Friday 13th November

Posted on by Palo Stickland

Nanowrimo word count 1204 running total 19,772

The national football team have won a great match against Serbia. I was a coward and went to bed when the game extended into extra time. With the Real Madrid player coming on to the pitch I thought they wouldn’t win and couldn’t watch them lose. What a surprise this morning to see them jumping up and down after playing 120 minutes of tense football. Wonderfully, well done, Scotland!
Strictly Come Dancing is the highlight of our regular winter viewing. Anton du Beke, who, in our household, creates an argument about whether he is a good dancer or not has been promoted to judge status. I think he will be a breath of fresh air, although Motsi was bright and sparkly.
It’s Friday 13th which has a history of horror movies connected to it as well as having religious connotations for Christians (The Last Supper). A baker’s dozen is 13, and the number has special significance in Sikhism. The founder, Guru Nanak, was the son of a grocer and when his father left him in charge of selling the goods, he gave everyone thirteen instead of twelve weights of flour. It’s not unlucky at all.

Vaccines: November 12th

Posted on by Palo Stickland

Nanowrimo word count 1495 running total 18568

In Scotland, we have had 5000 deaths from Coronavirus. The vaccine may be ready in a month.
I had a Zoom meeting this morning with my writing colleagues from Bearsden Writers. Since it was only the Committee, there were four of us. Our fifth member won’t come on Zoom. She is terrific on our Proboards forum, our website and on Youtube, so it’s not the technology that stops her, I think it’s her belief in conspiracies. Also, she won’t agree to be vaccinated for Covid-19 or the seasonal flu vaccine. My uncle in India had smallpox scars on his face. I have a spot on my arm from vaccination against that disease, and I’d rather have a small scar on my arm than the ones my uncle lived with.
My conversations about the word ‘coloured’ as opposed to ‘people of colour’ continued today. ‘Coloured’ is a term given to people of my colour by others. ‘People of colour’ is our own term and doesn’t come with political complications. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to.

Remembrance: November 11th

Posted on by Palo Stickland

Nanowrimo word count 1199 Running total 17073

The Chairman of the English Football Association has had to resign due to his usage of the word ‘coloured’ in describing black players. He had to go, as, at that level and salary, you should be inclusive in every way. He was being questioned on other matters and was picked up on his use of a derogatory term. He did apologise immediately, but it’s not good enough.


There was a two-minute silence at the eleventh hour on this the eleventh day of the eleventh month. I consulted the internet for two pieces of information that I should know. One was why the term ‘coloured’ is derogatory nowadays. The South African apartheid system comes to my mind but not the Southern USA. I suppose because we, in this country, have heard so much about South Africa. And yet, why don’t films such as ‘Green Book’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ which cover the Jim Crow laws not make a greater impact on me? I needed to know how to deal with someone who says the use of the word ‘coloured’ is not so bad


The other thing I did not know is that the grave of the unknown soldier is in Westminster Abbey. When I was young, I had a vague notion that someone was buried under the Cenotaph in George Square. I now know that’s not true.

November 10th

Posted on by Palo Stickland

Word count 1283 Running total 15874 Behind by 1126

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, has said it will be some time before the coronavirus vaccine is ready for everyone. We must continue to live with care under the guidelines. Wise words.

This is a recipe and method for making a superfood which I have at breakfast time. I read somewhere that you only should eat food with seven or fewer ingredients. This has six.
Ingredients
Three cups of porridge oats
Three-quarter cup olive oil
Three-quarter cup chia seeds
Three-quarter cup linseed seeds
Three-quarter cup golden syrup
one-half cup sesame seeds
Method
Grind linseed and chia (use coffee- grinder) and cover in water to double in size and become sticky. Heat olive oil in a wide pan, add porridge oats and toss-fry until oats are cooked. Add more oil if oats seem dry. Add the soaked seeds and stir until mixed. Add the golden syrup. Take off heat. Let cool then shape into small balls and roll in sesame seeds on a plate. Store in freezer when cooled. Take out one when you wish, place on plate and microwave for 20 seconds. Enjoy.

November 9th

Posted on by Palo Stickland

November 9th Today’s word count 1206 total so far 14591 I will catch up tomorrow. Sore eyes yesterday and today.

Joe Biden is making Presidential-type ‘bringing people together’ speeches. Donald Trump is playing golf and waiting for his legal team.
Pfizer has perfected a vaccine for Covid-19, but nothing changes on our Coronavirus rules and regulations.
Here is one of my knitting projects from June this year. It was a present for my granddaughter. The characters are from books that she has loved for years. From left to right, Sofia Valdez: Future Prez, the blue-haired one is an anime character that she loves, then it’s Rosie Revere: Engineer, Ada Twist: Scientist and Iggy Peck: Architect. Iggy has a cat, and I made this one at my silver jewellery class last year. I gave it to her on her birthday (10th), but her mother said she put it away as she doesn’t appreciate it yet. Oh well, I enjoyed creating it, and that’s important.