Postcards from K

Postcard from the treetops

2012-01-17T19:49:00.000Z

One advantage of living on a hillside is the view of the sky. The only time I like cold weather is when it's sunny as well; and when planes leave interesting vapour trails perfectly framed in my roof light then winter doesn't seem so bad.

The temperature is in deep freeze at the moment. The forecast is for a warmer tomorrow, but that means clouds and rain as well. Boo. I wonder where the plane which veered to the right was going? It's heading south, so the destination may have been warmer than Birmingham...

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-18T16:19:00.000Z

In previous years I've posted an outdoors Christmas picture. This year I'll share the minimum effort decorations going on in my hallway. Today there has been ice, sleet and hail outside. Do you blame me for staying indoors?

I did venture into Birmingham earlier in the week to find that this year the visiting German market has got bigger but is selling fewer things, that I've already missed the best bargains in the supposedly post-Christmas sales and that the bull is ticking off several trends at once (onesies and knitwear that could be either festive or channelling The Killing) in his new outfit.

Have a lovely Christmas.

K x

Postcard from underwater III

2011-12-04T15:13:00.001Z

For someone who isn't keen on fish, I seem to spend a lot of time at aquariums. It always strikes me as weird that somewhere as far from the coast as Birmingham has such a large Sea Life Centre and even weirder that when I have visitors they want to go there.

It has improved since my last visit a couple of years ago. There are now otters (aaahhh!) and a 4-D cinema. In which the fourth dimension is...guess what...water!

The otters were cute but moved too fast for my camera. I had to stand still for a long time to get a shot in which it appeared the fish were kissing. Now I know how the paparazzi feel.

Postcard from the pond

2011-11-12T17:05:00.001Z

Autumn's colours are already fading. A walk through Highbury Park this afternoon proved that the leaves are falling, not just turning. A mob of ducks gathered at the other end of the pond where a toddler had food for them and I was left with this reflection. Bonfires were smoking in back gardens and squirrels were dashing up trees and dislodging more leaf litter. Somehow it's less antisocial when nature behaves in a loutish manner.

Postcard from the library

2011-11-01T12:21:00.000Z

Well, not so much the library as the building site of what will be Birmingham's central library. It's not quite ready for the books yet. Given the issues with funding for libraries elsewhere in the country, it's great to see Brum investing in the concept with a whizzy new building. Also good to see is that it won't be another concrete hulk and will instead be a little bit bling. Nice.

I know I'm not the only Birmingham writer to use the central library resources for research as well as sometimes working at a desk there. So I'm hoping facilities at the new building will be everything we need. That's not much: desk, light, chair. The fancy exterior and cutting edge technological fit out is all very nice; but my biggest wish for the new building is that the escalators don't squeak. The noise from the current ones is ear bleedingly distracting.

I was lucky enough to be visiting the new building on a tour which included a chance to see some of the treasures which will move into the building once it's complete. Among the inspirational items for a writer included a First Folio of Shakespeare's plays and Caxton's first printed book. One item which will remind me of the old library though was a German speaking picture book. You can see an example demonstrated here then imagine those sounds on a constant loop coming from the escalator. Now do you understand why I can't wait for the new building to be ready?

Postcard from The Big Draw

2011-10-16T21:39:00.000+01:00

The Big Draw is a campaign whose aim is to get everyone drawing. They claim "Drawing helps us to think, invent and communicate – regardless of age and ability." Filling a wall with Etch-a-Sketches is guaranteed to tempt passers by at the MAC to have a go. Critical design fault though: you can't shake the frames to erase previous 'scribbles'. Which means that only the highest placed had room for new 'drawing' and those of us who are not so tall couldn't reach them.

What would you guess to be the most common 'sketch' made? Yup, names. Why pass up an opportunity to tag your graffiti?

Postcard from Martineau Gardens

2011-09-25T15:18:00.000+01:00

I'm fond of late summer/early autumn for a number of reasons, including fruitfulness. When I visited Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston harvest was in progress in the veg plots while laden boughs in the orchard begged to be scrumped. Grapes dangled from their vine and enticed with the promise of a nice glass of red. Although, I have to admit to doubts about how Brum-grown wine would turn out.

Not that my local produce can be faulted in any other way. I've been fortunate to have been gifted some cucumbers from a friend's garden about a mile away and some tomatoes from the allotments next door - can't get more locally sourced than that. Well, I could; if I did any gardening of my own. As someone who has managed to kill a houseplant in the last week though, I think it safest to admire plants from afar. Until they're ready for my plate of course.

Postcard from the museum storage depot

2011-09-15T15:01:00.000+01:00

One problem with museums is that they only have a limited amount of space. So visitors have to look at what has been chosen for display by the curators. Which is all very well, but when the museum actually owns thousands of other objects it's a bit of a shame. So I loved having a root around the Museums Collection Centre which is a big warehouse storing all the items owned by museums in Birmingham which aren't part of current exhibitions.

It's more akin to having a rummage around an antiques shop than going to a museum. Items are arranged more by whether they fit the storage space than their relation to the object next to them. So a carved horse from a merry-go-round sits next to some engine parts; empty gilt frames lean against a model of the canal network in the Black Country. Wandering at random down aisles stacked like a surreal warehouse, or peering into cabinets packed with odd assortments of household items, sparks ideas and memories.

There's a writing workshop as part of the Birmingham Book Festival this year in which you could spend the night locked in this place. I'd love to read some of the work produced on the night, but you couldn't persuade me to stay overnight. Who knows what's lurking in among the artefacts to jump out after dark?

Postcard from the removal van

2011-09-12T14:06:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the lack of posts. I've been moving home and am currently without internet access. It was distressing to see all my worldly goods crammed into a van; but they have now arrived safely at my new place.

I do have more attractive pictures to share from recent outings and will do so once my broadband goes live. Watch this space!

Postcard from Salcombe

2011-08-19T10:48:00.000+01:00

I'm lazy. I don't deny it. So if I'm going to climb steep hills there needs to be a reward involved. Fortunately for Salcombe, the view delivered from the top and the short boat trip across the estuary to sandy beaches drenched in late afternoon sun meant I felt the expedition to the bottom worth it when faced with the million steps back up to the car. Well, it felt like a million.

I admit it: I also can't deny that having partaken of tea and cake at the beach side cafe may have may have made the climb more arduous. But what are holidays for if not indulgence?

Postcard from my post bag

2011-08-04T11:24:00.000+01:00

OK, so I make a lot of fuss about postcards, to the extent that several of my friends and family are kind enough to continue to include me in their travels by sending a card rather than email, text or silence. The above arrived in the last month or so and each brightened my day with its vicarious visit to Barcelona, Yorkshire and a Greek beach. From the article and comments here it's obvious I'm not the only one to still delight in them (the comment about 'middle-aged or elderly' rankled a little, have I really crossed that line?)

Last week I went to a preview of a show which will be at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this month: Me, Myself and Miss Gibbs - the story of an investigation inspired by a postcard of Lincoln Cathedral sent in 1910. See? Postcards as life-changing dramatic device!

If you think it's just a photo of a beach, you're missing out. I'm off for a mini-break in Devon this weekend, anyone fancy a card?

Postcard from the food festival

2011-07-08T13:08:00.001+01:00

You might think the ideal food festival starts with a literal interpretation of the name. Food in a festival setting, what's not to like? There's no denying that the addition of a 12 foot high lobster riding in a cart towed by a man in hunting regalia livens things up a little though.

The food was good, as was the drink. The entertainment seemed to be straightforward: cooking demos and a jazz band, until things took a turn towards surreal...

Postcard from the path

2011-06-28T12:11:00.000+01:00

I've posted from Winterbourne before, but it's the kind of place which rewards a visit in all seasons. In fact, the cafe rewards a visit full stop.

You already know the only gardening I do is in the line of admiration rather than action, and that I'm fond of a cake, so what's new? Well, Winterbourne is owned by the University of Birmingham - a fine educational establishment which saw fit to confer a degree upon me - and both are in Edgbaston, which I've recently heard is the leafiest suburb in Western Europe.

Birmingham likes these kinds of claims. While other cities make a lot of noise about how special they are, Birmingham comes up with fascinating facts such as 'more canals than Venice' (true, but hardly comparing like with like), or 'more parks than Paris'. And now the leaves. What I want to know is: who counted?

There are a lot of trees in Edgbaston and I'm thrilled my degree came with added leaf quotient. Another fact: last year a record number of tourists came to Birmingham. My top tip for visitors: take a stroll down this garden path and check out the cakes.

Postcard from the Pantheon

2011-06-05T14:11:00.000+01:00

Two thousand years old and yet it's the most impressive dome I've ever seen. Yes, I've visited the one in London; so the standard was set fairly low! The fact the Pantheon in Rome is still standing and looks so fresh is a wonder in itself even before you get round to realising how nice it is in there.

It just shouldn't work. The only light comes through that hole in the roof, and that hole in the roof lets in rain. Any architect proposing the design would be deemed insane. Inside though, it's fresh, calm and beautiful.

These days it's a Catholic church and there are some altars and tombs of significance. All I could do however was look up.

Postcard from the butterfly house

2011-05-29T16:36:00.000+01:00

Sorry, no time for a proper post at the moment. I've been too busy getting out and about taking pretty photographs. See above from the Butterfly House at Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Such a beautiful colour, and prepared to sit still and show off while I faffed about with the settings on my camera!

Postcard from the Festival of Britain

2011-05-11T17:32:00.000+01:00

You're right, the Festival of Britain was in 1951 and I don't own a TARDIS. So it's kind of the people at the South Bank Centre to put on a commemorative event for those of us not quite old enough to have experienced the original. There's a beach, a roof garden, really cute 1950s-style ice cream vans, and what you're looking at in this picture is world record bunting. As made by 21st century school children.

The 1951 event was intended to perk people up in a period of post war austerity. Let's not talk about the current state of the economy. Look at the bunting fluttering in the sun - doesn't it just make you smile?

Postcard from the parterre

2011-05-03T12:49:00.000+01:00

I'm no fan of gardening, that popular bank holiday activity. The hard work the National Trust are putting in to restore the formal parterre at Hanbury Hall is impressive though and I admired their results. With the weather as it was this past weekend, the lawns were more popular with picnickers such as me. I'd rather laze in the sun than worry about gardeners' backaches as they trimmed the topiary.

My favourite aspect of the parterre was the frilly edged petals and raspberry stripes of the tulips. And with a picnic comprised of leftovers from a Royal Wedding party, the food was fun too.

Those of us who live in flats are always appreciative of a pleasant outdoor space. The parterre was pretty, but finding a sheltered corner to spread out a rug, with a vista of mature trees, warm sunshine and a cool box packed with treats makes a bank holiday in Britain great.

Postcard from the pigeon loft

2011-04-17T18:07:00.000+01:00

Pigeon racing is not something I knew a dickie bird about until I spent a morning on a writing workshop with the artists at Project Pigeon. The birds are nothing like their scrawny street cousins. Nor are they pets. These pigeons are intelligent athletes. And, as in any sport, there is money, strategy, suspicion, ritual and rumour: all the elements for dramatic fiction.

The fact we were sitting around a shed in a yard situated under the railway arches of inner Birmingham couldn't detract from the fact that the birds were calm company, the world of pigeon fancying is surprisingly fascinating and the sun was shining. I scribbled loads of notes and outlined the plot of a rather gentle thriller set in the world of pigeon racing. It's unlikely that book will ever be written by me, but I am thinking up ways to work a pigeon loft into other stories.

I doubt I'll be using a pigeon as a main character though. Their key characteristic appeared to be that they just want to be at home with the family, eating. While this translates into an impressive homing instinct which uses navigational skills to surpass any satnav and speed to outpace birds of prey, once they get home, all they do is sit there. It just doesn't make for a satisfying ending.

Postcard from the festivals

2011-04-03T13:36:00.000+01:00

Springtime in Birmingham means a blossoming of arts festivals. The Flatpack film festival brought this vintage mobile cinema (22 seats and fully upgraded to digital, Dolby, etc) to my local park and used it to screen hilarious public information films about Birmingham in the 1960s. For free! How charming is that?

Also unusual and intriguing was the event I chose at the Fierce arts festival. I indulged in a walk with a difference around a museum. They put a blindfold on me. I had a guide to prevent me falling over and a soundtrack delivered via wireless headphones. The whole experience was disorienting, deep and memorable.

Next weekend is the first of the book festivals. Brummies obviously love reading so much that we're treated to multiple events. I'm showing favouritism by picking my highlight event before it's happened, but I'm looking forward to the historical fiction discussion.

We've been spoilt for choice for things to do and see. I only hope the cuts to arts funding don't mean next spring won't be as vibrant.

Postcard from the tunnel

2011-03-24T11:54:00.000Z

Greenwich is famous for many reasons. Its wealth of viewpoints which showcase the beauty of London is one of them. That's not what you're seeing here. Another thing Greenwich and the rest of south east London have historically been known for is lack of bridges and poor transport links, for being the land where cabbies fear to tread because of the dearth of return fares to the West End.

Even now the DLR has arrived, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel which burrows under the Thames to link south London to the Isle of Dogs is a lifeline for commuters and provides aural delights to groups of foreign students testing out the echoes. I was lucky to catch it so deserted for my photo. Equally lucky not to be mown down by a cyclist 'not riding' their bike through it.

While central London's bridges and the planned cable car crossing to east London may deliver scenic vistas of the iconic skyline, they don't have the frisson of danger the foot tunnel delivers. You're under water down there! The work in progress to prop up the roof just confirms the potential for it to come crumbling down around your ears. Sadly the lifts are currently under refurbishment, but no flashy cable car or convenient electric train can compete with the delight of being escorted 50 feet underground by a lift attendant accompanied by fading reception from his transistor radio before you promenade under the river.

OK, so it doesn't make for an attractive postcard. Here's the view towards Docklands from Point Hill in Greenwich to make up for it.

Postcard from the Lunar Society

2011-03-11T16:24:00.000Z

It wasn't the night of the full moon when I attended a Lunar Society lecture this week. The original one in the late 18th century always met on the lightest night of the month to minimise the chances of its members being robbed on their way back from an evening of stimulating debate.

This week's talk at the brightly lit Ikon Gallery took the theme of 'Heritage and the role of art in contemporary society'. It brought together folk such as a modern art curator from the National Trust (I loved seeing a big blue Jeff Koons egg in the conservatory at Waddesdon Manor last summer; sadly they didn't allow photography) and the Guardian's cartoonist Steve Bell. The original Lunar men met in 'an age of miracles' (the Industrial Revolution - as described by Josiah Wedgwood). Imagine what he'd have thought of the pace of today's technological advancements.

So what role does art and heritage have today? As befits a good debate, there were differing views. Art allows imagination and challenges assumptions so that change can occur. Heritage (eg having a history of such things as the Lunar Society) allows change to be put in context. Both should be valued. At least that's my take on it.

And don't worry, Birmingham is now so well illuminated by street lights and monitored by CCTV that I made my way home without incident.

Postcard from a book launch

2011-02-18T22:47:00.000Z

It's always good to see a friend do well; so yesterday was a treat. The Afrika Reich by Guy Saville was launched and is already attracting great reviews.

The book is a gripping thriller set in an alternative history where a Nazi empire dominates Africa. The action races along and the characters with their complex motivations and emotional baggage demand your attention.

The plush 5th View bar at the Waterstones on Piccadilly was the venue for the launch party: a suitably impressive setting to celebrate what's sure to become a best seller. I started reading on my journey home. It's a sign of a good book when you almost miss your stop because you're so engrossed!

Guy's a brilliant, hard working writer and deserves his success. Look carefully at that photo: he can even spell my name correctly!

Postcard from Charlestown

2011-02-09T20:47:00.002Z

It was cool and windy in Cornwall last weekend, but bagging a bargain on last minute accommodation always gives a warm glow. I was staying up hill with a sliver of sea view so took the first opportunity I could to get down to the coast itself. And was thwarted. On arrival in Charlestown late last Thursday there was not a parking space to be had. The place was heaving.

What I didn't know was that I was visiting a film star. The Georgian harbour and resident tall ships do still work in their original capacity, but mostly they stand in for other places for filming purposes. Last week Dr Who was in town; hence the mayhem. The TARDIS had left by the time I got there next day. I'll have to watch closely to find out what planet or era present day Cornwall is thought to resemble.

That is a hint of turquoise you can make out in the sea. If the sun had only been a little stronger and the drizzle had dried up, I couldn't have wished to be transported in time.

Postcard from the estuary

2011-01-29T17:30:00.000Z

As I live in the centre of Britain, it's rare I get to see the sea. And I only caught this glimpse of the tide receding from the Severn estuary out the window of a moving train. I was en route to Cardiff to talk about the River Severn though, so it was good to see it doing what it does best.

For reasons I'm probably one of the few people to find fascinating, the Severn estuary has the second highest tidal range in the world. A whole fourteen meters at best. Yes, that grey shrouded expanse of mud and sand is world class. Give it a break. It's Britain in January; of course it's not looking its best. You should see it when the Bore is ploughing up the channel at high water.

Of course, all you really want to know is where's the biggest in the world if this is second best. Honours go to the Bay of Fundy in Canada. Everything's bigger that side of the Atlantic though. All I care about is that, following postponements to my Christmas plans, I might get a proper trip to the seaside next weekend. Hmm, the British seaside in February...

Postcard from the Custard Factory

2011-01-06T18:12:00.000Z

Birmingham was once known as the 'city of a thousand trades'. One of the most successful Brummie products was Bird's Custard, although it's long since been sold off to some multinational conglomerate. As has much of Birmingham's city centre. Which is why it's so lovely that the factory which once made custard powder has been revamped to house a thriving community of creative types in the workshops, offices and boutiques tucked within its walls.

This is no identikit High Street. And I am pleased to report that, as befits a building with such sweet toothed heritage, the cakes in the cafe are delicious.

There may no longer be a thousand trades practised in Birmingham, but the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-19T16:52:00.000Z

I have every reason to feel aggrieved by the weather. I had plans for this weekend. Plans which involved other parts of the country. Plans which were scuppered by the snow which fell for most of yesterday and made setting out in the car seem more dangerous than climbing Everest. Oh well.

Birmingham has had a make over to match scenes from the Christmas cards propped up indoors. Well it would match, if the post office were delivering Christmas cards to prop up, or indeed anything at all at the moment.

Let's focus on the positives. I had a wonderful walk through the park this morning and found these snowflakes iced onto the railings surrounding the frozen lake. There was the vandalistic thrill of ploughing a calf-deep path through pristine snow along an alternative route to that normally marked by asphalt. But for the crunch of my boots imprinting the pattern of their tread into soft powder, all was quiet. Infrequently worn clothes came into their own.

