Ruth Elizabeth Stiff
Bio
I love all things Earthy and Self-Help
History is one of my favourite subjects and I love to write short fiction
Research is so interesting for me too
Stories (879)
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My New Job
On our anniversary, my husband and I went to London on a ‘date.’ We had lunch in a restaurant overlooking the River Thames and then went on to the London Aquarium. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and there was just a slight breeze. Too nice to be inside but I love the Ocean so we stuck to our original plan and went in. Luckily, the kids were at school so we could leisurely walk around an almost empty Aquarium. It had changed since our last visit and there were three new attractions --- the Seahorses, the Rays and the Shark walkthrough. We followed the one way system and walked into the Seahorse section. It was beautiful! Different colours, sizes and species of Seahorses and the research was so interesting to read. Next was the Rays section, their beautiful faces shining through the clean glass. Then we moved onto the Shark walkthrough, which was pretty amazing! Hammerhead sharks and White-tip sharks swam all around us as we just stood and watched. I hadn’t realized just how much I love the Ocean with its endless variety of sea-creatures. Looking around, I noticed this one shark (was it a White-tip shark?) who was just there, looking at me. We looked into each other's eyes and I heard the shark say: “Enjoy your dream tonight.” At first I thought my husband had spoken to me but then I heard the same thing from two other different sharks. Now we had drunk some wine with lunch so I thought that I must have had three glasses instead of the usual two. Sharks don’t talk or so I thought.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Fiction
Samuel Pepys
He was an administrator of the Navy of England and a Member of Parliament and he lived during Charles II and James II reigns. His diary gives us a deep insight into what life was like in the 17 Century and during the Great Fire of London and the Plague. Samuel Pepys' private diary goes into detail about the years from 1660 to 1669.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in FYI
"2B Or Not 2B"
When I was working in a stationery shop, readjusting the pen and pencil section, a colleague suddenly said to me: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Now as I was sorting through the pencils, I thought she said: “2B or not 2B” and honestly did not put the two together. “What?” I said (in my complete ignorance). “I’m quoting Shakespeare” she said, and went on to quote the whole stanza, and this became a long-standing joke, even with the customers.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in FYI
Sari Gabor
“I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.” ‘Who is Sari Gabor?’ I can hear you asking. If I said Zsa Zsa Gabor --- would you be any the wiser? I remember my grandmother talking about this ‘lady’ when I was a little girl but never really knew who she was. I was researching something quite unrelated when this name came up, and I could see me sitting on my grandmother’s lap, drinking tea out of a child’s cup (I must have been five years old) and nan talking about Zsa Zsa Gabor. So --- who was Zsa Zsa Gabor?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Humans
The Witch Trials
“I looked, and looked, and this I came to see: That what I thought was you and you, was really me and me.” (Ken Wilber) When we look through the history pages and read about “The Witch Trials” --- it is hard to believe that people can be whipped up to such hysteria that they came to believe things that were just not true (or possible) --- and that people were executed for (supposedly) doing these impossible things.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Criminal
"To Err Is Human, But It Feels Divine"
She was one of the original actresses on film and one of my personal favourites. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”, “Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” “When I’m good I’m very, very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.” We may not have known who said the quote, but we certainly ‘know’ the quote. Mae West was born when Queen Victoria was still alive and reigning England, and she was one of the most controversial stars of the day, especially when ‘censorship’ was involved. I believe that it was Mae’s husky voice that made her famous, along with her personality.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Humans
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black --- Stronger than Me --- Rehab. She was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song. At the 50th Grammy Awards, she won five awards, becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys. She is ranked 26th on the VH1 list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. She was Amy Winehouse.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Humans
Who Was (Or Is) Dracula?
Created in 1897, in the novel “Dracula”, Bram Stoker named him “Vlad.” He was the start of the whole horror / vampire ‘world’ in film and thousands have enjoyed being scared to death, reading the novel over and over again. A purely fictional character, the only connection with the ‘real world’ is his name Vlad, which is connected to Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia or Vlad the Impaler.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Horror
DAVID BOWIE
He was awarded 10 platinum album certifications. 11 gold and 8 silver in the U.K. He released 11 number-one albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He has been placed among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and was called the “Greatest Rock Star Ever” following his death in 2016. He was David Bowie!
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Beat
The Queen's Husband
He was the longest serving Prince Consort in English history and married to the Queen for 73 years, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the most down-to-earth Royals we will ever remember. He may not have been the Kingolf England but this Duke steered his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through some really tough times, and today we see a really strong and (mostly) united Royal Family --- thanks to him!
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Families
Women in the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is one of the most popular tourist attractions we have on earth today. It always fascinates me that at one time in history, this “City” was home to thousands of people. So, what was life like for the “Women” who lived in The forbidden City?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in FYI
