About

  See my weight loss victory for an educational past photo

Name

Beryl Pratt

Age

Born 1953 in Woolwich, London, UK

Location

  (see them in action on Yellow Teddy's page)
Orpington, Kent, UK – this is my very own piece of it – London Borough of Bromley but very definitely Kent. I and my family share it with some slippery little friends who never ever leave its boundaries.

Old Schools

Charlton Manor Primary School, Charlton, London – happy days.

Roan School for Girls (above), Devonshire Drive, Greenwich, London – now converted to flats. The picture shows the teachers' entrance. We girls had entrances at the side ends of the buildings. I loved my school and I enjoyed all of it, apart from games in a cold field. Yes, we did Latin. Some of my friends chose to do only one A Level plus some days at college. When they wrote their practice shorthand on the blackboard, I was intrigued and interested.

Woolwich College of Further Education, Villas Road, Plumstead, London, learning office skills, typing and Pitman's New Era Shorthand. The year's tuition cost £50 because I had already had my quota of free sixth-form education. My friends there were utterly amazed that anyone would pay to go. They had either failed their other exams or were unable (or not encouraged) to do A Levels. I gained the impression that they felt they were second-best, in an academic sense, and to them it validated the worth of the course to actually have an "A level person" doing it by choice. It made me realise how harmful it is to have all the emphasis on so-called higher subjects. What I learnt at Woolwich College has been more useful to me than all the other subjects put together. I am so glad I did the course. Pitman's shorthand was my favourite subject to learn and has served extremely well over the years. I returned to the College in later years to improve shorthand speed in evening classes.

Once, at the College, some boys were pestering my friends and I said I might just take it all down in shorthand. They vanished.

Interests

Garden – I always appreciate the privilege of having my own piece of planet Earth.

Painting, drawing, illustration, calligraphy, origami, illustration.

Shorthand (Pitman's New Era). My best boot sale find was a New Testament written in Pitman's Shorthand published in 1886 "Printed in an Easy Reporting Style of Phonography". See my shorthand website www.long-live-pitmans-shorthand.org.uk for free resources for learners.

Photography – i.e. I press the shutter button – flowers, plants, landscapes and skies/weather effects, places I visit. You can use all my photo galleries as free art reference.

Arctophile – not a collector, but got faithful Teds for those un-serious days. On serious days, the Teds are quietly pondering what advice they will be giving when asked. Their purpose in life is to come up with good ideas and maintain a cheerful attitude in every circumstance.

Brown Teddy and Yellow Teddy send their best wishes to all bears around the world! If you are a Teddy Bear, please put a pin in the Guest Map, it's not just for grownups. It will encourage the Teds as they write their pages and help them with Geography.

Mode of transport

Legs (see Weight Loss Victory)

Trusty folding bike, and I appreciate it not being a rust bucket. I never need to fold the frame unless being picked up by car, but the folding handlebar stem allows it to fit in its little plastic house in the back garden. Even the pedals fold down with a little squeezy mechanism. When I am walking, I really miss having a rear view from the handlebar mirror!

Pets

Goldfish in the garden pond, plus visiting frogs. Robins, wrens and bluetits in the nestboxes.

Why Lucy Paintbox?

Middle name plus best hobby

Purpose of website

Sharing good and pleasant things increases them.

Cloud Cuckoo Land? The bad stuff is out there, but it is unworthy of being gasped or gawped at, or used for entertainment. Those responsible crave and thrive on excessive attention and publicity, creating fear and an attitude of helplessness, and attacking faith. An undeserved increment on their website counter is one too many. I aim to stay informed and do what I can against it –  all the better for being uplifted by true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy things, and not being dragged down. Why not incorporate a cheerful good news/victory page into your company website or start your own. Be part of removing the fear mentality – you know it makes sense!

"Fear tolerated is faith contaminated" see my Quotes page

My Children

Thousands, all in Africa – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda – hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, frightened, abused, hopeless and alone, prey to gangs, criminals and drug dealers. I am supporting Smile International who care for them, providing food, water, homes, clothes, healthcare, comfort, protection, hope, education and friends/sponsors.

If you would like to help, here's where: www.justgiving.com/smileint/donate or www.everyclick.com/smileinternational (Thank you) or go to www.smileinternational.org

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." (Proverbs 19:17)

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