They were good times, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, not a stone unturned, a welcoming shop not missed.

Oh London Town, what fun we had!

You need to find a certain kind of person to be a truly matched shopping pal. I was lucky, I had the best.

Straight from the breakfast table of a central hotel, we were pounding the pavements in minutes. I remember the days as always being sunny and dry. But maybe that’s what my memory wants to hold onto and that’s fine by me. It makes the picture even more joyous.

One day, purchases yet to me made we stopped for coffee. The name of the place escapes me, but I can see it clearly, down an escalator to a spacious seating area. Without the distraction of devices around us there was a chatter. In the background, music, probably. And then it was disrupted with the breaking news that Kirsty McColl has been killed in a boating or maybe jet ski accident. It was quite a shocking moment. I imagine we looked at each other with a mutual sadness, maybe quiet for a while, as life reminded us how fragile is can be.

We picked ourselves up, brushed ourselves off and continued with the day, our moods lifting as we enjoyed our companionship.

That day in question I have no recollection of where we went for a snack, maybe the little road off Regent Street. Constantly in the search of the perfect jacket potatoes was my cherished friend. It made me smile. It still does.

Refreshed and nourished we would continue our quest. A glance at a shop front, over the threshold and we were off. She one way, me another. Occasionally we would catch each others eye, or gesture we were off to try something on.

And so the day would continue as we built up our assortment of colourful carrier bags, shiny and new.They were a thing back then. Not demonised as they are today.

With energy and alloted finances spent we would head off to a special little place. A London boozer, with a snug, for two. There with a pint of the finest they had to offer, we would excitedly unpack our spoils.

How the memories of those days stay with me.Vivid, like it was only yesterday.

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

Today I am going to use this space for something else.

I’ve only had this particular blog for just over a month. WordPress looks a little different to the days I had the others. Especially the Daily Prompt. I don’t remember it from before. I love it! But it certainly distracts me from writing my own stuff. That’s okay for now.

However I am puzzled by a few things about DP…They ask us a question and then give us the option to read what other people have written…and it is here that my curiosity was stirred.

Firstly I noticed that some folk write absolutely nothing but the title given to us and yet get endless ‘likes’. This post of mine today isn’t about ‘likes’ in the adoration sense. Not the way it seems to be so very important to the young on Socials. But who are they, these strange beings who ‘ like’ nada? Zero content? Nothing, an empty page?

With my Sherlock hat on one day I decided to investigate. I scrolled through all the responses and took note of all the Zeroes to Heroes. Turns out the adulation was coming from pretty much the same ‘ people’ everyday….Then I looked at the most reactions to posts and there they were, the same bunch.The easily pleased space cadets.

I’m loving our Dashboards where we get to see all the interest in our blog recorded. The visitors, the likes and the views. It fascinates me to see the world map as it shows where you are all literally coming from.

I am now going to ask you to do me a favour as I continue my look into this strange daily occurrence. If you have read this far, I thank you..Now will you Like this post and put an emoji in the comment box? It will give me some insight to the workings of the Daily Prompt, here on WordPress. Much appreciated.

Have a good day all x

I’ll let you know how my little experiment pans out x

Awww.. Robin is joined by a blackbird serenading me this morning 🌅

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

Hate is a strong word and too strong for this situation…but, I dislike people I do not know and don’t know me asking what my plans are for the weekend. The simple answer usually would be ‘ not much’..And that is exactly how I like it.

Doing nothing can be misinterpreted in all manner of ways and I really can’t be bothered with all the patter ‘ I’ve had a busy, working, transient life and now is my time, to do as I please’.

My answer to this prompt sounds trite written down here, doesn’t it? But it’s the look you may receive, the pity. ‘oh poor thing has nothing to do and no one to do it with’. 😂 Don’t worry yourself, I’ve got plenty to do, thanks.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

Faliure and success ….what loaded words and concepts.

For Daily Prompts I generally put my thoughts straight onto the page, unlike Creative Writing which improves with some extra effort. Today I will write what’s jumbled in my head first off and then come back throughout the day to consider and probably add to and take away, bits n bobs.

The words failure and success can have emotional meaning beyond their literal definitions. Think about how advertising companies use persuasive writing to manipulate potential customers/clients.

How does one define success, exactly? And which success are we refering to? Constant, one time, sometime, occasional all time?Fifty shades of success, I suggest. Failure? Do we always see it as absolute and not acknowledge the success which may have come beforehand?

Imagine this…A business is established, the owners work hard and it becomes a success. Years later it fails because the business’s customers don’t or can’t pay their invoices. Looking back do you view/judge that business as the success it grew to be or the failure it became?

