Experiences

In Memory of James Wolfe Murray

Tribute to James Wolfe Murray, delivered at his funeral in Melrose on 10 June, 2011, by Angus Wolfe Murray.

Stephanie Wolfe Murray in 10 Scenes

The script for the play we put on for my Mother’s 70th birthday party. It looks neat and tidy here but putting it on was chaotic and I’m still ashamed of my unwillingness to cooperate (I can’t stand acting). But thanks to Monica, Alina and my brothers it came off. And this is a neat little summary of Stephanie’s life. RWM

A sad tale of dog and hen

The only way to survive this Heathcliffian landscape and weather is to have a warm and cosy house which is, on the whole, what we have.

A skirmish on the front lawn

Busy, busy, busy here keeping going in this weather. Another arctic spell coming. The gas truck tried to get to our house today but couldn’t make it so I’m panicking because it’s about to run out which will mean no Aga, no hot water (haven’t used hot water for 3 weeks anyway to save on gas) [...]

350: “The Devastating Number”

The title isn’t mine. It’s from an article on the significance of the number 350 to the 6.793 billion humans inhabiting planet Earth on 24 October 2009. I won’t make it easy by posting a link that you will, in all likelihood, ignore. If you’re not the ignoring type, then a) you already know about [...]

Three strays of Bucharest

I watched in astonishment, waiting for more cats to pop up and – why not – snakes and doves and a few curly dogs doing jumps. A car engine turned circus hat.

Holiday in Galicia

Beginning of September: one week of holidays left, after a month in Scotland and a month on the land. We are exhausted, but one week of sleep is too much to ask. A holiday, especially our particular brand (no planning, no destination, pure chaos, something between the frantic and the sublime) sounds so much like [...]

Meet our neighbours

In the morning, I meet Mrs Cosmovici going down the stairs in her light blue home robe. She holds a tray of mincemeat in one hand, a Kent hanging in the other.

March to May

This could go on forever, but we all need to keep busy and sane, hence the rule: one paragraph per topic. 1.TIME UNDER THE BRIDGE. It was March and now it’s May. Last day of May and then it’s June. How can this be happening? Each day used to be bright and interesting, each day [...]

A hospital diary

It’s Wednesday. My third day in hospital. On Monday I had a breast operation. The doctor took out a lump that – he said – was as big as a ping-pong ball. By all accounts it’s a benign tumor, but the final results will come in two weeks. It’s horrible being in hospital. It’s not [...]

Alentejo Acrostic

We were in Alentejo last week for a short holiday; two days’ drive, three days there; distilled below, a taste of sunny South. A – Alentejo stone. Alentejo, the sun-baked humpback, crumbles into a multitude of coloured pebbles. A first step into desert? Crumbs for poets and painters? Warm slate shines from fists of dry [...]

Midweek Momentum

Wednesday afternoon: Kira comes back from school half-early and wearing someone else’s jacket. It is yellow, like hers, but also nothing like hers. It is twice her size, has a tartan design on the inside, and no zip. She didn’t notice. (Didn’t notice?) We go back before the (bigger) owner of the jacket does notice. [...]