Gloomth

I’ve found a sensational word….. gloomth. It was invented by the Gothic novelist Horace Walpole (1717-1797) to describe a place that was both shadowy and mysterious but airy and sophisticated too. Walpole had a way with fashion as well as words. My favourite outfit of his is a huge and intricately carved solid wood cravat. […]

Plum tree

I have a dilemma. My neighbours have given me a Victoria plum tree. There it is, in the wheelbarrow, waiting rather anxiously for the clumsiest gardener there ever was (me) to lower it into its new home. But if neighbours are going to be so neighbourly, shouldn’t I give them something in return? Wouldn’t a […]