Marmite?

Its usually considered best to avoid religion or politics, but since the first years of my life were so coloured by this woman, I felt I had to mark her passing in some way. Love her or hate her (and most people seem to agree that Mrs T was the original Marmite), the death of Margaret Thatcher has revitalised both her supporters and her detractors over the past week and a half.

I have never been a political activist, but I have been quite shocked at the level of vitriol pouring out of people on the radio and television, so much so that I have ended up turning the radio off, not something I ever do. Neither am I a very religious person, but I do think that the level of hate that people have been expressing is quite scary. I'm a great believer in live and let live, and to be honest, whilst she is by no means my political hero, there's a part of me that longs for someone as decisive and principled as her amid the quagmire of political blandness that currently plagues us in this country. And, let's not forget, she was still someone's mother, grandmother and friend. A little respect, even for your enemies, is surely not too much to ask?

April on time!

I actually got my April journal page ready on time. In fact, in advance! Something of a record for me, these days.
My little striped character has made a reappearance, this time looking up at falling snowflakes and cold words, bearing in mind the start we have had to April. On the 1st, I went for a ride with a friend and we ended up having to negotiate 6ft snowdrifts! The horses were unphased by the situation, but we were slightly concerned at the thought of having to retrace our steps several miles when the gates had so much snow banked up at either side, that they couldn't be opened!

April is a busy month for us, as it is my eldest child's and my husband's birthday in the same week and our wedding anniversary at the end of the month. Still, it is also the Easter holiday, so I am hoping to have lots of time to journal, plan some of the classes I am teaching in the next few months and catch up on some chores...

Happy April everyone.