MAGGIE EDWARDS BIRD

Today, I attended the funeral of my dearest friend Maggie. She and I shared many interests but especially we both had breast cancer. She lost her fight after the cancer migrated to her liver, four days after her 60th birthday. I was proud to stand with several hundred people, me in uniform, to remember her life in the way she would have wanted. I proudly stood in the honour guard. I allowed most of the people to enter and stood out side listening. I smiled at the choice of music and spoken word because her taste was mine, California Dreaming, Love Changes Everything, Islands in the Stream (Comic Relief version) Well she was Welsh. We shared many happy hours of classical music while working on our research. Maggie was diagnosed almost a year to the day that I was, we talked and she allowed me the privilege to hold her when she cried, as I had cried...in fear a fear that is shared by sufferers and their families...but it was our moment. At the end of her funeral I entered the venue, I walked up to her coffin and saluted my friend one more time, touched the coffin and said goodbye my dear friend, a personal and private moment.

In the service it was mentioned that Maggie loved the rain, and it rained and as her son George spoke of the sun casting shadows, the sun came out brilliant and bright. My tears were sharp and personal.

Life is short - we have a small time on the earth so live your life the fullest way you can. Don't apologise for yourself, you are you - be happy.

Granny xxxx

FASHION WORDS

Once again I tip my hat to 'You' magazine because once again they have my taste just right and I believe that it is worth sharing.

But before I start, I raise my glass to Biba the fashion out let of my youth...coming out of the shadows and making it to the silver screen.

On 28/06/2009 page 16 Style Notes page... they focus on yellow a favourite colour, especially in my view the shift dress by Giles. Granny

TRIBUTE

Why should a woman die because she wears the muslim veil. Standing in court where she should have been safe, giving evidence against her abuser...his actions were surely a 'guilty plea' Marw Sherbini aged 31 died in Germany in front of her 3 year old stabbed 18 times. Women really have to stand together, I may not agree with the veil but I will defend the right of women to do so if the freely choose. I do demand that religion and men uphold womens civil/human rights. Granny

ANOTHER TRIBUTE

Euan Williamson died fighting a fire in Edinburgh, saving lives....love Granny

TRIBUTE

They died together as they had lived Daniel, Joseph, William the youngest to die thus far, Jonathon and James (also Lee the same day) in Afganistan - my heart is with their families and friends.....Granny

For every death my husband plays the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards version on their award winning CD, They Shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Valid across the years. Granny

A REPEAT MUST READ

Johnson Beharry VC 'Barefoot Soldier' is a fantastic extraordinary read. He is now become my husband and my hero. Granny

FASHION AS IT IS NOW

One of my keen interest is clothes, and colour. There are some lovely simple vest T shirts out there and fantastic colours, the basic and staple for my wardrobe. I wear under light weight or see through blouses in a complementary colour way. The longer the line the better, to avoid the bare belly look. These look great with some of the longer line white or black shorts. There are some very pretty, thin strap or strapless varied dresses (boho and my particular the plain colour 1950's style of waisted dress) about, short again and worn with footless tights if you don't have tanned legs. Tights should be of the same colour as the dress (if multi coloured it offers a chance to create different out fits, or black. The wonderful line in short Roman sandal is great, but slim ankles are a must for these.

White dresses are making a come back with some same colour embroidery or single other colour.

Per Una (of M and S)have a lovely lime green linen skirt and jacket suit, wear with white or navy for a sharp modern colourful business look. Grey is not a good business look in my view. Again I think it is to expensive.

Monsoon has some fab looks, for that special occasion, but I still think they are to expensive.

I am so glad that after October I won't have to think about 'business clothes' and will revert to my beloved hippy look.

Following my trip to Turkey, here is a tip for the Men.....DO NOT WEAR SPEEDO type trunks...GHASTLY ON ANY MALE BODY...particularly bad on the older flabby male who think they are gods gift to women, are actually perfectly disgusting. Look at your body shape and your legs then look at the hair on your body and think about the colour of the trunks. Men - socks, sandals and shorts is so not a good look.


