This is the fourth part of a fiction serial, in 765 words. With the date arranged, Terence had three days to make his plans. A cheap hotel room in Bayswater was secured for sixty pounds for the one night. A train ticket was booked, and once he arrived at St Pancras it was an easy … | Continue reading
I found this on You Tube, and thought it was impressively done. Using ancient statues, famous paintings, and photographs, the film makers applied AI to give accurate colour representations and movements to the historical figures shown in this 9-minute film. Heads move, eyes open … | Continue reading
This is the third part of a fiction serial, in 798 words. It was easy enough for Terence to whittle out the unsuitable contacts. Some sent unsolicited photos of their private parts with lurid messages about what they would like to do to Phyllis. They were all rejected out of hand … | Continue reading
We were able to get a quick appointment, so took Ollie to the Vet about his ears yesterday afternoon. A different Vet saw him, and she wanted him up on the examination table, rather than examine him on the floor. That was a struggle, as he has never had to stand on the high table … | Continue reading
This is the second part of a fiction serial, in 767 words. Two wardrobes and one chest of drawers stood in the cramped bedroom. Terence had them all open, and was pulling out various items. One wardrobe was for his female clothing, along with three of the six drawers. On top of t … | Continue reading
Nine years before the Russian Revolution eventually formed the Soviet Union, someone filmed their trip to Tsarist Moscow. Thanks to You Tube, we can see this 7-minute film 115 years later. | Continue reading
I had to wake up early this morning, for a ‘call of nature’. It was well before 7am, and a look outside the window told me it was pouring with rain, bleak,and very windy. It took me one nanosecond to decide to get back into bed. As a result, I didn’t stir again until almost … Con … | Continue reading
This is the first part of a fiction serial, in 742 words. Phyllis Harvey. That would be a good name, he decided. A name that spoke of maturity, but not old age. A name associated with a certain class of woman, one who had made her way in life. Fifty-something, maybe sixty, but pe … | Continue reading
This is every episode of my recent fiction serial, compiled into one complete story. It is a long read, at 24,200 words. She was all in a fluster, as she knew she would be. Why had she agreed when Elsie suggested the day trip? It was an early start, and she wasn’t that bothered a … | Continue reading
Trying out Ollie’s new folding ‘dog stairs’ didn’t go well. As anyone who read my post yesterday will know, we decided to take him to Thetford Forest. Ollie cannot differentiate between different types of cars, so once the hatchback was open on the new car, he wanted to get in. E … | Continue reading
Yesterday, we decded to go on a trip to Caister-On-Sea this morning. This small village on the East Coast has the attraction of a huge beach, a motor museum, and a very old (and very small) castle. It is only 42 miles from Beetley, so an easy journey. It was going to be a chance … | Continue reading
Something to consider, if and when you plan to retire. When I first retired from work at the age of 60 in 2012, it felt like a holiday. Hard to believe that I never had to show up for a job again, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all rather fake. Just like … Continue read … | Continue reading
These posed photos of housewives are from the 1940s and 1950s. They mainly featured in magazines of the time, illustrating the life of the supposedly ‘Perfect Housewife’. Times have changed. Bed made, dusting to do. Delighted to be at the mixing bowl. Washing the ‘smalls’ on the … | Continue reading
Although I do not celebrate Easter in any traditional sense, I would like to wish a Happy Easter to all of those who do. I hope that you have a wonderful time, whatever your plans are. | Continue reading
I dicovered some more random historical photos online. I hope that you find them interesting. (Most of the photos can be enlarged for detail by clicking on them.) England, 1907. A Health Ministry official measures the width of a back alley, to ensure the street is fit for human h … | Continue reading
Following one of my recent photo posts, I was recommended to read a short story. It is called ‘The Destructors’, written by the famous novelist, Graham Greene. He wrote ‘The Third Man’, ‘Brighton Rock’, and many other well-known books. I hadn’t heard of the story, but was able to … | Continue reading
From the mid 1950s through to the late 1960s, small two-seater three-wheeled cars known as Bubble Cars were very popular in London. One attraction was that with only three wheels, they could be driven on a motorcycle licence. Also that they were easy to park in a congested city, … | Continue reading
When we click ‘accept cookies’, or open up our lives online for any reason, we can already see some of the implications. Your smartphone is listening to you, and that Alexa in the corner is also recording any product or service you might mention. The webcam on your laptop is watc … | Continue reading
My good friend Antony has recently been on a trip to America. He has added some excellent photos to his website that all scream ‘USA!’ Please use the link to enjoy them. https://antonykyriacou801207954.wordpress.com/usa/ | Continue reading
These colour photographs were taken by Phyllis Nicklin (1913-1969), a University of Birmingham geography teacher. The photos were used in her lectures on the geography of Birmingham. Birmingham is England’s second largest city, after London. The current population is 1.5 million, … | Continue reading
Originally posted on Loren Berg's Blog: Please do not Google or check this with Snopes.??They will lie to you. Trust me! In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a healthy young wife by the name of Dorothy.???And Dot C … | Continue reading
This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. Although she never really had the confidence to travel far outside the county, Mabel soon got used to driving her new car. She took Reg to the hospital for his check-ups, got her shopping from the supermarket on the edge o … | Continue reading
John Bulmer’s photographs were taken at a time when the North was undergoing a vast transformation. The collapse of traditional industries that had been the wealth creators of the Industrial Revolution was deeply affecting communities throughout the region; from the Black Country … | Continue reading
This is the thirty-first part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. Managing life with Reg gave Mabel so much to do. They had to go to the bank to arrange for her to get a power of attorney, so she could pay the bills and draw money from his account. Getting into and out … Continue … | Continue reading
