My dream, wrote the designer William Morris, is a dream of what has never been… and therefore, since, the world is alive, and moving yet, my hope is the greater that it one day will be… dreams have before now come about of things so good… we scarcely think of them more than the daylight,Continue reading “The Dream of William Morris at Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds”
Category Archives: British
Cutty Sark Uplifted and Renewed – Fantastic Transformation
It’s been twelve years since I last visited the Cutty Sark at Greenwich – and what a fantastic transformation. Greenwich and its neighbouring Woolwich in south London are part of my family background, and so this area has been familiar to me from childhood. This made my return to view the Cutty Sark even moreContinue reading “Cutty Sark Uplifted and Renewed – Fantastic Transformation”
Guys Cliffe House, Romantic Ruin in a Dreamlike State, Awaiting New Life
What could be more poignant than a formerly grand mansion, standing on a cliff, now partially demolished, abandoned and desolate? Gaping staircases you cannot climb; stone balconies you long to stand on to gaze at the view; empty windows you feel sure a shadowy figure should flit past. Just such a gaunt mansion is Guy’sContinue reading “Guys Cliffe House, Romantic Ruin in a Dreamlike State, Awaiting New Life”
Book Review: Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton
Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believer’s Guide to the Uses of Religion came into my hands the other day, recommended by a friend. The book was published by Penguin in 2012. I’ve now finished the book and given it a rating on Goodreads & Amazon of 3 out of 5 stars Review: Initially, this book heldContinue reading “Book Review: Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton”
Flowers for John Clare, Poet of Rural England: ‘The Peasant Poet’
This weekend my daughter and I visited family members in Northborough and attended the John Clare Festival in Helpston, Northamptonshire. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing in the community celebrations of John Clare (1793-1864), their local poet. JOHN CLARE was born in Helpston in 1793 and deeply loved the natural world. During his life he wrote bothContinue reading “Flowers for John Clare, Poet of Rural England: ‘The Peasant Poet’”
Book Trailer Fun for Mystical Circles
I’ve been out and about in Warwick and the Cotswold hills with my film-maker daughter Abigail, having great fun as Abigail puts together a book trailer for my romantic suspense novel Mystical Circles. As I’ve watched our actors follow Abigail’s directions and play my characters, my story has come alive in a new way. I’veContinue reading “Book Trailer Fun for Mystical Circles”
The Royal Albert Hall, London – A Place of Wonder and Inspiration
The Royal Albert Hall is one of my favourite London venues. I was there on Saturday, with my daughter Abigail, watching a performance of Swan Lake in the round, by the English National Ballet. Sixty swans danced in the arena below us, transformed into a lake by skilful lighting effects; and the audience delighted inContinue reading “The Royal Albert Hall, London – A Place of Wonder and Inspiration”
Gazing Out to Sea: The Beauty of the English Coastline
I recently visited Beachy Head, East Sussex, with a friend and my two teenage children. As we walked along the cliftop, we all agreed: Where in the world could we go that’s more beautiful than this? Beachy Head, together with the Seven Sisters Country Park and Birling Gap are all protected by The National Trust and theyContinue reading “Gazing Out to Sea: The Beauty of the English Coastline”
A Golden Field, a Short Life That Touched Many Hearts, and a Poignant Moment in a Country Churchyard
This photo was taken on Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa between St James’s Church Old Milverton and the Saxon Mill, Warwick. At about 4.30pm on Friday 7 June I walked with my two teenage children through the churchyard to reach this field. A late summer afternoon in the English countryside is such a quiet, luminous, poignant time. And it’s one of theContinue reading “A Golden Field, a Short Life That Touched Many Hearts, and a Poignant Moment in a Country Churchyard”
People of Inspiration Part 7: The Horrible Histories Cast
The Horrible Histories phenomenon will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary. Scholastic will commemorate 20 years since Terry Deary published the first Horrible Histories books, Awesome Egyptians and Terrible Tudors. Horrible Histories has continued through the British children’s television series, first screened on CBBC in 2009, and now in its 5th series. In our house we have followedContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 7: The Horrible Histories Cast”
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