Vivenda

@Vivenda (583)

Portsmouth, England

Joined myLot 9 years ago

I am retired and have been happily married for 43 years. Interests include writing, current affairs, music, making friends on line, and Sims 3 - yes, really...

Discussions (33)

Responses (286)

Vivenda's Discussions

The Hero(ine) Returns

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 19 Sep 16

Well, you may now assemble the welcome committee, as I have returned from my holiday! Please don’t go to any trouble. A steel band would be a trifle excessive, although a trumpet fanfare might be nice. Seriously, we had a...

10 responses •

11 people

Pack It In!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 4 Sep 16

My case is on my bed. It's full to busting, but not fully expanded. I could still fit things in, although I don't think the airline weight limit would encourage it. Shall I lock it? What have I forgotten? Toothpaste,...

8 responses •

6 people

An Intelligent Dog

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 3 Sep 16

Border Collies are the workaholics of Dogdom. They are always badgering their owners for entertainment or, even better, some work to do. One of my colleagues when I was working for a pet publishing company had four Working...

7 responses •

8 people

Sims, Dogs and Holidays

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 29 Aug 16

Well, apologies for yet another absence! The truth is that I’ve been really getting into Sims 4, which (coupled with family involvements) has meant that everything else has taken second place! At some stage I shall write about...

6 responses •

4 people

Snakes Alive!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 15 Aug 16

It was @jabouk who set me off on this track, by posting some very interesting extracts from her father’s wartime diaries. My dad was not one for committing himself to paper. Apart from the odd postcard, I only had one letter...

7 responses •

8 people

I Ain't Dead!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 14 Aug 16

(The above is a quote from Terry Pratchett’s Granny Weatherwax, to those who don’t know.) In my case, it’s not my demise that’s caused my absence for the last few days. It’s a completely unexpected obsession with the Olympics....

5 responses •

5 people

In Search of the Lost Discussion Hooptedoodle

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 11 Aug 16

I have a bad case of writer’s block. I really can’t think of anything of any interest to say! I could say that, although it’s bright and sunny here, it’s blowing a gale. Good, if you have lots of clothes to dry; bad, if you’re...

5 responses •

6 people

Office Space: Does Size Matter?

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 10 Aug 16

For most of the time, Rik and I rattle around in a four-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom house, occupying only one bedroom and bathroom. True, our daughter is with us at the moment, but that only accounts for one more bedroom and bathroom....

5 responses •

4 people

Annual Inspection

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 8 Aug 16

Well, friends, I shall not be around for the next couple of days. My mother is coming to make her annual inspection! I’m kidding about the inspection bit. My mum is 95 years young and fiercely independent. Heck, she still goes...

10 responses •

10 people

Making Money for a Good Cause

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 7 Aug 16

A family friend once told me that as he was driving along one day, issuing his usual blessings on all the other drivers, a small voice came from the back of the car where his three-year-old daughter was sitting: “Daddy, why are...

4 responses •

3 people

Yet Again - Apologies!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 6 Aug 16

So we've had a full nest for the past week. My son has been staying with us. As always, he left a pile of washing, together with the information that he'll be back again at the end of next week. So generous! Anyway, I've now...

summer evenings

6 responses •

4 people

A Small, White Dilemma

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 31 Jul 16

Well, our Sunday has just become more interesting! Next door to us live two small, gorgeous but decidedly noisy white dogs: a Westie and a Maltese Cross (the dog breed, not the symbol). Anyway, the Maltese (hereinafter referred...

4 responses •

3 people

Sunday Morning Rant from Home Alone

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 31 Jul 16

They’ve gone and left me. In fact, my husband’s left home with a younger, prettier blonde! My walking is limited (not more than 2-3 miles) and slow, and my daughter, having lost 5 stone (long story!) is determined to lose...

4 responses •

5 people

Running Out of Steam Hooptedoodle

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 30 Jul 16

I’m quite concerned. I really don’t know what to write about! Yesterday was really quite a waste. The south coast of England is one of the busiest parts, particularly in the tourist season, particularly in fine weather, and...

4 responses •

3 people

Hubby's Gonna Buy Me a Bow-Wow!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 28 Jul 16

Some of you may remember frequent complaints from me about my dog-less state. I’m daft about dogs, and we always had at least one in the house when I was growing up. However, I have now been married for more years than I’ve been...

10 responses •

10 people

The Sad Tale of the Voracious Duvet Cover

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 27 Jul 16

Do you find that your possessions have minds of their own and would give you the finger if they had one to give? I’m finding that with technology all the time. I’m fully inured to the fact that my smartphone is a heck of a lot...

household appliances

6 responses •

8 people

The Greeks Had a Word for It - but they probably wouldn’t pronounce it correctly today!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 25 Jul 16

So, what do you think of first, when preparing for a vacation in a location you haven’t visited before? What are you most likely to buy first? Clothes? A swim suit? Cosmetics? Suntan lotion? Well, naturally I have these on...

7 responses •

7 people

Hello, Again!

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 24 Jul 16

Well, hello again, everyone. (The “again” obviously only applies if you actually remember me.) I haven’t been around for some time because of various changes at home. We’re a three-person family at the moment, because my...

10 responses •

9 people

Acting Different

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 30 Jan 16

Yes, I have to confess it: I’m an occasional daytime television viewer. Well, I’m actually a regular viewer of one programme, 'Bargain Hunt', every weekday lunchtime, but other daytime programmes, with the exception of the News,...

5 responses •

4 people

New Year Resolutions

Vivenda @Vivenda (583) • Portsmouth, England 29 Jan 16

Well, it’s been a dark couple of days, so I’m afraid I haven’t kept to my goal of a post (or rather discussion) a day. Anyway, it’s a bit late for it, but these are my New Year Resolutions. After all, it’s not quite February...

new year resolutions

2 responses •

3 people