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What could you do less of?

That’s an easy one to answer.

I could do much less of scrolling through social networks, mostly X and Facebook and to a lesser extent Bluesky.

I panic if I haven’t my phone and can’t check if there is any breaking news.

Once I start scrolling I find it hard to stop.

One tweet leads to another and the tweet may contain a link to an interesting article and I’m engaged for quite a while.

I used to reply to tweets but there are so many trolls on line, I’ve cut back a lot and so I just compose a tweet but rarely send it. Elon Musk has a lot to answer for.

I could also do less worrying. I worry about my family when they are out at night. I find it hard to sleep until I know they are home safe. I’m better not knowing when they go out. I’m sure the last thing they think about is granny lying awake wondering if they’ve got home safely.

So I could do less scrolling and a lot less worrying.

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

I made it to my birthday on Valentine’s Day. A positive event.

As I’m retired most positive events are lived vicariously through my children and grandchildren.

However I walked 100k during the month of June and raised over £1000 for Dementia UK.

I started writing ✍️ again.

Every day is a positive event when you get to 75 so I’m enjoying wakening up every morning and looking forward to any more positive events the day may have for me.

Do you ever see wild animals?

No except on the television.

We don’t have wild animals in Ireland, although some of our human inhabitants could on occasions be likened to wild animals.

We have a zoo but I don’t like seeing wild animals in captivity so I haven’t visited a for a long time.

I am very happy watching David Attenborough and is wonderful programmes about wild life.

Share five things you’re good at.

I’m not very good at blowing my own trumpet but I consider myself to be quite good at blogging and telling stories. Over 60000 have watched my video blog on YouTube and 30000 have read my blogs so I must be doing something right.

I’m not a bad cook, not cordon bleu but good wholesome tasty food.

I’m a good photographer. I’m just an amateur but manage to produce some very interesting photos.

I’m good at cleaning. My house is always spotless although my husband is a great help and is a mean hand with a hoover, well actually a Sharp.

Finally cause I’m running out of things, I’m a good wife, mammy and granny and I’m a good friend who will do my best to help out when the need arises.

What is one thing you would change about yourself?

I don’t think there is anything I would change about myself. To change anything would take away from who I am.

But …

I could be less trusting but then I wouldn’t have learned who my real friends were.

I could say no more often to the many requests to help out when others need me but then I’d feel guilty and I do like helping others.

I know I’m over generous to my children and my grandchildren but I love to see them getting the things I didn’t get as a child.

I probably could lose about 2 stone but then I would look gaunt and I do enjoy my food so I wouldn’t change my eating habits as long as I stay healthy.

We are all born with flaws and these flaws form our personality. Changing anything about ourselves might be for the better but it could also take away what makes us unique.

I’ll stay as I am. Too late now to change. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. 🫢

Are you more of a night or morning person?

Already answered this promt so in case you didn’t see it ;

Not a Morning Person

What technology would you be better off without, why?

I’d be a lot better off without my iPhone.

I spend far too much time on social media. It keeps me awake at night scrolling through tweets on Bluesky and X. I even check it when I wake during the night.

In fact I’m constantly checking for messages, news and just generally checking.

I come from a generation that queued up outside a red telephone booth to make a phone call and you only phoned home if there was an emergency. I managed perfectly well until the birth of the iPhone. I was actually able to go places without my parents knowing where I was.

I think being so easily contacted can be a good thing but can also feel suffocating in that you can never get away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Hold on my phone is buzzing, have to go!!

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

I think the hardest decision I had to make was not returning to work after my first baby was born. We only had one salary coming in and in those days it wasn’t enough to keep us. Husband was doing overtime to boost his salary.

I had signed on as available to work and was sent for interviews by the employment office. I was allowed three refusals and if I didn’t take the next job my money from the state would stop.

I was offered all three jobs and turned them down and then it was decision time. Did I take the job and not have to worry about the money or did I turn it down and choose to stay with my daughter.

I decided to stay at home and be with my daughter. Money was tight and more so when baby No 2 arrived but it was the best if not one of the hardest decisions I ever made.

Well that and having all my bottom teeth out, but that’s another story which you can find in a previous blog.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. Sorry you have to have Trump as your President.

Name your top three pet peeves.

No.1 It really annoys me when people are late. I’ve always believed in being on time when meeting anyone and expect that anyone arranging to meet me do the same. There is nothing more embarrassing than hanging around in a public place waiting for someone to turn up

No.2 I walk quite a lot and meet many people on my walks. I always acknowledge them with a word or a smile. Most reciprocate but many don’t and I know it’s their choice but it really annoys me.

No.3 people who park their cars on the pavement and so close to the wall or hedge that it’s necessary to walk on the road to pass. Absolutely no thought for mums with prams, blind people and those in wheelchairs. Go park somewhere else, it just means you might have to walk a bit further.

Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

I have to say I prefer the beach. I love the waves on a stormy day, the stillness on a calm day and the different colours of the sea depending on the weather.

The variety of sea birds and their various activities, flying high and dropping their shells to open them on the rocks below. Scuffling with others to get that piece of food left by a passer by.

The salt air, good for the lungs they say, revitalises the system and the whole experience clears the head and calms the mind.

The mountains on the other hand, are not always accessible. Bad weather makes paths muddy and dangerous. Mostly a steep hill climb to get to a viewing point. Don’t get me wrong we have some beautiful mountains especially where the Mournes sweep down to the sea so we have the advantage of access to both but on the whole it has to be the beach.