June 2020

I have reconciled. Life speeds up, I’m over it. And frankly sick of the sound of my own voice saying; ‘Is it me, or is time getting faster? Can you believe it’s Friday again? So that’s it, no more moaning about time. Although I will say - it’s almost JULY!

This month has been interesting and a bit different. First Martin and I managed to synchronize our headstands in our Zoom yoga class! That in itself was a huge accomplishment! Then I was asked to co host a webinar about menopause - in Rome. Not as daunting as my Ted talk and actually quite a lot of fun. That was due to collaborating with the wonderful Katherine Hooper, a psychotherapist from Santa Fe in the States, who I’ve recently been introduced to. We worked together over Zoom for a few weeks and produced our menopause webinar!

Don’t you think it’s amazing that two people, half way across the world from each other, can create and deliver something special to a group of women in Rome and not be in the same room, country or even continent? This blows me away. I know I am a dinosaur when it comes to tech but having spent most of my working life working from home, with no support systems or tecchie folk on hand to explain stuff, I can tell you, I’m in awe of technology. Any of you out there taking this stuff for granted - don’t, it’s bloody fantastic! Safe to say it went very well. So if you want a menopause webinar for your office, womens group, workplace - I know someone who can deliver!

Nepotism alert! I chatted to Keir Starmer last week on Vanessa Phelps, BBC Radio London. When I say chatted, it was 1.32 minutes long! Someone I know sent out a requested on Twitter asking if anyone wanted to ask Keir a question. I messaged her directly and she said - ‘you’re on air in 5 minutes’! I quickly conjured up a question about the state of our politics and could he try and perhaps shape the country a bit better. He seemed nice, who knows, it was all very rushed. It would have been nice to have had a proper conversation with him, maybe I’ll ask if he fancies being one of my 100 men. I’ll let you know if he says yes!

It’s been a strange and challenging time recently. Covid, politics and racism. When George Floyd was murdered I was once again appalled at the descrimation that people of colour are STILL subjected to. And what have I done? Nothing, apart from change my profile picture on Facebook and Instagram. So my family and I deciced we would go to one of the London #BlackLivesMatter protests. I’m not good in crowds, I find them overwhelming, and I was unsure about the whole virus thing. It was a dilemma but we thought it was time to do our bit. Masked up and motivated, plackards in hand off we went. It was very moving and inspiring to be surrounded by so much young enery and activism.

I’m half way through my men. That sounds terrible! But you know what I mean. 50 men chatted with, listen to, learned about. Inspired by. I’m taking a break as I’ve a whole load of editing to do. So wont be back to interviewing ‘til August. But you can read weekly interviews as usual. Next week is Chris, 83. By the way, I am still looking for an older man or two. If you know anyone 80, 90 or 100, please get in touch. I might write to Captain Tom too, see if he fancies it!

Right, that’s me for June. I’m needed back in my house to carrying on painting. We took to emulsioning the entire house last week and once you start…it never ends!