Books and reading #121 Wise words from the great American broadcaster Walter Kronkite. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

A livestream of a volcano in the Philippines captured a meteor crashing to Earth today. What are the odds? Mayon Volcano, Location: Albay, Luzon, Philippines

Books & Reading #120 Thought provoking quote from the American philosopher and teacher Gloria Jean Watkins better known by her pen name bell hooks. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Books & Reading #119 Great quote from the pen of the American author and educator Donalyn Miller. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Books & Reading #118 Great quote from that queen of the written word Daphne du Maurier. I'm not sure that she is read as widely these days as she should be. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

“Why do you fight for trans rights?” To keep your kids alive.

Upon arrival in Lisbon it has to be coffee and Pastel de nata.

Books & Reading #117 This comes from the American film maker David Frankel who is responsible for several great films including The Devil Wears Prada. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Oscar Wilde was always powerfully succinct with his statements! #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

At Waterstones Tottenham Court Road for an Inklings Book Club Live Event with Seán Hewitt and Jack Edwards marking the launch of the paperback edition of Open,Heaven

Books & Reading #115 This quote comes from White Nights by the Russian novelist and philosopher Fyodor Dostoevsky #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

So pleased to be at Waterstones, Piccadilly to hear Patrick Ness talking about his much heralded new book Piper at the Gates of Dusk which returns us to the world of his Chaos Walking trilogy. #patrickness #chaoswalking

Books & Reading #114 This quote from the pen of author George RR Martin the American writer and creator of amazing fantasy worlds and characters. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

One more dawn! One more day! ONNNNNNNNNNNNNE DAYYYYYYYYYYY MORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRERRRRRRRRRRRRE!!!! Piper at the Gates of Dusk, out tomorrow.

Easter Greetings to all!

Books & Reading #113 Another author who knew what he was talking about! #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookworm

My March reading! Some really great reads. Quite a few fun reads. Nothing that I struggled to finish. Roll on April #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Five more days to publication!

Books & Reading #112 This quote comes from Miguel de Unamuno the Spanish essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, philosopher and academic who lived from Sept 1864 to Dec

This camellia took a few years to get going but now produces the most glorious display in our garden every spring.

Books & Reading #111 Wise words from the Italian journalist and author Ugo Ojetti. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Don't know who first said this but it sure rings true!

Spring happened last week and we might be back to clouds and cold winds but this glorious Forsythia would not be put off!

There you are minding your own business and convincing yourself that you can't possibly be that old when the DVLA reminds you in the least subtle way possible. ☹️

I love it when a new @manderleypress edition drops through the letterbox but two new books at the same time is an embarrassment of riches! I have Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff and the long awaited Woman Alive by Susan Ertz. With an intro by Graham Norton.

Books & Reading #110 So much of what's going on in the real world reads like fiction these days. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Wonderful evening at @unionchapeluk listening to Diarmaid MacCulloch in conversation with Mary Beard on the history of Sex, Gender and Christianity. Knowledgeable and erudite speakers on a fascinating subject.

In true #bookstagram style here are my February reads. My usual mix of fiction and nonfiction, old and new but every one of them enjoyed.

Tomorrow might be the official start of Spring but the garden just couldn't wait and is now full of these beauties.

Around my Table #8 So true! Wise words from this Austrian-American chef and restaurateur (with my veggie lasagna in the background).

You may know of my minor obsession with the astonishing Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Yesterday saw the final piece of the cross added to the central tower after 144 years. At 172.5 metres it has now reached its maximum height and is the tallest Christian church in the world. #sagradafamília

Books & Reading #109 Study from the Yale School of Public Health #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

It's been a joy to follow garden designer @henryagg on IG over recent years. His personal story & his gardening are inspirational. His new gardening book has arrived and oh boy was it worth waiting for! Now I just need the rain to stop so I can get out and start using some of these great ideas

Need a little something to brighten your day? The fat buds of these Hippeastrum have burst open with pure joy! #hippaeastrum #amaryllis #springbulbs

Books & Reading #108 Wise words from a writer who in my opinion was one of the wisest women of the 20th & early 21st century. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookworm

Books & Reading #107 This from the pen of Jane Austen who was never short of a strong opinion. #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

It is only a couple of years since I joined the gardeners trend of leaving grasses uncut through the winter and what a revelation it has been. First there is the structure and then the sun bestows light and colour to the seed heads. But then the breeze provides movement and the magic happens.

Around My Table #7 Harriet Van Horne was famous for this quote. She was an American newspaper columnist and radio/television critic. #aroundmytable #foodlover

Books & Reading #106 Not sure who said this first but it sounds perfectly reasonable to me! #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookworm

Around my Table #6 Thomas Keller is an American chef, author and restaurant owner #aroundmytable #foodandfriends

I’ve now seen at least three articles with headlines saying different authors “back” the National Year of Reading. This implies the existence of authors who don’t. In this essay, I shall…

Books & Reading #104 This quote comes from the Dominican American author Junot Diaz who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2008 #bookstagram #readersofindtagram

This afternoon I made a rare solo visit to the cinema to catch the film Hamnet. Having thought the @maggieofarrellofficial book to be one of the best I had read in years I tried to be open minded about the adaptation but it did not disappoint. @hamnetmovie

After coming across the works of Anne Perry I decided in December to read these novellas ( 1 per day) which she published each year for the last 21 years of her life. Fascinating author and worth reading her Wikipedia entry. #bookstagram #anneperrywriter #christmasmysteries

Around my table #4 Not sure where or when I first heard this one but have always thought of it as a given truth! #aroundmytable

Around my table #4 Julia Child was the American chef and author remembered for introducing French cuisine to the American public. #aroundmytable

Around my table #3 Claiborne was an American food and restaurant critic who for many years wrote for the New York Times. #aroundmytable

Books & Reading #102 A surprising quote for a man who did not write any books himself? #bookstagram #readersofinstagram

Around My Table #1 My new series of quotes for 2026 looking at the joys of food, cooking and eating together. #aroundmytable

Before I hang up the hat tomorrow (twelfth night) I have a couple of post Christmas thoughts to share.