It’s been a brutal summer for fire-fighters in California. Huge wildfires up and down the state have wrecked havoc on people’s lives and without the brave folk who fight and manage those fires there’s no doubt that many more lives
Year: 2016
Bay Area Garden Railway Society and South County Railroaders Garden Railroad Tour
As a kid, I’d always fancied a train set. I asked Santa for one many times, but he never delivered. I guessed it was because I was a girl. I once broached the subject with My Father who told me
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Flash Fiction Forum – The Heart of The San Jose Writing Scene
When my book, March to November was launched almost two years ago, I was discussing possible ways to promote my book, and my writing in general, with a writing buddy of mine – she writes fairy tales and so I’ll
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Tassagh, County Armagh – A Pretty Fine Day
I’ve heard Tassagh Road, in County Armagh described as the prettiest road in Ireland. It was an easy claim to believe with it’s rich green fields… burbling steams… and majestic Viaduct. My friend took us there
A “Deadly” Trip to Dublin
The Irish are obsessed with death! The culture of waking the dead is, I believe, a very healthy practice and even provides a social scene for those of a certain age in the community. Death, and references to it, are
When is a Fjord Not a Fjord?
Well, first they told me Pluto was a planet, and then they told me it wasn’t, and I was strangely saddened by this. It’s not big enough to be a planet, so it is called a dwarf planet, though apparently
Carlingford – County Louth’s Very Own Pot of Gold
I remember a hen party in Carlingford I went to years ago. The theme for the party was fairy-tale characters, and one of our group dressed up as the Wolf from Red Riding Hood. Somehow she got separated from the
Coco Lane – A Pampering Session in Armagh
One of the most exciting things about going back to my home town is seeing how well it is doing. Armagh is a very beautiful city with it’s two cathedrals towering like protective sentinels over this ancient city. There is
Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
We had a late-afternoon, direct flight out of Auckland back to California (into SFO not San Jose but close enough!) So we could do one thing in Auckland, just one thing… Go see a volcano (of course-duh!) From Mount Eden
Bay of Islands – My Personal Favorite
The North and South Islands of New Zealand are often compared, many people claiming the South Island is better, but I beg to differ. True the scenery is spectacular on the South Island, but that can be said of the