News & Reviews

Ship shape

There’s something special about a city in the early morning, especially when the sun is shining. At one time I thought this applied only to far-off places like Prague, Paris, or Budapest, but yesterday’s early arrival at Bristol Crown Court  (for jury service)  reminded me that beauty and interest can be found close to home. The streets that now … Continue reading Ship shape

Manna from heaven

Despite the odd nice surprise, I’ve had a bit of a reading drought recently. You know how it goes. You join a book club expecting to extend your range of reading (and therby your enjoyment) but end up with stuff you just don’t particularly take to.  I’m glad to say this patch has well and truly … Continue reading Manna from heaven

Paint your Dragon

Watching this young artist putting the finishing touches to a Welsh dragon  was one of the unexpected bonuses of visiting Celtic Manor Wales Open on the day before the main competition was due to start.  (Health warning. This post may contain references to golf!) With a very small crowd of spectators watching the preliminary Pro-Am we … Continue reading Paint your Dragon

Mud, not so glorious mud

The opening of Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan  was almost enough to put me off. “Henry and I dug the hole seven feet deep. Any shallower and the corpse was liable to come rising up during the next big flood.” The corpse is the narrator’s father and it looks like he didn’t die in his sleep. … Continue reading Mud, not so glorious mud

World View

When Nathan Bransford asked his reader’s this week which fictional world they would like to live in, the responses were, I thought, a bit dull. The question, I suppose, was weighted towards realms of fantasy, rather than geographic or historical location and so maybe it’s no surprise that Hogwart’s and  various bits of Middle Earth … Continue reading World View