In one of our favourite parts of the local forest. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another day of cloud and sunny periods, with a threat of thunderstorms this evening. We set out to check the lilies on the fishing pond and found only a few have …
Today’s Pictures: 12 June 20
Follow that trail! Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Another grey day, though not so dull as yesterday, and with some brief moments of brightness. We had a good 3-mile walk before lunch, and the forecast rain has just started as I post this. The humidity is …
Finding the Write #Words? No. 35: The Penguin Rhyming Dictionary
Continuing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 35: The Penguin Rhyming Dictionary Paperback, 530 pages. Published in 1985 by Viking and, in the same year, by Penguin Books, and reprinted in 1986, which is the edition I own. It cost me …
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Today’s Pictures: 11 June 20
A family enjoying a picnic on the forested slopes on the way to the Stresa Mottorone station in the mountains behind the town. The station where the cable cars arrive can be seen on top of the hill to the left of the central pine tree. We had walked down from that point to reach …
Today’s Pictures: 10 June 20
Sloping woods under a summer sun. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Spotted in our back garden today: a scarlet tiger moth. If you get pleasure from this, please share it, so others can enjoy it, too. Thank you.
Today’s Pictures: 9 June 20
We frequently walk under this old railway bridge, following the ancient cart track that once served the quarries and mines but now serves as a quiet trail. The railway line is now a flat and easy walkway. The bridge is Victorian engineering, probably built around 1850/60. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated …
Today’s Pictures: 8 June 20
Where does that path lead? Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rhossili Bay with the tide out. Taken September 2019. If you get pleasure from this, please share it, so others can enjoy it, too. Thank you.
Silent Heroes, by Patricia Furstenberg: #BookReview.
What do you know about the war(s) in Afghanistan? This remarkable story of courage, extremism, intolerance, loyalty, betrayal and love will tell you so much.The ‘silent’ heroes of the title are the sniffer dogs employed by American Marines in their hunt for IEDs (improvised explosive devices, if you didn’t know). But this story is about …
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Today’s Pictures: 7 June 20
Tall sentinels line the path. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Full moon over Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy. Taken September 2018. If you get pleasure from this, please share it, so others can enjoy it, too. Thank you.
Today’s Pictures: 6 June 20
The field we sometimes cross, as it should be today. But grey cloud and cold winds reigned, so I give you this from a better day. After all, the point here is to bring cheer. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. This Weird Weather Wettest second month …
Today’s Pictures: 5 June 20
The sun has returned. Dappled sunshine along the trail. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Worms Head at Rhossili, South Wales. Taken September 2019. If you get pleasure from this, please share it, so others can enjoy it, too. Thank you.
Finding the Write #Words? No. 34: The Oxford Spelling Dictionary
Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 34: The Oxford Spelling Dictionary Hardback, 299 pages. Published in 1986 by Oxford University Press, I own a BCA edition published in 1987, which I bought as part of a bundle offered by a book club, …
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That Moment of Epiphany.
Yesterday, I spent around 40 minutes talking to a stranger online. It changed my attitude. It changed my life. I had what Gabriela Blandy calls ‘an Extraordinary Conversation’ with her, online. Gabriela is a writer’s coach, among many other things. The experience was good right from the start. This is a woman who understands how …
Today’s Pictures: 4 June 20
The River Wye, much of which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, flows along past the bottom end of the village. In summer, there are often canoeists paddling along on the current, in groups or separately. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Richard III's castle …
Today’s Pictures: 3 June 20
Stony track with foxgloves. Trying to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. The much-needed rain has arrived today. We’ve had a short walk in the dripping trees, but I took no photographs, as I felt it better to present you with sunny views. So, today’s pictures come from my …

