I’m just amazed by all the wonderful comments from so many readers of Ari Seth Cohen’s “Advanced Style” blog, advancedstyle.blogspot.com, as a result of the April 6 interview he had with me about my own V.O.G. blogging activities here!

You can see his article and the comments here.

All I can say is a big “thank you” to Ari and to all his readers!

With the recent news we are receiving from Libya I am filled with admiration for all the Newsmen and women who put their lives in danger in order for us to learn first-hand about situations as they occur.

In particular I would like to mention John Simpson who, over the years, has been reporting from all over the world in such countless dangerous situations so that we at home may be aware of what is happening.

In 1991 John Simpson was awarded the CBE in the Gulf War Honours List and I am now wondering whether it's time, twenty years on, for him to be given the honour to become Sir John Simpson?

Your comments or support would be appreciated!

Have any of you tried Group Painting? I did this Christmas and it was great fun. There were six of us and we shared a box of paints, some fine paintbrushes, sponges and a large sheet of drawing paper. We had to paint whatever came into our heads and the result is here!

Why not have a go?!

I now have a mini electric chopper and for a healthy breakfast I used it to grate the following:

• An Apple
• Celery
• a Carrot
• some Dates and Walnuts
• Top with some Yoghurt and Honey

Delicious and quite a change from my usual Laughing Cow Cheese on Toast!!

The New York Times has just featured an article about the work of my friend Ari Seth Cohen and his wonderful photos of "glam older women" and his blog Advanced Style, introduced in 2008, which declares itself “proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age.” And there is a new photo of yours truly! Take a look here!

Thanks Ari – I look forward to seeing you again on your next visit to London!

One of my presents this holiday season was what I understand is called a "NetBox" or "NetTop" – a tiny little PC the size of a small book which sits under my TV and connects to a camera sitting on top. Now I can Skype with my family from the living room, which is much more relaxed than doing it from my laptop. Here I am drinking a cup of tea while talking to my son in Germany. This really is the shape of things to come!

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Seasons Greetings and a very Happy New Year to all the wonderful people I have met here online over the past year. As I have been spending so much time on my computer, my daughter and son-in-law bought me this fantastic and very comfortable chair as a gift. I will now be able to relax more and enjoy the messages I am receiving from all over the world.

Right now I’m snowed in but warm, with a visit from my son and daughter-in-law, and looking forward to more spring-like weather.

All good wishes,

Rita (a.k.a. The VOG)

The best parts of winter are here now – when the snow is crisp and fresh and hasn’t been around for more than a few hours. What a beautiful photo of a Robin my grandson sent me – thanks Zac!

However lovely it is, I hope the snow won’t be around for too long as it makes it so hard to get out-and-about.

I wonder how many of my fellow bloggers order their groceries online and what your experiences have been?

Each time I personally have done so I have had hysterics after sitting for well over 2 hours to set up my order and then having some problem crop up. Whenever there is a problem a call to “Customer Services” receives the same reaction: “we’ve just changed our software and are experiencing difficulties on the website” – not one of them can resolve my problem and they just leave me to abandon the order.

Fortunately I’ve usually managed to solve things myself after that and still have the order delivered – and the delivery men are excellent and so friendly and helpful.