I recently made a nostalgic trip to Lancashire in the North of England. I’ve always loved walking on the Pennine hill range there because it is so wild and unspoiled, a place where you can feel free and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. I walked … Show more
.JOHN CLARE- 1793-1864 John Clare, ‘The Northamptonshire peasant poet’ is often overlooked, but I think he is one of the great Victorian poets. The son of a humble farm labourer and almost illiterate mother, Clare grew up in Helpston, a village in Northamptonshire. Despite having little formal education, Clare became … Show more
At the beginning of April, I am always reminded of a poem I had to learn by heart at school by the poet Robert Browning, ‘Home thoughts from Abroad’, or as it is often remembered by its first line, ‘O, to … Show more
I love Burns Night, celebrated every year on January 25th. I’m not Scottish, nor do I have Scottish roots, as far as I am aware, but I have many Scottish friends, so as a simpering Sasanach I’ve managed to blag my … Show more
I’ve never been a fan of pseudo-science, but I find the concept of ‘Blue Monday’ in January interesting. I like Januarys. Much as I love eating, drinking, family-gatherings and socialising, it’s always with a sense of relief that the intense preparations and … Show more
DECEMBER DREAMS Another season of advent Arrives at our door. Bringing an arctic blast To our northern shore. Candles flicker in the dark, Frost hangs hard on frozen bark. Winds howl, people shiver, Tall trees shake and quiver. Christmas not so far away, Brings delights and joy for … Show more
Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper committed a series of brutal murders around Whitechapel in the East end of London from 1888. All of the murdered women, except for one, were prostitutes. The perpetrator was never caught and there has been a great deal … Show more
There’s something about November in the UK that has always intrigued me for some reason. In many ways, it can be thought of as a melancholy month, but for me it is also a fascinating time, full of history and personal memories, too. The … Show more
The Seaside Pier Seaside or ‘pleasure’ piers, those glorious, intrinsically British structures, were first built in the 19th Century, the earliest being Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight, constructed in 1813. The famous Southend Pier is the longest pier in the world, extending 1.34 miles into the Thames Estuary. … Show more
In the deep, dark caverns of historic Wookey Hole, near Wells in Somerset, there once lived an old woman who was thought to be a witch. An old folk tale tells of a bitter woman who had been scorned by her lover, ever after living in the caves, cursing angrily … Show more