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Life Through Basia's Eyes

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50 South Ealing Road.

Today is the tenth anniversary of my father’s death. This photo was taken in 1982. He was a sprightly 63. Kasia was one and a bit. I am showing you this photo because it brings back so many memories. We were living in the flat above my godfather’s accountancy office which he rented out to […]Read Post ›

Poem to Basia

Sorting through some books, this page fell out today. How apposite, I thought. But who was she? 17th century, I believe, but I don’t know any more. Do you?

Macbeth

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 ›

Sharon Jennings

It is exactly six years since Sharon went to meet her maker. Not an expression I would normally use, but her faith was her driving force. Everything she did was for the gleaner glory of God – very unusual in this day and age – but she sowed love everywhere. Fiercely intelligent, ferociously clever, her […]Read Post ›

Walter de la Mare

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 ›

The Power of the Poetry of the Old Testament

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos6:1a, 4-7 Those who sprawl and those who bawl will be exiled The almighty Lord says this: “Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria. Lying on ivory beds and sprawling on their divans, they […]Read Post ›

Moonflower Murders

What a great mystery – you get two books for the price of one, and though the parallels are (not so) subtly spelt out for you, there is more than enough whodunnitness to keep you interested. Anthony Horowitz writes the way I would like to write- wittily, observantly, intelligently. He’s clever and fun, and is […]Read Post ›

The Ides of March. Or David Pass

I wonder who remembers this face. If any of his family ever come across it then please get in touch. David’s birthday was on 15th March. He used to joke about the portents and then one day his worst fear was realised and he sadly died in May 1990, a very few weeks after being […]Read Post ›

Shuggie Bain

For C E I do not like misery literature and would never wittingly open a book whose bleakness, grimness and oppressiveness would be sure to depress me. Luckily I did not read anything about this book before I opened it. I received it for Christmas from a very dear friend and I trusted her that […]Read Post ›

Ontology

For CC Do I exist?  How do I know I exist?  Does it matter whether I exist? What is existence? To be or not to be, that is the question.  Except it’s been asked before.  And I expect it will be again. There is no answer. But I‘ve been given a word – ontology – […]Read Post ›

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