Category Archives: LIFE

New year resolutions Part 4

At last I have reached the final five resolutions. The nice thing about this time of year is that everything represents potential. We know that spring is coming and the days are getting longer, but we don’t see it yet. Instead, we look hopefully for the first buds. We peer at the sky in theContinue reading “New year resolutions Part 4”

Spring

It’s been months since I wrote a blog, so long that I forgot my own rules for a readable post and had to start a new project for 2024 BlogsLike other writers, I sometimes doubt my ability and reasons for continuing to write.But I’m back now. Another and more cheerful reason is the recent additionContinue reading “Spring”

The mystery of the metallic manure.

When we moved to the Galicia fourteen years ago, we had never lived in the countryside before. We couldn’t speak either the local Galician language used by our neighbours or Castilian Spanish. Over the years, there have been many misunderstandings because of both language and lack of rural experience. I can’t hope to explain howContinue reading “The mystery of the metallic manure.”

Publication, Prayer and Pilgrims.

The week after I publish a book is always strange and often, I mooch about the house, not quite knowing what to do with myself. In theory, I start the next book, but the time immediately before the publication date is so intense that I have to shake that off before I can think ofContinue reading “Publication, Prayer and Pilgrims.”

A Womble in Winter

It is normal for me to supplement our diet with wild greens, even though we have a vegetable garden. Miners’ lettuce (Winter Purslane), Pennywort and chickweed all find their way into winter salads. This year, though, I stumbled on a real find by the lane which leads into the village. Turnips. We’ve been eating themContinue reading “A Womble in Winter”

Bookshops

I suppose that there are people in the world who don’t like bookshops, in the same way as there are people who forget to eat lunch. I don’t recall having many conversations with such people, but that’s probably because the conversation was too short for recollection. Bookshops, which also serve lunch, or at the veryContinue reading “Bookshops”