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French film - "Proxima "

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Tuesday, 12 Mar 2024, 04:29

French woman and astronaut Sarah has been chosen to go on a mission to a space station, in preparation for a future landing on Mars. She was only chosen at the very last minute to join the crew, so it is all very exciting  but also a challenge to keep up with her male colleagues (She is the only female on the team)

Sarah desperately tries to balance—the love for her young daughter Stella,  with her ambition of becoming an astronaut and to see the space she's dreamed of ever since she was a young child. It is a very exciting event in her life.  

Although her daughter Stella is proud of her mother, she is afraid of the seperation, she fears what could happen if her mother doesn't return home again.

Her mother and her father (Thomas) no longer live together as a family and while her mother is away Stella will stay with her father. Awaiting the return of her mother Sarah.

One of her male work colleagues is not too happy about having a woman as part of the team and doubts her capabilities. He had wanted another male astronaut to be in the crew, who is more experienced. However, when he sees how hatd working Sarah is and how well she does her job, he begins to warm to her and sees that she is capable of doing the job.


Sarah is devastated when Stella and Thomas miss their flight and her last opportunity to see her little girl in person before leaving the earth.

By chance Sarah and Stella are still able to see each other for a final time, but this time it is through a pane of glass as Sarah is in quarantine. Stella reminds her mother , that she had promised they would be able to see the rocket she was leaving on,  but that Sarah had broken her promise. 

Sarah has a pang of conscience and decides to sneak out of quarantine and awaken the sleeping Stella and take her to see the rocket early in the morning.

The final scene of the countdown is dramatic and emotional. Sarah has a photograph next to her of her daughter Stella. Stella and her father are there watching the take off. He is tearful and Stella is smiling happily. As the rocket blasts off successfully on it's flight into space.

It is a dramatic film, heart warming, with an interesting challenge for the woman and her family, as she realises her longtime dream of travelling in Space.

2019 french film directed by Alice Winocour. The film stars Eva Green as Sarah, and Stella (Zélie Boulant). It also stars Lars Eidinger as Thomas, her ex-husband and Stella's father; Matt Dillon as Mike, her work colleague.


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Watching Films

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Monday, 11 Mar 2024, 17:08

Since starting to study languages with the OU, my love of watching films has steadily grown. When watching a film,  it is an opportunity to listen to the language, and understand dialogues. I like to hear different spoken languages and accents.

 I am quite discerning, I like a good quality film, but also films that  appeal to myself,  for example being a wife mother, with a family and so on. Interests like; Family life, the natural world, music, travel, dramas, detectives, adventures, things like that.

When I was a very young age my parents took me to watch "The Sound of Music"  at the cinema,  I also saw Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist" and other films. This was a great treat and a fantastic experience!

However, then came TV viewing which became much more popular, then you could watch movies at home or on DVD. I now have a good collection of movies that I have collected over the years, these have remained my firm favourites. I have since added some french language movies, and other language films, to my collection.

Watching films is a very good way to learn languages. It involves using your eyes,  ears, your brain, thoughts and feelings.
It is also useful for memory training.

You can start a conversation with "Did you see that film ?" (such and such) "Yes, it was great and do you remember who the actors were?" And "what was the plot?" "Where was the scene set?" "Who were the main characters in the film?" "What was it all about?" "what was the beginning?" and "What was the conclusion?"Can you remember?"

So all this is very good for the memory!

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🪁A Walk in the Windy Park!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Sunday, 10 Mar 2024, 17:56


Today after reading my chosen study book, I decided on a walk to the park. The weather was fresh and slightly chilly, but this had the effect of waking me up and making me more alert!

I have had a shoulder injury now for about a week,  this was probably caused by a pulled or torn muscle, from making a quick sudden movement,  tidying up the house.

However, I am not put off by it and I continue to keep up with my studying and walking routines as regularly as I can.

It has been raining a little bit less lately,  so it is not so damp but colder, drier and fresher,  It felt quite invigorating, the perfect weather to walk, as there is plenty of oxygen.

I entered the park through the side entrance, I was delighted to see crocus, daffodils and kingcups growing beneath the trees. I began walking along the footpath past the pavillion. Nothing much happening in there today and everything was locked up. 

It was quite tempting to just sit and rest at the picnic tables, or on the bench next to the pavillion, but I decided not to because I really needed to push on and get some exercise done, especially after Covid, then after that catching a bronchitis, so I really have to push myself to get going again.

Past the tennis court, this is surrounded by lots of really ancient trees and woodland which was  swaying in the breeze. Lots of hedges and younger trees further on, with the sound of lots of activity and birdsong coming from within.

Reaching the far end of the field I turn, past the back gardens of the bungalows,  with bird tables in the gardens and birds singing up in the
tree tops nearby. I stop and listen to the birdsong and it had quite a calming effect on me.


