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”

People of Inspiration Part 6 – Gareth Malone, The Love of Singing and the Rediscovery of the Power of Sound

What or who would inspire you to start singing? Gareth Malone, self-described as an “animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing” (Wikipedia) Even if you’ve spent years of your life  thinking  you “can’t sing”? And there are many people with this gift – I’ve met quite a few in my own life of singing –Continue reading “People of Inspiration Part 6 – Gareth Malone, The Love of Singing and the Rediscovery of the Power of Sound”

People of Inspiration Part 5 – Frankie Howerd, My All-Time Favourite Comedian

A recent TV programme on Channel 4 inspired me: “Frankie Howerd: The Lost Tapes.” Frankie Howerd is my all-time favourite comedian. In my recent “Next Big Thing” blog I noted that, as an author, I owe part of my inspiration to characters I’ve loved on TV and movies. Frankie Howerd is up there with theContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 5 – Frankie Howerd, My All-Time Favourite Comedian”

People of Inspiration Part 4 – Rob Parsons, Gifted Communicator Who Inspires, Moves and Warns

“You don’t have to have everything together to make a difference to people’s lives. You just have to share your brokenness.” So says Rob Parsons, author, public speaker, and founder of the charity Care For the Family. “Most people don’t want answers,” says Rob. “They can find their own answers. They just want to knowContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 4 – Rob Parsons, Gifted Communicator Who Inspires, Moves and Warns”

People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her

As the third personality in my mini-series on People of Inspiration, step forward Susan Boyle. In the musical “I Dreamed a Dream” , which I saw at the Birmingham Hippodrome, I learned much about this gifted singer  and deepened my knowledge of her life-experiences and background. The show starred Elaine C. Smith in the role ofContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her”

People of Inspiration Part 2 – Rabbi Lionel Blue, Wise Man, Humorist and Much-Loved Jewish Raconteur

Rabbi Lionel Blue 6 Feb 1930-19 Dec 2016 I was sad to learn of the death of Rabbi Lionel Blue on 19 Dec 2016 and here is my tribute to him, as originally published on my blog: As the second personality in my mini-series on People of Inspiration, step forward Rabbi Lionel Blue. This much-loved manContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 2 – Rabbi Lionel Blue, Wise Man, Humorist and Much-Loved Jewish Raconteur”

Places of Inspiration Part 7: Memories, Dreams, Reflections Among the Kookaburras on an Australian Mountain Lookout

Margaret Silf wrote a book called Sacred Spaces in which she explored the various stages of our life-journey in terms of geographical locations. Everything has a symbolic meaning – bridge, crossing place, lake, wood, ford, spring, river, well  – in the ancient Celtic view of the world. And I believe many of us find thatContinue reading “Places of Inspiration Part 7: Memories, Dreams, Reflections Among the Kookaburras on an Australian Mountain Lookout”

People of Inspiration Part 1 – Paul McCartney, Muse, Minstrel and Keeper of Dreams

Today, opening a new mini-series on People of Inspiration, I offer my first choice: Paul McCartney. He was my childhood hero. I first fell for him when a schoolfriend put a souvenir programme into my hands and I saw a picture of him singing “Yesterday” at the Royal Variety Command Performance, a few years after thatContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 1 – Paul McCartney, Muse, Minstrel and Keeper of Dreams”

Places of Inspiration Part 6: The Saxon Mill, a Writer’s Delight by the Mill-Race on the River Avon Near Warwick

In each one of my places of inspiration I have found spirit of place : in India, at Ayers Rock/Uluru in Australia, in London, in the White Garden at Sissinghurst in Kent, and in Sydney Opera House.  But today, I return to a place very close to home – it’s the Saxon Mill on the River Avon, justContinue reading “Places of Inspiration Part 6: The Saxon Mill, a Writer’s Delight by the Mill-Race on the River Avon Near Warwick”

Places of Inspiration Part 5: Sydney Opera House – Masterpiece of Human Creative Genius

So far in this mini-series, we’ve visited India, Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia, London, and Sissinghurst in Kent. And today I’m taking you back again to Australia; to Sydney Opera House. From the air Sydney Opera House looks like a waterlily at the harbour’s edge. Its location on Bennelong Point integrates it perfectly with the water. Close up,Continue reading “Places of Inspiration Part 5: Sydney Opera House – Masterpiece of Human Creative Genius”