Author Archives: SC Skillman

Standing Ovations and Encores for Songlines Community Choir in Leamington Spa

On Saturday night 7 December 2013 our local community choir, Songlines, conducted by Bruce Knight, gave  a concert at St Mary’s  Church, in Leamington Spa, to raise money for Water Aid. It was a night where we saw and felt the power of music to bring joy and to uplift. A standing ovation and callsContinue reading “Standing Ovations and Encores for Songlines Community Choir in Leamington Spa”

Lovely Lake District in Autumn 2013

We spent a few days in England’s lovely Lake District during the recent autumn half term. The Lake District is special to me, not only because of its association with numerous famous writers, with Beatrix Potter, John Ruskin, William Wordsworth; but also because of memories from childhood holidays there, and the fact that I regularlyContinue reading “Lovely Lake District in Autumn 2013”

New Official Trailer for Mystical Circles

Watch the new official trailer for  Mystical Circles on my YouTube channel. Directed, produced, filmed and scripted by my daughter Abigail Robinson, who is a Creative Media Production student, it’s been six months in the making, and Abigail has done brilliantly. For those of you living in England, in the deep chill of November, watchContinue reading “New Official Trailer for Mystical Circles”

Why So Many of Us Love Doctor Who

So many children’s bedrooms up and down the UK and around the world must look similar to this one, in our home. In the recent celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the BBC drama series Doctor Who, the question has been posed:  why do you think Doctor Who is so popular? Since everyone in ourContinue reading “Why So Many of Us Love Doctor Who”

Mystical Circles Kindle Countdown Deal; A Passionate Spirit Follows Fast!

Mystical Circles is on Kindle Countdown Deal for seven days. On 21 November the price drops to 99p. Two days later it steps up to £1.99. And on 25 November it returns to its original list price £3.37. Go over to the Kindle Store to get it when the price is right! Meanwhile my newContinue reading “Mystical Circles Kindle Countdown Deal; A Passionate Spirit Follows Fast!”

A Review of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy

I’m a great  admirer of JK Rowling both as an author, and on a personal level. So when I knew she’d published her first adult novel, I was keen to read it. When I began to read The Casual Vacancy several months ago, I found it a struggle to get through the unrelenting nastiness ofContinue reading “A Review of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy”

200 Years of Australian Art at the Royal Academy: Connections Between Painting and the Spiritual Realm

From indigenous art through to ‘discovery’ by European explorers, this exhibition of Australian paintings at the Royal Academy, London, in November 2013 took me on a journey through the spiritual heart of Australia. As Russell Drysdale said, “In Australia there is a quality of strangeness that you do not find … anywhere else.” Reviews of theContinue reading “200 Years of Australian Art at the Royal Academy: Connections Between Painting and the Spiritual Realm”

Friends At Last: Building Trust in the Animal World

Molly has now overcome her resistance  to the idea of an alien cat in the house with her (albeit her mother) But it took  Willow a little while to overcome her annoyance at her daughter Molly’s initial rejection of her. She spent a few days expressing her annoyance, and trying to exert some discipline. SheContinue reading “Friends At Last: Building Trust in the Animal World”

Mother and Daughter Relationships – Poignant Family Drama in the Animal World

Mother and daughter relationships – a popular trope in TV sitcoms/family sagas/romantic fiction/women in jeopardy/social and romantic comedies and many other stories. And in the last few days my family have been immersed in a poignant drama in our home between a mother and a daughter. A mother who was separated from her little girlContinue reading “Mother and Daughter Relationships – Poignant Family Drama in the Animal World”