SPRING IS HERE. It might not look like spring. The air is still bitter and aroma-less, the birds that frolicked a few weeks ago have swiftly buggered off again and everyone’s whinging about the snow. So, the weather’s glum and with the economy set to decline even further because of it, us Brits are even […]
The Moon of Other Days Rudyard Kipling Beneath the deep veranda’s shade, When bats begin to fly, I sit me down and watch — alas! – Another evening die. Blood-red behind the sere ferash She rises through the haze. Sainted Diana! can that be The Moon of Other Days? Ah! shade of little Kitty […]
I was recently introduced to the work of Nick Papadimitriou by fellow MA student, Rachel Andrews (Thanks Rachel!) and it has blown my tiny mind. After decades spent researching and documenting London’s topography for, among others, Will Self, he’s put together a book, Scarp (great review by radio producer Tim Dee). It tells the story […]
There’s a certain romance to the River Wandle. Most of it’s hidden behind walls or pushed underground in concrete tunnels, the bits we do see are small and often littered with Lucozade bottles and broken washing machines. But despite our best efforts to hide it, dirty its waters and forget it even, it just keeps on flowing. It’s […]
For the last week, I’ve been hanging about in Bath and Corsham for my second MA residential week. I have to say, it was bloody brilliant. We met some fascinating people – author Maggie Gee, travel writer Gail Simmons, radio producer Sarah Blunt, poet Terry Gifford – and had such a great time. Corsham Court […]
The first parakeets of spring have arrived! Last week we spotted dozens in Istanbul, swooping in pairs, their brilliant green and yellow tail feathers following like a silk train. It seems as though they’ve followed us home. They’re not very popular creatures, but they have a certain poignancy in London. Ring-neck parakeets originate from the foothills of […]
I’ve just found an old bit of writing, it’s a sort of flash non-fiction piece and I thought I may as well share. It’s quite airy-fairy and no jokes, I must have been having a grown-up week. I’m really busy at the moment so finding it hard to blog, there could well be more of […]
When I first saw these floating kitchens from Gelata Bridge, I thought they were some sort of fairground ride. Bursting with neon and rocking violently in the wake of a passing ferry, it seemed the most logical conclusion. In fact, they’re grilled fish vendors, selling their sandwiches to people on the adjacent street. It doesn’t […]
