summer

Spring is almost sprung as my hibernating pals return

It definitely looks as though Spring is about to jump out and say a big HELLO! to the world in general and hopefully our garden in particular. It doesn’t alleviate the sorrow I feel now that I have accepted the death of poor old Hopalong, my three-legged foxy friend. Last night, however, there were twoContinue reading “Spring is almost sprung as my hibernating pals return”

Airly Beacon

by Charles Kingsley Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the pleasant sight to seeShires and towns from Airly BeaconWhile my love climbed up to me!Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the happy hours we layDeep in fern on Airly Beacon,Courting through the summer’s day!Airly Beacon, Airly Beacon;Oh, the weary haunt for me,All alone on Airly Beacon;With his baby onContinue reading “Airly Beacon”

Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne

It took 600 years to really establish the Saxons as lords and masters of the land now called England. They had driven the original inhabitants into the West and then pushed back the various Nordic invaders into small enclaves. Edward the Confessor had ruled for a good time but in 1066 he popped his clogsContinue reading “Sacred relics and broken oaths with three claimants to English throne”

Who needs to run away to the circus I found my place in a puppet show

My father was a good man. He didn’t lay down the law when I was growing up, instead he led by example. He was gentle and considerate, I never heard him swear and he only shouted at me once – I deserved it. There is one piece of advice he gave me in my teensContinue reading “Who needs to run away to the circus I found my place in a puppet show”

The Kiss

by Edith Nesbit The snow is white on wood and wold, The wind is in the firs, So dead my heart is with the cold, No pulse within it stirs, Even to see your face, my dear, Your face that was sun; There is no spring this bitter year, And summer’s dreams are done. TheContinue reading “The Kiss”

by John Clare Come we to the summer, to the summer we will come, For the woods are full of bluebells and the hedges full of bloom, And the crow is on the oak a-building of her nest, And love is burning o in my true lover’s breast; She sits beneath the whitethorn a-plaiting ofContinue reading “Summer”

A final summer

Studying at home and spending more time, whenever possible, at the newspaper office strengthened my interest in becoming a reporter day by day. More than anything I developed a love for the structure and development of language and the written word. I know my photographer colleagues believe their pictures are worth a thousand words butContinue reading “A final summer”