A report published this week revealed that thousands of patients dying in hospital are not getting the care they deserve because of poor communication between medical staff.
Just four weeks ago my family witnessed our grandmother die in hospital and the whole episode as you can imagine was highly heartbreaking.
Gloomy
Angelina Santangelo had spent over one month dying in a ward with other elderly women, too weak to stay awake at times.
Each visit to my grandmother’s ward was becoming more and more gloomy. There was one co-patient in particular with Alzheimer’s we believe, who constantly repeated demands like:
“Will someone please tell me when me when the bus gets here, my husband will be worrying about me,” and “Oh my legs, will you give me some of those tablets I had last night, they really helped me, please nurse, I had a good night’s sleep last night” and her laments would go on and on.
Whatsa matter you, ah shuddup you face
At one point, when my spirited grandmother was first admitted, exacerbated she yelled: “shut-up” to which her talkative co-patient replied: “who said that? I’ll sue you!”
My family’s concerns deepened when our Angelina took a turn for the worse and she was back on the old oxygen mask to help her breathe.
Who knows?
My mother asked the senior doctor in charge of her mother if she would get better or worse. And his reply consisted of the following remark: “If I were to cross the road and get hit by a bus would I make it through? We do not know.”
Let me stay at home!
So, to an already distressed daughter this only made my mother feel worse which is perhaps why one of the report’s outcomes, titled Caring to the End? - about 60 percent of deaths in England occur in hospital, although two thirds of patients would rather die at home.

MY beloved grandmother died last Wednesday. Her funeral was three days ago and here is the Eulogy which my uncle Rino read at the end of the wonderful service presided by Padre Carmelo at the Italian Church…

Angelina’s Children

• Her laughter and her wonderful warmth I will cherish forever. She was such a generous person. She put everyone before herself. Angelina was a very kind person. She worked hard and she lived for her family. The sacrifices she made just puts my everyday moaning to shame. She thrived and thoroughly enjoyed giving all she could to her family.
I used to tease her sometimes and pull her hat over her face and wait to see her get all flustered. She simply got on with things; there was never a stumbling block. For a little person ~ she was a giant.
I gave her so much grief, just as any lively son gives his mother growing-up. While out shopping at her usual Angel Market, all those years ago, I knew that if I asked her to buy me a toy in English rather than in Italian, she would not be able to say no because everyone around would have heard me. How she would get upset with me.
Everyone who came into contact with Angelina, loved her, even her lodgers from those years ago when both Angelina and Gennaro rented out rooms to Italian students through the Italian Church.
She held Padre Carmelo in great esteem. When Padre Carmelo came home to eat one Sunday, she was on Cloud Nine for a month. (And she made sure all the other Consorelle knew about it.)

• And who can forget that practical joke played on her - a true example of her desire to accommodate everyone - when a certain family member pretended to be Padre Carmelo and phoned to say there were two students arriving that night from Italy and needed a room.
Ten minutes later ‘Padre Carmelo’ called again to say the two had risen to six. A little time after, another phone call told Angelina that there were now twenty Italian young men to be accommodated in her house!
How they all laughed when ‘Padre Carmelo’ replied to Angelina’s panic regarding their comfort ‘ahh.. not to worry Angelina, half of them are short so you can put them on top of wardrobes – they are not fussy, really!’

• I have a life-time of happy memories thanks to her. Whether she was upset or happy, one thing always remained – love. There is a phrase in Italian ‘e’ una roccia di amore’, (She was a rock of love). During her last few years, the woman I used to go to for advice was not the same person due to illness and old age. I really missed her point her views on my concerns.

• I will always remember her being happy. At times she would get upset and that was all part of her character. She was full of love and was always laughing and joking around. I used to wind her up as any son does to their mother I suppose. She was full of life and happiness. She always looked-after others.

• What she meant to me is indescribable. She was the most wonderful, honest, generous mother anyone could hope to have. And her generosity knew no limits. She’s the best, above the rest!
I will never forget the time we all went to Italy and I was expecting Natasha. As my mum boarded the plane via the adjoining tunnel she asked out loud: “Goodness, is all of this flying with us to Italy?” And my dad responded, in the classic way he always used to tease her: “This silly woman! If we went by ship she would probably think the whole port would depart with us?!”

