Published in About Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout Me — Madeleine McDonaldI left school with a certificate of shorthand typing in my pocket and the intention of working my way around the world, as an aunt had done a generation earlier. I got no further than France, where I settled in the ‘three-cornered land’ where France borders Switzerland and Germany. Translation…About Me2 min readAbout Me2 min read
PinnedMember-onlyEngland’s National Trust Report on Links with Historic Slavery Ignores Historic Poverty at HomeFor the Poor, Life Was Brutal In 2020 England’s National Trust attracted controversy with a report addressing the ‘histories of colonialism and historic slavery’ linked to some properties in its care. It is true that many grand houses and their estates were purchased with money from a vile trade. …History6 min readHistory6 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·16 hours agoMember-onlyThe printer and the skinflintWill obstinacy vanquish obsolescence? — My printer and I are old adversaries. About a year after I purchased it, it began to do its job with great reluctance, rather like a teenager who has promised to help with some household task but who needs reminders to actually put the phone down and get started. I…Technology3 min readTechnology3 min read
Published in The Shortform·2 days agoMember-onlyTo change or not to change?The handbag dilemma — I recently read an article on the fashion pages about saving time by picking out an outfit for each day of the week in advance. Admittedly, fashion journalists are always on the hunt for a different angle, and the article was lavishly illustrated. …Fashion2 min readFashion2 min read
Published in Food-101·4 days agoMember-onlyBubble and squeakA traditional British dish — January is the month to keep out the cold with a hearty serving of bubble and squeak. Preferably topped with a fried egg. Like many dishes, it evolved as a way to use up leftovers. …Food2 min readFood2 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 14Member-onlyThe perils of having a clear-outOf shower heads and QED — When the shower hose started leaking, I remembered the spare shower head that has lurked in the utility room cupboard for ages (it was probably rescued when we had the bathroom redone 15 years ago). And now the wretched thing has vanished! I rooted through all the reachable boxes of…It Happened To Me2 min readIt Happened To Me2 min read
Published in Food-101·Jan 13Member-onlyThe price of teaIt costs more than you think — For we Brits, there is nothing more reassuring, or more domestic, than a cup of tea. Strong, milky tea has seen the country through wars, economic boom or bust, and political upheavals. …Food And Drink3 min readFood And Drink3 min read
Published in Food-101·Jan 9Member-onlyThe Medicinal Value of a Hot ToddyA homemade recipe not to be despised — The hot toddy is a drink uniquely suited to Britain, where the cold, dank climate worms its way through ill-fitting windows, and lingers in our draughty bathrooms, attacking the very marrow of our bones. Few people get through the dark, dank days of a British winter without catching a cold…Food And Drink2 min readFood And Drink2 min read
Published in The Shortform·Jan 3Member-onlySouvenir CalendarsA well-meant waste of paper — Gifts1 min readGifts1 min readPhoto by Debby Hudson on UnsplashSouvenir CalendarsA well-meant waste of paper----2
Dec 29, 2022Member-onlyTen Quick Questions to Round Off 2022Thanks to Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and to the many other writers in the chain who rose to the challenge of answering the questions below. 1. Favorite Drink It has to be water. Some of my dad’s family were teetotal, apart from a wee dram of whisky on Hogmanay to welcome in the…Ideas3 min readIdeas3 min read
