Blog.  As you’ve been sadly lacking in festive posts this year, here’s another carol, recorded for my singing teacher yet again.  My lovely, gracious, and kind singing teacher (who has a Jane Austen fetish, but don’t all of us who hanker after a long-ago romantic … Continue reading Another Christmas Carol

Some months ago, My Haven achieved a 5-star island rating. Imagine, therefore, my surprise and, indeed, alarm upon recently consulting Isabelle to find that I’d been demoted to 4 stars!  My island hadn’t changed at all since my last consultation, but Isabelle informed me that … Continue reading Animal Crossing New Horizons Update

Blog. I commit unto thee my recording of O come, O come Emmanuel, one of my favourite haunting churchy tunes, in an effort to get with the festive spirit. Continuing on with my weekly singing lesson homework, I transferred a lovely soundtrack for this carol … Continue reading A Christmas Carol

Blog.  I can’t remember which sporadic Audacity recording this will be, so won’t bother numbering it.  I began my singing lessons again a few months ago, after The Virus brought them to a halt. I’d been too scared to do anything in the immediate onslaught … Continue reading All is Found – Frozen 2

Blog, I’d wanted to see this at the cinema last year but, as usual, just never got around to it.  As a Brit of a certain age, I’d grown up with kiddie TV the likes of:  Watch with Mother, Mary, Mungo and Midge, Play School, … Continue reading A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

(in which I go off on an imitative flight of fancy) When a full moon rose in the one and only eastern bedroom, I went to the great dining roomENTRY FOR THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE FIFTH MONTH IN THE YEAR THE VIRUS CAME INTO … Continue reading Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

July 23rd, 2020 In the time of The Virus Hampshire Dear Ms Paver I hope you never go near the Goodreads website, for there you will find readers reviewing the Daughters of Eden trilogy thus: ‘characters weren’t too deep,’  ‘an easy read,’  ‘rambling boring tale,’  … Continue reading To Michelle Paver

Blog.  The Covid diaries are no more.  After all, lockdown is easing (not for me it isn’t, no chance, I’m staying in until The Virus has buggered off) and I can’t forever name every post a Covid post. Son no.2’s birthday came and went during … Continue reading Animal Crossing Adventures cont.

I am guilty of prejudice; of making snap judgements based on a momentary acquaintance. Last week Clay, the chubby hamster, was milling around the entrance to Blather’s museum. I am used to my fellow island residents wandering around in a peculiarly aimless fashion, but this … Continue reading Covid-19 Diaries – May 11th

Should a scientist’s private life be a matter for public concern?  Owen Jones of the leftist Guardian whinges (and he's not the only one.)  The photograph of Ferguson’s married lover looms large against the tabloid pic of Ferguson himself, Jones continues to whinge. This is … Continue reading Covid-19 Diaries – May 7th