Here’s a little book (190 pages) to recommend to anyone interested in storytelling! Where Dragons Soar, by Pete Castle, has been published by The History Press, Stroud, this year. Like Pete’s other books with The History Press (Derbyshire Folk Tales,…

Immanuel Kant famously described music as “the language of emotions”, and many other writers have said much the same. Witness Henrich Heine, “Where words leave off, music begins”; Hans Christian Andersen, “Where words fail, music speaks”; Henry Longfellow, “Music is…

The European Union (EU) was founded on a fine set of values: liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law, respect for human dignity and respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities. These values, explicit in Article I-2 of…

On 23rd June this year, British voters will decide whether the UK is to remain part of the European Union (EU) or to sever our formal link with Brussels. The “in-out referendum”, in which each voter will answer what on…

The unspeakable disaster that has hit Syria and has continued to hit Syria over the past five years has forced millions to flee their homes – what’s left of them. And millions more are fleeing from Afghanistan, Somalia, various parts…

On Friday (4th March) I planned to go to the Matlock Storytelling Cafe as is my wont on the first Friday of the month. Friends were performing, it’s always fun, and Helen makes wonderful cakes – which she insists are…

Life is busy – multifarious demands and activities – but mostly fun. (Well, I’ve had several hours of manuscript editing during the past week, and the best one can say about that is – it’s money. Fun it ain’t.) Last…