Books, Theatre & Music

I don’t pretend to be a book reviewer but I do read a lot and sometimes like to pass on my thoughts.

Four local very good friends and I have been a member of a lively little book club which has existed without a break for well over  30 years! We are also lucky enough to live near Buxton, with its lovely Opera House and the Buxton Festival in July. 

And Stratford-upon-Avon is an easy drive away, so we take full advantage of that…

Nearer to home we have been appreciating various local cinemas, where one can see the latest films and live ballet and theatre relays in relaxed homely comfort.

Coping Under Lockdown April 22nd, 2020 - Almost exactly four years ago, April 15th 2016, we moved into Crown Cottage, here in Winster. It was the 14th house we had viewed, and the first that we had both been completely smitten with, and possibly in many ways the least suitable for a couple approaching old age. Heart ruled the head, and how … Continue reading Coping Under Lockdown
Pauline Boty – have you heard of her? December 10th, 2017 - I am sneaking away from our Christmas card list, briefly, and rather unwisely given that I have only reached the Hs, to touch on my latest Parwich book group choice, which has rather joyfully introduced into my life a little known ‘Swinging Sixties’ Pop artist called Pauline Boty.
1984 and all that July 26th, 2017 - The dumbing down of language… I read the other day that the average reading age in this country is nine! Guardian readers can be proud of their 14.
The Hypocrite May 13th, 2017 - Moliere, surely? No? Well, perhaps one of Shakespeare’s less well known works…? No, The Hypocrite is a brand new play, albeit based loosely on the Civil War of the mid 17th century.
Dazzled and Confused by… February 27th, 2017 - …The Dumas Club I was planning to do a blog on ‘Downsizing by the Experts’, but decided at the last moment to divert briefly to our latest mini Parwich Book Club meeting. Disappointingly I know, no pearls of wisdom from the experts here…(I several times fell asleep while reading in the bath, as you may … Continue reading Dazzled and Confused by…
The Tempest January 14th, 2017 - It might seem to be rather overdoing a point during the recent appalling weather to visit The Tempest, not once, but twice…
Excellent Women? November 12th, 2016 - So dreadful has been the news recently that, since lying awake nearly all night on November 8th listening to the news as the horror unfolded, I have hidden happily away from current affairs as best I can, absorbed in another, safer, world of books. I have been reading – with great enjoyment – two very … Continue reading Excellent Women?
The Nutcracker October 27th, 2016 - And quickie news catch-up I am sure you probably all know that the Royal Ballet is producing the Nutcracker at Christmas. This is just a hasty note to let you all know that Nick has just told us that if you are interested and likely to be near a computer this evening, October 27th 2016,  The … Continue reading The Nutcracker
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep May 21st, 2016 - It’s not every day of the week that a first novel hits the best-seller lists, nor that the writer is from Ashbourne… Even less likely is it that
Tilting at Windmills? April 15th, 2016 - This is just an interim report to prove that we are still there, still breathing, just… Today, Friday 15th April all being well we complete the purchase of Crown Cottage, Winster.
Engagements – We’re Dancing with Joy! February 2nd, 2016 - 2016 started wonderfully well for us, with the delightful news that son Nick and his girlfriend, Sam Raine, had become engaged. We are so happy and welcome Sam into the family with open arms. Don’t ask when the wedding will be, because they themselves don’t know. A few days after Nick asked Sam to marry … Continue reading Engagements – We’re Dancing with Joy!
Decluttering: Life-changing Magic? January 9th, 2016 - Life-changing…? For the better I hope. But magic and tidying don’t sit convincingly together. I wonder if I have got more than I bargained for. Is my life truly going to be changed, over and above buying a house, moving again and leaving Parwich?
Buxton Opera House November 3rd, 2015 - Buxton Opera House, High Sheriffs plus Parwich Ladies (and gents) – a powerful, if varied, mix… John and I have just had the pleasure of being in the company of both groups and in the process enjoyed two, very different, aspects of the Buxton Opera House.
Henry V Live! October 24th, 2015 - Live on the screen that is… You may remember we went to see Henry V at Stratford last month, and found it most compelling. So compelling in fact that when we had to the chance to see it again, not live but on the screen in the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Derby, we jumped … Continue reading Henry V Live!
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf October 2nd, 2015 - Our little Parwich book club met on Wednesday night to discuss A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf. Three of us had absolutely loved it, two were not quite so sure, but what a stimulating, lively and entertaining discussion we had…
‘We Few, We Happy Few’… September 27th, 2015 - Although perhaps even fewer are quite so happy after losing the rugby to Wales last night… But, yes, John and I are happy enough to have just been to see Henry V at Stratford, having already seen Richard II, and Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 – thanks to our good friend Trevor who valiantly … Continue reading ‘We Few, We Happy Few’…
A Peak Behind the Scenes… July 26th, 2015 - It’s been a bit silent, blog-wise (which I trust does not come as a relief…). John has been working really hard sifting through and editing all his bird pics, then making CDs for me to download for the blog. It then takes me some time (time rather than skill) loading them onto the blog and … Continue reading A Peak Behind the Scenes…
Fifty Shades of Marigold May 26th, 2015 - A couple of weeks ago we decided, with our friends Gill and David, to go to the Second Most Exotic Marigold Hotel, in the Showcase Derby Cinema de Lux in Westfield (only – to add the any possible confusion, Westfield is now called Intu). Gill confessed she never had much success booking online so I … Continue reading Fifty Shades of Marigold
Musical Weekend in Vienna May 18th, 2015 - There was a time when our family trailed around after us. Imperceptibly, there has been a complete turnabout and we are now trailing round after them, very happily and much more excitingly. We have perhaps to a fault never overpraised our children but I will fleetingly admit they do seem to us to lead rather more successful … Continue reading Musical Weekend in Vienna