Month: July 2020

Coronavirus Diary 58 – An unfortunate accident!

I made a very rare social outing last week to meet a friend.  It wasn’t planned but I had to go to the bank and they happened to live just a minute away so we met up for a hot drink. Staying in the cafe wasn’t an option as it was take-away only, nevertheless we… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 58 – An unfortunate accident!

An Iron Age murder victim is uncovered

I’ve written before about the importance of archeology conducted when big new works are constructed it happens almost on a daily basis in the U.K. and I noticed another fascinating one a few days ago relating to the works surrounding the High Speed Rail project. One site at Wellwick Farm in Buckinghamshire has revealed thousands of years… Continue reading An Iron Age murder victim is uncovered

Coronavirus Diary 57 – Following in the footsteps of Count Dracula

When one thinks of Count Dracula it is natural to think of Transylvania in Romania with  the dark foreboding forests and eerie castle or perhaps the ancient pathways and lonely hills of Whitby. However some of Dracula is actually set in London and Brahm Stoker was clearly influenced by one or two cemeteries here in… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 57 – Following in the footsteps of Count Dracula

For Sale: An authentic Victorian Vampire Slayer Box Set

One of my favourite television programme 20 or so years ago was Buffy The Vampire Slayer and even now there have been few shows with such sharp dialogue often overlooked by many at the time due to the perceived nature of the show. Buffy is just one of the more recent example of vampires in… Continue reading For Sale: An authentic Victorian Vampire Slayer Box Set

My instagrammable blue cottage

I thought I would post some new photos of the front of my new but ancient cottage.  it being outside, it is the one of the few things I have managed to get completed during the virus situation. It is still not quite complete but due to everything going on I missed a few planting… Continue reading My instagrammable blue cottage

Coronavirus Diary 56 – My first hug!

In England, last Saturday was known as Super Saturday with the first substantial re-opening of shops and pubs soon after most shops re-opened.   Of course none of that interested me in the slightest. It probably shows something of what a simple life I lead and what makes me happy when on an off-chance I… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 56 – My first hug!

Remembering Ennio Morricone

I heard early yesterday morning of the death of film composer Ennio Morricone who provided the soundtrack to some of my favourite films. Born in Rome in 1928 while Italy was headed by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, Morricone learned music from his father, a trumpeter in small orchestras.   He went on to compose scores… Continue reading Remembering Ennio Morricone

The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset

When I was out in London last week, I went on a walk of discovery.  As is often the way in London, I ‘discovered’ several places but also got the chance to visit somewhere I knew perfectly well even though I’d never been there… at least not for 6 or 7 years and never to… Continue reading The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset