Another Blank Holiday May 26, 2025 - Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK, often referred to as the ‘late May’ or the ‘Spring’ Bank Holiday. This distinguishes it from the ‘early May’ Bank Holiday and the August ‘Summer’ Bank Holiday. My American husband once asked me why all our public holidays are referred to as ‘Bank’ holidays and, quite honestly,… Read More
The Great White South April 21, 2025 - Antarctica and the Moon have long existed as magical places in my imagination. Empty, desolate and far away, no nation has successfully laid claim to either one. There are no settlements on the Moon and only research stations and field camps at the South Pole. Antarctica is the highest continent on the planet, as well… Read More
The Equality of Greatness March 22, 2025 - This week, John Allman ‘Paddy’ Hemingway, the last of the WWII fighter pilots, died at the age of 105. Born in Dublin, Hemingway came to England in 1938 and joined the Royal Air Force. At the age of 21 he fought in the Battle of Britain, a conflict which claimed the lives of more than… Read More
Swiss Watch Your Step February 12, 2025 - The Swiss do things well. They do things really well. And, sometimes, they do things a bit too well. A few months ago I was on a bus in Zurich, struggling to purchase a ticket at the machine. My coin was either damaged or no longer legal tender. The error, of course, had to be… Read More
The Woodshop Teacher December 4, 2024 - Douglas Van Dyck Brown taught Woodworking at a Massachusetts boarding school for 50 years. He retired in 2021 at the age of 82. The following excerpts are taken from his biography "The Man in the Blue-Striped Shirt" by Una Suseli O’Connell, published, November 2024. --- “Mr. Brown is clear about who he is. He was… Read More
Whose Life Is It Anyway? November 12, 2024 - As a Swiss passport holder I am legally permitted to travel to the country of my birth and enlist the support of Dignitas or Exit in order to end my life. In 2002 Diane Pretty, who was suffering with advanced Motor Neuron Disease, was denied the right to travel to a clinic in Switzerland. No… Read More
Tipping Over The Edge August 19, 2024 - In England the standard gratuity for restaurant service is 10%. This is generally added to your bill and referred to as a ‘Service Charge’. If you are of the opinion that your server was less than satisfactory, you can request that the charge be removed, or indeed remove it yourself. This is not common practice,… Read More
Remembering Dr. Leonore Goldschmidt May 11, 2024 - Buildings are vessels of history and Folkestone is a town rich in historical buildings. On the corner of Earls Ave and Shorncliffe Road stands a handsome brick and stone-dressed residence, once the summer home of the Boddam Whetham family. Since the late 19th century, however, it has served as an academic institution. In 1895, the… Read More
A Brilliant Disguise August 12, 2023 - In 2007 I attended the memorial and burial of the writer and philosopher, Douglas Edison Harding. My presence at his graveside that day was a co-incidence and not due to any personal connection to the family. To be honest, I had never heard of the man C.S. Lewis once described as a writer of ‘the… Read More
A Renaissance Man June 20, 2023 - The term ‘Renaissance Man’ is rarely used today. It appears to have fallen away in this 21st century of self-appointed authorities and experts. Of course you’d never describe yourself as a Renaissance Man (or Woman). This would be the preserve of others, most likely after your death, perhaps in an obituary or eulogy. A Renaissance… Read More