Anti-Social Media?
Everyone seems to be talking about social media these days, largely because of the controversies about Twitter. Social media are important to writers like me because they provide an important way to tell people about our books. This blog is a form of social media and...
Exploring an 18th century grotto
Some of us who show people round Marble Hill House took a busman's holiday this week and went to visit Pope's Grotto. Marble Hill House Alexander Pope is important to the story of Marble Hill because he was a great friend of the first owner of the house, Henrietta...
Burghley House
We're still working the last of summer for all it's worth. This week we went to Burghley to see the house started in 1555 by William Cecil, the Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth. He was the most important politician in the country and built Burghley as his...
Cawnpore
There has been a lot of talk lately about how people in Britain don’t know anything about the history of the British Empire. The ‘Empire Project’, people say, should be looked at afresh. The British should face up to the reality of the things that the country did in...
Introducing my vampire detective
On my blog last week, I mentioned my vampire policeman, Chief Inspector Pole. Most of you know me (if you know me at all) as a writer of historical fiction, but I also write Urban Fantasy. My Galbraith & Pole stories feature a vampire who works for the...
Heading for the hills
It got so hot in London that we have headed off to the hills and are spending a few days in mid-Wales. I've posted photos before, but they never really catch it, so I took a couple of short videos and tried to put them on TikTok. I'm not sure they are an improvement...
In 1800 the world could be a very small place
When my wife was young, she lived in a small village in mid Wales. One day, one of her neighbours decided not to shop in the local market town but to travel away to the big city. When she got there, she found a junction that was controlled by traffic lights. She was...
Summer!
Another week gone and we finally have summer! Dancing outdoors yesterday and again on Sunday. Best enjoy it while it’s here. Cutting back on blogging and social media has meant more time for enjoying summer. I've been dancing indoors and out and was able to skate from...
Those Who Wait: Donald Hounam
Another book review this week. Full disclosure: Donald is a friend I used to go street-skating with. So when he wrote a book about a teenage street-skater who gets involved with a ghost, I sort of had to read it. I’m glad I did because it’s a blast. Fifteen year-old...
Operation Tulip: Deborah Swift
Operation Tulip is the third and final book in Deborah Swift’s World War 2 Secret Agent series. Our heroine, Nancy Callaghan, started the war with the SOE, as a cipher clerk at their offices in Baker Street. She went on, though, to become a field agent, working as a...