Rebecca Staples 🙋‍♀️

‘A Drove of Hares’ (From a vintage ad produced for Boots the chemist) Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

@TimRideout1 @LoveOfGates will love this!

A YELLOW GATE When my late Mum and Dad (and toddler me) moved into their bungalow in September 1968 Dad painted the front gate yellow, my Mum’s favourite colour. When I acquired the bungalow in 2023 the yellow had disappeared under numerous coats of darker paint. But today, thanks to Mike, my good friend and neighbour, Mum’s gate has been restored. As he worked on it, Mike found the original paintwork, still there, an echo of those golden days. And then he painted the gate anew and hung it today, in the April sunshine. A simple act of kindness and remembrance that means the world to me.

@RichardJFone have you read the next book in the Aristotle & Dante series?

@misskcooke @RichardJFone @eleanorbobshaw Thank you x

Book recommendation for you @RichardJFone @Beka_Staples @eleanorbobshaw Heart the Lover by Lily King A very emotional but incredibly well written book. Highly recommended.

@RichardJFone @misskcooke I’ll have a read when put my specs on 😁

Unbiased opinions, please reedsy.com/short-story/l6… The author is known to me. @Beka_Staples @misskcooke

@misskcooke @RichardJFone @eleanorbobshaw Thank you xx

@Beka_Staples @RichardJFone @eleanorbobshaw Sending lots of love to you xx

Another excellent, excellent book @Beka_Staples @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte Mc Conaghy

@RichardJFone @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Oo interested to read one of his!

Here’s one for you @misskcooke @Beka_Staples @eleanorbobshaw The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Toíbín

@RichardJFone @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Thanks

@Beka_Staples @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Much love ❤️

When I want a quick immersive read I turn to crime fiction. Love Peter May’s particularly what was his Lewis trilogy. Now there’s a book 4 (The Black Loch) and it doesn’t disappoint. 😁 @RichardJFone @misskcooke

@RichardJFone @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Thanks. I’m as you’d expect…grateful she’s released from that ever-darkening glass room of dementia but now grieving for who she truly was 😢 And got my practical head on getting things done! 🥴

@Beka_Staples @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Sorry to hear about that, in all respects. Hope you’re ok

@RichardJFone @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw So very sadly I couldn’t be there for the book group discussion of The Names as it was the day mum died last week. However, told it was an extremely lively debate and the marks out of 10 were wide ranging! It averaged at an 8. So was the perfect choice! 😁

@Beka_Staples @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Got to be The Names!!

@RichardJFone @misskcooke @eleanorbobshaw Might go for that next!

@misskcooke @Beka_Staples @eleanorbobshaw Absolutely brilliant! Another banging recommendation from @misskcooke

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. An absolutely emotional rollercoaster but such a fantastic read. One of the best books I’ve read this year so far! @RichardJFone @Beka_Staples @eleanorbobshaw

@misskcooke @RichardJFone @eleanorbobshaw Thank you 😄

Another excellent book for you @RichardJFone @Beka_Staples @eleanorbobshaw ‘Wild’ by Kristin Hannah. Loved it!

Long ramble: I have been mulling if I should comment on President Trump's inane comments about NATO involvement in Afghanistan. Although 35 years ago, during the US-led first Gulf War, I was lying, handcuffed & blindfolded - literally 'shoulder to shoulder' - with a US colleague on a concrete floor in an Iraqi interrogation bunker, I rather feel it should be the current generation who express any anger at the President's ludicrous, demonstrably false utterings. Which is why I earlier shared some posts from others. But perhaps I will reflect like this - I watched Trump's press conference in the wake of the terrible tragedy when a US helicopter collided with a civilian airliner last January in disbelief. 64 people lost their lives but it seemed to be about him - his expertise, his knowledge, what he thought had happened. Much of what he said was incorrect. So I realised back then that it was going to be pointless trying to analyse any upcoming word-salads. Everything is clearly about him; his expertise in every subject, his grasp of all situations. His need to say something, anything, to show he is the best, the cleverest, the smartest, the most knowledgeable kid on the block. The pub-bore, the braggart, the know-it-all, pontificates on anything and everything in the hope of bolstering their own, clearly very low, self-esteem. I wonder that, in the President's mind, that it doesn't matter if what he says is factually correct? I wonder if he knows, understands, even cares, what is true? He is saying some words, which in his mind, seems to suggest that he's important and people will admire him, laud him. The fact that everyone around him then applauds this character trait, thanking him for his 'leadership' at every turn, just amplifies his desire, his need to continue. He's got want he wants - in his mind - attention, praise, admiration. So to sum up, trying to analyse Trump's ramblings is like trying to play chess with a pigeon. Somewhat interesting at first, but ultimately, truly pointless and rather frustrating. To those he has hurt, insulted, vilified, I send you my deepest condolences for your loss, and gratitude for your service.

