I just found this book on my shelf after many years and was enchanted all over again by the sweetness of the cover. The illustrator is Margery Gill. The back cover is no less delightful. I received this book for Christmas when I was ten. I remember choosing it with the woman who gave it […]Read Post ›
When I was very small my paternal grandmother used to talk about going to the Prater, the ancient Viennese funfair with a giant ferris wheel. I never really understood what she was talking about, as the Polish words for Vienna and prison were virtually interchangeable in my childish mind – I knew she had lived […]Read Post ›
For all those mentioned in the programme. If you remember, get in touch! Looking through some stuff the other day I came across this newspaper cutting, lovingly preserved by my father, and the memories of one of my most embarrassing moments came flooding back. As you may have realised, acting is not one of my […]Read Post ›
At least, I wanted to change or rather cancel my digital subscription to the Times. I didn’t use the app, I couldn’t get my head round all the options, and I have many other more easily accessible optios available. So, for once, I grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to make hay while […]Read Post ›
Today is my youngest daughter’s birthday. Just over a week ago she got married to the young man of her dreams, whom she has known for over ten years, and whom we have grown to know and love very much too. The wedding was spectacular, and one of my profoundest joys was being asked to […]Read Post ›
I have had this scarf for sixty years. It is one of my oldest and most treasured possessions. But it was not until today that I thought to investigate the writing on it. Thank goodness for the Internet. I discovered that in 1962 there were international skiing championships in Poland. This is what Wikipedia has […]Read Post ›
I had a lovely day today. We went to my youngest daughter’s for a delicious lunch, made by her fiancé – husband to be in two weeks, eek, and accompanied by his mother and uncle and my son. The only person I was sad was not there, was my eldest daughter, but she’s just moved […]Read Post ›
Maja is my one of my oldest and best friends. I have known her since September 1965 when she started going to my school. I knew her father before then, as he worked with my mum, and her brother, Tom, and I knew of her- but had never met her until she started at my […]Read Post ›
for CE What an amazing book! A very moving book. Complicated in structure at first – I had to start it over again a few times before I finally got the hang of it – that’s what happens when you have a book in every room and pick them up at random. Anyway last week […]Read Post ›
One of my favourite pictures of all time. This is because it is full of memories. Our first flat in South Ealing Road. Kasia is sitting in a basket which belonged to my grandmother who kept all her pots and pans and cutlery in it when I was small. Somehow I inherited it well before […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 