• She was a tough old girl and very strong. My mum had to fight for everything in her life and she worked for her family. She tried everything. And above all – love. My mum was all giving and she treated all of us the same. There was absolutely no malice in her. She was a really good person, a great lady. I do not know one person who did not like my mum. She was good hearted and I miss her for that. She had lots of friends. Where-ever she went, people knew her. I cannot remember her having a row with any of her friends.

Angelina’s daughter-in-laws

• I loved to go shopping with her. She provided me with great comfort; when I left Italy at the age of 17 to live here… she was not a mother-in-law to me, she was a mother. In fact I used to call her ‘mum’. I am going to miss her so much. Her legacy is Love. I know she wanted her family to become as one again.

• The way she watched football was a spectacle in itself. She would get so excited when Italy or Napoli or England played. Considering she was quite frail towards her later years it was so funny to watch – she did like her football.

The way she used to tease Isabella about taking Jack to Italy with her. First she would ask Isabella if she wanted to go to Italy with her and when Isabella would reply ‘no’ she would say ‘ok I’m taking Jack’. Isabella would then protest: ‘my Jack’ and Angelina would then reply: ‘your Jack? Did you make him?’ ~ she always had the best last lines.

The first Italian word I learnt thanks to Angelina was ‘mangia, mangia’ (eat, eat). It was her catchphrase!

She loved her house being full of people. When we moved house, we needed a place to live, while our new home was being installed with central-heating. Both Angelina and Gennaro put us up and to me, this was a complete and amazing act of kindness.

And the way she accepted Jack, my son from a previous relationship, into her heart and family was, well, I will never forget it.

Angelina’s grandchildren

• I will always remember Nonna taking me to the shop when I was a child and buying me a huge Cornetto. She was always warm and lovely. Nonna always had a cuddle at the ready and a big welcoming smile on her face.

• On Saturdays I used to go shopping with her, to her usual Angel Market. It was quite a scene to see her speaking in Italian to all the stall holders and them replying ‘yes mum’ ~ everyone called her mum.

• During the last few years, when Nonna wasn’t as strong as she used to be, when-ever I used to sit with her she would turn to me and say: “when I get some money I am going to buy you something special”. I knew this was her way of saying thank-you.
She would then go on: “Anyone who hurts you – I will kill them”. She would get so excited whenever mummy would buy her a new necklace and also whenever Uncle Angelo would buy her an ice-cream.

Nonna would always ask me what year I am at school and then go on to say how she came top of her class each year and even made it to secondary school.

• I always remember Nonna at her home, watching her programmes and game-shows. She was always offering cups of tea and she was full of love. She had a great sense of humour and was always laughing. She had a very honest love.

• Nonna and Nonno took me in for a few months. I will never forget that. Nonna would always offer me money and of course food and cups of tea. She just made me feel completely at ease and at home. That time I spent with them was special and I will always treasure the memory.

• If I had to describe the word ‘grandmother’ ~ I would say ‘Angelina Santangelo, my Nonna’. She had the ability to make you feel so ‘at home’ and looked-after. My Nonna was like chicken soup for the soul. I have so many memories of Nonna and through those recollections I will always feel her love and she will make me smile for the rest of my life.

I have such a vivid memory of being about three years old, we were at her big old house in Carysford Road, I had ventured upstairs and somehow got very scared when it came to making my way down. Suddenly those steps seemed like mini mountains to climb down. So I cried and called out to her and sure enough she appeared instantly. She came and helped me down so that I wasn’t scared anymore.

In no time at all, it seems, I found myself helping her down the stairs in our house. It is amazing how outstretched arms can make all the difference. I just hope my arms gave her even an ounce of the security she gave to me - then I know I would have repaid her somehow.

May her peace-loving ways be an example to us all… Angelina ~ rest in peace.

In this exclusive interview, Susan Schachterle author of The Bitch, The Crone and The Harlot explains why all women should embrace growing older. And for the record, the Bitch is a woman who can make things happen but without visiting devastation on the people and situations around her. The second is the Crone who is a repository for all the wisdom and experience she has won in her earlier struggles. And the Harlot notices every delightful sensory experience who absorbs the beauty around her rather than being distracted by the frantic pace of her youth.

Change is in the air
There is a change happening in society and I do not think us ‘younger women’ quite realise it yet.
You may have noticed stories and pictures in the press of mature women celebrities on the arm of their much younger man.
Madonna, 50, is now dating 22-year-old Jesus. Carol McGiffin from TV show Loose Women is engaged to Mark, 22 years her junior. And of course there are the other famous toy-boy marriages - Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher and Barbara Windor and Scott Mitchell.
What does this tell us?
It tells us that these men are interested in something beyond beauty. Like an apple which is at its juiciest when fully ripe, these men seem to have found something similar in their woman companions.
For Susan Schachterle, author of The Bitch, The Crone and The Harlot, something stirred when she began noticing people referring to her as ‘mam’, a mark of respect in the US. ‘Mam’ was a form of address people used when referring to her mother and grandmother!
Invisible
Susan then noticed the women she counselled and coached were quite negative about reaching the mid point in their lives. “They would say things like ‘I’m getting older I should let the younger women take over’. And ‘people used to notice me and were interested in what I thought and felt, now I just feel invisible,’” Susan told me in the lobby of her hotel in South Kensington recently during her European tour, where she had been researching for her two new books out in the autumn.
Link arms
Susan was shocked because these women all felt they had outlived their usefulness when in fact “they were at a point in their lives when they knew more than they had ever known! They should be giving their gifts of wisdom to the world. Research shows there are well over 100 million of women in the over-40 age bracket across the planet. But because society up until now has said ‘you are no longer attractive’ at this age women have believed it. But this has to change and it can if we all link arms and by doing so we can change the criteria society uses to evaluate a woman.”
From external to internal
Susan went on to explain that during the first half of a woman’s life we are identified by our external factors “who I marry, the house I live in, how much money I have, my friends. However at the mid point we must go within and find our own criteria. It’s an opportunity to begin living a life which is much more internal in focus by finding her wisdom, a personal power.
“And discovering a different kind of sensuality, which means ‘of the senses’. By opening up our senses we take in more information and through our senses we learn. Like noticing that little flower growing in the crack of the sidewalk. We are then more available to ‘joy’ which is a full body experience and not intellectual in nature.”
that ‘je ne sais quoi’
Susan has a presence about her which makes you think ‘wow I want to be like her when I’m older’. She is indeed beautiful but there is that ‘je ne sais quoi’ which has to be due to her understanding the feminine gifts that the world could really do with receiving at the moment. “We are born with gifts of the feminine and at the mid point of a woman’s life ~ they are ‘full blown’.
In her book, The Bitch, the Crone and the Harlot she gives step by step ways of reaching this ‘full blown’ womanhood; which I think if put into motion by all women… should blow the socks off the patriarchy.
Step by step
And here she gives an outline: “The first step a woman can do is change her mindset. She must think ‘I now have more to offer than I ever have in my life’. By living and becoming these agents of change people will start receiving them differently, because they will emit a different kind of energy and so people will react differently. This is what I refer to in the book as power, wisdom, sensuality and awareness.”
Gifts
Susan said that the next step involves women being willing to bring these gifts into the world. “Women carry immense power which is why in some societies women are kept lowly. This is what happens in societies where that power is misunderstood and women are seen as a threat. So they make sure women do not give full exposure to those gifts.”
However Susan believes we can start to bring the full force of those gifts to the world. “I firmly believe that women are natural leaders and natural healers. Look at all those single-parent families headed by women or support groups. I believe firmly when women choose to remember who they really are and bring their gifts into the world they become agents of healing.”
Some issues just come naturally to a woman
She goes on to explain that women would handle certain global issues much better than how they are currently operating. A woman, mindful of her healing gifts would never use political action or military force to resolve a conflict according to Susan. And issues such as homelessness, poverty, hunger, war, ecological and climate change, abuse on women and children would be better handled by someone aware of the gifts of the feminine, which is something that comes natural to all women.
Lovely phrases
Susan adds: “To begin this healing process we must start by beginning to remind ourselves who we are and access those gifts in ourselves.” Susan shares a prophecy by the Hopi Native American Tribe: “When grandmothers speak the earth will be healed”. She explains this is because the feminine energy is a healing energy.
In addition she gives the Ethiopian proverb: “When spider webs join together they can tie up a lion”.
Sisters are doing it for themselves
In her book Susan gives a number of examples of women who have individually changed countless lives because they refused to sit back comfortably and say ‘someone should do something’. “Women must give up the old message ‘you are no longer valuable’ and take heed from women such as Madonna, Carol McGiffin, Demi Moore and Barbara Windsor… their men know the worth of a ripened women. I think it is time our mothers and grandmothers do the same. Because you know what? We younger women will one day be in their well travelled shoes… Isn’t it great we have a head start?
Susan’s next two books, out at the end 2009
a) Ripened Women, women of a certain age changing the world and how you can too
b) Women as Leaders, Women as Healers
And her current book can be bought at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bitch-Crone-Harlot-Reclaiming-Feminine/dp/1600700187/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237330503&sr=1-1

