Category Archives: European Union

Kristallnacht and Remembrance

Posted on November 11, 2020 by

Thanks to Guy Verhofstadt for posting about Kristallnacht yesterday. Known, too, as the Night of Broken Glass and the November Pogrom(s), it was a pogrom against Jews and civilians throughout Nazi Germany on 9–10 November 1938, carried out by the Sturmabteilung, the Nazi party’s … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, Fiction, Greek Islands, new writing, non-fiction, Refugees, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Behind the holiday island: The refugee crisis and the future for healthcare on Leros

Posted on June 3, 2020 by

     Pandeli Harbour, Leros Here is the second part of the interview with my friend, Takis Varnas, who works as a nurse on Leros in the Dodecanese islands. I am indebted to him for his practical help and advice … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in EU, Contemporary Women's Fiction, European Union, Greek Islands, Health Care, Leros, Personal, Refugees, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Behind the holiday island: Leros as seen by Takis Varnas

Posted on June 2, 2020 by

Apart from the beauty of the island of Leros, Martyn and I return year after year because of the friends we have made there. We have known Takis Varnas and his family the longest. They have all helped me one … Continue reading →

Posted in birthday, Britain in EU, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Desperation, European Union, Greek Islands, Health Care, Leros, new writing, Personal, Refugees | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I used to hate jigsaw puzzles…

Posted on April 26, 2019 by

I used to hate jigsaw puzzles… I could say – “Until I discovered Smirnoff” – but that would date me and anyone who remembers the ad campaign (and the awful jokes*) and baffle anyone who wasn’t in Britain in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Women's Fiction, European Union, Greek Islands, Humour, new writing, Personal, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Olympia Karayorga

Posted on April 4, 2019 by

On Leros one day last September, Martyn and I strolled from Pandeli to Aghia Marina for a midday snack and drink. There, we were accosted by a charming Greek lady in a rakish John Lennon cap, who decided to sit … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, Fiction, Greek Islands, Humour, Personal, Poetry, Remain in EU, Teaching, Writers | Tagged | Leave a comment

Symi

Posted on April 2, 2019 by

This is one of the many reasons people fall in love with Symi. I set my first novel, TERRIBLE WITH RAISINS, there. My next, JIGSAW ISLAND, features both Symi and, Leros – 6 ferry hours away. Every island has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemporary Women's Fiction, European Union, Greek Islands, new writing, Personal, Remain in EU, Writing | 2 Comments

How could anyone who’s read a book resist this?

Posted on March 25, 2019 by

PUT IT TO THE PEOPLE MARCH – LONDON 23 MARCH 2019

Posted in Britain in EU, European Union, Personal, Remain in EU | Tagged | Leave a comment

Marching for Put it to the People…

Posted on March 24, 2019 by

On right, beloved, Martyn Stead, be-badged and happy. On left, friend Ian Blyth, a chum from Guildford – a chance encounter midst the million plus in central London yesterday. (Me and me bad foot kept me away. Spirit marched every … Continue reading →

Posted in European Union, Life on the edge, Personal | 1 Comment