"More than a Woman"

 More Than a Woman is by Caitlin Moran and all I can say is"Wow". In a series of essays - sometimes hilarious and sometimes heart wrenching - Moran takes us through the realities of life for the middle aged and menopausal woman, a time which she calls Hagdom. This references the Hag who appears in so many old stories and who is a woman beyond child rearing years,usually wizened and/or ugly but who possess wisdom - hard earned wisdom at that - which she uses to good effect. I'm not sure I want to be defined as a Hag - these women tended to be outcasts of society and often feared - but I get what she means. These are women who have moved past relying on their youth and appearance to live with acceptance of who they are as they age. In another time and place they would be the healers or the wise women of their society but in our youth obsessed world they are the largely invisible glue holding society together.

I found myself identifying with so much of what she wrote that I was reading aloud bits that strongly resonated to my sometimes bemused husband. Apparently a quote out of context can be confusing. Who'd have thought. Moran talks about many of the things that men and women have to deal with in the present world, some of them troubling, others amusing, and shares some very personal moments and experiences along with the ubiquitous To Do List that she quite rightly says every woman has either mentally or written down.

While I'm still not too sure I want to be a Hag I have to admit I have today's To Do List in front of me so maybe I've already missed my chance to be anything else. 

Jokes aside I do highly recommend this book. While it's aimed at women men would also gain a lot from it, if only a glimpse and some insight into the reality of women's lives. 

More Than a Woman is published by Edbury Publishing.

To Everything There Is A Season

I don't listen to the radio much but Pisces has it on all the time. He carries a small radio in his pocket so when he walks past I inevitably get a sound bite. Usually I don't pay much attention to whatever it is because I'm really not into talk back radio and the stations he listens to rarely have music I care about. The other day, though, there was a blast from the past that seemed incredibly appropriate to what's going on in these pandemic days. 

What I heard was Turn Turn Turn. This is a song written way back in the fifties by folk singer Pete Seeger who used (rearranging the order and slightly altering) the words of the first eight verses of the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the King James version of the Bible. He added the words of the title - Turn Turn Turn - as a refrain which repeats throughout the song and as well as the words "I swear it's not too late." as the final line of the song to make a connection with the anti war feeling of the times.

It became hugely popular during the sixties when it was released by US group The Byrds reaching number one on the charts in both the US and UK although it had earlier been recorded by folk group The Limelighters and then by folk singer Judy Collins who was to release another version later in 1969. After The Byrds success covers were released by whole host of singers and it is still being included albums today.

I have no idea who that singer on Pisces' radio was but whoever it was it inspired me to go and look at various versions of this song and among them I found a video of Judy Collins in 1966 which I loved. I'd like to share it with you. Enjoy.

Friends In Low Places

 I've had this song stuck in my head for a couple of weeks ever since I watched the Celtic Thunder version with Ryan Kelly as the soloist.

While I enjoyed that performance I have no idea why the song got itself so embedded since I wasn't a great fan of the Garth Brookes original but there you go.  

Then last night it suddenly struck me that it would work very well as a cappella and it turns out I'm not the only one who's had that thought.  Here is country music a cappella group Home Free and their cover of Friends in Low Places. Enjoy.

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

I love skilled fiddle playing and so for today's sliver of joy I give you Celtic Thunder's Ryan Kelly performing "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" with Nicole Hudson playing the violin.

Enjoy. 

Forest Xylophone

I've been struggling to find much more than a sliver of joy in life at the moment - although I do have to say having a four year old throw herself onto your lap and wrap her arms around you for no other reason than she is pleased to see you and to have a one year old's face light up when he sees you are pretty pleasurable slivers. 

Given the times we're living in we need to treasure such moments so I've decided - instead of dwelling on the mess we're in - I'm going to share anything which gives me pleasure for a while. The same friend who posted "Those Were The Days" found this lovely video. I gather it's been around for quite a while - it was made made as part of an advertisement some years ago - but this is the first time I've seen it. Here in the middle of a forest a wooden xylophone plays. Enjoy.

"Those Were the Days" sung by Mary Hopkin.

 I've been trying to write a blog post about how time has gone mad during the pandemic and frankly it was just too depressing to finish.  Then a friend of mine started putting up links to songs from way back when and this one by Mary Hopkin came up among them. It struck a chord with me, nostalgia for the "good old days" being something a lot of us are feeling these days. I hope you like it.