Category Archives: Uncategorized
A London antidote: the joys and jewels of Northern Ireland
Mystical light, ruby skies and shades of green that dazzle the eye; rambling roads, rocky ups and rolling downs … This is Northern Ireland, a striking, beautiful place that flies in the face of expectation to reveal visual joy, drama … Continue reading
The poet, new friends and fifty strangers: a Christmas story.
Sunday. How I love Sunday. We wake just before ten to catch Radio 4’s finest, and with breakfast in bed relax to the familiar theme tunes that herald our favourite listening. All this before rising to buy flowers on Columbia … Continue reading
Diaries: soulmates, dates and derring-do.
“I need the dates of all the countries I have visited since 2005,” said The Exocet from Australia. “Could you please try and remember when and where we went on holidays and trips away?” Of course my darling; I have … Continue reading
PianoForte: lessons learned and practice making perfect
Some moons ago a dinner discussion with Beautiful Boyfriend touched upon the matter of artistic aptitude and my former piano-playing prowess was mentioned. I had triumphantly achieved Grade 6 in practice and theory, foolishly giving up when my teacher refused … Continue reading
Moving out, moving in: one street and a grand new chapter
“October,” he said. “I’ll need the house back for my daughter.” My landlord sounded vaguely apologetic but businesslike on the phone. I had been his tenant for nearly seven years, moving in a hurry to escape with my daughters from … Continue reading
The fine art of fashion retail or “we do that one in red”
Frock shopping is not a loved pastime: browsing is anathema. If I need something new to wear, I work out what it is and where to find it. The “where” is important because I am a fan of the independent … Continue reading
Face to a Name: the dementia care revolution unmasked
One rainy January afternoon, I made my way West to meet up with a business colleague for a long overdue exchange of news. Over coffee in the congenial surroundings of Soho House, Jake Arnold Forster described his work with organisations … Continue reading
A tale of clever women and country cottages.
The charms of a weekend in the country have largely eluded me over thirty years as a Londoner, mainly because I feel safe in these smokey streets. So when invitations to go there began to arrive, I thought long and … Continue reading