http://www.mybooklive.co.uk Mariann muses: I have brief encounters with healthy living; usually at this time of year. It's a resolution thing. I toddle around the house since retirement as the young practice nurse put it as she told me my weight and blood pressure were within normal limits. How patronising is that http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=04/01/2012&EventID=59 Mariann muses; The Open Fire Has to Go It has to, or at least be kept only for special occasions such as Sundays and when visitors are here. I have loved their reactions ranging from "Wow! My granny had one of those" to "Isn't it messy?" to which the reply is, "A bit, but worth it." http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=03/12/2011&EventID=58 Give us this day our turkey... again. Thanksgiving is my kind of holiday. Apart from the "thanks" part, the primary purpose of this celebration is eating. That is the one thing I do quite well. Thanksgiving is the beginning of a feasting frenzy that would make Richard Simmons sweat http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=21/11/2011&EventID=57 Punctuocity. There, a new word. Why not? I just thought of it, and why? Because I can never get it right! Gertrude Stein never used the evil comma; hardly ever used any punctuation, I understand. On the other hand, I lean toward Lynne Truss, who, in her 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves' book, http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=07/11/2011&EventID=56 The sage writes: It's all about a load of buckets! What do I mean? Well, we all lug around one of these buckets. First thing in the morning, hopefully, it is empty. As we start the drive to work, some idiot who you thought was driving past the junction that you are sitting in, turns i http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=24/10/2011&EventID=55 Mariann muses: Bygone Age and the Future The kids are playing out on the green behind my house. Bikes and scooters askew, they chase each other across the expanse of grass, laughing as they run. There are eight of them today in the October sunshine, aged probably between six and ten. http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=10/10/2011&EventID=53 The Demented Traveller writes: Ah, the joys of world travel of yesteryear now seem just a pleasant, but distant memory. Okay, with the numerous proponents' determined efforts to rid the world of anyone with a different belief from their own, one accepts the need for tightened sec http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=26/09/2011&EventID=52 Last Kiss of Sunlight by Catrin Howells A snapshot, a brief glimpse into an adventurous journey. Classified as a short travel story, Catrin positions the “stranger in a strange land” element in the foreground, but does not get into specifics until mid-way through. Fleshing out a colorfu http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=28/11/2011&EventID=51 Avenda writes: It's a man thing The barn was falling down. So our French neighbour assured us. We had just arrived for a relaxing holiday and Raymond jumped off his tractor to tell us the bad news. Actually it was the first thing I had spotted. 'That barn's falling d http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=15/09/2011&EventID=50 Mariann muses: Fifteen Minutes of Fame? No, that's not what I'm talking about, though Andy Warhol did foresee the future in this fame-obsessed culture we have today. What I mean is within the first fifteen minutes of meeting someone new, many of us will make a comment which denotes o http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=04/09/2011&EventID=49 MBL and Pyjama Press are very proud to announce their first collaborative book, written by an early MBL member Zohra Jabeen. Communicating with small children at their own level is an art form rarely found. The Enid Blytons and Beatrix Potters, who possessed this gift, are few an http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=13/09/2011&EventID=47 Yes, we have had riots and looting in UK cities over a few days this last month, which sent out disturbing pictures across the world. Not a good advert for us holding the 2012 Olympics. But take heart as there are also scenes of communities pulling together to clean up in the aftermath; the broom br http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=25/08/2011&EventID=44 Wishing our members a happy and prosperous 2012! Why don't you enjoy a piece from our writers during your lunch or coffee break and leave a comment if you wish, or some constructive hints on how you feel the story could have been improved. <a href='http://www.m http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=01/01/2012&EventID=42 Rowena writes; Time Saving Gadgets? How is it that I live in a minimalist dust free home, have all the modern, time saving appliances of the day : Slow cooker, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, steam iron, car, internet, steam ster http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=12/08/2011&EventID=41 Anon writes In the queue at the shop, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologised to him and explained, "We didn't have the green t http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=29/07/2011&EventID=40 THE GIRL WITH THE RED FEATHER EARRINGS WRITES... I am a product advertisers dream. When I see an advert for a new shampoo, it's written immediately on my shopping list. If they promise me that my hair will shine with the gloss of a nail varnish, or that all the mess and germs in my kitchen http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=19/07/2011&EventID=39 The Girl With the Red Feather Earrings Writes: Now, it has to be said that on the scale of one to ten in the enjoyment of shopping, my answer would be zero. I hate shopping, be it food shopping or any other shopping that is necessary. I mean where is the enjoyment of buying stuff tha http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=04/07/2011&EventID=38 A Slave to my Computer It started out innocently enough, as most things do. Emails to friends, family and work colleagues; finding information to update my teaching knowledge; playing scrabble etc. But now? Now it has taken over my life and the beast won't be tamed. It grows daily, consumi http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=19/06/2011&EventID=37 Charity Calling Saturday at 4pm and I am disturbed from my siesta by the telephone. A friend, colleague, neighbour, son? No, a charity worker requesting me to increase my monthly subscription to their cause. A cultured voice explains the need for more money from me. And I say: "No!" http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=11/06/2011&EventID=36 Why does Everything have to Smell so Awfully Nice? Time was when women only wore perfume on special occasions and men none at all. Oh for those heady days. The husband was given a present of aftershave once by the middle son, but as he had a full beard at the time it bec http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=31/05/2011&EventID=30 A Rant on internet banking My bank has been taken over. I have been using internet banking services for a while with no problem so thought it would continue. And it did - until now. Thinking I must diversify my meagre funds a little I opened two offshoot accounts, instant a http://www.mybooklive.co.uk/blog.asp?date=20/05/2011&EventID=29