The Enchanted Shirt
I’ve enjoyed John Hay’s poem, The Enchanted Shirt ever since I bought a slim volume of his poetry, Pike County Ballads, printed …
Equivalents for the Megaliths
Paul Nash’s painting, Equivalents for the Megaliths, from 1935, is in Tate Britain, and I was thrilled to get a close look at it.
Poundshop Tolkien or Game of Thrones knock-off?
The Premier Inn haven’t cleaned my room properly again. They’ve left someone else’s book next to my bed, which appears to be …
The Magpie’s Box
We were at Tate Britain in London a month or so ago when my eye was drawn to this exhibit, mainly because …
“Girls are not much better either”
I’m briefly stuck in the 1970s, before I get back to jellying a salad in the 1940s, because I’m fascinated by this …
Adult Human female
I was at the Natural History Museum in London a month ago when I saw the skeleton of an adult human female. …
Three Old Women
I’ve always wanted to go to Hampstead Heath. No, not because it’s the busiest gay cruising site in the UK, possibly the …
The ultimate Babylonian Lion jigsaw
If you’ve ever received an unwanted jigsaw for Christmas, it may well have been one of those ‘ultimate most difficult jigsaw ever’ …
Egyptian Ibis mummy
The British Museum is full of curiosities. Here’s the Easter-egg-like sarcophagus of an Ibis mummy. It’s made of gilded wood and bronze …
Cat Mum
I love all the plunder in the British Museum. Some of the debate about returning treasures is so emotive it’s difficult to …
Like a fish needs a bicycle
I remember hearing the phrase “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” many years ago. The standard response …
A teeth-chattering experience
Previously in Rome, I tried a bike-sharing scheme. It wasn’t the success I had hoped for: Similar bike schemes have failed in …
A modern ancient art
Rome has many modern examples of a very ancient art; graffiti. I have no idea what this is all about: He’s got …
Giordano Bruno, the Librorum Prohibitorum and the Field of Flowers
I generally don’t have heroes. People are too fallible and too human to admire uncritically. Sometimes I make an exception, though. Giordano …
Briscola
When the weather is fine, and after having their coffee and reading the local Rome paper, the older men at my favourite …
Dogs, dogs and more dogs
Walking through Trastevere in Rome I see a group of dogs tied to a railing. They’re such a perfect group I risk …
Graffiti
It’s not often you hear the singular of graffiti which is graffito. Perhaps that’s because one graffito attracts another. Graffiti actually means …
Little St Peters
Sampietrini are the tiny cobbles used in historic areas of Rome. They’re particularly common in my favourite area, Trastevere. They’re great because …
An oculus on a spandrel and silver in the river
The light this morning is fabulous. I ought to get out and experience Rome as it wakes. Walking down the river Tevere, …
1940s Onion Soup – just onions and water
As part of living a wilder life I’m enjoying getting some different perspectives. That includes listening to people who have completely different …
Eat more British cheese
At the Columbia Road Flower Market I couldn’t resist these two people and the lettering in the shop window. Eat more British …
The flower market
A trip to London to stay with my son gave us an opportunity to walk to Columbia Road Flower Market. It’s in …
Captain James Cook, warmonger, colonialist, kidnapper and wildlife criminal
I’ve been suspicious about the truth of what I’m taught ever since I was a child. At primary school I learned all …
Organic food – a glossary #4
“Is organic food any better for you?”, people ask, as if that’s the only worthwhile question to ask. A follow up question …
Critically endangered – a glossary #3
Life on Earth is in dire trouble. The Living Planet Report 2020 reports: “The global Living Planet Index continues to decline. It …
Biodiversity – a glossary #2
Biodiversity is a pretentious term used by people who want to sound as if they understand something that you don’t. Usually, using …
Conservation – a glossary #1
Conservation sounds like it should be a good thing, a thing with which everyone agrees. We all want to conserve the natural …
Edward Everard
I worked in Bristol for several years and frequently diverted my route across the city to see the Edward Everard building. Everard …
A Tivoli view
I loved our trip to Tivoli. This view through the ancient doorways of the Renaissance masterpiece is particularly effective, especially when you …
Tivoli
I love this photograph from our trip to Villa d’Este in Tivoli. The breathtaking 16th Century gardens are enough to take the …