Tomorrow the snow will be compacted, icy, slushy and grey. More people will decide they have to dig their cars out from under the frozen candlewick bedspreads the weather has draped on them. The transport chaos whinging will become seriously boring and the snow will have outstayed its welcome. Today though, just for a short while, this corner of Birmingham was a winter wonderland. Happy Christmas.

Postcard from the stage

2010-12-02T21:59:00.000Z

Birmingham's Symphony Hall has perfect acoustics. This means it's a fantastic venue for classical music. It doesn't mean pop music should not be heard there; although the plush auditorium can have a restraining influence on the crowd.

The last time I saw Chris Difford, he was playing an intimate gig in an organic garden centre/cafe. So to find him reunited with Squeeze in grand surroundings was quite a contrast. In a good way. All the classics (my photo captured Difford and Tilbrook during the nostalgia of 'Pulling Mussels from the Shell') and a few new songs made for a great gig. There's been yet another change to the line up and the fantastic Steve Nieve on keyboards, for me, stole the show.

The popularity of the old songs is testament to the quality of the songwriting. Living up to the reputation of Symphony Hall was testament to the musical talent on stage. Good things come out of Greenwich...

Postcard from Edinburgh

2010-11-19T23:06:00.002Z

A belated posting this time; I was in Edinburgh back in August but somehow failed to add anything about it here. This picture I took came to mind again recently, for a couple of reasons.

These windows are on the side of the Scottish Parliament building and each is a little reading pod provided for the MSPs to use in quiet moments to catch up on briefings, emails, perhaps even paper backs. Having always had a weakness for window seats, I quite fancied one. Sunlit and secluded, what more could a reader require? One problem: I don't fancy ploughing through parliamentary briefings for the privilege.

Some places where I've recently attempted to concentrate on a book include Pendolino trains (no chance - makes me travel sick), a hospital foyer (too much life going on around me), and the sofa in a serviced apartment (chosen for style rather than support). So my own personal reading pod, equipped with comfortable seating, table placed for convenient positioning of tea, and natural light, would be a luxury.

Of course, a really good book will take me away from anything that's happening in reality. And reality was the other thing which reminded me of my visit to the Scottish Parliament. While there, I viewed the Press Photographer of the Year exhibition which was set up in the foyer. There was a sign warning visitors that many of the images were not suitable for children, but I found some of them so affecting, disturbing and thought provoking that they brought the news story home to me far more effectively than 24 hour rolling news channels can achieve. A colleague saw the exhibition in London recently and agreed with me that, hideous and shocking though many of the photos were, the photographers are doing an important job. Much though I love fiction, reality will intrude and should not be ignored. It's certainly a field where a single good picture can speak louder than words.

Postcard from GMT

2010-11-02T11:30:00.000Z

Synchronise your watches. Greenwich Mean Time rules again and I for one am relieved. I understand the arguments about children crossing roads and farmers milking cows and how both activities would be best carried out in daylight hours, however; at my office all systems and data remain referenced to GMT year round. British Summer Time does nothing but confuse me.

This clock, at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, is where all time is controlled. It is Greenwich Mean Time. How powerful is that? The big orange ball sitting on the building behind rises to the top of its post just before one o'clock every day, and drops on the dot of one. That's one o'clock local time, not GMT - see how easy it is to get muddled?

What I was sure of was that it was the perfect time to be in Greenwich Park. The trees are dressed in a palette from sunshine yellow to peachy pink. Squirrels are sneaking around to set up their winter food stash. And my watch is definitely reading the correct time.

Postcard from autumn

2010-10-13T20:31:00.000+01:00

Autumn is aflame across Shropshire, where I spotted these glossy, plump berries. As alluded to in the previous post, I do have a fondness for the season when leaves deck themselves in their party gear.

I wanted to come back to the theme of 'Red Leaves' to let you know how I got on with the Paullina Simons book I was sent by HarperCollins. The climate confusion on the cover was down to artistic licence - the book is set in winter and the only red leaves are in the name of a building which plays a key role. Slightly odd title to have gone with, I thought.

Sad to report, I didn't love it. While the cover intrigued me, the prologue and first section were not compelling. It perhaps had something to do with the US accent in the narrative, which, to a UK ear, can lead to some phrasing sounding odd. The details of basketball and Ivy League colleges passed me by too. My main concern was that none of the major characters who appeared in the opening section were likeable though. Yes, one was particularly enigmatic to make the reader suspicious, but it felt contrived. I didn't get into the book until Detective Spencer Patrick O'Malley arrived on the scene and had all the charisma and appeal the others were lacking. Shame about the first 150 pages, the events of which we then had to revisit as Spencer investigated them.

The next book on my 'to read' pile promises to be much more gripping: Remix by Lexi Revellian.

Postcard from the bookshelf

2010-10-01T19:48:00.000+01:00

I belong to a reader's panel run by HarperCollins. They recently sent me a questionnaire about the author Paullina Simons and whether various cover designs and blurbs would entice me to look at her books. As I'd not heard of her, I had nothing to base the decision on but the pictures and words presented. Writers may not like it, but cover design is critical to the process of a reader deciding to buy or not to buy.

I've now received the one whose cover most appealed to me; but the style was similar across the titles: young, thoughtful woman with partly obscured face and suggestion of outdoor background. So it passed the first test of intriguing me enough to look further. Nothing to do with the story - I'm a fan of autumn leaves and my first impression of the woman wasn't off putting as it may have been were she more glamorous.

There are a few differences from the version I saw in the online survey. The author's name is plastered over this one in larger font than the title. It's put me off a bit. I don't know her, I don't know her work, it seems a bit presumptuous of the publisher to assume that it's her I care about. It's not. I want to know what that thoughtful woman's doing in among the leaves. I'm having a bit of climate confusion about the snow covered ground and autumn colour, but it's set in the US so I'll put it down to my unfamiliarity. The little teaser sentence was 'Some friends are not what they seem' in the version I 'chose'. A minor thing, but it had a slightly different tone. The lack lustre title and vague claim of 'International Bestseller' worry me. The picture worked for me; the words so far don't.

I'm prepared to give the book a go now it's here, but the huge name might have been enough to make me keep walking past the shelf in the shops. I'll let you know how I get on with the story. It's the bit which counts, after all.

Postcard from Winterbourne Gardens

2010-09-28T15:21:00.000+01:00

Wild mushrooms can evoke unease. A sighting of a strange form blossoming forth when the spring and summer growing season is nearing its end, brings a slight frisson of fear that it may kill you. Unlikely; as I never pick them to eat, preferring to admire them in situ. Especially when they look so charmingly like discarded pencil shavings.

Winterbourne Gardens are lovely, the house delightful and the food in the tea rooms reassuringly edible. Delicious, in fact. With such huge grounds to wander around, it's easy to justify eating both lunch and afternoon tea there. From a table on the terrace, the views of the walled garden, lawns, pergola and woodland are almost as tempting as the cakes.

My (very brief, internet based) research into the fungus pictured tells me it's a Coriolus Versicolor and is inedible. It is not, however, poisonous. Panic over. Time for tea.

Postcard from the park

2010-09-21T20:48:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the break in service. Several things have been going on, including completing the first draft of Park Life. Edits are in progress and more postcards will follow.

This photo was taken during a reading, writing and painting workshop based in Cannon Hill Park during July. The inspiration came from Thomas Hardy's The Woodlanders, as well as the park's own trees. Some tree related imagery has worked its way into Park Life. The setting remains in Birmingham rather than Wessex though, and the characters are somewhat less romantic than Hardy's. As for my paintings, well those are probably best turned into mulch with the now falling leaves.

Postcard from Eden

2010-07-01T14:53:00.000+01:00

Cornwall's climate is benign compared to the rest of Britain. The sheltering walls of a former quarry pit make the Eden Project's site even more plant-friendly. The grounds showcase Cornish habitats as well as containing a lovely display of British flowers and vegetables intermixed with some foreign species coping just fine in the warmer temperatures. Inside the domes though is where things get really interesting.

It may look like temptingly poppable bubble wrap from a distance, but the special covering retains heat and moisture while letting UV light through, meaning that Mediterranean-type and rainforest habitats can be recreated in south west England. It's quite an experience to wander from Cornwall to Greece and on to Malaysia all in the course of one afternoon.

I loved seeing all the fruit and veg, from papaya and pineapples to nectarines and strawberries, and couldn't resist walking past beds filled with colourful salad ingredients into the cafe. It would have been rude not to indulge in the Cornish cream tea after all. I needed the energy to get me to another of Cornwall's special environments and an evening stroll along miles of golden sands.

Postcard from the poppy field

2010-06-18T20:43:00.004+01:00

There are very few sights which make me genuinely gasp with astonishment, but this was one of them. When driving through Worcestershire you pass plenty of perfectly lovely views - as green and pleasant as you could wish for. But red is not a common colour in the English countryside, and it's the first time I've seen an entire field washed red as if by an Impressionist's watercolours.

I had a tip off it was there and managed to visit while the poppies were at their peak, on a quiet day and in glorious sunshine. A warm breeze made the glossy, tissue paper-thin, pleated petals bend and flip so they seemed alive. Bees were trying to find a foothold on the moving flowers to pick up some of the dusty, dark pollen. The uniformity of colour made the whole thing more astounding.

The field is on a farm recently acquired by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust who had ploughed the sandy soil, then left it fallow. Which was obviously the cue for the dormant poppy seeds to burst into life. They'd normally be considered a weed on arable land. Here though, they're magnificent and are providing a home for nesting skylarks. The birds were quiet, but the Severn Valley Railway passes nearby and provided a steam-driven soundtrack of hoots and chugging.

