Yesterday was National Handwriting Day in a number of countries and wonderful images of pages handwritten by various people from the past were floating around the internet. One was the the draft of a speech given by Elizabeth I to Parliament on 10 April 1563 responding to a House of Lords petition urging her to … Continue reading More than just written words?
Interesting things
A Grandish Tour
Although I am nearly a week back from my five week holiday in the northern hemisphere, my writing brain is still not functioning properly. I put it down to the combination of nearly twenty-four hours travelling contrary to the spinning of the earth and a very nasty cold caught in the process. So instead of … Continue reading A Grandish Tour
In My Garden – Birds (Native and Otherwise)
I live near the middle of a city covering an area of nearly 10,000 km2 of suburban sprawl, asphalt roads and footpaths - in the tatty northern suburbs of Melbourne, 200 metres from Bell Street, a major traffic sewer. Yet despite the concrete, asphalt and spindly street trees, nature still makes her presence felt. You … Continue reading In My Garden – Birds (Native and Otherwise)
One Minute Book Review – The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle
The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History is a delightful collection of books and related facts covering around 3,000 years. The books mentioned are not only literature and notable works but lesser known books in a range of areas. The ninety-nine books selected also tell something of the age that produced them. … Continue reading One Minute Book Review – The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle
Other Places, Other Times
In August last year I travelled for the first time to the northern hemisphere. It was a whirlwind tour, only a month away from home, and I managed to see so much yet I know I barely scratched the surface of the places that I visited. I firmly believe you could spend your whole life … Continue reading Other Places, Other Times
Words, Proverbs and Meanings
The meanings of words change over time. Awful began as a shortening for 'full of awe', in other words, inspiring wonder or fear. It has mutated to now be a tired word for something unpleasant. Although changing, on occasions a word will retain something of its original meaning. Elope was first used to described a … Continue reading Words, Proverbs and Meanings
A Favourite Quote – Samuel Pepys
Sunday 18 August 1667 ‘...turned into St. Dunstan’s Church, where I heard an able sermon of the minister of the place; and stood by a pretty, modest maid, whom I did labour to take by the hand and the body; but she would not, but got further and further from me; and, at last, I … Continue reading A Favourite Quote – Samuel Pepys
A Favourite Quote – G. B. Shaw (or someone)
'I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.' As well as George Bernard Shaw, this delightful quotation has variously been attributed to Oscar Wilde, Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain to name a few but not to Martin Luther, John Milton or (Heaven forfend) William … Continue reading A Favourite Quote – G. B. Shaw (or someone)
In My Garden – Marmalade bush
The Marmalade Bush (Streptosolen jamesonii) is a bright, long flowering evergreen. A South American plant (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), it does very well in temperate areas of Australia. Its blooms are loose clusters of small flared trumpet shaped flowers which range in colour from yellow to bright orange, the colour deepening as the flower matures. While … Continue reading In My Garden – Marmalade bush
In My Garden – Aquilegia
Aquilegia, also known as Columbine and Granny's Bonnet, is a perennial which flowers in spring. The blooms are striking - a spurred bell-shaped flower made up of five petals that spread out from the base surrounding five larger sepals. The petals and sepals are often of different colours and the blooms overall range in colour … Continue reading In My Garden – Aquilegia
Catherine Meyrick 