The names of the UK personnel who died in Afghanistan: George, Darren John Busuttil, Robert Gregory, John Kitulagoda, Jonathan Sherwood, Steven Cridge, Mark Craddock, Peter Edward Philippson, Jim Bartlett, Paul Patten, David Hashmi, Jabron Thorpe, Peter Jackson, Damien Raymond Eida, Alex Johnson, Ralph Nicholls, Ross Cutts, Andrew Barrie Reeves, Leigh Tansey, Sean Budd, Bryan James Hetherington, Jonathan Draiva, Anare Andrews, Gary Wayne Beattie, Stephen Bell, Gerard Martin Davies, Adrian Dicketts, Oliver Simon Johnson, Steven Knight, Benjamin James Langton, John Joseph Mitchelmore, Leigh Anthony Nicholas, Gareth Rodney Quilliam, Gary Paul Squires, Allan James Swarbrick, Steven Windall, Joseph David O'Donnell, Craig McCulloch, Luke Muirhead, Paul Wright, Mark William Wright, Gary Wigley, Jonathan Watson, Richard J. Dwyer, James Curry, Thomas Ford, Mathew Holland, Jonathan Summers, Scott Clark, Ross McLaughlin, Liam Reddy, Benjamin Smith, Michael Gray, Chris Davison, Simon Davey, George Russell Probyn, Daniel Bonner, Darren Gilyeat, Mike Sandford, Paul "Sandy" Downes, Neil "Tony" Wright, Thomas Dolan, Sean Wilkinson, Dave Hickey, Daryl Hawkins, Alex Atherton, David Keen, Barry Jones, Michael Rawson, Tony Hicks, David Foster, Robert Graham McClure, Aaron James Thrumble, John Bridge, Christopher Ford, Ben Wright, Damian Botha, Johan Brelsford, Craig Violino, Ivano Newman, Phillip Tunnicliffe, Brian Roberts, Alexis Alderton, Jake Mcdermid, John Sadler, Jack Johnson, Lee Gardiner, Darryl Lawrence, Damian Stephen Mulvihill, Damian Marsh, David Thornton, John Livingstone, Graham Keter Thompson, Gary Pearson, Robert Babakobau, Ratu Thompson, James Christopher Gostick, Dale Cuthbertson, Nathan Gamble, Daniel Murray, Charles David Bateman, James Doherty, Jeff Bryant, Sarah Larkin, Richard Reeve, Sean Robert Stout, Paul Whittaker, Joe Williams, Michael Shirley, Dan Johnson, James Barnes, Jason Stuart Rowe, Kenneth Michael Mathews, Jonathan William Cowton, Peter Joe Bland, Wayne Dempsey, Barry Cupples, Justin James O'Donnell, Gary Rawstron, Jason Lee Mason, Nicky Munday, James Rai, Yubraj Dunstan, Neil David McKibben, Robert Joseph Dura, Krishnabahadur Lucas, Alexander Evans, Tony Sparks, Georgie Birch, Marc Davies, Damian Fellows, Steven Manuel, John Henry Lewis, Aaron Nash, Stuart Deering, Robert Whatley, Benjamin Elms, Liam Reed, Chris Mackin, Travis Sawyer, Tom Herbert John Winter, Danny Robinson, Richard "Robbo" Nield, Daniel "Danny" Smith, Darren Kingscott, Stephen Gaden, Tom Gunn, Jamie Laski, Michael "Mick" Upton, Paul "Uppers" Harkett, Christopher John, Dean Stiff, Graeme Fasfous, Tobie Binnie, Sean Pun, Kumar Ross, Ben Sheldon, Adrian Evison, Mark Lawrence Mackie, Jason Suesue, Petero "Pat" Rossi, Jordan Richards, Robert Martin Hill, Kieron Bolger, Stephen Moffett, Nigel Thatcher, Cyrus McLaren, Robert Mervis, Paul Birchall, Sean Hammond, Joshua Thorneloe, Rupert Dennis, David Laws, Robert Elson, Dane Babington Browne, Ben Whiteside, Christopher Brackpool, John Hume, Daniel Aldridge, William Backhouse, James Horne, Jonathan Murphy, Joseph Scott, Lee Simpson, Daniel Toge, Aminiasi Etchells, Joseph Shepherd, Daniel King, Christopher Hopson, Craig Lawrence, Phillip Upton, Sean Lombardi, Anthony Mulligan, Kevin Hopkins, Dale Thomas Adams, Kyle Williams, Jason George Hale, Mark Wild, Daniel Hatton, Matthew Valentine, Simon Hunt, Richard Fullarton, James Annis, Simon Carter, Louis McAleese, Paul Young, Johnathon Bush, Shaun Houltram, Lee Andrew Millar, Stuart Elliott, Kevin Brandon, Richard James Elliott, Gavin Harrison, John Dunn Bridgeman, Jason McGrath, Stuart Hall, Brett Lockett, Michael Prosser, James Wojtak, Marcin Janes, Jamie Hill, James Oakland, James Mason, Thomas Schmid, Olaf Chant, Darren Telford, Matthew Major, James Boote, Steven Webster Smith, Nicholas Scott, Phillip Allen, Phillip Bassett, Samuel Fentiman, Andrew Marlton Thomas, Loren Loughran Dickson, Robert David Amer, John Paxton Drane, Adam Paul

@RichardJFone @misskcooke I love it already…will be interesting to see what book group think. ‘The Last List of Mabel Beaumont’ got an 8. It ranged from 5 to 10!!

@Beka_Staples @misskcooke Don’t forget to tell us what you think of The Names

And they keep on coming @misskcooke @Beka_Staples Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason and The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits

@RichardJFone @misskcooke Sorrow & Bliss doesn’t sound like a barrel of laughs! 😂

Today’s the day: Less than nine hours til lift off…set your alarms - the competition of the year is going to be fierce 🎉🎊 #GateGrandPrix26 voting schedule below 👇 #lovegates

THIS IS A RESTART: please vote again! Day 2 SEMIFINAL of Rural Gates Category in #GateGrandprix26 Group ONE of two, Round Two Vote in the poll below for your favourites 👇 @PhilSipocz Six Bar Stunner @ChristineGathe3 Mother Hill, Mam Tor @phil_d13 Coleramble Braithwaite