Death pants

I owe this blog to my lifelong mate and partner in words Potsie who suggested she might be investing in a pair – and she kindly sent me an article from the Guardian explaining what they are. Here it is: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2026/jul/15/zara-death-pants-are-these-the-worlds-most-dangerous-trousers As an agnostic of these fashion trends I am always aghast at what women and indeed men adopt as fashionable wear. In India, our driver Shiva asked Ant why…

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Full house

We have been back just over a week and our critter home is complete. The birds are back and it gives me infinite joy. Magpies, kookaburras and butcher birds all putting in an appearance. The Currawong came, shy as always, and the rainbows too. Will Trump come back or is he still out there behaving badly? The Butcher birds first came to the bedroom window. They were excited to see…

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In Bed with the BBC,ABC and RR.

Inching my way to a full week back in Oz. After fourteen years I can share the best bed partners with you, while adjusting my sleeping patterns and they are undoubtedly the Radios I listen to. C lives with a radio on 24/7, and while to start with I objected, now I am a convert for the nights. BBC goes on as we go to bed and soon ABC sneaks…

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Back on Oz

The Emirates giant came down gently on Brisbane soil and we swept through customs and passports in about 20 minutes. In another 20 we were home – it is 7 am. Time for a cup of coffee and a shower and Gill is picking me up to take me to the Sunshine Coast to Celia’s new home on the water. It’s lovely to be back and among my bookgroup women…

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My tribute to Wild London

I watched Wild London, David Attenborough’s latest programme about London and all its wild creatures. Well wild -ish. Pigeons not quite up there for me, but it was interesting nevertheless. It is our last day in the city and I have amassed my own Wild London tribute – in honour of the great man who has given us so much. The sheer delight of seeing a Red Admiral on a…

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A 30 year waiting list.

Well, it’s not Season Tickets for Arsenal – the waiting time is shorter. It is an allotment in Fitzroy Garden Allotment. It began in 1924 and expanded over the years to cover 3.5 acres of south facing land next to Hampstead Heath. No Plots Available – Waiting List Closed – 169 on the waiting list (as at 24th January 2020) We had the pleasure of meeting a very spirited friend in her…

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Good words

We have just returned from a wedding weekend. My beautiful goddaughter married her long term partner in a country home called Huntsham Court. It is is a Grade II* listed Tudor Gothic mansion in Devon, built between 1868 – 70. It was originally constructed for a new bride, ( Can you imagine how daunting that must have been?) a long stint as a hotel, and its modern revival as an exclusive-use…

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A world away

Swapping the screeching cockatoos for the screeching breaks of the trains that run at the back of Ant’s flat. A new area in London characterised by rampant building and mercifully some good green landscaping. Trouble is the UK is experiencing a very dry period and all the lawns have turned yellow. They are planning and laying down lawns and have just imposed a hose pipe ban. The hustle and bustle…

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Churchill’s Paintings

Gary Oldham’s voice is gravelly and gruff and utterly Winston’s. It transports me to the time and place and I listen to how the paintings were conceived. Churchill was a politician foremost. He took up painting aged 40. There is hope for some of us. He had some great teachers and visited interesting places where he could concentrate on the image in front of him. He loved the South of…

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Nefeli

For posterity, for a vision I thoroughly enjoyed. No photos other than the place it all unfolded, which is this. People watching is the dream of beach holidays – but this was even better. Nefeli a two year old with a pink hat which covered her two pigtails and kept her neck out of the sun and her pink costume, playing on the edge of this beach with her Greek…

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