R's rue

Sheffield is Britain's fifth largest city. The best loved department store in the city centre was  "John Lewis"- part of a well-known  nationwide chain. The shop sat in a prime position opposite Sheffield  City Hall and was much appreciated by Sheffielders and visitors from surrounding districts. Astonishingly and sadly, in the middle of the pandemic, the John Lewis board decided to shut the shop down as they sought to rationalise their business. Nobody in this city ever anticipated that our beloved John Lewis would be one for the chop. Of course, shutting the store in the middle of the pandemic meant that Sheffielders did not even have an opportunity to mount a campaign to save it. One late October evening, I happened to be in the city centre  and  felt shocked and slightly disgusted that the illuminated  John Lewis  signs on the now empty building were still burning bright. It felt like a kick in the teeth to me. They had crept away in the middle...

from Going Gently https://ift.tt/31YJD0n

Do you know someone who has the gift of the gab? Someone who is clever in communicating? Someone articulate with words? But the words ring insincere, self serving and false when spoken? I’ve been contacted by two such people in two days  After the first I was minimal in my replies, but the conversation and my lack of chutzpah  bugged me and I kept  thinking of a film scene that I couldn’t quite remember clearly enough I kept musing about of  Meryl Streep sort  pulling a face Before the second conversation I remembered the film scene which was haunting me I was in Sainsbury’s by the udon noodles, and I said out loud  Shirley MacLaine! When I recalled the scene  properly . In  1983 James L Brooks  made  Terms of Endearment.  For those few that may not have seen it, it is a comedy/drama Autumnal love story between eccentric neighbours , the middle aged  Aurora and Garrett,  ( Shirley MacLaine  &...

 In the weeds I go again To find parts Of myself I’ve neglected Since my story is so compelling as you say, what do you want to know? from R's rue https://ift.tt/3kwc2RT

Shirland Park "Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?" - John Keats "Ode to Autumn" I like to have at least one long walk every week of the year. Very often, the days I walk are determined by our weather forecasters. With camera in hand, I prefer my images to be nicely embellished by sunshine. Not for me the washed out greyness created by heavy skies when the yellow orb is in hiding. I like the landscape to burst forth with colour - "alive alive o!" as sweet Molly Malone once sang. Plenty of sunshine was promised when I set off yesterday morning. "Where we going this time?" groaned Clint as I lifted his tailgate. "To Alfreton and beyond!" I announced in my best Buzz Lightyear voice. It was bright in Sheffield but by the time we got to Phoenix Alfreton a milky greyness had settled over the day. At least it wasn't raining.  At the war memorial in the old marketplace, the remembrance day service was just fi...