What is your earliest memory? A car journey when I was four years old. I grew up in Orpington, Kent, and our family were driving back home after a visit to pedigree poodle breeding kennels near Tunbridge Wells. We had bought a miniature poodle pup. We called him “Kimmings”. He was officially a silver poodle, but when veryContinue reading “QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Part Two: What is Your Earliest Memory? – The Tale of a Much Loved Family Pet”
Tag Archives: love
Favourite Feel Good Action Heroes in Books and Cinema: TinTin and his Universal Appeal
During the Covid-19 Pandemic and throughout the three lockdowns in the UK, many have sought the consolation of escape – into books or films. Every so often I return to one of my top favourites – The Adventures of TinTin: the Secret of the Unicorn. To my mind this film exemplifies classic story structure; butContinue reading “Favourite Feel Good Action Heroes in Books and Cinema: TinTin and his Universal Appeal”
Inspiration from JRR Tolkien in Oxford
My recent visit to Oxford to see the exhibition of Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth was a revelation to me and full of inspiration. You may find the exhibition in the ST Lee Gallery, Weston Library, next to Blackwell’s Bookshop on Broad Street. It’s packed with fascinating objects and letters, and drawings: Tolkien’s own exquisite illustrations forContinue reading “Inspiration from JRR Tolkien in Oxford”
Taste the Spirit of Warwickshire – A Shakespeare-Inspired Spiritual Travel Guide
My proposed new non-fiction book, Spirit of Warwickshire, is currently in the early stages of its journey into the world. Richly illustated with full colour photos by photographer Abigail Robinson, the book contains twenty short pieces about places in Warwickshire that I love, visit often, and believe to have spiritual presence. I define a placeContinue reading “Taste the Spirit of Warwickshire – A Shakespeare-Inspired Spiritual Travel Guide”
Fun and Excitement on the Author Stand at the UK Games Expo
Just back from the UK Games Expo – a fun event for all ages at the Birmingham NEC showcasing creative games designers, model makers, authors, artists, cosplayers and Vikings! The authors’ genres spanned fantasy, paranormal, thrillers, history, sci fi and time travel. There was a real buzz about the event, and I enjoyed networking with fellow authors, soldContinue reading “Fun and Excitement on the Author Stand at the UK Games Expo”
A Lost Garden Rediscovered and Given New Life: Guy’s Cliffe Walled Garden, Warwick
I love gardens which once were lost, but have now been restored. How poignant and symbolic they seem, and how inspiring when they are recovered and given new life. A famous example is The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall; but we have a rediscovered garden just down the road from us. Just off theContinue reading “A Lost Garden Rediscovered and Given New Life: Guy’s Cliffe Walled Garden, Warwick”
Spiritual and Unifying: the Dramatic and Emotional Appeal of Brahms’ Requiem for All Who Love Choral Singing
King Henry VIII School, Coventry (well known as representing Gordon Shakespeare’s school in the 2009 Christmas film Nativity!) was the scene on Saturday where a large number of local singers and musicians gathered together for a “Scratch” rehearsal and performance of Brahms’ Requiem. As with all scratch performances of course the majority of participants hadContinue reading “Spiritual and Unifying: the Dramatic and Emotional Appeal of Brahms’ Requiem for All Who Love Choral Singing”
An Interview on Linda’s Book Bag About My Newly Released Edition of Mystical Circles
On 9th September 2017 on the last day of my Mystical Circles blog tour, fellow blogger Linda Hill published an interview with me on her blog Linda’s Book Bag. This is the final one in a series of nine blog posts, in which I re-publish the stops on my blog tour. So with my thanksContinue reading “An Interview on Linda’s Book Bag About My Newly Released Edition of Mystical Circles”
Life Inside a Spiritual Hothouse: The Circle of Love in Mystical Circles
On 5th September on the fifth day of my Mystical Circles blog tour, author and blogger Sue Vincent published a guest post from me on her blog Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. This is the fifth in a series of blog posts in which I re-publish the articles in that blog tour. So here’s the piece SueContinue reading “Life Inside a Spiritual Hothouse: The Circle of Love in Mystical Circles”
Impressions of Highgrove – How To Create an Inspiring Wildflower Meadow in Your Back Garden
I have long loved wildflower meadows, and thought how lovely it would be to have one instead of a garden. But creating a wildflower meadow isn’t just a matter of buying a few packets of seeds and scattering them over a piece of unwanted lawn. Several years ago I did just that and waited, hopingContinue reading “Impressions of Highgrove – How To Create an Inspiring Wildflower Meadow in Your Back Garden”
scskillman.com 