Cold Christmas
One icy Christmas my friend Briguette had just finished getting ready for the office party and had left her place of work to make tracks for the venue.
Under her winter coat, she was dressed in her favourite Chinese-themed dress, teamed together with a nice pair of heels.
Now, as she left the building, unfortunately Briguette slipped on the marble floor and went sliding across the entrance right in the path of fairly short man who grabbed onto her boobs to steady himself and stop Briguette from falling!
They went sliding in this fashion for a good few moments before things came to a dramatic freeze and they both fell on their bottoms.
The man apologised profusely and asked if Briguette was alright. When he saw that she was fine, he continued on his way. Briguette dusted herself down, straightened her hair and grabbed her bags.
Once at the venue Briguette took a glass of orange juice and went to say hello to her boss and other colleagues.
However as the evening went on, Briguette noticed that she felt a bit strange down there in fact, she felt numb!
So she went to the Ladies to investigate. As she pulled down her underwear a huge lump of ice fell to the ground! Now that’s what I call an icy reception!

Petty Coat Lane
My same friend Briguette was on her way to work one day and was waiting at the bus stop. As she glanced in the direction of where the bus would be coming from, she noticed that a guy who was also waiting at the bus stop kept looking over to her and smiled to himself!
At first she thought maybe he knew her from somewhere but he didn’t look familiar, so Briguette continued waiting for her bus.
When he didn’t stop peeping a look she thought perhaps something was wrong with how she was dressed, so she glimpsed down at herself and sure enough, for all the world to see ~ her petty coat had fallen to her ankles!
So, Briguette did what any self-respecting woman would do; she stepped out of the scrunched-up petty coat and flicked it away from her with her foot. The bus came, Briguette and the laughing man got on and she forgot about the incident if only to lament that she would never again see the petty coat her grand mother had given her.
Later that day, on her way home, as the bus went past the bus stop that Briguette had stood at earlier, she looked to see if her petty coat was still there and it was! All sorry-looking and soiled from the rain!

Two can play that game
At my parent’s Italian restaurant one packed lunchtime the door opened to reveal a scruffily-dressed man. As diners glanced at him making his way to the bar where my mother stood drying spoons he stopped and aggressively glared at her!
He then pointed to what my mum had in her hands and asked: “What’s that?!” My mother, a little nervous at this point, answered shakily: “It’s a sp..spoon!”
My father, in the near-by kitchen could tell something was up because the room had quietened down and sure enough as he made his way to the bar he saw all eyes were on his wife and this dishevelled visitor.
So my quick-thinking dad barged in. He said to the man: “He came here looking for you! He’s now gone! But I know where he is. Follow me.”
My dad took this guy by the fore arm to the front door. My dad pointed to the far off bus stop. “He’s waiting for you at that bus stop over there. You had better go and find him!”
Sure enough the man made off, probably thinking to himself: “That man is MAD!”