My favourite shoes are made by Bullfrog, I have just treated myself to a low heel court shoe that has a bar across which is stretchy and hidden by a bow - called 'Gypsy' actually more 'Flamenco'. Perfect with my short Next black linen skirt with a side bow, and opaque black tights. Sassy, smart, funky and comfortable. Looks funky with my new light weight linen 3/4 length sleeve white blouse. Also with a restored to favour black sleveless, loose shirt with self colour embroidery (brought out again after three years from my archived clothes)


Don't forget to get down and dirty in the second hand shops, to make up a new look.


A trick I have learnt, Archive clothes for re-use, also seperate clothes into work and play and special. Then sort by colourways. Non of these can 'only' be used in the catagory sorted but it gives you a sense of control.


On the street I have noticed some really nice urban looks, not just like the uniform street wear. But you have to say it is a young girls world. Some girls are predictably 'chav' with huge gold earings. I also say that the return of the bright coloured velour two pieces is a disappointment...yuk.

Granny.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died, I was not a fan but I am sorry for his family for his children. I was not surprised it was always a matter of when not if, such is the price of fame. He thought money would make him happy it did not, his life was a car crash other stars should take note. Granny

OLU DENIZ TURKEY 2009

My husband and I have just returned from Olu Deniz in Turkey it was wonderful and I loved it. We stayed at The Flamingo Hotel, which again I loved. I loved the nearby Mosque, the farm at the back with it's chickens and goats. Don't be put off by the call to prayer, if you don't like the sound don't go - simple as that.

Turkish business as I have mentioned before think all Brits eat a 'Full English' and speak like Del Boy and want everything 'cheap as chips'. It is in your face sometimes but hey they have a living to earn.

I jumped of Mount Babadag, paragliding...sensational 6,550.

Women should be aware that Turkish men have a fixation with us, not for our beauty or brains but rather our passports...this was admitted to us during a discussion with waiters.

Do try the Secret Garden, which is beautiful.

Watch out with cocktails some are made better than others.

Go to the Talk of the Town shown in Hisoronoe - it is a Super Drag Show, excellent costume, very funny and the guy's are great.

It get's very very very hot, be warned and take advice and wear a hat. Mosquitoes are a pain, I found lavender oil brilliant for the bite. Use the local lemon concoction for keeping them at bay. I need to be very careful, and I found it worked for me. Plus it smells great.

Try Sugar Beach go on Wednesday for Lunch and enjoy the fantastic dance troup that perform there, More 'Strictly Come Dancing' than 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

The last picture above shows the beach, which is fantastic.

I would go back tomorrow if I could. I will next year.

JAMAL

A young man was killed in Hackney early this morning. What a skillful young footballer. My heart his with his family. Granny xxx

UNKNOWN SOLDIERS

I am passionate about the history of the First World War.....They have discovered some 400 photographs in France in a barn. These are photos of such emotion, men who at rest had them taken to send to family in 1915-1916. Many would die in the heat and mud of battle. You can see them on www.independent.co.uk/unknownsoldiers and some are published in Independent magazine today.

I also recommend two books, Richard Holmes 'Tommy' is wonderful.

Read the 'Barefoot Soldier'.

Granny xxx

POISON

The current furoe will bring down the Government. I believe that they have done wrong, but we must watch carefully for 'demon' parties sneaking in and taking control....imagine CCTV in their hands! Remember the Germany of 1930's. If you value your civil liberties be warned.