Carried on walking past the little woodland area that had been flooded last time I had visited. The rain water had by now receded, although it still looked very muddy, so I decided not to risk walking in there today!

Instead I headed on past the childrens playground, which was empty of course,  because the children were still in school at this time of day.

It was lovely just to breathe in the fresh air in the park, surrounded by all the lovely trees. The sky looked huge and had lots of fluffy white clouds, but it was mostly a grey coloured sky today.

I noticed a dog walker had entered the park entrance and was throwing the ball around for the dog to chase, although the notice reads  "All dogs to be on leads in the park" but she doesn't let him  play for too long, she soon puts it's lead back on and sets off walking briskly around the perimeter of the park.

Soon I had reached the park gates,  I was then making  my way across the road into the cemetery.  Here I like to sit for a while on the bench and share my sandwiches with the little birds!

I remember the words of Jesus "Consider the birds they do not toil yet the Lord takes care of them. How much more will he take care of you!"   " Don't worry! "
🌳🌲🐦🦅🦆

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French film - 'Full time'

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Monday, 4 Mar 2024, 09:33

French Film -" Full Time"
(À Plein Temps)

This weekend I watched an interesting french film.(2021) "À Plein Temps" 

The story of the daily struggles, of a single working class woman, with two young children, Nolan and Chloe.

Mother Julie lives in a small remote village in the countryside, she has to commute to the city(Paris) for work every day.

First, she has to take the children to the babysitter very early in the morning, before she takes the train to work. Anyone who has to commute to work can probably relate to Julie's struggles with transport. I can relate to this myself, from past experience of working in town far from home.

Her work shifts can sometimes change at short notice. She works in a five star Hotel, in the position as head chamber maid. It is often very hard work and for long hours, it also carries many responsibilities.

She would like to find a better paid job, with more money to suit her skills, in market research. However, It is difficult to get time off work to attend interviews,  so she has to break the rules by swapping shifts with other staff to get time off work. She then gets into deep water with her mean demanding boss and things don't go too well.  She decides to take a few days off to rest, persuading her boss she will do better in future.

Julie has to provide for her children and all their needs for their birthdays, holidays and for days out. It is very difficult to make ends meet, to pay for the mortgage on her lovely house,  the transport costs,  bills and food. 

Meanwhile her ex never helps her with alimony, when she tries to phone him to ask for a bit of  help, he makes himself unavailable and she just ends up talking with frustration into the answering machine instead.

Life is complicated when there is a general train strike,  she then has to find other ways of getting to and from work. She often ends up thumbing a lift, or car sharing, often arriving home late into the evening when it is dark, to collect the children from the babysitter.

The situation is complicated further when the baby sitter( who is getting elderly),  is not very happy with the situation of the long hours she has to keep. She soon starts complaining that she may soon have to stop looking after the children altogether, as it is bad for her health.

You never quite know what will happen next!  Maybe a disaster could be looming ahead and that everything could just unravel at anytime.

However, all's well that ends well, when at lasts she receives a phone call,  to say that she has managed to land her dream job, as a manager in market research!


A modern realistic film, filled with lots of drama and suspense. It tugs on your heartstrings, as you really feel for her!

https://youtu.be/qC81LSu1B94


Director: Eric Gravel
Language: French
Leading actress Laure Calamy

Distributed by: Haut et Court

Young woman rushing through street dressed in navy blue coat



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Plenty of Puddles in the Park!!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Friday, 16 Feb 2024, 11:42

A cartoon walking on a wet day lots of puddles!

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Mental Health Crisis UK

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Wednesday, 6 Mar 2024, 10:10



In this country there are more and more people presenting with mental health problems. This increase in mental health problems has been going on for quite a long time, and there is a lack of adequate NHS mental health services to deal with it.

Some Mental Health Disorders include

• Anxiety Disorders,
Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Dissociative Disorders, Schizophrenia,
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) , Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Paranoia and many more.

Calls to a mental health crisis line  have more than doubled in 12 months, according to an NHS trust.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPNHSFT) said calls reached 17,000 in September 2023, up from 7,500 in September 2022.

The trust said the rise in demand led to more people going to A&E with mental health conditions.

However, this is not due to the covid pandemic said one health worker.  It is rather an undercurrent of political and economic instability in this country.

These are the important concerns that people have; Zero hour contracts, the cost of living crisis, rise in inflation, mortgage repayments, job insecurity, high energy costs and now a recession.

All this contributes to a decline in peoples mental health and creates huge problems related to stress and anxiety in families. This is having a knock on effect on the children who feel their parents stress,  resulting in the rise of
Childrens mental health issues. This unease in society has a detrimental impact on the society in this country.
So what will the government do to help the adults and the young people of this country? And will they protect these vital Mental Health services?


