Foreword I was extremely fortunate to receive some exciting documents from Sadie McHarg a few years ago. She knew I had started to write...

Dumfries House. February 2025.   Imagine a mind brimming with youthful energy yet housed within a body that has gracefully weathered six...

Eglinton Castle   In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Eglinton was one of Scotland's wealthiest estates. The origins of Eglinton...

By Penny Martin Image by Freepik. The bond between humans and animals is profound , offering more than just companionship. Pets can...

Taken 2023 Portencross Castle   Nestled along the scenic coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland, Portencross Castle stands as a testament to...

Happy New Year. Roll On Spring! As we toddle into 2025, we reflect on the year gone by and look forward to what lies ahead. I hope this...

” Jen’s blue eyes prickled and filled with tears. “Are you sure? There is still well over a week to go. It might change?” “I am sorry,...

Stepping down from the plane Ria was hugged by a blanket of warmth, heavy with the scent of foreign climes. Her anxiety began melting...

Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death on the 8th of September 2022. The scenes...

Two years ago, I received a kind invitation from Crosshouse Women’s guild. They asked me along to talk about my book, King Street, to...

The Cambridge dictionary says that hygge (pronounced hyoo.guh) is " A Danish word for a quality of cosiness (feeling warm, comfortable,...

When I was a child, my favourite pastime was playing with my dolls house. It was made from white metal and had a lovely red roof. The...

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I love to visit Rozelle Estate and gardens in Alloway. Apart from the fact that it is on my doorstep and, importantly, provides ample...

Convict Records Australia I decided to climb back into my family tree to investigate my paternal grandmother’s branch. I have found so...

Sundrum Castle is one of the oldest inhabited castles in Scotland. The barony of Sundrum was granted to Sir Duncan Wallace and his wife...

Battle of Loos, 1915 ‘A great deal of nonsense has been written about Loos. The real tragedy of that battle was its nearness to complete...

I am writing a novel set in Crosshouse during WW1 and WW2. While researching WW1 for the book, the Battle of Loos caught my attention. A...

While many of us may think lockdown and mask-wearing is an entirely new phenomenon, as is often the case, history begs to differ. The...

Intriguing, funny and completely absorbing. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2019 Verified Purchase Fascinating history of the...