Musings

Summer breeze makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind...

If you're a Brit I'm sure it hasn't escaped your notice that summer arrived in the UK this weekend!  Oh, the warmth on my skin, the sun on my face, the scent of barbecue...



  

I swept all my winter pullovers, coats and boots into the back of the storage cupboard at once, and lovingly hung up my summer clothes in the wardrobe.  The contents instantly changed from a dull black to an array of colour.  My beautiful flowery swishy dresses, back at last.  My clippy cloppy sandals.  My sunglasses!  It's been too long.  Big smiles.





Video killed the radio star...

Ok, I'm really going to sound my age now.  Or maybe even a little bit older.  I was chatting to a colleague the other day and I mentioned something I'd heard on the radio.   To which my colleague replied, "I wouldn't know, I don't listen to the radio".

You don't listen to the radio?!?!

Yes I know reader, I know you're thinking the same thing.  To which she continued, "Actually I don't have a radio at home".

What on earth is the world coming to?  Is it my age to blame for the fact that I expect everyone who has a reasonable (or even paltry) income, to possess a radio?  Necessities in the home: oven, sofa, toilet, radio.

Simple as that.  Am I too old to understand?

This weekend alone I've laughed along to Graham Norton, sung along to Desert Island Discs, relaxed to the laidback drawl of Huey Morgan, and chuckled with Sara Cox.  I lamented the fact that I missed Alan Carr, and hurried home to catch Paul O'Grady.  All while I've carried on doing other things, such as cooking, writing, reading papers, etc., rather than staring at a goggle box.  Radio brings me information, news, laughs and new music (or even reminds me of old tunes I'd forgotten).  With the arrival of digital fancy gadgets and radio 6, I think radio is getting better every day.

The day that radio becomes a thing of the past, feel free to throw me over a cliff.  I won't mind.



I would, however, like to add an exclamation of indignance.  Who in their right mind thought it suitable to draft in radio 1 "DJ" Fearne Cotton to do the commentary for the forthcoming royal nuptials on the BBC?  I'd sooner listen to Terry Wogan, or even someone like Julian Clary.  She's ruined my wedding day.  I'm not a fan.

Eyes down...

I've joined a reading group!  Yes I know this post is making me sound older and older as the sentences progress.  But I thought it might expand my cultural horizons.  To counteract the overall feeling that I'm doing old person's things, I've chosen one which takes place in the centre of town, in the bar of a trendy hotel.  My first book to read is Yiyun Li's "The Vagrants".  I'll look forward to it.  Apologies to any trendy young things who attend book groups of their own, I hope I haven't offended.



P.S.  I've also joined a rambling group, in preparation for my Ben Nevis walk in July.  Mine's a sweet sherry...

Got my first writing assignment back from my tutor. The response was good. Being a natural worrier, I immediately thought to myself, I'm sure the tutor says that to all of her pupils initially. Who knows? I'll gratefully accept her kind words and move onwards to assignment 2. We'll see what the next few assignments bring. I'm enjoying it so far anyway.

Good news no. 1: My lovely friend Mariana and her fiance Kad are getting married, in Gretna Green, in August! How exciting. Hat shopping is definitely on the cards. If I start early enough, I may find a hat in time to wear it to the pub on Will and Kate's forthcoming special day, and then save it for Gretna. I'm really happy for them as they're such a good couple (by that comment I meant Mariana and Kad, although I'm sure HRH and his future wife are too). And any excuse for a knees-up!



Good news no. 2: We're planning a girlie trip to Paris, to shop, drink wine and dine on escargots and other delights. Best start saving now.

Good news no. 3: Only one week left at work, and I'm on holiday for nine whole days! Not that I'm doing much, I'll be working in my Mother's shop for the week while they visit sunny Suffolk. But it's very relaxing and as it's only small I might find the time there to work on my writing assignments. It's also good to have a break from the norm.

Speaking of which, a very happy Mothering Sunday to all you mothers out there. Hope you're being pampered as I type. Make sure you wallow in a nice bubble bath and eat plenty of chocolate.