Ref- bbc.co.uk .

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Nice Weather For Penguins

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Wednesday, 14 Feb 2024, 20:08


Penguins cartoon

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French language studies finished - Next English!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Monday, 4 Mar 2024, 09:44


A neighbour(the kind jolly man) has passed away yesterday. He suffered from his lungs and heart(a smoker) Not that we have had close contact, except to just say 'Hello'  over the garden fence.

 He just dropped down dead a few hours later in the street!
We saw the ambulance arrive to take him away. I am still in shock! Another friend up the road is ill with bronchitis. There seems to be a lot of lung problems in our street at present time.

Apart from all that I am still trying to study whenever I can!
Every day. I read the news in french, watch france24 in french, and I am reading a collection of short stories in french. It seems I am now enjoying the fruits of my labours of three years study of French! lol!

Now I can read French books and watch interesting french films not bad huh? Thanks OU ! 👍

Slowly starting to gear up for October, when I will be starting studying a 30 credit course in English language.  I have enjoyed studying English and liked very much the module  "Creativity in language." As I like writing. I have really learned a lot on this course!

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Health update- 🌬covid symptoms and dental problems

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Tuesday, 20 Feb 2024, 18:54

I have had to postpone my dental appointment when I had covid 19, so now I have 2 loose teeth and still feeling the effects of covid 19.
Now I seem to have caught another virus, or it could be a flu or cold but not so debilitating as covid.

 However, I still have a niggly cough with phlem, so I don't feel well enough yet to go to the dentist at the moment, as I am still having a coughing attack now and then.

I don't like having tooth ache my gums are sore, I use painkillers and salt water mouth wash everyday. I just have to wait to go to the dentist when I am feeling much better.

I used to have an NHS dentist, now I have to pay when they all went private. I can't really afford it myself, so a relative is kindly going to have to pay it for me. This is quite humiliating!  After being with the NHS all these years.

Maybe this government expect us to pull our own teeth out ourselves with the pliers? lol!  🦷🔧

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The Latest Book I am reading....📚

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Monday, 5 Feb 2024, 23:49


The latest book I am reading in English is...."The Bible Hunter"  by Jurgen Gottschlich.
The Codex Sinaiticus is one of the oldest surviving books in the world, and the earliest copy of the New Testament in existence. The Bible Hunter is the fascinating account of the manuscript’s journey from the fourth century to its present home in the British Library.

In 1844, academic and fundamentalist christian,  Constantin Tischendorf, who was driven by his obsession with the origins of the Bible to a remote monastery in the middle of the Sinai Desert, discovered the manuscript in a basket of paper said to have been discarded by the monks. Later, Tischendorf managed to remove several sheets from the monks’ protective guard. and, with the backing of Tsar Alexander II, organised the loan of the documents to the Imperial Library in St Petersburg, where they remained until 1933.

Part travelogue, part historical study and part critique, The Bible Hunter tells of the author’s trip to Sinai, the history of the Bible and early Church and the lives and liturgies of the monks of St Catherine’s Monastery. A compelling and accessible study, The Bible Hunter raises important questions about the nature of scholarship, and about the complex issues of how – and in particular where – the treasures of Antiquity are best displayed.

JÜRGEN GOTTSCHLICH was born in 1954. He studied philosophy and journalism in Berlin, and went on to co-found the daily newspaper taz in 1979, working there as a journalist – and latterly as Deputy Editor – until 1993. From 1980 onwards he made regular trips to Turkey and the Near East. He became Editor-in-Chief of the Wochenpost in 1994 and has worked as the Istanbul-based correspondent of various newspapers since 1998; He has also written two books on Modern Turkey and its relationship to Europe.

* Refrences-  Haus Publishing

* Translated byJohn Brownjohn



https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hauspublishing.com/product/the-bible-hunter/&ved=2ahUKEwjkmuCPz4-EAxWsT0EAHdCMD3sQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3viKdfdK0Wk3XoL2hp-aPn

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Setting myself Targets!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Thursday, 14 Mar 2024, 03:13


Trying to build my strength back up after Covid 19 Virus. I set myself some small targets for the week ahead.

1)  Exercises at home using the resistance bands working especially on arms, they feel the most weakest after covid.

2) House work which includes brushing all the downstairs floors, kitchen, living room, bathroom (all linos) and the white painted stair case.

3)  A walk - around the village at a steady pace. Starting at the main car park just outside village. Place some recycling in the  large bins, usually 2 big  bags full. Continue the main road. Pass by the large park but avoid going through it, as it is still quite water logged!  

On through the cemetery footpath on the opposite side of the road, on to the industrial units selling animal feeds, on the other side of cemetery and follow the small road down into the new estate. Climb up a steep incline, this is particularly good for the leg muscles! 

