St Patrick

St Patrick’s Day

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Tomorrow is St Patrick's Day and this year, like last year, it will be a very different event in Ireland. There will be no marches and bands, no get-togethers and parties. People are encouraged to stay home. Celebrating only…
what happened to the typewriter

What happened to the Typewriter?

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If you are of a certain vintage you'll probably know what a typewriter is. You have either used one or can remember the clatter and ringing sounds of a typewriter. I recently discovered my old typewriter. But what actually happened…
Adalar

The City on 2 Continents (final)

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For the final of our virtual tour through the city on 2 continents - Istanbul - we're going to the beach. We've done the historical and cultural sides of this ancient city already, although there is so much more to see and learn,…
The City on 2 continents (2)

The City on 2 Continents (2)

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As I explained in my blog last week we had seven days to get to know Istanbul better. We took one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours on our first day there. If you want to get an overall picture of what a city looks like, this…
The City on 2 Continents

The City on 2 Continents (1)

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Istanbul. The only metropolis in the world situated on two continents. Europe and Asia. It might be the largest city in Turkey with a population of 15 million people, but it is not the capital. That is Ankara. Just saying. With…

5 Things that make me happy

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You know that song about favourite things... yes, from The Sound of Music? Well, if you think about it, we all have favourite things that make us happy....   I was thinking about things in my house that I…
Two Books Two Reviews

Two Books Two Reviews

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“Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, published by GP Putnam’s Sons. Many people…
Good things that happened in 2020

Good things about 2020

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  With 2021 still in its baby shoes, most of us are glad 2020 is over.  It was an unprecedented year to say the least.  Millions of people got infected by the Covid-19 coronavirus. More than one million sadly died.  Governments…
Stille Nacht and other carols

‘Silent Night’ and other Carols

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It was 1914.  The First World War. A bitter cold winter in the trenches for soldiers on the Western Front. Bleak, with little hope that the fighting would stop over Christmas.  Then, on Christmas Eve, the English…
crafts for Christmas

Christmas crafts for all

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In this new kind of normal with social distancing and masks it is still imperative that we make the Christmas season the special time it always is, a celebration. So, I thought to get you in the mood I'll make a few Christmas…