Clear by Carys Davies immediately drew me in. The story takes place in 1843 and revolves around three main characters: good-hearted, somewhat bumbling Scottish Free Church minister John Ferguson; his steady, astute wife Mary; and Ivar, the last remaining occupant of a remote Scottish island, and custodian of a dying language. Davies skilfully weaves her …
wind, rain, nerves and sunshine
Saturday, like many recent days, brought a real mix of weather - gusting winds, drizzle, brief downpours and bursts of sunshine. Having grown up in Melbourne, which has a reputation for delivering four seasons in one day, you would think I'd take this in my stride. But add in a bundle of nerves, and I …
walking and belonging
The theme for this year's London Festival of Architecture is belonging. This got me thinking about my sense of belonging and the connection I feel to this corner of south London, which gradually became home, and where I've now lived for more than half my life. When I first moved to Battersea, I knew nothing …
a booklet, a launch and an erratum
Spring is most definitely here, even if the biting wind and chilly temperature suggest otherwise. And my Winter Walks for Well-being and Writing project, commissioned as part of Wandsworth Council's year as London Borough of Culture, wrapped up towards the end of March. The final part of the project, once I'd delivered three walks and …
Sleepless in Battersea
A tealight flickersin a frosted glassemblazoned with the wordENERGY.Outside it is 4 a.m.,deep night –even the trainsare asleep.From the other side of the worldmy sister textshappy birthday jane austen.On the bookcase behind meher novels wait to be read,re-read.
one of those ‘exciting news’ posts
I'm thrilled to have been awarded a micro-commission as part of Wandsworth Council's year as London Borough of Culture. Alongside a programme of large scale events and festivals, the Council has put in place a light-touch application process for Wandsworth artists to apply for a small grant to create new work on the theme of …
a toot or two on my trumpet
A fortnight ago, I reprised the walk I'd devised for this year's London Festival of Architecture in June: Beyond the New Builds: Voices from Nine Elms' Past. I'd made a few tweaks to the route, and was pleased with the turnout - a baker's dozen of attendees. The weather also played ball, holding off the …
how is it almost September?
All afternoon I've had Kurt Weill's September Song swimming around my brain. Weill composed the beautiful, liltingly melancholy tune; the lyrics, which I erroneously thought were by Bertolt Brecht (well, he and Weill did work together a lot), turn out to be by the American playwright Maxwell Anderson. I've just listened to a recording of …
jam-packed June
Wandsworth's London Borough of Culture year is well and truly in swing and June promises rich pickings for culture vultures. For the first time, the Wandsworth Arts Fringe and Wandsworth Heritage Festival are overlapping for one week, from 13th to 22nd June. During that period, on Saturday 14th June, History Speak and I will be …
Of Islands and Strangers
I come from a sunburnt country.I come from Scottish and Welsh,and Protestant guilt.I come from stolen land.I come from privilegefrom classical musicand cryptic crosswordsand private education.I come from discontentfrom chucking in schoolfrom teenage rebellion. I came in desperation,I came a strangerin a strange state of mind.I came to Thatcher’s disunited kingdomto Red Ken’s London. I found …
Hilaire 