A selection of photos found online, all taken around Britain during the 1950s. Being helped onto a double-decker bus. Copying the Guardsmen outside Buckingham Palace. Feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. Getting a good view of something at the seaside. Anticipating firework n … | Continue reading
Hard to believe it is Spring. Despite the evenings staying lighter for longer, the weather has been dismal. We have had three times more rain than is normal for March in Norfolk, and everything feels damp and cold. The mud is back with a vengeance too, and making it very slippery … | Continue reading
This is the thirtieth part of a fiction serial, in 790 words. Mabel didn’t go to Reg’s retirement party, as it was held at his head office in London. It would all be work people, and she didn’t know any of them anyway. Instead, she sat at home wondering what it was going to be … … | Continue reading
I am very pleased to present a guest post from writer, poet, and fellow blogger, Kevin Morris. https://kmorrispoet.com/ It is one of his poems from his collection, ‘More Poetic Meanderings’. How Sweet and Sad Was the Bird How sweet and sad was the bird I heard As I stood at my op … | Continue reading
Apologies. There will be no episode of ‘Life With Mabel’ today. Life got in the way of writing and blogging. Hopefully back to normal on Saturday. | Continue reading
George Reid took over 700 photographs of London over the course of a decade, from 1920 to 1933. He died before his work was completed. All photos are © George Davison Reid. A busy street close to St Paul’s Cathedral. Sailing Barges on the Thames. Fleet Street. Once the home of ev … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-ninth part of a fiction serial, in 742 words. Mabel soon settled into the new life of a housewife. Not having to hold down a full time job, she found her everyday chores quite pleasant, for the first time ever. The purchase of some cookbooks even saw her experi … | Continue reading
Originally posted on Nan's Notebook: Click on the following link at your own risk. It is a visual examination of the damage done by an AR-15. The link was provided by Steve Schmidt via his daily newsletter. (Ordinarily I shorten the link, but the direct link requires paymen … | Continue reading
Originally posted on Pippa Rathborne: Pippa is an actress, voice artist, and blogger. She doesn’t allow comments on her blog, so I just wanted everyone to see how remarkably elegant she is. The photo was taken by her partner, Martin. Pippa Rathborne View original post | Continue reading
This is the twenty-eighth part of a fiction serial, in 740 words. The week in Scarborough went well. The caravan was very nice, and considering they only needed one bed, very roomy too. They walked along the seafront, played Bingo, went to the cinema the only afternoon it rained, … | Continue reading
Ever since I saw the original ‘Blade Runner’ in a cinema in London, I have been obsessed with the soliloquy of one of the characters. Rutger Hauer plays Roy Batty, an android with a designated life span who realises that it is his time to die. The scene is forever memorable, and … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-seventh part of a fiction serial, in 720 words. As it turned out, Molly White made the decision for her daughter. Unable to speak, she was still able to write, so when Mabel told her she was going to take her to live with them in Huntingdon, she made a writing … | Continue reading
Taken over two years, this uncredited photographer captured London life and other (unmentioned) parts of England using early colour film. You will notice the same large car in some of the photos, with a distinctive mascot at the front. It was the occupants of this car that took a … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-sixth part of a fiction serial, in 812 words. As she was drying herself in the bathroom, something occurred to Mabel. She had not been keeping up with the increase in house prices, but what Reg had said was the cost of the new house semed remarkably cheap to he … | Continue reading
I found these early photographs taken using colour processing of film. They are not ‘colourised’ later, but actual colour prints. I had no idea that the ‘Autochrome’ technique existed over 100 years ago. Paris, 1914. A Mongolian girl in traditional dress, 1913. The Pyramids and T … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-fifth part of a fiction serial, in 740 words. Elsie Hughes was not much like Winnie. She wasn’t one for sitting chatting, or watching television. Her style was to go straight up into the bedroom and get on with it. But she was much more experienced than Winnie, … | Continue reading
The clocks went forward here last night, so we technically lost one hour’s sleep. I got up just after 8, only to remember that it was just after 9. I will be playing ‘catch-up’ on that hour all day now. ————————————————————————————— The past week has been characterised by gusty, … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-fourth part of a fiction serial, in 773 words. Almost a month after her fortieth birthday, Mabel was in the office at work when one of the salesgirls came in. “Can you come out and see a customer, please? She wants to change a blouse, but it has been worn and i … | Continue reading
Milk vending machine in London, England, circa 1931. A man has his boots cleaned by an automatic penny-in-the-slot boot-polishing machine, circa 1907. A vending machine sells fruit in London, England, circa 1929. A woman operating the first vending machine in Britain to sell pota … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-third part of a fiction serial, in 762 words. The Swinging Sixties passed Mabel by. Life with Reg had settled into a routine, and the new car had made trips down to see both sets of parents more comfortable. Reg had been right about doing well by the time he wa … | Continue reading
Gavin has good advice about the prevention of choking on food, using his many years of experience in the Ambulance Service in London, and New Zealand. Hi folks, 2 things I feared most when I was in the ambulance service. One was asthma & the other similar was choking. I was the f … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-second part of a fiction serial, in 746 words. Although she hadn’t noticed anyone viewing the house, Mabel received a call about an offer. Still not used to having a phone, it always made her jump when it rang. It was the younger Mr Walker. He had set the askin … | Continue reading
David Wisdom took these pictures in 1970 and 1971 while he was sharing a luxury flat in Holly Hill, Hampstead with a group of friends from Vancouver. He was born in post-war England to a couple of touring actors of the repertory stage. In 1952 he was moved to Vancouver where he h … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-first part of a fiction serial, in 752 words. Surprisingly, Reg loved the television. After previously dismissing it that night at Winnie’s house, he became an avid watcher. Mabel thought something had happened with Clive, as Reg stopped going fishing at weeken … | Continue reading