January has gone by in a flash. I was furloughed (again) and have struggled a little with all that is going on – all the things outside of my control. Reading has been something of an escape as always but… Read More ›
Time to talk
A Welcome Distraction
In the bleak mid-winter… there is some truth to that at the moment. It isn’t the best of times and for many it is the hardest. Personally it has been a difficult start to the year and I felt actual… Read More ›
New Year, New Books đ
Happy New Year! Already we are three days in and time, as always, is rushing past. The festive break has gone by in a flash and I, like so many of you have been unable to see many of my… Read More ›
Grief, a Cat and a little hope.
I wrote the piece below way back at the end of March… It was rather personal but Iâd like to share it with you now. There are a number of emotions that we are all guaranteed to feel in this… Read More ›
A little poetry – and the world sighed…
Good evening lovely readers, I hope you are staying safe and well in these strange, strange times. I have a Facebook page for Tales Before Bedtime. It is tiny with a handful of followers but even the smallest of things… Read More ›
Why Drama is good for our children.
It makes me sad that in a week where 25 hours are spent learning in school, only one of those hours is spent doing a subject such as drama. That’s how it is in my son’s school and I’m sure… Read More ›
Becoming A Hero The Hard Way – a guest post by author Natalie Hibberd
âBecoming A Hero The Hard Wayâ A Love Letter To How To Train Your Dragon âThere were dragons when I was a boy.â When I first heard these words, read by David Tennant in the audiobook version of Cressida Cowellâs… Read More ›
If you were me how would you spend your last day of being 45? At Sissinghurst Castle of course. P.s. It’s my birthday
It’s my birthday. I am 46. How we feel about age is a very personal thing. To some that will seem young, sprightly even and to others… well it’s getting on a bit. To me I’ve been back and forth…. Read More ›
Boys Donât Cry
Boys don’t cry. That’s what they told me. Be strong. Stand tough. Don’t be a sissy. You’re weak. Pathetic. Make us proud. Score high. Be popular. Head Boy. Be. A. Leader. You can be ANYTHING you want to be. The… Read More ›
Chiddingstone Literary Festival – A treasure trove for literary lovers in the South East.
Just four years ago the very first Chiddingstone Literary Festival was held in the splendid grounds of Chiddingstone Castle near Edenbridge, Kent, bringing a missing element of unadulterated literary indulgence to the south east. It has gone from strength to… Read More ›
