With the Queens Jubilee only days behind us. I was given the book Lady in Waiting. An autobiography of Lady Anne Glenconner.
Glenconner, the eldest child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, had what would seem an idyllic childhood. Glenconnor’s parents worked overseas, travelled and socialised. They left their two young daughters in the care of Nannies. One who abused her.
With the outbreak of World War 2, Glenconner was dispatched to Scotland along with her sister. Together they made plans to kill Hitler, convinced that Hitler would want to take their family estate of Holkham.
Locked into a male-dominated existence, she suffered because of her sex. Most notable, as the eldest child, she could not inherit the family estate of Holkham. A male cousin inherited it.
There are many references to the Royal Family and some interesting insights into their lives. She was childhood friends with the Queen and her sister and was one of the maids of honour at the Queen’s coronation. She was a Lady in Waiting for Princess Margaret for over 30 years.
Husband and Family
Her husband, Lord Glenconner Colin Tennant, is famed for purchasing the island of Mustique for £45,000 and making the island their home. Tennant gifted Princess Margaret a plot of land and then built her a house. When she came to visit, she moved some of the foundation markers to make the house bigger! The island became a hedonistic destination for the rich and famous, with wild parties that lasted for days.
We are also invited into Glenconner’s home life and that of some of her children. Most notably, her eldest son was addicted to drugs and their struggle to get him ‘clean’. As a result of the drug habit, he was disinherited from the family estate but still loved and was part of the family.
We are also introduced to her second son and the realisation of his homosexuality. Her son caught Aids, and she writes about his death. It was traumatic to read and brought a tear to my eye, but what love she showed him within an age when people feared Aids and all that it entailed.
Glenconner had five children, which is strange, as her husband was demanding and, most times, acted like a petulant child if things didn’t go his way. Hinting off domestic abuse, both physical and mental, Glenconner has become a formidable woman.
In Conclusion to Lady In Waiting
I loved this book, and if you have an interest in the Royal family, it is worth reading. Be aware you won’t find any hidden tittle-tattle. Nevertheless, she speaks with love and compassion for the family, as they are close personal friends. There is a lot of “name dropping”, which is appropriate for her life, they were just people, being a member of the British aristocracy. Glenconner had a roller-coaster life. Glenconner is humble, honest and humorous in her writing style. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it if I had to describe this book in one word: FASCINATING. Full of bizarre events and tragic outcomes.
Lady in Waiting by Lady Anna Glenconner is available:
This month I thought I would let you know about a new podcast entitled ‘Go Love yourself’. It’s one of the latest podcasts for women on a mission to figure out who they are and how life treats them. The idea behind this show is that everyone deserves love, regardless of size or shape – something which can be difficult when surrounded by the diet culture. This podcast talks about everything from body image issues to self-love and the lessons learnt along the journey of life. The hosts are two best friends, one of whom you might know from The Great British Bake Off, Laura Adlington and Lauren Smith.
The podcast takes on a light-hearted tone as it explores the reality of womanhood. With interviews, open discussions and events happening in the world, you will be entertained and thought provoked! The podcast style is more of a coffee, a chat, and a giggle rather than preaching at you.
What’s discussed on Go Love Yourself
One of the biggest topics they discuss is weight loss in both an open and honest way. The two ladies discuss the diets they’ve tried but ultimately rejected because they didn’t work for them – or at least not long term. They also discuss their hatred of the diet industry and how they portray a negative image of how a woman should act and behave. Their core belief is that the diet industry will keep:
You on a diet for the rest of your life
Counting calories, points, or syns forever
Punishing you for not being the size; they believe you should be
You feeling guilty for eating cake
Unaware that the diet industry is all about money and the more weight you put on, the more money you earn
They are open and honest and invite their listeners to participate in the content via texts, emails, and social media.
Go Love Yourself – required listening
This podcast should be required listening for any woman feeling self-conscious, has body confidence issues, or needs to build confidence in their appearance. The idea is to get women to look differently at themselves, love themselves, and, let’s be frank, give each other a break. Life is hard enough without adding hidden pressure that doesn’t have to be there.
One of the most entertaining quotes from the show is when someone says, “You’re not fat, you’re beautiful”, and their response “b**ch, I’m both”. The go-to question for any guest is always, “What is the best bit about you?”
These ladies are undoubtedly brave; talking about their weight in a world where being bigger than a size 10 is a social offence. There is some offensive language, but the information and content are encouraging and empowering and will make you smile.
From a personal point of view, I agree that we have to break this cycle of women-hating ourselves and our bodies because society tells us how we should look. Please don’t take my word for it; listen to their podcast yourself. Available from all good podcast providers.