This brings me up to the outer footpath of the village. From here 5 minutes to the Health centre, past the  co-op supermarket and library, down the lane and into the market place, stop for a breather on the wooden bench! 

A five minute walk past all the shops, on to the large Anglican church at the corner, then turn right into my little road.

 It is a medium sized walk, but It is not too taxing and I need to start small, then gradually build up my strength. I aim ro do this for a couple of weeks, it will be the start of my road to recovery from covid19.

As far as studying goes, I am currently on a study break, due to ill health (family's and my own! )  Keeping my skills sharp still reading French  and English literature. As well as watching french films the news.consolidating what I have learnt. Hopefully this will keep the brain fog away! 



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Comfort Cat! 🐱

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Sunday, 28 Jan 2024, 16:14

I believe catare very good for my mental health!
You never feel alone when your cat is curled up beside you. Each morning when I get up at 8am, my cat is there waiting to be let indoors. 

I let him in and make a great fuss of him, then I feed him. After that, he likes to sit next to me on the sofa, he purrs a lot, he looks at me, then he closes his eyes and settles down to sleep, right there beside me.

When he is deeply asleep, I sometimes put a soft cushion or a hot water bottle, with my scarf wrapped round it in my place.

 Then I can move about and get on with doing a few tasks that need doing, like my studying,  reading, listen to audios and typing notes up into my digital note book.

Sometimes, I can hear my cat snoring next to me!  He looks very relaxed and peaceful, stretched out, lying there,  I know he will be there with me the whole morning or even longer depending on the weather.

 It may be raining outside, but I have my little fire on,  and my little cat for company!

🐈🏠🌧 🌧 🌬

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Covid Effects!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Wednesday, 14 Feb 2024, 14:32

I don't want to go on too much about Covid19 but ithis virus is still affecting me!

I am experiencing muscle pains, fatigue, falling asleep during the day, brain fog, confusion, difficulties with mobility and so on.

 I have now tested negative for Covid but why do I still feel so weak ?

I have tried to get out a few times for a walk and I have even been on the bus into town. However, when I am outside I feel so painful and exhasted, out of breath, I can't wait to be at home. I will keep persisting in trying to go for walks. I will not  be beaten by this damned covid illness!

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A Winter Walk❄

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Friday, 26 Jan 2024, 19:03

Frosty and cold with a little pale sunshine.

This was my first ever country walk since catching Covid 19, lasting from month ending November- December until January.

Today, I wrapped up warmly 3 layers of clothing, fur hat, 2 pair of socks, scarf and thick coat. Husband laughed at me saying I look like a babushka! 

 I set off down my road, through the little short cut at the end of the street, I headed straight for the large park,  just past the wooded area, where here is the rear entrance to the park.

There was a  lot of birdsong up in the trees surrounding the park. I saw a lot of back gardens on this side of park, with bird tables and feeding stations in the gardens, so the birds here are well fed and never far away, sitting up in the tree tops, bordering on the park.

I go at a very slow snails pace, I think to myself,  just as long as I can make it around the park at least! After a while I began to warm up a bit and I was able to pass the tennis courts at a moderate walking speed.

Around the park there were lots of frozen puddles along the way. It has  only a grass footpath, so it is not paved at all just a basic mud pathway. I had to dodge the obstacles of the partly frozen puddles.

Before long I had soon reached the small woodland at the far side of the park. This smelt damp and earthy, I could hear some water trickling. The paths here were completely impassable at this point, due to  the woodland footpaths being flooded.  It looked strange, like the trees were growing up out of a swamp!

Fortunately,  I was  on the upper inside park footpath so not too wet. However,  I still had to go around the puddles from the overspill from the woodlands to the park, to carry on walking through the park. It was  either that or turn back completely. I decided to carry on!

After passing the childrens empty playground area, of the swings, roundabouts and slide, I carried on walking as far as the main park entrance gate.

To extend my walk I walked even a little further on, to the far end of the village, and part way along the country lane , this passes the water dyke.

 There, just ahead of me,  I suddenly caught sight of  a white flash rising up - then another one. As I stopped I stood still to watch, focusing ny eyes,  as up from the banks of the dyke there arose a pair of big beautiful white heron birds.What a wonderful sight!

I wished I'd brought my camera with me!
🕊🕊

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The changing times - A Student Carer

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Tuesday, 5 Mar 2024, 19:18

When I first moved here I wanted  to live a healthier, simpler way of life, to connect with nature, be away from the town and city, make a life with my family. This was my romantic ideal I suppose, but it wasn't planned it just then sort of happened, that we moved into a rented cottage in the country near my aunt.

My first home here was an old 300 yr old cottage, quite remote on the edge of a quiet hamlet, next to wheat fields and farm lands.

It was very 'rough'  to say the least!  Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! It was a complete culture shock after living in a town apartment!

