Tag Archives: writing

A Poesy Ringful of Stories

I used to be a theatrical agent. A young actor from RADA, whilst deliberating whether or not to accept my offer of representation, asked, “What, would you say, sets you apart from other agents?” I struggled to come up with an … Continue reading

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Female Solidarity?*

A couple of years ago, my colleagues and I were watching BBC News 24 during our lunch break.  There was a report about the Chilean miners trapped underground for several weeks.  Finally rescued, the men were telling the interviewer about … Continue reading

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Dress Circle: Another Pearl, Crushed.

It was Michael who first taught me the difference between soundtrack and cast recording.  “Soundtracks are from films, darling,” he said, pushing up his glasses, his mellow Irish accent softening a vague distaste for my ignorance, “and cast recordings are … Continue reading

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The Delight of Hand Writing

I am sitting on a wooden bench, by the red-brick wall of a small Elizabethan palace.  My back against the arm-rest,  my legs stretched out before me, bare toes  wriggling with the pleasure of sunshine.  Behind the bench, a few … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: Art or a Naked Emperor?

A ten year-old Italian boy called Federico went to the Tate Modern with his mother.  When he saw Damian Hirst’s formaldehyde-pickled cows, he said, “That’s cruel.  Why didn’t they allow this calf to grow up and have calves of its … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: A Nomad to Guard Someone’s Land

My Armenian grandmother, Yekaterina Gregorian, passed away last March, at the age of one hundred.  Several years ago, when, blind and almost deaf (but her mind as sharp as a needle), she was moved from my mother’s to a nursing … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: London – Can’t live in it, can’t live out of it.

Ask me if I like London. No, I don’t, would be a frequent answer. Architecturally, I don’t think it’s beautiful.  Not as ugly as some other places (no names mentioned) but not a city where you can walk down the … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: A Mother-in-Law to Smash all Stereotypes

When I was getting a divorce, twelve years ago, my mother-in-law said, “I want you and I to remain friends.” I muttered some polite platitude in return. Friends with the mother of the man with whom I was engaged in … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: My Adventures in Twitter

Beginnings: I signed up to Twitter a few days before Christmas.  It seemed like a low-maintenance way of promoting my writing electronically. As usual, I needed someone to show me.  Not that the instructions were complicated – on the contrary.  I … Continue reading

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Odds & Ends: Showbiz Party*

The Scene: a bar Props: nibbles and alcoholic drinks (white wine with a soupçon of ammonia, red wine with a bouquet of vinaigre, or champagne à la bicarbonate) . Sound Effects: Near hysterical laughter and raised, sometimes high-pitched voices with … Continue reading

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