Perranporth and the Dragon
A few days’ holiday and the Year of the Dragon. The connection is Mr Word Loft. Major birthdays are usually celebrated with a big party by us, but we hope to move in a few...
Colliford Lake at Twilight
A parade of zingy gorse on a grey winter’s day always lifts the spirits. At Colliford Lake, the prickly evergreen shrub harmonises beautifully with Bodmin Moor’s dramatic scenery, and I can never resist pulling a...
Chance Encounter
“That’s where they sat.” My sister pointed to lawns edging Plymouth Hoe Promenade. I had strolled there often, been to the top of nearby Smeaton’s Tower, and written about the area, but had never noticed...
Precious Pebbles
Pebbles fascinate me, and spotting special types along the shore is a favourite pastime. So one day at the beach, it was no surprise that I started jotting down a poem about them. Precious Pebbles...
A New Lease of Life
The shabby little desk appeared sad in the corner of our local charity shop, and I knew someone who was the ideal size to sit at it. My six-year-old grandson. Instantly, I started to visualise...
Beach Life at Gyllyngvase
“I’ve been here before,” I said to my son, as we drove down a road dotted with palm trees and superb coastal views, and parked outside his new apartment. Mr Word Loft followed behind in...
Little Noel
It’s a splendid Christmas treat to see my short story, ‘Little Noel’, printed in The People’s Friend this week. It’s one I couldn’t resist writing and originated from a true family experience decades ago. I...
Counting the Days!
It’s like meeting old friends. After the boxes have been hauled from the loft and I start sifting through the ornaments, I exclaim with joy as favourites come to light. A few are handmade by...
Entrancing Trerice
Although smaller than the majority of National Trust properties, Trerice exudes magnificence, but on a reduced scale. The delightful Cornish Elizabethan manor house is enchanting to visit on a cold winter’s day with its open...
Music and Memories
“It’s upsetting, but we just can’t take them with us,” I said to Mr Word Loft when tidying out the loft because we are moving to a smaller place, and he agreed. Among heaps of...