Ruth Elizabeth Stiff
Bio
History and knowledge, especially about the Earth, are my passions. I enjoy putting my thoughts to paper and I always try to encourage self-motivation and love for life. LIVE AND LOVE LIFE!
Stories (942)
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"I have no wish to be a Great Lady"
When it first came out on television in 2010, I was glued to every single episode. I watched the whole drama which stretched from 2010 to 2015, and just recently, in 2019, I watched the film (at least three times over!). The whole setup absolutely fascinates me and even though the story itself is fiction, the drama is based on the very real Edwardian Era (which is my favourite time in history). Buying all six series plus the film, I watch them over and over again, almost like a student studying history. I am, of course, talking about Downton Abbey!
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Fiction
Henry VII
Being of the Lancastrian branch of the House of Plantagenet, his mother was Margaret Beaufort and his father was Edmund Tudor, the half-brother of Henry VI. He descended from the Welsh Tudors of Penmynydd and was the last King to win the throne on the field of battle. He ‘cemented’ his claim to the throne by marrying Elizabeth of York, who was the daughter of King Edward. His reign restored power and stability to the English throne and he reigned for nearly 24 years. He was Henry VII.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in FYI
Their Voices Will Be Heard
Recently, I went on a Jack The Ripper virtual tour on YouTube. Having been on two physical tours a few years ago, this virtual tour (of course, due to covid) is the best tour I have ‘been on.’ Sinead O’Leary made the whole tour come alive and very interesting. She ‘knew’ her subject. Now, I have touched on Jack The Ripper in my article ‘A Penny Dreadful’, and I am in no way a Ripperologist. In fact, my husband has read so many books on this subject, and we have even been to the Jack The Ripper museum in London, that he is the one who could ‘lecture’ on this. However, it has caught my interest, which is why I’ve dedicated this article to the five known women who were murdered by Jack The Ripper.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff5 years ago in Horror
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
