At a recent carol service at St Mark’s Church Leamington Spa the Bishop of Coventry spoke to us about refugee families. Referring to the current crisis across Europe he drew a parallel between these refugees and the family of Jesus. Jesus was born into poverty in an occupied nation in a region in conflict – then,Continue reading “Refugee Family Saved by the Gold of the Magi”
Category Archives: musings
Christmas: Time for Joy, Time for Mourning
Christmas arouses so many emotions. Magical in childhood, often much more of a challenge in adulthood – which of us are “Ding Dong Merrily On High”, and which of us are “Bah Humbug”? I love many things about Christmas: The anticipation through Advent – Advent candles Christmas carols – many of them have the most beautifulContinue reading “Christmas: Time for Joy, Time for Mourning”
The Creative Power of an Intense Group of People in the Hothouse Environment of a Writers Retreat
I’ve now finished my series of Cave posts as new inspiration has intervened! One of my fellow bloggers Lance Greenfield has just opened up thoughts of writers retreats by reblogging this post on the subject by Max Dunbar. Lance then went on to ask his own followers for their responses to Max’s thoughts, and whether itContinue reading “The Creative Power of an Intense Group of People in the Hothouse Environment of a Writers Retreat”
Words From a Cave – Part 3
Here I am about to step out of the cave nearly 3 weeks after my hip replacement operation – without crutches! Yesterday I took part in a beautiful performance of Mozart’s Requiem with the Coventry Spires Philharmonic Choir in Holy Trinity Church Coventry. I think that, together with a walk through the Coventry city streets, counts as aContinue reading “Words From a Cave – Part 3”
Versatile Blogger Award
I was very pleased to learn that I’ve been nominated for this award by fellow-blogger and Goodreads friend Lance Greenfield whose blog I follow. Lance is the author of “Eleven Miles” a book which I reviewed recently and which I can thoroughly recommend. Writing a weekly blog post is an excellent writing discipline, and a wonderful creativeContinue reading “Versatile Blogger Award”
Words From A Cave – Part 2
Since last week’s post I’m starting to see the light flooding through into my cave. I’m moving around on my crutches (and sometimes without them.) I went to the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter morning services at my church (St Mark’s Leamington Spa) and then later on Easter Sunday I was out at a local beautyContinue reading “Words From A Cave – Part 2”
Ghostly Encounters, Earthbound Spirits and a Promise of Love
Recently my sister in Australia sent me a set of DVDs – ironically made in England, containing a documentary series on Great British Ghosts narrated by Michaela Strachan for the BBC. The set also included a third documentary, narrated by Paul McGann in a balanced, neutral tone, called Ghosts of the London Underground, and this was by far theContinue reading “Ghostly Encounters, Earthbound Spirits and a Promise of Love”
The Psychology of Mother and Son in the Psycho Prequel “Bates Motel”
My daughter Abigail, Creative Media Production student, has recently completed a project on Alfred Hitchcock’s editing technique in Psycho. So I’ve watched Psycho again several times recently. And my fascination with the subject led me to pick up the books Abigail had gathered for her project, and read them myself. Editing techniques in film can ofContinue reading “The Psychology of Mother and Son in the Psycho Prequel “Bates Motel””
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”
People of Inspiration: The Enduring Love of Mozart’s Requiem
“Mozart stopped writing here.” Those were the words one soprano had written after bar 8 of the Lacrymosa in her score of Mozart’s Requiem: just so she could be sure which bits were from the hand of the master, and which from his much-less gifted composer friend Franz Sussmayr. We were singing with the choir Spires Philharmonic Chorus,Continue reading “People of Inspiration: The Enduring Love of Mozart’s Requiem”
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