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I mutter ‘bah-humbug’ beneath my breaththroughout this season of enforced good cheerwhen we must never speak of loss, nor deathalthough the loss is all to great to bear: Lost loved ones I remember, candlelightrecalls your living flame snuffed out too soon;gaudy illuminations shine not half as brightas you did when your love-light filled the room.... Continue Reading →
I took these photos in Carlisle a few weeks back, but wanted to share them with you now, and wish you all a very Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Sweet Solstice, depending on what you celebrate. I hope you find something to warm your heart at this festive time of year! The featured image shows Carlisle Castle, almost... Continue Reading →
This week, I had the privilege to visit Wordsworth's former homes of Dove Cottage in Grasmere, and Rydal Mount just a few miles down the road. I also got to hear his family read his poetry, which was an unforgettable experience. So in today's Love Letter, let me tell you all about Wordsworth's Grasmere. The... Continue Reading →
A relatively modest fell, standing only 784 ft above sea level, Orrest Head is certainly worth the 20-minute climb from Windermere Railway station, for the extensive views it provides over the head of Windermere and the surrounding higher fells. When is a Wainwright not a Wainwright? Orrest Head was in fact the first fell climbed... Continue Reading →
They were given many names, like 'witch,' or 'bitch,' or 'whore.' I dress in their stories, patterned and purple as night, like the bruises they wore: these troublesome women who always wanted more. Why wouldn't they just accept their position as subordinate, as Adam's rib, as The Lord commanded it? So the men would ask.... Continue Reading →
Invisible illnesses. If you have one, you stand a high chance of having spent a large portion of your life being misdiagnosed, misunderstood and doubted, both by medical professionals and the world at large. It is so difficult to live with this kind of gaslighting, and yet for many people (myself included) this is a... Continue Reading →
What an exciting day I had with the kids when Flying Scotsman rolled into Carlisle last Sunday. Carlisle's Railway Heritage Carlisle is a historic city, and has been an important settlement from Roman times right through to the modern period. Unfortunately, its historical landmarks are not as well-preserved as those of York or Chester, for... Continue Reading →
I hate festive advertising as much as the next person, but if you do plan on giving gifts this festive season, perhaps you will consider gifting a copy of The Anthropocene Hymnal, the poetry anthology designed to raise awareness of the climate crisis whilst raising funds for WWF. The anthology is available from Amazon (and... Continue Reading →
After the success of Halloween Sonnet Sunday, I am excited to announce that the next Seasonal Sonnet Festival will take place on 19 December 2021, and the theme will be festivity! Wherever you are in the world, and whatever seasonal festival you celebrate at this time of year, you are welcome to join in the... Continue Reading →
Today's Love Letter is written in honour of the Lake District's second longest lake, Ullswater. Situated in the east of the National Park, below the mighty slopes of the Helvellyn massif, it offers a world of wonder to the walker. It is 9 miles (14 km) long and 0.75 miles (1 km) wide, with a maximum depth... Continue Reading →
Experiments in Fiction 