❓Ask A Question etc 🧵🎱

I went twice to Romanian orphanages after the fall of Ceausescu, taking humanitarian aid to half a dozen or so places.

Have you had any floods near you? I saw those across the Somerset levels earlier this week.

No floods here in Manchester despite all the canals criss crossing the city. Just another freezing frosty morning.

Do you put off going out or doing jobs outside in this cold weather?

I dont put my nose outside the door if I can help it.

I'm not going out as it's freezing and we have solid ice all around the building. It's very slippery underfoot and I can't risk a fall.

What is your least favourite job in the house?

I dislike all housework but I think vacuum cleaning is the worst, just slightly ahead of dusting.

Are there any chores which you quite enjoy?

I hate most chores nowadays but do find mopping the kitchen floor with a nice scented disinfectant quite therapeutic. The trouble is my lovely little border terrier mucks it all up again in minutes

Do you watch any tv quiz programmes and if so what are your favourites?

I watch “The Chase” and “Beat the Chasers”. Also “The Hit List” music quiz when it is on.

I recently found a bag of snowdrop bulbs in the car glove compartment - and they were starting to spurt!
Do you ever put things in safe places and then forget where you put them?

Frequently ! Latest is my Grandson’s 7 th birthday card. Hopefully it will turn up by tomorrow.

We were late getting home yesterday and couldn’t be bothered to cook or so succumbed to picking up fish and chips on the way back.
What would you choose in the same situation ?

Probably fish without the chips. Or a Chinese take away.... sweet and sour chicken.

Do you cut your own toenails?

Yes, I cut and paint my toenails.

Do you have a lot of items on prescription? (I have 5)

Four and DH has one.

Do you re order your prescriptions on line or go to the pharmacy? . We order on line and it is very easy .

I ring the pharmacy and they order the items for me

Are you planning a Spring holiday?

Yes I’m going to Ireland in May.

Do you read much and do you prefer a book, kindle or listen to audio books. I still like to have the book, paper or hardback. One of my goals this year is to read more as I have got out of the habit. I have so many great books on the shelf waiting to be read.

This last week I’ve read and listened to loads whilst stuck in bed. Great books on the shelf -yes, but they’re all there for rereading now. I rarely buy real books unless I can’t get a Kindle version.

If you see old school photos, are you surprised by how many names you still remember?

I dont have any old school photos but I can remember most of the names of my classmates from secondary school - and even some from infants!

Can you remember your first day at school?

I got bored and wandered off to the nearby park in the afternoon. Caused a real panic.

Yes, I loved it. Became friends with a boy in my class and we are still friends 63 years later.

Yes. I felt abandoned and wanted to go home.

Do you remember your best friend at infant school?

I don't recall this bit, but but apparently my twin sister and I went to the back door and waited after tea to be taken back to school on our first day. When we were told that we didn't have to go back until the next day we burst into tears.

Can you remember any of your primary school teachers? The headmistress was Miss Cooper and one of the teachers was Mrs Pickles. We are quite scared of the latter.

Yes I can .Two Mr Jones, one we called Grampa Jones. Not to his face of course. Mrs Howells and a very pretty young teacher who came in one afternoon a week to teach us girls knitting and plain sewing. Miss Curtis.

How about your secondary school or even beyond ?

My favourite teachers were all English tutors - Seamus Fiddes for the 1st year of senior school, then Reg Winfield (he looked like the tv character Jason King) for the next 2 years, and Peter Inskeep for the final 2 years.

What was your favourite subject at school?

English, both language and literature and art.

Did you ever have a crush on a teacher ?

There was one particular art teacher that lots of girls at my secondary school had a crush on. I thought he was good looking but oh how he knew it, he soaked it up a bit too much which put me off him. He would flirt just a little with the pupils who hung on his every word. He was dark & handsome with very long hair, he looked more like a cross between Jesus and a rock star than an art teacher.

Was there a particular teacher that you really disliked or who you couldn’t get on with?

Our gym mistress was awful. We all disliked her. She was a bully and I think she hated girls.

Same question please

Mine was a Maths teacher who was close to retirement age, had no patience and it it seemed all children, boys and girls, annoyed her.
She gave the most detentions of any teachers.

Did anyone famous ever visit your school?

I cant recall anyone famous ever visiting my school.

Every year we had a big carnival with a May queen and a retinue. I imagine some local celebrities came to those to do the crowning. I used to love those carnivals. One year I was in the Maypole dance and another I was a gypsy. I was never the queen or one of the maids of honour.

Did your school host any events for the wider community?

A ‘party’ for the 50th end of the war anniversary.
Children learned songs from the past, e.g. Run rabbit, run. Swing on a Star, White Cliffs of Dover and invitations were sent out inviting grandparents and their friends to share spam sandwiches and cakes, join in the sing song and share their experiences of wartime with the children who were studying that era in history. Khaki uniform was very becoming for many of the staff.

Have you seen any spring flowers-daffodils, snowdrops, crocuses around yet?