Florence provides one of the most rewarding of European city breaks, and hardly needs the additional publicity from UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech on Brexit there on September 22, 2017. And yet her appearance does serve a purpose, in underlining the universal and eternal appeal of great art and architecture, and questioning the wisdom of… Continue reading
Conkers in crisis – can horse chestnut survive annual onslaught by pests?
The damage caused by the larvae of the leaf miner moth in horse chestnuts seems particularly severe in parts of Southern Britain this year. While not fatal in itself, the moth may fatally weaken the trees. Autumn comes prematurely in sad little pockets of England and Wales. As early as July the leaves of the… Continue reading
How the Proms celebrated dazzling Welsh musical talent Morfydd Owen
A hundred years ago this week (September 18, 1917) the work of a Welsh composer almost forgotten today was performed at the Proms, under the baton of the illustrious Henry Wood. She was just 26. Morfydd Llwyn Owen was in distinguished company. All the other composers performed that night were Russians of considerable reputation, Glazunov, Mussorgsky,… Continue reading
Anguilla – Caribbean gem struck by Hurricane Irma
By grim coincidence, I was editing this piece yesterday (September 6, 2017). I’m still setting it out in full here because this wonderful island deserves all the support it can get. Its people were extremely hospitable to me on my visit last November (2016) and, although one little article isn’t much, perhaps it will help… Continue reading
Carpe Diem – how to have a good day, every day
This is a perfect example of the day not grasped. I finished reading Carpe Diem Regained, by Roman Krznaric, about a month ago. So many half-formed thoughts I could easily have turned into sagacious comments while they were fresh in my mind. So I ought to have have set aside time the next day and… Continue reading
Celebrating England’s Michelangelo on London’s leafy fringe
Surrey is easily missed, as we rush through by rail and road. Yet the first county to the west of London offers much to detain and reward the visitor. There are many pretty little villages and market towns, fine old buildings, tranquil countryside and river walks, including rambles along the Thames. Treasure trove So, a… Continue reading