Detox continued

So I managed to live without TV until 6ish yesterday but I did go to board games in the afternoon which helped.
Today I lapsed somewhat. I listened to the radio this morning but was sidetracked by Facebook. I think it is more toxic than the TV. I do like to keep in touch with friends but I am easily distracted by "interesting" articles.
I was looking forward to the writing group next Monday. It has been cancelled because of the virus. I found a short story written almost only in dialogue which I had written  some years ago. This was to be the task of the next meeting. The original version of my story wasn't only in dialogue. I found adjusting it was a fascinating exercise. I realised that perhaps much of the writing is unnecessary padding.

This photo is an indulgence. All my friends know that I am besotted with this man. The easiest relationship I have ever had. We never argue. Anyway he is here on this blog because next week's tournament which I have been looking forward to for weeks is also cancelled due to the virus. 

Drug Detoxing

Since I have been back in the UK I have been watching TV. Not just the odd programme, not just the News but every waking moment it has dominated my thoughts and feelings. I even taped whole swathes of news programs so as not to miss anything. I have Amazon Prime , ATP TV, BBC i player, ITV HUB and lord knows what else. I got hooked on certain series only to find that after series 3 I had to pay. Facebook has had me in its clutches too. Not only stealing my time but dominating my feelings, usually making me angry.
Today is a new day. I have rediscovered radio 4. so much more stimulating than TV.  Listening to dessert Island Discs I was really inspired and frustrated at the same time. Inspired to to continue wring and painting again but also frustrated. As I listened I was taking the dried washing from the radiators
Chris Riddell, illustrator, author and political cartoonist was today's guest. Everything he said I felt similarly. The meditative and therapeutic aspect of drawing and painting and writing.
However, I was pairing socks and folding jumpers and wondering if he ever did this. I was also feeling jealous of the life he'd lead living in so many countries and having the confidence to follow the desire and have the opportunities to be a professional writer and illustrator.
 So much more pertinent since I had planned to continue writing and illustrating on my return to the UK.

Alice Guy-Blaché

Another women erased from history by ??
Check Wiki

Learning about capitalism

Capitalism is a market-driven economy. The state does not intervene in the economy, leaving it up to market forces to shape society and life. 
How come we bailed out the banks?
Can you remember how many companies have been bailed out? 
They don't pay tax and then when they fail we
 bail them out.

Wakey wakey

I woke up this morning and wondered who profited the most when the big businesses don't pay their tax.
I know the  board members probably get bigger bonuses what about the share holders?
I thought I understood how capitalism worked but it is more complicated than I realised. So I googled a definition.
Capitalism is an economic system. In it

1. the government plays a secondary role. 

Does this mean that  governments are ruled by BIG Business?

2.People and companies make most of the decisions, and own most of the property. ... 

Who are the people?

3.The means of production are largely or entirely privately owned (by individuals or companies) and operated for profit.

Owning the means of production is key to controlling the working class. Who actually  produces?
The workers who do the WORK it seems come bottom of the heap.
 And when the company do not pay tax the share holders must rub their hands.

Letter to Friend from new home

Chère Hélène, J'ai écrit le dernier email en octobre, mais j'ai oublié d'appuyer sur le bouton pour l'envoyer.
J'ai eu de nombreux problèmes ici et certains de mes messages importants du notaire ont été envoyés dans des spams, ce qui a rendu difficile la finalisation de la vente de La Ville Joly. Il y a également eu des problèmes avec l'assurance pour la fuite d'eau et le plafond. J'attends toujours que l'argent soit transféré à ma banque ici.
La maison dans laquelle je vis est chaleureuse et confortable. Mon fils a installé la chatière et Bella et Cheeky l’utilisent maintenant. Je pense toujours à Patch et j'espère venir la ramener au Royaume-Uni, mais comme il n'y a pas de vols avant mars, je viendrai probablement ensuite.
J'ai planté beaucoup de jonquilles et de tulipes dans des pots et des jardinières et quelques jonquilles dans le sol. Je suis impatient d'acheter des plantes comme la glycine et le chèvrefeuille et des rosiers grimpants.

J'ai été babysitting pour mon petit-fils. Il a 2 enfants, un garçon et une fille. Mon petit-fils et sa femme jouent dans une pièce de théâtre cette semaine, alors je les aide beaucoup.
J'ai beaucoup d'amis ici et depuis que j'ai vendu ma voiture, ils me font sortir le soir ou le week-end. Je dois souvent utiliser le bus mais il y a de très bons services de bus. Il y a beaucoup de bois ici pour que je puisse rester en forme tout en profitant des arbres. Il y a aussi un grand lac et une piste de ski. Je ne pense pas que j'irai faire du ski mais mon fils Robert et ses enfants skient tous. Ils vont surtout en Italie maintenant.
J'ai presque fini de déballer les cartons. J'espère finir par Noël car ma famille vient organiser une fête. J'ai acheté beaucoup de lumières et des boîtes de crackers de Noël.
Je vais essayer d'envoyer des photos à nouveau. Je ne comprends pas pourquoi le dernier n'a pas fonctionné.
J'espère que vous parvenez à vendre la maison de votre mère. Continuez à jardiner. Vous avez un magnifique jardin.
Bisous,
Freda

Insanity is never far away

This is to help me maintain my sanity. Part ONE
Technology is driving me insane. I used to have a landline which worked. You could leave messages if I wasn't in and I could do the same to others. I could do 1471 to find out last caller and everything in my world felt fine. I had a mobile which worked perfectly well. I could receive and make calls send and receive messages when I was out and about.
NOW My mobile rarely has a signal. I have a "SMART" phone which is supposed to-
1. Make and receive calls
2. Send and receive emails
3. Enable what's app
4. Enable messenger
5. Take and store photos
6. Send same photos
7. Enable Facebook
and probably other things which I do not want or need.
What is the problem with this cornucopia of availability?
A ,it is all too small . I am 79 and have swollen fingers due to arthritis. Who decided that making things smaller and smaller was a good Idea? Whose fingers have shrunk?

Saving my sanity Part TWO
My new land line (bought for me by my granddaughter) I am sure will be great if only I could "set it up". Perhaps the all the functions will be useful but all I want is to pick it up and listen to the caller when it rings.It frequently tells me "Time is not set" but I have no idea how to set the time and anyway I look at the clock on the wall to tell the time.
Sometimes when I am on one phone ( there are two receivers) the other one rings and then I lose both calls. I could go on but I have tried to read the instructions but was drowned in the jargon. I am sure well almost sure that it said somewhere that if a pressed the right buttons it would sing and who knows maybe it dances when I am in bed.

Saving my sanity Part the THIRD
I was advised to put the apps - (a word I've only heard and can't begin to know the meaning of) (( shouldn't end with preposition)), to continue, to put the apps on my tablet , (by the way that's not medication) . I will continue assuming that people who are reading this will know what all these words mean.( and I thought learning French was hard it was a doddle compared to IT.) I thought of making a joke about IT being it but I want to plant some bulbs and as far as I know I can do in reality.
Any way , I put the what's app app on my tablette ( does anyone know the correct spelling ) and guess what? messenger also appeared and then froze the screen.
There is more to tell but having spent the first hour of my day on face book reading bollotics ( yes that's how you spell it)
I am going to make a coffee and put in a spoonful of brandy and cut a slice of my birthday cake which I bought for myself and plant some snowdrops. I might cry into my coffee , I like it salty.

PS It didn't work. I am really insane now. Isn't there a song, 'They are coming to take me away'.  Listen, I think they are here. Or is that 'Send in the clowns'.