The Nazis Knew My Name by Magda Hellinger and her daughter Maya Lee
What can I say about this book? For one, I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those page-turners that has your heart in your mouth because we all know a little about the Nazi concentration camps. We think we know the atrocities that the SS inflected on the occupants of the camps. Jews, Gypsies, Criminals, and Political prisoners. However, putting it in writing, listening to a personal account moves that understanding to a reality of what the SS did. It makes the account real, vivid and breaks my heart.
I didn’t know that the Slovak government selected the first inmates of the camp to be women. The ages of which were from 16 to 25. Not only that, the women were sold for 500 Reichsmarks (£44) each to the German Authorities.
The lies they told the young women to get them to obey, of working in factories for 3 months. In reality, most of the women never saw their families again, if they survived. Then the inhumane processing of these women. Making them stand naked on footstools while all their hair was cut and taking their clothes and jewellery. In our liberal beliefs today, we would find this shocking. However, in 1942, women still had chaperones for evenings out, and the head of the house controlled their daily lives. It must have been devastating.
Book Review under 400 Words
This is the story of Magda Hellinger Blau, who at 25 and a kindergarten teacher and business owner. She was one of the first women sent to the concentration camps (Auschwitz) and how she survived. The role she played in saving and helping other women survive the camps and her determination to help the other women live through the horror. The torture of the female prisoners is beyond belief, trying to sterilise the women so that they couldn’t have more children, measure their brains, and the indignity bestowed upon them just for living.
Then the manner in which the bodies are thrown away like a dirty bag of potatoes. Magda was extraordinarily lucky in her time in the camp. (If you can use the word luck in these circumstances, may be blessed or fortunate, I can’t think of another way to put it). She was selected by the SS to become a Jewish leader within the camp and eventually became a Lageralteste (Camp leader). This enabled Magda to help the women around her, to show them how to survive and live to tell their stories. Stories that must be told so we never forget.
Taken from Youtube on 13 September 2021
It is harrowing, and every new chapter is worse than the last and yet strangely compelling. You want to yell out to do something, stop the cruelty, and stupidly hoping that Magda survives. We know she survives. This is her story, but you can’t help wanting to put out a gentle hand to say come this way. Let me help you.
The Nazis Knew My Name is an important book, what a shame it is still happening in the world
The saddest part of this book is that it is still happening today. Women are still being tortured, being brutalised, and treated with disdain.
Printed Version £16.65
Ebook Version £8.99
Audible Version £12.59
These links are from an affiliate link with Amazon. I will get credit for any sale, this does not affect the price paid. The featured image used on this post was taken from The Sydney Morning Herald
This book is targeting children from the age of 8 or 9 as a self-reading book. However, it is a book that could be read as a bedtime story or read with your child. The premise is around four characters, a little girl of 12, Stella Saxby and her Aunt Alberta. Aunt Alberta is the awful auntie. The two other characters are Soot, a chimney sweep ghost, and Wagner, a great Bavarian Mountain Owl.
Book Review under 400 Words
Aunt Alberta is desperate to inherit Saxby Hall. As a bad loser at tiddlywinks, Aunt Alberta has placed a tremendous financial burden on the family. Her brother Lord Saxby is trying to save the home and makes various trips to London. On one trip, there is a car accident, and Lord and Lady Saxby die. Aunt Alberta can see the inheritance within her grasp. However, there are two obstacles in her way, the deeds to the house and her niece, Stella Saxby. We meet our heroine as she wakes up after the car crash. She is wrapped in bandages and tied to her bed. Aunt Alberta tells Stella she was in a coma for months, and she and Wagner have been caring for her.
Stella manages to escape from the bandages and is then thrown into the cellar and meets Soot, our friendly ghost. Together they outwit Aunt Alberta and uncover the mystery of her uncle, who mysteriously disappeared when he was a baby.
Take part in Awful Auntie
If you’re creative with your voice and enjoy reading to your child, this could be the perfect book for you. With only four characters, you can give each character a distinctive voice, which will bring the book alive. It is a book you could pick up and put down, but one that you will certainly want to finish.
This book has many comedy moments, which you would expect from David Walliams. The adults are buffoons, and the children are sensible and ingenious. The story’s pacing is perfect for children, and the action is moved from one mini calamity to the next. My only criticism is that David Walliams makes lists within the story. We usually have a list of maybe three or four items. However, David Walliams has eight or nine items on the list, and it gets rather tedious. It is a fun book and one that a child of eight and nine will enjoy. There is a murder within the book, however, it is not traumatic for the reader. Our hero survives her awful auntie and turns Saxby Hall into a Children’s Home.