Now how do we deal with this situation? Well I am thinking new political parties. Granny xxxx

MY BEAUTIFUL PEACOCK BUTTERFLY

CROOKS

If you and I did the kind of thing that has been discovered over MP's expences - we would be arrested. Now they will have the feeling that other people have of when they are means tested. Where do democrats go now? How can we point to MPs as an example for young people about how to behave. Granny xx

GERMAN SOLDIERS

I really feel I must comment on the fact that 33 German soldiers (Bundeswhr) have been killed in Afganistan since 2002. Actually they have 3,800 soldiers stationed there. They have the third highest number of soldiers behind the UK and USA. Today there was a fire fight (30) involved 4 attacker 4 injured and 4 captured. The most recent soldier killed last week was aged 22 was and he laid down his life in Kunduz. LET US PREY FOR HIS FAMILY. Let remember that our old enemy is behind the lines with us.

Help for Hero's is everybody. Love Granny xxx

MORE HISTORY

The schools and the curriculum are denying our children access to their national identity by focusing on the recent past (important thought it is). We need to look so much further back, to beyond the Medieval, beyond the Norman Conquest, beyond the Romans to the world of our forefathers. The names, the stories the people who lived and loved in the very very past.

Let me throw this name out there, Eleanor of Aquitaine.....a real Queen of England... Duchess of the Aquitane, wife of Henry II, one time wife of the King of France, Crusader, mother of Richard I, King John.....who was the woman who over saw justice and I do mean justice.....let us understand what really happened. Granny xxx

FAMILY HISTORY

Let me put this out there, 'Who Do You Think You Are?' is a great programme but it distorts the time scales involved. Looking into your family history takes time and effort. I attended the Family History Event and the Barbican yesterday, I am telling you that you need this type of thing they can help you. There was so much information, help, resources and the number of people between the hours of 9 and 5 was extra ordinary. I urge you to let your children explore their family, let them develop their identity. Don't let your family disappear. Granny

KEEP SAYING NO TO MADONNA

This woman does not have the right to subject children to her life style...she needs to think about the safety and welfare of her own children and stop fighting with their father over who has what right over them...they need both parents even if they are apart. Granny xx

MUDCHUTE PLUS

GREENWICH UNIVERSITY...

THIS IS UP FACE AND PERSONAL WITH CHIRSTMAS DINNER.

Little Donkey

Turning around this is my view, I believe that this speaks volumes

One of the calves, and then

I will leave you to decide the gender of this pig.

BABY PETER

At last the indignity of a baby being named by a letter has been named...Peter. What a cost for official inactivity with this child.

Linked to the Peter case our heart must also go out to the poor little 4 year old girl forced to give evidence against a vile human being, cross examined by harsh male voices, barristers. What could she lie about? what could she know to lie about? He took her innocence never to be regained. Many years ago I used similar techniques of interviewing with toys. I have held abused children while they told me their experiences and was grateful that I could be there for them.

Our political correctness...has been misplaced in child interventions...people can be and are evil..they tell lies about what they do to children. WAKE UP.....intervene and save a life, don't and a child dies..end of story no going back. Grannyxxx

WHY ARE PEOPLE PRATS

I am endlessly tired of drunken people on trains, bored of listening to endless mobile phone conversations, about personal and business lives, sex and why can't women put their make up on before they leave home for work?...the train is not the place. Why do some drivers, block junctions?..that causes congestion. Speed kills. Granny xxx

WAR HORSE

If you never have been to the theater, if you never go again....you must go to see 'War Horse' a National Theater production co Handspring Puppet Company at the New London Theater. It is based on the book of the same name by Michael Morpurgo. In a jam packed theater audience aged 90 to 9 I could feel them breathing. I cried from the start not because it was bad but because it was supreme.. in production and staging. The stars are the horses 'Joey' and 'Topthorn'...I will say no more. Don't be put off by the World War One theme...

Who could not be moved by this glorius production, to a standing ovation the actors took the stage to take their bows. Go Go Go and see it. My husband treated me to this treat, washed down with some champagne! on a glorius day spent in Covent Garden. I had the best day, I know you will to.

Love Granny xx

MUDCHUTE IN PICTURES

ONE OF THE WALKS.

THE TAMWORTH TWO

Lambs in the field.

One of the new spring lambs.

