juliachalkley

Paying it back

I put our cats onto the “What The Cat Dragged In” project in March 2021. The project was set up by a PhD candidate for her dissertation, and it aimed to measure the prey taken by domestic cats. Our two were not hunters, and I hoped their records would help to clear the name ofContinue reading “Paying it back”

Breaking the silence

I haven’t posted for a long time. I haven’t had the heart for it. We had a three-week pause in April to stay away from crowded museums and beaches during the school holidays, and just as we were plotting a return to days out, our youngest cat was killed on the road. Just like herContinue reading “Breaking the silence”

Black Hole in Ipswich

Just like Tuesday night – here we were, driving round a one-way system in a Suffolk town and looking for somewhere to park. Unlike Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich has a fast and lively road network and a town centre that dies at six in the evening. We’d arrived early for an evening with Professor BrianContinue reading “Black Hole in Ipswich”

More Balls than Most

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”

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”