We’ll come back to these …
Warning: there is copious name dropping in this post.
Sometimes I love Twitter.
My affair with it began during the last series of Downton Abbey. The television series itself wasn’t all that enthralling but I loved the live Twitter feed. Some people can be amazingly quick-witted and funny in forty characters. Mentions of Lady Mary and her ‘murderous vagina’ stay in the mind. You have to have been there …
Since then I’ve discovered the delight that is The Archers Omnibus tweet-a-long on Sunday mornings. Tweeters are rightly apoplectic at the current domestic abuse story line concerning Rob and Helen. Twitter follower, Paul Trueman has raised over £70,000 to go towards the charity Refuge, in Helen’s name.
https://twitter.com/RefugeCharity
You can donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/helentitchener
And no Archers fan should miss Ambridge Synthetics, who post key plot points in Lego form as @ThePlarchers. Wonderful fun.
Check them out here:
https://twitter.com/ThePlarchers
So, Twitter can be entertaining and raise awareness.
I also love how democratic it can be. Most people, no matter what sphere of life they exist in, can be contacted. Watching the period drama Dr Thorne on ITV, I tweeted how much I enjoyed the spat between characters played by Rebecca Front and Tom Hollander, two actors whose work I’ve always admired. Rebecca tweeted back a reply and it made my night!
My re-discovery of the delights of Radio 4 includes Saturday Live with the inestimable, ex-Communard Reverend Richard Coles. This weekend’s edition featured Will Young choosing Joan Armatrading’s exquisite track Love and Affection, Mel Giedroyc being funny and warm, and writer Dinah Jeffries. Of course, I follow the live tweet as I listen.
Ears pricked up at the mention of a writer being on. Listening to writers being interviewed is always fascinating. I’ve just read and enjoyed The Tea Planter’s Wife and knew Dinah had come to writing relatively late in life. The book has sold in its millions and I was keen to find out about its journey to publication. Turns out one of Dinah’s secrets to success, along with a gritty determination, is to write affirming messages to herself on Post-its and display in a prominent position. Something quick and easy – so I had a go and tweeted a picture. Dinah replied, with the message, ‘Believe.’ She didn’t have to do it; I’m pretty sure she was busy. I’m already a reader of her books so didn’t need converting. But how nice that she did!
The Post-its are up, right in front of me as I type this.
Let’s hope their magic works!
Love,
Georgia x
