Thrifty Word Challenge 100 #67: & Fifty Word Challenge #88: Together We Can Make It — I apologise for the lateness of this week’s thrifty word challenge. It’s been a gruelling week, culminating in a court hearing on Friday, from which I am yet to recover. Today would have been my mother’s 83rd birthday. She died in her 77th year. As I wrote in a commemoration…

Thrifty Word Challenge 100 #65: Hovel — Poor, chaotic, in disarray you said And I looked about me from my sick bed Trying to see my home as you had Was it the worn out floorboards, 25 years trodden Tons of memorabilia lovingly begotten The pots, pans, bowls and plates, receptacles of thousands of meals The bikes…

Thrifty word challenge 100 #64: Censorship — I was once subjected to censorship in court. Accused of benefit fraud after failing to declare a change in circumstances — I didn’t reveal my marriage to Department of Work and Pensions — I was subsequently convicted and had to repay back all the money I had claimed. What I…

Thrifty Word Challenge #68: Steps — How do you challenge the seemingly unchallengeable? I ask myself this as I consider the ‘care plans’ the social services have made for my teenager. There’s no mention of her drug use. What can I do about that? I remember a time aged seventeen I got involved with an older…

Thrifty Word Challenge Roundup #67 & #88: Together We Can Make It — Who remembers the old Al Green hit Let’s Stay Together? The chorus goes: Let’s stay together/loving you whether/times are good or bad/happy or sad. …

Thrifty Word Challenge 100 #67:Together We Can Make It — Last week I was given a version of the adage ‘Do what you love and the money will follow.’ Namely, the headline above. I took it to heart and showed up looking as good as I could, even though I was feeling sad. I was reminded of when my Twitter account was stolen and the thief got insulting when I tried to retrieve it, insinuating, amongst other things, I looked like a bull frog. Luckily as a 60+-year-old woman I am not easily swayed from my centre. I also find frogs, like most of God’s creatures, quite beautiful.

Thrifty words 100 #66: Stalking — Remembering a time I wouldn’t accept it was over. I came to your house uninvited and banged on your door until I was let in. Your new girlfriend stared at me in amazement as I pushed my way in and sat in your living room glaring at you both. No…

But sadly, I’m not — It was the most shocking thing to happen at this year‘s Oscars, Chris Rock getting slapped and cussed out by Will Smith. I for one was stunned, mainly because I did not realise Big Will was such a small-minded guy. …