Elaine Hood
@mrsbins.bsky.social
British; living in the south of France since 2010. Mostly happy and often confused.
The good thing is, you don't have to listen - there is an off switch!
I have an ex-schoolmate who is a local breakfast show radio DJ in the UK and he's ace, plus he plays my requests and takes the p*ss out of my singing, even though he can't hear me! 😂
I have an ex-schoolmate who is a local breakfast show radio DJ in the UK and he's ace, plus he plays my requests and takes the p*ss out of my singing, even though he can't hear me! 😂
December 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The good thing is, you don't have to listen - there is an off switch!
I have an ex-schoolmate who is a local breakfast show radio DJ in the UK and he's ace, plus he plays my requests and takes the p*ss out of my singing, even though he can't hear me! 😂
I have an ex-schoolmate who is a local breakfast show radio DJ in the UK and he's ace, plus he plays my requests and takes the p*ss out of my singing, even though he can't hear me! 😂
Merry Christmas Robin and thank-you. 💕
December 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Merry Christmas Robin and thank-you. 💕
I know there's no quick fix for this but I hope you get sorted as soon as is possible. Healing vibes coming your way.
December 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I know there's no quick fix for this but I hope you get sorted as soon as is possible. Healing vibes coming your way.
Wishing you a safe and drama-free flight and, oh yes, have fun!
PS: I've sent a copy of "Tales with a Sting" to a poorly friend in London today, knowing she will absolutely love it as she did when I sent her Halloweird last year. 😊
PS: I've sent a copy of "Tales with a Sting" to a poorly friend in London today, knowing she will absolutely love it as she did when I sent her Halloweird last year. 😊
October 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Wishing you a safe and drama-free flight and, oh yes, have fun!
PS: I've sent a copy of "Tales with a Sting" to a poorly friend in London today, knowing she will absolutely love it as she did when I sent her Halloweird last year. 😊
PS: I've sent a copy of "Tales with a Sting" to a poorly friend in London today, knowing she will absolutely love it as she did when I sent her Halloweird last year. 😊
As someone who has "hosted" two broods of starlings behind the loft shutter this year, can I suggest that as well as "beautiful and tatty", you add "very noisy and incredibly messy"? I need to swab down my wall and I'm not sure my lemon tree on the balcony will recover! 😂
August 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
As someone who has "hosted" two broods of starlings behind the loft shutter this year, can I suggest that as well as "beautiful and tatty", you add "very noisy and incredibly messy"? I need to swab down my wall and I'm not sure my lemon tree on the balcony will recover! 😂
Frittered away our inheritances on your books (for us and friends) and other titles plus trips to the UK to see Robin Ince/Brian Cox/Helen Czerski but if that lottery win is ours tomorrow.... *fingers crossed*
August 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Frittered away our inheritances on your books (for us and friends) and other titles plus trips to the UK to see Robin Ince/Brian Cox/Helen Czerski but if that lottery win is ours tomorrow.... *fingers crossed*
That is so restful, unlike the feeding frenzy at our bird-feeding stations on the terrace! 😂
July 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
That is so restful, unlike the feeding frenzy at our bird-feeding stations on the terrace! 😂
A brilliant Monkey Cage episode, as always! 😂
July 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A brilliant Monkey Cage episode, as always! 😂
Sending condolences. I found out yesterday that one of my primary school teachers died of dementia on Monday. She helped me through the transition of the flawed ITA experiment to proper spelling and in later life we would drink whisky into the small hours and discuss the novels of Virginia Woolf. 💞
July 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Sending condolences. I found out yesterday that one of my primary school teachers died of dementia on Monday. She helped me through the transition of the flawed ITA experiment to proper spelling and in later life we would drink whisky into the small hours and discuss the novels of Virginia Woolf. 💞
Highly unlikely you'll be in Quillan in the south of France on Friday for this but something I think you'd absolutely ace!
Sadly I have a village meeting so can't go. 💕
Sadly I have a village meeting so can't go. 💕
July 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Highly unlikely you'll be in Quillan in the south of France on Friday for this but something I think you'd absolutely ace!
Sadly I have a village meeting so can't go. 💕
Sadly I have a village meeting so can't go. 💕
My husband used mine and it now recommends Kajagoogoo... I feel your pain! 😂
July 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
My husband used mine and it now recommends Kajagoogoo... I feel your pain! 😂
Aww - you must be so proud - congratulations!
I'm told by the company I ordered a copy from that the original release date of 14 July has been postponed so I hope it won't be too long before it wings its way across the channel to me. I am so looking forward to losing myself in it. 😊
I'm told by the company I ordered a copy from that the original release date of 14 July has been postponed so I hope it won't be too long before it wings its way across the channel to me. I am so looking forward to losing myself in it. 😊
July 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Aww - you must be so proud - congratulations!
