Weekend coincidences

Subject: You, me and John Bird

Hi [Network Founder],

I usually ask people if it's ok to call them by their first name but I didn't even look at yours as I stuffed your business card in my pocket thinking 'must think about this one' when I met you on Saturday in Kentish Town.

I let go of ever meeting John Bird last year which didn't stop me inwardly cringeing when I saw a charity walk in the Big Issue magazine, thinking he might think I was trying to curry favour with him if I did it. Fortunately I soon got over myself and had a great night!

You saying you had lunch with him on Friday and offering to arrange another including me was, well, quite unexpected to say the least.

I told you I wasn't sure I had anything to say or ask him anymore but I could be wrong.

I would welcome to have lunch with you both if you both agree.

Let me know (as I listen to Rod Steward's "Sailing", free with the (e)Mail on Sunday this morning!) One must follow coincidences now and then for you never know what positive things might come out of them.

Kind regards,

Sue de Nim

Political parties were out in force Saturday morning canvassing for a by-election in a couple of weeks time.

As I walked over to the Tory table for some bumph I said: "I am totally opposed to your party!"

Quite extraordinary what can come out of saying something like that.....

Network Founder asked me what I thought of the coalition and I said "I don't know."

I Don't Know?

You get the email I sent because I just can't tell a story any more...I'n't that right Doris?

Weekend laughs

Sitting watching X Factor.

"Mummy? Don't you think Diva Fever looks like David and Ed Miliband?"

I start to laugh, right from the pit of my belly, a veritable quake.

"What's so funny mummy?"

A noise emits from me not dissimilar to Jimmy Carr's.

"Don't you think so mummy? Diva Fever are David and Ed Miliband?!" He starts to laugh too and in our mirth comments on the two band members in their lurid flourescent shorts, prancing about the stage.

He wouldn't go to sleep last night until I went into the room and told him who'd been voted out.

"Oh no, David and Ed Miliband are gone," he said crestfallen. "Is it Simon Cowell's fault?"

In for a penny, in for a pound...

Subject: I enjoyed what you had to say on Monday

Dear Reverend,

You saw me last Monday at the housing meeting at the House of Commons. I was standing at the back, stripey top on, raised my hand and said I'd sent a postcard to the coalition. You might remember.

You said what was needed was testimonies, real life testimonies, and brave people to give them. I am not brave. Well, I am not that brave.

If Ed Miliband reads my postcard, I will probably have to explain myself. You heard me, I can't articulate myself verbally that well! Still, if it happens, it happens, I've literally put all that in God's hands.

I wrote to Ed Miliband and said that if he was to read out the copy of the postcard I sent during Prime Minister's Questions, or any other such time, I would sit in the lobby so if the coalition laughs and jeers at him, he can say I'm just outside and they can laugh and jeer at me instead. Highly unpleasant but I sent that postcard and I take responsibility for it.

Should Mr Miliband read my postcard, and informs me to wait in the lobby, will you wait with me?

It's a big ask I know but although I encapsulate the housing problem, it's a national one and I only really know what's going on in my own borough, in my own life. I send you the link to an article I wrote, to give you a clearer picture. I also wrote a piece for the Guardian website.

I'd be happy to meet you if you have time. I'm not asking your help for me, I'm asking your help for everyone else.

Kind regards,

Sue de Nim

Having faith

Who would be a guardian angel? Even in heaven, where there is nothing very much to do and the whole of eternity not to do it in, souls don't exactly queue up for the job. There aren't enough tea breaks and you don't even get Sundays off. You just have to hover over a human and try to steer them away from the worst consequences of the endless problems that they keep creating for themselves. If you fail, you are blamed. If you succeed, they give you no credit. Your angel is working hard for you this weekend. Say thanks! (Jonathan Cainer horoscopes)

Show me how...

Your ruler Mercury is headed for a luscious link to Neptune today and over the weekend which means that even [those] who’ve been feeling very tossed around on life’s seas should start to feel as though their little raft has arrived on smoother waters. You could find that today and the next few days of the weekend actually inspire you and give you a glimpse of a better way that life could be. Enjoy the feeling and take some notes. If you can believe it, you can achieve it, that’s for sure. (Closer Online Astrology)

Voting ads on the telly...that's me

Do you remember it, before the election, the tv ad telling people to vote?

The woman, with a dog? walking to the polling station and just as she approaches it she's thrown back by an invisible transparent screen.

She pushes against it, presses her body to it, but she can't get through to the other side.

That's how I feel with my son. I've written and I've written and I've spoken to councillors and weekly for years I've bidded for any flat, any tower, any secure place to live and now we're waiting for the bailiffs but banging pushing pressing held back by some invisible wall.

There the other side, a home, and all that represents.

The woman in the ad didn't register, it was a warning to us all.

What exactly haven't I done?

Washing machines

For his third birthday, shortly after we moved in here, my son's father bought him a washing machine.
Where are we going? Into what?
Never mind Zat bike
What will happen to the washing machine?