There were plenty of photographers hunched over tripods beetling about the place, but of course poppies aren't just picturesque. I didn't have a Wizard of Oz moment and fall asleep in the field; but I do wonder what will happen when all that remains is the seedheads. In Tasmania recently (the world's biggest legal grower of opiates - who knew?), there were reports of wallabies breaking into the fields to gorge on seeds, get high and dash about destroying the place. I can only hope the skylarks behave better.

Postcard from the Design Museum

2010-06-11T19:23:00.001+01:00

In every day life good design goes unnoticed. Only when an item's not quite right is it detected, cursed and improvements desired. The Designs of the Year exhibition at the Design Museum in London has selected a collection of items and concepts which make significant or radical improvements to life, or will once they are translated into products.

You'll be wondering how a tank full of plastic pandas fits into this. They're old style WWF collection boxes - the type which used to gather dust on shop counters. Largely ignored. Well, this installation of them can't be passed by. The pandas are mounted on sensors which know where you are. They detect the presence of an observer and swivel to look you in the eye. The photo shows them in the process of turning to look at someone approaching from my left. The iconic logo of the WWF interacts with you and demands your attention. Forget charity collections by students with clipboards on the street, the pandas' stare cannot be ignored. Charity donations - as improved by design.

The range of items on display was surprising. From commodes to concept cars, there is no aspect of life which escapes the designers' attention. The winning design was for a folding plug - as slimline and lightweight as the laptop it's carried with. That wasn't my favourite though. I liked the political commentary such as the Cafe of Equivalent Cost, where a bowl of soup which would cost a farm worker in Mozambique twenty cents was sold to London bankers for £111. Trouble is that while that cost shocked me, the city boys probably lapped it up; literally. What I really loved though was Sugru. It's a fabulous new material which you use to adjust, amend, fix and generally make the products you have better suit you. It's cheap, it works on everything and it could change your life. If you're the sort of person who's always swearing at your tin opener, that is.

Postcard from the Spring Thing

2010-05-29T21:52:00.002+01:00

Book festivals can drag on. Week after week of literary celebrities hawking their wares and pretending they weren't just asked the same questions down the road at Hay/Cheltenham/Oxford/insert name of bookish town. Birmingham book festival usually happens in October and follows a similar template, but their Spring Thing - a festival in a day - made a refreshing change.

Apologies for the photo, but literary events aren't really visual are they? So we'll have to make do with Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy signing a book. And yes, that stage would be better suited to an orchestra mainly because we were in a concert hall. So the acoustics for the readings were very good. As was the poetry and prose read out and discussed.

The other benefit of the short programme meant no concurrent sessions, so I went to everything and was exposed to a lot of authors I hadn't previously read. The first session saw two authors of historical fiction (Judith Allnatt and Clare Clark) talk about the opportunities their research opened up and the liberties they took with it. Then a panel discussion between Amanda Smyth, Samantha Harvey and Aifric Campbell explored common themes of loss in their work and whether this is a modern narrative trend as opposed to the 'making good' of some classic works. Stuart Maconie perhaps has it easy; no research or imagination required, his personality is his device and with the material of all England to comment on, there was plenty to laugh at. England as a theme appeared again in one of Jo Bell's poems which comprised the results of a text/email poll of her friends asking them to define what England meant to them. The poem's refrain of '...and pubs, and rain...' was apparently what everyone said when they were done with their unique take on the English condition. Wonder why?

Jo's other poems were equally entertaining, as well as emotional or surreal. Which made her readings a good partner to alternate with a disturbing, if amusing, short story in four parts by Nick Walker. Carole Ann Duffy headlined, reprising some of her poems about wives of famous historical figures and presenting some new work; including painful reflections on the death of her mother.

Writers are a nosy bunch and justify a habit of eavesdropping by claiming it as research. Well, prick up your ears on the 1st of July for a spot of creative eavesdropping. See www.bugged.org.uk for a writing project everyone can get involved in.

Postcard from the parade

2010-05-14T19:09:00.000+01:00

Elephants are parading across London this month. These two were livening up an otherwise tastefully muted South Molton Street. The concept of using large models as a canvas for designs isn't new of course. I think it all started with a herd of illustrated cows, but since then I've seen massive painted dogs in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (who knew the Canary Islands were named after big dogs, not little birds?) while in Liverpool everywhere had Superlambananas.

Of course the elephant visit is for a good cause as well as a bit of fun. Asian elephants are on the brink of extinction and the sculptures will be auctioned to raise money to fund the work of the Elephant Family charity. Whether Asian elephants can be saved is a difficult issue. Sadly, the streets of London are not their natural habitat and humans are moving in to the places they prefer to call home.

The sculptures are so charming, I almost wish the real things were suited to the urban environment. I definitely can't help wishing we humans were a little less destructive when we stepped onto elephant territory.

Postcard from mac

2010-05-01T17:39:00.000+01:00

mac (the Midlands Arts Centre) has reopened after being closed for refurbishment for far too long. It's been worth waiting for. Smarter, brighter, and bang up to date - the building feels revitalised. It's largely the same layout (a labyrinth), but the atmosphere of grim has been dispelled.

The opening day crowds were testament to how much mac has been missed; and the welcome was warmer than ever. Studio doors were thrown open for people to try out art, dance, music and craft workshops. The galleries were so packed I need to go back another day to actually see the exhibits. The theatres are refitted and the cinema reupholstered.

mac has never been a place to visit only when a specific event or performance attracts you though. Now the hoardings are down, it's once again fully integrated with Cannon Hill Park. Even if none of the varied programme would convince you to visit, the cafe and bar will always offer tempting refuge from the rain.

Postcard from Singapore

2010-04-24T18:15:00.002+01:00

Moving on from the occasionally outlandish architectural and design choices made in Melbourne, it was a surprise to find that the otherwise staid mix of traditional and corporate buildings in Singapore have been joined by a boat. A big boat. Hoist to the top of three curved tower blocks (indicating a wave) and planted up with palm trees. As roof gardens go it's certainly different. Still looks as if a container ship has run aground 50 floors up though.

The balconies and awnings which still line Boat Quay are easier on the eye, not least because, when sitting under an awning, you can't see the generic skyscrapers. Mostly generic. Those built by Chinese companies do sometimes incorporate gaps through the upper floors or are angled to accommodate the principles of Feng Shui or folklore.

My photo of the boat building didn't quite work out, so I'll share this one of the symbol of Singapore: the Merlion. This fantastical animal is half lion, half fish. In the tradition of offices the world over I brought back biscuits for my colleagues which claimed to be Merlion flavoured. Worried by this, a vegetarian scanned the ingredients list. Turns out that Merlion flavour is mostly vanilla with a hint of custard powder.

Postcard from Melbourne

2010-04-18T11:48:00.000+01:00

This is the view from the Eureka! Skydeck on the 88th floor of the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. To my ear, it rather spoilt the boast to have to add that '...in the Southern Hemisphere' qualifier. I liked the view and don't think Melbourne has any need to justify itself by defining its terms.

Like all Aussie cities it's a fairly new looking place where some, um, innovative ideas in architectural design are being indulged; as are some quite strange ideas for public art. The square cow stranded upside down in a tree didn't add much to the dockside promenade for me.

It's what's going on in Melbourne that matters more though. From hidden away but buzzing rooftop bars, through exhibitions to international sporting events, there's loads happening. No need for any qualifiers - I had a great time.

ps Congratulations to Team Flotsam for completing the Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne 100km challenge.

Postcard from the Mill Garden

2010-03-17T22:00:00.028Z

There are some brave splashes of spring colour in evidence in the chilly Midlands, but spring has not yet sprung with conviction. In the absence of abundant floral displays, the backdrop of the Castle made for the most dramatic photo opportunity on a recent visit to the Mill Garden in Warwick.

I do like to be contrary though. And Warwick Castle does just fine without me hyping it. So this view may be the most dramatic, but wasn't my favourite. That honour goes to the vista from the Mill Garden summerhouse looking across the mill pond and ruined bridge - best enjoyed whilst some welcome sunlight warms your face and the rush of water over the weir provides a soundtrack. You have your back to the castle but the natural charms of the riverside make up for it.

Forget visiting the Castle dungeons - the garden boasts its very own set of stocks. And I'm too old for playing at princesses. Let's face it: it's more likely that most of us would have been working for the folk at the castle than living there. So hanging out at the Mill Garden makes far more sense. The thought that the tiny entrance fee goes to charity, rather than lining the castle coffers, just adds to the delight.

Postcard from Smithfield

2010-03-13T22:53:00.002Z

I spend some time each month working in central London. My office lies just outside the boundary of the City itself but sometimes I become one of the few overnight residents of the Square Mile. So the landmarks I note are perhaps different from those the daytime population might navigate by. By night, the offices are dark and quiet, the pavements no longer crowded by suited commuters. Something different is going on.

Smithfield Market is one of the oldest markets in London, and it's still trading. By the middle of the evening, when I'm wandering towards my bed for the night, lorries are congregating outside. As I sleep, the meat they carry is unloaded and sold - the entire operation concluding while I sleep so that, when I'm on my way out again, all that's left is the clean up operation.

I cross the road here: where a line of black, red and white bollards mark the City boundary from the rest of London, and I'm back in the world where I work - a nondescript office block (from the roof of which regular readers have seen the sun rise). The medieval heart of London could generate a million postcards but I preferred to show you this: the bit where some real work goes on, even if I'm often fast asleep just round the corner.

