Cloud Cities

If you want people to know you have a cold, ostentatiously blow your nose; but if you are feeling pretentious, something I sometimes feel, it’s not so easy to signal.

Lifecycles

Denys Watkins-Pitchford (1905 – 1990) was a naturalist, illustrator, art teacher and author of books for children.

The House of Elrig

Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland had thirteen children, six of whom were daughters, and only one of the bakers’ dozen died in infancy. I put that down to the bracing Alnwick air.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Prize for being Patronising

I hoped this was a sticky sticker that I could peel off but it’s printed on the cover of the paperback.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Back to School

Hands up if you have heard of Charles Hamilton, an English author born in 1876.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Take Nine Spies

Why wouldn’t China try to infiltrate the British security services – and those of other countries? I expect China has to a greater or lesser extent been successful in these enterprises. It’s nothing new.