SINCE being together with Big, erm sorry I slipped into my Carrie Bradshaw wanna-be persona for a moment, I’ll recommence… Since being together with Mr C I believe I have become a Spurs fan!
I wasn’t any kind of football fan previously but now I find myself wanting them to WIN WIN WIN! So I know a little of recent reports from White Hart Lane.
From pub team to premiership squad
For example I know that Harry Redknapp, formerly at Portsmouth, is now manager and he took over from Juande Ramos recently. Now under Ramos, Tottenham were losing all their games and had made the worst start to a Premiership season since 1912!
However… since Redknapp took over, the team has transformed into an unrecognisable side!
Players like Bent who were giving goals away are now scoring hat-tricks and defending like a premiership squad and not a pub team!
I have a theory about that. I think if a leader believes in his/her team… the team will act accordingly!
I think what is happening at the Lane is that the players are looking to impress their new manager.
Self-fulfilling prophercy
When people like and respect who they are working for, then it is reflected in what they produce.
I will never forget at school when aged about 11-years-old, Sister Joyce decided to take my folder into the staff room to show all the other teachers because it was well organised and neatly presented.
I remember wanting to stick to that standard, always. I wanted her to always think I was exactly that, organised and well presented!

WITH the date set and venue booked, mum suggested I start looking for my wedding dress. I had browsed the internet for style ideas and came to the conclusion ~ that it would be a long search for my dream dress.
Although the dresses I saw in the photos were all wonderful in their own way, I just felt they had nothing to do with me. In my mind, the dresses belonged to the models who were wearing them.
Dress after dress
In hindsight, I think the reason that not even one dress appealed… was because they were being worn by another/someone else.
Of course I didn’t know this at the time. At the time, when my Maid of Honour emailed me dress after dress I just felt thought ‘this is gonna be one long search!’
Anyway, mum & I set aside a Saturday in September and decided to start with the wedding dress shop in our home town (the same high street my brother and I traipsed around the shops with mum as kids)!
I spied the magnificent rows
This was the first time I had ever entered a bridal boutique and didn’t really know what to expect. The young woman in the shop was attentive and very helpful. Behind the counter were two adorable little girls, her daughter and sister. And behind them, through half drawn curtains I spied the magnificent rows of real life wedding dresses!
When it was time to proceed to the wedding dress part of the shop, I think my heart skipped a beat, just like it did when my beloved proposed. I would challenge any girl or woman to not feel something stir in her soul upon viewing those spectacular works of art.
Trying on the dress
And here I was… up close to the Cinderella-style, beautiful ball dresses! I could touch the fabric and feel the material. So as the two girls behind the counter played with their Ken and Barbie dolls, just as I used to do when I was their age (on their wedding day was my favourite) I was getting ready to try on one of the dresses.
My mum had picked it out. The dress was close fitting and had lace detailing all the way down. The hands-on assistant helped me get into the dress. When I glanced at my reflection in the mirror ~ I thought it was really lovely. And more than anything… I admired the dress.
“You’ve found your dress..”
Then another dress came to my attention and I cannot remember if it was my mum or the assistant who picked it out. Now, when the assistant helped me into this dress… I smiled a huge smile and I felt really excited. And it fitted like a glove!
My mum then said with eyes the size of saucers: “You’ve found your dress. Don’t bother looking anywhere else. And I’m buying it for you!”
Well, that’s the story of how I found my wedding dress…

ANOTHER inspiring story for you Natasha’s Notebook readers… this time it is about a young girl who walked into our offices the other day with her business card. She had just set up, on her own as a personal stylist after years of working in retail.
I was so taken aback by her belief in herself that I just had to interview her for my blog for you ~ enjoy!

So Michelle, tell us a little about yourself… are you a fashion student if so where did you study and where have you worked?

