I would never dream of going into someone’s home and uttering profanities or criticizing their family or possessions. I regard anyone who does that as ill-mannered and lacking in the basic social graces, but  there appears to be a common thought that it is fine to regard no such courtesies when visiting as a [...]

Each year, on March 16, an intimate, simple, memorial service takes place in the city of York. It’s not publicised, not a tourist attraction and few realise it happens – which is just the way it should be. A short word, prayers in both English and Hebrew, time for silent reflection and the laying of [...]

Artist’s Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art  officially of 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches (6cm X 9cm), which is about the same size as those trading cards that children like to swap amongst themselves. They are designed to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, Cards are produced in all variety of medium [...]

                           “I bare the mark of my children on my body and soul.                                        I will carry them in my heart forever.” Here she lies, a pretty bud, Lately made of flesh and blood: Who as soon fell fast asleep As her little eyes did peep. Give her strewing’s, but not stir The earth that [...]

The button tin of my childhood, with its huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours, encapsulated the presence and differing experiences of those who wore the garments. Babies, children, women and men, all with unique personalities and life events.      Buttons are the things that literally fasten us together. Those of us who are [...]

I have no idea where it came from. It wasn’t the sort of thing any member of my family would ever have intentionally owned. Probably a jumble sale find. My arms were lost inside its sleeves and as I struggled to walk in high-heeled shoes far too big for me, it trailed on the ground [...]

  March. Slayer of the winter, art thou here again? O welcome, thou that’s bring’st the summer nigh! The bitter wind makes not thy victory vain, Nor will we mock thee for thy faint blue sky. Welcome, O March! whose kindly days and dry Make April ready for the throstle’s song, Thou first redresser of [...]