IN PRAISE OF MUDCHUTE FARM

Everyone must praise this place, admission is free - it is a community location. it is about the environment but has a farm, a kitchen (cafe) a nursey school and on site classrooms for school groups and equestrian centre. It is for the young and the young at heart. I took my grandson there today, and met other families and women from the WI..... it is London's best kept secret. I am going to post some pictures....while you look at them, remember this is East London withing sight and sound of Canary Wharf, after yesterday's budget consider that there is so much more to life than wealth. Love Granny

EVERYTHING

The nasty has taken a step up in politics....sleaze or what. Poisoned politicans are the rule not the exception.

Policing G20...now a huge issue, but has anybody looked at the pictures beyond their own agendas. Next time you look at some the pictures, look at the one with huge number of demonstrators penning in a much smaller number of officers in yellow, not in riot gear.....where could they go, anywhere? No and the officers in the middle are probably being crushed to death. If an officer had died would any of the noble voices spoken up for them. Oh of course the video from the activists has been in the words of the TV...edited. Let us not forget an officer died in Dagenham doing his job, apprently killed by a team of aggrivated burglars.....any thoughts...crime! what about his family.

This doesn't mean I don't agree with Shami Chakrabarti in fact I do. I believe in democracy, civil liberties, human rights, child welfare because I do. But some balance please.

To police is an art, I believe in the right for people not to be victims of crime

WHAT CAN I SAY

The best place to hide if you are a cat.

WHAT CAN I SAY

My Hero's TOM HANKS, so cool and funny on Jonathon Ross on Friday as was DIZZY RASCAL, they are both bright intelligent and articulate men. Don't underestimate Dizzy, he is so much more than his image.

I also watched a wonderful interview with Ian Hislop this weekend (09th May 2009) I was impressed by him, his intellect and in many ways a shy and self effacing person. I have seen him lecture on Victorian History, he was superb and I believe he is under used on TV. More power to him.


I am a huge fan of both Stephen Fry, Julian Cleary and Tony Robinson.

I put brains, common sense, humour, compassion, intellect and a sense of justice above any other male virtue....others are just eye candy.

If you are watching the current Robin Hood series on BBC 1 then the protrayal of King John (John Lackland) appears from what I have read to be reasonably accurate.


Please Read... Eleanor of Aquitaine by Marion Mead to learn of the back ground behind Robin Hood....Hers is quite a story, a Queen we should know more about.


The first King of all of England was Aethelstan ruling 925-940 A loss to our children is the reluctance to teach real English History. It may not be pretty but it sets the stage for everything that comes afterwards. Other countries are proud of the heritage, we are selective...which is a failing.


Granny

THINK BEFORE I SPEAK? ME!

There have been some foot in mouth moments in terms of policing - someone will pay the cost. I am sorry Ian Tomlinson died, but let us see what happens now. Bob Quick - head of the counter-terrorism let the cat out of the bag, well he is a senior officer who has had his brain removed like all the others. The most terrible story and one closest to my heart is the Baby 'P' police involvement, which if you read the original Victoria Climbie report it has a resonance - 'De ja vu' - poor supervision, poor adherence to processes and poor personal responsibility. Of course I can't comment, but what I hope happens is that the 'management' consider how they promote officers, how they select officers for sensitive roles, reducing the paper work focus of statistics, how the training of all officers focuses on investigation - they need to go to court regularly and how CID officers become CID officers....

How sad was the sight of the tragic funeral yesterday of so many of 'L'Aquila's citizens, we really should stop for a moment in our daily lives and consider how much worse things could be. The worst of gestures was Berlusconi saying come and live in 'one of my houses'.

Could someone tell me why we are not having a general election? I listened to the interview Gordon Brown gave on Radio 2 this week. I believe that he should resign and there should be an election now so that we can rebuild confidence. Everyone knows he sold off our gold reserves, America did not raid Fort Knox. He is a Bully and leads a bullying government.

