Two Excellent BBC Drama Offerings: Wolf Hall and A Casual Vacancy

We’ve recently seen two very good dramatizations on BBC TV: Wolf Hall, and The Casual Vacancy. The casting was brilliant, particularly Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall, and Michael Gambon as Howard in The Casual Vacancy. You may think think the two novels on which these dramatisations were based, Wolf Hall by HilaryContinue reading “Two Excellent BBC Drama Offerings: Wolf Hall and A Casual Vacancy”

Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies

Having received this book as a Christmas gift, substantial 375-page tome that it is, I devoured it in a few days. I found the book utterly compelling. Hunter Davies starts by describing his search among collectors, companies and auction houses for what must surely rank among the most valuable “scruffy scraps of paper” in theContinue reading “Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies”

Thank you for all your support and encouragement

Thank you to all of you who read my blog and like or leave comments on posts. Your support and encouragement has lifted me up and helped to keep me going as a writer. And often people I know who read my blog mention how much they enjoyed a recent post. This makes it all worthwhile for me.Continue reading “Thank you for all your support and encouragement”

Book Review: “Being Miss” by Fran Hill – Brilliant Comic Account of One Day in the Life of a Schoolteacher

“Being Miss” is a novella-length account written by Fran Hill. Since Fran is a member of my writers group and I’d seen several positive comments about “Being Miss” on Facebook and also read some of Fran’s very funny blog posts, I decided to download the Kindle version and move it to the top of my currentContinue reading “Book Review: “Being Miss” by Fran Hill – Brilliant Comic Account of One Day in the Life of a Schoolteacher”

A Gift to the Future – One Man’s Vision to Create Hidcote Manor Garden

I love Hidcote Manor Garden, near Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. It’s one of the National Trust’s greatest gardens and was created by an American horticulturalist Lawrence Johnston, between 1907 and 1947.   One very special element in the garden is the Beech Allee – an avenue of majestic beeches. Lawrence Johnston planted it knowing he’d neverContinue reading “A Gift to the Future – One Man’s Vision to Create Hidcote Manor Garden”

Find Me at the Autumn Fair at St Mark’s Leamington Spa on Saturday 25 October 2014

Watch out for me at the Autumn Fair at St Mark’s Leamington Spa on Saturday 25 October 2014 from 12.00-3.00pm. This is an event in aid of Myton Hospice. I’ll be showcasing my best blog posts, selling signed paperback copies of my psychological suspense novel Mystical Circles, both the first and the second edition with their differentContinue reading “Find Me at the Autumn Fair at St Mark’s Leamington Spa on Saturday 25 October 2014”

Cotswold Views on the Last Sunny Day of Autumn 2014

We went to the Edgemoor Inn, near the village of Edge in Gloucestershire on Sunday to celebrate our daughter Abigail’s 20th birthday – and for once our timing was perfect! For the day was bright and clear, very unusual for 5 October in England, and the Edgemoor Inn stands on a ridge overlooking the beautifulContinue reading “Cotswold Views on the Last Sunny Day of Autumn 2014”

A New Glimpse of a Dream Arising from the Ruins – Kenilworth Castle September 2014

Kenilworth Castle is my favourite English Heritage property and one I’ve visited many times as it’s so close to my home in Warwick. Now English Heritage have completed new staircases and viewing platforms allowing visitors to ascend to the different floors of Leicester’s Tower for the first time in 350 years. I’ve visited the BuildingContinue reading “A New Glimpse of a Dream Arising from the Ruins – Kenilworth Castle September 2014”

Find Mystical Circles on Goodkindles!

Mystical Circles is now featured on Goodkindles. Take a look at it here, and it you haven’t already, hurry on over to the Kindle store and download your copy now!   Deep in the heart of the English countryside, in an idyllic farmhouse, Craig, an idealistic young man with a wealthy father, has gathered togetherContinue reading “Find Mystical Circles on Goodkindles!”

Faded Splendour, Unfinished Grand Schemes, Unfulfilled Dreams

I visited a National Trust property a few days ago – Lyveden New Bield near Oundle in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. This is an unusual property in that it was build by an Elizabethan gentleman who left it unfinished. And it hasn’t fallen down, or been looted, or demolished, or built over, in theContinue reading “Faded Splendour, Unfinished Grand Schemes, Unfulfilled Dreams”