We lived in that old cottage and we had to light the fire every day. This was my husbands task to do, I well remember him getting up each day at 5am bleary eyed, going to fetch the wood and coal from the coal shed, up the long garden path, ( even in a winter snow blizzard!) Then having to sweep and clean the fireplace, before laying down the fire and getting it to set alight. 

We also had an allotment to look after, although it was mainly vegetables, we didn't quite get into keeping animals or chickens!

I was busy all day long looking after the two lively young children, which was a full time job for me, looking after a toddler and a baby. Cleaning and cooking.

We lived there in that very old cottage for 5 years and I loved it! although I had a bit of postnatal depression after the second baby, he had a heart condition, so I worried a lot. I soon recovered after about a year.

I used to like walking with the children, one in the pram, one in the push chair, wandering about all over the countryside. Even better when they eventually both started walking! We learned all about flowers, birds, animals, trees all sorts of things from the natural world.

 The children grew stronger and learned to walk and play, the eldest child helped his dad to stack up all the wood and help to do some work in the garden. He would pedal his little car or his tricycle around the garden collecting fallen apples to put in the carrier basket on the back, he would then pedal back to the house with them.

Once a week we caught the bus to the nearest village 7 miles away,  to do all the shopping, even one very kind neighbour gave us a lift on a regular basis.as we had no car, but there was a regular bus service,  its just that it was 3/4 of an hour to even walk to the main road to catch the bus!

Those were great times,  but unfortunately eventually the cottage deteriorated, fell into disrepair and the landlord didn't want to spend the money on fixing up the windows and stopping the dampness so it had to be condemned.

 Reluctantly we had to move into the nearest village, where we had much more amenities, shops and so on.
We found a modern cottage instead, which was owned by a very good housing association so much better healthier conditions all round.

The children went to the village school and thankfully we could still go out on country walks as there was plenty of farms, woods and fields around here where we live. When the children were in school I soon got a job in a small nearby cottage hospital. Where I worked there for some years as a HCA.

I worked at the hospital until it became a residential home, I worked there for a while, then unfortunately it closed, it was then I eventually decided to study with the Open University,studying a degree in  English and Languages as I used to like to travel to France on holiday. It seems in life, we sometimes have to be very versatile!

🌲🌲🏡🏘

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Covid Negative!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Friday, 12 Jan 2024, 03:51

Hurray! This morning I tested negative for Covid. What a relief!

I no longer have a bad cough, headache,pain, sore throat or bunged up nose after 4-5 weeks of being in the throes of this horrid covid 19 virus.

The reason why I took the test was because we intend to visit our son in the nearby town, so I wanted to be sure that we don't pass Covid on to him when we visit him.( or anyone else on the bus for that matter! )

Although I no longer have all the nasty symptoms of the onset of Covid as in the first week, I still have some residual symptoms of Covid, like tired aching muscles, a painful shoulder and neck, also mobility problems when  moving around( I feel like I am walking through sludge) my leg and arm muscles have no strength in them.  I had difficulty even taking the lid off the milk this morning, usually I just rip it off easily. It took me 10 minutes!

Then there is a tremendous fatigue that suddenly comes over me where I am sitting on the arm chair talking, reading or watching TV when I will immediately fall asleep, that has never happened to me in my life!
Mentally I am suffering from brainfog so I can't focus for long. Some words just completely disappear when I am trying to speak. 

 I suffered from a bad depression and anxiety towards the end of Covid. I really thought I was possibly not going to make it at all. My eyesight is blurry now my eyes are quite badly affected this time around when I had it. I have dizzy spells and lack of coordination in my movements. My brain tells my body to do something, but my body takes a while to respond, then it does so slowly and clumsily.

I hope all this will gradually disappear over time but at the moment it is still very much with me, even despite the negative test result.
My son (at home) still has a cough he has a heart condition, so he sometimes gets coughs anyway related to his heart,  but this cough has a very different nature, it is a much drier, deeper cough. That seems to come on very quickly it is niggly and hard to shake off. We may have to visit the Doctors or have a phone appointment if there is no improvement with him.
Husband had a bad cough at the beginning of Covid but is now completely recovered. but he also has some residual symptoms.
Although I was chesty in the first week I quickly recovered from the chesty cough but my husband and son had both very bad chesty coughs for a few weeks.  I wonder if Covid effects men and women differently?

Glad the worst is over!

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🎞 Winter Tales- 📺 Charles Dickens 'The Signal man'  a mystery.

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Wednesday, 10 Jan 2024, 23:59

Over the Christmas break,  I have been watching The BBC television adaptation(1976)  of "The Signalman", a film based on 1866 short story by "Charles Dickens"  The production was directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and filmed on the Severn Valley Railway. The two main characters in the story are the traveller(who is the narrator) and the signalman. 

