Ray Schaufeld's blog

Hey there. Some of your you may be forgiven for thinking that Gladys was simply a boozy old biddy who got into Christianity. Ok she travelled with the missions in China and outer mongolia, going as far as Ulan Bator. Yes she was from a basic family and there were plenty of them, bless them all. She liked helping people and our Gladys also had a mildly mischievious sense of humour...

TOO MUCH £1 sale!! Notices smotherrhe Large Cancer Research Charity Shop window. I join thethrong of customers, mainly middle aged to elderly women. One or two brave mums shove their double buggies inside, ignoring the wrath of the staff and other customers whose only aim is to be first and get the most cheap stuff. Our faces are set hard against frustration, disappointment, a life's experience of rip-offs, cheap knock offs and of being sold...

There is always that little bit of debate and controversy about the Morris. Is it backdated and pointless all these ancient wallies with their bells and sticks? What about black face Morris is it racist? I saw a young troupe of black face Morris a few years back. They had theire faces greeny black and green and black streams from their hats. Wild costumes, wild dancing, lots of hefty stick banging and bell jangling And of course the 'obby oss...

Not long ago I got a ride in Kirkcaldy from my old pal Brian who I have known since uni days. Brian is now a senior paramedic. He harked backed to the old days where as a rookie cabbie he was learning 'the knowledge' on the busy streets of Ayr. In those days all the drivers gave lifts to hitchers. We used our savvy and went for it. Then we heard the horrible story of aileen wournos. Aileen was American she was a mad murdering bitch who took out...

When am I going to get my Ukrainian lodger? I registered my interest on Homes for Ukraine some time ago. I have spent hours sorting out my spare room. In fact I shall be moving into my spare room and my lodger shall be getting my current bedroom. Both rooms have their pros and cons. My back bedroom has been my office since my younger daughter was awarded her degree and moved abroad to work and travel. It has more shelving. The front room, the...

I am in the Covid Club. I tested positive this morning. I have notified everyone I can possibly think of. I have posted a big Covid notice on my front window displaying my positive test and told everyone who reads it to stay away from my house until I remove my notice. I am staying at home for at least five days. My covid app tells me to self-isolate for 11 days. The government is now removing all restrictions including those for people in my...

Kate Bush wrote the song Wuthering Heights - Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham lived it and continue to do so. They are now both alive and over 70.

Before you speak - T is it True H is it Helpful I is it Inspirational N is it Needful K is it Kind ( I discovered these words on a poster on a classroom door at Orchard Manor School in Dawlish when I visited yesterday, together with my elder daughter in order to take part in a tree planting ceremony on Holocaust Memorial Day.) Orchard Manor is a school for children who have been diagnosed with autism, some of whom have additional issues. They...

As an old Englishwoman I can truly say that The Salt Eaters is the most demanding and also the most rewarding work of fiction that I have read for over 40 years. The place is Southern USA in 1981.. Velma Henry has spent many years as a Black community activist, trying to sabotage the local nuclear power plant ('they' employ her because she is a highly qualified computer analyst). She and her girl buddies also try to mend warring factions within...

Maybe, like me, you think that life in Amsterdam is freer and more advanced than in Bojoland Britain. But for Hendrik Groen, Henk to his pals, even though he makes himself get out for walks, come rain or shine, it's drab. He lives in a care home where the residents only have the state pension and maybe a small work pension. A lot of the residents drivel on about the good old days, complain about their aches and pains, worship the Royals and huff...