This is not a picture of Mother Mary Gabriel or Reverend Mother as she was known, because I could not easily find one of her today. It is however a painting of her predecessor, the founder of the Convent, sister Mary Tredway. The habit is similar but there the resemblance ends, as M M Gabriel […]Read Post ›
This semi-autobiographical short novel, from 1979,, is a fascinating expose of attitudes to life in an emerging post colonial Senegal. Written in the form of a letter from a recent widow to her friend who now lives in America, she looks back on her life as a teacher, mother of twelve, wife and widow of […]Read Post ›
Thank you KK This has been one of the most challenging books I have ever read – the subject matter is war – and normally I avoid this, because I want to relax, be entertained, and enjoy myself. This is quite hard to do when confronted with the horrors and passions and enormities of war. […]Read Post ›
This lovely picture is of my grandmother, Helena Łomnicka and my aunt, Alicja, taken after they were freed from Siberia and had recovered a little in Teheran before they were sent to the Lebanon in about 1944 or 5 Today is the 10th anniversary of my aunt’s death – I have written about her before […]Read Post ›
This is a story which my son discovered about some of his paternal ancestors. I have translated it from a newspaper article which I attach below. And a link to a a map. At the beginning of the nineteenth century in the centre of the present park stood a hunting lodge belonging to the Doschot […]Read Post ›
I bought this book because I could not find the one I actually wanted, “Future to Let,” which I started reading in a Polish translation in the Polish Weekly. “Future to Let” is being serialised, but I thought I couldn’t wait that long. Anyway, I prefer to read in English and it was originally written […]Read Post ›
21.01.2020 Last week was one of the most frustrating weeks that I have ever had. It was also one of the best because I caught up with some people I hadn’t seen in a long time. On Monday I was persuaded to eat a custard and fruit cake when I went for coffee with two […]Read Post ›
Last week I did something I never thought I would be able to do – mainly because I thought I would never have the opportunity, but also because I did not know if I would have the confidence or the knowledge. So when I saw the poster above my heart was in my mouth, but […]Read Post ›
This beautiful book jacket by David Knight covers one of my very favourite books of all time: “Love of Seven Dolls” by Paul Gallico. It perfectly epitomises the power of theatre, puppetry and storytelling. Not a children’s book at all, but appeals to the innermost child in any adult. I received this edition for my […]Read Post ›
Today is the 73rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, one of the most momentous acts of collective bravery and passion born of inspired hope and unimaginable heroism, yet not destined to succeed. The first official memorial in the UK to the contribution made by Polish forces to the allied efforts in World War II was unveiled by […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 