Author Archives: Scribe Doll

Early Autumn Wedding

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Scribe Doll

“Are you having any readings?” “No.” “Have you brought some music?” “No.” “Do you have rings?” “Yes.” The elderly registrar smiles with a hint of relief.  At least one traditional feature.  She tells those present that photos are not permitted … Continue reading →

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Milan: Behind the Façade

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Scribe Doll

I guess it was appropriate that my first conversation in Milan should have been about fashion.  H. and I just had lunch at Stazione Centrale and were leaving the restaurant, trolley suitcases in tow, when I noticed a young woman … Continue reading →

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Paris to Rome by Train

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Scribe Doll

“Why can’t we take the train?” “What – all the way?” H. gives me his your-quirkiness-is-turning-into-madness look.  “It’s – it’s –” “The longest leg would be just twelve hours,” I filled in, smiling sweetly.  “If you went to Australia, you’d have to … Continue reading →

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Thunderstorm

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Scribe Doll

After weeks of relentless, unusually intense heat, the weather forecaster announces a violent thunderstorm with possible flash flooding in the East of England.  That and we’ve been promised the longest lunar eclipse – with blood moon, no less – in a … Continue reading →

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R. R. R.

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Scribe Doll

Different ways of speech communication is one of my earliest memories. The fact that, at home, my mother and grandmother speak one way, and friends, neighbours and people in the street another. Then there’s the way my mother speaks to … Continue reading →

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In Praise of Tricksters

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Scribe Doll

I feel tears pooling my eyes before he even utters his final lines: Ditemi voi signori se i quattrini di Buoso potevan finire meglio di così. Per questa bizzarria m’han cacciato all’inferno, e così sia. Ma con licenza del grande … Continue reading →

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Important – Please Read – EU GDPR

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Scribe Doll

My Dear Readers, As you may already know, in order to comply with the new European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), effective from 25 May 2018, I must have a privacy policy for this website. As far as my … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Rook

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Scribe Doll

My train home wasn’t due for another half hour and I strolled up the platform, looking for something to snack on. There wasn’t anything particularly appetising left at that time of the afternoon at the small town station, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Scribe Doll

Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me. The voices gently rise to the stone vaults and fill the 12th-century church, … Continue reading →

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A Writers’ Social

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Scribe Doll

The Scene: A bar. The Players: Novelists, children’s writers, academics, translators, journalists, biographers, and other assorted literary intellectuals. * “Hi! Nice to see you! Which way did you come?” “Oh, it was bloody awful.  I drove down the [name of … Continue reading →

Posted in Odds & Ends | Tagged , , | 14 Comments