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A LOVE OF THE LAND
I suppose that I was born with an inbuilt love and regard for the countryside – but it was a few years before I came to fully appreciate and respect the benefits and legacy around me. The land ........
NEVER GO BACK
People are always saying it's not a good idea to return to places you once knew – or even to think about them or pour over old photographs and mementos. Re-living and reflecting on the Past are best a ........
EATING OUT
When most people talk about 'eating out' they are probably thinking of cafés, pubs or restaurants, and imagining their favourite lunch or dinner menus – with the emphasis on the 'eating'.In contra ........
Onwards and Upwards
It's turning out to be quite a year for scaling heights - and some small physical, and perhaps even mental, goals and ambitions achieved en route...Starting off at the very top of the British Isles lo ........
Poems in the Pipeline
March 21st 2024As well as marking the first day of Spring, March 21st is now established as World Poetry Day – so a good day to dust off those poetry books, read a poem or two, have a go at writin ........
Ditches and Streams
I've always enjoyed mucking about in gullies and ditches – from my early days living on the farm at Bratton, where I used to spend several hours walking along small streams, under bridges and past ........
There's no time like snow time!
We've just experienced our first snow fall of the winter in the Lincolnshire Wolds – it came promptly for the meteorological calendar on December 1st... and only lasted a couple of days, but was eno ........
APPLETIME
There's nothing quite like a Bramley – it's texture, flavour, size and abundance make it the perfect cooking apple – whether in crumbles, tarts, amber, charlotte or snow – look no further. Fo ........
My Cup of Tea
There's always something comforting about a cup of tea – not necessarily a cup, a mug will do just as well. Perhaps it's the hiss of the kettle, the chink of the china, or the glimpsing of a tea-pot, ........
On the Straight and Narrow
Many years ago – about half a century in fact – when I walked through Greenwich Park on the hillside above the Thames, I visited the famous Greenwich Time Meridian, and was suitably impressed to think ........
Sideboards
When I was growing up in the 1950's and 60's I didn't know about the existence of antique shops – in fact most people's houses looked a bit like an antiques collection with old substantial furniture, ........
Living & Writing in France
I miss the peace and quiet the most – how you could plan a day, even several, with no fear of interruptions or distractions. Shopping was usually confined to Friday mornings in our local town of Gorro ........
I Love Ginger
We used to have porridge just once a week – Monday morning breakfast, but since we were introduced to those lovely little stem ginger balls – in size a bit of a cross between a large Malteser and a ........
My Kitchen
Amazingly my saucepans are nearly thirty years oldwith some items even older – so many stories to be told...Sandwich tins from between the wars, pre non-stick with scrapers for assistance -these s ........
The Christmas Tree
My mother used to say that she didn't need any other decorations in the house for Christmas as long as she had her tree – with all the lights working of course! Her tree resided all year in the garden ........
'Stir up Sunday'
As we are fast approaching the season of Advent and the run-up to Christmas, I'm reminded of the special significance this time of year held for my mother. She was a 'stickler' for routine and traditi ........
OLD FRIENDS
Recently I’ve been reminded about the importance and huge benefits of having good friends. As one gets older, they seem to appreciate in worth and significance in very many ways… For instance, they ........
MY CAT SMOKEY
You may remember that Smokey was one of the two cats who came across to join us from France. He has settled in well really – after a rather nervous and tentative start with his little sister Sooty l ........
DOWN MEMORY LANE
A few days ago we attended a funeral of a life parallel to that of our late Queen. A lady of similar age too – 98 all but a day – with a remarkable life story. The funeral service took place in a sm ........
‘BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR’
I first met my husband at a tea party hosted by a vicar and his wife one Sunday afternoon in September 1983. We immediately got into an argument about the locality – myself defending our nearby town ........
A WHIFF OF LAVENDER
During the last few days I’ve been busy making and filling lavender bags – it’s that time of year! Cutting the long stalks, rubbing them between my fingers and thumb, scooping the small mauve flower ........
A CLASSIC DRIVE
It was the annual Boston Classic Car Show on Sunday – a big event and well supported; actually the 30th put on by the local Classic Car Club. In complete contrast to last year’s which took place on ........
I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE
Ah, now we are well into the summer holiday season, my thoughts and inclinations are turning towards the beach and the seaside…I’ve always loved the sea – whether going on holidays, walks along the ........
VIVE LE TOUR!
You’ve probably realized by now that I like bikes and enjoy cycling around the countryside – wherever that may be… Until recently I was pedalling a very old 1950’s Elswick – made in Barton-upon-Humb ........
SNAKES ALIVE – AND DEAD!
The recent warm weather has reminded me of the large, almost park-size garden we took on and enjoyed in France. Most houses out in the countryside around Mayenne are stone built, and have land attac ........
A CUP OF TEA AND A KISS
I’m starting off this rather reflective Blog with a favourite invitation from one of my uncles – extended to my mother and me usually on a Saturday afternoon, late 1970’s/early ’80’s. It always soun ........
THE NESTING BOX OR BIRDS IN THE BRAMLEY
A few weeks ago in May there was a loud chirping in the nesting box high up in our Bramley apple tree at the bottom of the garden. And then we spotted a couple of blue tits to-ing and fro-ing around ........
BEARS ON A CHAIR
One of my favourite little memories to store away from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was the short skit of HRH in the company of another British celebrity – Paddington Bear. In just a couple of minut ........
A JUBILEE ROUND
I am no stranger to circuits and always enjoy a walk which takes me around a route without retracing my steps. It all started on the Farm of course, where I knew the fields and lie of the land so we ........
COLLECTIONS
Our house is full of various collections – sets of books of course, along with C.D’s and records, but also pictures and paintings, glasses, china, teddy bears and shells, and even until just before ........
NATIONAL NON-FICTION DAY ABOARD THORNTREE, JUNE 18TH.
Climbing the steep hill out of Belper and spotting ‘The Thorntree Inn’ sitting prominently at the corner of two roads, brought back memories of our lovely MFV Thorntree moored on the Blackwater rive ........
FIELDS AT CHURCH FARM
Continuing in the farm yard I came across this poem recently which I wrote a few years ago whilst in France. We were living in the depths of the countryside amongst a farming community, and I was re ........
DOWN ON THE FARM
Strolling around the little farm at Chatsworth a couple of weeks ago took me back to our farm at Bratton Seymour in the 1950’s. On a much bigger scale – the land comprised about 180 acres with a mil ........
SPRINGTIME SIMNEL
Yes, it’s that time of year – actually I am a bit late with my Simnel cake as it is should really appear around Mothering Sunday and in Lent…… But this year I have made it for Easter and it has doub ........
SAYINGS AND SOUVENIRS
I wonder what Gran would have thought of my book – she’d probably have settled down to read it with a nice cup of tea and a Rich Tea biscuit. Or, I can picture her sitting at her bureau beside the w ........
BIRTHDAY BOYS
April is a busy month for birthdays – both Sooty and Smokey arrived at this time of year and I will attempt to include photos of both of them to my blog….apologies for Sooty’s non-appearance on my l ........
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
Yes, a big cardboard box arrived on my doorstep yesterday containing my first batch of books plus all the lovely extras……postcards, posters, flyers and bookmarks. Hot off the press and all beautifu ........
A DAY OF FIRSTS
Hi everyone, yes a big day for me today – my first book is now in print and published and this is my very first attempt at a blog! Lucky that it’s March 31st and not tomorrow – a different sort of f ........