In 2010 students in Finland founded Failure Day, to be celebrated on October 13th each year. To encourage their friends to see it as steps to success. Much as Albert Einstein ( 1879-1955) said.

to be continued………………………… I wanted to come back to this today.. ..life got in the way xxxx

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

I don’t remember where I was at the time, or when I thought to myself ‘ the second half of my life is going to be better..maybe the last bit ?’ 😂

What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

Not objects per se, but for auditing purposes I couldn’t live without oxygen, water and food.

My dog, a faithful companion is not an object either and I’d rather not live without him.

The roof over my head, my own front door, I would not like to be without.

Three objects, then?

My reading/driving glasses, my car and internet access/device.

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

I’ve never stopped growing..I’m not even the same person as I was yesterday. A day older and a day wiser?

Do you believe in fate/destiny?

Am I destined to stay on the WordPress Daily Prompt Path and leave the original plan for my blog aside?

Or

Is it fate that has me tuned to the WordPress Daily Prompt Path leaving my original plan for my blog aside?

Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

Leaving Southern India and returning to the UK was a very difficult phase in my life to say goodbye to. This coming October it will be 20 long years since I arrived at Chennai Airport with two street dogs ( that’s another story) in tow, about to ‘ go home’. It didn’t take me long to realise that I was in fact leaving home and not going home. It was a truly shocking experience.

I don’t need rose-tinted-glasses to look back on my time in India and tell you they were easily the best days, months and years of my life. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Stepping off the plane into intense heat, the smell of wood smoke and the sound of crows high up in the trees will stay with me forever. Sensory overload, you might say. My eyes and possibly my mouth were wide open as I took it all in. The traffic, the people, dogs, music, car and rickshaw horns vying for supremacy. The  trucks and billboards sent colour my way. The incense, sandalwood, my favourite. The road kill.

I got to know the East Coast Road well and I think they got used to seeing me on a daily basis. I don’t think I was a novelty for long. The people so gentle, kind and hospitable.

I was quite in awe of the ladies in their saris of every hue. Many walked as on air, so graceful and yet carrying a load. The food was a amazing, especially the breakfasts, Pongal and absolute favourite.

And now I must stop! ….

As I sit here now with today’s prompt from WordPress in front of me, I know I cannot do justice to the story I would like to tell, in just a few paragraphs.

So many threads entwined in that rich tapestry.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

I do not wish to presume his persona or have ‘ day in the life of’. Simply sit at his desk and give away his $360 (approx) billion fortune. The richest man in the world will soon become the world’s most generous philanthropist.

The list is long and the time is short.

Firstly I would put a message out there for little known charities to get in touch. I would like to meet their needs. It is mostly the case that smaller charities need the biggest help. With that done I would deal with some people close to me who would appreciate a cash injection of any amount, including a wonderful elderly lady who has known me all my life and a young man struggling to find a permanent family home for himself and his two children. Easily and quickly remembered.

71%of the Earth’s surface is water, with only 1% available for human consumption. Globally agriculture accounts for 70% of fresh water withdrawals.The United Nations Development Report in 2024 states 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water. The figures for animals is unknown. I would donate to WaterAid, to help combat these startling and shameful tatistics.

The charity War Child was established by three young men in 1993 in the then Yugoslavia. During the Bosnian War they were deeply disturbed by the violence and ethnic cleansing. 80% of their revenue goes towards and including protecting, educating and standing up for the rights of children excluded from the world’s most conflicted places

I would trust the NSPCC, UNICEF, Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, Age UK, MIND, RSPCA, NHS Charities Together to evenly distribute their given donations where they deem fit.

It is disgraceful that there are two bodies with charitable status that shouldn’t…The RNLI (Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute and The Air Ambulance. What is that about? Also knowing King Charles charges them rent.

Compassion in World Farming advocates for the humane treatment of farm animals and LACS ( The League Against Cruel Sports) campaign against hunting, shooting and animal fighting with HSA (the Hunt Saboteurs Association)relentlessly pursuing those involved in illegal fox hunting, badger baiting and hare coursing. All thre are more than worthy of a financial helping hand.

Time is of the essence here, I have but 24 hours in which to distribute these funds, wisely and fairly.

There are lots of very tiny animals rescues run by ladies I know, to whom I would be honoured to bestow chunky wads of cash on. Their relief and gratitude would be my joy.

Lastly I need to mention Animal SOS Sri Lanka. Established in 2007, by a British woman, Kim Cooling. What began as a self funded Rescue has now grown to caring for 2500 dogs. Many with special needs. FinallyTom Nicholson who reacted to the plight of animals trapped and starving in the war torn Ukraine in February 2022. He and his British Armed Forces veterans buddies establish the tactical and animal relief charity Breaking the Chains. They need vehicles, kit, food, their needs endless.Coming your way Tom!

It’s going to be a long day behind his desk and when I have run out of time I will turn off the light, head for the door and then close it behind me.

Mr Musk, the richest man in the world will be no more.

‘ Oh The Human Research Trust, I didn’t mention them, or……I need more time.