‘Death comes to all but great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold’ - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday 23rd September 2011

I’ve recently returned home from a great few days spent in Devon.  It’s been about 4 years since I last stayed at ‘The Sun Inn’, a 14^th century inn in Lynmouth, a

pretty, sleepy lil’ village with a picturesque harbour.  I fell in love with the ‘The Sun Inn’ and featured it in ‘A Heavy Chest of Dreams’.

The area was nick-named ‘Little Switzerland’ by Victorian visitors who appreciated the beautiful heather topped hills and abundantly wooded valleys sheltering winding rivers rushing to the sea.

A clever, but simply designed mountain railway carries passengers between Lynmouth and Lynton 500 feet above.  The unique railway built in Victorian times is listed as a monument and is a popular tourist attraction.  I met Mick Simms, one of the engineers who maintains and operates the carriages.  This great character told me quite a few haunting and ghoulish tales that originated in the area.  Then he explained how the railway system operates: Water from the West Lynn River a mile away travels through pipes into tanks after the upper carriage has reached Lynton.  Water from the lower carriage is then released and the heavier carriage begins its descent, meanwhile pulling the other up the mountain.       

My next visit was to Brixham harbour to check out the life sized replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship in which he circumnavigated the globe in an orgy of plunder and destruction.  Irene, a very kind and informative custodian welcomed me aboard and spoke fondly of the late Mr. Read, creator of the vessel and how he was determined to build a perfect replica of the famous ship and sail her!  He sailed her successfully many times and Irene was only sorry that she’d not experienced a voyage herself. 

Since his father’s death, Simon Read has continued his father’s dream and visitors are treated to a great experience of Tudor maritime history.  I met Simon, a charming man who invited me to return to board the ‘Golden Hind’  when I return to take part in the Brixham Pirate Festival on the 5^th and 6^th May 2012.  ‘Tis

 a date Simon!  I’ll be returning soon me hearty ;)     

Thanks to everyone who made my trip so memorable… I just adore Devon folk!

Please check out the websites on the ‘Links’ page.

‘The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.’-
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832

Tuesday 13^th September 2011

My son and I decided to take a road trip to bonnie Scotland to pay a visit to an old and special friend of mine, Master engraver and seal-maker, Neil Oliver.  Tadhg and I thoroughly enjoyed the long drive up into the Highlands where some of our ancestors, the MacNichols clan originated.

We stayed in a delightful, comfortable guesthouse in Stirling and drove over to the isle of Skye on our first day.  Rolling, misty mountainous moors provided a stark yet peaceful landscape that stretched for miles.  I imagined how hardy the natives of this weather-beaten and challenging land must have been centuries ago.  I’ve felt a deep connection to the country every time I’ve visited and nothing had changed.  As always, I was glad to be back.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed spending a morning at William Wallace’s Monument in Stirling, visiting Neil Oliver, the Master engraver who taught me the skills of hand engraving was the highlight of my trip.  I was lucky enough to be taught by Neil when I specialised in Engraving on a Higher National Diploma course in Birmingham the late nineties.  I was in awe of his skills back then and still am today! 

Neil’s wide range of skills is amazing and in my opinion, his hand seal-engraving is second to none.  Having been taught in the Birmingham Jewellery quarter himself by Master Engraver Sid Perkins, Neil continues to learn new skills to add to many which include ornamental engraving, gun engraving, print engraving, die-sinking, model making and glass engraving.  He’s had numerous commissions from Royalty and is a member of the’ Guild of Professional Goldsmiths’… he’s quite literally a ‘living National Treasure’ and I hope that anyone who sees this appreciates his great talent as I do.

After a few hours with one of the most accomplished people I’ve ever known, I was aching to get back into the workshop… but I’ll have to put that dream aside for the meantime as writing and drawing are my passions!  I hope to visit Neil and his lovely wife Kim again soon… he always inspires me greatly and this time my son was inspired too.  Thanks to a wonderful teacher and good friend who’ll always remain close to my heart.  Big respect Neil!  Your number one fan! J

‘Where there is sea there are pirates’ – Greek Proverb

Monday 23^rd August 2011

Thanks to my friend Tony Rotherham for inviting me to join his bunch of cut-throats (aptly named ‘The Sea Thieves’) at the Ipswich Maritime Festival.  After claiming the finest vessel and raising our ‘jolly roger’ on the Ipswich Waterfront (including the marina, quayside and docks) our group set up camp and began the festivities.  

Around 55,000 people came to enjoy the free event which was organised by Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central.  Historic re-enactments, traditional live music, fireworks, craft displays and plenty of havoc and mayhem caused by ‘The Sea Thieves’ was enjoyed by all.  I really enjoyed the rope-making and old carpentry demonstrations and have since made some of the items on display.

It was a wonderful event which had something for everyone and will hopefully return next August.  They’d even organised the beer festival to be held the same weekend… and rumour was that some pyrates gate-crashed and helped themselves to a few barrels of ale!! ;)

A volley of musket fire to launch a fantastic firework display and we all retired to our quarters suitably drunk and satisfied after a weekend of plunder and pillage.  Let’s hope we behaved badly enough to be invited to return next August! 

'The Sea Theives'                                                                                             With Captain Jack Vincent 

Saturday 17th September 2011

'Every author in some degree portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.'  Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

I’d like to thank Andrea Hicklin and the custodians of Oak House in West Bromwich for allowing me to do a photo shoot with Gregory Mason (toggie) at the beautiful Tudor yeoman’s house near to my birth place. I have fond memories of my parents and Grandparents taking me to visit as a young girl.  I loved the garden where I’d play amongst the lavender bush mazes which are still there today.

I’m proud of being a ‘Black country’ lass having spent my early years living in West Bromwich amongst a rich, multi-cultural community.   It’s believed that the ‘Black Country’ gained its name from the dreadful pollution that hung thick in the air and covered the buildings with black soot. The area was described as ‘Black by day and red by night’ by Elihu Burrit, the American Consul to Birmingham in 1862. It’s also said that J. R. R. Tolkien based the gloomy, dark region of Mordor on the heavily industrialised ‘Black Country’  in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The anchors and chains that went down with RMS Titantic were manufactured in our region.  

‘Black country’ folk can be insulted if mistaken for ‘Brummies’ (people from Birmingham) or ‘Midlanders’. Although the distinct Black country accent is often mocked by the rest of England (not many outsiders can understand it!) the dialect is said to be the closest to ‘Middle English’ which was the language spoken between 1200 and 1600. My accent has become pretty ‘neutral’ since I left West Brom as a young girl, but my Dad’s side of the family still live in the area and when I visit them it all comes back to me J We’re friendly, down to earth and ‘real’ people, mostly of working class origin and are among the friendliest regions in Britain. Words like ‘wench’ ‘os rowad’ (horse road), ‘piece’ (sandwich), ‘suck’ (sweets), ‘poorly’ (ill) and many more make it difficult for ‘outsiders’ to follow what Black Country people are talking about… but I believe that the dialect is a rich and valuable part of the history of our country. There’s a sign at Castle Gate Island that reads, ‘If yaw’m saft enuff ter cum darn ‘ere agooin’ wum, yowr tay ull be spile’t!’ … translation, ‘If you’re soft (stupid) enough to come down here on your way home, your tea (supper) will be spoilt!’.

 2 years old making mud pies                                                                                                           18 months old at Dudley Castle

Revisiting Oak House