Author: Chatter

What is your favorite genre of music?

It has to be music from the sixties. I lived in Belfast in the late sixties and before the troubles started all the big groups visited here .

I’ve been to see most of them although the Beatles were just before my time. But the Beach boys, Roy Orbison, the Kinks, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Manfred Mann I could go on, I saw them all.

Great music that has survived over 60 years. Some artists survive as long as their last record but this genre lasts and lasts.

https://youtu.be/xUNqsfFUwhY?feature=shared

On what subject(s) are you an authority?

I’m not an authority on anything but I have gained a lot of knowledge over my 76 years so I could probably join in a conversation on many different subjects

There is an old saying ‘Jack of all trades, and master of none’ and that’s where I see my self.

Some say this is a derogatory statement but I feel it suggests that it is a good thing to have a broad knowledge of many subjects rather than being confined to one.

How boring would it be to have lots of knowledge of one subject but lacking knowledge on more important topics.

So I’ll be happy to take Shakespeare’s quote as a compliment rather than an insult.

How do you express your gratitude?

I suppose it depends on the situation.

I would usually buy flowers or chocolates. I have on occasions baked something like a fruit loaf or a special desert. If it was something really special I might treat them to lunch or a spa day.

I would also send a card or a text expressing my gratitude. Offering to be available should they need something in the future would be another way of showing gratitude.

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

Unfortunately I have had surgery many times. When I was 7 I had my appendix removed. When I was 10 I had adhesions and had a small part of my bowel removed.

At 18 I had my tonsils out.

At 23 I needed a D&C after a miscarriage and again after another miscarriage when I was 25.

I had a procedure when I was 40 to remove a polyp from my cervix.

This isn’t going well you’re thinking. This must be the lot.

No

I needed my heart shocked back into the sinus rhythm after having Atrial fibrillation.

When I was 72 I had a pre cancerous tumour removed from my bowel.

And after all that I’m still here. Amazing!

Aren’t doctors and nurses wonderful.

What notable things happened today?

Unfortunately the tragic plane crash in India dominated the headlines. So sad to see lives of so many gone in a matter of minutes.

Those on the ground going about their daily lives gone too.

So sad to see the young gay couple who had sent a video from their hotel before boarding the plane. They spoke of how they had such a great time in India and talked about their plans to make a blog with the highlights of their trip. 😢

The trouble persisted here in Northern Ireland with riots targeting immigrants who were living peacefully in the communities. Police being targeted and families being burned out of their homes.

A leisure centre attacked and fire bombed on the erroneous assertion that the evacuated families were there.

What has happened to humanity ?

So all and all a notable day. Lives changed in the blink of an eyelid.

It’s hard to come to terms with these happenings.

If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?

I think I’d change it to something that would make people laugh.

Imagine being in a queue and lots of bored people waiting for their name to be called. Imagine their faces when I was called with my new name Daisy Duck.

No more plain Ann Allan. Well you did ask 😂

Describe your dream chocolate bar.

My dream chocolate bar will be one that tastes like a Mars Bar but has no calories.

So a moment on the lips won’t be a lifetime on the hips.

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

It has to be Heidi by Joanna Spyri.

I used to imagine that I had a grandfather, I didn’t, both died long before I was born and he lived like Heidi’s grandfather up in the Alps.

I could imagine the little wooden hut and my cosy little bed covered with a sheep fleece. It was always warm and we spent our day out on the mountain. I know, I was very naive at 16 😂

What public figure do you disagree with the most?

It has to be Trump. I can’t think of one good quality.

He only stood for the Presidency to keep out of jail and make money out of those who voted for him.

He is trying to turn the country into another North Korea where he is completely in charge, law means nothing and cruelty and ignorance are his main objectives.

He’s also trying to bring religion back to a growing secular society. He is against those who are doing no harm like the lgbtq community and to immigrants

Plus I worry that he has access to the nuclear codes. He is becoming more senile and is being manipulated in the background by ex Fox News hosts who are mostly uneducated and out only for power.

It’s amazing that of all the highly educated politicians in the USA he should be elected to one of the most important positions in the world.

Let’s hope there are some in his administration that can control his erratic behaviour as his aim seems to be to destroy the USA.