The traveller was  staying at the nearby local Inn, he is out walking one late afternoon, when he comes across a railway line, with a signal mans box beside the rail track. The signal man is standing on the track deep in thought. The traveller calls down, he waves to the signalman "Halloa! Below there!"  The signalman standing on the railway below he does not look up, as the narrator thinks he will but instead he turns about and looks ahead into the railway tunnel. Eventually after calling out a few times the traveller finally gets the signalmans attention. The traveller asks if there is a way to come down to the track. At first the signal man says nothing, and then he simply points his finger to a footpath further along that leads down to the rail track.


The signalman appears rather wary, even afraid of the traveller for some reason. Saying he thinks he has seen the traveller somewhere  before, that his face seems somehow familiar, but the traveller reassures him that he means him no harm, that he just wants to talk, as he is curious to know how the signalman passes his day there. After being invited up to the signalman's cabin, he stays a while and watches the signalman, as he goes about his mundane duties of anwering bells, from other signal men, giving telephone instructions and pushing and pulling the levers.
On his occasional breaks in between the traveller listens, as the signalman talks about his life, that he missed out on having  a good education due to poverty and that he reads books to try to self educate. He goes on to talk about his responsibilities as a signalman, but then suddenly he stops, he seems afraid even of his own thoughts. He keeps looking at the bell and sweating, as if the bell was about to ring even though it does n't.  "What is it that troubles you?" asks the traveller.

The signalman said he will tell the traveller more about  the visions he is having, when next the traveller returns to visit. On leaving he especially tells the taveller not to call out next time, but to just come down the footpath path without speaking. The traveller is a bit puzzled at first but agrees to his request.

Upon the travellers next visit, the signalman speaks about the sight of a ghostly figure of a man of shabby appearance, waving his arm vigourously and saying the very same words the traveller had spoken when he first met with the signalman."Halloa! Below there! "
The first vision of the ghostly figure was followed by a terrible train crash inside the tunnel. This did indeed happen some years ago, nobody knew the cause. The second vision was of the spectre saying the very same words, "Helloa below there" that was succeed by another train crash near to the tunnel , in which a young lady was mysteriously killed. The last apparition and the most fearful of all, was of the ghostly man who was standing next to the tunnel and yelling "Below there! Look out! For God’s sake, clear the way!" The ghost was waving his arm about frantically and then covered up his face with his arm.
The signalman is clearly disturbed by what he has lately witnessed. He feels he is unable to prevent a looming disaster, but he asks for the travellers opinion on what he has just explained, about the visions.

The traveller who is an educated man of reason, and who is sceptical about the supernatural, tells the signalman straight forwardly his opinion, that  he was probably over tired, his imagination was a little overactive and that he should see a doctor, and explain it to him, perhaps  he may be able to help him give him some pills and cure him to these ghostly fearful sightings. As long as he is doing his job correctly, directing the trains, then he need not worry but to just ignore the ghostly warnings and carry on doing his job, saying that in any case, the visions do not actually try to prevent any of these disasters from happening. Accidents do happen, but as long as the signalman is doing his very best job that he can do,  then he is not to blame for whatever happens. Reassured the signalman agrees and they decide to meet up again the next day.

However, the next day when the traveller arrives at the railway line, there is no sign of the signalman at all. Instead he sees a man, one of a group of officials who are investigating an incident on the line.

 He is told the signalman is dead, that the driver said he saw the signalman standing on the railtrack lost in thought, looking at the tunnel and the signal man seemed oblivious to the oncoming train. The driver tried to warn him by yelling "Below there! Look out! For God’s sake, clear the way!" As he waved his arm frantically about, then he covered up his face with his arm.

(1) So had the signalman been given a premonition of his own death?

(2) Was it his conscience?

(3)Was the traveller a bad or good angel?

(4) Or was it fate?

It is the audience who are left to decide, based on what they have seen and heard in the film.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

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The latest News from the Climate change Conference

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Wednesday, 24 Jan 2024, 05:22

The Latest from the Cop28 Conference. Hosted by UAE in Dubai.

Here's a quick recap!
1 A decision was made on Loss and Damage Fund adopted at COP 28 approved the Governing instrument of the Loss and Damage Fund and decided that the Fund will be serviced by new, dedicated and independent secretariat.

2, An agreement to move away from fossil fuels and to reach net zero by 2050 but it was vague as to wether it was a phased out or a gradual reduction of fossil fuels.

  • As of September 2023, the world is not on track to reach the targets of the Paris Agreement. For having a more than 50% chance of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 °C and more than 67% chance of limiting it to 2 °C, global emissions must peak by the year 2025.

3, Critics of previous COPs, accuse the summits of "greenwashing" - that is, letting countries and businesses promote their climate credentials without actually making the changes needed. There are still parts of the agreement wording that are vague and will need more clarity in future.

