Stories:

Love And War
"Don’t do it..." Annie touched the back of Terry’s arm. "For me, please, leave it." She could tell without looking that he wore a fierce expression, eyes trained like a hawk on the crowd at the bar. Just one word and she feared that she would

The Quest
Anna sat at the table a latte with cinnamon syrup, pulling out the list of books she hoped to find in this town. This was research. This is what she was good at now, having answered the call by esteemed scholars.

Far From Me
it was peaceful there too, in its depths, away from the day-trippers, and it had an almost tangible air of loneliness, which suited his mood to the ground.

Politics:

Anthem for doomed pagans
It seems ironic that the oft-spoken reason for war, in America, is for 'freedom and liberty' and to protect American values and the Constitution; yet the freedom and liberty to choice one's own religion, and to have that religion respected should you pay

Travel:

I promise to go wandering - Part 3
‘They’re coming on holiday to Wolverhampton?! Have you warned them?’ And I smirk back. I suspect that I could introduce the most hardened, snobbish heart to the magic of my home city, they just have to be prepared to look with me.

I promise to go wandering (Part 1)
I cut a sorry sight on New Year’s Day, 2005. Toppled by the sort of flu which made me realize that I’d never had flu before; tanked up with cough syrups, painkillers, aspirin, while working my way through a multi-pack of tissues. I should have been in

I promise to go wandering (part 2)
On an icy Friday morning, Kate and I were up early. She drove us to Haworth, where the Bronte sisters lived. Bit of background here, I've been there twice before, but on both occasions there was some reason why we couldn't go to Top Withins.

I promise to go wandering (part 4)
Whitehall was beautiful. Thousands of votive candles lining the curb right up to Trafalgar Square...

I promise to go wandering (part 5)
Ian had called and suggested that an outing would be very lovely indeed, so I arrived at his home with my little map only partly coloured in. In a way, the delicious anticipation of deciding where we could go was almost as good as the going itself.

I Promise To Go Wandering (Part 6)
The concept of vegetarians hadn't been introduced to him either. Kate had to explain it. When our food eventually came, two hours later, it was patently obvious that the tomatoes had been fried in lard.

I Promise To Go Wandering (Part 7)
The moon had just come out and she just had chance to tell me where the moon was from her view from the fire, when her battery cut out. She didn't think I'd even heard that, but I did and it was crucial information.

I Promise To Go Wandering (Part 8)
I imagine people stumbling across these snapshots and worrying slightly, as they click through them, about where precisely I visited to form an opinion about their county.

I promise to go wandering (part 10)
I've never known the journey to Glastonbury pass so quickly (excepting the time I did it in the middle of the night at 100mph). It was almost a disappointment to reach it, almost, I say, because then the excitement of being in Glastonbury took over.

Adventures in Wales
Gwynedd as a county can be weird. Gwynedd at twilight with an overweight druid, an over-excited witch and sleeping Japanese tourist can be downright weird.

Other Things:

Spring Equinox
Or, in short, at Spring Equinox, we are celebrating the fact that, far from the vague hints of Imbolc, we now have concrete proof that we have survived the harsh times.

St Valentine's day
The now sainted Bishop Valentine had helpfully got himself executed for assisting secret lovers on the eve of the feast; so he got to be the feast's new name.

Imbolc - The Quickening
The trouble with a Celtic witch writing about the Sabbats, for a readership across different time-scales, is that by the time those on the far side of America get round to celebrating it, I'm already recovered from the hangover!

Beltane
There are warmer days and the height of summer, with all the attendant lazy evenings in the garden, daytrips, holidays, festivals and fayres, isn't too difficult to anticipate now.