An Easter-inspired gallery… (flowers, Easter eggs, lamb, and the sea in the spring….)

We need to look far into the future We need to put our house in order – this is our last chance, so please, don’t lend us any more money. Don’t buy our bonds, don’t give us aid. We need to feel the pain of bankruptcy to correct our ways. You all know how profligate [...]

Having to buy, invent, dream up & magically conjure up gifts for Roger, I have always been on the lookout for unusual, original gifts. Here’s a list of ideas I have used or saved for future use: A personalized caricature portrait (www.sprattiart.com). This looks amazing & of high quality. It is also very original! Cost: [...]

I am continuing to be merry, getting in the mood for Christmas, listening to wonderful Christmas songs. (Part 1 of best Christmas songs is here) Some more of my favourites: Amazon.com Widgets Bonus: I’ve discovered today these fantastic Christmas e-cards. Roger hates electronic cards in general, but he loved these…they are sublime!

Christmas snow scene illustration I love Christmas! It is such a wonderful time when most people are in a good mood and kinder than usual to each other. Smiles come easier, little hiccups are dismissed faster, we do more fun things with our friends and family, we play with children. If we are lucky, we [...]

I love listening to Christmas songs in the days before and during Christmas…most of them are so melodic & beautiful – they put me right in the mood for holiday cheer! I have bought many Christmas songs (mp3) or CD collections over the years – I will be posting my favourites here…starting with this list [...]

Morning Reading, selected articles of interest from various publications. 10 High-Impact, Low-Budget Ideas for Marketing in a Down Economy Do what others fear Lots of people (including myself) hate cold-calling. So they won’t do it. Others are petrified by the prospect of public speaking. And they won’t do that either. But you will. By being [...]

By far the best, our very own  The New 5 Star Raft Hotels group launches on CreteTravel.com (some of my friends “bought” it!) Then Guardian switching to Twitter-only version (!) and Gmail’s Autopilot is just hilarious

If you have not, you must.  Visit the Wallace Collection in London. Not only is it a fine collection of works of art, paintings, furniture, porcelain, but the wonderful tea-room is alone worth a visit. See also: The Wallace Collection website

Why read this book? These excerpts speak for the book: [Referring to Julia Sweeny ] My first call from my mother was more of a scream. ‘Atheist? ATHEIST?!?!’ [...] I think that my parents had been mildly disappointed when I’d said I didn’t believe in God any more, but being an atheist was another thing [...]