Ask The Person Below You A Question: that tricky third thread...

I despise George Osborne for abolishing the age related tax allowance for pensioners in 2013. It was initially introduced to reward older people for their long service to the community. Abolishing it was a mean and dirty trick which means that many pensioners on very moderate pensions are now paying tax on them. Disgraceful.

What basic medications do you have in your cupboard? (ie not specialist medications for particular conditions)

I have cough medicine, Night nurse, olbas oil (good for stuffed up heads and sore chests), topical creams (for muscle pains) laxatives and and the usual paracetamol type things

Fine, don’t know how they manage without one.

Which living person do you most despise?
(Apart from calculating murderers etc, Philip Green for me)

Embroidery-yes in the past. All those intricate stitches-made beautiful flower pictures. Now it’s more often cross-stitch -quicker, easier and makes lovely birthday cards.

What’s your opinion of ‘man-bags’. I find it means DH no longer asks, “Could you just pop this in your handbag for me?”

I can crochet - my grandmother taught me as a child. She used to make beautiful lacy bedcovers and table cloths. I used to crochet squares and join them up to make blankets. Ive never been fond of knitting. Too mechanical and following someone else's instructions.

Have you ever done embroidery?

Its a pastime I return to from time to time. I also enjoy crazy patchwork where you embellish the pieces by embroidering on top. Very relaxing. I have never used a machine for embroidery. I prefer hand work.

A bowl of Greek yogurt with berries for pudding every evening.

Can you knit or crochet?

I think they might - I try to eat my '5 a day' with plenty of fibre to stay healthy.

What is your most mundane pleasure in everyday life?

My worst date was one I met computer dating back in the 70s who talked about himself none stop all evening. He did not so much talk to me as AT me. When he asked to see me again I refused and told him why.

I ate some lovely ripe Victorian plums last week and they made me run to the loo 6 times in the day!

Do plums have that effect on you?

Bar at St.Tropez on honeymoon.

What was your worst date?
Mine was with a Canadian when I was 17 who bought me a drink called a Canadian Sunset and then I had to fight him off…

Oh yes! Seaton in Devon. Hot sunny days, friendly people in neighbouring huts . . . I’m back there now! Sigh.

DD has just FaceTimed a pic of them drinking cocktails in sunny Covent Garden. Where’s the nicest place you’ve had a drink (any sort) in the sun?

Well, I signed up for something on the phone but I'm not sure if it's the NHS thing. Touch wood, it hasn't pinged me yet. I rarely go anywhere exciting these days.

Do you have any fond memories of beach huts during past holidays?

As a child (back in the 1950s) I watched the Flowerpot Men, Andy Pandy and Muffin the Mule! There was only BBC then. Later we got a box to convert our set to ITV.

Have you got the NHS app on your phone?

I doubt i will get "pinged" as I dont go anywhere except essential medical appointments and my nephews house (very occasionally.) If I do it will make not difference to me!

What a lovely little cat! What a sweetie!
Yes, we had thunder and lightning, but only a little rain.
Poor DDog was terrified, I had to give her some of her special (exorbitant) sedative.

Which TV programs did you enjoy as a child; and/or which of the programs your children watched did you enjoy?

Only what pops up on the news. I quite like to watch gymnastics and fencing but wouldnt go out of my way to see it.

Have you had any thunderstorms today?

We just had a whopper. I am in my nephews and expected the cat to be scared but hes sitting on the window ledge watching the rain pouring down.

At a dance at Uni. He was an amazing dancer, but because my teen children called it ‘dad dancing’, we went to ballroom and Latin classes to up his skills!

Are you watching any of the Olympics?

I’m writing a book so more of that as it is raining.

Where did you meet your DH, or partner ?

What are your plans for today?

Disney Land, Florida, and the Space Centre, when our 3 children were little. What joy it brought them !!!! We went with our good friends, who had one son. Strangely enough, the adults enjoyed it too ?

My holiday in Cyprus many years ago ........I got food poisoning and landed up in hospital. I begged to go home after a couple of nights because I was having terrible nightmares. When I got back to our villa I read the information leaflet in the tablets they has sent me home with and it said "Can cause hallucinations!!!" Next day went back to hospital and changed the tablets!!

What was your best holiday?

I love A Taste of Honey too!
Rita Tushingham and Dora O’Brien…

Whitby (only in the depths of Winter, it’s too busy otherwise) or Alnmouth in Northumbria (or anywhere on the Northumberland coast)

Worst holiday?

Yes I do, keeps towels lovely and warm.
Where is your favourite place to visit in the UK .

A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney - it was very much of its time with good characters and (for its time) a challenging story.

Do you still have an airing cupboard? If so, could you imagine life without it. If not, do you mourn the loss?

To read or to watch?
Either way, not especially
Biglouis why do you like the works of Shakespeare, and which ones? I’m genuinely interested

Favourite play and why?

Dune by Frank Herbert

Do you like Shakespeare? I love it.

Judy Garland The Trolley Song.

Favourite book?

No, I've never had a confrontation with a neighbour, preferring to live and let live, though maybe we should have said something about noise when we had a teenager next door who'd rev up his motorbike engine excessively each morning. We just grit our teeth, feeling that he'd grow out of it.

Which song was top of the hit parade when you were born?