Category Archives: Uncategorized

Feriae Augusti

Posted on August 16, 2019 by

Yesterday morning, when I opened the windows my skin suddenly felt taut.  It was like a slap. There was a a chill in the wind.  The sky was a pale, drab grey.  My heart sank.  It’s only the middle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments

R. R. R.

Posted on June 3, 2018 by

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

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Important – Please Read – EU GDPR

Posted on May 24, 2018 by

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

Renters or Second-Class Citizens

Posted on February 12, 2017 by

The phone rings.  It’s the letting agents.  “This is a courtesy call to let you know that the landlord wants to sell your flat and this is your two months’ notice.” The words hang over your head, making the air … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 20 Comments

Christmas Eve

Posted on December 25, 2016 by

“Once in Royal David’s City Stood a lowly cattle shed”. I hold my breath.  I always find myself holding my breath for the minute or so between the BBC Radio 4 announcer’s voice falling silent and the chorister getting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Odds & Ends, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Brexit – The Hairline Fracture*

Posted on July 3, 2016 by

H. and I have just come back from a two-week holiday in Rome.  We left Great Britain, we left the United Kingdom, and have come back to Little England, with everything this implies.  For the first week after the Referendum, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 24 Comments

Wine and Politics

Posted on June 19, 2016 by

We were in something of a celebratory mood, so, being in London for the day, went for lunch at one of our favourite Italian restaurants, in Bloomsbury. “Let’s go there,” I said to H. “Last time we were there, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Odds & Ends, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

What Exactly is Your Job?

Posted on June 5, 2016 by

Last weekend, I had the joy of seeing members of the Norwich Stonemasons‘ Guild perform a Mystery Play outside the doors of the Cathedral.  It was a warm, sunny afternoon, a brief summer interlude before putting our coats, scarves and … Continue reading →

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Adventures with Chicken Soup

Posted on May 29, 2016 by

My acupuncturist takes a quick look at my tongue. “You’ve got a low blood count,” she says. I smile and roll my eyes, thinking of how my GP had to draw blood and process it for a whole week before … Continue reading →

Posted in Odds & Ends, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments