Gertrude Bell
I was in the library the other day. I found myself wandering aimlessly among history, politics and travel sections partly in research mode, but also craving a little inspiration. And in my meandering I discovered Gertrude Bell, an enigmatic and wandering adventuress. A contemporary of TE Lawrence (as in ‘of Arabia’) she is, by turns, … Continue reading
What We’ve Been Watching
I know people who work from home who listen religiously to Radio 4 or hot desk at some amazing creative hive. Me? I combat spreadsheet psychosis with background television. Only the informative kind, mind. Narrative telly is less conducive to work and more conducive to duvet days and pints of Ben & Jerrys. And here … Continue reading
Letters of Note
Can I just stop a minute on this crazy whirligig we call life? Because there is something about which you should know. It is called Letters of Note. It is full of wonderful transcriptions and facsimiles of real letters sent by real people, but now published out in the digital ether for our enjoyment and … Continue reading
How Can I Keep from Singing?
I have music in my soul. Despite this, I go long, intense bouts without so much as a note. I’ll not play anything, or even sing in the shower, for months. Then some unexpected day I’ll be filled with uncontrollable urges, spreading song into every inch of my daily routine. It’s a wonderful reconciliation, and … Continue reading
Scottish Ballet: A Streetcar Named Desire
Given the choice, dance isn’t top of my theatre-going agenda. I find traditional ballet is usually stuffy, keeping me at arm’s length, while the often abstract nature of modern dance asks me to take large leaps, and I’m not always willing or able to oblige on a tired Tuesday evening. But the burgeoning movement of … Continue reading
Country Life Magazine
This weekly glossy is an Institution. Or rather, I imagine it is for those who live the life depicted in its pages. I once saw leather-bound editions dating to the 1920s in a house where they rent out the East Wing, and their wedding present was His and Hers ponds just beyond the garden maze … Continue reading
The Hunger Games
You know that band you listened to waaaaay before they were popular? And how then one summer, everyone else suddenly jumped on the bandwagon? In the blink of an eye your band is played on every station, and everyone you know is professing how AMAZING they are. And maybe you have this righteous, little feeling of … Continue reading
The Ultimate American
Any college student’s semester-abroad blog will acquaint you with the funny words, confusing idioms and quaintness that surrounds much of British culture. Ooh – wellies! Hehe – lorry! Oh the biscuit-cookie confusion, and chip-crisp conundrum. How delightful. I make light, but there are subtle linguistic differences I still haven’t fathomed after eight years. The culture … Continue reading
International Women’s Day: Hard as Nails
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. So while I am not into soapboxing most days [for fear I’d never get back off once I’ve begun], I did celebrate a little. How, you ask? By visiting a pop-up Hard as Nails feminist nail bar of course! A quick (and nominally political) manicure, a lot of lovely chat … Continue reading
Jean Simmons
I am not known for my strict adherance to the OED version of the English language. In fact, I enjoy a rather cavelier attitde to my native tonuge, as you may have surmised. Which I like to pretend is a decent excuse for mixing words up all the time. Things that sound similar or remind … Continue reading
Que Sera Sara? 