Hello. . It's been raining all day, so no walking tonight. I've been alternating between sewing machine and computer and phone today. The patchwork curtains are nearly finished, I just need to back them and sew the tape across the top. Might get them finished tomorrow.
I see a few of you listened to me on Radio 2 today, thank you for your comments on the previous post. Pity it wasn't Jeremy, he is relaxed and chatty with his guests. I wondered if Vanessa was reading from a script, she was firing questions at me. I felt as if I was under interrogation. She got my surname wrong in the introduction, and my age, and rushed through the interview. Didn't enjoy it as much as yesterday, with Radio Coventry.
If you want to listen to it here is the link. Moved the slider button along to 39 minutes.
BBC Radio 2. Interview with Vanessa Feltz.
I've got two more interviews in the pipeline, both with Irish radio stations. I'll let you know when they are confirmed.
Following the chat today I've been on the Radio 2 Facebook page and said my piece. A lot of comments were negative but quite a few positive ones as well which was nice.
I need to go to town tomorrow, my mobile phone has gone a bit funny. I'll go in the shop and get them to look at it. Might get a new one.
There is a new follower who is ploughing through the whole blog. She started at the beginning and is now on 2010. That's a heck of a lot of posts to read.
I'm a bit tired now, so I'll sign off. Thanks for popping in. Catch up soon. Toodle pip.
Woken by a power cut
12 hours ago
I will listen to your radio 2 chat tomorrow. As for Vanessa, she always sounds as though she is reading a script or acting (hammily) Very rude of her to get your name wrong too.
ReplyDeleteListened you today on the radio you were great.
ReplyDeleteI listened today. I thought it was a good interview. There was a lot of support for you as well from the people who rang in. I feel a frugal thrifty revolution starting!! No walking either for me today - my double back tooth snapped in half and on a visit to our son for his birthday we broke down and ended up coming back in a recovery wagon!! Hey ho!
ReplyDeleteGood interview xx
ReplyDeleteJust listened to the podcast of your interview and thought you sounded great. Your answers were well done.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell where I am on reading your backlog? How amazing. I normally do housework during the day and after our supper, I get on the computer and relax. I have to get through about 1 1/2 hours worth of daily catchup of e-mails and happy sites then I'm off to the currant obsession ( which is "Life After Money") right now. You're not disappointing. ha
ReplyDeleteHello Lorraine. I can't tell exactly where you are. There is another person reading the whole lot as well. She told me she was on 2010. All the comments come into the same box so I can moderate them, I know when they are in answer to an old post. I have a stat checker on and can watch all the comings and goings, I know roughly where people are viewing from. The regular readers only view a few of the latest posts, the newer people go way back and read the older posts. I can see when people view multiple posts and how long they are on for, and how often they come back. Fascinating stuff.
DeleteI have started from the beginning again, I have just watched the videos, the new year start video says it all, enjoy your life , only you can change things for yourself is just so true, I just love this blog, xx
DeleteWill listen to this new interview. As for the Radio Coventry one, you came across as a thorougly decent person who speaks alot of plain, common sense. It's tiresome how the media try to dress this up as some cranky lifestyle, when they should be grateful - someone finally speaking up. It's quite alarming how removed we have all become from the realities of life and how blind we are to the fact that this present way of life is one that just can't be kept up in the long-term.
ReplyDeleteI just listened toyour radio 2 interview. You came across really well and I loved the comments from the people that contacted the show. You will have your own tv show/book before you know it. x
ReplyDeleteWhat stupid comments people are making. How you live your life and how you spend your money are your own decisions. Whether you buy a new fridge because you have economised in other ways, whether you buy a car because you like travelling, where and when you shop for the best bargains are all personal choices. You are just telling people what you do to economise where you can so that you can spend your money and live your life the way you want to. There are a lot of silly people out there, probably the ones that have racked up so much debt on their credit cards they can't see the wood for the trees. Well done Ilona and boo to the trolls.
ReplyDeleteI listened to you yesterday evening and you cheered me up......with husband in hospital and house move due in 3 weeks I really needed cheering. You came over really well, sensible down to earth and I thought Well Done my blogging friend Ilona!!
ReplyDeletePlease don't be concerned (I'm sure you're not but others may be on your behalf) about silly trolls online. People get scared when they read about frugal living because they think it's all about misery and deprivation, or some sort of plot by the rich to keep people down. Of course, we know that it's actually about freedom. As Benjamin Franklin said, 'Be Frugal and Free.'
ReplyDeleteI thought the interview went really well and she asked fairly balanced questions. You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to add my support. You came thru as very sensible and answered all the questions easily and naturally.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked that the presenter got your surname wrong, how very unprofessional.
The comments following the broadcast were for the most part in your support.
I agree with the comment they should pay you to have a weekly/monthly program.
