The Empress of Ireland

You can judge this book by its cover; the cover is orange, the endpapers green. Brian Desmond Hurst was born a Protestant in Belfast but converted to Catholicism so an apt reflection of his life.

Lobster Blog

A long time ago I was staying with friends in Cumberland and we were asked out to dinner. Our host and hostess’s home from the outside was more like a manoir than a Cumbrian farmhouse.

Var-Siklod

Curious how houses often take centre stage in novels: Blandings, Brideshead, Howards End, Lorienburg, Manderley, White Ladies. I hope I can add Var-Siklod to the list.

The Lawrensons

John and George Lawrenson are brothers. John was a General, Colonel of the 13th Hussars, who died in London in 1883 aged eighty-one.

Hungarian Rhapsody

Imprint, noun 1. a mark or outline made by pressing something on to a softer substance. “he made imprints of the keys in bars of soap” 2. a printer’s or publisher’s name, address, and other details in a book or other publication.

Uncle George Remembers VI

“Gordon Selfridge was once a multi-millionaire and a prince of commerce but he ended up a pensioner, deprived of all power and riches and broken in spirit and, I heard, in mind.

All Things to All Men

Today’s text is taken from St Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

Nursery News

The peregrine falcons nesting on a ledge at the top of Charing Cross Hospital laid three eggs this year but only one hatched, on 27th April. They have little privacy as there are two webcams – one inside their nesting box and one above the ledge.