Postcard from the arena

2010-02-21T18:14:00.000Z

Elvis, the ultimate showman, is still wowing the crowds. Many of the musicians playing in Birmingham this weekend were members of Elvis's original band, but obviously centre stage was bare. The star of the show made his appearance via archive footage from the early seventies and even in 2D his charisma filled the arena. The fact that the projection of him is about 4 times the size of the figures on stage helps I suppose.

No one in the band even tries to outperform him; they just stick to what they do best: playing great music. Several audience members had a go though. Sales of quiff wigs must have shot up last week. Eager to join in with the experience of the many girls the footage showed Elvis bending from the stage to kiss, one woman yelled out in a brief quiet spot 'I luv yow, El-vees!' The man himself may never have toured the West Midlands in his lifetime, but he was made welcome here last night.

I normally hate gigs in huge venues because the distance from the band destroys the atmosphere. So a show which makes a virtue of the fact you have to watch events on the video screens is an interesting alternative. Of course, it takes a performer of Elvis's star quality to pull it off. No need for a phone vote to tell Elvis he's got the X factor; the fact he's still packing arenas more than 30 years after his death says it all.

Postcard from St Pancras

2010-02-10T20:57:00.004Z

In the 1960s there were plans to demolish St Pancras station. The big idea was to replace it with something modern, something less hideously old-fashioned. Times change; and so do tastes. It's unlikely champagne will ever go out of fashion though.

A couple of years ago, the Victorian gothic splendor of St Pancras was refurbished. As part of the new, slick station facilities the longest champagne bar in Europe was built. How long? Um, about the length of one of the Eurostar trains that pull in alongside to deliver passengers arriving in London from Paris and other points European.

Sipping champagne on a draughty platform might not sound immediately appealing. Wait though: the booths are heated - press a couple of discreet buttons and the seats begin to warm. Pink champagne was the decadent choice while the tartan blanket provided by the attentive (and feeling the chill himself) waiter gave a uniquely British twist.

Literary connections are essential for any station intending to make its mark. King's Cross next door has the magical Platform 9 and 3/4. Paddington has Paddington. As you sit alongside the Eurostar, nestled in your warm blanket, the arched roof naturally draws the eye, as it did for John Betjeman whose statue, caught gazing up in wonder, stands nearby. The experience is almost sublime. Almost. If only the platform announcements were for Paris, rather than imminent departures for the East Midlands.

Postcard from Exeter

2010-01-28T20:33:00.001Z

I am assured that, on a sunny day, Cathedral Green in Exeter is full of people sitting, eating, walking, talking, and generally enjoying themselves. Here's what it's like on a grey and cold day. What a lovely bit of evening sun that's just caught the windows of the medieval-looking building in the far corner of the square though. Shame the sun didn't show its face earlier.

The people of Exeter were still sitting, eating and talking though; they just did it indoors. For example, Michael Caines' restaurant (not "my name is" Michael Caine's) in the Royal Clarence Hotel behind the lamppost here was enticing people in with "The Best Sandwich in the World". They have an award from a competition held in Paris to back up this astounding claim. Vegetarians: look away now - the world-beating filling is Devonshire beef.

It does sound good but, unwilling to part with £10 when I was only looking for an afternoon snack, I tried a different Devon speciality: scones. It may not have been the best scone in the world, but I can confirm that the eating opportunities around Cathedral Green do not disappoint!

Postcard from Ferry Meadows

2010-01-02T16:12:00.001Z

I can only apologise for the 'frozen lake' theme I've adopted in recent weeks. The weather is entirely to blame. Although, both recent photos feature winter sunshine: a phenomenon which is always worth celebrating.

Ferry Meadows is on the outskirts of Peterborough. As the city expanded in the 1960s, a smart solution to both the problem of how to use land which formed the floodplain of the Nene, and the desire to leave some areas undeveloped for wildlife and recreation, was found in one place. The lakes were left over after gravel extraction, and now attract plenty of wildfowl.

Most importantly, the park makes a great venue for a new year's day walk: plenty of crisp, clear air to freshen the mind, good exercise as you make a circuit of the lakes, and great cakes at the rowing club cafe. OK, so the cake consumption might have negated the healthy bonus of the length of the walk, but on a day that cold it was impossible to resist!

Happy New Year.

Christmas card 2009

2009-12-20T15:36:00.000Z

The Cannon Hill boating lake has frozen over in the current cold snap. Birmingham is fortunate to have had just enough snow and just enough sun to make this kind of weather pleasant. For walking in the park, anyway. Although, the Canada Geese are angrier than usual. Blaming passers by for the frozen lake. And frustrated geese lack Christmas spirit.

If you're somewhere that has had far more snow, and your life has been as disrupted as that of the geese, you have my sympathy. But I hope you'll forgive me posting a pretty picture.

After all, a significant number of the real Christmas cards I've received so far feature pictures of snow. It's unusual in Britain to have actual snowfall so close to Christmas Day. So how could I resist using this icy image to accompany my virtual card?

Whatever the weather with you, I hope you have a happy Christmas.

Postcard from the arcade

2009-12-12T17:15:00.001Z

It is a well known fact that High Streets are hell and shopping centres are soul destroying. So, when undertaking Christmas shopping, both are best avoided. Lucky me then, that I managed to support some independent traders in Birmingham's arcades and markets, and am now wearing the smug expression of she who has completed her Christmas shopping.

I also got to enjoy the 'even brighter than New Street's' lights on Birmingham's Piccadilly Arcade (pictured), having spent the previous weekend shopping with a glass of mulled wine in hand on York Road and Poplar Road in Kings Heath during their Christmas shopping event - an experience which can be recreated any evening at the German and Craft Markets in the city centre.

Of course, in Birmingham city centre, much of the shopping available is of the identikit chain type. Smaller towns fare better. For those in southern England, may I recommend Antique and Contemporary Furniture and Gifts in Princes Risborough? OK, I admit to a family connection, but it really is a lovely shop. And, while I'm confessing, I also admit that I did some of my Christmas shopping online; so now have the tense wait to see if everything arrives on time. Perhaps a glass of mulled wine while I'm waiting will help...

Postcard from Topsham

2009-11-23T20:32:00.000Z

Just one final glimpse of the seaside for this year although, I admit it, this photo dates back a few months. And, to be absolutely technically accurate, it's an estuary rather than the sea.

One thing Topsham is known for is the large number of pubs for the size of the town. This photo was unsurprisingly taken from the front garden of one of them where I was sipping at a pint of locally brewed cider. Sometimes folk from Exeter (ok, students) travel to Topsham to take part in a pub crawl around as many of the pubs as they can manage. My question would be: why move from this one when the view is so perfect?

Winter sunsets can be magnificent of course, but they're not often experienced from pub gardens whilst quaffing cool cider. I'm looking forward to next summer already.

Postcard from autumn

2009-11-16T22:29:00.005Z

Recent wet and windy weather means the best of autumn is behind us. But, only a few days ago, this tree in my local park was putting on its autumn colours. I love the traffic light effect.

Of course, the use of red in nature usually does mean 'watch your step'. So I didn't pick this fairy tale-style toadstool and bring it home to make mushroom omelette with. Might have written a few interesting fairy tales of my own if I had though.

Birmingham's been in the news for all the wrong reasons this weekend: concert disasters, hideous car crashes and stabbings. Thought you'd like to see that it's not all bad here. Some of it is beautiful.

Postcard from Delft

2009-11-06T22:32:00.000Z

I have a good excuse for the poor quality of this photo: on my trip to Delft I was a little less 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', a little more 'Woman under an umbrella'. The rain couldn't hide the fact that the old town of Delft is charming though.

I visited for work, but found time for a wander along the cobbled streets which run over and alongside deserted canals and into this, the main market square. At night, illuminated tall windows on the upper floors of the townhouses drew my eyes upwards to admire stylish interior design. Best not to look for too long though. The cyclists are fast, silent, and convinced they have right of way.

Postcard from Chesil Beach

2009-10-29T22:30:00.000Z

I admit it. I'm catching up on a backlog of 'postings' from a few months of visits to the South West, and this photo is a few months old. Am just trying to get ahead of the Royal Mail and their inevitable backlog...

My time spent on Chesil Beach was inspired by the fact I was reading the novel of that name and thought I'd try a little co-location of the reading experience. Not all of Ian McEwan's settings are real, but the suck and draw of the pebbles resisting the tide on this breakwater certainly are. Attempting to hold pages open while the wind whipped them about, losing my place, wasn't easy but did add to my appreciation of the difficulty of the characters' situation. And the physical effort of walking over those stones would leave anyone with scant energy to pursue more difficult, emotional goals.

I don't intend to get obsessive about visiting the locations I read about (I'm currently reading a book set in London. 1920s London. Can you imagine the difficulties that would arise?), but as an experiment this was a successful one. There are many more reasons to go to Chesil Beach though. Well worth a detour any time.

Postcard from Wells

2009-10-20T20:32:00.001+01:00

Vicars' Close in Wells claims to be one of the oldest planned streets in Europe. Not that there haven't been renovations and improvement works: those chimneys were added in the fifteenth century to introduce some mod cons. And the streetlights are electric.

The changes of more recent years aren't so photogenic and explain the odd angle of this picture. Residents are now allowed to park their cars in front of their houses. The design of a twenty first century car may have a lot to commend it but, in this ancient street, you have to wonder what present day planning officials were thinking.

