the way my Grandchildren are being brought up. Becky and Dean are excellent parents who love their boys very much and do everything they can for them. From time to time I have had concerns about little issues but I have always spoken up and aired my views or worries. My daughter has always taken what I have said in a a good way. She knows that if I do raise concerns it is only because I love the boys so much. We have a good mother/daughter relationship and there is practically nothing we cannot discuss with each other. Yes, I would always say something should there be a problem.

Stevie asks: If you could be anyone and go back in time, where would you go, who would you be and why?

I found this very hard. I mean how can you pick one period of history or one person from all those centuries?  I have always been fascinated by Egyptian history and mythology, the Elizabethan era and Victorian times. I  much admire strong women so maybe Queen Elizabeth the first or Florence Nightingale. Then on the other hand I so admire Charles Dickens, the wonderful characters that he brought to life and the names he gave them. I really do not know. I suppose that it would be nice to make such an impact on the world that you were remembered centuries after your death. To invent something, to find a cure for a disease, to write a great piece of music to pen wonderful books or paint something beautiful on canvas. Stevie, there are just so many people I admire I simply cannot choose, one person, one place or one time.

Finally, Monae asks two questions: What is the one thing you would like people to know about you and with all the talk of terrorism on the news how is your life affected by it and is your area affected by terrorism?

Err, well people know so much about me from my pet hates and these two postings on answering questions, I cannot think of anything. Oh yes, I am five feet, five inches tall but my weight is a state secret.

We are all affected by terrorism these days. I think we all worry about it. The world has changed and will never be quite the same again. We have had no terror scares in our area. However, it does no good to live in fear. If you do, the terrorists win and achieve part of their aim which is to demoralise us. We can only live our lives to the best of our ability, pray for peace in a better world and strive for better understanding between our different nations and religions.

Well, folks, there you go.  You have probably learned more about me than you knew before.  I have enjoyed the questions very much, got me really thinking.  Maybe I learned something more about myself.  I hope you have enjoyed reading my answers and that I have not left anybody out.  Thanks for joining in and making it so worthwhile.

Have a great week my friends.