The small stock of books was snapped up this week. Speaking to the Stokes Bay WI was utter pleasure as their huge membership produced an audience of nearly 100 supportive and receptive listeners. We had all battled torrential rain so…
Congratulations to the young blind black woman who has just become a barrister. Now she needs a set of Chambers to take her on as a pupil for the next step into the profession. I was lucky: still serving in…
I’m hoping that these were the end of the windfall cooking apples. Although I can manage the peeling and coring, I need someone who can see to chop out the bruises etc. Thanks to a glut of discount ramekins snapped…
The talk at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium, a cooking demo, plus a short trip to France have kept me busy for the last few weeks. France was utterly splendid: autumn colours, 25C temperatures and masses of delicious food. I was particularly entranced…
Bread and butter boards seem to be the latest food fad. Dipping bread in oils at the restaurant table is being overtaken by “butter boards”: whipped butter spread and piped with different flavourings (salts, edible flowers, smoke, chicken crackling and…
Utterly freezing! The Great Hall in Winchester was the chilly venue for the Hampshire Beekeepers’ Honey Show last weekend and my small contribution was (wo)manning the Asian Hornet stand. In this 13th century massive edifice, main doors and side door…
Whatever is happening to our economy? I don’t really get too bogged down in politics but just want to understand the financial implications of what is going on. First, we had the soaring cost of gas and electricity. Here the…
This week’s speaking engagement is at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton – the home to the “Saints” football club. Visually impaired people from all over Hampshire will be discovering ways of making life easier. I’ll be talking at 14:15 on…
Listening to the committal of HM the Queen, I remember St George’s Chapel at Windsor from several conferences at Windsor. One could visit the Chapel for Evensong at the end of long days and it was daunting to realise one…
St Peter’s Church at Titchfield is truly ancient (originally built in 680 AD and the oldest church in Hampshire) when the village was an important seafaring centre. Last weekend, supporters of the precious building held their annual jazz event at…
