My first post for a week or so. As a friend of mine once said of her children; “It’s when they go quiet that I really worry. It means they’re up to something.” We’ve been filling our days before the Easter school holidays, when all the visitor attractions really open up and all the familiesContinue reading “More Balls than Most”
Author Archives: juliachalkley
Heart of Glass
We drove down from Melrose to Seaham on the back of a disagreement. I plan my journeys by Google maps (adding 15% to Google’s estimate of journey time because, well, Laws of Sod) while he relies on paper maps. Our paper maps of Melrose and Seaham are bang up to date, unlike our 1982 OSContinue reading “Heart of Glass”
Trimontium
I’ve been quiet. I’ve been busy. We’ve been travelling. Roll back to November, and the post called ‘A Tale of Two Breakdowns’. We were both due to spend a night in Melrose before I stayed with friends and he went home to face the builders – but his Landrover broke down and I escorted himContinue reading “Trimontium”
Community Orchard – Part 1
This probably sounds like an odd project, but here goes. Two months ago, I went on a tree pruning course in the community wood, led by Dr Anna Baldwin. She was asked for her opinion of our orchard, and gave it as “Seven out of ten”. Part of her reservations stemmed from the tree-guards weContinue reading “Community Orchard – Part 1”
29 Plays
Actually, I wrote 29 plays. The Literal Challenge people, who organise the 28 Plays challenge, ask participants to submit a test piece. That can be a Word document with “Quick Brown Fox” written on it, or a play, anything that will test whether you can get through the submission process (which is simple to do,Continue reading “29 Plays”
Life in a Bagatelle
We saw Storm Dudley approaching, due to hit Scotland and the north of England. We were worried for the friends we have in the north, and were worried again when Storm Eunice followed on behind Dudley and was due to hit Scotland and the north again. We were under a yellow warning for high winds,Continue reading “Life in a Bagatelle”
Tigerrrs all the way
I’d forgotten what it was like to be head-down in a Literal Challenge challenge, but I have been Reminded. This is how it goes. Sign up for it. Some time beforehand, so forget about it, apart from telling your writing mates and letting them laugh and be puzzled. Get the email two days before theContinue reading “Tigerrrs all the way”
Cambridge Botanic Gardens
We’ve had a series of miserable weather days recently – cloudy, grey, frosty mornings, drizzle. We’ve been lethargic, not moved to do anything – having finished the decorating has left us in the middle of a lot of small odd jobs. We’ve snapped ourselves out of it by going out for the day. Cambridge BotanicContinue reading “Cambridge Botanic Gardens”
Tree pruning… part 1 of 100
I got persuaded to take part in a tree pruning course in the community wood last Sunday. It was chilly and threatening to rain, so I could have happily stayed home, but out I went. I’m glad I did. The course tutor, Dr Anna Baldwin, had a great teaching manner; enthusiastic, knowledgeable, took questions asContinue reading “Tree pruning… part 1 of 100”
Of apples and pears
Haven’t posted for nearly two weeks. It would have been dull. For most of that time, we have been watching paint dry. Still painting the living room – and of course, filling in the cracks and the gaps between skirting board and wall, sanding down the filler, covering the elegant green blobs on the niceContinue reading “Of apples and pears”
Julia Chalkley 