Nearing the end of my working life I told anyone who cared to listen that I had never in my life thrown a sickie nor taken a penny from the state in benefits of any kind. I am still waiting for the accolades and I am not holding my breath. My neighbor Eddy was bemused by my overblown pride as an example to the feckless of society.
Quietly eloquent, my friend told me of his suicide bid that had been foiled by the unforeseen appearance of a passer-by. The near tragedy was the consequence of his being subjected to months of monosyllabic conversation and long periods of silence by his then-wife. It was not manic depression on her part; with friends and family, she maintained bright and breezy chitchat.
First of all, you can’t drive a happy person crazy. They work on personal freedom and know how to not be ashamed of themselves. They are told: ‘your ass is fat, you can’t walk on the streets with such an ass, and pants are not fashionable and such lips are not worn this season.’
Dozens of young asylum seekers have been kidnapped from hotels run by the Home Office who as charges are complicit in the abductions and brothel supply chain.
Apart from traditional festive church services, Russians also have a tradition of Epiphany dips, when people cut cross-shaped holes in the ice of water bodies, the churchmen bless the water, and on the eve of the Epiphany, after going to a church, people dip thrice into the freezing water, crossing themselves before each dip.
Where and when appropriate I greet a lady by the simple courtesy of raising the back of her hand to near my lips. For many, it is a first experience that has so far brought pleasure. I wonder how many women have had a hat raised in greeting or how many ladies have seen men rising from their seats on their entering a room.
As it was a business trip I was without a companion when I visited Marbella. I imagine that all across the country there are tens of thousands of people who for many reasons travel alone.
Happy Birthday to You is said to be the most popular song in the English language. Being translated into at least 18 languages, it has been promoted all over the world and is sung for the birthday boy or girl by the guests celebrating the occasion. The melody used in this song dates back to the late 19th century, and it was used for the song Good Morning to All.
There are some extraordinary women. The extraordinary is to be discovered on the inside of women. They are the women who feel, those who think deeply and passionately. Their inner world is so vast, it seems that this scope has no bottom. Their speech is beautiful as if reading a wonderful book, listening to Chopin, looking at Botticelli’s paintings… – filling up their hearts and intellect.
Children have been observing unusual things in the past 6 months, that none of us adults was accustomed to when growing up. This is dangerously programming them during the most vital years of their development and may have negative consequences that will last their entire lifetime.
Michael Walsh Stories and Books 
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