The Frost Report
WHEN my children were small, they used to be amused by my tales of the old days before fridges, washing machines and central heating. I was born four years after … Continue readingThe Frost Report
A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
WHEN my children were small, they used to be amused by my tales of the old days before fridges, washing machines and central heating. I was born four years after … Continue readingThe Frost Report
THE stream outside our house has a small waterfall with a pool beneath it. It is one of the few deep places on the watercourse, so it is a refuge … Continue readingHerons, scourge of our stream
SINCE we moved to Lancashire from London a few years ago, I have been intrigued to see a number of plaques on Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses. These are not … Continue readingA plaque on all our houses
WHEN I read Boris Johnson’s crazy announcement that he intends every home in Britain to be run on wind power within ten years, my heart sank. It is the death knell … Continue readingIt’s an ill wind
A DRAWBACK to living in the country is that without the background hum of traffic, noise carries over far greater distances. For example there are a pair of dogs kept … Continue readingWhy I threatened to set fire to myself
IT always makes me sad when someone expresses a fear of or loathing for spiders. They are the most amazing creatures, and without them we would be swatting away flies … Continue readingOur eight-legged friends
I DON’T suppose many share this view, but I have rather a soft spot for crows. They are beautiful birds and I have been entertained over the summer by a … Continue readingHard times in the crows’ nest
MY travels this week took me past a terrace of houses unlike any I have ever seen, with beautiful tile work on the front. I stopped to take a picture … Continue readingNot so much a hospital, more a small town
OVER the last week or two there’s been a sure sign that autumn is on its way – work has started on cutting back the roadside hedges. It is not … Continue readingCutting-edge hedge trimming
I KNOW it’s not a laughing matter, but I found it hard to suppress a snort when I read this in the i newspaper on Monday: ‘Heartbreaking scenes are playing out at … Continue readingMenace in a mink coat