Greenwich market, Thursday morning

Greenwich market Bastille day with visitors from France. Then, we went to the Painted Hall, wich the mother of my daughter in law, painting also, did appreciate a lot. About that more, tomorrow.

Collectibles day, Thursday in Centre Greenwich market. I put in a separate set all the nice people who where happy to pose for me, and some even with our guests. I have met two of my nice neighbors who have also a stand on the market some of the days.

New Opera, place Bastille, 2005

I was not far from 70 then, just fresh 71.

Bastille day, 2005 I went with my new digital camera to Paris - from Argenteuil - and took lots of photos.

It was the first time I have really 'seen' the new opera. I did not remember this picture at all.

I remembered the ballet of young muscled men in short shirts and bronzed arms, in the middle of the square. They were taking appart the podium of musicians who finished playing. They interested me more then the music, which was gone.

I am old, but my memory is not 'gone' yet. Probably, nor other things. And besides, I was just looking...

77th Birthday Presents

I did receive a chocolate cake and a cheese cake, the first homemade by my grand daughter and her coulsin, here from France. I did receive from them also flowers. And a great card too.

The two biggest gifts for me are two books.

One small book send and choosen by my daughter, The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. What a great read, I savored it almost in one treat, finished it in two days. 120 pages of wit and joy, he makes us believe anything and takes us to a delightful journey in the palace and between books and authors.

The second book, offered by myself, is also a delight. I just begun it. 775 Pages of Anthology of Personal Essay from Seneca to today, with an introduction of Philippe Lopate, who itself is worth all the book. I am now at the 7th page of the introduction, that will help me explain also the charms and exigences of Personal Storytelling, public True Tales. Exactly what I needed now as I prepare a Workshop on Personal Storytelling in Public. Such a depth and humour too1

Of course, I am yet only at the begining of studying his Intro, Essay on Personal Essays, but already undertood so much. What a joy books can bring!

Those two and their inverse

As in life, in the photography too, there is no subjective way or one way to do things.

No one is the "good" way.

One has to try out, and also to have an open mind for all different cultures.

In my case, I will try to bring back some "old ways" many toastmasters are still following; of course those who never tried them out or seen them, think they those are 'new' ways.


And I hope, this note does not disapear through the sending. It did not, today.

Yesterday, it did.

Have the impression now it is my blogger editor who behaves very strangely.

It goes all the way down, it jumps. Blogger, quit misbehaving!

And here is a slide show of my bouquet reveived from my granddaugher for my 77th.

Roses and Table Topics

Rose from Manthe Penton Harrap, our Target Speaker in the Evaluation Masterclass

There are so many different ones! As there are Toastmaster clubs, each with their experience. Here is one of them, or rather seven...

Posted by Jean McAllister in the LinkedIn group of Official TM International to my question:

* How many of you have Table Topic before the Manual Speaches? How you work out the time to give so all has time?

I have belonged to seven clubs and they all have done Table Topics before the speeches. They can be shortened by reducing the time that each person speaks.If we have a big crowd, the speakers o not participate, but everyone else does. Table Topics brings the levity to a meeting as George said, so the earlier you have that the better.

If you look at the old TM material, they always suggested TT be early in the meeting. We fit a lot into a meeting - 4 speakers and an education piece and usually end on time for a two hour meeting.

I have received so many interesting, thoughtful, informative answers to my question!

Most viewed

Most viewed on flickr - from my 45 000 pictures just 12

Some of the public

I was so happy to have been able to reassemble Toastmasters with many clubs or our area to one excellent Masterclass.

All present, from seven or more clubs, were also happy and impressed.

Those who did not come, would or should regret it. Some were ill, or even in hospital, but others did not come from different mysterious reason of their own.

I would paraphrase it with something I read somewhere. It is not too big it is not to small it is just the right size. It was.