There are words that lie like melting toffee in my mouth – words like twilight, ubiquitous and cornucopia (I’d like one of those, but unfortunately they seem to be very rare) (Abundantia and her magic horn – by Rubens) There are words that empower me, words like knowledge, leadership and ambition. (Or maybe all this […]
A woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do – a reflection on the word “MUST” Read More »
These last few hours have been defined by p-a-i-n. If I bend over to zip up my boots, my thighs and bum screech in protest. When I slide my arms into the sleeves of my winter jacket, my shoulder blades groan. If I stretch my arms over my head to lift down clean towels, my
Except of course, that beauty is generally quite subjective isn’t it? Where some go “oooh” and “aaah” while gaping at the Grand Canyon, others may be quite unmoved – or battling vertigo. Beauty in human beings is not only subjective, it is also fashion driven, so that what might be the hottest of looks in
Caravaggio: Amor Vincit Omnia I write about love in my books. Not only the mushy “loooove” type of love, because love as a concept encompasses so much more than the electrical shiver that runs up your spine when your loved one places a hand on your lower back. We have a tendency now and then
A letter to someone very dear: “Time is running out. I want to tell you that I love you, so very much do I love you. But my tongue is glued to my palate, my vocal chords are incapable of forming that necessary initial vowel. There are times when I dislike you, when I find
My books are set in the seventeenth century for a variety of reasons, none of which have anything to do with the prevailing fashions of the time. Still, as a conscientious writer I spend a lot of time investigating what people wore, partly to get the details right in my books, partly because you never
Dressed for success – wardrobe issues for the reluctant time traveller. Read More »
I’ve had the flu for well over a week. This may explain why I am not my normal alert (hmm) self. I sincerely hope it explains why my nights have been haunted by dreams of purple flower pots! For three nights running I’ve been dreaming of huge purple flower pots, so heavy they’re almost impossible
Purple flower pots and other weird and wonderful things Read More »
I should be dead. At least according to the lines criss-crossing my palm… Okay, so I’m not a palmist, but when the lifeline starts shrinking that sort of makes you think “oops”. I discovered this disturbing new development by chance some hours ago, and have since then poured over my palms, turning them this way
Fortune’s Favourite – a reflection on fate and fortune-tellers Read More »
I have fallen in love with my Kindle. Totally, unequivocally in love. I smirk (yupp, no other word for it) when I consider just how MANY books I can carry around in this versatile little device, thereby avoiding strained shoulders due to heavy hand luggage. BUT. Major but … there’s a lack of sensory impressions.
A book, a book, a kingdom for a … (hang on; wasn’t that a horse?) Read More »
A colleague of mine came into my office today, expressing concerns that he might be becoming a bit staid. I was hard put not to laugh; okay, so my colleague is no longer 25, bright eyed and bushy tailed, instead he’s 45 – just as bright eyed if somewhat less bushy tailed – but age