Well I moved to London from Newcastle about six years ago, at the little old age of 16 to try and make a success of myself and prove to the family back home that I could do so!
Although I studied computer software development and business, I was also working part time in a bag shop.
As I got older fashion became more of a passion for me loving all new styles and trends; reinventing the vintage look and generally just getting excited about anything I could just put together.
Working hard
It was around that time that I decided to follow the route of fashion and took on a full time job in a concession in House of Fraser. I was also working part time behind the bar in a night-club and although this was tiring ~ I was able to do this as the days of my college decreased.
When college finished I worked even harder to receive promotions and eventually becoming a store manager. During his time I got a thrill, just helping a customer, styling them to boost their self-confidence.
In those years I wasn’t only a sales advisor or store manager I was a friendly ear, giving advice and becoming their friend. So much so I still keep in contact with a few.

Are you London-based?

I am London based. I live in south Croydon so it’s easy to travel around. With the service I provide I will travel anywhere within or around London to shop in a location the customer prefers and feels comfortable.
A questionnaire is sent out to the client before the shop, this allows me to identify what stores in the area chosen, are best.

How about your age? (I know you should never ask a girl but it helps to create a picture & you look really young anyway)

LOL. I do look young, but I get told I look younger with my fringe up and unfortunately for me, today was a bad hair day! I’m 21.

What made you do such a brave and wonderful thing as set up on your own?

I have worked for a few well-known higher end bands. Working myself up from a part-timer to store manager. I am very thankful for all the opportunities I have received within my career, however I have always wanted to work for myself.
To bring back the dream I left Newcastle with and become successful by doing something I love and have a sincere passion for but without being modest, something I know I’m good at. So why not? There is only so far you can go within retail.

How did you go about creating your little business ~Michelle Cole, Personal Fashion stylist?

I sat my partner down and wrote a plan of action and everything that needed to be sorted. I’m currently creating a website at the moment so I am very excited.
I also completed my own market research and out of 20 fashion stylists across London I was able to set a great price that undercuts all my competitors.
I have contacted all the great high street brands and alongside my partner (who is a visual merchandiser at House of Fraser) I am able to get a lot of information on the next seasons colours, trends and styles.

You must have had to do quite a bit of research… calling all the department stores/retail outlets asking them prices etc… to ensure you offer a competitive price to clients as you start off.
And Where do you hope to go with it?/Where do you see the business/you five years from now?

At the moment my business is really freelance work for myself.
My visions however for the next five years are to expand it into a business, employ ladies and gentlemen who are truly interested in this side of fashion but who hate working in retail and think that they will be stuck there.
And set up a training programme to boost their own self confidence, this will show them that styling is rewarding.

Would you consider yourself a fashionista? What is a fashionista in your words?

I love that word… fashionista. I think this word represents a person who is individual, creative but not miss-matched!
Someone who loves all trends, colours and styles and isn’t afraid to play around. We have to remember that although there are trends out they may not be to everyone’s taste.
However it doesn’t mean we can’t dress with basics and classics and add some accessories or jewellery to update your look.

Who do you admire in the fashion world?

I know it sounds crazy but I don’t have a particular fashion icon. I think having an icon can make you loose your creativity within your wardrobe.
I do love eras however. One of my favourite eras has to be the 1920’s - 30’s and a little of everything else.

With all these make-over shows on TV (like how to look good naked etc) are you hoping people are getting the bug for a bit of personal styling for themselves?

You see with my job, I don’t just tell my client what is hot and what looks great and hope that the next time they need help they come straight to me (although that would be nice) I provide notes that were taken on the day about the advice that way given.
I advise they look back and try and install the tips learnt during the next shopping trip and see how successful they become.

I think the main problem many women have is self confidence ~ even whe not aware that this could be the case ~ how can we women look good dressed (never mind naked)?!

I enjoy all TV hype about fashion at the moment, and praise Gock as he has done this in such a good way.
He has shown ladies all across the UK that they can be the person they want to be and also boosts their confidence just by choosing an outfit that compliments their shape.
However there is one TV programme where they promote cosmetic surgery as the way forward?! I mean what’s that about? You shouldn’t have to change your looks or body to feel great, I mean doesn’t that just tell the ladies that they were right all along? That they weren’t good enough? hmm I don’t know!