Vorsprung durch technik? Maybe not in this case.

Postcard from underwater II

2009-10-09T11:23:00.005+01:00

County Hall used to be home to the Greater London Council. These days, the sharks there are real, and they're not afraid to show their teeth.

Palpable agression emanates from the tank, the quiet wisdom on the faces of replica Easter Island heads doing nothing to soothe its occupants.

Of course the aquarium staff are playing on the public's fears - piping tense music from speakers nearby, adding to the discomfort of standing there. Watching these fish swim isn't a relaxing experience; it is an interesting one though. The sharks are more compelling than any councillor could be.

Postcard from daybreak

2009-09-24T09:57:00.005+01:00

It doesn’t have the romance of sunset, but the start of the day has a different beauty – should you ever be awake to notice. Even the East London skyline looks rather glamorous with this lighting. The soundtrack is more subdued at that hour: the occasional car engine, a cough from a smoker warming their lungs up for the day. But the traffic is mostly silenced; the city asleep.

As I should have been. But you see some terrible things in my line of work. Five in the morning for one.

Anyway, dawn broke and I returned to work. Thought it was a relevant picture for the first post in a while. Apologies for the break in service; internet access is currently intermittent. And there’s been that postal strike to contend with... I hope to be back online and in touch again soon.

Postcard from the pitch

2009-07-27T15:06:00.006+01:00

OK, so I'm not a huge cricket fan, and I'll admit to not following quite all of the rules (who can be bothered, this is a game that needs 3 umpires to make sure it's being played correctly); but even I know that an Ashes test match at Lords' is a big deal.

Lords' styles itself as 'The Home of Cricket', and the tube trains were full of just the type of man you'd expect to find making his way there: navy blazer, chambray shirt, beige trousers (sharply creased), the occasional flash of rhubarb and custard in an MCC tie and a tight grip on the essential blue holdall for one's sandwiches. Of course an Ashes match attracts a much wider audience as well, so I was lost amongst a regiment of the Barmy Army and Aussies a long way from home.

England couldn't have this relationship with any other country. No one else would take the 'love to hate you' banter and bat it straight back the way the Aussies do. And the mix of rigid tradition and picnicking informality makes for a great English day out.

The third test starts at Edgbaston this week. Good luck, England.

Postcard from the Pendolino

2009-06-25T19:04:00.006+01:00

I've been a regular on the train between Birmingham and London recently. The Pendolino cuts a high-speed slice through the middle of England, leaning as it rounds the bends. Should I attempt to read, the velocity and jolting make me nauseous. So I gaze out the window at the glimpses of life the panoramic windows display, the soundtrack from the wheels a white noise pitched just too high to ignore.

Anglers drop their lines into lakes, horses and their riders cut across fields and canal boat dwellers take a more sedate journey through the countryside. Into towns, and the land by the tracks is shared between industrial units and housing crammed in painfully close to the rails. A few moments, and I'm back in the country where a Land Rover is mobbed by sheep looking for lunch. Makes more sense than the craziness of car parks – empty, but for one car parked just off centre.

The stations we don't stop for pass in a blur of lights and platforms where solitary passengers are left standing for the next train. Then my field of vision adjusts to widescreen once again as the foreground detail becomes irrelevant compared to the deep vista of woods and hills. Until the buildings appear again and we zoom past factories with advertising claims: you have to go a long, long way to bake a better biscuit. Perhaps a little further than Watford Junction.

Postcard from the parlour

2009-06-13T18:26:00.004+01:00

Sunny afternoons in Britain aren't complete until you've heard the chimes of the ice cream van. The discordant rendition of 'Greensleeves' is a more welcome soundtrack to summer than drumbeats leaking from the open windows of passing cars.

My problem is that a Mr Whippy-style dollop into a cone made of crunchy air cannot satisfy the Pavlovian craving the music triggers. Not even if you stick a Flake in it.

I'm certain there's a gap in the market for quality ice cream parlours in the suburbs. I'd love to be able to wander down the road and choose from a range of delicious flavours as I did in the tiny ice cream parlour in Spain, pictured above.

I selected creamy coffee (and a pink spoon), my companion chose decadently rich chocolate (and a blue spoon) – gender stereotypes are alive and well! The gelato texture was heavy and smooth, the flavours intense. My only disappointment was that they weren't playing 'Greensleeves'.

Postcard from the palace

2009-05-30T11:46:00.004+01:00

Blenheim, not Buckingham. The Queen has yet to invite me to her home; while the Duke of Marlborough is a little more welcoming to guests – pay up and you can come in. And palatial would be the word to describe the state rooms: magnificent proportions, designed to impress and packed with treasures, both commissioned and collected.

I doubt there are architects and designers working today whose names will last through history as those of the folk associated with Blenheim have. This is just one example of the work of Vanburgh, Hawksmoor and 'Capability' Brown; and it's a good one.

There's another name linked to Blenheim which will resonate for a while too: Winston Churchill. He was born there and was a frequent visitor, producing many paintings of the grounds in between finding the time to be a memorable leader. He was following the example set by his ancestor - the first Duke of Marlborough – in that. Perhaps it's an effect of the credit crunch that we can't afford to let today's architects spread their wings, and we're lacking in charismatic leaders too.

Of course there's more to Blenheim than the dazzling state rooms. Tall yew hedges give the maze an extra frisson of danger, and make you more appreciative of the open parkland once you find the way out. And you could walk for hours in those grounds, build up an appetite for a visit to the café – I can report that the cakes are exceedingly good.

Postcard from the Globe

2009-05-21T18:43:00.008+01:00

Not the original building, obviously! London's south bank looks rather different from Shakespeare's day. I don't think there are records of what the first 'Globe' looked like, but this one was constructed using the best available information and traditional techniques. It's certainly more attractive than the concrete hulk of its near neighbour, the National Theatre.

Walking along this stretch of the Thames is an architectural cocktail. As well as the theatres, Tate Modern looms out of the old Bankside power station, the OXO tower casts a long shadow over the river and the path diverts into cobbled streets, including the site of the Clink prison. It's not all grim; there are plenty of pubs and even the odd stretch of 'beach'.

Distinct lack of forest though. Which gives the opportunity to post this photo that nature watchers will realise is a few weeks old. These bluebell woods are in Warwickshire and are reputed to be part of the original Forest of Arden, where Shakespeare may have wandered and which provided him with his setting for As You Like It – a play you could see if you visited the Globe this summer. I don't just throw this stuff together you know!

Postcard from the window

2009-05-05T22:08:00.006+01:00

A quiz for the Londoners - work out where I was standing to get that photo! It's quite a view, and would certainly distract me if I worked in that building all the time.

Standing there, taking it in, got me to thinking about a few things, but mainly the fact that you don't often get that perspective on what a beautiful city London is. And the main thing which makes it so is the Thames running through it. Well, that's (unsurprisingly) my take on it. I gave a similar thought to Kerry in Map Reading a while back though. She's up Ben Nevis in this scene, looking out across the Great Glen and reflects:

'Living in London I forget about the horizon,' Kerry said. 'I'm always indoors or on the tube and, unless you get up high, you never get a good view of your surroundings. Then you cross a bridge or look out the window in a tall building and - there it is: London laid out in front of you. It is beautiful, just in a different way to this.'

Quite a contrast in view, but I'm with her – both are beautiful. Apparently, there are studies into the psychological benefits of different types of views. All to do with depth of field of vision, natural or man-made, etc. I don't want to analyse it that much, I just know that variety suits me; I wouldn't want to have to make a definitive choice between architecture or mountains and glens. Maybe it's just the presence of some kind of water in the view that appeals to me.

Postcard from a writer's room 2

2009-04-22T19:26:00.009+01:00

That table is incredible. On it, some of the most well loved works of fiction in the English language came to life. Look how tiny and unassuming it is. No room for laptop, notes, reference books or any of the other paraphernalia I pile up when writing. Even if I'm just scribbling in a notebook, I tend to take up plenty of space. But that table was all Jane Austen had. In a corner of the dining room in the house she shared with her sister, mother and a cousin.

The house is completely charming. Jane Austen did not live in luxury, but her brother made sure she was comfortable there and the cramped and shared conditions didn't seem to harm her writing. My other favourite item on show was a woven silk shawl which belonged to Jane. I can just picture her bent over the table, scribbling out the novels, shawl tucked around her shoulders. And ears always alert to the squeaking hinges of the door, warning her that someone was coming and the page she was writing should be hidden. No password protected documents in those days!

I guess not that much has changed about the writing process. It's still ideas moving from brain to page. I envy the simplicity of Jane's method though. Oh, and her genius of course…

Postcard from the towpath

2009-04-15T20:07:00.009+01:00

Call me lazy, but sometimes I don't want going for a walk to be a challenge. So a walk along a stretch of canal not overly troubled by locks was a great way to spend the afternoon. Fradley Junction marks the point where the Trent and Mersey Canal joins the Coventry Canal; I guess that means it's been the perfect place for a pub for a while now!

Holidaymakers and boat dwellers were out in force along both canals – taking in the scenery at just above walking pace. It was a bit noiser along the towpaths of Gas Street Basin later that night though. Gas Street Basin, at the junction between the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Canal Main Line, is also a popular watering hole. They were spilling out of the bars at the Mailbox, although I guess fewer of the patrons had arrived by boat.

I have to admit that I didn't walk the entire distance between these canal junctions, and sadly didn't travel by boat either. But I did take refreshments at both, perhaps what canal junctions have always been best for.

