A different Starling from Hannibal Lector’s nemesis, but equally resourceful — This being James Vigor’s first book, I had no idea what to expect when I picked up The Reality Exchange. I found it written with a light touch that made it an easy read. The main character, Winter Starling, is nowhere to be seen as the book opens. We see…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — Helicopters are slow enough to catch. There is a lot of overflying above our garden — birds of course, and also aircraft. The military jets are the noisiest, whether high or low. Some years ago there was a fuss about damage from low-flying jets over rural areas, both as a result of panicked animals and damaged…

The turmoil that results when a settled life is suddenly upended — Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live somewhere that starts to dissolve into chaos, somewhere that’s been your safe long-time home, where you’ve raised a family and always tried to live your life within a caring and ethical framework — and then an extremist group that has been…

Book Shelfie: Freestyle — A vestige of alphabetical order remains. Once upon a time, at the dawn of history — or so it feels — I ordered all our fiction books alphabetically by author. I remember looking at the ordered shelves with a sense of pride. …

Accountants denied crumpet to market the boss — I had to do a double-take when I first picked up this book. Kate Russell…? Practical Sorcery…? Wait a minute…! I knew Kate Russell as a broadcaster — a presenter on BBC Click — and someone who campaigned for women in STEM. She gave a powerful TED talk, “Girls Don’t…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — A bird almost took my hat. Just sitting in the sun — part shade really — having a coffee, thinking about nothing at all and soaking up the summer, when a small bird arrowed past me so close I felt the breeze of its flight and thought a gust of wind was taking my hat. Sparrow…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — One — where there should be dozens. In previous years, this bush has been alive with bees, sometimes showing more bee than flower head. It’s early, and things should improve, but we’ve noticed a loss of bees year on year. Studies have shown that the effect of diminishing bee populations on crop production is worse than anticipated…