Author Archives: layanglicana

About layanglicana

Author of books on Calcutta, Delhi and Dar es Salaam, I am now blogging as a lay person about the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. I am also blogging about the effects of World War One on the village of St Mary Bourne, Hampshire.

Time To Send Boris To A Finishing School?

I know you are all shocked at the thought of Boris Johnson, BoJo to the Daily Mail, representing the United Kingdom at the grandest of Ferrero Rocher diplomatic soirées  (and even those grand enough not to dream of offering Ferrero … Continue reading

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Reap Leaves From Trees And Colours From The Sun: Chris Fewings

O dank and darker days, as autumn falls, in my bones the harbinger of Spring. Reap leaves from trees and colours from the sun and incubate winged seeds in soggy layers of leafmould underfoot. My spirit soars to think of … Continue reading

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Castles In The Air: Don McLean

And if she asks you why you can tell her that I told you That I’m tired of Castles in the Air I’ve got a dream I want the world to share in castle walls Just leave me to despair … Continue reading

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Cheese: Clifton Fadiman

Cheese is milk’s leap towards immortality. Clifton Fadiman Any Number Can Play (1957)

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My Last Duchess: Robert Browning

  That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf’s hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t please you sit and look at … Continue reading

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Unendurable Gambling: Rebecca West

The only people who can endure gambling are those who have a special neurosis on the subject…or people who have said ‘No’ to the universe, who do not want to find out about things. If one has said ‘Yes’, time … Continue reading

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A Recipe For Living: Stephen Mackenna

One great use of keeping such a record as this is that one learns what blank things most of one’s days are: reading, talking, eating,  writing without interest or emotion, the days go by, blank: and it is life that … Continue reading

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Moonlight Sonata: Beethoven

Not a song, this time, but the extremely well-known Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Somehow, although we know it so well, it never fails to work its magic for me, and I hope you too. The Piano Sonata No. 14 in … Continue reading

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Not for That City: Charlotte Mew

Not for that city of the level sun, Its golden streets and glittering gates ablaze— The shadeless, sleepless city of white days, White nights, or nights and days that are as one— We weary, when all is said , all … Continue reading

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The Strength Of Ideas: Georges Duhamel

Great ideas have such radiant strength. They cross space and time like avalanches: they carry along with them whatever they touch. They are the only riches that one shares without ever dividing them. Georges Duhamel The Heart’s Domain

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