To the Lighthouse at Dungeness during Covid-19

To the Lighthouse at Dungeness during Covid-19

‘Just to let you know that your portrait is almost finished. Would you be free for a viewing on Saturday morning?’ My stomach lurched. It was a message from the narrative figurative painter Kate Wilson, who is also my dear friend Katy, on a bright sunny morning in...
The Real Inheritance

The Real Inheritance

The long rectangular boxes were the obvious place to start unpacking. They had been around forever, since the Floral Duet days. During school holidays, I would sometimes help in The Shop, as it was known. It was exciting when the wholesaler truck arrived with boxes...
Finding Beauty

Finding Beauty

‘Write about something beautiful as if you have never seen it before.’ This time two weeks ago I was pondering the homework set in my writing class as I headed out for a run. As always, I was thinking about how to get more words down on ‘the Rietfontein project’ and...
Seasons and Spice

Seasons and Spice

There are two things that South Koreans love to talk about – the country’s four distinct seasons and the food. These were two things that I came to talk about too. The seasons: the hot thick humidity of summer and its threat of acid rain; mountain walks in...
Manchester: ‘We do things differently’

Manchester: ‘We do things differently’

‘I was born in Manchester and when I was growing up I said to my father “why did you bring us here to this place where it rains all the time?”. Did you know that’s why they call it Rainchester. Don’t you worry about Storm Dennis, there is a storm here...