Today I weep for Ukraine and the environment. I really don’t understand my fellow human beings. What a terrible confession for an author! Many young black men voted for a racist. Many ‘Latinos’ voted for a man who builds a
As it is such a wet and miserable day, I’ve been sorting through old loose photographs attempting to put them in some order. I came across this pic from the FOKL (Friends of Kennington Library) Fundraising Gala Night –a launch
It’s the wonderful Oxford Arts Week. On Tuesday, I was on a panel in Littlemore church exploring the creative process. This evening, I attended the annual Arts Week Forum which had a distinguished panel including Sir Philip Pullman. Imagine
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2024/17/the-invention-of I agree with Misha Glenny. It’s important. We need to know about the history of China. That was why I spent 6 years researching the Beijing Spring of 1979, the Stars Art Movement, the birth of the Democracy Movement
Cosmic Cats: A World First ? Charming feature on BBC South Today covering the school's launch . Click on the link below to see it. Here's how you buy a copy Cosmic Cats brings together stories written by children in
https://www.sylviavetta.co.uk/2018/03/23/some-of-my-memories-of-a-great-human-being-roger-bannister/ A series of commemorative events are taking place in Oxford to mark Sir Roger Bannister's breaking of the the four minute mile. Last night, I watched this film in Merton College where Roger was a student . It reminded
In February, Chris Patten announced that he will retire as Chancellor of Oxford University. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-02-05-lord-patten-barnes-announces-his-retirement-chancellor-university-oxford So the Chancellor’s event last night was an interview with him. https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2024/march-18/chancellors-lecture-from-china-to-the-middle-east-and-ukraine-a-world-in-turmoil I was moved for many reasons by last night's interview. He was
Sitting next to Agatha? Why did it take so long to put up a statue to her? It took Wallingford a long time to recognise the tourist pull of long term resident Agatha Christie. I wonder why? Is it because
https://www.oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk/whats-on/ Avert Your Eyes.... At the Oxford Indie Book Fair on November 26, I have the delightful opportunity to discuss Oxford-murder capital of the world? Odd to link ‘delight’ to ‘murder’? Crime fiction is the most popular genre so,unless
Andy Severn of Oxford eBooks organised a book fair in the village where I live. I encouraged author, architect and founder of the Isle of Wight festival, Ray Foulk and publisher James Harrison to have stands. We felt the idea