The Birmingham Stage Company turned the story into a play, and there is talk of a film.
Availability of Awful Auntie by David Walliams
David Walliams has written other books, that you may find interesting. Here is the link to his website.
Elon Musk is currently at the pinnacle of his career. It seems that anything he touches turns into gold or a lucrative business venture. Widely referred to as the founder of Zip2, PayPal, SolarCity, SpaceX, and, of course, Tesla, Musk’s influence is undeniable. However, there is some controversy over the term “founder,” with some suggesting that “investor” might be a more appropriate label.
Who is he?
Curious about the man behind these successes, I delved into his biography, written by Ashlee Vance. The book provided a captivating insight into Musk’s early life and his peculiar relationship with his father. His unconventional childhood and the strong bond he still shares with his siblings paint a picture of a unique upbringing. It became evident that Musk himself was an unusual child, often preferring to read books and spend time alone, except when he was launching rockets.
Money
Interestingly, money is not Elon Musk’s primary driving force. The biography conveys that money can come and go, and there is always potential to make more. In fact, both SpaceX and Tesla were hours from bankruptcy until a crucial investor intervention. Musk’s attitude toward money is somewhat frivolous. An amusing anecdote from the book recounts his trip to Russia to buy a rocket, where he was offered one for $10 million. His response was characteristic of his innovative spirit: he believed he could make a rocket for much less. This ethos permeates all of Musk’s ventures. If an item costs $10,000, Musk aims to make or buy it for $100. It is with this philosophy that Musk and SpaceX successfully launched a rocket into space.
Musk and his team approach problems with fresh perspectives, continually rethinking and refining ideas until they arrive at several solutions at a fraction of the original cost. This collaborative and iterative approach has been key to their success.
A Workaholic
Musk is a workaholic, dedicating 14-16 hours a day to his work and often sleeping in the workplace. This intense schedule has significantly impacted his private life; he has been divorced three times and has five children. One can’t help but wonder if this lifestyle will eventually take a toll on his health. When Musk gets an idea, he becomes obsessive, demanding his staff match his level of drive or face termination. This relentless pursuit of perfection and innovation defines Musk’s leadership style and contributes to his companies’ groundbreaking achievements.
Drive and Ambition
Reading about Musk’s drive and ambitions offers a fascinating look into one of the most influential men of the first part of the 21st century. His story is one of relentless pursuit, innovation, and an unyielding quest to redefine industries. Despite the controversies and personal sacrifices, Musk’s contributions to technology and space exploration are undeniable. This biography provides valuable insights into the mind of a man who continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the future of technology and entrepreneurship.
Eric Cunningham reviewed this week’s comedy show ‘Hit Job.’ Audible members who are part of Amazon can access this podcast for free.
The show narrates the story of Brynn Morris, an aspiring artist desperate to earn money for her grandmother’s lifesaving surgery. Brynn accepts a job as an administrator at Kill Co, a company with the motto “Do Bad Things for Good Reasons.” Initially, she feels appalled by the company’s objective: killing people.
Kill Co
To boost company morale, Kill Co. creates a competition to see who can kill the most people in the shortest period. The Managing Director constantly changes the rules to suit their preferences. Significantly, the rule change dictates that the person at the bottom of the leaderboard becomes a target. Moreover, strict rules govern who can kill. All kills are displayed on the company app, Tinder. Swiping left means passing while swiping the other way accepts the contract. Eventually, our heroine involved herself in the competition.
Brynn teams up with Geo, the tech nerd, whose father started the company. The subsequent episodes take us on each of their kills and the mishaps they experience.
Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
The series has undertones of Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. To fully enjoy this series, it helps to be familiar with “cult” movies. There are subtle references sprinkled throughout, like one employee of Kill Co wearing a mask and hosting dinner parties (a nod to Silence of the Lambs). Film references come thick and fast.
The series has 12 episodes, which are two episodes too long. The pace was excellent, and the comedy timings of the voice artists were superb. Millennials had diverse attitudes, including being obsessed with social media and being extremely dedicated to work.
Its wacky view of life and death is interesting. Anyone in business is a target, especially if money is a driving force. Environmental issues and morality were discussed, as well as who should be added to the ‘hit list’.
I am not sure I like the concept of glamorising killing but there are laughs out loud moments, some sophisticated dialogue that moves the story from one subject to the next. I wouldn’t recommend this to my father. However, my nephew would love it. A new cult audio production has just been created.
If you enjoyed Hit Job, you may also like these reviews