Love Granny xx

WHAT A WEEK

I was pleased with the way the G20 went on, overt heavy violence would have distracted from what was important - the world financial situation. I was impressed with the TUC march, Put People First. I am also very proud of Billy Bragg singing up a storm.

Of course the way President Obama and his wife Michelle created the right mood and I am impressed by his serious understanding of the world picture but he is charismatic and has an easy manner with everybody. He took trouble to shake the hand of the police officer guarding the door of no 10. Michelle gave a wonderful speech to young girls - I believe strongly in the 'Be the Best you can be' ideology, I look at the many young women around me today and despair for them. To be a strong, successful and passionate woman will make that woman a good boss, employee or mother what ever they want. I also believe in life long learning.

So that means at last for the fact that Claire Tayor has made it to Wisden's list of crickerters of the year. Well done.


Let us speak to the situation of women in Afganistan and Pakistan make it loud and strong...NO TO RAPE IN MARRIAGE, YES TO EDUCATION, NO TO HOUSE SLAVES.

I was horrified to read in The Times 'Half of primary pupils fail to master English and maths' Dear God, what legacy are we leaving our children. Learning does begin at home, the joy of learning should be that 'A Joy' it is exploring the world in the widest sense. If you cannot read you cannot learn.


What a fuss was made about the Queen and Michelle encounter, I saw the Queen put her arm around Michelle..I saw it on the front page of The Times...so get over it. Michelle is a warm and kindly person. She is also fashion smart - and you just know that she is a great Mom and you just know she and the President love each other which makes for an all round brilliant role model.


I understand the reason for the 'girls night in' with Sarah Brown - who I prefer to her husband. But it did smack of the Victorian idea of the women leaving the men to the 'real work' with very little notice made of the female leaders present....However perhaps the women achieved more, by creating a real network. The power behind the thrones.

The picture of the week for me was the one of Silvio Berlusconi, President Obama and President Medvedev - well the old boy sure plays to the camera.

Let me suggest some reading, it is amoving and emotional book but brilliantly written. If you think poverty is a new thing.....Read 'Shadow of the Workhouse' by Jennifer Worth. It is not an 'easy' read but so important to give people an insight into the recent history of the East End. I know most of the places mentioned which made it resonate with me.


If you are studying then look at the thesis published on line by Dianne Elizabeth Payne, 'Children of the Poor in London 1700 - 1780' Feb 2008 University of Hertfordshire. Should provide any student with inspiration.


At work I have been putting a list together of child deaths in the UK as a result of abuse, because I found there was no difinitive list.....I wonder why? well the real story is horrendous....beyond the headlines believe me it is scary. I am looking at Age, relationship to perpetrator, injuries, history of family background, siblings and interventions.....I am looking for a pattern.


Today is Jade's Funeral and what sense for the wee boys to be far away. Farewell poor girl. 'Death is but a door, opening into the light of eternity'.

The best news was the jailing of Jannette Mercer, Francis and Marie Yates... parents who covered up the most terrible crime. The mere fact that all three pleaded guitly spoke volumes about the whole picture of the crime. Let it send a message to others 'You may lie but you cannot hide, be sure lies will always catch you out'. They should be ashamed that the life of a young boy Rhys Jones was snuffed out by an arrogant show off who was the product of his parents upbringing of him.


What really makes me mad? How could Christopher Foster kill his wife and daughter so callously? Why because of his debts? who gets the blame? the doctors and others except his own failings. Money is not everything and I am so angry that a young girls life was taken because he could not bear to lose the material things. He also killed his dogs and horses - he is probably the best example of the worst of capitalisms excesses. Who say's domestic violence does not exist among the rich and middle class.


My choice for the Grand National reflects these last three stories, 'CAN'T BUY TIME' I don't bet myself but in common with the country as a whole I have a view on the race. I hope no horse or rider dies.


I am angry that a female police officer disgraced the uniform by working as a prostitute.


My TV tip of the week, watch Robin Hood....I love it.

Well that's me for this week, love to all. Granny xxx