Sandy
I was listening to you whilst on my way home from Swaffham. You came over really well Ilona and not fumbling around for words like Vanessa Feltz did. I think it was very hard for her with her lifestyle...or the one we read about anyway...to fully understand how other people,lets say more normal people, live day to day on low and fixed incomes. There's lots of support out for you Ilona much more than I think you realise.
ReplyDeleteWELL DONE YOU! x Rae x
Well done! Sorry about your phone...
ReplyDeleteHaving read your blog for the last couple of years I read the press articles and listened to the radio interviews with interest and find it fascinating how people feel able to judge your mental health and quality of life on such scant information. Nowhere do you come across as being mean (totally not the same as being thrifty) or unhappy with your lot in life - quite the opposite in my opinion. You do such a lot for others (walking dogs etc.), and your own rescued pets seem to bring you a great deal of joy. Add on to that your obvious talent for craft and your obvious good health (all that walking!) and many of us could take a leaf out of your book. But you don't advocate that. In everything I have read so far you always say that it is just how you like to live. I have never read anything that says you think everyone else should live like you do, and I am of the same opinion. It is annoying when people complain about their lack of money whilst then telling you all about their latest purchase or holiday. But you know what, I believe it is up to them. I know who I would rather talk to (or listen to or read about) - a contented person who probably has her unhappy times, but then picks herself up and gets on with life, rather than someone who seems to have a great deal of everything but is still unhappy because someone else has more. I often feel it is a sign of insecurity when people judge you on what you have or haven't got. It seems as if they want you to live their way in order to validate their own choices, and if you won't (or can't) then they have to criticise you in order to prove their own superiority. If you read the Mail Online today there is a nice article by Jan Moir about how a flood prompted her to re-evaluate her possessions with the result that she decluttered until she only has enough crockery for herself and her husband. I wonder if that has attracted as many comments?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly!
DeleteMoney does NOT make people happy...in my humble opinion, a simple life with time to help others is what makes you happy.
I have spent the past 17 years living and working in the Middle East , in a city which revolves around excess and money and I have to say after all this time I am not happy...I yearn for the kind of life Ilona has....simple, frugal and happy. A recent study of the Amish in the US showed that they suffer from almost none of the "modern" stress related diseases the rest of society does and this has been put down to their lifestyle. They work hard, on simple manual tasks which create items which are useful and beautifully made. They have little or no technology in their lives and they have incredible community spirit....sounds to me like Meanqueen is on the right track!!
I listened intently to you talking to Vanessa and was disappointed that she got your surname wrong but at least the interview went very well despite the volume control playing up on my radio.I have read your blog each day for a couple of years now although I haven't been able to read the whole lot as I would be here forever but I do admire the way you live your life the way you do and your walks on your own or with friends or your lovely pets.I wish I could live completely like you do but I am afraid I have to live in a warm house due to Arthritis issues affecting my joints and as I am not a great veggie lover couldn't eat a veggie diet devoid of some meat but I think the it is great the way you conjure up your everyday meals and the craft items you create.Would it be possible to put up any photos of the stats etc that you see of us all looking at your blog as I to find all this technology fascinating especially as the am from the era of the written word.Please keep up the good work.Wendyxx
ReplyDeleteHello I have just heard the radio show. First time that I have listened to a radio broadcast for years! I thought you sounded very rational and cheerful and your comments were logical. Vanessa asked the questions politely but there was a current of incredulousness there. I think like someone said already she is v rich and doesn't relate to it however many of us do. So thank you for being brave and sharing your story. Please do keep up the good work Mrs Ilona.
ReplyDeleteIlona I have sent you an email xx
ReplyDeleteLove this blog! Had to go and comment on the FB radio 2 page as I couldn't bear the comments on it, you should be teaching fat, excessing lazy students on how to live within their means!!
ReplyDeleteLoved the radio 2 show you were on, fabulous. If it works for you then run with it I certainly do with my life and I've never had credit either on anything in my life. I'd get really really resentful of having to pay Apr on anything.
ReplyDeleteI caught the tale end of your radio 2 interview and as I can't bare the feltz woman rather than listen I thought I would read. Three cheers for you for sharing your life and ideas ( and knickers, women's or men's, to the silly folks with nothing better to do than judge you)
ReplyDeleteHi Ilona, I managed to catch a bit of your radio interview with Vanessa. She was pretty poor at interviewing you and I felt that she was judging your lifestyle choices. Personally, I think you are an inspiration and I think you have great values. I admire you and feel that you are a very strong person to live your life the way you want to without worrying about what others think. Keep it up and I will keep reading. xxx
ReplyDeleteI meant to say before but for some reason I just can't post comments on my phone or tablet. I heard the end of the Vanessa interview, realised it was you, so listened to it all on catch up later. You came across so well and I thought Vanessa wasn't that bad, surprisingly. Let's hope it has provided inspiration to all the big spenders living their lives on credit to keep up with the Joneses!
ReplyDeleteJane