I'm told by the company I ordered a copy from that the original release date of 14 July has been postponed so I hope it won't be too long before it wings its way across the channel to me. I am so looking forward to losing myself in it. 😊
I'm told by the company I ordered a copy from that the original release date of 14 July has been postponed so I hope it won't be too long before it wings its way across the channel to me. I am so looking forward to losing myself in it. 😊
Pasmonchat 🐈⬛ had a huge abscess on his beautiful face last week which burst on Thursday and now he looks quite a lot like that too...
July 19, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Pasmonchat 🐈⬛ had a huge abscess on his beautiful face last week which burst on Thursday and now he looks quite a lot like that too...
My inheritance is dwindling away on books but I cannot resist the lure of the shiny shinies! Perhaps when I am destitute next year (not "quite" old enough to draw my pension!) I can either burn them to keep warm or hope they'll be worth a fortune (unsigned) on ebay?! Please advise! 😂
July 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
My inheritance is dwindling away on books but I cannot resist the lure of the shiny shinies! Perhaps when I am destitute next year (not "quite" old enough to draw my pension!) I can either burn them to keep warm or hope they'll be worth a fortune (unsigned) on ebay?! Please advise! 😂
Shared, as always. 😊Have a lovely time!
July 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Shared, as always. 😊Have a lovely time!
Always in the library at lunchtime, lost in books - and then the dreaded bell for lessons... Especially if it was for PE. And when I eventually won a 1* badge for athletics and I asked my Mum if she could help me sew it onto my gym skirt, she accused me of stealing it. 😪
July 2, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Always in the library at lunchtime, lost in books - and then the dreaded bell for lessons... Especially if it was for PE. And when I eventually won a 1* badge for athletics and I asked my Mum if she could help me sew it onto my gym skirt, she accused me of stealing it. 😪
The same when I met Robin in Colchester. The nicest, kindest, most genuine human you could ever meet (apart from my husband, of course! 😂).
The book may not be hitting the headlines as it should but it has affected those of us who have read it in a most profound and, in my case, unexpected way.
The book may not be hitting the headlines as it should but it has affected those of us who have read it in a most profound and, in my case, unexpected way.
July 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The same when I met Robin in Colchester. The nicest, kindest, most genuine human you could ever meet (apart from my husband, of course! 😂).
The book may not be hitting the headlines as it should but it has affected those of us who have read it in a most profound and, in my case, unexpected way.
The book may not be hitting the headlines as it should but it has affected those of us who have read it in a most profound and, in my case, unexpected way.
"Pylon" was the first word I spoke. I love a pylon! 💕
June 19, 2025 at 7:42 AM
"Pylon" was the first word I spoke. I love a pylon! 💕
Yup - and early in the morning too with their lawnmowers and strimmers... *sigh* Whereas my hobby is silently sitting on the balcony in the night-time looking at the skies, disturbing no one. Yes, I know it gets hot later in the day but, 6.30am? Really?! (And that's just the Mayor!)
June 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Yup - and early in the morning too with their lawnmowers and strimmers... *sigh* Whereas my hobby is silently sitting on the balcony in the night-time looking at the skies, disturbing no one. Yes, I know it gets hot later in the day but, 6.30am? Really?! (And that's just the Mayor!)
A friend of mine played "The Streak" by Ray Stevens on his Devizes-based breakfast radio show yesterday and within half an hour, me in France, a friend in Essex and her sister in Italy had the earworm so this is truly a timely and interesting post! Thank you!
PS: "Don't look, Ethel!" 😂
PS: "Don't look, Ethel!" 😂
May 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A friend of mine played "The Streak" by Ray Stevens on his Devizes-based breakfast radio show yesterday and within half an hour, me in France, a friend in Essex and her sister in Italy had the earworm so this is truly a timely and interesting post! Thank you!
PS: "Don't look, Ethel!" 😂
PS: "Don't look, Ethel!" 😂
I'm so sad for you to lose such a valuable friend.
I messaged my friend Nick who is a huge Guy N Smith fan to tell him the news; he's really shocked. He said he'd had a long chat with Chris at the GNS convention last year and one of Nick's short stories is included in a book Chris was publishing.
I messaged my friend Nick who is a huge Guy N Smith fan to tell him the news; he's really shocked. He said he'd had a long chat with Chris at the GNS convention last year and one of Nick's short stories is included in a book Chris was publishing.
May 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I'm so sad for you to lose such a valuable friend.
I messaged my friend Nick who is a huge Guy N Smith fan to tell him the news; he's really shocked. He said he'd had a long chat with Chris at the GNS convention last year and one of Nick's short stories is included in a book Chris was publishing.
I messaged my friend Nick who is a huge Guy N Smith fan to tell him the news; he's really shocked. He said he'd had a long chat with Chris at the GNS convention last year and one of Nick's short stories is included in a book Chris was publishing.