‘Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.’ – JK Rowling Happy Birthday, to my blog! This is my 100th posting, so it seems the perfect time to celebrate the wonder and power of words which are, after all, the life and soul … More CENTENARY CELEBRATION
‘Praise be to God, the first wine was made from Cape grapes’ – Jan van Riebeeck from his diary entry on 2nd February 1659 It’s a birthday month for the South African wine industry, and with hundreds of wineries there are plenty of opportunities for people to join the celebrations, propose a toast or two … More Cheers!
‘Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.’ – Abraham Lincoln I learnt a new word this month: permacrisis. You don’t need to be a language expert to work out that … More Global Tipping Point
‘A home without books in a body without a soul’ – Cicero For the past few years, I’ve kept track of every book that I’ve read, purely for my own satisfaction. When I signed up to Goodreads a few years ago, I discovered that they have an annual reading challenge. I’ve taken part so that … More Top Ten Books of 2023
‘I felt overstuffed and dull and disappointed, the way I always do the day after Christmas, as if whatever it was the pine boughs and the candles and the silver and gilt-ribboned presents and the birch-log fires and the Christmas turkey and the carols at the piano promised never came to pass.’ Sylvia Plath – … More Post-Christmas 2023
‘May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.’ Anon I once had a group of eight-year-olds ask me if we had elephants in our garden in South Africa. It’s amazing which images persist and what impressions stick. I could have told them that Cape Town is actually a very … More Christmas Contrasts
Small beginnings are the launching pad to great endings – Joyce Meyer (American author & speaker) The reviews are in, the blog tour is over and now it’s just a question of two online book launches before Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories is truly out there in the big, wide world. I’m really looking … More Counting Down
‘An unreviewed book is a struck bell that gives no resonance… Reviewing makes reading a participant sport, not a spectator sport.’ Patricia Hampl – American memoirist, writer, lecturer, and educator. Last month I celebrated the birth, or arrival, of my new book baby: Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories. While I recognise that my followers … More Time to Face the Music
It’s been a long nine months, but we’re all doing well. #bookbaby … More A new book baby
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 I’ve been fortunate to be able to see the local Helderberg mountains this week, here in the Western Cape. There have been days when the lingering wet winter … More Keep looking up
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