For all my ex pupils I was a teacher for about 44 years. I started when I was still at school (in those days they didn’t have supply teachers, just willing sixth formers like me) and i loved the job most of the time. At first I taught mainly English to A level, then for […]Read Post ›
45 years ago I got married for the first time. I’d met my husband a month before and we decided to get married as soon as we could. Various reasons, mostly practical, but of course we didn’t envisage any of the fallout. I’ve written about this before, so I’m not going to dwell on it […]Read Post ›
I’m in Valencia at the moment, having been whisked here by husband to try and forget about my impending cataract removal and to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. It’s been a great time for celebrations – I was seventy 3 weeks ago and had the most fabulous surprises, dinners, parties etc. it’s nice getting old, […]Read Post ›
No not the opera, not many Spanish girls of that name, but the best birthday present ever when I was 17, in 1970. My parents had friends who I now realise were doing their utmost to treat me as a grown up rather than the sweet little girl that my parents made me out to […]Read Post ›
In British Commonwealth service, the White Scout Car was regarded more as an armored truck, reflected in the designation “Truck, 15cwt, 4×4, Armoured Personnel”, and was used in a variety of secondary roles, being issued to engineer, artillery (as an observation vehicle for field artillery observers) medical (as a protected ambulance) and signals units; within […]Read Post ›
Today we said our final goodbye to an extraordinary person. The red acer above is a constant reminder of our friendship. When I met Marysia and her sister Anna they both had hair the colour of this tree. Like Anne of Green Gables they both became my heroines, for their vibrancy, unconventionality and fierce intelligence […]Read Post ›
Christmas 2012 John pulling a cracker with “Magick” I first met John in 1992 in the grand educational establishment that was known as Walford High School. Set in the westernmost part of London, not the east end as you might expect, it was in many ways a nightmare of a school, but as a source […]Read Post ›
Happy Birthday. 8 May I interviewed this beautiful woman a couple of years ago for an entry in the souvenir programme of the polish Jubilee Ball. As it is her birthday today I thought I would share the article with you. She was such a delight to talk to, as she gave me tea in […]Read Post ›
I just found this rather interesting (to me, at least) photograph. Taken in Egerton Court about 1966, from the left are my Aunt Alice, my mother Grazyna, her mother in law, Pani Seydlitzowa, as I called her, and Dr Ewa Janaszewska, a kidney specialist from Poland. More about her another time. Pani Seydlitzowa, as you […]Read Post ›
Clearing out. Two words I hate. Clearing out is so hard to do. But it has to be done. One thing at a time. Now I’m not going to write about every object consigned to the recycling bin. Most actually produce no memories. They are easily discarded. But The Woman in Black is a play […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 