China and India have not yet committed to the agreement. They still depend heavily on fossil fuels. Lets hope eventually they will act.

However, these summits do offer the potential for global agreements and that has got to be a good thing.

For example, the 1.5C warming limit, agreed at COP21, has driven "near-universal climate action", according to the UN.

The Paris agreement has helped bring down the level of warming the world can expect - even though the world is still not acting at anywhere near the pace needed to achieve the Paris goals.

In the end whether  COP28 was an acheivement or not will only be proved by the changes the world puts into practice in the years ahead.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference#cite_note-Lin_2023_n100-6

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Happy New Year! 2024! 🥳🥂

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Saturday, 3 Feb 2024, 15:38

I had a "Covid Christmas" so I couldn't really taste much of the food. There was just my son, husband and myself, we didn't want to pass it on to other family members.
Enjoyed the Christmas Carols from Kings and we ate mince pies. It felt cosy indoors with lots of candles on in the house.
Watched some DVDs and did some reading when I was able to feel a bit stronger.
Still watching  the french Detective 'Maigret'  films on Talking pictures, in french on TV. I prefer the french version because it helps me to remember the french language skills I have acquired over the last couple of years with the OU. I am hoping to buy the box set of Maigret this year when I can manage to save up!
My book collection is growing as I managed to pick up some books from the secound hand book shop in the city, well before christmas, for just a couple of pounds.
The weather has been too wet for walking lately in the country, it is full of potholes everywhere and muddy puddles. My walks have had to be confined only to the village, around the outskirts through the housing estates, by the pavements and along the established public footpaths. However, I am always tired and short of breath ( due to Covid) by the time I return home. Hopefully next year it will be better. A Happy Healthy New Year to Everyone!
🏡
🌄🌧🌫🌥
🏘 🏘💒🏪🏫 🏡 

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🎞 Winter Films-A Ghost Story "Number13"

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Thursday, 11 Jan 2024, 00:07

The film I watched recently was a Christmas ghost story which was quite good. Title of the film was -  "Number 13"  An  academic from Oxford was lodging in room 12 of a creepy old hotel in a small English cathedral town whilst employed  to authenticate papers which appear to date back to the Reformation. Having previously noticed that the hotel rooms jump from 12 to 14, after being awoken one night by mysterious voices,  he is shocked to find the door to room number 13 has mysteriously appeared. There follows each night after that, bumps and the sound of a woman sreaming. He decides to investigate with help from his fellow guest a young lawyer, there then follows some strange  findings that include the discovery of belongings hidden under the floor boards of a recently disappeared guest, thus suggesting a murder. The professor visits the local library to find out the history of the house. He finds that ithe house previously belonged to a Bishop, he was connected to the Notorious witch fìnder general Matthew Hopkins, who when visiting had lodged in that very room number 13 and who had killed and tortured many innocent women during his time there. (hence the screaming they had both heard!)
A not too scary ghost story for Winter.

Made in 2006 Number 13 is the second adaptation of a ghost story by M. R. James broadcast by the BBC in an ongoing revival of the A Ghost Story for Christmas a tradition of the 1970s.

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King Charles lll Speech👑

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Saturday, 3 Feb 2024, 16:05

On Christmas day it was so heart warming to hear King Charles speech,  about how we should protect the natural environment.

It was good to hear  King Charles 3rd speech, how he praised community volunteers. He spoke about community volunteers, those who work tirelessly for so little recognition or reward, I completely agree for I have seen their very valuable work, that they do in their communities and in my community to help the poor and needy. 

They are doing it because they care, they believe in giving their fellow man a helping hand,  whether it be in foodbanks packing bags, donating food and handing out food to families that need that little bit of extra food to help them survive through until payday. (And may I just add both the poor and also the  middle class,  who are affected by Brexit, the pandemic and cost of living crisis, so the emergence of foodbanks is quite a recent widespread event.)

There are also the volunteers who are concerned about the environment, they work in my community too they help maintain the natural habitats for the birds, insects and animals. 

They want their communities to be well maintained, eco- friendly, tidy and clean. A place where people can sit and enjoy nature and be proud of their community, where they live and can feel better improving their physical and mental well being in parks,  green spaces and in woodlands.

Then there are those volunteers who are helping the various charities, in hospitals and in shops. They give up their time to support others by helping to run the shops that raise much needed funds for organisations, so that they can continue to help the sick, the elderly and children in need.

I applaud King Charles for pointing out that we need to look after one another and protect each other. We have more in common than we know and must think of our shared beliefs not any divisions. Therefore doing  no harm to others, but to respect others so fulfilling the command- "do unto others as you wish them to do unto you"  as As the Lord has taught to his followers and to the world.

God save the King!

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An Alternative Christmas Menu!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Thursday, 28 Dec 2023, 03:17


Calling all vegetarians out there! I recommend this very tasty 'Vegetarian chicken roast' from Linda McCartney. Contains textured Soya protein and mixed herbs. Very healthy!

Great to cook for the vegetarians who want a meat - free meal, that still has a festive taste! 
Vegetarians will  love ithis for Christmas dinner especially the younger members. It is lovely with cranberry sauce and all the vegetables. I bought mine this year in Sainsburys. The good news is you can also order it online!
Be quick they are flying off the shelf! 

A vegetarian chicken roast with vegetables.

Linda McCartneys vegetarian roast chicken

Linda McCartneys foodsLTD

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More about Covid!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Tuesday, 9 Jan 2024, 16:57

I can't believe Covid came back again or did it ever leave? The first time around was bad enough! a horrendous sore throat a horrible hacking cough, streaming nose and stinging sensitive watering eyes. As well as aching weak muscles.

Unfortunately, my Covid Jab was not due until a week later, but by then it was already too late and I had already caught it! I thought I was immune to Covid having had all the 3 vaccines last year, plus booster + the actual Covid Virus itself, but how wrong I was!

My eldest son who lives in the next big town was lucky, he had both his flu and Covid jabs at the same time but he has a medical condition. This seems like a good idea, I wish I had insisted on having my 2 jabs together too, maybe I might not have caught this horrid Covid!

I am not a wimp or anything but it is just so inconvenient, having to ask family or friends for help with my shopping,  because I am too weak to carry it myself. It is really exhausting! I can only manage a bit of cleaning at home and just making meals. That's about it,  so it is such a nuisance to feel so poorly and weak. The symptoms lasted longer this time but it was less severe. Still a very very unpleasant illness.

Next time, I will certainly make sure I have all the available jabs sooner and even any more if they are offering them!


I think they should urge people to take the jab, so they dont go passing it to everyone else! 


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❤ Charity begins at home!

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Monday, 4 Mar 2024, 09:58

Christmas was always a wonderful time for me as a child, even though we were quite poor. I was born on Christmas day, so for a long time I thought I shared my birthday with Jesus. Of course there is no absolute accuracy  about historical dates and all that , but anyway, Christmas as a  child always felt like it was a magical time to me.

Mam used to bake a lot of mince pies and cakes with ingredients that were not too expensive. She made everything early, around about a month in advance.

At Christmas, we often used to go to church on the Christmas eve and come home to have hot mulled wine with mince pies!

Christmas day was a traditional christmas dinner with Roast Turkey and we felt close together as a family. As we were both girls, we helped mam prep the vegetables and started getting things ready for the table. 

Dad did his bit and  put up all the  lights, the tree and the decorations, also the Christmas Nativity scene which he had made himself. This was placed nearby the christmas table with the Holy family jesus and shpherds. Dad put the Christmas Carols on the record player to create a lovely christmassy atmosphere. 

Later we played Christmas carols on piano,  recorders and in song all together.
When we were young, us 2 girls woke up very early to open our christmas presents under the tree. We always wrote a letter to ask father Christmas what we would like for a gift and we promised to be well behaved and help mother. 

 One year we received a dolly, the next year I got all 'Arty' with a Spirograph Set and I made endless designs and patterns to give to all the family! another year we got a bicycle. These were the good years, when my mam would take a little job around christmas time,  to help make an extra income. Grandparents helped out a bit. 

Later mam couldn't do much anymore when she became ill and dad didn't earn a lot in the local shipyard. Things were not the same, it was much harder for us especially when dad was made redundant for quite a while.

 However, we always felt surrounded by love as children by our lovely grandparents and parents. We helped our parents until we both got married, then we tried to bring a Happy Christmas to our own young families. ❤

Do you have happy memories of past Chrstmas times ? Funny or sad?


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📺Watching Maigret series on TV in French

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Edited by Gill Burrell, Friday, 15 Dec 2023, 02:19

I am really enjoying the latest series of 'Maigret' the french detective on TV every Tuesday evening at 9pm.  It is on the - Talking Pictures channel.  Bruno Cremer is a brilliant actor, who captures perfectly the polite, pensive, pipe smoking personality of Maigret. I have learned a great deal of everyday french language, by watching and listening to this wonderful film compilation. With level 3 French under my belt I am finding it a lot easier to understand the language. I am still also collecting the 'Maigret' paperback  books to read whenever I get the chance!  📚👤

J'apprécie vraiment la série de 'Maigret', le détective français à la télé a Mardi neuf heures ce soir. C'est dans l'émission télévisée par
« Talking Pictures »
Bruno Cremer est un acteur brillant, qui rend parfaitement la personnalité polie, pensive et fumeur de pipe du détective Maigret.
🔎👤

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