From the Couch returns! Today I have dragged Hilary Melton-Butcher onto my couch.

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile with one thing and another, but today I'm thrilled to have the wonderful Hilary Melton-Butcher reclining on my most beautiful couch. I'm sure it's where William Wordsworth penned his poetry. Haven't we all missed Hilary's fantastic historic blog posts? Before she took her blog break, she promised that she'd be back...and back she is!

So take it away, Hilary!

Thanks Denise. Here I go, and I'll try to keep it under 1,000 words! 

On the Couch with me!

Denise asked a while ago if I’d come to her couch for a consultative visit … to get some background about little old me … soooo without further ado ….

This blogging world has turned my life upside down … for someone who was definitely considered not academic … ending up as a typist – though now that’s an advantage.   It seems I’m a very late developer, but now loving the learning and the possibilities that blogging throws open to us.

Denise has given us some prompts about our early lives … one of the ghastly ones that I still laugh about, yet visibly cringe! as now, but which absolutely horrified and upset my father (as he wasn’t that well then) … was when the three of us raced around the garden on our bikes or tricycle singing ‘Three Old Ladies’ Locked in the Lavatory’ – as the leader of the pack being the eldest – I am quite sure I was not popular.  My poor mother had to deal with the aftermath!

Despite growing up in the Flower Power era I was pretty conservative and restrained – sadly lacking in musical ability … yet I loved A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum which haunts me from those teenage days … and the others … Dylan, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Otis Reading … to name a few …

Who couldn't help but love these very pretty British boys of 
the 1960s when British music rocked the world!

I love British movies and watched Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines more often than necessary, as too The Italian Job … they took me away to other lands.  For some reason in London I hardly went to movies … playing too much squash I guess and being away at weekends.  Once in South Africa and divorced movies came into my world again (around squash), and now the excellent film society here has kept me abreast of new and old ‘refurbished’ films.

Books – we had lots around as children and I used to read vociferously as I grew up … but mostly novels which have a degree of history in them … but am surprised at the books I do read, that I’m sure 10 years ago I wouldn’t have thought about reading: shows you what blogging can do …

More will be revealed over at Positive Letters as time passes and I blog about some of them.  I think what has surprised me, and I’ve only recently realised, is that life is not divided into subjects or categories … everything overruns and melds in …

My time frame covers 65+ years from the late 1940s to today, the earth’s time frame covers 4.5 billion years of evolutionary history, while I also enjoy learning about our planet and its occupants … yet so often there’s a reference back or forwards in time … my brain is there and looking and noting so it gets blogged about!

Perhaps here I do myself down … as those early blog postings went off in those directions … a little of this and a little of that with some history, storytelling and ‘whatever’ thrown into the mix.

My letters home from South Africa, where I emigrated for 14+ years, were of a similar nature – and people encouraged me to write about my experiences.  The same when my mother was ill and I was writing out to family or friends … the response came please don’t stop your letters … they are so positive and a joy to read … here cometh the blog name: Positive Letters.

Yet at school I was useless … put down about it … I certainly wasn’t encouraged … but perhaps that’s a blessing – to have something to grow with later in life and to be here … giving me a purpose as the later years come along.

Writing … I prefer to write using a machine … Now that I’ve found my metier … I’ll be putting my A-Zs into a series, along with other posts (partial probably) into other series and so on … I’d like to do one with Hardwick on his travels … and I have the family story to tell backwards – as there’s no reason for me to go forward … there being no children within the immediate family.

This is getting long … and Denise asks about scents and aromas … I love flowers and would endeavour to bring in scented flowers for my mother … she was an exceptional gardener; she was also a very good cook and we enjoyed cooking together or trying out recipes etc.

 I relax by walking – now I can, going off to museums, lectures, talks, cinema … as I can’t play sport any more: my squash days are over.  Anything that intellectually challenges me – and that surprises me too …

The point of life – is to love, live, enjoy and learn – and then leave this planet for others on a happy note.  Do your own thing – be your own person … but give back and care.

So from this independent minded bod on Denise’s couch I love you and leave you … and I’ll be seeing you all at your blog or over being Positive with me …

Cheers to one and all … and to Denise for inviting me to her couch …

Hilary from that blog full of Positive Letters and Inspirational Stories is a lover of life--who after London spent time in South Africa. She is an administrator and sports lover, who enjoys cooking and entertaining. Through her mother's illness she found a new passion...writing, in particular, blogging. Curiosity didn't kill this cat - interaction is the key.

• Did you enjoy Hilary's visit today? 
• Do you share any of Hilary's favourite songs from the psychedelic '60s?
• Do you love any of the books or movies Hilary mentioned?

Footnote: 

Over at Write...Edit...Publish today we have Elephant's Child, the winner of the Spectacular Settings WEP challenge telling us about her writing journey. Come on over and say hello!