Breaking the mould
Well, I think I do know Michelle… I think you should be made an example of. Many young people today just follow the crowd or lack motivation to do something positive for themselves.
They become like once-juicy apples, rotting on the ground in an orchid. You instead are nurturing yourself to your potential. Don’t be surprised readers if we see this girl on TV oneday with her own show!

LAST week a young man by the name of Sandeep who works at the same London offices of this international recruitment firm made all the girls swoon… he bought the reddest roses you have ever seen for his ‘missiz’!

So I thought I would interview him for Nat’s Notes (and the July edition of our company newsletter).
For all you love cynics out there… just get a load of this ~ (LOL is laugh out loud, if you didn’t know already)

Nat: So Sandeep… those ROSES you bought the other week ~ who were they for?

Sandeep: They were for my wife for being so good and supportive to me. Plus a ‘Congratulations’ for her as well, as she achieved her promotion for her HR Consultancy post in the NHS.

I normally buy her Roses once a month but since we moved home, I kind of lost touch so I’m bringing back the tradition, she truly deserves LOL, and for my guys on my floor - yes I did take her shopping for treats as well. I have also booked a weekend away for her as well.
Nat: What did she do to deserve such a token of LOVE?

Sandeep: Well for marrying me for a start LOL. My daughter, my life. I owe it all to her cause she has been very supportive of all the things I do. I don’t think there’s anyone quite like her. She’s truly my queen.

Nat: There wasn’t a girl who walked past that afternoon who failed to notice those ROSES. Many asked who there were for and who bought them ~ your reaction please…

Sandeep: My Reaction will remain the same. They are for my wife and always will be. She’s a dream come true to me so I’m lucky, very lucky.

Maybe not all the time but a man should treat and love a woman with the upmost respect because a woman does a lot for a man and I think men should understand that too. Let that be a lesson to all men lol. Sorry Lads.

So there you have it girls and boys. Who reckons we need to get this guy his own school? A school for husbands perhaps?! :-))

IT has been mentioned to me more than once that London is a lonely place to be single.
London is not a place where friends are made easily. In the work place you are looked on far more favourably if you can drink the boss under the table.
And even if you are partial to a tipple or two… meeting genuine people in a London pub or club is quite a rarity. I think a London newspaper or magazine should start a campaign… Making London Happy:-) Smile ~ You Live in London!
Apparently a group of Kenyan athletes were warned before arriving in London to not be alarmed when noticing people looking miserable on the street.
“They work all day in offices, doing jobs they loathe,” they were apparently told!
La Dolce Vita… in London too?
It has been my experience living in Rome that this is not true for all countries. Well, there is something very warm about the eternal city, so this is an unfair comparison. In Rome, even the sky seems to embrace you…

WHAT is it with certain large companies and their behaviour towards customers which is geared towards ‘the customer is here to fit around us’?
Last night my beau and I stopped outside a Tesco Metro near our home to buy a loaf of bread, on our way to the late night bakery.
‘7am to 11pm’ read the sign outside the store. As we approached the automatic doors, a member of staff stopped us in our tracks and informed that the shop was closed.
The sign says 11 but we say 10:55
“But we just need to buy a loaf of bread and besides, it’s not even 11pm. It’s 10:55!” my fiancé pointed out.
Now, what do you think the Tesco employee replied next? I’ll tell you dear readers. He said: “Yes but we still have a queue of people to serve and I’ve been told I cannot allow any more people in the store,” (or words to that effect!)
What has happened to customer service in this country? On another occasion we were in Nationwide wanting to make my single account into a joint one.
Sorry we can’t serve you, we are closing in five minutes
We patiently waited in the queue for a good ten minutes I would say, possible more. When it came to our turn and I explained our intention, the lady behind the counter said she had to check with a more senior colleague.
She then returned to say that it would take too long and they were closing in five minutes.
Okay, so perhaps hubby and I should stop turning up to places just before closing time… but please? Do they not realise the bad feeling they create which ultimately leads to people going to rivals.