George Orwell is arguably the father of modern dystopian fiction. A lot of terms we use in everyday life (perhaps more frequently than we'd like in recent years) come from his most famous work "Nineteen Eighty-Four". "Big Brother", "Room 101", "Thought Police" all come from his nightmarish vision of what was then the future, now... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for a top class castle ruin, look no further than the dramatic Corfe Castle. Perched above the small town of Corfe in Dorset, it's a popular tourist destination (if you plan to visit, be aware that it will get busy), managed by the National Trust. And as the post title alludes to,... Continue Reading →
There's a definite other-worldly feeling to Winspit Quarry, cut into the edge of the tempestuous Dorset coast. Fittingly then the place has been used as a filming location for two classic British sci-fi series, Blakes 7 and Dr Who. The quarry was used as the location for the planet Mecron II in the Blake's 7... Continue Reading →
This is not a thought. It is a spiked ball that rolls restless and pin-pricksdowneachvertebratill it lodgesand waits,for sleep, for sober, for silence, then pierces soone byone byonemore pour in. A dam breaks with neglect, so too this vessel,fit to burst. When it does there'll be no red flag,just a smoulder of regret and a... Continue Reading →
Obviously we're not be able to visit some places in London at the moment. But once we can, you may be interested in trying some more unusual (and less busy) ideas. Unsurprisingly, some of these have a literary connection, and some are perfect for a bit of creative inspiration. So read on for five things... Continue Reading →
(Pre-lockdown visit m'kay) This will probably come as a surprise to absolutely no-one, but my favourite part of any big, old house is the library. Frankly, a grand house without a library is just a waste of time. Stourhead in Wiltshire contains one of my favourite grand house libraries. It's a gorgeously light and airy... Continue Reading →
If you’re going to visit a library, why not start with the top of the pile? The British Library in London runs daily behind-the-scenes tours lasting 60 minutes and costing just £10 (£8 if you're a member) - bargain! The architectural style of the British Library isn't to everyone’s tastes but that might be down... Continue Reading →
I hope this post gets a few comments - not because it's controversial or amazing, but because I'd love to hear what you lot do all day (yeah I'm nosy). Once you've had a read of what I get up to, I encourage you to leave a comment about yours. You could even do your... Continue Reading →
There's no shortage of history in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Many of the places you can visit were once home to Shakespeare's relations, including the homestead of his wife, Anne Hathway. Part of the building dates from the 1400s, and it provides an intriguing window into the past. There's not a great deal known about... Continue Reading →
There are a few things you need for the perfect library... First, of course, books- -then a chair to sit in when you're reading your books- -more books- -stairs so you can reach all your books- -a desk to sit at if you're inspired to write when reading your books- -even more books- -and finally... Continue Reading →
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