Postcard from the curry house

2009-04-06T17:35:00.004+01:00

Is it a bad thing when the staff recognise you as soon you walk into a restaurant? Well, I've been eating at the Kababish in Moseley for about fourteen years now (no, not every day!) and, as it's been owned by the same family for that time, I guess we've got used to each other's faces. There can only be one reason to return so often: the food is excellent. There is nothing wrong with the current spice-coloured décor (although I have fond memories of the old Parisian street scene mural), and the location is pretty handy. But it's the quality of the food that makes this a favourite (although I also miss the days when pick-and-mix balti was on the menu, things are a little classier now).

That's the Lamb Borti Bhuna on my plate – extremely tasty it was too. Across the table are the Lamb Pinnee, a side order of Brinjle Milaana, rotis and rice. Cobra to drink, obviously. I never intended the postcards blog to become the place for restaurant reviews but such a lovely meal deserved some kind of thank you. Apologies for the poor quality of the photograph, I was keen to get on with my dinner!

Of course, in the time I've lived in Birmingham I've been to many other good curry houses so, to spread the recommendations out a bit, other places I'd promote are Sylhet Spice in Kings Heath and Al Faisal's on Stoney Lane. I'm not a fan of Indian sweets, but the selection box I bought from Milan's Sweet Centre on Stoney Lane recently were demolished rather rapidly by those who know good from bad. All are independently owned, long established businesses with no city centre pricing. And all get busy, so make a reservation first.

Postcard from a sea of blossom

2009-03-24T15:24:00.006Z

This weekend felt like spring had arrived in full bloom. A walk through Greenwich Park was a treat - sunshine, flowers and warmer than summer often is. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. Follow the link if you want to know more; for me it's as good a reason as any to use a photo of the Royal Observatory. Sadly, I wasn't there at 1pm to synchronise my watch with the ball's drop. So, if I'm a few minutes late, you'll know why.

Quiet contemplation of blossom is one of the few good things going on in Greenwich just now. Long running roadworks are creating traffic chaos, bringing the bottleneck town centre to gridlock. If one hole in the road can cause that much trouble, just imagine what an Olympic event could do. And without the option for pedestrians and residents to take a break from the traffic by escaping into the Park for a breather. I've mentioned the issue before, you can see the details at NOGOE's website.

Of course, there's plenty of time for Spring to be a wash out yet. But, for now, it's all about pink blossom, yellow daffs and the orange ball of Greenwich Mean Time. Next weekend, the clocks go forward. So I won't be the only one whose watch is wrong.

Postcard from the seaside

2009-03-10T21:10:00.006Z

Surf's up! Well, it looks a bit rough actually. So much for a holiday in the sun, Fuerteventura's famous winds blew a lot of cloud my way. The kite surfers were well served; the sunbathing book readers weren't so impressed.

On this hazy day we travelled from the soft dunes of Corralejo to the lava shores of El Cotillo (pictured), taking a loop through the mountains of Betancuria. Perhaps in the photo you can just make out the mountains in the distance? So much varied landscape in one small island, and all so much greener than expected because, just my luck, it's rained a lot recently.

Of course, one of the best things about being beside the seaside, is eating a meal at a beachside restaurant, looking out across the water (and eating fish caught in those waters). The food certainly made up for the weather; although, some sunbathing was managed - with interruptions.

Postcard from The REP

2009-02-22T14:21:00.011Z

The Birmingham Rep is a hideous building. I suppose elephant-hide concrete cladding was the height of architectural design in the 1960s, but it now stands between the classical proportions of Baskerville House (named after John Baskerville, an innovator in typesetting, writing-trivia fans) and the 1990s plate glass and tubular steel of the International Convention Centre. The Rep doesn’t bear up well to the comparison.

What goes on inside, however, makes you forgive surface ugliness. I saw the Kneehigh Theatre production of Don John - Mozart’s Don Giovanni revisited as 1970s rock opera. Hilarious stuff with a quality soundtrack. Kneehigh deserve the accolades they attract, I loved their version of Brief Encounter with song and dance. I wonder if they had to tone down the Brummie accents when they took it to the West End though?

One other thing makes the Rep stand out from other theatres - their restaurant: WineREP. Not only is the food delicious and keenly priced. Not only, as you’d guess from the name, is the wine list superb. But the stroke of genius is the showtime deal. Eat your starter and main course before the performance, return to your table for your pudding and coffee in the interval. So civilised I can’t imagine why nowhere else does it. They should.

Postcard from underwater

2009-02-15T09:39:00.007Z

There are places in Britain that are further from the coast than Birmingham, but not many. The city doesn't even have a major river running through it. So, it's an apt location for a Sea Life Centre – bringing the best of the underwater world to Brummies.

Highlights include the Bay of Rays, a huge tank filled with weird creatures gliding through the water, flipping and turning like kites. It was hard to draw the smallest member of our group away from the fascination of this drama playing out at toddler-eye level.

My favourite though, was the seahorses. Tiny, delicate, vibrant-coloured and strange shaped, it seems hard to believe these funny fish could survive in the open ocean. Fortunately, they appear to be happy at home in the big city.

Postcard from Pizza Express

2009-02-03T16:22:00.007Z

OK, so I'm a cheap date, but I love Pizza Express. There are so many of us devotees that we even have a club where our loyalty is rewarded with free pizza. What more could the pizza lover need?

This is the Fiorentina as cooked at Birmingham Bullring – extremely tasty and one of my favourites from the menu. I recommend having the egg soft – lots of delicious runny yolk to soak up with the dough. Serving suggestion is a glass of red and a salad on the side. But you didn't need me to tell you that, did you?

There is only one thing which could improve this meal, are you listening Pizza Express management? I can be trusted with a sharper knife. The toddler at the next table was served bambinoccino in a real cup, so how about letting the adults have cutlery that, you know, cuts? Just, whatever you do, don't mess with my pizza.

Will save my raving about the gelato and the cheesecake for another post, all this pizza talk is making me peckish…

Postcard from outside

2009-01-25T11:39:00.003Z

Even if politicians get slammed for talking about 'green shoots', it's nice to see the real thing coming through. Forget spin or economic analysis, the world is still turning and it's snowdrop season!

This weekend has also been the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Eighteen feathered guests visited us. All common species, but it's good to have the company. Good to have an excuse to gaze out the window too. Sitting in a dazed stupor can often be put down to the hard work of preparing to write (!), but this weekend it's all in the name of nature conservation.

I might brew a cuppa, find a comfy chair and take another look. The birds and the bulbs are getting busy.

Postcard from several degrees below

2009-01-06T16:29:00.005Z

To say the UK is in the grip of a cold snap is to understate matters. What with the national obsession for talking about the weather, understatement is about as likely as High Street stores being saved from collapse by a sudden rush on bikinis. It's not as if we can afford to leave the country after all!

Out on the patio, frozen footprints tell a story – the only ones venturing out are cats and birds. Both are looking for food. The cat does not live here, but the evidence is clear. A trail of footprints takes a direct route from its own house, via a call at our back door to see if anyone's home, through to the neighbour on the other side. The return route is shorter. Having been unlucky in its attempts to gain access, it backtracks to try its luck with the houses to the other side.

The birds were luckier – there is seed on the bird feeder and no sign of them having encountered the cat!

Here's hoping the weather warms up soon…

Postcard from Wellingtonia Avenue

2008-12-29T11:40:00.006Z

No Christmas tree could be as impressive as these. Tucked away in an otherwise unremarkable corner of Berkshire, Wellingtonia Avenue is a great example of British eccentricity. The 100 giant redwood trees were planted in 1869 to commemorate the death of the Duke of Wellington. The road they line leads nowhere very interesting – but the journey's the thing. Driving down this avenue feels special.

One side of the road is on National Trust land, forming the border of a wood, which could be lovely; if only today's irresponsible Brits could refrain from fly-tipping. On the other site of the road, the trees are in private front gardens. I know I'd feel pretty lucky to have one. But then, I do own the National Trust ones don't I? Lucky me.

My picture doesn't do it justice. There's a better photo here: http://www.redwoodworld.co.uk/picturepages/finchampstead.htm

Christmas Card 2008

2008-12-15T16:32:00.006Z

Only ten days to go until Christmas so I'm showcasing the Christmas decorations on Birmingham's Selfridges slug. Anyone who hasn't visited the city in recent years is probably thinking, 'What the...?' It's a building I'm fond of though – iconic and fun, especially with its Christmas decorations up.

I've just been to the Post Office with a stack of actual cards and parcels. And yes, I had to stand in a ridiculously long queue for the privilege of posting them. My own fault for not doing it sooner, I know! So the ability to post a 'card' here, from the comfort of home, with a cup of tea by my side, is a wonderful thing.

I hope you have a good Christmas and wish you all the very best for 2009.
K

Postcard from Troon

2008-12-09T16:19:00.009Z

It was a perfect winter's day. Cold enough to make your cheeks tingle but bright and dry enough that you don't care. I love sunsets as much as I love postcards, and a seaside sunset is the best kind.

Driving into the low sun is a pain of course – the combination of the glare below the visor and the salt-splattered windscreen made visibility awkward. Troon was well worth the trip though. The seafront walk is bracing and beautiful, there was a Christmas craft fair on in the tiny concert hall and we found the perfect café.

With home baking and frothy coffees the Beach Café is a trip back to the 1950s – including the décor, but even that is appealing. The lady in charge bustles about taking care of her customers and adding to the feel that you're visiting her living room. This kind of place couldn't survive in a busier town. Troon doesn't know how lucky it is.

