HELENE HANFF; A Literary Pilgrimage In New York

HELENE HANFF;  A Literary Pilgrimage In New York

When  a Sydney radio station announced the  death of actress Anne Bancroft in 2005  there was an immediate response  from callers. They spoke of her  enduring marriage to comedian Mel Brooks and of her wonderful  theatre and movie performances. However, no one mentioned the film for which

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RIVER THAMES- AND THE BIRTH OF A BOOK.

RIVER THAMES-  AND THE BIRTH OF A BOOK.

A HOUSE BY THE THAMES In 1996 my husband Rob and I bought a holiday house on an 18th century estate called Harleyford, by the banks of the River Thames in Buckinghamshire. For the next fifteen years we divided our time between England and Australia. Originally we

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BLOOD ON MY BOOTS…..MURDER ALONG THE THAMES!

BLOOD ON MY BOOTS.....MURDER ALONG THE THAMES!

  Blood On My Boots was one of the titles I considered for my book on the Thames Path. I love social history , especially murder mysteries,  and  many bodies  have  ended up in the  river.   The  book was eventually published as All Along the River;

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Caves – The Inside Story of Tasmania

Caves - The Inside Story of Tasmania

 A TOUR OF TASMANIA VIA ITS MAGICAL CAVES After an absence of many years, my partner Rob and I returned to Tasmania, where we both grew up. While we were staying on the North West Coast we went to see Gunns Plains caves. My first visit was

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Hooray for Harrogate 2014!

Hooray for Harrogate 2014!

Harrogate  means a whole lot of things, but especially Bettys Bakery and Agatha Christie. My friends call me Miss Marple , so it’s no surprise that I went to Harrogate recently  on a pilgrimage to the Old Swan Hotel.  Agatha Christie sought refuge here during a  personal

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SLEEPING WITH A STRANGER!

SLEEPING WITH A STRANGER!

For many years my partner Rob and I travelled around the UK  staying  in Bed & Breakfasts.   Some were absolutely  charming, with equally charming hosts. Others were….well pretty awful  (read ‘Unravelling With My Aunt’  on this website and you will get the picture). But as  we both

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The SWEET LIFE, A CONFECTIONARY TOUR OF ENGzlAND.

The SWEET LIFE, A CONFECTIONARY TOUR OF ENGzlAND.

  Hello from Editor Des and some English friends Well I have been traveling around England and OH MY WORD, I do like all the lollies here. I have to remember to call them sweets though, because English  people think lollies are only  on sticks! I thought

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FLANDERS; FOOD FOR BODY AND SOUL!

FLANDERS; FOOD FOR BODY AND SOUL!

OLD MEMORIES LINGER! I grew up on a hilltop farm in Tasmania….next stop ANTARCTICA!  In winter,  biting  winds and sleet often prompted my  father’s diary entries to  begin, “Very rough day!”  No wonder we appreciated  my mother’s  ‘comfort  cooking’ ; rabbit pies,  rich beef stews, pastries  and

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