Whenever a radio or television announcer says we are about to hear an interview with Tony Blair, I turn off my ears. This may be an excessive response but many years ago our former prime minister lost my trust. For me, what was an exciting political prospect became a betrayal, and a warmongering one at…
A sense of belonging
Although I have lived in my current house for over eight years, it is only now that I feel as though I belong. More precisely, when it comes to my house, my street, and my neighbourhood, I now feel we belong to each other. At work, which dominated my life for 40 odd years, I…
Strictly Heaven
Once tea was poured and pleasantries were over, talking began. I was round at Martha’s and on that particular morning our discussion naturally turned to the previous night’s final of Strictly Come Dancing and to its winner, the drummer Harry Judd. ‘Strictly’ is not everyone’s favourite programme but Martha and I are devotees and in…
Thieves of time
Memorising lists of monarchs and ministers, of dates and dynasties, has never been my scene. How very different is the history of my local environment, of my living space - to me this is fascinating. Knowing that my house in Richmond was built in the nineteenth century, that the road outside was being used in…
Talk to the animals
“What do you think Ginger?” Silence …then.. “Ginger thinks your tie is very nice.” Nothing much wrong on the surface, but this was Alice, a family friend in her 70s, discussing my new tie with her cat. Alice was not mad, nothing ‘medically’ wrong, just quirky and a cat lover. I would have been around…
Marching on
The protest march last Saturday was my umpteenth. There was chanting, banner waving and ululation as my wife and I walked slowly through the centre of London from Temple, along the Embankment and up to the Treasury where we stopped for the speeches. We were protesting about the excessive burden borne by women in the…
Space invaders
Sharing public space can be difficult. Yes, when there is plenty of it around, problems are less likely to occur. But for town dwellers, manoeuvring where space is limited, things are different and negotiation is often needed. There are rules of conduct, such as "first-come-first-served" and the offer of “after you” when for example, approaching…
Once upon a moonless night
The road between us and the neighbouring village - the strangely named Mejou Roz - has no frills. It runs around fields, through a hamlet and looks across to the sea. It has no markings, no kerb, no street lamps and it is very winding - 4km for us, two for the crows. It is…
Shell shocked
Just a short walk down the road from our cottage in France there is a most beautiful beach. It stretches in a long curve as far as the eye can see and at low tide it takes 10 minutes simply to get to the sea for a paddle. The sand is a fine white-yellow and…
Unidentified knitted object
Last Saturday proved difficult. Friends came for tea and on arrival gave me a present. I unwrapped it and thanked them but hesitantly. I am not normally ill at ease but in these gift situations the feeling is a famliar one. Rarely a month goes by without gifts changing hands, so, in addition to the…
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