Postcard from Birmingham's German Market

2008-11-29T21:07:00.006Z

Birmingham's twin city is Frankfurt, which I guess explains why the largest German Christmas Market outside Germany sets up in Birmingham every year. Stalls selling stollen, gluhwein, wooden toys and other German flavoured products set up along New Street and Christmas shopping gets underway – much easier when you have a glass of warm wine in hand!

Unsurprisingly, the stalls selling alcohol and frankfurters do the best business. Makes you wonder what Birmingham exports to Frankfurt in exchange – a pub selling pints of mild and faggots?

The crowds at the market this evening would make you wonder 'what recession?' Seems where Christmas and alcohol are concerned we still have money to spend.

Postcard from a writer's room

2008-11-14T20:27:00.004Z

I’ve been hiding out for five days at a wonderful writer’s retreat in Devon. My second novel (working title ‘Park Life’) grew faster than I'd hoped it could, while my every need was looked after by Deborah and her family. They made Sue (the other writer staying for the week) and I so welcome and comfortable we couldn’t fail to be inspired to get on with our writing.

The house is wonderful - each writer has a comfortable room equipped with desk and kettle (what more does a writer need?) and in the evenings a log fire tempted me to scribble in the sitting room in front of the flames. Meals are delicious, there are riverside walks on hand for vital ’fresh air’ breaks, and the family are great company when sitting at the PC screen feels a bit too isolated.

Deborah’s a professional writer who was happy to help me with writing queries and I hope Sue got as much out of our chats about writing as I did. It was great to immerse myself in the book for an extended period and to discuss characters, plots and techniques with people who were interested.

Definitely recommended to any writers who want to invest some time in their writing and Deborah can offer writing exercises and feedback for anyone who doesn’t just want to get their head down and crank it out as I did! Check it out at: http://www.deborahdooleyjournalist.co.uk/retreat.html

As well as writing a lot more of Park Life, I've noted some revisions I want to make to Map Reading and written two thirds of a short story - it was an intense few days!

If any authonomy members see this and want to know more - message me online, I'm KR.

Postcard from the first frost

2008-11-08T17:01:00.005Z

Autumn's arrived and it feels more like winter. We had snow in April then snow in October. The summer never seemed to start.

This recently planted passion flower might have been hoping it would grow up to a life of sun-kissed bliss. Instead it's been put to work disguising a new fence panel and, within its first few weeks in the job, got chilled to the core. It's surviving though, clinging on and only shivering slightly.

Things have warmed up a little now with wet weather from the West instead of ice from the North. Sorry for the delay in posting this, guess I can't even pass the blame to the Post Office this time…

Postcard from Greenwich Park

2008-10-28T22:12:00.003Z

When I was at school in Greenwich, we spent an occasional cold, damp, muddy sports lesson cross-country running in Greenwich Park. I was usually the one walking at the back. Hideous though that experience was, it was a chance to admire the Park and I often return now (without the trainers!).

The residents of Greenwich are lucky to have this beautiful, varied, historic open space on their doorstep and the huge numbers of tourists who join them to walk, run, play and picnic there just back up the value of the Park for the local area. Can it really be a sensible location to consider for the 2012 Olympic Equestrian events?

The Park would be closed to the public for months in the lead up to and during the games. There is the potential that the historical and ecological character of the Park could be damaged by the construction of the facilities required. I think Greenwich Park is too important to take the risk. This photo is taken from a point just to the side of the Prime Meridian line that dissects the world through the highest point of Greenwich Park. It's a view tourists cross the world to visit.

As Kerry, the main character in my novel 'Map Reading' (see 'Postcard from the internet' below) puts it: ' It's the start of time, that's all. East and West, it all starts here.'

A couple of weeks of Olympics events and it might never be the same again. For more information see http://www.nogoe2012.com/

Postcard from National Poetry Day

2008-10-11T18:19:00.005+01:00

The theme of this year's National Poetry Day was 'Work'. At Cannon Hill Writers Group we devoted the weekly meeting to poetry and arranged a display of work poems in the poetry section of Hall Green Library. That's my extremely short effort you can see in the picture.

We then spent the evening sharing a variety of poems - joined by the brand new Birmingham Poet Laureate, Chris Morgan, and afterwards retired to the pub.

Great fun, this poetry lark.

What's that? You can't read it? OK then, here it is.

Public Sector Reorganisation

You want me to apply
For the job which I
already do?
The pay will be less,
the responsibility more.

It certainly seems
just perfect for me.
A familiar
situation
I'd be keen to explore.

Again.

Postcard from Totnes

2008-09-26T21:17:00.003+01:00

Totnes has so much going for it. First, there's the route in by train – cutting along the Exe estuary and the coast, in and out of hewn tunnels, right up against the water. I almost wished it had been a stormy day. Then, there are the buildings – so much history in every brick along the high street. Can it be true that the largest number of listed buildings in any town is found here? Could be from how the place looks.

Having to walk up a steep hill to see these buildings justifies stopping for cake. Fortunately, there's a fine selection of cafes and interesting, counter-culture shops to browse around. My visit to Totnes was certainly the first time I found myself reading a window display inviting me to weave my own coffin.

As the photo shows, it's a big feeling town in a very rural setting. I was there less than 24 hours, but I'd happily return – is the invite still open, Ali & Dave?

Postcard from ArtsFest

2008-09-23T17:26:00.007+01:00

I haven't been inside Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery to look at the art for a long time; but a display of images of some of the most popular works enlarged to epic sizes and projected onto the outside of the council house to a soundtrack of classical music was quite something to see. It was called 'Light Night' and was part of the annual ArtsFest – a weekend of free arts events.

I sampled comedy and poetry in a pub on Friday night and had an incredibly varied day on Sunday. Robin Bailey, the 'bard of Moseley', just about managed to make his great poems heard over the air conditioning in one of the rooms of the Art Gallery; the Notorious choir demonstrated how good the acoustics of the Industrial Gallery were for an acapella rendition of the Doctor Who theme tune, and KerrangFest on the Centenary Square stage left a ringing in my ears.

Council Tax in Birmingham is high, but subsidising events like this makes it sting a little less.

Postcard from The Retort

2008-09-09T17:52:00.006+01:00

Kings Heath High Street is 'paint by numbers' – put a Boots just there, a Sainsburys up the top, you'll need a McDonalds, then fill in the gaps with charity shops and take aways. Venture into the side streets though, and things start to improve (well, choose your street carefully…).

The first Sunday of the month is Retort Cabaret night at the Kitchen Garden Café on York Road. They host a mix of live music, comedy, poetry, magic and almost anything else that can be performed. The quality is mixed but this month I was impressed by two headlining acts familiar to national tv and radio. Shazia Mirza made us all laugh and Rebecca Hollweg strummed and sang a blend of folk and jazz that sent everyone home happy. And there's a great selection of organic wines and beers too!

Kings Heath's not boring, you just have to know where, and when, to look.

Postcard from the internet

2008-09-02T16:38:00.008+01:00

The opening chapters of my novel 'Map Reading' are now available to read on the HarperCollins website www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=312 . Please take a look. I'm thrilled by the number of enthusiastic comments I've had so far.

Map Reading is the first novel I've completed and has spent the last year or so being polished and improved. It's essentially the story of a woman trying to find happiness and is set against a background of travel, friendship and romance. You never know, it might be your kind of thing!

It would be great if you could look at Map Reading on Authonomy and, if you like what you see, register and vote for me by putting the book on your online bookshelf. This will increase my chances of getting into the top five and potentially winning a critique from an editor at HarperCollins. I'd love to get that feedback from a professional but I'd also really like to hear your thoughts – please drop me an email and let me know.

Postcard from the pub

2008-09-02T16:00:00.003+01:00

What do you mean, 'Liverpool's a strange place for a holiday'? It certainly kept me busy and interested. From the musical history at 'The Beat Goes On' exhibition to the social history in 'Seized: Customs and Revenue Uncovered' at the Maritime Museum. From oil paintings at the Tate to Antony Gormley's men on Crosby Beach. From the spooky entertainment of the Shiverpool ghost tour to the cheeky Superlambananas – the city has something to interest everyone.

Best thing though, are the pubs. Here in Brum you can't escape from the huge, soulless, identikit chain pubs. In Liverpool they're blessed with a cosy, classic pub around every corner. And the people are so friendly, happy to chat to anyone – even invite strangers to join their whisky tasting club for the night (shouldn't have done that on an empty stomach). My tips – try the local brew – Cains – and eat at the Everyman Bistro.

Postcard from the Proms

2008-09-02T10:35:00.005+01:00

Tradition, grandeur, eccentricity – the Proms could fill the Albert Hall several times over. The best thing about Prom 62 though – some Beethoven and Sibelius, played by the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester – was that they did it differently.

Think classical music is boring? The way these guys play it, it's packed with energy. And it's a treat for the eyes as well as the ears. The predominantly female string section used bare arms to draw elegant arcs with their bows, while the dapper double bassists dipped their instruments in an embrace like lovers on the dance floor. If it wasn't choreographed it could have been. And, when it was all over, the orchestra shared the type of celebratory hugs usually reserved for the football pitch.

OK, so it'll take more than this to bring classical music to the masses. Must the orchestra wear black tie? Couldn't someone speak to the audience occasionally? But, last night at the proms, I enjoyed a performance that was modern, accessible and down to earth.