30th June 2019

Last day of June and the world cup’s a cliff-hanger, a saga of England v US v France. Just like my past life. Back in 2000, I had no idea who would win. Following a fire,  it looked like I’d be following in my father’s, my aunt’s, numerous uncles’ and our daughter’s footsteps in moving to the US. Books were pored over, immigration tomes researched, funds calculated. Everything was in place but there was a sting in the tale (sic). So, in 2005, we moved to France instead. 12 fun years but that didn’t work out either, Brexit raised its ugly head and we ended up right back where we started. Full circle. What on earth happened? Look right and click on An Englishwoman in America, Pensioners in Paradis and From Paradis to Perdition to read each humorous (but sorry) saga. Let’s hope Tuesday’s match England v US and the inevitable finale isn’t an ‘own goal’ just like my life!

23rd June 2019

A story of a pushy woman and a consultant..On Tuesday I accompanied Him Indoors to see the oncology consultant at the QE, our excellent local hospital. Since a major operation in France 5 years ago, HI has a 3-monthly blood test to determine his PSA result. Critical, as any elevation of the score could indicate cancer cells still remaining. However, despite its importance, not only does the NHS NOT give the patient his score directly (the consultant sends it to our GP who then files it!), twice now our GP, on request, gave him the wrong (higher) score! So, I was determined to do something about this. Result! HI can now go online and access his accurate medical records himself, just like you can in France. For those also living near the QE Hospital, here’s the link: myhealth@QEHB. Presumably the same facility is available at other UK hospitals too. But, NHS, why is this vital facility such a secret?

16th June 2019

One advantage of being old - I’ve seen Tory and Labour governments come and go. As I wrote in An Englishwoman in America, each time it’s the same: the former lives within its means (to the fury of groups clamouring for more money); the latter borrows millions to throw money at every fashionable, deserving cause. I’ve seen PMs come and go. Never have we had such a morally-correct, honest and clean-living PM as Mrs May, but look how she was treated! And then along comes Boris. The pendulum’s swung full circle. Morally-correct, clean-living? No. But, unlike Mrs May, he’s the strength the UK needs right now plus chutzpah in abundance. But, unlike Corbyn, he loves his country. This week Corbyn rushed to defend Iran as he also does with ME terrorists and the Communists. He hates our monarchy, refusing to sing the national anthem, refusing to attend the state banquet for the Potus yet happily attended when the Chinese leader arrived. Of the two? I pick Boris.

9th June 2019

Lights, camera, action....
Rehearsals are in full swing. Cecil B DeMille lurks in the wings. Hooray for Hollywood.  It’s the 1950s. A nervous girl is centre stage, mesmerised by her extrovert father. Why isn’t he shy and introverted like her? The answer’s staring her in the face. He’d lived in America. Slowly, slowly her life unfolds as she takes on board all that America can offer. First, as she experiences Britain in the ‘50s,  she learns about her father’s tribulations on Wall Street in 1929. In 1985 she crosses the Atlantic herself, zooms up the World Trade Center and, amidst much Yiddish humour, learns Brooklynese. Later she experiences Fla, LA, San Fr, Vegas, Sinatra at the Sands Theater. In the finale, does she emigrate to America as so many of her family did? Expect a sting in the tail.
....curtain rises on Tuesday. You’re all invited to the online party. On Tuesday, any time, click on
facebook.com/events/2377858309111342/  and enjoy music, entertainment, guest author appearances, quizzes on US cars and music. How to buy the ‘screenplay’: click the book cover on the right. See you Tuesday, from 10 am UK time.

2nd June 2019

On 6 June 1944 they gathered. Hundreds of thousands. Men and tanks lined the beaches, waiting for the moment to invade France. They came to protect Britain at one of the darkest moments in our history. They were billeted with local families, who generously shared precious rations. Women adored those men who brought luxuries like Spam, canned peaches and strange coffee in granules, and danced the jitterbug to strains of Glen Miller. Yet tomorrow, another American lands on our shores. Will he receive the same rapturous welcome? Unlikely, as ‘foolish’ protesters plot mayhem. Misguided, all. It matters not whether we like the current president - in a democracy, wait awhile and another will come along; it’s what he represents that’s important. 75 years ago, the US helped us overcome evil. Do not abandon them now.

26th May 2019

A week of political hypocrisy and pantomime. Theresa May has had to endure a tsunami of vitriol ever since she inherited that poisoned chalice of Brexit. Did she deserve such vitriol? Is this a leader who has evil intent with murderous global intentions? No. A decent vicar’s daughter who loves her country but handed an impossible task. Yet, the minute she’s forced to hand in her tearful notice, she’s showered with kind comments from self-serving parliamentary colleagues, looking for the main chance. Hypocrites all. How to avoid all this in future? Parliament should show less minutiae in its public face, cease its regular Westminster Question Time pantomime and let the PM govern. For the future, will Boris and Donald put their twin blond heads together to heal the world? They each need to read the government chapter in An Englishwoman in America!

19th May 2019

Eurovision. Is the lack of a good melody every year a deliberate ploy? Seems that way. If we take Eurovision as a symbol of European unity, then no one country should be seen to be “uber alles”.  At least the Tel Aviv crowd last night booed Greece and Cyprus when, yet again, they brought political bias into their voting. And Iceland thought it acceptable to display bondage in family entertainment yet showed ill-educated political bias by waving ‘Palestinian’ flags in Israel! In real politics, 80 years ago Churchill was originally labelled a buffoon. Today another politician named Boris, who wrote a brilliant book about Churchill, ironically also wears the buffoon label as he competes to be the new leader. So, Eurovision or real life, better an intelligent, educated buffoon who loves his country than someone ill-educated who consorts with terrorists.